The Acupuncture Technique as an Adjunct to Medical Treatments

The acupuncture treatment has been an important part of medicine for many years now. This ancient technique has been very popular in the East and is now making its way to the Western parts of the world. It is a family of procedures that involves stimulation of anatomical locations in the skin through the use of a variety of techniques. Countries like China, Japan, Korea and other countries have rich medical traditions that are incorporated in the acupuncture treatment. The most practically studied mechanisms of stimulation of the traditional acupuncture include penetration of the skin by thin, solid and metallic needles that can be manipulated manually or through the use of electrical stimulation. 

Studies in animals and human have come out to demonstrate that the treatment can result to different biological responses. These responses may happen locally which means it will occur at the site of application and is mainly mediated by the sensory neurons to structures within the central nervous system. This is going to affect the physiological system of the brain. Stimulation by the acupuncture treatment may also affect the pituitary gland which will then result to a comprehensive spectrum of systematic effects. Alterations in the function of the immune system may be produced by the acupuncture treatment. Because of these, this ancient technique must never be neglected despite the several wellness medicines that we have available today. 

People who experience the treatment react differently but most of them say that the procedure is not painful. So if you think that it is because of the presence of needles, fear not. Unlike the needles that are used for injections, the tip of the needle that is used for acupuncture has a smooth point. Acupuncture needles are extremely thin, solid and do not remove tissues as would occur with the use of the hypodermic needles. That means that the needles are painless and safe. Acupuncture also has a cupping component whereby cups are heated and are applied to the skin to generate suction and bring blood close to the surface.

Your health and wellness have to be part of your most important priorities in life. In relation to this, you may consider the acupuncture technique. It is considered as a harmless medical treatment. For this reason, many physicians and practitioners say that acupuncture is a valuable treatment and can be an adjunct to other medical treatments. 

Herbal Medicines Versus Health Complications

Health complications have found great enemies with herbal medicines. With herbal medicines, a person is able to get good health without spending too much. Visit Miami Integrative Medicine for more related details.

Clearer Look at Alternative, Holistic and Complementary Medicines

The world of medicine has definitely improved through the years. People from all over the world have developed significant ways in order to treat different kinds of illnesses. Today, there are diverse kinds of medicines that are mostly used. These are the alternative medicine, complementary medicine and holistic medicine. These terms are commonly used interchangeably but the truth is they are different from one another. Let us discuss on how these kinds of medicines are different. 

1. Alternative medicine- The alternative medicines are the ones that incorporate spiritual and religious basis. Alternative medicine in Miami is appreciated by a significant number of people but it is radically different compared to the conventional type of medicine. This type of medicine is used as an alternative to standard medical treatments. In most cases, alternative medical practices are not recognized by the medical community as a standard or conventional medical approach.

2. Holistic medicine- It is a system of health care that fosters a cooperative relationship among those that are involved. This will lead to a better physical, mental, social and spiritual status. This will require a smart analysis of the physical, nutritional, environmental, social and spiritual values. The focus of holistic medicine is to achieve balance on the overall health and well being. Holistic medicine is a term which embraces the larger definition of a system of treatment. You may also need to understand that holistic healing is a lifetime approach and getting a holistic approach means looking for the right tools that will help you attract your desires and find the personal power that you need so you can become a healthier and more satisfied person in the different areas of your life. It is an ongoing journey of discovery. 

3. Complementary medicine - The term is often used by conventional medical practitioners to refer to non-invasive technique that is used as a complement to conventional medical treatments like drugs and surgery. There are cases when conventional medicine becomes a part of holistic healing plan. The term complementary medicine is used when therapies are being used in combination with conventional or Western medical treatments.

Holistic and alternative medicines may be closely related but there are differences that make one unique from the other. Complementary medicine is unique as well. It is very important that you are aware about these so you will know which way to go. 

Achieving a Better Health With Carb-Rich Diet

Miami Integrative Medicine introduces the concept of eating what most people avoid like carbs. Look at this infographic and learn what MIM is trying to point out.

Ways to Win a Holistic Health

If you are looking for ways to get a holistic health, then you should check this image out. Get a balance between physical workouts; reading some good books; arts to express your emotions; mingle with people; and cherish the beauty of our world. Be with Miami Integrative Medicine to promote holistic health.

Some Things to Know About Alternative Medicine

More people are considering traditional alternative medicine when it comes to mapping out healthier lifestyles. They do this for various reasons. Perhaps they think that it would be helpful to include these alternative treatments to work side by side with medical science. Or perhaps they have a philosophy which focuses on regaining their link to nature and the rest of the natural world. Whatever the reason is, more attention is being focused on alternative medicine today.

