As a medical biochemist I have been working for many years side by side with medical doctors toward the same goal – to protect and heal patients from diseases. During my professional training program I got very basic knowledge of medicine, but I never understood why highly trained medical professionals were never taught anything about self-healing and the natural healing capacity of human beings. I asked myself why they were so uncomfortable with alternative (traditional) therapies and spirituality. Where are all the free thinkers in modern medicine that have the power to bring attention to alternative therapies?
My next question was; is modern medicine neglecting our natural mind-body connection? I hope, not. Although integrative medicine is gaining recognition by the medical establishment, the pace is much too slow. By the end of their training, many doctors feel that the compassion and spirit which drew them to medicine has been lost. Why is that?

To better understand the terms used in this article, I would like to give you a few definitions:

Modern medicine, also known as western, regular or conventional medicine, is focused mainly on the physical aspect of the body for treatment. Another name for modern medicine is allopathic medicine.

Alternative medicine, known as traditional or natural medicine, is a general term given to wide range of therapies, most of which are more than 100 years old. Alternative medicine takes a holistic approach, meaning that it does not involve only the physical body, but also considers the mind and spirit. It defines health as a state of complete balance between the mind, body, and spirit.

Integrative Medicine combines western and alternative approaches and supplements, but does not replace conventional therapy. Integrative medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative medicine uncritically.

At the very beginning of the Integrative medicine era, many
physicians were faced with a huge dilemma: either they learn and incorporate alternative therapies into their practice or they ignore them. But to incorporate them was to take a risk, the risk of losing the trust and confidence of their patients who were accustomed to other therapies. Also, physicians didn’t want to violate the sacrosanct principle they were taught: “First, Do Not Harm”. They were afraid of trying something new or different because conventional science tells us that “alternative treatment can’t work because we don’t know how it works “!

The dilemma is understandable from a medical point of view.
Modern medicine wants everything to be explained scientifically and logically. That’s OK, but, on the other hand, there is a demand for alternative medicine, which people have tried and benefited from. How should one respond to huge demands for alternative methods? If alternative therapies work, and we know they do, then physicians need to consider them. Happily, they finally are doing so.

The medical profession is finally learning the ancient theory
that we cannot understand disease unless we understand the person who has the disease and accept the fact that the mind and body are bound together. Our minds and bodies are designed to stay in balance. The great majority of diseases for which patients seek medical help are in part psychosomatic, meaning that bodily symptoms are caused by mental or emotional disturbance.
Therefore, we need the help of science to deal with our health, but we also need to provide the patient with hope and faith in the treatment. Today’s MD’s should be emotionally and
scientifically competent to treat psychosomatic illness; if not
the patient will return with another problem! Do you know why?
Because no one looked into why he developed the illness in the first place!

Future generations of physicians need time to become familiar
with integrative medicine. Hopefully they will find the time to
better understand not only illness but also their patients.
Integrative medicine is one step closer to a better relationship
between patient and doctor.

We are glad that we now have Integrative medicine: a combination of alternative and western medicine, healing-oriented medicine. Integrative medicine considers the body, mind, and spirit, including lifestyle. This medicine uses conventional and alternative methods, bringing together the best of both worlds.

In many cases traditional healing methods were introduced to
western medicine by patients! They brought their own healing
traditions to their MD’s . Actually, they knew their tradition
had been effective for them in the past and they wanted to use them now!

Fortunately, they have found very gifted, open-minded doctors, who let them use their own healing traditions, but kept a watchful eye on the treatment to make sure they didn’t hurt their patients. And that’s how modern western medicine learned about traditional, alternative therapies. Bit by bit, modern medicine accepted the reality that western medicine can not offer all the solutions, yet it remains confident in modern science while accepting alternative treatments.

Integrative medicine use mind-body therapies such as meditation, spiritual healing, acupuncture, self-hypnosis, mindfulness, stress reduction, visualization, yoga, Tai Chi, body energy fields, reflexology, massage, guided imagery, prayer and many other alternative methods. Although we know for sure that our mind plays a positive role in the healing process, how it does so remains a mystery!

Yes, integrative medicine brought the patient’s attitude, spirit,
hope, faith, meaning and beliefs into medical offices, definitely
changing the western approach to healing. Integrative medicine is still surrounded with skepticism and controversy. In the near future, it needs to be implemented in medical schools and residencies, with more certificate courses for practicing physicians and other health professionals. The challenges are many, and the opportunities are great.

Integrative medicine is not only for the ill, but for those who
wish to increase their self-awareness, enhance their well-being, and help prevent health-related problems. In bringing meditation and other spiritual and alternative therapies into western medicine, medical professionals have changed the face of modern medicine.

Thankfully, after many years of denying alternative therapies,
modern western medicine is ready to accept mind/energy oriented therapies and other alternative treatments as powerful tools in their battle for people’s health. In this way patients and practitioners are partners in the healing process.

Today, physicians are more educated about alternative methods yet remain uncomfortable while practicing it. A new approach to medicine requires a new approach to medical education. However, this is changing because of newly introduced training programs in Integrative Medicine. The world of modern western medicine is changing every day for better, and that is good for patients.

It is my wish that alternative therapies will gradually play a
more important role in our current medical system.

Jahiel – Yasha- Kamhi
jasakamhi@hotmail.com

We all know about the craziness which a sports star has in this 20th generation. Sports nutrition is very important because it decides the fitness level of the sports star. Sports nutrition is considered in endurance (cycling, running, etc) and strength sports (weight lifting and body building). These sports chiefly concentrate in providing and maintaining the health, physical performance and growth.

