Natural therapy making a comeback...

[Guest guest]

http://www.felixonline.co.uk/2002-04/article.php?aid=1904

Natural therapy making a comeback

After months of being afflicted with a painful verruca on his foot, my

brother had completely given up all hope of ever getting rid of it. He’d

tried everything the pharmacist could come up with – bazooka that verruca my

foot (pardon the pun), but alas, it just was not meant to go.

So I idly started to search the internet for possible remedies, when I came

across quite a strange idea. The cure was to tape a piece of banana skin to

the verruca and leave it overnight.

It sounded totally insane, so we had to try it out of sheer curiosity. I cut

out some pieces of banana skin, stuck them to his foot with plasters, and

amazingly, the verruca disappeared overnight.

We were in awe of the fact that a banana peel had done what all these highly

researched and patented drugs failed to do.

It is because of these so-called reliable drugs failing, that more and more

people are turning to natural therapies. There’s also the upside that they

don’t play too many games with your poor liver (which probably has enough

problems dealing with alcohol anyway).

GlaxoKline’s shares have plummeted 12% this year. This has been partly

caused by a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical giant claiming they had

concealed information that would have alerted physicians that the

antidepressant Paxil (Seroxat in the UK) could be harmful to children or

adolescents. Now, this is not the first time a major pharmaceutical company

has had a lawsuit filed against them, and in view of that fact a recent

survey found that around 70-80% of US consumers have an inherent mistrust in

the industry. A more local survey suggested that around one in five people

in the UK have tried at least one form of complementary therapy.

Patients are evidently becoming increasingly aware of the side effects and

limitations of conventional medicines, and consequently, more and more are

turning to complementary therapies.

Complementary medicine often focuses on the entire individual, rather than

specifically targeting their afflictions. Diet, environment and lifestyle

are also taken into account along with the mental, emotional and spiritual

health of the patient. The treatment aims to not only cure the disease, but

to promote an overall sense of well-being, hence preventing the patient from

a relapse. Patients are often actively involved in their treatments. Rather

than being prescribed a generic drug, the treatments are very much

personalised to fit the patient’s lifestyle.

Most complementary therapies are based on the idea that the body has a

natural ability to treat any disease, but just needs a kick start, so

treatments often aim to stimulate this natural healing ability in the body.

There are five main complementary therapies - acupuncture, osteopathy,

chiropractic, homeopathy and herbalism. Other popular therapies include

naturopathy (natural remedies like sunlight, diet and massage), aromatherapy

and massage. There are also more unusual therapies involving things like

magnets and crystals. Other cultures have whole disciplines of complementary

therapies, ayurvedic medicine from India, for example.

In acupuncture, fine, sterile needles are gently inserted into selected

points on the skin, known as acupoints. This is said to balance the flow of

vital energy (Qi, pronounced ‘chee’) in the body and regulate organ

function. Research has shown that acupuncture actually triggers the release

of endorphins in the brain, so even though it sounds painful, it is actually

reducing pain! Thousands of acupuncture studies have been carried out all

over the world, showing it to be effective for a wide range of ailments

including asthma, headaches, menstrual problems, digestive problems and high

blood pressure. It is also increasingly being used in obstetrics and has

been found to reduce morning sickness and ease labour. The World Health

Organisation recognises over a hundred conditions that can be helped by

acupuncture.

According to osteopathic theory, the musculoskeletal structure of the body

and its function are closely connected, and so spinal imbalance can lead to

discomfort and disease. Correcting the imbalance and improving the range of

movement can therefore both ease pain and improve organ function. It was Dr.

Still who devised a system of manipulation techniques known as

osteopathy to rebalance the framework of the body, improve joint mobility

and allow proper function of the internal organs. Palmer, a

gifted amateur practitioner, believed that disease was a result of the

nervous system functioning abnormally. He developed techniques for relaxing

the spinal muscles and freeing the body’s natural healing energy, and this

system of therapy became known as chiropractic. Osteopathy and chiropractic

are collectively known as manipulation techniques.

