Alternative — Page 34

February 24, 2010 by admin

Maybe your doctor recently broke the news that you have diabetes. Or you have learnt that you are at risk of getting diabetes. And so now you are worried scared of what diabetes will do to you. Worried about the drugs you have to take and their side effects. Its not just you who alone is worrying. There are about 21 million American adults and children who suffer from some form of diabetes. Though insulin and other anti diabetic drugs are available, many are now resorting to alternative medicine.

What exactly is diabetes?

Diabetes is condition in which the glucose in your blood is higher than normal either because the hormone insulin is not secreted at all or whatever insulin is secreted does not work properly. This increased blood glucose affects almost all the important organs in our body including the heart and kidney. It is said that diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death. Insulin and oral anti diabetic drugs are routinely prescribed to treat diabetes.

Alternative medicine the new trend

The faith in alternative medicine is rising very steeply and it is estimated that as much as 50% of the American people are using some form of alternative treatment. One of the surveys conducted on alternative medicine concluded that people felt there were added benefits from alternative medicine use, lower cost, and perceived fewer side effects.

The alternative medicine for treating diabetes is basically divided in to two categories:

*Those that can control the blood sugar levels

*Those that help in weight loss and thus indirectly control diabetes.

To control blood sugar levels

Vitamin and mineral supplements help the body to secrete insulin well that helps in controlling diabetes. It is said that minerals like chromium, magnesium, vanadium and zinc help control the blood sugar levels.

Many plant foods decrease the blood sugar levels by virtue of their fiber content among other mechanisms. Some of the popular plant foods that are used to control blood sugar are fenugreek seeds, peas, brewer’s yeast, buckwheat, broccoli, garlic, ginger, ginseng, hawthorn, nettle and okra.

To control weight

Type II diabetes is associated with obesity. It is said that maintaining optimum weight is the single most important factor in controlling blood sugar in Type II diabetes. People use many substances as part of alternative treatment to bring down their weight and thus indirectly control diabetes. Some of the popular substances used to control weight are extract of Hoodia gordonii, chitosan, camsogia garcinia, pyruvate, germander, Momordica charanta, Sauropus androgynus and aristolochic acid.

The other alternative therapies being used to treat diabetes are – faith healing, reflexology, macrobiosis, astrotherapy (tying pieces of coral around the arms), pearl therapy (oyster pearls boiled in milk and then drinking the liquid), meditation, ayurveda and homeopathy.

Markus writes and publishes articles about Alternative medicine for diabetes, and other unbiased topics.

5 Types of Alternative Medicine to Consider

February 24, 2010 by admin

There has been a growing debate over whether or not alternative medicine is effective. While it has not been scientifically proven to heal illnesses, it has been known to work for many people. And because of this, the various treatments continue to grow in popularity. Here are 5 types of alternative medicine you may find yourself needing in the future.

1. Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be done for a number of different conditions. The treatment consists of placing fine needles into the body at various points along the body’s energy channels. It has been found to be a promising treatment for dental pain and nausea for chemo. Additionally, it is used to treat arthritis and back pain, but has not been proven to help either of these conditions.

2. Biofeedback
This is one of the more controversial alternative medicine treatments because of the effects it has on the mind. It is a procedure in which electronic monitors help train a patient to use the mind to relax and control pain. Throughout the procedure, the heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tensions are measured. It has been found to help patients with back pains, headaches, fibromyalgia, and muscle pains.

3. Chiropractic
Chiropractic has become perhaps the most practiced alternative medicine out. There are thousands of chiropractic offices where a patient can go in and get adjusted and be on their way. Chiropractic is a system of spinal adjustments or manipulations that help correct misalignment of the vertebrae. It can be helpful for back pains, neck pains, headaches, sports injuries and anything else related to the spinal cord.

4. Hypnosis
This is a practice that induces an intense state of focused attention with the hope that the subconscious mind becomes more powerful. There is some solid evidence that this alternative medicine treatment can reduce pain and anxiety. It can also assist in relieving chronic pain, severe burns, and disorders that are worsened by stress.

5. Magnet therapy
Magnet therapy is done by placing magnets on the body to stimulate circulation and increase the release of the body’s own-relieving chemicals. There is little evidence that can prove that this method really does work. However, there are a number of athletes that are adamant that this treatment works.

For now, many alternative medicine treatments do not have concrete evidence that they do work effectively. Despite this, many of the methods continue to grow in popularity and more and more people every year are turning to alternative medicine to treat their illnesses.

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Alternative Medicine for Diabetes

5 Types of Alternative Medicine to Consider