This specialised course needs certification from a recognised certification provider like www.brainmeasures.com. Certification is very important because you might be working with world class athletes. Working with world class athletes is not a Childs play you will be accountable for all the nutritional requirements of the athlete which also includes strengthening the immune system from various kinds of diseases. Certification for this particular type of industry will get you into higher positions because qualified and experienced sports nutrition experts are in high demand.

There are various goals which you need to accomplish such as preparing the athlete for performance or training, maintaining the level of performance or training with balanced diet, improving the body composition, speed and recovery, increasing energy for both practise and competition and increasing the immune system immunity level so that it can defend from viruses and diseases. At the last sports nutrition will take care of the overall health giving balance of all the necessary requirements.

There is another specialised field of study inside sports nutrition which is aerobic and anaerobic exercise. After prolonged training and exercise sessions there exists 30 minutes recovery time for anybody during which the whole system needs to get replenished with vital nutrition’s. Liver and skeletal muscles need to be supplemented with nutrition’s.

Anaerobic exercise it is vital to replenish the Glycogen levels in the body although they never get depleted fully. Carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids are very vital to improve the overall system recovery after heavy weight lifting exercise. These carbohydrates are needed to replenish the system quickly and effectively.

In many countries a sports nutrition professional needs to be certified and should have relevant experience in sports nutrition before higher level certification. Alternatively sports nutrition job aspirants can obtain certification from renowned certification provider which increases chances of his employment within the industry. New graduates entering into this profession can increase their perks if they get certified by leading certification agencies. Graduates entering into this industry should obtain certification because it can give them an edge from the other candidates. Many candidates prefer to get certified by government agencies of their country initially and then later opt for private certification which improves the quality of their resume.

Courseware can be obtained from certification authorities which serve as a reference book often dealing important concepts and articles which may be relevant from the examination point of view. There are various sources of information available to a prospective candidate in this field he can obtain an online PDF book, physical handbook, Nutrition journals, magazines of sports nutrition, text books, etc. sports nutrition courseware and certification by www.brainmeasures.com is wellresearched and easy to understand and interpret and will help you understand the nittygritties of the field.

Many sports nutrition’s work in health clubs, studio, athletes, private places along with personal trainer, often charting out the routine course of action which an athlete needs to take, etc. It is very important for sports nutrition to document and note the requirements of the athlete and his body.

People are greatly concerned about the efficacy and side effects of many synthetic drugs, and hence choose herbal medicines for providing a safe and natural alternative treatment for many health problems. Among the many benefits in using herbal medicines, some of them are as follows:

Herbal medicines are not categorized as medicines but are treated as food as they are natural products. Herbal medicines need not be tested to prove that they work well and are safe before they are sold. Herbal medicines are even more convenient to buy. You can buy herbal medicines without a prescription. Herbal medicines are much cheaper than synthetic drugs.

The use of herbal medicines in the right way provides effective and safe treatment for many ailments. The effectiveness of the herbal medicines is mostly subjective to the patient. The potency of the herbal medicines varies based on the genetic variation of the herbs, growing conditions of the herbs, timing and method of harvesting of the herbs, exposure of the herbs to air, light and moisture, and type of preservation of the herbs.

Herbal medicines can be used for healing purposes and to promote wellness. Herbal medicines are not addictive or habit forming, but are powerful nutritional agents that support the body naturally. Herbal medicines promote health and serve as excellent healing agents without side effects. Chinese herbs are taken as tonics to enhance physical and mental well-being. Herbal medicines are safe and effective for health, healing, weight loss/gain/maintenance, etc. Herbal medicine can nourish the body’s deepest and most basic elements.

Herbal medicines are great body balancers that help regulate body functions. Natural therapies such as herbal medicines can be used to support balance process of our body. Herbal medicines offer the nutrients that the body fails to receive due to poor diet or environmental deficiencies in the soil and air.

Herbal medicines can be used to treat many diseases such as asthma, eczema, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, and irritable bowel syndrome, etc., and can be used for maintaining general health. Herbal preparations are the best when taken under the guidance of a trained professional. When used correctly, herbal medicines are considered safer than conventional medications.

Though herbal medicines have so many advantages, herbal medicines does not necessarily mean safe for you always. Many natural substances and herbal medicines can be harmful if taken in over doses or if used wrongly. More over, herbal medicines may not be pure sometimes. Unregulated, herbal products may be mislabeled and may contain undeclared additives and adulterants. They may also include other things such as plant pollen or contaminants that could make you sick. Hence, it is always wise to consult with your doctor first before taking your herbal medications. Testing and standardized manufacturing of herbal medicines and supplements is needed, in order to have the full benefits of herbal medicines. Researches reveal that all herbal medicines should be stopped 2 weeks before any surgery.

People use nutritional facts to help the body mend from foremost illnesses. A surgeon will place many people on restricted calorie diets after they are discharged from the infirmary next a sympathy spell or stroke. Heart patients are well accustomed to dietetic changes but often question if caloric restrictions will better their fitness. Using the nutritional facts on food, middle patients can watch the totality of sodium in the diet and it will help them deem calories at every meal.

These patients will see an apparent improvement in their circulatory routine after erudition nutritional numbers information. Helpful nutritional guidelines are on all canned foods and feeling patients can cure earlier when they see the totality fat substance in foods, and the total of cholesterol that they are introducing into their systems with the foods that they consume. Some low carb diets would neglect miserably if the enduring had not been cultured nutritional figures that identified the total carbohydrates in food crop.

