Archive for the ‘Natural Living’ Category
Reflexology was originally known as reflex therapy. Reflexology is a holistic method of treating the entire body, which involves pressure on reflex points found on the feet, hand, and ears. Reflexologists regard the feet as a mirror image of the entire body, with the left foot representing the left-hand side of the body, and the right foot the right hand side. Reflexology teaches that a vital energy, or life force flows between the organs of the body via zones (meridians), permeating every living cell and tissue. If at any time this energy becomes blocked, the part of the body related to the blockage will become affected.
Anemia is term for a number of conditions causing low blood iron levels mainly due to the reduced concentration of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an essential component of red blood cells and are responsible for the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide through the blood. Hemoglobin is composed of iron bonded to proteins. The low intake of iron, loss of iron through bleeding or abnormal utilization of iron in the body will result in anemia.
Psoriasis vulgaris is an inflammatory skin disease due to autoimmune causes. The body’s immune cells attack healthy skin cells of the body causing disordered skin growth. This results in the characteristic skin symptoms of thick, silvery skin, red patches and usually severe itching.
Nutritional supplements have become a popular everyday health aid, primarily used to prevent deficiencies and maintain health. However in most cases, multivitamins are not necessary as the average middle class diet ensures sufficient nutritional intake through foods. Even junk food has moderate amounts of vitamins and trace minerals and overeating, a common problem, ensures almost complete supplementation for our body’s needs. Nevertheless, multivitamin supplements are big sellers.
Leg cramping at night is an inconvenient and at times painful condition that can often affect one’s normal sleep pattern. Chronic nocturnal leg cramps affects many older men and women and may also be accompanied with muscle twitching, numbness of the leg after the cramps ease and weaker leg movements. In severe cases, it may also affect normal walking and can be extremely inconvenient if you wake up at night to visit the toilet.
Cuts and bruises are a common occurrence in any child’s life and if you are opting for an alternative treatment to minor knicks and bumps, a few homeopathic and herbal remedies will come in handy. Before treating any cut or bruise, ensure that it is not serious, marked by severe pain, persistent bleeding, deformity of the affected area or inability to move or feel at the site of the injury.
In more serious cases, your child should be taken to a medical doctor for further investigation like x-rays or a wider cut may require stitching and appropriate dressing.
Stress and anxiety cause similar biochemical effects on the body due to the hormonal stress response. The activity of the hormones, adrenalin and cortisol, are released in excess when a person is stressed or anxious and this affects the body’s natural sleep patterns (circadian rhythm). These stress hormones cause a state of hyperexcitability, which may also be seen as irritability, restlessness, fear, depression or anger and sensitivity to stimuli like bright light, loud noise or strong odors.
Mary T., 6 years old, had been brought in by her mother complaining of recurrent itchy skin rashes at her elbows and knees. Mary’s case history revealed that she had suffered with infantile eczema at the age of 6 months and this persisted till 2½ years of age when a mild case of hay fever (allergic rhinitis) began. Repeated prescriptions of corticosteroid creams, emollients and anti-histamines had offered some relief for her early episode of eczema but it had seemed to have resolved spontaneously at the time.