These techniques have been shown to be beneficial for joint and back

problems, especially lower back pain, neck stiffness and knee problems. It

can also help relieve headaches and ear, nose and throat problems. Some

osteopaths and chiropractors also treat general health problems such as

digestive disorders, menstrual imbalance and urinary disturbance.

Homeopathy is essentially fighting fire with fire. It was first discovered

by Dr. Hahnemann, who was distressed by the barbaric medical methods of his

time (bleeding, purging, and leeches). He observed that the cinchona bark,

which was then being used to treat malaria, had toxicological effects if

given to a healthy person. The bark often produced attacks of fever, very

similar to the malaria fever. But when small doses of the bark were

administered to malaria patients, the malaria fevers were reduced. Hahnemann

deduced that infinitesimal doses of substances which would cause symptoms in

a healthy person were capable of curing similar symptoms in a sick person.

Tiny doses of plant, animal or mineral extracts are soaked in alcohol,

diluted and shaken vigorously. The patient is then advised on dosage. The

more a substance is diluted, the stronger its therapeutic effect and potency

is thought to be. No one knows exactly how homeopathy works, but some

studies have shown that extremely diluted amounts of poisons like arsenic

and lead can help remove the actual poison from the cells and reduce its

harmful effects.

In a famous, but controversial study, the French professor Jacques Beneviste

claimed to show that even when a substance is so diluted that it can no

longer be detected, it can still somehow influence living cells. In a later

study he found that this effect only occurs if the substance has been

vigorously shaken and not if it has been frozen or overheated. Other recent

studies suggest that water may be able to carry a ‘memory’ of the original

substance. Homeopathy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of hay

fever, asthma, skin disease, colds and flu, high blood pressure, whooping

cough, insomnia, irritable bowel and depression.

Every ancient civilisation has used plants for healing purposes, and herbal

medicine is probably the most ancient form of medicine in the world. Around

three quarters of the world’s population, especially those in developing

countries, rely on herbal medicine - and almost a quarter of all modern

prescription drugs, are derived from plant sources, aspirin from willow

bark, for example. Recently, it was found that green tea is particularly

potent in fighting cancer, and work is being done to extract the particular

chemical agent responsible.

The stems, leaves, flowers, roots, bark, berries, fruits and seeds of plants

can be used to make a medicine. The medicinal part of the plant is harvested

or extracted and then either dried for use in teas or made into ointments,

powders, pills, capsules, lozenges or liquid tinctures. Different herbs have

been shown to be useful for a wide variety of conditions, for example,

echinacea and goldenseal are known to boost the immune system and garlic is

used by many individuals as a protection against atherosclerosis, coronary

thrombosis, stroke and even some types of cancer.

With more and more people taking an interest in their own health,

complementary therapies will continue to become increasingly popular. As

well as other benefits, it’s also just far easier to purchase a box of

echinacea tea than try and haggle some antibiotics from the pharmacist (not

that I’ve tried).

Even trained medics are slowly taking an interest. Psychiatrists are using

hypnotherapy, anaesthesiologists are getting help from acupuncture and

physiotherapists are using acupressure and reflexology. There are so many

aspects of our nature that modern medicine ignores (particularly non

physiological effects), that it seems inevitable that the tide will turn

towards holistic health.

Anushri Patel

[Guest guest]

http://www.felixonline.co.uk/2002-04/article.php?aid=1904

Natural therapy making a comeback

After months of being afflicted with a painful verruca on his foot, my

brother had completely given up all hope of ever getting rid of it. He’d

tried everything the pharmacist could come up with – bazooka that verruca my

foot (pardon the pun), but alas, it just was not meant to go.

So I idly started to search the internet for possible remedies, when I came

across quite a strange idea. The cure was to tape a piece of banana skin to

the verruca and leave it overnight.

It sounded totally insane, so we had to try it out of sheer curiosity. I cut

out some pieces of banana skin, stuck them to his foot with plasters, and

amazingly, the verruca disappeared overnight.

We were in awe of the fact that a banana peel had done what all these highly

researched and patented drugs failed to do.

It is because of these so-called reliable drugs failing, that more and more

people are turning to natural therapies. There’s also the upside that they

don’t play too many games with your poor liver (which probably has enough

problems dealing with alcohol anyway).