One thing to consider about this term is that it encompasses a very broad number of beliefs and practices. The basic idea behind this body of work though is that there are other ways to provide healing to the body, aside from what medical science and medical professionals have to offer. Many of these practices are rooted in older traditions or ways of doing things. In certain cases, these alternative practices are being studied by medical science in order to determine if they work and how.

One example of an alternative practice of healing is acupuncture. It uses needles but not in the way that doctors use them. Instead, needles are inserted into various parts of the body depending on the ailment or complaint of the person. The points at which these needles are inserted are believed to have consequences for health, and by inserting the needles, it is believed that a person's state of health can be improved.

It's a good idea to keep sound medical practices in mind if you will also turn to alternative methods. In the case of acupuncture for instance, it's advisable to confirm with the practitioner that the needs have been sterilized properly so that you will not end up at risk for contracting whatever the previous patient might have had.

It's also a good idea to get a list of persons who have previously been treated by the acupuncturist. This way, you will get a better sense of the person's healing manner and whether previous people treated have experienced positive effects. Since practitioners are not licensed or registered, you'll need to do extra homework to make sure that the person you will be seeing has the knowledge that he claims to have.

Visit Miami Wellness Center and Feel Great and Radiant

The demands of your job and other daily responsibilities could cause you a lot of stress. Symptoms such as sore and tight muscles, insomnia, headache, and low productivity could be signs that you are taking in more than what you can handle. If you think it is time for you to relive yourself of tension and fatigue, visit one of Miami wellness centers for the best remedy that you can find.

There are several benefits that you can derive from wellness Miami center.

*Most centers in Miami have expert masseurs who knows the right procedure to help you get rid of the soreness and tightness of your muscles. These people perform deep tissue massage therapy, using traditional massage strokes but applying more pressure so that the inner layers of tissues and muscles are realigned. This is advisable for people who experience chronic muscle tension such as sore shoulders, stiff neck, and tightness of the lower back. 

*The centers have acupuncturists who can help you get rid of heart murmur Miami residents sometimes experience, an ailment that can result to cardiovascular disease when left untreated at an early stage. The acupuncturist inserts needles to some points of the body. It is believed that acupuncture could help unclog the veins so that the blood flows smoothly throughout the body. This would normalize the beating of the heart and help you get rid of your heart palpitations. Acupuncture Miami has been known to be highly effective, considering that it is performed by the best professional acupuncturists in the area. You can find them having their own offices in the different wellness centers in Miami, Florida, or being employed by many of the best alternative therapy practitioners in Miami, Florida.

*With a good cardiologist Miami residents are able to receive sound advice regarding their heart problems and with the availability of wellness centers that provide alternative remedies for this ailment, people in this place are assured of a healthy heart most of the time.

*Wellness centers do not only help you acquire good health but also physical radiance. Facial massage and treatment could leave you with glowing and wrinkle-free face. The substance used to enhance the beauty of your skin has natural ingredients, preventing damage on your skin.

*Wellness centers in Miami also offer body hair removal. Most methods used are certified safe and some are permanent, meaning once the hair is removed, it will never grow again. So, if you want obtain a glowing health, visit any of the Miami wellness centers near you.

3 Things to Do When You Experience Heart Murmur

A heart murmur is a sound made by the heart which is not part of its normal beating. The sound could be faint or loud and may not mean anything. However, precaution must be taken because it might be a symptom of an abnormality in the heart that can become serious as time passes by.

When you are told by your cardiologist that your heart is making this kind of noise, do the following:

1. See a cardiologist. This person specializes in the functions and ailments of the heart. He has the authority to give you advice as to the best remedy for your condition. He might give you some drugs, or recommend surgery to remove the danger of you suffering from major cardiovascular disease. However, you might be allergy to drugs or your physician might warn you about some complications. In this case, you have to resort to alternative treatments. There are some excellent practitioners of alternative medicine in Miami and you can find their names and offices in the directory.

2.  Visit wellness Miami center. A wellness center offers various remedies for heart murmur. One treatment for this condition is acupuncture, which involves the insertion of very thin needles into some points in the body. This is believed to unclog the veins and allow the smooth flow of the blood into the heart. There are centers for acupuncture Miami that employ experts in this field and who can guarantee you that the procedure is done correctly and safely. Unlike taking commercial drugs that might trigger other illnesses, this process has no side effects. However, you need to have several sessions, depending on your acupuncturist.

