|
|
| Alternative Medicine Information |
|
|
|
Aromatherapy Part II: Mind and Emotions
The Sense of Smell forms the greater part of our Sense of Taste (note how your sense of taste and smell is affected when you have a head cold or blocked up nose. The sense of smell is also affected by pollution, smoking, trauma to the nose itself and a mucous forming diet). The sense of smell of our ancient ancestors was far superior to ours. They identified one another by smell as well as sight, and could even detect the usefulness of a plant by its smell. They also tracked animals by smell. The sense of smell helps us to distinguish between 'good' and 'bad' odours, which tell us if food is fit to be eaten or if there is disease or hygiene present. ODOURS & DISEASE A couple of hundred years ago, physicians would use the sense of smell as a diagnostic aid. Arthritis and rheumatism have an acid smell, a good midwife could tell a post-partum haemorrhage by the smell of blood passed, diabetes gives an acetone smell to the breathe and the urine, perspiration can give us clues as to the health of the kidneys and lymphatic system, the smell of faeces also can tell us the type of disease in the digestive tract. Natural medicine still uses this method of diagnosis. The human nose has the ability to distinguish many thousands of different odours, and the memory of these odours is stored deep in our sub-conscious minds. (See R. Tisserand 'The Art of Aromatherapy" pages 60-73). When we inhale air molecules which, are carrying the 'odoriferous' molecules of an essential oil, these molecules adhere to our Olfactory nerve endings in the back of the nose, producing stimulation of these nerve endings. Sensory stimulation of the Olfactory centre is by a relay of nerve impulses from the sensory nerve endings in the nose to the brain. This is a very rapid and direct pathway to the part of the Brain which directs, controls, interprets and responds to sensory input. This pathway is very different to sensory stimulation of the sensory nerves in the skin which is more complex, being transmitted from a sensory nerve ending to the spinal cord, to the brain, back down the spinal cord, down a motor nerve ending and then to the appropriate organ. For example when we touch a hot object, the heat affects the sensory nerve ending in say the finger. This nerve relays a message along the sensory nerve fibre to its root in the spinal cord. The impulse is carried to the brain. The brain says "ouch !!! that's hot, take the finger off now". This message is relayed down the spinal cord to the motor nerve root, and then to the appropriate muscle(s) organ(s) etc. to remove the finger from the hot object. As you will know from your own experience of touching something hot, there is often a time lag between touching the hot object and recognition of pain. With the Olfactory Nerve there is no relay station - stimuli goes straight to the part of Central Nervous System called the LIMBIC SYSTEM, and the response is instant. Furthermore, the message cannot be blocked by the conscious mind. The interesting and exciting aspect of this use of Essential Oil Therapy is that different essential oils produce different responses. Some affect the higher thought processes in the Cerebral Cortex by altering the electrical activity of different Cortical areas, and some affect the Hormone Producing cells in the Limbic System. These 'Brain Hormones' will then either effect the mental and emotional responses of the Brain itself, or will be released into the blood stream from where they may be carried to distant organs to produce the desired effect on the body chemistry. AROMATHERAPY & THE MIND ANXIETY: DEPRESSION: ANGER: APATHY: CONFUSION: DWELLING ON THE PAST: FEAR: GRIEF: HYPERSENSITIVE: IMPATIENCE/IRRITABILITY: JEALOUSY: PANIC: SHOCK: SUSPICION: EUPHORICS: APHRODISIACS: REGULATORS: MEMORY/MENTAL STIMULANTS: SEDATIVES: INVIGORATORS: About The Author Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you. Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter it's fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care.
