Natural Medicines form the very foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Chinese Medicine practitioner offers dozens of medicinal herbs at their disposal, which have been utilized and studied over many hundreds of years. The application of these herbs includes diagnostics and pharmacology, and is specifically tailored to the needs of the individual individual. A very popular tenant of Chinese Medicine is the belief of treating the patients underlying problem or the root of the problem. The branch of symptoms displayed within the individual are the outward manifestations of a deeper underlying cause. When the root cause of illness is being treated the “branches” will invariably clear up.

Acupuncture is really a system rooted in this vast traditional healthcare system. It’s origins date back to more than 2,000 years ago, developing in the Han Dynasty. Historically, physicians utilized acupuncture to balance the bodies natural energy system. When this system was out of balance, people would experience “Dis- ease”.

Nowadays in Modern China, as well as in the west, Acupuncture is used as an integrative medicine or stand-alone to treat a wide-range of problems. The system involves placing small non-invasive needles that are inserted into specific anatomical points scattered throughout the body. By placing acupuncture needles into certain acupuncture points you initiate a naturally occurring healing response. Receiving acupuncture encourages the body to promote natural healing and to improve work.

Cupping is really a conventional system that has been used in the east for hundreds of years. It relieves inflammation and improves circulation to an area. This technique works by making a vacuum by placing the cupping glass over the skin. The cup creates suction on the skin, exciting the area, and increasing blood flow.

Moxabustion:

A small amount of direct moxibustion: moxa or mugwort is cone-shaped and positioned over the acupuncture point. It is considered one of the very best treatments. In particular the effect of moxibustion on immune function was studied at Kyushu University in Japan. It’s benefits have been reported as early as 1927 by Dr. Shimetaro. However, outside of Japan, it will never be performed on a routine basis. Directly tipped off blistering might have some undesirable results, such as, burn marks over the site, and hesitated scars. Avoid damaging the skin. Some practitioners prefer burning moxa between medium (slice ginger, topical paste, etc.) simply before it reaches the skin. Moxibustion sometimes referred to as non-scarring moxibustion directly or indirect moxibustion classification should not be considered the possible results derived straight from the primary effect of such direct moxibustion.

Before you run to the drugstore, take a look in your pantry for some organic remedies for heartburn!

Try one from the following:

Apple Cider Vinegar – While this may sound like a cause of and not a cure for heartburn, the weak acid in apple cider vinegar has an alkalizing effect on the stomach which neutralizes the damaging acids. It may not sound appealing so water it down if you want.

Sleep – A good night’s sleep is actually a cure for a lot of points including heartburn. Make sure to sleep on your right side to discourage stomach acids from flowing up into the esophagus. (And to make your slumber a restful one, indulge in bamboo sheets!)

Aloe Vera – Not just for sunburn relief, aloe vera comes in a gel or juice alternative. Please stay away from ingesting aloe vera directly from the plant. Proponents claim that aloe vera cures heartburn instantly by coating the lining with the esophagus.

Slippery Elm – While this may be new to several people, slippery elm was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia until 1960. Also popular for sore throat remedies, slippery elm’s inner bark consists of a gel-like substance that much like aloe vera coats the esophagus to relieve heartburn.

Chamomile – A well-known natural remedy already, chamomile’s anti-inflammatory characteristics also produce an anti-spasmodic effect within the stomach. Drink chamomile tea three times a day to not merely relieve holiday anxiety but to decrease the burning effects of heartburn.

Licorice – Not referring to stocking stuffer candy, the herb licorice comes in a chewable form referred to as DGL. There has been some analysis into why DGL might relieve heartburn suggesting that it could decrease inflammation inside the esophageal and stomach lining. In addition, if holiday pressure is getting to you, DGL might also stop the growth of harmful bacteria that bring about ulcers.

Marshmallow – They’re not just for s’mores anymore! Though marshmallows are a sugary offering to suggest, this really refers to the herb marshmallow which coats the esophagus in the exact same manner as slippery elm. To make marshmallow root tea, add one tablespoon of the dried herb to a cup of boiling water and let it steep, covered, for 10 minutes before straining. Word of warning though, please talk to your doctor first should you be a diabetic before trying marshmallow root.