Quick father diet policy can have unhealthy consequences if a person did not propose for the affects of mass defeat before the diet plan was started. Sudden credence damaged weakens the body and the immune method and some center patients will not be able to direct the stress located on the body during this time. Learning nutritional figures ideals will ensure that all agile establish diet diplomacy are feeling-strong as well as being low calorie diet campaign that are guaranteed to be very nutritious. Heart patients can learn from nutritional facts and spend authority in a strong way.

Some people are erudition nutritional numbers guidelines because these obliging pieces of information transmit how numerous foods influence import harm efforts and how the foods will ultimately change total body wellbeing. By culture the nutritional numbers morals, people result out which foods are low in calories. Those nutritional ideals will pay off handsomely when people can eat excluding and increase the same nutritional ethics without overeating. Detailing and informative facts about the nutritional values in foods will pilot people to drinking foods that are better and many dieters use nutritional numbers to misplace weighting while following the mindful guidance of a physician.

Many people will amend diet diplomacy after education nutritional data because some food scores will confine more vitamins and reserves. Other foods will be eliminated from the diet entirely because the nutritional data shows that these foods are high in baby satisfied and flooded fats. Some food stuffs will control defiant inflammatory characteristics which would help people that endure from tender hurting a great exchange. Some nutritional data shows food significance scores that will complete the body well in later being because the foods include antioxidants that delay the aging process.

Drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, alter gene expression and brain circuitry. Once drug abuse crosses into addiction, the compulsive drug craving, seeking and use occurs. Our featured publications offer a variety of cultural, social, and scientific views on drug abuse.

The use of chemicals to alter the way we feel and see things is one of the oldest activities of the human race. But a person’s use of a drug such as tobacco, alcohol, cannabis or heroin can become uncontrolled, or start to control them. Even when the use of drugs leads to serious physical and mental problems, the person using may still not want to stop. If they do decide to give up, they may then find it’s much harder.

A drug is any chemical that produces a therapeutic or non-therapeutic effect in the body. Chemicals, on the other hand, are a broad class of substances — including drugs — that may or may not produce noticeable effects in the body. Many chemicals (such as tin, lead, gold) have harmful effects on the body, especially in high doses. Most foods are not drugs. Alcohol is a drug — not a food, in spite of the calories it provides. Nicotine is a chemical that is also a drug.

Alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, methaqualone, opium alkaloids and mild tranquilizers are some of the substances that are most widely misused. The use of these substances brings on criminal prosecutions against the user, apart from the obvious physical and psychological damages. And add to it the social discrimination that will follow.

Many people see drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem. They tend to characterize people who take drugs as morally weak or as having criminal tendencies. They believe that drug abusers and addicts should be able to stop taking drugs if only they were willing to change their behavior.

Continuing to use drugs even though you have health problems that are affected or caused by your drug use. Associating with questionable acquaintances or frequenting out of the ordinary locations to purchase or use drugs

Focusing recreational activities around obtaining drugs, using drugs, or recovering from drug use.

Believing that you no longer have to worry (complacent). That is, that you are no longer stimulated to crave drugs/alcohol by any of the above situations, or by anything else – and therefore maybe it’s safe for you to use occasionally.

Reinforce the message that alcohol, tobacco and other drug use is a serious matter – and is not tolerated.

Being in the presence of drugs or alcohol, drug or alcohol users, or places where you used or bought chemicals.

Using prescription drugs that can get you high even if you use them properly.

The line between substance abuse and drug dependence is defined by the role drugs play in your life. Addiction and drug dependence occurs when drugs become so important that you are willing to sacrifice your work, home and even family. Once your brain and body get used to the substances you are taking, you begin to require increasingly larger and more frequent doses, in order to achieve the same effect.

Nutrition as it applies to our daily lives means that we take in what we neediness to argue our body’s healthful imperial. Nutrition has become an important word credit to the involvement of the USDA in our daily food requirements, and the FDA’s involvement in determining what is and is not risky for us to consume.

Nevertheless what is our responsibility in the food amusement? Do we understand what our nutritional requirements are, how to block those requirements, and how to look for truthful nutritional cost in our foods? I’m not definite that diet has been successfully addressed in its own right. We consider food relative to our vitamin intake, our fortified cereals and milk, and in the milieu that we must “nutritional appraise” from our food choices. Nevertheless what really diet when useful to our daily forcibly functions?

Nutrition refers to the promotion of our body, in our ability to keep it wholesome and functioning as it is aimed to do. Our ability to give the body with all the required food, vitamins, and reserves so that we persist to flourish in our daily life processes.

How do we determine that we are providing the necessary nutritional wishes? The data comes by educating ourselves about what our individual wants are, the requests of our family, and then charming the facts and applying it to the foods we buy, that we practice, and that our families consume. Our nutritional wants and caloric request change as we age, the nutritional wants of a 13 year old teenager are much different to those of a 30 year old female.

Quite often, our vitamin and limestone requests outweigh our caloric wants. In those instances, we change to manufacture vitamins and reserves to fill the gap. This is a part of our nutritional wishes, also.

Nutrition is one of the most byzantine areas to gain useful data about, because there are so many components, and because each, someone has their own individual desires. Women’s desires disagree from those of men, and adult women’s desires fluctuate from those of an offspring child. As we age, our needs constantly change; therefore continuous schooling about diet is a truth of life. The information we have unfilled about the vigor choices and alternatives unfilled to us change daily. Very few remedial doctors ever address our nutritional needs, older the needs of a pregnant woman, or an already poorly serene. What about the needs of the well unwearied? To live healthy, there is nutrition, drill, mental, and emotional needs that must be met.

To better understand the terms used in this article, I would like to give you a few definitions:

Modern medicine, also known as western, regular or conventional medicine, is focused mainly on the physical aspect of the body for treatment. Another name for modern medicine is allopathic medicine.