3. Review your diet and lifestyle. Most cardiovascular diseases are caused by the food that you eat and the kind of life that you lead.  Avoid fatty foods and a diet high in cholesterol because the fats stick to the walls of the artery and harden. This results to the clogging of the artery and impedes blood flow.  Some Miami wellness programs include customized nutrition and exercise for the client. The diet would include foods that have low fat and cholesterol content and high in vitamins and minerals. Some centers sell food supplements with natural ingredients, as well as herbal tablets and capsules known to remedy heart murmur.

With so many options found in many wellness establishments, getting rid of your heart murmur is an easy thing to do.

Must - Eat – Vegetables for Wellness: Part 5

Wellness is defined as the condition or state of having good physical and mental health, especially as the result of deliberate effort that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life by proper diet, exercise and maintaining good health habits, as opposed to treating diseases.

When I was growing up, my grand mom and mother used to say “Eat your veggies, it will keep you strong and safe” or they’d say “Eat your salad, you won’t turn into a rabbit instead you will be as strong and as fast as a horse”. To be honest, I grew up liking vegetables due to repetition, being a writer-researcher has opened my eyes to the miracles of plants, vegetables and fruits. 

Total wellness has now become a popular topic for people around the world. Social media has made it possible for people to read health tips from their mobile devices or chancing about their friends’ latest fruit “Like” and more. People have the power to “share” the things they like or articles they think would help other people stay healthy and glow with beauty. Below is my personal list of veggies our fridge often has an abundance of; I recommend you do the same and you will feel light and healthier even more.

6. Eggplant

Also called Mad Apple, defined as an egg-shaped glossy black-purple fruit which has white meaty textured flesh, the Eggplant or Solanum melongena is a delicate tropical perennial with a spiny stem that has tall, large, coarsely lobed leaves and white to purple flowers that later produce the fruit-veggie we all love to eat. Name was said to come from French aubergine, from Catalan albergínia, from Arabic الباذِنْجان(al-baðinjān), the eggplant, from Persian بادنگان (bâdengân), from باتنگان(bâtengân), from Sanskrit वातिगगम (vātiga-gama, “eggplant”),this purple-black veggie-fruit is famous all over the world.The plant is native to the Indian Subcontinent and has been cultivated in Southeast Asia since prehistory. The eggplant was first recorded in the Qímínyàoshù, an ancient Chinese agricultural treatise completed in 544. Called as “aubergine” in British English, the aubergine was first recorded in England in the 16th century as a plant that growth in Egypt almost everywhere.

For thousands of years different cultures have cultivated the eggplant and our ancestors must have had a very good reason why.A research study done by the US Agricultural Services in Beltsville, Maryland have published that eggplants are rich sources of phenolic compounds that function as antioxidants.Also other scientific studies show that this purple necessity contains important phytonutrients which have promoteantioxidant activity. Phenolic compound such as caffeic, chlorogenic acid, and flavonoids, such as nasunin are examples of Phytonutrients contained in this purple-black aubegine veggie. Nasunin is said to act as a brain-food and is shown to protect cell membranes from damage.

Good for the bone-building for it contains vitamin K and magnesium. Egg plants are high in heart-healthy nutrients such as vitamin B6, folate, copper and niacin. Eggplant is an excellent source of dietary fiber and heart-healthy potassium plus bone-building manganese. Researchers believe this may reduce risk of dementia and stroke. So say yes to aubergine and do not forget to place a load of this wellness veggie in your cart the next time you do your groceries. Make some Eggplant Parmesan, Pork Sinigang, Ratatouille or Greek Moussaka. The more the merrier!

Must – Eat - Vegetables for Wellness: Part 4

Wellness is defined as the condition or state of having good physical and mental health, especially as the result of deliberate effort that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life by proper diet, exercise and maintaining good health habits, as opposed to treating diseases.

When I was growing up, my grand mom and mother used to say “Eat your veggies, it will keep you strong and safe” or they’d say “Eat your salad, you won’t turn into a rabbit instead you will be as strong and as fast as a horse”. To be honest, I grew up liking vegetables due to repetition, being a writer-researcher has opened my eyes to the miracles of plants, vegetables and fruits. 

Wellness has now become a popular topic for people around the world. Social media has made it possible for people to read health tips from their mobile devices or chancing about their friends’ latest fruit “Like” and more. People have the power to “share” the things they like or articles they think would help other people stay healthy and glow with beauty. Below is my personal list of veggies our fridge often has an abundance of; I recommend you do the same and you will feel light and healthier even more.

5. Sweet potato

My research on this veggie necessity brought me to various cultures, countries and ways it can be cooked and consumed. Wow! I did not know there were so many ways you could cook this large, sweet-tasting, starchy tuberous root vegetable. Even the more reason, you should have a staple supply of this wellness must eat vegetable in your pantry for personal consumption. Also the sweet potato is a source of vitamin B6, vitamin B1, phosphorus and potassium; known to be an energy food used in cooking all over the world.

