Introduction:

Aromatherapy is an alternative therapy, which uses essential oils, each of which has specific curative qualities. The essential oils help patients to calm down, some help stimulate the immune system, yet others improve the appetite and some help in mitigating the pain in stiff joints.  Typically aromatherapy contains an array of brown bottles containing small quantity of essential oils.

How old is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy goes back thousands of years.  Ancient Indian, Chinese and Egyptian civilizations are known to have used these essential oils from time immemorial and since then the perfume industry has grown steadily.

Ayurveda, the traditional medical system of India, uses aromatic massage as an important aspect of treatment.

Ancient Chinese civilizations used forms of aromatics. Shen Nung’s herbal book has references of over 300 plants and their uses and this treatise dates back to approximately 2700 BC.  The use of aromatics in China is linked to other ancient therapies such as massage and acupressure.

It is said that Cleopatra used aromatherapy to make custom blended perfumes and they were the secrets to her seduction abilities.

Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist, revived aromatherapy in the 1920’s. He was the first who coined the term aromatherapy. In the 1980’s it was the Americans, who discovered this fragrant medicine. Today fragrances and essential oils are used in many cosmetics and household products. Scientific research has been and continues to be performed that verifies the emotional and physical benefits of aromatherapy.

The principle of Aromatherapy:

The essential oils are extracted from the root, stem, flower or any part of the plant and may treat individual or a string of ailments.  The oils are applied by massage, compresses, skin creams, by bathing, sauna, by inhalers in the form of burners, sprays or candles.  The principle involved is that these oils can be absorbed in the body through any of the above-mentioned methods and give relief to a wide array of symptoms.

Aromatherapy does not suit some patients:

Aromatherapy may not suit epileptics, patients with sensitive skins, blood pressure, heart conditions and some cases of renal failure. Many oils are contra-indicated in pregnancy.
Care should be taken while using these essential oils:

1. Care should be exercised to see that the essential oils are never swallowed.
2. The essential oil should not be used in an undiluted state on the skin as it might cause allergic reactions.
3. It is very important that the essential oils do not fall on your eyes.
4. These oils should be kept out of reach of children.

Conclusion:

The cost of orthodox medicines is rising, side effects of prescription drugs can be life threatening and fed up with allopathic medicine, more and more people are turning back to nature to seek answers for treatment of illnesses.  Aromatherapy is an interesting and intriguing branch of Alternative medicine that is useful in emotional states, headaches and joint problems. Therapies and medicines that were once viewed as alternative have risen from the shadows and are becoming more mainstream. They are now being used alongside conventional medicine.

References and links:

www.aromaweb.com.

www.aromatherapies.net.

www.aromatherapy.com.

www.naturalbloom.com.

RHUS TOXICODENDRON.

 

This remedy is derived from the Poison Oak shrub.

This remedy suits subjects, who are listless, have sad thoughts and contemplate on suicide.

This remedy has a profound effect on the skin, joints and mucous membranes. Rhus tox affects fibrous tissues, joints, tendon sheaths and aponeurosis etc.

This remedy suits subjects, who have ailments coming on after strains, over-lifting, getting wet and while perspiring. This remedy suits subjects who get rheumatism in the cold season.

This remedy also suits subjects, who are extremely restless with continued change of position. It suits subjects, whose sensorium is cloudy with a great sense of apprehension in the night, which forces the subject out of bed in the night.

This remedy suits subjects who have a headache in the back of the head and have humid eruptions in the scalp with great itching.

This remedy suits subjects, whose eyes are swollen edematous and who have orbital cellulitis (inflammation around the eye-lids).  This remedy is also useful in pus forming infections where there is a profuse flow of yellow pus of the eyelids with a suppuration of the iris.  This remedy is also useful in Rheumatic iritis.

This remedy is useful when there is pain in the ears with discharge of bloody pus.

This remedy suits subjects, who have coryza with sneezing while getting wet.

This remedy is useful in facial neuralgia with comes on while getting cold.