GlaxoKline’s shares have plummeted 12% this year. This has been partly

caused by a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical giant claiming they had

concealed information that would have alerted physicians that the

antidepressant Paxil (Seroxat in the UK) could be harmful to children or

adolescents. Now, this is not the first time a major pharmaceutical company

has had a lawsuit filed against them, and in view of that fact a recent

survey found that around 70-80% of US consumers have an inherent mistrust in

the industry. A more local survey suggested that around one in five people

in the UK have tried at least one form of complementary therapy.

Patients are evidently becoming increasingly aware of the side effects and

limitations of conventional medicines, and consequently, more and more are

turning to complementary therapies.

Complementary medicine often focuses on the entire individual, rather than

specifically targeting their afflictions. Diet, environment and lifestyle

are also taken into account along with the mental, emotional and spiritual

health of the patient. The treatment aims to not only cure the disease, but

to promote an overall sense of well-being, hence preventing the patient from

a relapse. Patients are often actively involved in their treatments. Rather

than being prescribed a generic drug, the treatments are very much

personalised to fit the patient’s lifestyle.

Most complementary therapies are based on the idea that the body has a

natural ability to treat any disease, but just needs a kick start, so

treatments often aim to stimulate this natural healing ability in the body.

There are five main complementary therapies - acupuncture, osteopathy,

chiropractic, homeopathy and herbalism. Other popular therapies include

naturopathy (natural remedies like sunlight, diet and massage), aromatherapy

and massage. There are also more unusual therapies involving things like

magnets and crystals. Other cultures have whole disciplines of complementary

therapies, ayurvedic medicine from India, for example.

In acupuncture, fine, sterile needles are gently inserted into selected

points on the skin, known as acupoints. This is said to balance the flow of

vital energy (Qi, pronounced ‘chee’) in the body and regulate organ

function. Research has shown that acupuncture actually triggers the release

of endorphins in the brain, so even though it sounds painful, it is actually

reducing pain! Thousands of acupuncture studies have been carried out all

over the world, showing it to be effective for a wide range of ailments

including asthma, headaches, menstrual problems, digestive problems and high

blood pressure. It is also increasingly being used in obstetrics and has

been found to reduce morning sickness and ease labour. The World Health

Organisation recognises over a hundred conditions that can be helped by

acupuncture.

According to osteopathic theory, the musculoskeletal structure of the body

and its function are closely connected, and so spinal imbalance can lead to

discomfort and disease. Correcting the imbalance and improving the range of

movement can therefore both ease pain and improve organ function. It was Dr.

Still who devised a system of manipulation techniques known as

osteopathy to rebalance the framework of the body, improve joint mobility

and allow proper function of the internal organs. Palmer, a

gifted amateur practitioner, believed that disease was a result of the

nervous system functioning abnormally. He developed techniques for relaxing

the spinal muscles and freeing the body’s natural healing energy, and this

system of therapy became known as chiropractic. Osteopathy and chiropractic

are collectively known as manipulation techniques.

These techniques have been shown to be beneficial for joint and back

problems, especially lower back pain, neck stiffness and knee problems. It

can also help relieve headaches and ear, nose and throat problems. Some

osteopaths and chiropractors also treat general health problems such as

digestive disorders, menstrual imbalance and urinary disturbance.

Homeopathy is essentially fighting fire with fire. It was first discovered

by Dr. Hahnemann, who was distressed by the barbaric medical methods of his

time (bleeding, purging, and leeches). He observed that the cinchona bark,

which was then being used to treat malaria, had toxicological effects if

given to a healthy person. The bark often produced attacks of fever, very

similar to the malaria fever. But when small doses of the bark were

administered to malaria patients, the malaria fevers were reduced. Hahnemann

deduced that infinitesimal doses of substances which would cause symptoms in

a healthy person were capable of curing similar symptoms in a sick person.

Tiny doses of plant, animal or mineral extracts are soaked in alcohol,

diluted and shaken vigorously. The patient is then advised on dosage. The

more a substance is diluted, the stronger its therapeutic effect and potency

is thought to be. No one knows exactly how homeopathy works, but some

studies have shown that extremely diluted amounts of poisons like arsenic

and lead can help remove the actual poison from the cells and reduce its

harmful effects.