Alternative medicine, known as traditional or natural medicine, is a general term given to wide range of therapies, most of which are more than 100 years old. Alternative medicine takes a holistic approach, meaning that it does not involve only the physical body, but also considers the mind and spirit. It defines health as a state of complete balance between the mind, body, and spirit.

Integrative Medicine combines western and alternative approaches and supplements, but does not replace conventional therapy. Integrative medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative medicine uncritically.

At the very beginning of the Integrative medicine era, many
physicians were faced with a huge dilemma: either they learn and incorporate alternative therapies into their practice or they ignore them. But to incorporate them was to take a risk, the risk of losing the trust and confidence of their patients who were accustomed to other therapies. Also, physicians didn’t want to violate the sacrosanct principle they were taught: “First, Do Not Harm”. They were afraid of trying something new or different because conventional science tells us that “alternative treatment can’t work because we don’t know how it works “!

The dilemma is understandable from a medical point of view.
Modern medicine wants everything to be explained scientifically and logically. That’s OK, but, on the other hand, there is a demand for alternative medicine, which people have tried and benefited from. How should one respond to huge demands for alternative methods? If alternative therapies work, and we know they do, then physicians need to consider them. Happily, they finally are doing so.

The medical profession is finally learning the ancient theory
that we cannot understand disease unless we understand the person who has the disease and accept the fact that the mind and body are bound together. Our minds and bodies are designed to stay in balance. The great majority of diseases for which patients seek medical help are in part psychosomatic, meaning that bodily symptoms are caused by mental or emotional disturbance.
Therefore, we need the help of science to deal with our health, but we also need to provide the patient with hope and faith in the treatment. Today’s MD’s should be emotionally and
scientifically competent to treat psychosomatic illness; if not
the patient will return with another problem! Do you know why?
Because no one looked into why he developed the illness in the first place!

Future generations of physicians need time to become familiar
with integrative medicine. Hopefully they will find the time to
better understand not only illness but also their patients.
Integrative medicine is one step closer to a better relationship
between patient and doctor.

We are glad that we now have Integrative medicine: a combination of alternative and western medicine, healing-oriented medicine. Integrative medicine considers the body, mind, and spirit, including lifestyle. This medicine uses conventional and alternative methods, bringing together the best of both worlds.

In many cases traditional healing methods were introduced to
western medicine by patients! They brought their own healing
traditions to their MD’s . Actually, they knew their tradition
had been effective for them in the past and they wanted to use them now!

Fortunately, they have found very gifted, open-minded doctors, who let them use their own healing traditions, but kept a watchful eye on the treatment to make sure they didn’t hurt their patients. And that’s how modern western medicine learned about traditional, alternative therapies. Bit by bit, modern medicine accepted the reality that western medicine can not offer all the solutions, yet it remains confident in modern science while accepting alternative treatments.

Integrative medicine use mind-body therapies such as meditation, spiritual healing, acupuncture, self-hypnosis, mindfulness, stress reduction, visualization, yoga, Tai Chi, body energy fields, reflexology, massage, guided imagery, prayer and many other alternative methods. Although we know for sure that our mind plays a positive role in the healing process, how it does so remains a mystery!

Yes, integrative medicine brought the patient’s attitude, spirit,
hope, faith, meaning and beliefs into medical offices, definitely
changing the western approach to healing. Integrative medicine is still surrounded with skepticism and controversy. In the near future, it needs to be implemented in medical schools and residencies, with more certificate courses for practicing physicians and other health professionals. The challenges are many, and the opportunities are great.

Integrative medicine is not only for the ill, but for those who
wish to increase their self-awareness, enhance their well-being, and help prevent health-related problems. In bringing meditation and other spiritual and alternative therapies into western medicine, medical professionals have changed the face of modern medicine.

Thankfully, after many years of denying alternative therapies,
modern western medicine is ready to accept mind/energy oriented therapies and other alternative treatments as powerful tools in their battle for people’s health. In this way patients and practitioners are partners in the healing process.

Today, physicians are more educated about alternative methods yet remain uncomfortable while practicing it. A new approach to medicine requires a new approach to medical education. However, this is changing because of newly introduced training programs in Integrative Medicine. The world of modern western medicine is changing every day for better, and that is good for patients.

Believe it or not, your skin is the biggest organ of the human body. The principle

purpose of your skin is to protect your body from foreign agents. The skin

is the first line of defense against disease and infection. It is also the

skin that gives us protection against the sun.

However, it is also the skin that first betrays the effects of aging. Skin

ailments such as psoriasis or dermatitis can be irritating and make our lives

miserable. While we never needed things like wrinkle creams or moisturizers

when we were younger and our skin more resilient, the fact is that some degree

of skin care is inevitable as we age.

But skin care treatment is also necessary because of factors unrelated to

our aging skin. Dry skin is caused by a number of conditions and therefore

its treatment options will depend on the actual cause. Here are some causes

of dry skin:

Medication Side Effects

As a society, we have increasingly become dependent on medication for things

like high blood pressure, tension headaches, and even depression. Skin care

treatment for dryness may very well be necessary due to some side effect

of your medication for a completely unrelated condition. For this reason,

you always want to monitor any potential skin irritation immediately after

starting any new medication. If you already have dry skin and can’t remember

whether or not it was a problem before starting your medication, you may

need to consult with your physician and discuss an alternative medication

in order to rule out side effects as the cause of your dry skin.