This remedy suits subjects who have a sore throat with swollen glands.  It suits subjects, who have hoarseness on first beginning to sing and disappears after singing for a while.

This remedy suits subjects, who lack an appetite with an unquenchable thirst associated with a bitter taste in the mouth.  This remedy suits subjects who have nausea with vertigo and a bloated abdomen after eating. This remedy also suits subjects who have a desire for milk and who are drowsy after eating.  This remedy suits subjects, who have rumbling flatus after eating, which disappears after continued motion.

It is a useful remedy in male subjects who have a swelling in the prepuce, which is dark red and erysipelatous, edematous with an intense itching.

It suits female subjects, who have intense itching and swelling in the vulva.

It suits subjects who have a hypertrophy of the heart and who have trembling and palpitation, while sitting still.

It suits subjects, who have pain and stiffness in the small of the back, who are better with motion or while lying down on something hard and who are worse while sitting up.

This remedy suits subjects who have tearing pains in the ligaments, tendons, fascia and rheumatic pains in the nape of the neck, loins and extremities, which is better with motion.  This remedy also suits subjects who have stiff limbs, which may be paralyzed.   This remedy also suits subjects who have Sciatica, which is worse in cold damp weather and at night.

This remedy suits subjects, who have fever and who are restless, and whose bowels may be loose, and those who feel cold as if cold water were poured over the subject.

This remedy suits subjects, who have a skin that is red, swollen, intensely itching, vesicular eruption. This remedy is also useful in urticaria, pemphigus, erysipelas and cellulitis.

This remedy is considered to be specific for Typhoid, Dengue fever, Erysipelas, Influenza, Measles, Septicemia and Rheumatic fever.

This remedy suits subjects, who sleep with dreams of great exertion, and get up groggy, as if in a stupor, and, are sleepless before midnight.

This remedy suits subjects who are worse from sleep, cold wet rainy weather and after rain in the night, after drenching, while lying on the back or on the right side.

This remedy suits subjects who are better in warm dry weather, motion, walking, change of position, rubbing, warm applications, and from stretching the limbs.

TIPS FROM THE MASTERS…

 After a Cataract surgery, RHUS TOX is beneficial to control the threatened Iritis and the formation of pus.

Dr. Dewey, M.D.

RHUS TOX is the Homeopathic knife in Appendicitis.

Dr. Biegler.

 RHUS TOX has been a remarkably efficient in relieving the soreness, restlessness and other distress after operation involving the right lower quadrant.

Dr. Stearns, M.D.

 RHUS TOX is the best prophylactic for cases of surgery.  It should be given for 48 hours in the 30^th dilution every 3 hours.  It will prevent sepsis.

Dr. R. B. Das.

 In any inflammation of the eye following cataract extraction, RHUS TOX is a most valuable remedy and is given as soon as the patient begins to complain of pain, accompanied by lachrymation and puffiness of the lids.

Dr. Norton, M.D.

RHUS TOX is valuable in volvulus of the intestine.

Dr. Grimmer, M.D.

 I have had to treat very young babies with cyanotic faces and have here used RHUS 3 with striking benefit.  In several cases, in little infants, in whom I had noticed a bluishness of the face or just of the lower lips only.  I have used RHUS with undoubtful benefit, the bluishness disappeared.

Dr. Burnett, M.D.

  RHUS TOX is the remedy for musicians who suffer from Pulmonary hemorrhages due to prolonged performance.

Dr. Burt.

 RHUS TOX rarely fails in chronic cases of SCIATICA.

Dr. Ruddock, M.D.

 Para-paresis occurring in young children, caused by exposure of the back or seat to damp cold, readily yields to RHUS TOX and an occasional dose of SULPHUR.

Dr. Durham, M.D.

 I have myself found COLOCYNTHIS curative only in recent cases of SCIATICA, greatly preferring ARSENIC & RHUS TOX in those of longer standing.

Dr. Hughes, L.R.C.P.

