September 2013 - CandleLighters.ca
Treating Common Ailments With Alternative Medicine
Common Ailments & Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine and natural remedies have been used for centuries to treat common ailments in people of all ages. Some of the most frequently reported maladies treated with these techniques include chronic headaches, stress, excessive fatigue, weight gain, thyroid problems, allergies, insomnia, back pain and indigestion, though complementary and alternative medicines are used for hundreds of other issues as well.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
According to Discovery Fit & Health, ancient Chinese medicine has played a fundamental role in treating a variety of illnesses and other health conditions in many individuals, offering suffering patients an alternative to potentially harmful and expensive medications. Sleep aids, for example, are a popular choice among men and women suffering from insomnia, but many of these chemical cocktails pose a serious risk of negative side effects and health problems over time. The use of acupuncture in patients with sleep disorders has yielded positive results, particularly when specific points of the body are included in the treatment. These points include the ear, the wrist and various places between the brows on the forehead. The result of an effective session include a feeling of calm sedation and a more relaxed body and mind.
Yoga, Hypnosis, and Guided Meditation
Though not often considered medicine, yoga, hypnosis and guided meditation are all forms of alternative medical therapies shown to be effective in cases of excessive fatigue, problems losing weight and stress. As the mind and body reach a point of ideal balance, the individual is free to relax completely into a state of purity and contentedness. Complementary to a regular meditation, yoga or exercise routine is a diet based on resolving qi deficiency. Practitioners of Chinese alternative medicine recommend that a person suffering from these types of problems balance their qi with a diet rich in grains, beans, lentils, nuts and leafy greens like spinach and kale. Excessive consumption of alcohol is strongly discouraged, as it clouds judgment and can cut off access points between the body and mind.
Thyroid disease and Alternative Medicine
Another common ailment in individuals of various ages, thyroid disease, continues to draw attention when it comes to the field of alternative medicine. Though severe thyroid problems frequently necessitate the use of prescription medications, a complementary regimen based in alternative practices may help to reduce the need for as many drugs. Various mind-body practices, such as meditation, and changes to the daily diet help to reduce the number of stress factors in a patient’s life, both physically and mentally. A mind and body that are aligned and balanced through the use of alternative methods are far less susceptible to hormonal and immunological disorders.
In many cases, alternative methods are preferable to over-the-counter and prescription medication, though a medical professional’s approval is strongly recommended before the start of any new regimen.
Lavender Essential Oil: An Effective Treatment for Nail Fungus?
Can Lavender Essential Oil Cure Toenail Fungus?
A recent segment on the Dr. Oz Show covered the use of lavender essential oil as a possible nail fungus treatment. Many people have questioned its effectiveness and some have had mixed results when trying this remedy on an infected nail. Medical researchers have also tested lavender oil on nail fungal growth and found mixed results. While real lavender essential oil can help some mild cases of nail fungus it is generally not that effective for moderate to severe infections that require topical treatments such as nail fungus creams. According to www.toenailfungusreviews.org’s nail fungus treatment guide, topical nail fungus treatments must contain 10% undecylinic acid to be most effective- an attribute lavender essential oil can not claim.
What is Lavender Essential Oil?
Lavender essential oil is a type of essential oil is extracted from lavender flowers and concentrated for aromatherapy purposes. Many people report that inhaling its vapors has a calming effect and relieves mild pain from headaches. A few drops of lavender essential oil can also work well as mosquito repellent for outdoor hikers. First-time buyers of lavender essential oil are advised to read labels carefully, since there is a difference between real essential oil and lavender-scented mineral oil. Some brands of scented mineral oil are packaged so that it isn’t always that easy to tell the difference.
So Does it Cure Nail Fungus?
When used as an antifungal topical treatment, lavender oil has been shown to slow the growth of certain fungus cells known as dermatophytes, damaging these cells’ membranes over time. This result can vary from one individual to the next, and it can also depend on the severity of the nail fungal infection.
Benefits of lavender essential oil for nail fungus have been found too inconsistent for physicians to recommend it as a treatment for everyone. If individuals want to try a few drops on an existing nail fungus infection, it’s best used along with other at-home treatments for this kind of infection.
Other Nail Fungus Treatments
Some of the best basic treatments for nail fungal infections include removing as much of the infected nail as possible with clippers, washing the infected nail with mild soap and letting it air dry. Sufferers are also advised to keep the feet as dry as possible and to use moisture-absorbing foot powder when wearing shoes. The most effective way to get rid of nail fungus in a relatively short time is to apply a topical prescription antifungal cream. Another option that’s been showing promise as a fungal infection treatment is tea tree oil.
A Better Alternative: Tea Tree Oil
This type of essential oil is derived from the bark of the Melaleuca tree, and it’s been known for years for its skin benefits. It has some noted anti-fungal properties that bring better results than many people see with other types of essential oils. Some all-natural remedies are prepared specifically for nail fungus treatment, and tea tree oil is frequently a main ingredient. One compound in tea tree oil that helps to fight fungus infections is called Terpinen-4, which penetrates into the existing fungal infection and attacks it at a cellular level. Along with keeping the feet clean and dry, applying tea tree oil is one of the better options for fungal infection remedies.