Poor Nutrition

Skin care problems are often the result of poor nutrition. Our bodies require

a delicate balance of nutrients in order to keep everything functioning properly,

especially the skin. Vegetarians and vegans often run into dry skin issues

as a result of not consuming enough animal fats in their diet. A vitamin

B12 deficiency will cause your oil glands (sebaceous glands) to function

improperly, generally leading to acne.

Basically, any attempt to address a skin care issue (be it oily, dry, or even

itchy skin) should begin with a close look at diet. Dermatologists can best

assess potential diet-related skin care problems and recommend corrective

measures to naturally restore skin vitality. However, here are some foods

to avoid where possible in order to keep your skin as healthy as possible:

· fried foods (chicken, French fries)

· processed sugars

· caffeine, coffee, tea, soft drinks

· high fat dairy products like milk or cheese (consuming low fat

varieties of milk and cheese may not be great, but they are better for your

skin!)

Now the best thing that you can ingest for improved skin care is water. That’s

right, water. Water naturally removes toxins from your body-so the more you

drink of it, the purer your body will be. Drinking lots of water is especially

good for people with acne problems and it will also help reduce the onset

of wrinkles.

Skin Care Problems Due to Sebaceous Gland Problems

If you have ever been to a dermatologist because of acne problems then you

are probably very familiar with sebaceous glands. Because the skin needs

to be lubricated, it is covered with oil secreting glands known as sebaceous

glands. If these glands become clogged with dirt, then bacteria begin growing

inside and a pimple is the result. However, sebaceous glands can either become

clogged and dry skin is caused or they can produce too much and cause oily

skin. More often than not, problems with the sebaceous glands are due to

poor diet and can usually be corrected rather easily.

Skin Care Problems Due to Diabetes

Believe it or not, even diabetes can cause you serious skin care problems.

A person with diabetes has trouble regulating the blood sugar levels. When

there is an excess of blood sugar in the body, the excess must be absorbed.

To do this, the body uses a lot more water than normal and that can lead

to dry skin.

Skin Care Treatment for Dryness

While diet must always be part of any skin care treatment regimen, it is just

a simple fact that our bodies will need more help as we age. For this reason,

a moisturizer of some sort will ultimately be needed. To this end, it is

HIGHLY recommended that you use a natural skin moisturizer.

Moisturizers using natural ingredients are far less likely to cause the irritating

side effects mentioned earlier. Synthetic ingredients are often less expensive

to use in moisturizers but they are not the best skin care option because

the body is less receptive to them. Natural ingredients, on average, cause

fewer side effects and are therefore better where skin moisturizers are concerned.

Skin Care for Wrinkles

Wrinkles are probably the biggest cause of all skin care treatments in the

United States. As a person ages, the skin naturally becomes less elastic.

As a result, fine lines begin to form on the face which ultimately become

the wrinkles we hate so much. There are two main skin care strategies when

it comes to wrinkles: affect the muscles that reveal the wrinkles or fill

in the skin so the wrinkles are less noticeable. The first strategy involves

Botox and the second Collagen injections.

Botox Skin Care

A person is actually having a strain of Botulism injected in their face when

they opt for Botox skin care treatment. Botox actually interrupts the transmission

of nerve impulses to the muscles that reveal our wrinkles. It may sound radical,

but these injections do actually reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the

face for a significant period of time. Now these injections can be costly

and they must be repeated-but they are generally affective.

Collagen Injection Skin Care

Many people have a serious misperception about collagen injections. The perception

is that collagen is a form of fat that is injected into your face to fill

in the lines caused by wrinkles. Actually, collagen is an effective form

of skin care treatment for wrinkles not because it is fat-but because it

is protein. In fact, collagen is a special protein that helps cells and blood

vessels connect to one another. When this happens, the wrinkles fade because

the collagen helps the skin to “rebuild” in areas where wrinkles

form and actually fill in the lines. Again, collagen treatments tend to work

but they also are expensive and need to be repeated.

Natural Anti-Wrinkle Creams

A cheaper, but slower, alternative to expensive skin care treatments for wrinkles

is a simple cream. Anti-wrinkle creams work to rebuild the skin texture and

helps with the elasticity over time. However, unlike Collagen or Botox injections,

anti-wrinkle cream skin care treatment is only applied to the skin surface.

This is why it takes so much longer. Still, an anti-wrinkle cream is a cost-effective

and non-invasive treatment for wrinkles that does work if given enough time.

Again, in order to reduce possible side effects, stick with creams that use

natural ingredients as they will react better with your skin.

For a natural skin care product, try SkinSoSilky today to help manage any of your anti aging, acne, or dry skin care needs.

Practised for thousands of years, alternative medicine includes systems like
Acupuncture, Ayurveda and traditional Asian medicine. Alternative medicine branches
out from the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatments and
therapies. CAM is often combined with formal, conventional medicine, integrating
both medical practices, in order to give the best results to patients. It can be said that
the earlier methods of medicine were attempted at achieving a balance between bodily
and natural energy. Energies were sought as positive and negative energies, where
positive energies were to bring in happiness and health and negative energies an
incapacitation of resistance to face any ailments. Matters of utmost importance in
deciding therapies or treatments in these earlier medical systems were factors like
one’s lifestyle, one’s habits of eating and one’s occupational pressures.

The earliest use of traditional remedies dates back to 2800 BC in China.
Practised all over the world in more than a hundred disciplines, alternative medicine
has aided medical tourism in an unprecedented manner. Using alternative medicine
and following alternative medical practices not only removes any possible additional
affects of the illness but also increases the resilience of the body. It is generally
claimed that natural remedies are not only less inimical to human physiology
but they also help in retaining body pliancy. Systems of natural, traditional
medicines use a combination of ingredients to restore the bodily constituents. In
fact, natural remedies are considered more as food, given their natural constituents.
Since alternative medicine is based on completely natural methods and there is
no usage of any chemicals, there is no danger of any interference with the organic
system. A holistic approach as opposed to looking at a set of symptoms and a
treatment that delves into the root-cause of an illness are some of the distinct and
highly acknowledged features of alternative medicine. It is also opined that
widespread use of modern medicine has deteriorated the immune system in the
human physiology and has resulted in these modern medicines becoming less
effective. It is also often said that alternative medicine is the only way to cure
some incurable diseases.