From Africa’s “amukeke” (sun-dried slices of root) eaten with peanut sauce to Egypt’s "batata" where this sweet potato tubers are known to be baked as a snack or dessert, served with honey to Korea’s “Goguma”, to Japan’s “yaki-imo” (roasted sweet potato) and “imo-jōchū” a Japanese Potato wine, to India’s Sweet potato – “shakarkand, शक्करकंद” roasted slowly over kitchen coal and eaten with yogurt dressing. Sweet potato contains calcium, sugars and carbohydrates which makes it filling to the tummy.

Different cultures from different continents have acknowledged the importance of this root vegetable.  Radio carbon dating revealed the presence of this tuber in the Cook Islands dating back to 1000 AD. Researchers postulated that it was brought to central Polynesia around 700 AD, it was Polynesians who brought this tuber when they traveled to South America. The first record of the name “sweet potato” is found in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1775. In Chile, Mexico, Central America, and the Philippines, this is known as camote or kamote. In Argentina, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, it is called batata. Boniato is another name for it in Spain and Uruguay. In Peru, it is kumar, while in New Zealand it is called kumara.

The root vegetable is a great source of iron and fiber that can help regulate the digestive system.This vegetable tuber is found in different varieties all over the world has anti-cancer properties like vitamin C, A and manganese. No wonder everyone is going gaga over this root tuber veggie necessity. Try it today!

Must – Eat – Vegetables for Wellness: Part 3

Wellness is defined as the condition or state of having good physical and mental health, especially as the result of deliberate effort that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life by proper diet, exercise and maintaining good health habits, as opposed to treating diseases.

When I was growing up, my grand mom and mother used to say “Eat your veggies, it will keep you strong and safe” or they’d say “Eat your salad, you won’t turn into a rabbit instead you will be as strong and as fast as a horse”. To be honest, I grew up liking vegetables due to repetition, being a writer-researcher has opened my eyes to the miracles of plants, vegetables and fruits. 

Total wellness has now become a popular topic for people around the world. Social media has made it possible for people to read health tips from their mobile devices or chancing about their friends’ latest fruit “Like” and more. People have the power to “share” the things they like or articles they think would help other people stay healthy and glow with beauty. Below is my personal list of veggies our fridge often has an abundance of; I recommend you do the same and you will feel light and healthier even more.

3. Carrots

This horn-like shaped root vegetable is also called Daucus carota in Science or καρότον karōton in Greek. Carrot seeds have been found in Switzerland and Southern Germany dating to 2000–3000 BC. Back in the days, it was cultivated for its aromatic leaves and seeds, not their root. The carrot gets its characteristic and bright orange colour from β-carotene, and lesser amounts of α-carotene and γ-carotene. Glad to inform you that this veggie is the richest source of some antioxidant, like Vitamin A and Vitamin C – all perfect for your total wellness. Not only is it loaded with nutrients that are good for your eyes, hair and skin, this orange colored necessity helps reduce the risk of cancer and protects your cardiovascular system from damage. So now you can indulge in eating your low calorie carrot cake after dinner, enjoy your carrot nibbler as you watch TV, eat your Chopsuey for breakfast and feast on salads during lunch. With this orange colored miracle worker, you will never go wrong.

4. Squash

Archaeologists suggest that this plant has been cultivated first in Mesoamerica dating back to about 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Rich in fiber, potassium and magnesium, the squash is also a viable source of anti-inflammatory nutrients.Consumption can help remedy a lot of health conditions including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.Bees played a big role in the pollination and cultivation of the squash plant in the olden days.Squash was said to be historically proven to have been pollinated by the native North American squash bee, Peponapis pruinosa. Due to the decline of bee population, gardeners resorted to hand pollination. Squash was derived from the word askuta

squash (a green thing eaten raw). Botanically speaking the squash is a fruit though, like the tomato, it is considered to be a vegetable in cooking. This yellow necessity can be served in salads, made into a soup-base and cooked stuffed with meat, fried and baked into pastry. Take note that this yellow-orange fruit-veggie has lots of wonders, for not only can the fruit be eaten but also its seeds. The leaves, shoots and squash tendrils can also be eaten as greens. The blossoms are used in many other parts of the world but are recorded to have played an important part in Native American cooking. To this very day, we enjoy the same privileges of our ancestors; this golden veggie contains Vitamin C and beta-carotene which reduces the risk of breast cancer. Today health enthusiasts have come up with squash flavored cakes and pastries, catering to the health conscious crowd, for a yummy tandem with your favorite afternoon coffee or tea time.