In a famous, but controversial study, the French professor Jacques Beneviste

claimed to show that even when a substance is so diluted that it can no

longer be detected, it can still somehow influence living cells. In a later

study he found that this effect only occurs if the substance has been

vigorously shaken and not if it has been frozen or overheated. Other recent

studies suggest that water may be able to carry a ‘memory’ of the original

substance. Homeopathy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of hay

fever, asthma, skin disease, colds and flu, high blood pressure, whooping

cough, insomnia, irritable bowel and depression.

Every ancient civilisation has used plants for healing purposes, and herbal

medicine is probably the most ancient form of medicine in the world. Around

three quarters of the world’s population, especially those in developing

countries, rely on herbal medicine - and almost a quarter of all modern

prescription drugs, are derived from plant sources, aspirin from willow

bark, for example. Recently, it was found that green tea is particularly

potent in fighting cancer, and work is being done to extract the particular

chemical agent responsible.

The stems, leaves, flowers, roots, bark, berries, fruits and seeds of plants

can be used to make a medicine. The medicinal part of the plant is harvested

or extracted and then either dried for use in teas or made into ointments,

powders, pills, capsules, lozenges or liquid tinctures. Different herbs have

been shown to be useful for a wide variety of conditions, for example,

echinacea and goldenseal are known to boost the immune system and garlic is

used by many individuals as a protection against atherosclerosis, coronary

thrombosis, stroke and even some types of cancer.

With more and more people taking an interest in their own health,

complementary therapies will continue to become increasingly popular. As

well as other benefits, it’s also just far easier to purchase a box of

echinacea tea than try and haggle some antibiotics from the pharmacist (not

that I’ve tried).

Even trained medics are slowly taking an interest. Psychiatrists are using

hypnotherapy, anaesthesiologists are getting help from acupuncture and

physiotherapists are using acupressure and reflexology. There are so many

aspects of our nature that modern medicine ignores (particularly non

physiological effects), that it seems inevitable that the tide will turn

towards holistic health.

Anushri Patel

[Guest guest]

http://www.felixonline.co.uk/2002-04/article.php?aid=1904

Natural therapy making a comeback

After months of being afflicted with a painful verruca on his foot, my

brother had completely given up all hope of ever getting rid of it. He’d

tried everything the pharmacist could come up with – bazooka that verruca my

foot (pardon the pun), but alas, it just was not meant to go.

So I idly started to search the internet for possible remedies, when I came

across quite a strange idea. The cure was to tape a piece of banana skin to

the verruca and leave it overnight.

It sounded totally insane, so we had to try it out of sheer curiosity. I cut

out some pieces of banana skin, stuck them to his foot with plasters, and

amazingly, the verruca disappeared overnight.

We were in awe of the fact that a banana peel had done what all these highly

researched and patented drugs failed to do.

It is because of these so-called reliable drugs failing, that more and more

people are turning to natural therapies. There’s also the upside that they

don’t play too many games with your poor liver (which probably has enough

problems dealing with alcohol anyway).

GlaxoKline’s shares have plummeted 12% this year. This has been partly

caused by a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical giant claiming they had

concealed information that would have alerted physicians that the

antidepressant Paxil (Seroxat in the UK) could be harmful to children or

adolescents. Now, this is not the first time a major pharmaceutical company

has had a lawsuit filed against them, and in view of that fact a recent

survey found that around 70-80% of US consumers have an inherent mistrust in

the industry. A more local survey suggested that around one in five people

in the UK have tried at least one form of complementary therapy.

Patients are evidently becoming increasingly aware of the side effects and

limitations of conventional medicines, and consequently, more and more are

turning to complementary therapies.

Complementary medicine often focuses on the entire individual, rather than

specifically targeting their afflictions. Diet, environment and lifestyle

are also taken into account along with the mental, emotional and spiritual

health of the patient. The treatment aims to not only cure the disease, but

to promote an overall sense of well-being, hence preventing the patient from

a relapse. Patients are often actively involved in their treatments. Rather

than being prescribed a generic drug, the treatments are very much

personalised to fit the patient’s lifestyle.