 RHUS TOX will enable persons to withstand muscular fatigue.

Dr. E. A. Farrington, M.D.

As soon as Enteric fever is suspected BAPTISIA should be administered, 1 or 2 drops of 1x dilution of the strong tincture, every 2 or 3 hours.  This remedy is of great value, modifying and even cutting short the attack by destroying the poison in the blood.  Should, however, the administration of BAPTISIA have been much delayed and the specific poisonous effects produced, other remedies must be resorted to, especially ARSENICUM & RHUS TOX.

Dr. Ruddock, M.D.

 RHUS TOX is invaluable, often modifies in considerable degree the cutaneous inflammation of chicken pox and thus favorably influencing the future of the case.

Dr. Goodnough.

 Probably the very best remedy in the Materia Medica for Parotitis accompanying Scarlatina is RHUS TOX.

Dr. Farrington, M.D.

 RHUS TOX is an excellent remedy for barber’s itch. It should be tried first before resorting to any other remedy.

Dr. R. B. Das.

 Skin diseases alternating with Dysentery or Asthma: RHUS TOX.

Dr. Tyler, M.D.

 RHUS TOX for toxic dermatitis occurring in professions handling Mercury, Carbolic Acid, washer men, dyers or miners suffers from similar affections.

Dr. R. B. Das.

 Immediately bathing with water as hot as can be borne for a length of time followed a compress of ARNICA, ACONITE, RHUS TOX or RUTA. This treatment employed promptly generally cures at once.

Dr. Ruddock, M.D.

 The specific remedy for lumbago is not PULSATILLA, as was formerly supposed, but RHUS TOX; so far I have cured about every case that I have had to treat with RHUS TOX in 3 or 4 days, except perhaps 2 or 3 cases where I had to complete the cure with PULSATILLA.

Dr. Jahr.

 Bad effects of oil bath: RHUS TOX.

Dr. C. Boericke, M.D.

Introduction:

Do you suffer from an energy crisis and feel that you need a high-energy fix from time to time? Do you then resort to drinking coffee, eating a bar or chocolate, or go on an eating binge of junk foods and high sugared snack. If you do I suggest that you should read on…

You are not going to believe this:

You are going to be very surprised to hear that ayurveda; the most ancient Indian medical system has an answer and has golden tips for solving your energy crisis.  Ayurveda advocates a diet that is generous in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The ancient ayurvedic texts tell us that these foods are rich in life giving energy, healing powers, fighting body fatigue and have the power of detoxifying the body.

Grains have power:

Long distance runners from Africa have always relied on carbohydrates in grains for long-term endurance and energy.  All carbohydrates are not the same. For instance the croissant is high in fat and low in nutrition.  Whole grains have lower cholesterol; they also have anti-bacterial properties and actually lower elevated blood sugar levels

Ayurveda considers rye, millet and amaranth as highly nutritious, as they have high protein and mineral content. In fact, these grains are considered so auspicious that they are used during Vedic ceremonies as items for worship.

Rye for instance, contains high proteins, and one cup yields about 15 grams of protein, 9 grams of iron and adequate quantities of B-complex vitamins, iron, zinc and copper which is an important trace element for boosting energy levels and raising the body’s immunity.  The ancient seers used a term called as ‘Ojas’, an energy, which is the result of good digestion and creates a sense of lightness in the body, gives a person the inner energy or glow, confers immunity against infections and bestows the individual with bliss.

Energizing Vegetables and Fruits:

Ayruveda advocates that fresh vegetables and fruits should constitute forty percent of every meal. Green, leafy vegetables are rich in mineral and fiber, and they should be eaten often.

Ayurveda considers fruits as a rich source of energy.  Ayurvedic physicians recommend pears and apples, if you are hungry between meals. They recommend papaya, if you feel bloated after lunch.