Physician and Patient Attitudes towards Complementary and ... - 7thSpace Interactive (press release)
alternative medicine - Google News |
|
|
|
Alternative Medicine That Popeye Knew a Thing or Two! For a few weeks the lumps in my throat were driving me mad. To make them go away I was eating more, just to try to push them down!! Of course this is the time when all kinds of crazy things go through your mind, especially as a close friend had died recently from thyroid cancer. 5 Low Cost Ways to Soothe the Sting of Sunburn Each of us most likely has at least one memory of nasty sunburn. Whether experienced personally, or by a close family member or friend, the symptoms are likely to include anything from red hot skin either tender or painful to touch, to nausea, dehydration, blistering and flaking or peeling of the skin. Bois De Santal: The Source of Tranquility The near extinct bois de santal has a sensual and exotic scent that gives an elevating experience for those who use it. The oil extraction process of the sandalwood is lengthy; the tree has to be about 30 years old before the process can take place. Eating Healthy Myths Destroyed All Refined Carbohydrates are Hazardous to Your Health. The average American eats over 300 pounds of sugars each year. Most of this is because of all the sugar that is added to the everyday foods most people eat. Sugars are refined carbohydrates include anything that ends in "ose." Sucrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, dextrose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and sugar all count as sugar. An easy way to remember this is anything that rhymes with "gross." Pain Relief: Is There an Alternative? Do you rely on Vioxx, Celebrex or Aleve (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs) to ease pain? If you suffer from inflammatory arthritis or pain due to injuries, you probably are familiar with one of these drugs. No doubt you have also heard recent reports linking some NSAIDs with an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Belonging to a class called Cox-2 inhibitors, the drugs in question work by reducing inflammation and pain, while having a minimal effect on stomach bleeding and ulcers. But several studies have raised questions as to the long-term consequences of using Vioxx, Celebrex, Aleve and, possibly, other drugs in this classification. What are the facts and do you have an alternative for pain relief? Will This Years Flu Paralyze The US And Canada? According to the Associated Press on August 26th, the US and Canada may have to close schools, restrict travel and ration scarce medications if a powerful new flu strain spurs a worldwide outbreak, according to the federal planners for the next pandemic. It will take months to brew a new vaccine that works against the kind of super flu that causes a pandemic, although government preparations include research to speed the production. Federal plans have long been awaited by flu specialists, who say that it is just a matter of time before the next pandemic strikes and the nation is woefully unprepared for it! The Power of Ganoderma in Oriental Medicine Ganoderma, a rare variety of Mushroom credited with the highest medicinal qualities by the classic Chinese 'Seng Nong' is indeed a subject of much research from the ancient china of 100 B.C. or earlier to the modern times by various universities and research organizations. It is also known as Linghzi in China and Reishi in Japan. Snoring: A Common Sleep Disorder Sleep consumes as much as one-third or more of the average human's life. Even if people hope for restful sleep, many types of sleep disorder reduce the quality and quantity of sleep. Snoring is the most common cause of sleep disorder that affects people. Herbs and Essential Oils Powerful Medicine We can find many beneficial uses for natural herbs and their essential oils in our lives. The essential oils contain the concentrated part of the herb. Using the herb in its purest oil form can allow us to store it for longer periods of time. We can use less of it this way due to the concentration in the oils. A little goes a long way. The Maharishi Ayurveda Approach to Allergies Allergies: The Ayurvedic Answer Acupressure Developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago, acupressure is an ancient healing therapy that utilizes fingers to depress key locations on the skin's surface to prompt healing withing the body. Similar to acupuncture, acupressure uses the same reference points on the body that release muscular stress; thus encouraging better blood circulation. Basilic : A Priceless Uplifter "The smell of basil is good for the heart, it taketh away sorrowfulness, which commeth of melancholy and maketh a man merry and glad". (John Gerard) Athlete Foot Remedies Athlete foot is a common skin infection that is caused by a fungus. The medical term for foot fungus is tinea pedis. The fungus is a plant-like microorganism too small to be seen by the naked eye that mainly depends on dead tissue for nutrition and growth. As athletes are at high risk of getting this disease,it is called as Athletes foot. How Laughing Is Good For Your Health When thinking about alternative medicine, most people picture plants, crystals, needles, maybe some bugs and leeches, but few realize that jokes, humor and comedy are truly medicines, in their own right. It has long been established that optimists live longer than pessimists, but now there is some hard evidence that people with a better sense of humor also have longer and healthier lives. Your "stay healthy" plan should include a joke and a 20-minute comedy show, to go with the broccoli and carrots. Why Use An Aromatherapy Diffuser? We breathe 22,000 times a day, inhaling 400 cubic feet of air. Fruits, Juices, and Food for Relieving Hemorrhoids Part II Eating the right kind of food and following good eating habits will speed up your healing of your hemorrhoids. If you have a diet that is hard to digest and moves slowly through your colon, then, expect to have constipation which will encourage formation of hemorrhoids or prevent the their healing. The Benefits of Drinking Mangosteen (XanGo) Benefits of Drinking XanGo: Arthritis Relief and Your Diet Arthritis affects more than 40 million Americans and is referred to as the most common chronic disease in people over 40. Whipped Shea Butter & Its Many Uses Shea butter, also referred to as karite, which means "life" has been used across the African continent for centuries. It hails from Central and Western Africa. It's actually a nut fat, as it's obtained from the fruit of the kernel. Shea nuts are picked by women, then par-boiled, and sun-dried for a week in order to dehydrate the nut. This increases their storage time. The next step is to crush the dried fruit, in order to remove the skin. When the shea butter is hand crushed like this, it retains all its numerous vitamins and minerals and the nutty, smoky scent is naturally preserved. The color ranges from off white to gray to golden brown to green, depending upon the maturity of the nut. It's always refined at least once, in order to remove dirt, bits of gourd, or leaves, objects that would not be fun to apply to your skin. Aura and House Clearings - Rid Your Space of Unwanted Energies Aura and space clearing can be accomplished in a number of ways. One easy and simple way is by using special herbs to clear the area. Herbs and incense have been used in this way for thousands of years. And for good reason. It works!
|
| home | site map | |
© 2006 www.elearn-university.org |
