alternativemedicineresources.net

People’s attitudes towards drugs and medicines are changing. As recent posts report misuse of drugs and accidental overdose of prescribed man made medicines, more and more people are seeking alternative sources of medicines which have less likelihood of putting you at risk if something goes wrong.

Herbal remedies have been created from plant extracts. It’s during the photosynthesis process that plants will produce the substances that are useful within medicines when the plants are picked. It’s the plants natural defences that we are wanting to reap, as it is these properties that benefit us.
Herbal alternatives now include various minerals, fungi plants and can be also found in certain animal parts and the products of bees. There are also compounds in spices and herbs that we use in daily cooking which provide positive medicinal benefits to our bodies.
So rather than continue to consume pre-formed tablets for the next cold or illness you get, think about other natural products that could still provide the same end result as conventional man made medicines, but without the risk of creating other health issues if dosed wrong.

Pharmacists at a Singapore hospital incorrectly administrated the wrong dose of a chemotherapy drug, leaving doctors struggling to safe the patient’s life.

The proposed treatment was 5-FU (5 fluorouracil) that should have been dispensed over a five day period in slow, controlled amounts. What was administered though was the full five day amount all within a five hour period, via the infusion pump which automatically releases the doses which are programmed in.

There have been previous cases of over dosing of 5-FU which have been fatal, as it only takes twice the amount of the prescribed drug for it to become poisonous. An antidote is currently in trials and not yet approved for use in Singapore, but the hospital is hoping to flush the patients system of the drug to stabilise the situation.

The hospital directors are monitoring the patient and are currently seeking authorisation to provide her with the antidote. New processes are to be put in place to prevent a 5 day course of treatment ever being given over a much shortened 5 hour period again.

It has been revealed that the pain relief drug OxyContin is no longer to be manufactured in 160mg tablet size, due to an a rapid increase in the number of patients overdosed and died from taking the drug.

The drug is prescribed to combat moderate to high feelings of pain, and should be taken every 4 hours to build up its effect. The problem lies with abusers of the drug who are dissolving away the 12 hour time release coating on the outer of the tablet and then taking the tablet. This allows the drug to work quicker with greater effect, whereas it should be on a time release with a slow release in to the body. The effect that is then experienced gives a massive rush, which is similar to the quick euphoric rush achieved by heroin, which is making the drug very addictive to those who are removing the time release coating.

OxyContin is still available on prescription in smaller doses ranging from 10mg to 80mg. Additional warnings are being made public to increase awareness of the potential problems that can come about if used incorrectly.

The Ukraine has recently been hit by an outbreak of a flu virus, which has affected over 1 million people to date. Travellers to the country have been alerted to take protective measures if they still wish to travel there, as the wide spread illness looks to be to unfolding to become a pandemic.

What started in the summer of this year ion isolated areas is now nationwide and thought to be a virus related to that of the human swine flu sickness.

The World Health Organisation have been making studies across the Ukraine region in an effort to pin point the epicentre of the virus outbreak and are looking at ways of stemming its movement by introducing vaccinations to the population.

Check Ukraine tourist information prior to departure for updates on affected areas if you are planning to journey to the country.

Fears that the levels of clinically obese people in Northern Ireland could rise so high that in 40 years time the health service won’t be able to cope under the sheer volume of obese patients requiring treatment.

The forecast predicts that 50% of women and at least two thirds of men will fall into this category by 2050 and require medical help. At present within Northern Ireland around 450 deaths per year have stemmed from obesity related problems, and its estimated that the average life expectancy has been reduced by nine years because if it.

To combat the problem, the Northern Irish health council are recommending compulsory classes for school children on food education and are looking at implementing advertising bans on unhealthy foods, plus there is the consideration to introduce a traffic light system on food packaging highlighting any products with high sugars, salts and fats.

There has been £800,000 GBP set aside to assist with the programme in Northern Ireland, but this seems low when compared to Scotland’s annual allocation several million pounds to tackle their obesity problems.