A Brief History of Alternative Medicine

The history of alternative medicine can be traced back to some 5000 years, when the Chinese and Indians discovered traditional and Ayurvedic therapies to heal the body and the mind. The real objective was to identify the deterrents in the body system which caused ailments, and
strengthened the body’s immunity. The therapies mainly incorporated self-care, lifestyle
changes and various preventive measures. The normal practices that were followed in the early stages of the history of alternative medicine include the extractions of the bark of willow trees. Many kitchen ingredients were also used for treating patients. The treatments were considered as the blessings of God, as it brought immense relief to the writhing bodies and prayer was considered as one of the strongest weapons in waging war against ailments.
Source: “A Brief History of Alternative Medicine”, http://www.med-help.net/med-history-of-alternativemedicine.
html

Alternative Medicine and Medical Tourism

Today, alternative medicine holds out immense potential in attracting medical
tourists. For example, India is likely to become a major hub for medical tourism,
with revenues from the industry estimated to grow from US$333 million in 2007
to US$2.2 billion by 2012, says a study by the Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII) and McKinsey.3 The major competitive advantages that India faces are cost
effectiveness and traditional medical systems like Ayurveda and Naturopathy.
The world has witnessed the development of many traditional as well as modern
systems of medicine in the 20th century. Path-breaking discoveries like penicillin,
technological advancements in modern surgery, major research advancement in stem
cell research and genetic structure, and the development of traditional medical systems
like traditional Chinese system of medicine, Acupuncture, Osteopathy, Homeopathy,
Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani and others have all been a part of developments in the
omnipotent territory of global medicine. The major competitive advantages that India
has are cost effectiveness and traditional medical systems like Ayurveda and Naturopathy.
The last few years have seen countries with their own individual expertise attracting
tourists from all over the world and promoting medical tourism like never before.

India

In India, medical tourism in alternative medicine has its ancestry in South India
and some places in North-Eastern India. Internationally famed for its natural remedies and therapies, Kerala’s schools of medicine have embraced Siddha,
Naturopathy and Ayurveda in treating their patients. These traditional medical
practices are estimated to attract high-end medical tourists from Europe and
Middle Eastern countries. The vital advantages that a country like India faces
with regard to medical tourism are its traditional therapies like yoga and Ayurveda
combined with tourist attractions in states like Kerala and north-eastern states.
Naturopathy, a therapeutic system based on natural remedies, trusts natural
elements like air, water and sunlight, combined with therapeutic massages and
conditioning and toning of the human body. Naturopathy believes that the human
body has the capacity to heal on its own, provided it is in a healthy environment.
With a holistic approach to well-being, Naturopathy believes that the three
physical entities – the physical body, the supernatural soul and the mind – must
be integrated through natural energies. “A recent survey shows that 76% of global
drugs are consumed by USA and European countries. We believe that freedom
from diseases and drugs can only be achieved by living a natural life style.”4
Ayurveda, the most ancient health care system, takes its ingredients from nature.
The use of herbs, materials like gold and mercury and many household ingredients
make this science easily accessible to common man. Ayurveda claims to cure diseases
like diabetes with the aid of nature. The Siddha medical system, which is a part of
Ayurveda, employs herbs, minerals and advanced scientific techniques under ancient
principles of medical science to cure many chronic diseases. It is named as one of
the most complicated and intricate forms of medicine. Siddha considers nature
and man as one essential entity. It claims that physiological characteristics like
human aging can itself be arrested with natural remedies.

Naturopathy has evolved medical tourism in India in more than one ways.
With its systems of medication using all natural ingredients to restore the holistic
disease-fighting nature of the human body, the medicine has created increased
chances of its own survival through tourists from all parts of the world visiting
India to reap its benefits. As Vitthal Kamat of the Kamat Group of Hotels says,
“With Naturopathy and Ayurveda along with the world renowned tourist attractions
and heritage places, the tourism sector can grow in leaps and bounds.”5 Naturopathy
in “KayaKalp”, a naturopathy centre in Himachal Pradesh, run by the Vivekananda Medical Research Trust in India has served medical tourists in detoxifying, immunizing and rejuvenating through Yoga, Pranayama, Panchkarma, Meditation and Naturopathy. Its therapies are claimed to be drug-less and extremely natural. Naturopathy takes the help of Ayurvedic preparations for healing processes like Panchkarma and improvement of blood circulation.

India’s pioneer in alternative therapy – medical tourism, Kerala, has visitors
from all over the world in the months of June, July and August. These months are
looked upon as the best period for cure of bodily ailments through Ayurveda.
High quality medical facilities provided at low prices are the main tourist attraction
in Kerala. Mr. M Narayanan, head of Poovar Island Resort says that there are
tourists from countries like Australia, Europe and Germany. The packages offered
in these Ayurvedic spas include services like Ayurvedic oil massages, powder
massages, vegetarian diets, detoxification programs and a lifestyle change. In fact
it is little known that Ayurveda includes not just massages, but a whole gamut of
services like herbal and natural diet plans, natural healing therapies, and therefore
a full-fledged medical system.

