Natural Health Alternative Blog

Acupressure is a natural alternative therapy even older than acupuncture, originating in China and dating back over 2,000 years. Not only is it used to heal many health problems, it’s also been shown to be effective in preventing problems, particularly those that accompany aging.

Chinese medical practitioners, acupuncturists and massage therapists all incorporate acupressure into their treatments. It’s considered an effective way to help your body regain balance, an important aspect of the homeostasis the body is constantly striving for, particularly in the fast-paced, high pressured, stressful lives most of us lead.

While acupuncture uses needles, acupressure is completely non-invasive and uses the human hand and its parts, like fingers, thumbs, and knuckles to press key points on the skin. I should point out though, that both procedures are relatively painless. The needles used in acupuncture are so thin, they’re hardly felt at all. Acupuncture and acupressure recognize the same key points, but one stimulates with needles and the other uses the hand or some other blunt object.

It’s also possible to buy pressure bands, when constant, continuous pressure is required, such as with relief from nausea. Acupressure can be very useful for treating children who might be frightened by acupuncture needles. In adults, acupressure is often used to decrease stress, with amazing results. You can learn how to use acupressure in a short time and be able to apply to yourself or your family members, unlike acupuncture, which requires many years of specialized education and experience.

Chinese medicine has identified 14 channels, called meridians, which are used to transport the movement of chi or qi, (both pronounced ‘chee’, which is the ‘life energy’) inside our body. By applying pressure to key points along each meridian, acupressure helps to improve circulation, reduce tension, balance the body, increase endorphins, and strengthen resistance to illness. It can also be used to treat everyday pains such as headache, stress and eye strain.

A study done at Dankook University in Korea showed acupressure to be successful in reducing the pain of labor as well as shortening the length of labor. It’s also been found to be an effective way to induce labor, and for this reason, only someone experienced in acupressure should apply it on pregnant women.

In Taiwan, research showed acupressure to be more useful in decreasing lower back pain than traditional physical therapies, with results lasting six months following treatment. One recent study shows that acupressure applied to the P6 (located in the wrist) had significant results in relieving acid reflux.

Acupressure is not intended to increase your tolerance for pain. It shouldn’t hurt. If pressure is applied and pain is felt, stop the pressure immediately. You may feel a slight numbness from acupressure, but you should never feel pain.

I’m not sure why Western medicine seems so reluctant to embrace techniques from other cultures that have been providing proven results for centuries. Perhaps modern day doctors fear their services might no longer be needed if everyone started using alternative therapies and natural remedies for their health related problems.

Warm regards,

Christian Goodman

PS: There is a good article directory I found focused on natural health and self help. you may want to check it out. It’s called Alumbo - Natural Health

Have you ever wondered why your doctor never prescribes an herbal (the ‘h’ is silent) remedy for you? Could it be because his pharmaceutical rep has never suggested one, given him samples, or tried to sell him one? And the reason is because the Big Pharma companies have no interest in herbal remedies. Why? Because they can’t patent them. And if they can’t patent them, they can’t make any money from them, so they have no interest in them, except to tell you that they don’t work.

Which couldn’t be further from the truth. Herbal remedies not only work, they’ve been working for centuries. Use of herbs goes back 5,000 years. They’ve even found medicinal plants at Neanderthal burial sites.

The reason they work is because the plants work with the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Millions of people worldwide still rely on them and use them successfully as a natural alternative to traditional medicine. Herbs are the oldest medicines known to man.

Herbal remedies come in many different forms. They can be applied to the skin as oil or cream, or they can be taken by mouth in teas or capsules or added to food. In Europe, they’re still very commonly used. For example, in Germany they’re still dispensed by apothecaries, or drugstores.

In this country, health insurance rarely covers herbal remedies, since by law they’re classified as dietary supplements, not drugs. But unlike drugs, they have virtually no toxicity or side effects associated with traditional drugs and even some over the counter medications. Herbal remedies are frequently used with much success by people suffering from chronic or degenerative illness.