Must – Eat – Vegetables for Wellness: Part 2

Wellness is defined as the condition or state of having good physical and mental health, especially as the result of deliberate effort that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life by proper diet, exercise and maintaining good health habits, as opposed to treating diseases.

When I was growing up, my grand mom and mother used to say “Eat your veggies, it will keep you strong and safe” or they’d say “Eat your salad, you won’t turn into a rabbit instead you will be as strong and as fast as a horse”. To be honest, I grew up liking vegetables due to repetition, being a writer-researcher has opened my eyes to the miracles of plants, vegetables and fruits. 

Wellness has now become a popular topic for people around the world. Social media has made it possible for people to read health tips from their mobile devices or chancing about their friends’ latest fruit “Like” and more. People have the power to “share” the things they like or articles they think would help other people stay healthy and glow with beauty. Below is my personal list of veggies our fridge often has an abundance of; I recommend you do the same and you will feel light and healthier even more.

Here are my most recommended wellness vegetables:

2. Tomatoes

In an article written by award-winning physician and medical journalist, Dr. Julie Lynn Wong published by www.abcnews.go.com last Oct. 2012, it was stated how tomatoes are linked to lower stroke risk. The article discussed a research conducted by Jouni Karppi, lead study author of the University of Eastern Finland showing the evidence that diet high in fruits and vegetables is associated with lower risk of stroke. Karpi confirmed that eating tomatoes and tomato based food reduce stroke risk. Men with the highest blood level of lycopene, followed over an average of 12 years to see if they would develop a stroke, were 55 percent less likely to have a stroke. Statistics confirm every four minutes, someone dies of a stroke. Lycopene found in vegetables like tomatoes may help reduce risk of stroke by preventing the formation of blood cloths that can obstruct the brain’s blood supply, Karppi mentioned in an interview.

A very exciting medical find that support the cardiologist recommendation that people consume fresh fruits and vegetables rather than nutritional supplements. Tomatoes are always plentiful and cost-efficient.

Dubbed as the “golden apple” or pomi d’oroback in the 1500s by Pietro Andrea Mattioli, this red fruit of the Solanum lycopersicum, commonly known as a tomato plant, has been around since the time of Mesoamerica. Aztec people used it in their cooking by 500 B.C. and they believed that those who witnessed the ingestion of tomato seeds were blessed with powers of divination. Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes may have been the first to bring this red orb to Europe after he captured the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City, in 1521. Good for the heart, the face and the whole body. Not only should you consider the tomato an important part of your everyday diet but also include tomato based products available in the market. This salad-making necessity is a big hit in the wellness community. These gorgeous little red-orange spheres are jam-packed with lycopene that have anti-aging and anti-cancer properties. Though categorized as a fruit, it is usually treated as a vegetable. Who would think that these little red planets are bursting with vitamins from A to K. So to live long, eat your tomatoes.

Must – Eat – Vegetables for Wellness: Part 1

Wellness is defined as the condition or state of having good physical and mental health, especially as the result of deliberate effort that emphasizes preventing illness and prolonging life by proper diet, exercise and maintaining good health habits, as opposed to treating diseases.

When I was growing up, my grand mom and mother used to say “Eat your veggies, it will keep you strong and safe” or they’d say “Eat your salad, you won’t turn into a rabbit instead you will be as strong and as fast as a horse”. To be honest, I grew up liking vegetables due to repetition, being a writer-researcher has opened my eyes to the miracles of plants, vegetables and fruits. 

Wellness has now become a popular topic for people around the world. Social media has made it possible for people to read health tips from their mobile devices or chancing about their friends’ latest fruit “Like” and more. People have the power to “share” the things they like or articles they think would help other people stay healthy and glow with beauty. Below is my personal list of veggies our fridge often has an abundance of; I recommend you do the same and you will feel light and healthier even more.

Here are my most recommended Wellness Vegetables:

1. Broccoli

Cardiologists all over the world must have seen the documentary Fat Sick and Nearly Dead by Joe Cross, which chronicles Joe’s journey to healthy living though juicing, to answer their patients million dollar question: will that also work for me? The answer is yes. Cells in the body need frequent supply of nutrients to function well. When cells receive adequate micronutrients the body will feel fully energized. Juicing vegetables like broccoli will grant the body much needed fiber, phytonutrients such as sulforphane and provide natural anti-oxidants.

