Tag: Breathing Exercises

An overview of natural arthritis treatment

An overview of natural arthritis treatment
Robert Kokoska

Feeling a little itchy, inflamed and stiff in the joints? If you
feel that your condition adheres to the aforementioned
characteristics, then it is possible that you may be suffering
from arthritis. You are just one of the millions of people
around the world who are infected with this condition.

Arthritis involves pain, swelling, and inflammation of joints
which results from infections, metabolic disturbances or other
causes. Fluctuating pain and stiffness follow and can get worse
during occasional flare-ups. Many people who are affected by
this condition regularly complain of flu- like symptoms such as
tiredness and depression. Therefore it is essential to treat
this condition before it gets onto the next stage and halt it in
its tracks.

This article aims to provide an insight into several methods
that can be used to treat arthritis naturally, causing minimal
side effects.

The technique of acupuncture has been used for centuries by the
Chinese. It is based on the theory that inserting hair-fine
needles along certain energy lines can help stimulate energy
flow. It is believed by scientists that the insertion causes the
nervous system to release endogenous, which acts as
pain-relieving chemicals. This can therefore help in reducing
pain.

Alexander technique involves analyzing whole body patterns,
rather then a certain part of the body which contains the
symptom. It is a way of teaching improved stance to help people
stand and move more efficiently. It is designed to help us
maneuver in a better way and eliminate tension which is
responsible for many ailments in the body which rambles on to
give a greater effect during old age.

Aromatherapy is a technique similar to that of massage. It
involves the use of extracted oil from flowers, plants and
trees, and using it in combination with massage, baths and steam
inhalation. The right mixture of essential oils can provide a
number of benefits. It helps in relaxation, pain relief and
decreasing tiredness.

Chiropractic has long been used to give relief from symptoms of
arthritis. This technique aims to increase the mobility and
relieve the body of tension and stress by adjusting the joints
of the spins and the limbs, which demonstrates constrained
movement.

Homeopathy has its roots in history. Developed in the 18
century, it’s a system of remedies based on the belief that
taking tiny amount of natural substances to stimulate body own
defenses against arthritis. It basically involves taking the
whole body into account rather then a specific region.

Osteopathy is a method to treat arthritis which includes the
manipulation of the body to restore normal action and decrease
pain. This methods cant reverse profound damage done to the
joints but can help in improving mobility. However this
treatment is not recommended for those suffering from
osteoporosis or inflamed joints.

Reflexology has been an ancient technique used by the early
Egyptians and Chinese. It involves massage to the feet and the
palm of the hand to help improve the state of the rest of the
body. When massage will be applied to the feet or palm of the
hand, it will generate a warm and comforting sensation. This is
an ideal method for stress management and overall health
maintenance; factors that cause arthritis.

The practice of yoga has been used for a variety of conditions.
It involves a combination of breathing exercises and relaxation
to cope with daily stress and help in circulation and movement
of joints.

The aforementioned techniques have been the most common natural
arthritis treatments. However before any of theses techniques
are implemented, it is essential to see your nearest doctor to
analyze your state and then use these techniques. This is
because each arthritis patient will have requirements that need
to be addressed individually.

About the author:
If you’re serious about eliminating your arthritis, visit this
website: Natural
Arthritis Cure.

If you would like a copy of the free ebook: “Natural Arthritis
Relief” and more arthritis resources, visit this website: Natural Arthritis
Treatment

How To Relieve Insomnia-Tired Of Not Sleeping

It’s hard to imagine anything more irritating than lying in bed, looking straight up at the ceiling and wondering if you will ever get to sleep. We all have a night or two like that, but when it happens on a continual basis and starts to interfere with daily life, then it becomes a serious medical condition known as chronic insomnia. The question of how to relieve insomnia can be tricky to answer, but the following information can help you to finally have a good night’s sleep.

One thing that never seems to work is telling yourself “I have to get to sleep now!” All that will do is add more stress to the situation and will actually do more to keep you awake than it will to help you doze off. Let’s be realistic here, if you could force yourself to fall asleep in this way then insomnia wouldn’t be a problem.

We just mentioned stress can keep you awake, so it’s logical that removing stress from your life will help you get to sleep. The real secret is learning how to deal with stress during the day so you won’t have to deal with it when you would rather be sleeping.

Breathing exercises will calm you down and take your focus off of the things that are bothering you. Meditation is a wonderful way to de-stress. However, the best way to reduce stress in your life is to change your mindset. That doesn’t mean you should live in a fantasy world, but it does mean you should try to put things into a healthier perspective. Sure, there will always be things that get on your nerves, but don’t let them dominate your life, and do your best to face them head on or shrug them off.

While breathing exercises are one way of how to relieve insomnia, strenuous exercise too close to bedtime can cause insomnia. However, regular exercise at the right time of day will help you to fall asleep. An exercise program will get your body into shape, and that means all parts of it will function better. You can do light exercises such as a leisurely walk or soothing yoga a few hours before bed if you like.

The food you eat and when you eat it plays a major role in how well you sleep. Try to eat several smaller meals throughout the day, and don’t eat your heaviest meal last. Your body does a lot of work to digest your food, and you don’t want it to be in high gear as you’re trying to drift off to sleep. Also, don’t use alcohol to help you sleep. While it seems like it works, that’s only an illusion, and it may actually cause sleeplessness.

Having a regular bedtime will get your body in the habit of going into “sleep mode” at the same time. Give some thought to your bedroom and do whatever you can to make it a comfortable and relaxing environment. The question of how to relieve insomnia isn’t always the easiest one to answer, but you now have several things you can do to get a good night’s sleep.