Ayurveda Gram, a unique Ayurvedic Institution in Bangalore offers Ayurveda
in its wellness form to medical tourists. It offers services like Customized Yoga,
Pranayama, Meditation, and a vegetarian diet to boost metabolism. Its sprawling
campus full of medicinal herbs and natural surrounds helps in the processes of
cure for specific ailments like Arthiritis, Spondilytis, Cholesterol, Sinusitis, Peptic
Ulcer and Obesity. Other therapies by Ayurveda Gram include Stress Management
therapies, Panchkarma and rejuvenation therapies.

AYUSH, the department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha
and Homeopathy was formed under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act,
1970. One of the most recent awareness activities undertaken by AYUSH was a
health fair organized in parts of Hyderabad, Chennai, Indore and New Delhi.
AYUSH ensured that the major Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha manufacturers in
India participated in this health fair.

Another famous Ayurvedic centre in India is the C V N Kalari Centre for
Ayurveda. Kalari is one of the approved Ayurvedic centres recognized by the
Kerala Tourism Department.6 Kalari has its customers from many foreign countries. The centre specializes in Marma Chikitsa (the application of pressure on specific
nerve points) and other special practices of healing. Having both therapeutic and
rejuvenative aspects in them, these specialized healing procedures take extensive help
of Ayurveda to treat the ailing.
Some Ayurvedic resorts have formulated Ayurvedic kitchens that help improve
the effectiveness of oil treatments. Diet regimens, detoxification programs and other
processes that give a glowing skin to the customer are very popular. Some of these
Ayurvedic resorts also arrange for cooking classes to help their customers acquire
and maintain the lifestyle that they are introduced to in these spas and resorts.
Ananda, an Ayurvedic Spa in the Himalayas is one of the most famous destination
resorts in India. It offers specialty Ayurvedic packages like Aroma therapy massages,
reflexology programs for rejuvenation, stress release programs, personalized Yoga
sessions, body composition analysis and weight reduction programs through Yoga
and Ayurveda. Ananda claims that its packages and therapies cure many ailments
like headaches, nausea, climatic disorders, facial paralysis, insomnia, asthma, neuralgia
and does general improvement of metabolism.

China

The 3000 year-old method of traditional medicine in China has gained popularity
as the world’s most popular medicine, being used by more than a quarter of the
world in treating even chronic diseases like cancer, AIDS, allergies and heart diseases.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses medicinal herbs, therapeutic exercises
and acupuncture to cure ailments. TCM diagnoses illnesses based on the five elements
theory and the yin-yang theory. The five elements theory base their evaluation on the
five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water to establish a connection between
human physiology and pathology and the natural environment.7 The movement of
these five elements constantly rules the functioning of the human body and thus
establishes the interdependence of both.

The yin-yang theory calls for comprehending the bright and dark sides of
the universe, in other words, the opposite properties of the universe.8 The relative
nature of yin and yang represents the interrelationship between substance and function. As traditional chinese medical practitioners say “Only with ample
substance can the human body function in a healthy way; and only when the
functional processes are in good condition, can the essential substances be
appropriately refreshed.”

Chinese herbal medicine is more known as Chinese materia medica. This includes
Chinese crude medicine, prepared drugs in pieces, traditional Chinese patented
medicines and simplified Chinese medicinal preparations. Chinese herbology, a major
aspect of TCM addresses the art of combining medicinal herbs.10 It visualizes the
entire human body’s balance of energies and spirit to treat a medical condition.
Herbs are combined into different potions of various characteristics for the sake of
different individuals being treated by TCM practitioners. Herbs like Astragalus,
Ginkgo, Ginger, Green Tea, Siberian Ginseng and Garlic are used to treat several
ailments. Around 300 mineral and animal extracts and 400 formulae are used to
cure diseases, in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Acupuncture, as part of TCM is used to unblock the flow of vital energy through
the human body.11 One of the oldest healing techniques in the world, this traditional
method aims at “restoring health through simulation of specific points on the body.”12
Ailments like nausea, addictions and some kinds of pains are claimed to be treated
with the help of acupuncture.

Taking advantage of its abundant human resources, China is luring medical tourists
into its web of alternative medical therapies. Wellness packages in China come at
low costs and without any side-effects, thanks to proliferated Traditional Chinese
Medicine. Several massages and spas have been set up in recent times that provide
mental health and physical well-being to medical tourists with the help of Chinese
medicinal herbs. Wellness apartments are established for the purpose of serving
senior medical tourists. These wellness apartments facilitate these tourists in
practising their own hobbies and also conducting medical activities like Taiji.

Germany

Germany’s alternative medical practices have their origins in Homeopathy, a
medical system that was developed by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician.
Homeopathy considers symptoms as disturbances of vital forces that have
connection with the human body. Homeopathic advocators believe that this
medical system has the ability to cure acute diseases like flu, cold, pains, depression
and fatigue, constipation, irritability other than chronic diseases. It is claimed to
cure allergies and allergic disorders like Eczema and Asthma. Moreover, this
medical system is child friendly, in the sense, that the medication given by
homeopaths is sweet to the tooth and therefore acceptable. Homeopaths are known
for debonair and their hands free treatment of patients. They concentrate more
on the patient’s state of mind and attitude towards life. The preparation of different
potions in Homeopathy is done mostly with the help of herbs, minerals and
animal extracts. Also, it is often reasoned that since the dosage that homeopaths
prescribe is in such minute constitutions and because they come in dilutions of
substances like water and alcohol there is no chance of any side-effects.
Germany also stands famous for its herbal remedies. Regulated by Commission
E14 on the purity and pharmaceutical activity, these herbal medicines in Germany
have come a long way in preventing and curing many diseases like cancer, AIDS and
other serious ailments. Most physicians in Germany are required to be educated in
Alternative therapies, so that it serves complimentary to modern medical treatments.
As Mark Blumenthal, chairman of the American Botanical Council points out, “Most
of the clinical research that’s conducted on the leading herbal medicines in the United
States comes from Germany.”15