Broccoli or Brassica oleracea (from the Italian plural of broccolo, refers to the: “flowering top of a cabbage”) is defined as an edible green plant belonging to the cabbage family, whose huge flower head is used as a vegetable. Abundant in beta-carotene, folate and rich in vitamin C, this green veggie is notorious for boosting your immune system to fight the common flu and colds. The wellness gurus of the world now endorse this vegetable as part of the “cannot live without” list of food to eat in a week. Some eat it steamed with a special sweet-salty sauce or mixed with other veggies for variety, either way it will not lose its cancer-fighting abilities; also rich in vitamin K, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Lutein. Studies show that this green fighter can help reduce the risk of lung, stomach and rectal cancers since it if jam-packed with antioxidants. Juicing broccoli and other vegetables work explains Dr. Kahn, a cardiologist and medical director of Preventive Cardiology at the Detroit Medical Center. Dr. Joel Kahn is also a clinical professor of Medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Kahn is also the Director of Cardiac Wellness at Michigan Healthcare. You can build a plant-based nutrition program rich in phytochemicals through juicing veggies. This also makes it easier to reach your goal of 5-10 servings per day of vegetables. So learn from the experts and learn well, eat broccoli to stay healthy.

3 Alternative Treatments for Arrhythmia You Can Use

Arrhythmia is a disease of the heart characterized by too fast, too slow, or irregular beating of the heart. Sometimes, this condition might not be serious but in some instances, it could be deadly. Treating the disease could be difficult and conventional remedies could be expensive.  If you have not felt any symptoms of this disease, the best thing that you could do is to prevent it using alternative treatments.

Here are three natural remedies for this disease:

1. Acupuncture. While there are many conventional drugs that are prescribed for people with the condition, combining it with alternative therapy could give better results. The irregular beating of the heart is caused by the improper coordination of the electrical impulses that make the heart beat. Once these impulses are not coordinated well, the heart may beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly. Acupuncture is known to penetrate some pressure points in the body.   For acupuncturists, arrhythmia results from either too high or too low levels of energy in the heart. An irregular heartbeat would mean unstable supply of energy to the heart. By inserting needles into some pressure points, blockages are removed, ensuring the regular supply of energy into the cardiovascular system. This will lead to the heart beating properly.

2. Herbs and Supplements

There are various herbs that could be used to help promote regular beating of the heart and get rid of arrhythmia.  Although many of these are not yet scientifically proven, users attested to their effectiveness.  Hawthorn is known to calm the heart and stop palpitations or fast heartbeat.  Be sure that the leaves and flowers are included in what you take, not the berries. Tincture of passionflower is also effective in keeping under control the fast beating of the heart. Kava kava, another herb, also has the same effect. Magnesium is also known to help remedy arrhythmia.  Lack of magnesium could result to a fluttery heart. Taking the right dosage of this element as advised by your doctor will be of help.

3. Leading healthy lifestyle

Exercise and eating nutritious foods assure you of total wellness. Total well-being means that you are also free from diseases like arrhythmia. Exercise is known to strengthen the body. When you exercise, excess fats in the body are burns and thickening of arterial walls could be prevented. Also, inclusion of fruits and vegetables in your diet would help keep your heart healthy. Foods rich in potassium like bananas are recommended. Potassium is known to strengthen your heart and remedy its slow beating. People who have shortage of potassium could feel weak and might collapse. By eating the right kinds of food, you could easily save yourself from the effects of arrhythmia.

5 Advantages of Using Alternative Medicine

People are now aware that natural remedies could do wonders in preventing and treating many diseases. As a result, they turn to alternative medicine when they are ill. There are five advantages in using alternative ways of treating diseases.

First, you can have alternative treatment along with conventional treatment. This means that you can use natural remedies even if you are undergoing conventional treatment or taking prescribed drugs. This is because the procedures and medication used in alternative medicine does not produce any adverse reaction when mixed with other procedures or drugs. Actually, a lot of people with cancer all over the world utilize alternative therapy while undergoing chemotherapy without suffering any serious reaction from the two medications.

Second, alternative medicine is cheaper than conventional medicine but could be just as effective. Most alternative treatments are readily available and may not have high production costs. Herbal medicines are made using simple procedures such as boiling, steaming, drying and pulverizing, and extracting the juices. These are simple procedures that do not need lot of manpower, modern equipment, and other costly ingredients. These medications can be home made, which means there is no additional cost for ventilation and facilities. With very low overhead expense, people engaging in making natural home remedies can sell their products at a cheaper price.

Third, alternative medicine brings forth overall wellness of mind and body. For example, aromatherapy is known to help a person relax his body and mind. The scents used are known to give a person a feeling of well being. The same effects come with acupuncture and massage. They do not only cure one disease but these procedures are known to have excellent effects on the body.