What Can You Do to Stop Anxiety Attacks

Episodes of anxiety attacks can be uncomfortable, unpleasant and unhealthy. Because of this, most people head to the medicine cabinet for a quick relief. While some may find medications as an effective way to battle anxiety, there are more natural and equally effective ways of dealing your excessive emotion without subjecting the body to different negative side-effects.

Exercise Exercise improves the health of the body and mind, and improves the overall well-being of a person. A 30-minute exercise, 3-5 times a week is enough to provide anxiety relief. Increasing to at least an hour of aerobic exercise each day provides maximum benefits for relieving stress and anxiety.

Sleep A popular adage, “early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise,” speaks of the importance of sleep in the overall health of a person. Qualitative sleep for 8 hours a day is a proven and effective technique to battle stress as well as anxiety attacks.

Healthy diet Along with exercise, diet plays an important role in the overall health of the body. Eating healthy food maintains the normal chemistry and hormones of the body as well has provides resistance to common ailments that increases the risk of anxiety attacks.

Avoid unnecessary stressors Most stressors are unavoidable and it is also unhealthy to turn your back to certain situations that need to be addressed. Still, some situations and people cause unnecessary stress that result to anxiety attacks. Avoid people that stress you out, learn how to say ‘no’, trim down your to-do-list, avoid sensitive topics such as politics and religion, etc.

Relaxation techniques Yoga, meditation, Taiji, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization and breathing exercises can reduce anxiety and promote the feeling of relaxation and emotional well-being.

Keep a positive outlook While it is very difficult to maintain a good attitude when experiencing an anxiety attack, it is very crucial to be more conscious and help stay in control over the situation to effectively battle your condition. Do not think “Oh no, not again!” or “I’m screwed” when an episode hits you. Think that it will be over soon and control your emotions so that your anxiety will now get worse.

If the abovementioned techniques do not work for you, it is probably time to consult a health professional about your health. Since symptoms of anxiety attacks may be a result of other psychological and physical conditions, you need to see your medical doctor first and get a complete physical in order to rule out any other possible causes.

If anxiety prevails and symptoms last for more than 1 to 2 weeks, especially if you have no idea why, see a trained therapist.

A person with anxiety disorder usually goes under medication, therapy or both. Prescription drugs for anxiety are usually antidepressants and benzodiazepines. However, they provide short-term relief and thus, other therapy is often recommended. Therapies given are cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. They are both effective (especially when combined with medication) to treat anxiety disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps patients to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

Exposure therapy, on the other hand, helps treat anxiety attacks by subjecting the patients to control fear in a safe and controlled environment. Through repeated exposure, patients gain greater self control and more confidence in facing fearful situation.

Various Treatments for Panic Attacks

The cause of panic attacks is still not fully understood. What is known is that it can happen to anyone, without any reason, regardless of age. Meaning, a happy and healthy person has an equal chance of experiencing a panic attack with those who are depressed and unhealthy. An episode of panic attack chooses no time. It can happen while you are at home, sitting on your couch, watching television, while driving, shopping or walking, at the office, etc. It can even happen while you are asleep.

Given such circumstances, methods of treatment may vary from person to person, depending on his conditions, symptoms, lifestyle, and frequency of attacks. Typically however, treatment involves psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or medication. Other treatments that can be employed are meditation, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques and herbal treatment.

Anti-anxiety medications such as Ativan, Xanax and Klonopin provide quick relief from the symptoms panic attack. Benzodiazepines have immediate effects, usually within 30 minutes to an hour. Benzodiazepines, however, are highly addictive and have some serious withdrawal symptoms. Anti-depressant drugs (Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, and Celexa) should be taken continuously before you can begin to notice the effects, usually up to 6 months to a year. You cannot take anti-depressant drugs just during an attack.

In addition, since you cannot anticipate when you will have such attack, only those who are diagnosed with panic disorder (or recurring panic attacks) can acquire these types of drug.

Panic attacks, as well as panic disorder, agoraphobia and other phobias and related conditions can be treated effectively by psychotherapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is proven as an effective way to reduce the symptoms of panic attacks or completely eliminate the condition. CBT focuses on changing the thinking pattern of the person from negative to positive thoughts as well as changing the way a person reacts or behaves when he encounters emergency or situations that can trigger an attack.

Another treatment similar to CTB that is worth mentioning is exposure therapy. This helps the person overcome his fear by letting him face those fearful situations in a controlled and safe manner. The result of this technique is that the person learns how to react positively on what he thinks are fearful situations. Moreover, through this experience, the patient learns that the situations he fears are not harmful and dangerous.

In many cases, medication alone or therapy alone is enough to completely treat the condition, but other cases require both treatment methods to effectively treat panic disorder.

Meditation, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques have been found effective in reducing the chances of experiencing another attack. They help calm the mind and relax the muscles. Regularly practicing these exercises and techniques strengthen the body’s relaxation response.

Natural herbs such as bacopin, ginkgo biloba, passion flower, St. John Wort, hyperforin, 5HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), chamomile, rhodiola, are equally effective since they have natural anti-stress properties. In some cases, using these herbs is sufficient enough to combat panic attacks. Many people also react positively using this kind of treatment.

Fresh leaves can be made as tea. Some are also available over-the-counter in oil, tincture, capsule, powder and tea. The best thing about these natural herbs is that they do not carry any side effects as compared to mainstream anti-anxiety and anti depressant prescription medications.