Raw Potato – This might be the last thing you’d like to eat at the end of a festive night, but rumor has it that a slice of raw potato will alleviate heartburn pain.

Turmeric – An ounce of prevention goes a long way, or so they say. Turmeric spice can be sprinkled onto any food that might give you heartburn. It stimulates the flow of saliva which in turn neutralizes acids and helps suppress dangerous digestive acids. In the event you would rather, turmeric also comes in capsule form that may be taken prior to eating.

In recent years, the natural personal care market has grown by leaps and bounds. In fact, this niche now comprises a growing segment of the beauty market. Consumers have developed a strong interest in beauty items such as natural shampoo and conditioner, soap, facial care and body care products. This is more than just a passing trend as more and more consumers discover the myriad of benefits associated with these items.

One of the main advantages driving consumer consumption of natural products is the fact that they are, in fact, “nature” based. This means that consumers do not have to worry about the presence of such items as sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates in their facial, hair, and body care items. In addition, there is no PABA or parabens contained in these items. This is extremely important to many consumers who are concerned about the impact that such ingredients could have upon one’s health.

There are many other benefits linked to natural personal care products as well. Consumers who are also concerned about the use of animals in the production and testing of products will be pleased to know that this is not an issue with some natural personal care products. This is because no animal by-products are used in these items. Furthermore, there is no animal testing conducted in the manufacturing of some all natural products. This ensures that conscientious consumers can enjoy high quality health and beauty care without worrying about the impact of such goods on the animal population.

Many natural personal care products are also environmentally friendly because they are bio-degradable. This is a benefit that cannot be associated with most commercial health and beauty items. Through the use of completely natural personal care items, consumers can rest easy knowing they are not damaging the environment.

A wide range of natural health and beauty items are now available today. Consumers can choose products for every aspect of their hygiene regimen. Some also offer another distinct advantage and that is the use of certified organic ingredients that are considered to be far superior for the health of the entire body. These products include certified organic Aloe Vera gel and other natural products such as hair shampoo, soap, body care and facial care.

Many consumers who have tried natural personal care products are now so firmly convinced of the benefits of these items they have completely switched from non-natural products. Such consumers often see the purchase of natural health and beauty care products as a sound investment in their overall health as well as a way to contribute to the improvement of the environment around them.

Eczema, a non contagious inflammation of the skin characterized by redness and itching, inflicts about 15 million Americans. This chronic condition affects mostly children and infants, but may extend into adulthood. It is more common in urban areas, and affects both males and females. Depending on the severity and extent of eczema, there are many natural healing strategies available to help manage it.

Skin care
Keeping the skin healthy is the first defense against eczema. Daily baths in lukewarm water, moisturizing of the skin, and avoiding perspiration by keeping the temperature at home at a moderate level are basic recommendations to minimize discomfort. Applying moisturizer when the skin is still damp after a bath will help lock in moisture and keep skin from drying out.

Eczema natural healing approaches
There are many prescriptions and medical treatments that are available for eczema. However, most cases of eczema can be naturally treated with herbal supplements and other natural remedies. Various herbal treatments have been proven effective when opting for an eczema natural healing method.

A few examples of effective eczema natural healing remedies that should be applied to the affected areas regularly for best results are: mixture of coconut oil (1 part) and sesame oil (2 parts), combination of camphor (1 tsp) and sandal wood (1 tsp) or mashed papaya seeds. Spearmint leaf juice has been proven to be highly effective. Some patients reported significant improvement after using tea tree oil. Eczema Emu Oil is another common solution to eczema natural healing solutions. The main idea of a treatment is to moisturize the skin to help replenish its natural protective oils. Eczema Emu Oil is natural oil that will nourish the skin and replace lost oils. It comes in oil or topical treatment, but it is also available in the form of shampoo or soap that can be used as an alternative to regular soap. There are many benefits of Eczema Emu Oil. Some of the most profound benefits are its anti-inflammatory and hypoallergenic properties.