We’ve all seen Derren Brown on the television using powers of hypnosis on random people as way to manipulate their senses to get them to do or think something which is not actually true or real.

The mind is a powerful tool that works constantly for us, taking in sounds, smells, differing tastes and touches that are all interpreted by the brain and then tells us what is it and what to do.

Hypnosis is the modification of patients thought patterns which then lead to behavioural changes. By inducing a trace state on a subject, the hypnotist can alter the perceptions of the patient whilst in this state to address stress related issues, certain pains a patient may be suffering or to stop ongoing bad habits like smoking or excessive drinking.

Not everyone is susceptible to hypnosis, and not all of those that undergo the process benefit from being hypnotised. Do some research first and find a professional to see how you could benefit from this type of treatment.

Massages have always been used as a relaxant, to de-stress the body and relieve tight muscles from aches and pains. A relatively new method of massage that is becoming popular as an alternative to prescription medicines is deep tissue massage.

Deep tissue massage provides relief from chronic muscle issues and problems relating to connective tissue. As these massages are penetrating deeper to the core of muscles, the movements associated with a deep massage are usually slower and more pressured than an ordinary massage. This is to re-align the deep muscles which are causing the problem.

The patient can experience some pain while undergoing a deep tissue massage, as not only are the fingers used, but the masseuse will use their elbows, palms and knuckles to manipulate pressure on the muscle, hard enough to have an effect.

It’s not suitable for pregnant women or those recovering from surgery. Nor should it be done if the patient has any bruising or unhealed wounds close to the area that requires treatment. Prior to booking your deep tissue massage, always seek professional medical advice from either a doctor qualified masseuse.

Green tea has been considered very beneficial to a person’s health for some time now. The primary bonus is that green tea is high in antioxidants which can help as a preventive measure to illness leading to cancer and heart disease. Because of its natural ingredients, and the fact its leaves are not fermented prior to brewing, the tea is also low in caffeine.

Recent research has found that there are further health benefits from drinking green tea on a regular basis, such as:

Prevention of strokes occurring. Up to three cups a day could reduce your risk by 21%.

Improved health of gums and teeth. By sipping a green tea drink per day research showed reductions in patients of periodontal disease, or as it is more commonly known – gum disease.

Reduction of stress. The presence of amino acid L-theanine within green tea lends itself to bring on relaxation and relieve stress.

The eastern religions have long supported and promoted the use of alternative medicines. One method as used by the Indian Hindu school of thought is healing stones on your body’s chakras points. This has only become apparent to the western civilisation in recent years, but is being introduced in the UK as the country expands its cultural awareness and diversity.

Chakras are points along the body, with the main seven chakras positioned along nerve points up and down the spinal column. There are smaller chains of chakras along the arms and legs, but it is thought that those along the length of the spine are the most affected by the placement of healing stones.

The recommended healing stones are specific to certain chakras points and to specific ailments. The colour of the stones is also linked the differing limbs with chakras points. The size also affects the strength of the stone.

There are qualified practitioners who will diagnose what is the best fit remedy using healing stones, or alternatively, you can become self taught in this area and purchase stones of varying qualities via the web.

A popular alternative that more and more people are choosing is acupuncture. This process involves the patient lying down and having very thin needles inserted in to specific areas of the body, that are left in for around 30 minutes.

The instruments used are called filiform needles, which penetrate the skin along the bodies meridians for pain relieve and improve, well being and Qi (pronounced ch’i).

Originating from China, acupuncture has been used for centuries as a remedy for a variety of illnesses and complaints. It first came under scrutiny from western civilisation scientific research in the 20th century, and to this day, there are still sceptics in the medical field who doubt the healing benefits of acupuncture.

Should you wish to try acupuncture for any aliment you have, first research within your local area any qualified alternative health centres where acupuncture is undertaken. As well as addressing health problems, acupuncture has been used for addressing addictions like smoking. They will ensure that all needles are sterilised, and discuss with you first the health problems you have, to make sure they pin point (no pun intended) the correct meridian zones, relevant to the health issue.