Most complementary therapies are based on the idea that the body has a

natural ability to treat any disease, but just needs a kick start, so

treatments often aim to stimulate this natural healing ability in the body.

There are five main complementary therapies - acupuncture, osteopathy,

chiropractic, homeopathy and herbalism. Other popular therapies include

naturopathy (natural remedies like sunlight, diet and massage), aromatherapy

and massage. There are also more unusual therapies involving things like

magnets and crystals. Other cultures have whole disciplines of complementary

therapies, ayurvedic medicine from India, for example.

In acupuncture, fine, sterile needles are gently inserted into selected

points on the skin, known as acupoints. This is said to balance the flow of

vital energy (Qi, pronounced ‘chee’) in the body and regulate organ

function. Research has shown that acupuncture actually triggers the release

of endorphins in the brain, so even though it sounds painful, it is actually

reducing pain! Thousands of acupuncture studies have been carried out all

over the world, showing it to be effective for a wide range of ailments

including asthma, headaches, menstrual problems, digestive problems and high

blood pressure. It is also increasingly being used in obstetrics and has

been found to reduce morning sickness and ease labour. The World Health

Organisation recognises over a hundred conditions that can be helped by

acupuncture.

According to osteopathic theory, the musculoskeletal structure of the body

and its function are closely connected, and so spinal imbalance can lead to

discomfort and disease. Correcting the imbalance and improving the range of

movement can therefore both ease pain and improve organ function. It was Dr.

Still who devised a system of manipulation techniques known as

osteopathy to rebalance the framework of the body, improve joint mobility

and allow proper function of the internal organs. Palmer, a

gifted amateur practitioner, believed that disease was a result of the

nervous system functioning abnormally. He developed techniques for relaxing

the spinal muscles and freeing the body’s natural healing energy, and this

system of therapy became known as chiropractic. Osteopathy and chiropractic

are collectively known as manipulation techniques.

These techniques have been shown to be beneficial for joint and back

problems, especially lower back pain, neck stiffness and knee problems. It

can also help relieve headaches and ear, nose and throat problems. Some

osteopaths and chiropractors also treat general health problems such as

digestive disorders, menstrual imbalance and urinary disturbance.

Homeopathy is essentially fighting fire with fire. It was first discovered

by Dr. Hahnemann, who was distressed by the barbaric medical methods of his

time (bleeding, purging, and leeches). He observed that the cinchona bark,

which was then being used to treat malaria, had toxicological effects if

given to a healthy person. The bark often produced attacks of fever, very

similar to the malaria fever. But when small doses of the bark were

administered to malaria patients, the malaria fevers were reduced. Hahnemann

deduced that infinitesimal doses of substances which would cause symptoms in

a healthy person were capable of curing similar symptoms in a sick person.

Tiny doses of plant, animal or mineral extracts are soaked in alcohol,

diluted and shaken vigorously. The patient is then advised on dosage. The

more a substance is diluted, the stronger its therapeutic effect and potency

is thought to be. No one knows exactly how homeopathy works, but some

studies have shown that extremely diluted amounts of poisons like arsenic

and lead can help remove the actual poison from the cells and reduce its

harmful effects.

In a famous, but controversial study, the French professor Jacques Beneviste

claimed to show that even when a substance is so diluted that it can no

longer be detected, it can still somehow influence living cells. In a later

study he found that this effect only occurs if the substance has been

vigorously shaken and not if it has been frozen or overheated. Other recent

studies suggest that water may be able to carry a ‘memory’ of the original

substance. Homeopathy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of hay

fever, asthma, skin disease, colds and flu, high blood pressure, whooping

cough, insomnia, irritable bowel and depression.

Every ancient civilisation has used plants for healing purposes, and herbal

medicine is probably the most ancient form of medicine in the world. Around

three quarters of the world’s population, especially those in developing

countries, rely on herbal medicine - and almost a quarter of all modern

prescription drugs, are derived from plant sources, aspirin from willow

bark, for example. Recently, it was found that green tea is particularly

potent in fighting cancer, and work is being done to extract the particular

chemical agent responsible.