Eczema Clothing
To ease the symptoms of eczema, especially at night, it is important to wear the right type of clothing. The best option is 100% organic cotton. For children, it is important to select the right size for your child. A garment that is too big will move over the skin during movement, and any rough areas of the skin will catch on the fabric and cause discomfort. The size should allow free movement, and be fairly close fitting without being tight.

Prevention of eczema is a part of eczema natural healing strategy. There are many different triggers of eczema, and avoiding these triggers will help you win your battle with the itchy illness.

Avoid citrus fruit as food. With a high concentration of citric acid, it has been known to cause eczema flare ups. Avoid chemicals and plants in the environment. Use a fragrance free lotion. Most importantly, as difficult as it might be, avoid scratching the skin. The eczema might become contagious and spread from one part of the body to another.

Regardless of the steps you take, an effective eczema natural healing strategy can help you get the relief you need.

In 2009, the BBC News announced that researchers believed they have nailed the root cause of ringing in the ears, which brings them closer to a cure for tinnitus. More new findings by scientists had been reported lately, indicating a cure for tinnitus in the very near future.

The results showed that gene changes is the main trigger for buzzing in the ears and that the gene modification is the consequence of out of control nerve activity. Although the experiments and findings were conducted in guinea pigs, the researchers believed that their studies will eventually find a cure for tinnitus in humans.

Meanwhile, there are numerous holistic tinnitus therapies; a few more powerful than others.

Maskers
Many tinnitus sufferers use maskers with great results. Maskers are wonderful for allowing the tinnitus sufferer to enjoy a better night’s rest. The maskers work by producing a selected band of sound, generally known as ‘white’ noise which hide the unwanted ringing sound in the ears.

Antidepressants
In more serious cases, the continual ringing in the ears seriously affects a person and result in great deal of stress which requires the use of anti-depressants.

However the use of antidepressants frequently have side effects which can be fairly uncomfortable including drying of the mouth, blurring of vision and constipation.

Surgery
Surgery is sometimes, nevertheless very rarely used to treat tinnitus. Sadly surgical procedure does not guarantee a cure for tinnitus. As a matter of fact, surgical procedures will not even promise that your tinnitus situation will improve.

Because conventional treatment though expensive and heavily researched into merely present temporary cure for tinnitus, many sufferers are looking for assistance from substitute cures such as acupuncture, herbal concoction and accupressure.

The majority of alternative treatment plans including accupressure and acupuncture do not have uncomfortable side effects helping to make these cure for tinnitus very desirable. Even more attractive is the fact that some of the alternative cure for tinnitus are known to provide long-term relief.

Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy had been recognized to offer relief in certain types of tinnitus specifically where the problem lies with poor blood circulation. In such instances, rosemary, cypress, lemon and rose are the standard essential oils used.

Herbal Prescription
One such mixture will include Ginkgo Biloba, Black Cohosh, Hawthorn and Melatonin.

Ginkgo extract is found in a lot of herbal concoction and benefits a selection of health issues including tinnitus, dizziness, headaches, depression and anxiety.

Black cohosh reduces blood congestion and stress in the head. Hawthorn is a cure tinnitus since it is a tonic for the circulatory system.

Melatonin along with Sulodexide is a practicable treatment option for individuals struggling with central or sensorineural tinnitus as it tackles sleep disturbances related to tinnitus.

Relaxation Therapies
Stress relief and relaxation therapies help ease the discomfort and pain of tinnitus, particularly deep massages to the head, neck and chest area.

Workout routines in general work well in helping the entire body to destress and relieve tension because it promotes good blood flow, which is useful for most tinnitus ailments.

A good and efficient way of promoting blood circulation is via accupressure and acupuncture. These techniques had been used for hundreds of years and are often proves to be powerful not simply for tinnitus but also a broad range of ailments.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
TRT teaches the tinnitus sufferer to refocus their attention on non-tinnitus matter. Clinically, TRT had proved to be an effective cure for tinnitus, but in truth, its refocus principle is very similar to the masking technique.

