Introduction:

Medicine is as much as an art as it is a science. Today the allopathic physicians are time strapped and do not treat the patients as a complete holistic entity –THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL. 

Physician factors:

It is time that allopathic physicians should look within and deeply introspect. Very often their own attitudes and behaviors contribute to difficult encounters with patients.

Many allopathic physicians can be:

• Angry or overtly defensive
• Physicians can sometimes experience a burn out. They can get stressed and generally frustrated react negatively to patients.
• Fatigued or Harried Physicians
• Physicians can be overworked and sleep deprived.
• Dogmatic or Arrogant Physicians. Some physicians are dismissive about diet and Alternate therapies because of their own personal prejudices.
• Some physicians have strong personal beliefs and values, which prevent them from providing us with adequate information about their care.
• Language problems and difficulty in communicating with patients due to a lack of a proper interpreter.
•  Multiple persons in the Exam Room can sometimes unnerve physicians. 

Patients can also be at fault:

Often, the time strapped allopathic physician encounter several difficult varieties of patients like:

• Angry, Defensive, Frightened or Resistant Patients
• Manipulative Patients who love to play on the guilt of others, threatening rage, legal action or suicide
• Somatizing Patients who present with a chronic course of multiple vague or exaggerated symptoms and often suffer from co-morbid anxiety, depression and personality disorders. They often have a history of multiple diagnostic tests.
• Grieving Patients
• Embarrassed patients who may be lonely, dependent or too afraid or embarrassed to ask the questions they really want answered. They may also be patients with a large number of perfectly sane questions.

Conclusion:
 
More and more patients are seeking the help of a Holistic physician because a Holistic MD will at first function like any other orthodox specialist.  He will take a detailed history and do a clinical examination, such as pulse, BP and a complete physical examination.  Then he will perform the diagnostic blood tests that any MD normally does.  The initial work up may last more than an hour and this helps both the physician and the patient to understand each other and develop trust for one another.
 

When a patient chooses a Holistic physician, he or she has the option of trying natural complementary therapies in tandem with the allopathic treatment and this helps in elimination of the toxins in the patient and leads him to a complete and comprehensive holistic cure.

Patients with intractable health issues often search for a physician because they believe in the power of the body to heal itself, but they also recognize the need a physician who can prescribe drugs if needed.

Other patients seek holistic cures because they have exhausted all the options of conventional medicine.  A holistic physician will be able to factor past therapies and then initiate a new health regimen to help patients improve their health through orthodox and alternative means.

Introduction:

Everyday, I get at least 5 Spam mails asking me, whether I have erectile dysfunction? Whether I am able to satisfy my partner?  Whether I would like Viagra or Cialis?  Apparently erectile dysfunction is a big problem and most adult males are reticent about discussing their problem openly.  One of the most embarrassing and shameful conditions that a man may face throughout his lifetime is an inability to perform sexually.  It’s a problem that many men throughout the world face.

Consider these statistics:

A one out of nine man in America faces problems with erectile dysfunction. That accounts for over eleven percent of all men in the country!  As far as the total number of men in the United States there are that have problems achieving an erection, the number sits at around thirty million people.

Between twenty and forty six percent of all men that are between the ages of forty and sixty-nine experience erectile dysfunction. While the problem is prevalent in those of an older age, it can strike young and old men alike.

What are the causes of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men?

The most common cause of ED are Diseases—such as diabetes, kidney disease, chronic alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, arteriosclerosis, vascular disease, and neurological disease—account for about 70 percent of ED cases. Between 35 and 50 percent of men with diabetes experience ED.

Lifestyle choices like, smoking, being overweight, and avoiding exercise are possible causes of ED.

In addition, many common medicines—blood pressure drugs, antihistamines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, appetite suppressants, and cimetidine (an ulcer drug)—can produce ED as a side effect.

In 10 to 20% cases, experts believe that psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, guilt, depression, low self-esteem, and fear of sexual failure cause ED.