The stems, leaves, flowers, roots, bark, berries, fruits and seeds of plants

can be used to make a medicine. The medicinal part of the plant is harvested

or extracted and then either dried for use in teas or made into ointments,

powders, pills, capsules, lozenges or liquid tinctures. Different herbs have

been shown to be useful for a wide variety of conditions, for example,

echinacea and goldenseal are known to boost the immune system and garlic is

used by many individuals as a protection against atherosclerosis, coronary

thrombosis, stroke and even some types of cancer.

With more and more people taking an interest in their own health,

complementary therapies will continue to become increasingly popular. As

well as other benefits, it’s also just far easier to purchase a box of

echinacea tea than try and haggle some antibiotics from the pharmacist (not

that I’ve tried).

Even trained medics are slowly taking an interest. Psychiatrists are using

hypnotherapy, anaesthesiologists are getting help from acupuncture and

physiotherapists are using acupressure and reflexology. There are so many

aspects of our nature that modern medicine ignores (particularly non

physiological effects), that it seems inevitable that the tide will turn

towards holistic health.

Anushri Patel

[Guest guest]

http://www.felixonline.co.uk/2002-04/article.php?aid=1904

Natural therapy making a comeback

After months of being afflicted with a painful verruca on his foot, my

brother had completely given up all hope of ever getting rid of it. He’d

tried everything the pharmacist could come up with – bazooka that verruca my

foot (pardon the pun), but alas, it just was not meant to go.

So I idly started to search the internet for possible remedies, when I came

across quite a strange idea. The cure was to tape a piece of banana skin to

the verruca and leave it overnight.

It sounded totally insane, so we had to try it out of sheer curiosity. I cut

out some pieces of banana skin, stuck them to his foot with plasters, and

amazingly, the verruca disappeared overnight.

We were in awe of the fact that a banana peel had done what all these highly

researched and patented drugs failed to do.

It is because of these so-called reliable drugs failing, that more and more

people are turning to natural therapies. There’s also the upside that they

don’t play too many games with your poor liver (which probably has enough

problems dealing with alcohol anyway).

GlaxoKline’s shares have plummeted 12% this year. This has been partly

caused by a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical giant claiming they had

concealed information that would have alerted physicians that the

antidepressant Paxil (Seroxat in the UK) could be harmful to children or

adolescents. Now, this is not the first time a major pharmaceutical company

has had a lawsuit filed against them, and in view of that fact a recent

survey found that around 70-80% of US consumers have an inherent mistrust in

the industry. A more local survey suggested that around one in five people

in the UK have tried at least one form of complementary therapy.

Patients are evidently becoming increasingly aware of the side effects and

limitations of conventional medicines, and consequently, more and more are

turning to complementary therapies.

Complementary medicine often focuses on the entire individual, rather than

specifically targeting their afflictions. Diet, environment and lifestyle

are also taken into account along with the mental, emotional and spiritual

health of the patient. The treatment aims to not only cure the disease, but

to promote an overall sense of well-being, hence preventing the patient from

a relapse. Patients are often actively involved in their treatments. Rather

than being prescribed a generic drug, the treatments are very much

personalised to fit the patient’s lifestyle.

Most complementary therapies are based on the idea that the body has a

natural ability to treat any disease, but just needs a kick start, so

treatments often aim to stimulate this natural healing ability in the body.

There are five main complementary therapies - acupuncture, osteopathy,

chiropractic, homeopathy and herbalism. Other popular therapies include

naturopathy (natural remedies like sunlight, diet and massage), aromatherapy

and massage. There are also more unusual therapies involving things like

magnets and crystals. Other cultures have whole disciplines of complementary

therapies, ayurvedic medicine from India, for example.

In acupuncture, fine, sterile needles are gently inserted into selected

points on the skin, known as acupoints. This is said to balance the flow of

vital energy (Qi, pronounced ‘chee’) in the body and regulate organ

function. Research has shown that acupuncture actually triggers the release

of endorphins in the brain, so even though it sounds painful, it is actually

reducing pain! Thousands of acupuncture studies have been carried out all

over the world, showing it to be effective for a wide range of ailments

including asthma, headaches, menstrual problems, digestive problems and high

blood pressure. It is also increasingly being used in obstetrics and has

been found to reduce morning sickness and ease labour. The World Health

Organisation recognises over a hundred conditions that can be helped by

acupuncture.