One of the popular traditional Chinese medicines is acupressure. This ancient Chinese method uses twelve meridians or energy points in the human body to treat it from pain. By applying soft but firm pressure through the hands it can reach out to these meridians which are scattered all over the body from the fingertips that are connected to the brain and the organs which are harmoniously connected to a specific meridian.

While acupuncture uses thin needles to stimulate the twelve meridian points, acupressure utilizes the hands to reach them out using pressure. Both of these widely accepted Chinese medicines use the same energy points or meridians. Lots of scientific data abounds that support the belief that acupuncture is really effective.

Many have proven that acupressure has been an effective approach to treat tension caused health problems. With the use of the human hand, it has the power and sensitivity to connect and stimulate the meridian points to experience a new energy on the human body. It views the total human person as a whole composed of a body, mind, and spirit and with emotions. This approach allows it to relax the body from muscular tension and ignites the balancing of the body to make it enjoy a health feeling.

Acupressure has been known to provide the patient to be relieved of stress and tension. It relaxes the body and mind after every session. It also increases blood circulation by aiding it is cleansing the body of toxins. It promotes fast healing from injuries through increased energy levels after stimulating the energy points. It is likewise a good aid in decreasing pains during labor on women.

With these numerous health benefits derived from acupressure, it is worthwhile to note that fingers are the only medium used. However, only trained and professional therapist is qualified to give the best results. It is a skill possessed only by qualified therapist to pinpoint the area to be pressed on the surface of the body. Failure to identify the exact points would result to non stimulation of the natural self healing attributes of the body. It would be fruitless that after each session nothing beneficial is experienced by the patient if done by unqualified therapist in acupressure.

Specifically, acupressure has been a great relief for neck pain, headaches, eyestrain, sinus issues, muscles and backaches, arthritis and a good tension buster. It helps the body to regain stronger resistance against sickness thereby promoting the general wellness of the individual that avails it.

Going over the information about Chinese medicines, it is pointed out that there are more than eight hundred vital energy points along the main twelve meridians in the human body. These are connected that are scattered from the heels up to the head with concentrations on both sides of the spinal column. Each energy point has its own therapeutic stimulation to the connected organ. In applying acupressure, therapeutic treatment is relayed on the specific organ affected by stimulating that vital point along the meridians.

However, there are important guides in choosing acupressure massage. One is to consult your doctor if you have health problems before undergoing this massage. Second, if you have qualified to receive this massage, be sure to drink lots of warm water after the session to facilitate the excretion of toxins from your body.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the epitome of Chinese culture. For 5,000 years it has served the Chinese people, and its use has spread all over the world. Today, more people than ever practice TCM to treat a wide range of health conditions.

The premise of TCM is that illness is caused by a blockage of energy flow so treatments are aimed at removing the blockage. TCM includes the following treatment modalities–

Acupuncture

Based on the belief that energy flows through living things along pathways called meridians. Each organ system has a meridian. Needles are inserted at points on these meridians to balance the flow of energy and restore health. A wide variety of health problems can be helped by acupuncture.

Auriculotherapy

Points on the outer ear correspond to parts of the body. By stimulating these points on the auricle or outer portion of the ear, you can treat the body. Dieters and substance abusers have claimed success with auriculotherapy.

Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine is the most common form of TCM. Approximately 1,000 plants and animals are used to make 500 common prescriptions. Preparations combine 5-15 ingredients to make a tea or capsule. The ingredients and amounts are altered to fit a patient’s condition.

Cupping

Rounded cups are warmed and placed upside down on the back. The cups create suction that holds them to the skin which in turn boosts circulation. It is said to stimulate ‘qi’ — energy flow. Cupping is used for pain relief, depression, and inflammation.

Gua Sha

Sometimes called scraping therapy, Gua Sha is the practice of scraping the back, neck, shoulders, or chest with a flat, rounded tool. The red marks that surface are ‘sha’ which is said to be cellular debris — lymph, blood cells, etc. — trapped in the tissue. Gua sha is used for pain relief especially for those who store stress in the back and shoulders.