Some foods are great aphrodisiacs:

Some foods are said to increase the libido. The real reasons may be due to psychological effects on the brain, which helps release certain chemicals that increase the libido.  It is believed that plant aphrodisiacs include nuts, grains, fruits and some grains.  There is no real scientific proof that vegetables, herbs, nuts or grains can really improve libido.  Much of our current knowledge is based on folklore.

Vegetables.  Asparagus and artichoke are two vegetables that seem to have aphrodisiac like properties although nobody knows what chemicals in them do this trick.  Celery is said to contain a hormone called as androsterone, a male hormone that stimulates sexual arousal in females. 

Even vegetables like carrot, fennel and onions have a reputation of being good for the libido.  In many Indian ashrams, where aspirants are practicing celibacy, onion is never on the menu.

Fruits.  Among fruits, banana takes the cake. It is said to contain certain minerals and an enzyme called as bromelain that is supposed to improve the libido.  Chinese swear by the pomegranate as a symbol of fertility because of its abundant seeds.  The peach is considered to be a seductive fruit, perhaps by virtue of its shape. Perhaps, these fruits have vitamins and minerals that contribute to the well-being of the individual and confer an increased libido.

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Nuts.  The gingko nut is most popular, as it is said to increase the circulation in the lower part of the body and thus improves the libido.

Grains. Grains like oats help the release of testosterone and this helps libido.

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Herbs and spices. Basil, cardamom, clove, garlic, ginger, pepper and asafetida are good for literally spicing up your sex life.

Some of the best selling herbs for libido:

Ginsengis one of the best-selling herbs in the US and much of Asia.  I have to doubt is efficacy. It is valued for its revitalizing capacity and perhaps the root has a peculiar human like shape.

Horny Goat Weed is another popular aphrodisiac from China  and its weed is prized.

Fo-Ti is also called he shou wu, which means “black-haired Mr. It is said that a Chinese villager called “He” took fo-ti and restored his black hair, youthful appearance and sexual vitality

Damiana  is a plant native to Mexico and the southern United States. It has been widely used as an aphrodisiac in Mexico for men and women.

Tribulus Terrestris is a herb that has been used in the traditional medicine of China and India for centuries.

Tongkat Ali is a tree found in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia and is called as the “Asian Viagra”. 

Maca  is an ancient herb used by ancient Incan warriors before going to battle to make them physically strong.  However they were not allowed to take this herb after battle as it increased the libido.

Muira Puama is called as the  “potency wood”. It  is a small Brazilian tree that grows across the Amazon River basin. It has a long history of use as an aphrodisiac.

.Yohimbe is an evergreen tree that grows in western Africa in Nigeria, Cameroon, the Congo and Gabon. It is promoted as a natural aphrodisiac.

Ayurvedic aphrodisiacs:

Ayurvedic texts provide a detailed classification for male sexual dysfunction.

Herbs for promoting the quality of semen.

The most prominent herb is White Musali. This herb is supposed to increase the sperm count and the quality of semen and increase the motility of the sperms.

Ayurvedic Herbs For erectile dysfunction.

These herbs act as sex stimulants, they promote the sexual drive and increase the sexual desire.  Prominent among these herbs are:. Ashwagandha, Musali, Sambal Musali and Nux vomica.  Some herbs actually cause sexual arousal by irritating the urinary bladder.  Some herbs  like Suchi, Karpura, and Sarpagandha  sedate the nerves and increase sexual stimulation.

Ayurvedic Herbs For Premature Ejaculation. 

These herbs delay the ejaculation of semen and increase the copulation time. These have an astringent and dry property.  Some examples are  Samundarshosha, Jaiphala, and Akarakara.

Ayurvedic anaphrodisiacs:

Anaphrodisiacs are herbs reduce sexual drive and sexual drive. In the extreme cases these can cause diminished libido and cause Impotency. This action is mediated in two ways. Some of the herbs contain alkalis destroy the semen or decrease its production. I think these herbs are well worth trying on habitual sexual offenders.

