Natural Therapies Topics: Yoga Aromatherapy Meditation Non conventional medicine is becoming increasingly popular in dealing with chronic diseases such as arthritis. Disappointment with conventional western medicine often leads sufferers towards unconventional therapies that they would have given a second thought when well. Yoga
and to help spiritual energy to flow through the body. This very old discipline brings the body’s various systems into harmony while increasing suppleness and improving posture. The word yoga is Sanskrit for “union” and has two distinct but related aspects: pranayama, or breathing, and the asanas, or postures. Yoga remained a strict Eastern discipline, practiced almost entirely as a mean of achieving spiritual awakening, until after the First World War, when it began to gain some popularity in the west as part of the new “nature cure”. Yoga postures were practiced both in mental and physical health venues all over Europe, although the discipline had not become widely accepted by western cultures. After the Second World War, however, yoga was started to be embraced as a fitness regime with a touch of undemanding spirituality thrown in. Yoga teacher Richard Hittleman, and later Lynn Marshall, introduced yoga to a mass audience in the United Kingdom through their highly popular television programs, during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Currently yoga classes can be found at almost any local recreation center or health club and there are countless books and videos available on the subject. Yoga Therapy Most arthritis sufferers would have a difficult time achieving many of the pretzel like positions that yoga experts achieve but the answer for them lies in a specially adapted form of yoga known as yoga therapy. This is gentler and easier than standard yoga, and takes into account the stiffness and immobility of arthritic joints. Yoga therapy for arthritis has been available for more than 45 years in the West, but only at specialized alternative centers. Yoga therapy is very different from ordinary yoga because the therapy has been adapted and modified for arthritis sufferers. A distinction is made between osteoarthritis, which afflicts mainly older people and is caused by wear and tear on the joints, and rheumatoid arthritis, which affects the whole body and can result in eye and heart problems as well as stiff, painful, inflamed joints. The Benefits If you are one of the millions of arthritis sufferers, you probably don’t work the joints and, as a result, they become even stiffer and more painful. Although drug treatment can ease the pain, it does not usually restore mobility. One of the main benefits of yoga for arthritis sufferers is that they learn to work their joints again. The reason that joints can start to work is that correct movement is accompanied by special yogic breathing and relaxation. Because it is so specialized, yoga therapy should be taught by people who have undergone specific training courses. Once the joints start working again, sufferers can often increase their range of movement. Everybody can participate in yoga therapy even if it is only working the feet and hands very slightly. Aromatherapy For centuries it has been known that certain aromatic oils distilled from plants possess many dramatic healing properties. Most of us are familiar with aromatherapy as a beauty and relaxation treatment. Aromatherapy products are readily available in the form of massage and bath oils. Healing with Oils Over the centuries it has been discovered that essential oils posses a number of therapeutic properties, some of which can actually destroy the organisms that cause disease. At the same time, some oils contain antiviral or anti-inflammatory properties. These oils promote natural healing in the body by stimulating and reinforcing the body’s immune system. They act directly on the central nervous system. Different oils have different qualities: some encourage relaxation; others stimulation. Certain oils have the ability to normalize the body’s symptoms. Garlic, for example, usually is taken in pill form rather than a topical lotion, can both raise low blood pressure and reduce high blood pressure. It may surprise you to learn that essential oils have the ability to ease arthritis on a number of levels. In the first instance, the correct oils can calm inflammation and ease pain. They reduce muscle tension, which may add to arthritic pain. Secondarily, there is a dramatic mind –body effect, since many oils have the power to remedy anxiety, depression, and anger. An aromatherapy massage promotes relaxation, which can be difficult to achieve when you are trying to cope with pain, stiffness, and immobility of a severe arthritic condition. A massage with essential oils makes you feel pampered, cared for, and soothed; all positive states of mind that can be helpful in aiding the natural healing process. Stress and Aromatherapy Practitioners of aromatherapy believe that essential oils affect our health primarily at the level of the mind and the emotions. The many chemicals in the oils directly influence our brain to promote positive thinking and optimism. Relief of stress sets the healing process in motion and alleviates any physical problems that may have resulted from stress and tension being held for a long time in the emotions. Treatments for Arthritis These self help aromatherapy treatments are suitable for safe, effective home use by arthritis sufferers. They have been devised by expert aroma therapist, Daniele Ryman: 1. Dip a small towel in a basin containing very hot water, mixed with 1 tbsp of cider vinegar, two drops each of pine and cypress oils, and one drop of lavender oil. Squeeze out excess liquid and apply the compress morning and night to the affected area. Follow with an application of olive or nut oil and keep the area warm. 2. Using a mild, unfragranced body shampoo as a base, make up an emulsion containing one drop each of pine, juniper, and cypress oils. Run hot water into the bath, and then add the emulsion. Lie in the bath for as long as possible. Afterward, wrap yourself in a warm cotton dressing gown and rest on your bed for 10 minutes. Pimento Massage Oil This oil is very warming, and can thus help to relieve the pain of arthritis: You will need: 2 tsp soybean oil 2 drops wheat germ oil 3 drops pimento oil Mix all ingredients together and apply to affected area. Message in well, then cover with a warm washcloth. Meditation Medication is the process of consciously quieting the mind. It is the ultimate mind over body therapy. It can enable the arthritis sufferer to achieve a deeper level of consciousness and in doing so; bring about relief from pain and the everyday problems with which arthritis is associated. Benefits of Meditation Meditation can achieve increased energy levels, improved concentration, better mental health, and relief from pain. It has also been shown that meditation can normalize hormonal activity, increase blood circulation, stimulate the immune system, and release muscular tension. The Relaxation Response It is now known that stress of all kinds, including trying to cope with the physical problems of chronic pain, stiffness, and immobility, have a severe effect on a wide range of body functions. When someone is continually stressed, the body’s arousal systems all go into overdrive and this results in large amounts of epinephrine (the body’s stress hormone) flooding into every cell of the body. This causes a permanent sensation of anxiety and unease, which, in time, you may not even notice. When this happens the body’s ability to relax becomes impaired, even during periods of sleep. Meditation has the power to reduce stress levels gradually and safely, so that the body’s self healing mechanisms can once more come into operation. Meditation allows the brain waves to slow down from beta to alpha. Alpha is the brain wave state in which healing, creativity, and positive thinking take place. In the alpha state, the mind slows down, becomes receptive, and senses rather than thinks. Meditation has been found to be very effective for pain relief, and is increasingly being used in hospitals, pain clinics, and hospices for this purpose. It requires some time to be set aside for daily practice, but the dividends, you may find, are invaluable. The effect on both mind and body from each session only lasts a few hours, which is why two dedicated sessions everyday are suggested by most experts.
(Visualization, Hydrotherapy, Acupuncture)
(Herbal Medicine, Osteopathy, Homeopathy)
(Chiropractic,Shiatsu,Reflexology)
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What is Arthritis?
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Arthritis?
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Gout
Juvenile Arthritis
Causes of Arthritis
Natural Therapies
How Common is
Arthritis?
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Gout
Juvenile Arthritis
Causes of Arthritis
Natural Therapies
All Natural Therapies Disscussed
Yoga, Aromatherapy, Meditation - Page 1
Visualization, Hydrotherapy, Acupuncture - Page 2
Herbal Medicine, Osteopathy, Homeopathy - Page 3
Chiropractic, Shiatsu, Reflexology - Page 4
Yoga, Aromatherapy, Meditation - Page 1
Visualization, Hydrotherapy, Acupuncture - Page 2
Herbal Medicine, Osteopathy, Homeopathy - Page 3
Chiropractic, Shiatsu, Reflexology - Page 4