Fourth, alternative medicine is known to have no side effects. Most people who have serious illnesses experience more discomfort and pain from the medicines that they are taking and from the procedures that they must undergo. For instance, most people cannot be operated on because they have diseases that might be aggravated by the procedure. It is also known that some drugs could trigger other diseases and could result to several complications. People who cannot have surgery for some reasons prefer it safe to turn to alternative medicine.

Fifth, holistic medicine includes conventional and alternative cures. Practitioners of alternative medicine are now recognized and they are accepted by health authorities and professionals. Alternative cures are fast becoming popular. In the United States of America, the recent health bill recognizes alternative medicine as part of providing health services to its constituents. In fact, some insurance companies now include in their coverage expenses for alternative treatments and medications that their members incur. Hence, people with health insurance can now include alternative medicines or a visit to an alternative medicine practitioner in their health insurance claim.

Top 5 Things to Do in Fighting Cardiomyopathy

Improving length of life is a victory, and one can be successful in fighting cardiomyopathy. Read on to know more about the disease, how one can slow the rate of decline, tips on lifestyle change that can provide improvement of the symptoms and the alternative treatments available now for the said disease.

1.     Watch your weight

·         Diet is necessary. You have to lose weight or maintain the weight that you already have depending you what your doctor recommends.

·         You need to keep close record of what you are losing and nothing too much too soon.

·         It is a known fact that diabetes can speed up the decline and can cause complications for a patient diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. Hence, prevention is better than cure for diabetes.

·         Vegetables or its alternatives should be your new best friend.

2.     Take a walk

·       Your heart will be going through rehabilitation. Start by walking a good distance and take it slow.

·         This exercise is see how much walking is good for your heart, just enough to get the blood pumping and getting you a steady heart rate.

·         It has to be taken in stride, walking should be a relaxation and not a task you have to do every day.

·    Focus on the benefits and psyche yourself that doing it regularly will make you better and improve your condition, even if partial and gradual.

·   Slowly you will notice improvement in your heart rhythm and the increase of distance covered.

3.     Invest in a good juicer, fasting is necessary

·        It is recommended to do vegetable juice fasting for one week on and one week rest.

·      Consult your physician how much weight you need to maintain or lose. You wouldn’t want to lose too much.

4.     Take Linolenic acid

·      This will supply special nutrients that the heart would need in specific fatty acids and linolenic acids.

·     Linolenic acid is found in leafy green veggies, fish and flaxseed oil or other oils in general.

·        Good news is that Lecithin has both.

·     Try to work up to a gradual amount of intake like trying 3- 5 teaspoons of lecithin granules per day. Mix some juice or yogurt and down it quickly and follow with something to eat. Expect an unusual taste.

5.     Take vitamins and your prescribed drugs regularly

·  Below are the following recommended vitamins for people diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.

·        Some are non-prescription nutritional supplements which proved to be effective in improving or eliminating certain symptoms of the disease.

Vitamin E (natural d-alpha tocopherol or mixed natural tocopherols)

·         “E” helps the heart do more work on less fuel and oxygen.

·    “E” helps increase the amount of blood pumped per beat or your heart’s stroke volume. It is essential to have regular hearbeats, the stronger the better.

Vitamin C

·      Being Vitamin C deficient can result to muscle and connective tissue damage. Vitamin C is necessary for healthy connective tissue.

Magnesium and Calcium

·         Oratates, citrates or aparates help for better absorption

·         In a study done be the late Dr. Hans Neiper, one of Europe’s best cardiologists,it is stated to double to the recommended RDA to increase the availability if minerals in the body called “mineral transporters”.

Take Coenzyme Q-10

·    Studies show that the heart muscle benefits from coQ10 supplementation, established improvements in cases of congestive heart disease and even cardiomyopathy.

·    CoQ10 is vital to muscle cells, involved with cellular energy production, growth control and other life functions.

·     The recommended 100 and 400 milligrams a day and a person with cardiomyopathy may have bigger requirements like taking 300- 600 mg. It would be best to consult your cardiologist to create an action plan for your condition.

Take your prescribed drugs

·         Taking your prescription regularly and on time is a must.

·         Avoid cutting the recommended dosage or prolonging the medication.

·    Taking some medicine doesn't equate to the effect of taking all your prescribed medicine.

·         There is a reason why it was given all in one prescription.

·         Mostly some of it will not work without the others.

This article was researched for the purpose of giving the alternative now available in the market and has no intention of recommending any brand nor should it be used to take the place of prescription given be a certified cardiologist. It is better to always consult your doctor. Knowledge is power and trust that the world has put a lot of brain into providing better alternative medicine and treatments for the common good of all mankind.