According to osteopathic theory, the musculoskeletal structure of the body

and its function are closely connected, and so spinal imbalance can lead to

discomfort and disease. Correcting the imbalance and improving the range of

movement can therefore both ease pain and improve organ function. It was Dr.

Still who devised a system of manipulation techniques known as

osteopathy to rebalance the framework of the body, improve joint mobility

and allow proper function of the internal organs. Palmer, a

gifted amateur practitioner, believed that disease was a result of the

nervous system functioning abnormally. He developed techniques for relaxing

the spinal muscles and freeing the body’s natural healing energy, and this

system of therapy became known as chiropractic. Osteopathy and chiropractic

are collectively known as manipulation techniques.

These techniques have been shown to be beneficial for joint and back

problems, especially lower back pain, neck stiffness and knee problems. It

can also help relieve headaches and ear, nose and throat problems. Some

osteopaths and chiropractors also treat general health problems such as

digestive disorders, menstrual imbalance and urinary disturbance.

Homeopathy is essentially fighting fire with fire. It was first discovered

by Dr. Hahnemann, who was distressed by the barbaric medical methods of his

time (bleeding, purging, and leeches). He observed that the cinchona bark,

which was then being used to treat malaria, had toxicological effects if

given to a healthy person. The bark often produced attacks of fever, very

similar to the malaria fever. But when small doses of the bark were

administered to malaria patients, the malaria fevers were reduced. Hahnemann

deduced that infinitesimal doses of substances which would cause symptoms in

a healthy person were capable of curing similar symptoms in a sick person.

Tiny doses of plant, animal or mineral extracts are soaked in alcohol,

diluted and shaken vigorously. The patient is then advised on dosage. The

more a substance is diluted, the stronger its therapeutic effect and potency

is thought to be. No one knows exactly how homeopathy works, but some

studies have shown that extremely diluted amounts of poisons like arsenic

and lead can help remove the actual poison from the cells and reduce its

harmful effects.

In a famous, but controversial study, the French professor Jacques Beneviste

claimed to show that even when a substance is so diluted that it can no

longer be detected, it can still somehow influence living cells. In a later

study he found that this effect only occurs if the substance has been

vigorously shaken and not if it has been frozen or overheated. Other recent

studies suggest that water may be able to carry a ‘memory’ of the original

substance. Homeopathy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of hay

fever, asthma, skin disease, colds and flu, high blood pressure, whooping

cough, insomnia, irritable bowel and depression.

Every ancient civilisation has used plants for healing purposes, and herbal

medicine is probably the most ancient form of medicine in the world. Around

three quarters of the world’s population, especially those in developing

countries, rely on herbal medicine - and almost a quarter of all modern

prescription drugs, are derived from plant sources, aspirin from willow

bark, for example. Recently, it was found that green tea is particularly

potent in fighting cancer, and work is being done to extract the particular

chemical agent responsible.

The stems, leaves, flowers, roots, bark, berries, fruits and seeds of plants

can be used to make a medicine. The medicinal part of the plant is harvested

or extracted and then either dried for use in teas or made into ointments,

powders, pills, capsules, lozenges or liquid tinctures. Different herbs have

been shown to be useful for a wide variety of conditions, for example,

echinacea and goldenseal are known to boost the immune system and garlic is

used by many individuals as a protection against atherosclerosis, coronary

thrombosis, stroke and even some types of cancer.

With more and more people taking an interest in their own health,

complementary therapies will continue to become increasingly popular. As

well as other benefits, it’s also just far easier to purchase a box of

echinacea tea than try and haggle some antibiotics from the pharmacist (not

that I’ve tried).

Even trained medics are slowly taking an interest. Psychiatrists are using

hypnotherapy, anaesthesiologists are getting help from acupuncture and

physiotherapists are using acupressure and reflexology. There are so many

aspects of our nature that modern medicine ignores (particularly non

physiological effects), that it seems inevitable that the tide will turn

towards holistic health.

Anushri Patel