Homeopathy and erectile dysfunction.

There are several useful remedies in Homeopathy. Prominent among then is Agnus, Arnica, Avena Sativa, Chininum Sulf, Cinchona, Conium, Damiana, Selenium, Staphisagria, Yohimbine and Zinc phos.

Conclusion:

It is sad to see that men with go to any length to get over this problem, often getting fleeced by quacks. 

“The age of discretion is the age of impotence” – Author unknown…

Victims of this malady should first consult their physicians to rule out any organic disease or drug interactions. There are drugs for this disease.  Between Viagra and Cialis, I find that Cialis is safer in my allopathic practice. If these drugs do not work, there are papaverine injections, which give you a goodish erection. The ultimate allopathic weapon is the penile implant, which offer good results in well-selected subjects.

If the cause is psychological, which is about 10 to 20 % then counseling may be the best answer.  Ultimately sufferers of psychological ED should realize that sex is an act, which is begins between the ears (in the mind) and not an act, which is between the legs alone.

Reference:

www.steadyhealth.com.

www.altmedicine.about.com.

www.webmd.com.

www.mayoclinic.com.

Introduction:

Did you know that cinnamon is one of the oldest spices known?  It has a mention in the Bible.  It was used in ancient Egypt not only as a beverage flavoring and medicine, but also as an embalming agent.  It was so highly treasured that it was considered more precious than gold.  Cinnamon has found a mention in the Chinese botanical medical texts, as early as 2,700 B.C.

Cinnamon’s was one of the most popular spices in medieval Europe. Due to its demand, cinnamon became one of the first commodities traded regularly between the Near East and Europe.  Cinnamon is produced in Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Brazil and the Caribbean.

The oldest written reference to honey dates back to the Egyptians in 5,500 B.C. But honeybees are far older than man’s historical record, written or otherwise. Homo sapiens evolved 50,000 years ago; bees were making honey perhaps 40 million years before that.

A combination of Cinnamon and honey:

Ayurvedic and Unani physicians and Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine have been using a mixture of honey and cinnamon in treating numerous diseases for several centuries.

Arthritis
A paste of one-teaspoon cinnamon, one part honey and two parts of lukewarm water is massaged over the painful joint and it gives relief. Patients suffering from arthritis may also take 1 cup of lukewarm water mixed with 2 teaspoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder.

Upset stomach
A mixture of honey with cinnamon powder cures is curative for dyspepsia, bloating and hyperacidity.  It is said to have to have amazing digestive power after a heavy gastronomic extravaganza.

Toothache
It was an ancient practice in India to use a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey for relieving a toothache.

Protects against Influenza and bolsters the immune system:

Honey and cinnamon have natural anti-microbial activity against many common bacteria and mild viruses and can be used as alternatives in mild influenza.

Heart diseases

Pastes of honey and cinnamon powder may be applied on brown bread and taken for breakfast. These two ingredients have the power of reducing cholesterol levels naturally and thus help preventing coronary artery disease.  It is also said to have the power of reducing arteriosclerosis, which makes arteries rigid.

Acne, eczemas and ringworm of the skin.

It is a home remedy in these conditions. Three tablespoons of honey is mixed with one tablespoon of cinnamon and turmeric powder.  This is applied on the affected skin part, while going to sleep and washed off in the morning.
 
Weight Loss.
Drinking honey and cinnamon power boiled in a of cup water daily in the morning, half an hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping is said to induce weight loss. Ayurvedic physicians swear that this mixture prevents the absorption of fat from the gut.

Bad breath.

People of South America gargle their mouth with honey and cinnamon powder to keep their breath fresh throughout the day.

Longevity.

Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arrests the ravages of old age.

Fatigue.

Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts are more alert, flexible and less fatigued.