With more than 300 spa towns, Germany has become the premier destination
for health and wellness in Europe.16 One of the most famous resorts in Germany
is the Baltic Spa Resort in Warnemunde. Situated on the shore of the Baltic Sea,
it idealizes the sea as a “homeopathic pharmacy” and claims that “it contains all
important trace elements and has a similar composition to human blood”17 Sea water is said to have revitalizing effects in treating bodily ailments like respiratory
illnesses, sleep disorders and obesity. Other than these, mental disorders like
depression, anxiety and agony are claimed to be cured with the help of the sea.
Sea breeze is said to be specifically effective in treating cardio-vascular as well as
dermatological conditions. Major advantages that Germany faces are in terms of
both cost and quality. As Axel Steller, the CEO of the Arab German Health
Foundation points out, “In the US, operations are four to five times more expensive
as they are in Germany”.

Japan

Japanese medicine is known as Kanpo or Kampo, a herbal medicine that forms part
of well-researched modern clinical methods and also traditional methods of
medicine. A Japanese variant of the traditional Chinese medicine or the Oriental
medicine, Kanpo adheres to the body’s natural instincts and natural mechanism
of healing. For this purpose, medical treatment involves diagnosis of the tongue,
abdomen and pulse. At each stage of the treatment, different formulae that are
necessary to bring the body back to normalcy, are prepared by the physician.
These herbal medicines are regulated by the Japanese Government. Kanpo
medicine is used to cure many acute and chronic ailments like cardio-vascular,
respiratory, digestive, reproductive and dermatological conditions and immune
system corrections and even disorders like bedwetting, high cholesterol and
hepatitis. Though Kanpo therapies take longer than usual to work, this medical
system uses some very natural diagnosis and treatment methods and concepts
like water, blood and air to identify bodily symptoms. Also, it is claimed that
these herbal medicines produce no side-effects because of their natural
compositions. Japanese therapists of Anma visit countries like India and Singapore
to help in promotion of health tourism. Anma, a traditional Japanese massage, is
said to be a complete form of Shiastu19 that treats the body to release blood flow
in a proper manner to rejuvenate the body.

Apart from attracting tourists for its natural herbal medical treatments, Medical
tourism in Japan has become popular thanks to its volcanic areas that have allowed
the formation of some hot mineral water springs called Onsen. Japanese Onsen serve as places where the ailing can get alternative treatments to modern medical
practices. These have medicinal properties that heal wounds, alleviate pains and
replenish energy levels. Senior tourists and people suffering from many kinds of
aches and pains come flocking to these mineral water springs. The healing
properties of these springs are accentuated by the surrounding volcanic soil that
is composed of many minerals and curative elements.

Outlook of Medical Tourism in Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine is here to stay, claim some traditional medical practitioners.
Given its perceived advantages over the modern medical techniques and the expensive
western medicines, alternative medical therapy is gaining ground in many developing
as well as developed countries. Practices like Ayurveda and Homeopathy claim that
surgery may always be the last option in case of treatment of an ailment. Natural
medicines like herbs and minerals can all be partaken as food and not medicines as
such, since their composition is all natural. Alternative medicine is used in conjunction
with modern medicine to treat many chronic ailments like diabetes and AIDS. This
helps modern medical practitioners to evolve a closer relationship with the patient
and cure him to a greater extent, thus giving him a new perspective to life. It follows
that one should never overlook the disposition of the traditional cures suggested by
our ancestors. These provide a standpoint from where one can comprehend the
profundity of traditional and alternative medicine, and gauge the tremendous potential
of alternative medicine in medical tourism.

References
1. www.hinduonnet.com
2. “Kerala”, www.takekerala.com
3. “Prospects of Medical Tourism in India”, www.mpiweb.org
4. “Medical Tourism push for Penang and Langkawi”, http://thestar.com.my
5. www.wikipedia.com

Okay, we’ve all been in a vitamin store and the selection at some of these stores can be mind numbing.  I, personally, gravitate to the sports performance section where the more manly products are found.  These products have muscled up gorillas on them and half of them contain huge doses of stimulants, which can greatly impact your energy level but they speed up your heart and can cause energy crashes.  P90X is a program designed for lean muscle; thus, the typical body building vitamins aren’t necessarily designed for this type of training.  Picture a body builders program; low sets, breaks in between, lots of weight. These guys transform their bodies, but most of the guys on the label and ads are on heavy doses of steroids.  Supplement companies marking to this demographic usually take ‘more is better’ approach and load these supplements up with excess ingredients to bulk of their labels – not the person using their product. Again, your body will pass anything that it can’t metabolize.

I have noticed great success from men using MMA specific supplement brands, which are designed for Mixed Martial Arts fighters.  Reason being, most fighters do similar training programs to P90X that involve cardio, resistance, and plyometric training in one continuous session.  These supplements can help increase muscle mass and endurance while helping maintain strength and flexibility.

Next is the vitamin area, which has a lot of good offerings to choose from.  I would go with a good multi-vitamin, an omega-3 product, and a joint complex to round out the stack.  The joint complex should contain ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin, which help protect joints from wear and tear. The omega-3 capsules are known as the “good fat”. Omega-3s greatly benefit fat loss, skins, and hair health.  The male or female multi-vitamin should have a good dose of all the daily minimums for the basic vitamins.