Ayurveda strongly recommends the generous use of dry fruits, especially raisins. The ayurvedic texts extol the virtue of raisins calling them the best among dry fruits because it has the quality to enhance purity of the mind and pacify the mind and heart.  Dry fruits are a rich source of iron and Vitamin B6, and provide magnesium, calcium, zinc and potassium.  Raisins aid digestion and elimination when they are soaked in water overnight. One handful per person is a good amount everyday.

Ayurveda also cautions against energy draining foods:

The ayurvedic texts warn us not to eat left over foods or highly seasoned foods and foods that make us sluggish. Ayurvedic physicians were extremely conscious of energy draining foods, which clogged the micro-channels called as Nadis and created an accumulation of toxins.

Conclusion:

We have advanced a lot in this millennium.  But our diet practices are abysmal. We eat foods bereft of energy, we consume milk, which is a poison, we eat meat, and we eat tinned, canned and processed foods and do not realize how much harm we cause to ourselves.  It is fascinating how Ayurveda, a science that dates back thousands of years warns us of these dangers.  It was almost as if our ancient seers who wrote these treatises were aware, what humanity was going to come to in this millennium.

Links:

www.bigshakti.com.

www.bluelotusayurveda.com.

www.experiencefestival.com.

 

RHODODENDRON.

 

THIS REMEDY SUITS PERSONS WHO ARE WORSE IN STORMY AND WET WEATHER.

This remedy is derived from the Snowrose plant.

It suits nervous patients, who are susceptible to thunderstorms.  This remedy suits subjects, whose rheumatic and gouty symptoms are well marked.  This remedy suits subjects who suffer from rheumatism in hot weather.

This remedy suits subjects who are worse before a storm and those who have a dread of a storm.

This remedy is useful in subjects who have ciliary neuralgia.

It is useful in male subjects, whose testicles are swollen, painful and drawn up (Orchitis of the testes – inflammation of the testicles). This remedy is also useful in induration of the testicles after an attack of gonorrhea.

This remedy is useful for rheumatism of the great toe, especially in gouty arthritis.

This remedy is of great use whenever there is tearing pain all over the limbs.

This remedy is useful in subjects who have stiffness in the neck, pain in the shoulders, arms, wrist, which is worse at rest.

A PECULIAR SYMPTOM OF THIS REMEDY IS THAT IT SUITS SUBJECTS, WHO CANNOT SLEEP UNLESS THEIR LEGS ARE CROSSED.

This remedy suits subjects who feel worse after wine, wind and cold weather.

TIPS FROM THE MASTERS…

 ABROTANUM has a reputation for hydrocoele in children, this we have rapidly cured before now, with RHODODENDRON.

Dr. Tyler, M.D.

 

Nobody knows how terrible GERD can be more than I.  In the year 1979 as a medical student, I was obese, eating junk food, drinking endless cups of coffee, smoking often and having weekend binges of alcohol. In addition there was the stress and pressure of studies for the final year medical student. We were always stressed out, short of sleep and in a bad physical shape.

I had this one coming. For several weeks, I was popping antacids and drinking cold milk and eating butter to quell the sharp pain of acid reflux. One night out of the blue, after a rather heavy meal, I got a severe chest pain and shortness of breath and intense burning in my throat. It is said that half knowledge is bad. I feared the worst. I thought that I had suffered a heart attack.  I was immediately rushed to our hospital and put into the ICU.

Tests revealed that my heart was normal and I was sedated, put on antacids and anti-spasmodic agents. I had to be put on a Ryle’s tube feeding of cold milk for three days. In those days, this was the standard treatment and it was called as the Sippy’s treatment for Acid-peptic disease or GERD.

The experience left me shaken. I was chastised and much wiser and I started on a  Yoga, Ayurvedic regimen. I gave up coffee, cigarettes and alcohol.. This experience definitely made me more health conscious and I embarked on my first steps of a long and rewarding journey towards holistic health. My professor’s words still ring in my ears – He said. ”Raj if you want to be healthy in your life, AVOID EXCESSIVE HURRY, WORRY AND CURRY”. 