Other uses:

This mixture is said to useful in restoring deafness. It is also said to regulate the clotting process.  Cinnamon may significantly help people with type 2 diabetes improve their ability to respond to insulin.  It has been tried in terminal cancers and it has shown promising results in research in Japan and Australia.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) it is considered to be a warming agent and is useful in colds and flu’s.   Cinnamon is also an excellent source of trace minerals, manganese, iron, and calcium and dietary fiber.

Conclusion:

Nature has provided all the means to be healthy and free from illness. Cinnamon and honey are just two examples.

Nature is just enough; but men and women must comprehend and accept her suggestions.

-Antoinette Brown Blackwell.

References and links:

www.angelfire.com.

www.leaflady.org.

www.ezinearticles.com.

www.weight-loss-advisor.com.

Introduction:

The last few decades have seen doctors prescribing synthetic hormones to women who are near menopause or to those who have attained menopause. These hormones are also used in regulation periods, as contraceptives, in premenstrual syndrome (PMS), for women with heavy bleeding during pregnancy, women with fibroids, endometriosis and for post-menopausal depression, hot flushes and lack of sexual drive. It was also hoped that hormone replacement therapy would stave off heart disease and osteoporosis.

But hormone replacement therapy is fraught with great risk. There was an increased risk of cardiovascular events, strokes, breast cancer and dementia.

What are the alternatives for this problem?

Alternative therapists prefer Soy as a natural remedy as it contains goodish amounts of plant estrogens.  Japanese women suffer from lesser incidents of breast cancer and menopausal symptoms are milder because of a diet that is rich in soy. A soy rich diet along with a low fat diet helps to keep bones strong.

Other sources of plant estrogens are red clover and flaxseed. Both are available as supplements.

Black cohosh is a Native American herb that is useful in preventing hot flushes and insomnia and vaginal dryness, which are usually associated with menopause.

Ayurveda and menopause:

Like other Complementary systems, specific ayurvedic herbs are used for different female types.  Some of the useful herbs used in ayurveda are Aloe gel, Shatavari, Saffron, Kapikacchu, Ashwagandha, and these are taken in milk decoctions. Shatavari and Aloe gel are useful to maintain the youthfulness of the females.  Chavanaprash is another great rejuvenating remedy.

Homeopathic options in menopause:

A good homeopath can ameliorate many distressing symptoms by choosing the correct constitutional remedy. Few remedies are listed here, which are commonly used.

Belladonna

This remedy is useful for hot flushes with throbbing sensation in the head. This remedy suits women who have short bursts of anger and a craving form lemons and lemonade.

Calcarea carbonica

This remedy may be helpful to a woman who has severe heat sweats and weight gain during menopause. Such women usually crave for eggs and sweets also.

Graphites

This remedy suits a woman who is chilly, pale, and sluggish. Such women are prone to obesity in menopause. These women are also prone to eczema.

 Ignatia

Ignatia is a useful remedy for mood swings during menopause.

 Lachesis

This remedy is useful in intense hot flashes with red or purplish flushing, palpitations, and feelings of pressure, congestion and constriction. Such women tend to be very talkative, with jealousy and suspicion.

Natrum muriaticum

This remedy suits women who are over sensitive, who craves for salts and have severe headaches after going out in the sun.

Pulsatilla

This remedy suits weepy women with changeable moods. Such women feel better in the open air.

Sepia

This remedy suits women who are weary and lose interest in day-to-day tasks during menopause.

 Staphysagria

This remedy suits mild mannered women who have menopausal problems such as depression. It helps women who have been abused and many suppressed emotions.  .

Conclusion:

The cure of menopausal symptoms need life-style changes that include, regular exercise, yoga, meditation and switching to a healthy diet that is more vegetarian in nature.

References and links:

www.medscape.com

www.herbalremediesinfo.com.

www.peacehealth.org.

www.steadyhealth.com.