Moxibustion

Often used to treat back pain, menstrual cramps, or digestive troubles. In moxibustion the herbs mugwort or wormwood are burned on top of the acupuncture needle to help restore the flow of energy.

Tui Na

In this form of massage, the client wears loose clothing and no shoes. Sometimes herbal preparations may be applied. Tui na is not a ‘feel good’ type of massage, but aims to get restore movement to frozen joints. Students practice on bags of sand and rice to strengthen their hands before working with a person.

While TCM is practiced routinely in China, in other countries it is considered a complementary or alternative health practice. Nevertheless, statistics from the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine show Americans increasingly use this form of treatment.

Treatments for tinnitus are available using various methods. You can treat the problem by taking certain medications or with surgery, but both of these are quite expensive, while the results are not at all guaranteed. For sufferers who are looking for more affordable treatments, natural remedies are an ideal choice. There are natural ways that you can try to relieve the ringing sounds. Below are some known natural remedies that may relieve your tinnitus:

1. Massage: Massage is an ancient natural remedy to relieve pains or other discomforts. Massage is a simple remedy since you can do it yourself at home. First, press your ears closely to the head using your index fingers and thumbs. Then, massage your earlobes and outer edges of the ear carefully.

2. Exercises: Exercises are known to help reduce tinnitus. There are some exercises you can do such as jogging, walking, aerobics, swimming or cycling. At first, your auditory symptoms might get worse but you will find improvements as you continue doing exercises.

3. Herbs: You should thankful to mother nature for providing many herbs that have been used to reduce the ringing sensations. Ginkgo leaf extract is an herb that you can use to improve blood circulation to the neck and brain. Other popular herbs are golden seal, fenugreek seed tea, black cohosh, plantain and onion juice.

4. Enough sleep: Without enough sleep, your energy levels will be reduced, leaving you tired much of the time. Tinnitus sufferers should try to get a good night’s sleep to relax their body and improve energy.

5. Sound therapy: This kind of therapy is useful to help the brain normalize the sound perception. The therapy involves a selection of music that produces certain frequencies. This will stimulate receptor cell located in the middle of your ear. The treatment will make you more comfortable to high-pitched sounds.

6. Relaxation and meditation: Stress is one of the causes of tinnitus. Therefore, you can relieve the ringing sound by reducing stress. Practice medication technique for 30 minutes a day until the ringing sensation disappears.

7. Acupressure: Traditional Chinese healers say that tinnitus is the result of interference of energy flow. Based on this fact, they use acupressure to redirect nervous system energy and improve blood flow. This treatment also helps your body release Endorphins, a brain relaxation chemical that helps you ease the ringing sounds.

8. Acupuncture: Last but not least, you can choose acupuncture to improve your auditory system. Acupuncture is a treatment using thin needles placed into your skin. It may sound painful but this traditional treatment is actually painless and safe because the needles are much thinner than the ones used for medical injections. Acupuncture helps you eliminate the buzzing or ringing sounds in as short a time as a few hours.

Ours is a society consumed with the need to be healthy and beautiful. In the past pharmaceutical companies have made a small fortune capitalizing on the need of millions to appear young and attractive throughout their lifetime; however, the times, they are a changing’.

In recent years the wars between pharmaceuticals and homeopathic remedies has raged fiercely-and natural health care products are coming back in style.

A few short centuries ago men and women didn’t have antibiotics, opiates or thousands of vitamins designed to keep them healthy. They relied entirely on natural health care products to do the job. In time, progress brought us chemicals, surgeries and a million artificial ways to keep our bodies healthy.

The problem is, the human body is a very precise system. Not enough calcium, your bones become brittle. Too much potassium and your heart stops. Yes, these are extremes (for everyone who just looked at their bananas in horror!) and unlikely to happen in the course of everyday living, but you get the picture.

When we fill our bodies with chemicals we may be doing some good things, but there’s a reason that all medications and vitamins come with warning labels and side effects. Our bodies aren’t meant to be filled with chemicals. Why do you think processed and preserved foods are so bad for you? Our bodies need the all natural ingredients they’re made from, which is why natural health care products are coming back into style.