A word of caution is in order, however. Because of the possible interaction, if you’re currently on prescribed medications, you should check with your healthcare provider before taking any herbal supplements. Also, pregnant or breastfeeding women should use caution, simply because there may not be enough information to determine how it might affect her or her baby.

Dosages for children are made according to the weight of the child. Their body doesn’t metabolize drugs or herbal remedies the way adults do. It’s best to speak with your healthcare provider or a knowledgeable herbalist before attempting to administer to a child. A safe dose for an adult may not be (and probably isn’t) a safe amount for a child to take.

Some examples of common herbal remedies are kava plant root, St. John’s Wort, and butterbur plant. Natives of the Pacific islands have used kava root for ages to relieve anxiety and elevate their mood. As far back as the 14th Century, fevers and plagues were treated with the butterbur plant.

Modern uses of butterbur include treatment of allergies, ulcers, coughs and infections, migraine headaches and asthma symptoms. Extracts are taken from the stem, the leaves, and the root of the plant. St. John’s Wort is used for calming, and helps with insomnia.

What many people don’t realize is that many of our modern day medicines have their origins in herbs and other plants. A good example of this is the heart medication digitalis, which is derived from the popular garden flower, foxglove. An allopathic or homeopathic physician, or an experienced herbalist can help you determine which herbs you may be able to benefit from.

Warm regards,

Christian Goodman

Natural health comes from allowing your body to perform as it was intended to, without doing things that just get in the way of the natural processes. The body is amazing in the intricacy of its design, and in so many cases, has the capacity to completely heal itself, if allowed to. 

Believe it or not, many illnesses stem from an imbalance in the body. Not enough vitamins, lacking in a vital mineral, too many or not enough hormones, or some other area that’s not in balance. The body’s primary purpose is to keep us in a constant state of homeostasis, or equilibrium, and there are many complex biological processes that exist to make that happen. 

I’m certainly in no way suggesting that you turn your back on all the miracles that modern science has to offer, but even many doctors today are taking advantage of classes in natural health in order to learn more about holistic medicine and alternative therapies. Some are finally beginning to respect and appreciate the power of the body’s built in defense and healing mechanisms. 

Natural health is far more than just using certain products or eating whole foods. It’s a lifestyle, and it’s reflected in the way you live your life. Naturally healthy people have a joy about life and don’t worry about or fear death. Their lives consist of wholesome, healthy foods, a positive attitude, regular exercise and a way of dealing with stress so it never really becomes an issue. 

Naturopathic doctors, who totally support getting healthy in as natural a way as possible, focus on finding the underlying reasons for disease. They implement treatments that support the body’s natural ability to heal itself. They consider all factors that might play a contributing role in making the body unhealthy, in other words, they have a holistic approach to healing that takes into consideration your mind, body and spirit. When any of these areas are weak or suffering, it affects the others. 

As the cost of medicine and medical care continues to spiral out of control, more people are interested in finding an alternative to traditional medicine. They’re using homeopathic treatments for most minor ailments, and are rediscovering the healing powers of herbal remedies. Therapeutic massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and meditation are just a few of the alternative therapies that can lead to a blissful life of natural health. 

It may seem the more we advance technologically, the further away we move from anything natural, including our health. We eat too many foods containing more chemicals than nutrients, (which food group are Pop-tarts part of, anyway?), and the bulk of what we drink is little more than chemicals in liquid form. We don’t even get natural exercise anymore, we have to have special equipment housed in special buildings to give us a place to ‘go and exercise’. 

All the programs I create have this at their core, the natural element. You can find relief from many common problems without pills or surgery, which seems to be, for many traditional physicians, their only two choices. Take a hard look at the life you lead. Take a long look at your body and the state of health it’s in. How far away from natural health have you strayed? 

Warm regards, 

Christian Goodman