Introduction:

Acid reflux is also known as GERD or Gastro-esophageal reflux disease.  Acid reflux can be an excruciating illness and if left untreated it can outcome in damage to the esophagus and larynx (voice box) leading to crucial complications. When you eat food, it passes down your throat and through your esophagus – a tube that transports food from your throat to your stomach. A muscle termed the lower esophageal sphincter dominates the opening between the esophagus and the stomach, and remains firmly closed except when you swallow food. When this muscle fails to close, the acid-containing contents of the stomach can travel back into the esophagus. This backward movement is called reflux which if persisted causes ulcers in the lining of the esophagus, leading to pain and various other symptoms.

Statistics on the frequency of heartburn and GERD differ greatly. In accordance with some approximations, 7% of Americans have heartburn everyday and 14% suffer it at least once every week. Alternative estimates suggest that GERD affects about 20% of the adult American population, mostly those in their forties or older. But, GERD can affect people of all ages, including infants and children.

Causes of Acid Reflux:

• Hiatus Hernia (is a situation in which the stomach extends beyond the diaphragm that separates the stomach from the chest making it easier for the acid to reflux up).
• Excessive smoking and alcohol.
• Eating substantial meals at a time.
• Lying down shortly after eating.
• Intense physical activity instantly after meals.
• Overweight.
• Pregnancy.
• Certain foods such as spicy, fried, chocolate, caffeine, onions, tomatoes, citrus and carbonated beverages.
• Certain medications like sedatives and calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure.
• Stress.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux: 

• Heartburn – burning feeling in the chest.
• Food regurgitation.
• Sour or bitter taste in the mouth.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Choking.
• Vomiting blood and black colored stools.
• Hoarseness or sore throat.
• Chest pain.
• Dry cough.
• Asthma.
• Bad breath.
• Back pain.

 

It is very important for patients experiencing the above symptoms to see their doctor because untreated GERD can result in serious complications such as; esophagitis, strictures, esophageal bleeding and ulcers, Barrett’s esophagus, and an increased risk of esophageal cancer.

Some methods to reduce GERD symptoms

 Avoid heartburn triggers. Keeping a food diary may help you identify problem foods. Foods and drinks that commonly trigger heartburn include:

• Citrus fruits
• Chocolate
• Peppermint
• Spearmint
• Tomatoes
• Raw onions
• Garlic
• Black pepper
• Vinegar
• Fatty foods
• Spicy foods
• Coffee
• Citrus juice
• Carbonated beverages
• Alcoholic beverages

 Don’t go to bed after eating. 

Try to go to bed three hours after eating
Eat smaller portion sizes.

Take time to eat.
Do not eat hastily or while watching TV or reading a newspaper at the same time.  Try practicing mindfulness while eating. Eliminate all distractions and savor, rather than inhale, your food. Pay full attention to what the food looks like on your plate, how it smells, how it tastes.  Chew slowly and chew the food many times before swallowing it. In short enjoy your meal.

Stress Reduction

A survey by the National Heartburn Alliance revealed that 58 percent of frequent heartburn sufferers identify a hectic lifestyle as a factor that contributes to their heartburn and 52 percent say work-related stress makes their symptoms worse.

We do know that stress can disrupt our normal routines and make us do things, like eat the wrong foods, smoke, drink coffee or alcohol that may trigger heartburn.

Stress also slows down the emptying of the stomach, which may increase the likelihood of heartburn.

Here are some natural methods that may help to manage stress:

Mindfulness Meditation (http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/mindbody/a/Meditation.htm)

Relaxation Response (http://altmedicine.about.com/od/mindbodytechniques/a/relaxationresp.htm)

Natural Remedies for Anxiety (http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/conditionsatod/a/Anxiety.htm)

Quit Smoking

Nicotine, an ingredient in cigarettes, can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter, a band of muscle at the end of the esophagus that closes off the esophagus and prevents the acidic stomach contents from entering the esophagus.