Studies have shown throughout the years that natural health care products can be as effective as the industrially manufactured variety for treating various ailments. We use honey to coat a sore throat and soothe a cough, fever few to treat migraines (an herbal therapy recommended by many neurologists), ginger to treat nausea (in the form of tea and ginger ale), and cayenne to soothe inflammation in the stomach and intestine. We take vitamin C to treat the common cold and Aloe Vera to soothe sunburn.

In fact, you’ve probably been using natural health care products most of your life and not even realized it!

Aside from promoting your general health in ways that don’t cause nasty side effects and allergic reactions on a regular basis, natural health care products also tend to come with a slightly lower price tag than their pharmaceutical counterparts-a bonus for anyone. This isn’t always the case, since fresh ingredients may cost more to obtain than their synthesized counterparts, but it applies often enough to balance out the difference.

When it comes to treating your body, natural health care products are the preferred choice of cells and organs everywhere.

Sinusitis can be a very debilitating infection because it affects not only your sinuses but the whole upper frontal area of the head. It can give the sufferer unbearable headaches and pain through the upper cheeks and forehead which affects their ability to think clearly. What has been found with sinusitis is that not all remedies help all people and the reason for this is that there are various causes of the problem.

Over the years there have been many different natural healing remedies for sinus infection and some give relief to some people and others will benefit another group of people.

These remedies stem from other forms of “medicine” at times, other theories than what conventional, or allopathic, medicine professes. In saying that though, they all have one common denominator: they have all brought relief to some individuals at some stage.

Often by simply opening your mind, your horizons, and your willingness to try a slightly different approach can make the difference to the results you will achieve.

Sinus Solutions with an Ancient Chinese touch

Acupuncture

This form of ancient Chinese medical practice has at long last been accepted by the Western world and in fact some medical practitioners now encourage certain patients to try this as a form of relief for sinusitis.

Acupuncture works on the theory of the regulation of what the Chinese call “qi” or vital energy, but it stimulates the flow of blood as well. The very think, delicate needles are placed in certain parts of the body that are affected by, or causing a particular health problem.

This is a relief from sinusitis that needs to be given by a qualified acupuncturist. It is not something that one should attempt to do themselves.

Acupressure

As you may have guessed, this is a method of using pressure rather than needles to perform the task and is one that a sufferer can do themselves. Essentially the pressure is used in similar areas to that of acupuncture for sinusitis relief.

A popular place is placing your thumbs on either side of your nose, about halfway up. Press firmly against the cartilage of the nostrils. Hold this pressure for 30 seconds. Repeat this often throughout the day. This pressure has the effect of draining and clearing the sinus cavities.

Other Natural Methods For Any Time Of Day

Facial massage

Sinus affects the area from the nose, across under the eyes and out towards your ears (not all the way though) and above the nose in the forehead. A relief that many people have found is to massage the cheek area, starting next to the nose and pulling away towards the ears, to the outer edge of the eye. The strength of pressure applied will depend on how firmly you can stand the pressure. Do this several times and you fill find it helping to clear the sinus cavities.

Reflexology

Another very popular form of sinus relief, but some doubt it because funnily enough you are working with your hands, not your face.

Use a golf ball and roll it over the palms of both of your hands. For your sinus problems, be sure the ball visits the palm of your hands that lie directly below the thumb. Continue you this for 30 seconds at 30 second intervals for 5 minutes. It is suggested that you do not use this strategy as a continuing form of relief, but as an alternative one from time to time.

There are also pressure points just under the top pads of your toes, slightly towards the lateral side. As well, there is a reflex point on the ridge directly under the base of your toes. This is a pressure point for the Eustachian Tubes of your ears.

When you self-massage these areas, you want to do so gingerly and carefully, at first. When your sinuses are inflamed, you may discover that touching this point can be extremely painful. The beauty of these natural methods is that they can be very good for immediate relief and some of them, such as the facial massaging can be done anywhere at any time.