Medication for Cardiomyopathy: What is does for your Heart?

Healing is two-step process. Your mind can achieve great things and healing is one of them. First step is getting peace of mind. Peace of mind comes with the knowledge that you went out to do something for yourself. This starts by seeing a specialist and getting the prescription necessary to improving your condition. Buying the medication and following through with the schedule in taking what your doctor prescribed. Understanding what you are taking is absolutely necessary to attain this. It comes in knowing that you are doing something to help yourself reach your goal of self-preservation.

Second step is to improve your physical state. This goes to show that the person is dedicated in getting better. Thus follows the conscious effort in avoiding the things which may worsen the condition like unhealthy food, vices, stress and overall unhealthy lifestyle. Taking your prescription regularly and on time is a must. Avoid cutting the recommended dosage or prolonging the medication. Taking some medicine doesn't equate to the effect of taking all your prescribed medicine. There is a reason why it was given all in one prescription. Mostly some of it will not work without the others.

Reading the material below, understanding the benefits of your prescription and its effects will help you understand what your cardiologist wants to achieve.

Here are some of the most common medications used for cardiomyopathy

1.     Beta-adrenergic (beta) blockers 

·         Beta blockers decrease the heart's demand for oxygen which decreases the workload on the heart.

·         In slowing the heart rate it lessens the symptoms of heart failure.

·         This is prescribed to lower blood pressure, slow the heart rate and by reducing the effect of adrenaline on the heart.

·         Studies show the increase survival by about 30-35 percent in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

·         Beta blockers can prevent further heart enlargement and scarring.

·         By preventing the enlargement of the heart, Beta blockers decrease risk of for people diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.

2.     Diuretics

·         It is more commonly called water pills.

·         It helps to promote urine production in the kidneys through relieving excess fluid in the body.

·         This decreases symptoms of shortness of breath, bloating and swelling.

3.     Positive inotropic medications 

·         Positive inotropic medication is used to strengthen the contractions of the heart.

·         Thisis prescribed to people with severe dilated cardiomyopathy. 

Examples of these drugs include the following:

§  digoxin

Ø  Digoxin has been used for a very long time to improve heart contractions and seems to work best in people who have severe heart failure complicated by atrial fibrillation because digoxin can slow a rapid heart rate.

·         Studies show that these drugs may accelerate the degeneration of the heart by forcing an already weakened organ to work harder.

·         Hence it is usually only used for a short period of time, or when there are no other treatment options. Take these only up to the time your doctor recommends and bring up if there are any adverse effects felt in your body.

§  milrinone

§  dopamine

§  dobutamine 

·         Positive inotropic medications are not recommended for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients because they can worsen the condition.

So far, so good in learning about prescription drugs given by doctors for people diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. Read on to learn more about the other drugs possibly given to you to reduce or eliminate certain symptoms.

4.     Vasodilators 

Ø  These commonly used to reduce symptoms of heart failure.

Ø  It can prolong the life of people with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Ø  Examples of vasodilators which cause blood vessels throughout the body to relax are the following:

·         (ACE) Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors

·         (ARBs) Angiotensin receptor blockers

Ø  Benefits include the following:

Ø  Decreases the resistance to blood flow measured as blood pressure,

Ø  Blood pressure change which in turn reduces the workload on the heart.

Ø  Vasodilators can also reverse the enlargement and scarring of the heart.

Ø  Taking these prescribed drugs can improve symptoms decrease the risk of hospitalization and death.

Ø  These are vasodilators which also reduce the workload of the heart and have been shown to improve symptoms and survival in dilated cardiomyopathy.

·         hydralazine

·         nitrates

5.     Aldosterone blockers 

Ø  Used to help balance electrolytes in the body

Ø  Prevents heart and blood vessel scarring, stiffening, and enlargement

Ø  Studies have shown that aldosterone blockers can improve survival in patients with severe dilated cardiomyopathy

Ø  Clinical studies also show improvement for those who have had a heart attack complicated by cardiomyopathy.

6.     Antiarrhythmic 

Ø  Antiarrhythmics increase the efficiency of the heart by regulating the heart rhythm.

Ø  These are drugs alter the way in which electrical currents are transmitted through the heart muscle.

Ø  The heart pumps most efficiently when it beats in a regular rhythm.

Ø  These drugs are used only in selected patients because they can have significant side effects. Do not take these drugs without a prescription.

Having learned a lot about your prescription drugs, now you are armed with the necessary knowledge to understand why your cardiologist gave this to you. Congratulations for you have just started the process of healing, both inside and out. Always keep the positive outlook in life, for this will provide good results slowly but surely.