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Acupuncture is one of several popular alternative therapies
tracing its roots to traditional medicine in China more than
5,000 years ago. Although the treatment is regarded as one of
the most common and oldest worldwide, acupuncture only started
to become recognized in the US after New York Times journalist
James Reston wrote a feature on how his post-surgery pain was
eased by doctors in China in 1971 using the procedure.
1. The Basis Of Acupuncture
The treatment assumes something called qi (pronounced key) -
energy in living beings that passes through twelve meridians or
invisible energy lines in the body. Each line links to a
specific organ system; the belief is that any imbalance in qi
flow leads to a disease. The key component of acupuncture
treatment is the insertion of needles into key points on the
meridian lines to renew balance. These extremely thin, metallic
needles are aimed at specific anatomical points and controlled
manually or by electrical stimulation. An individual usually
feels relaxed and energized after acupuncture.
2. Modern Treatment
The US Food and Drug Administration reclassified these needles
as medical devices in 1997, from the earlier classification as
experimental. The FDA notes that over $500m are spent by people
in the country every year for the treatment, for which a good
number secure insurance coverage. The agency’s main restrictions
with the needles are that they be non-toxic and sterilized and
that they be used only once and discarded immediately after.
- Acupuncture is endorsed by the National Institute of Health -
Is practiced by dentists, doctors and other health practitioners
3. Increasing Acceptance
Increasing acceptance of acupuncture was highlighted by the
National Health Interview Survey in 2002, which indicated that
the number of American adults turning to the treatment surged
from 2.1 million in 2001 to about 8.2 million the following
year. The interest in acupuncture also received a boost from the
impatience individuals had with the failure of conventional
medicine.
4. How Does It Really Work?
Acupuncture reportedly induces the release of endorphins in the
body, relieving an indivudal from pain. Other effects attributed
to the therapy include influence over neurotransmitters, or
substances transporting nerve impulses; promotion of
circulation; and effects over the body’s electrical currents and
autonomic nervous system. Many common ailments and undesirable
conditions are addressed by acupuncture treatment.
5. Commonly Treated Conditions
- Sinusitis – The common cold – Smoking and other addictions -
Migraines – Tennis elbow – Infertility – Menstrual cramps -
Obesity – Low-back pain – Asthma – Arthritis – Carpal tunnel
syndrome
6. Procedure
On the first meeting, acupuncturists usually ask new clients to
fill up a personal health record prior to an interview. A
session then has the client answer questions that cover main
health issues, diet, emotional and psychological profile, and
overall lifestyle and regular activities. The therapist should
also be informed by the individual of any current medication and
treatment being taken. During this interview, one can also
expect the practitioner to evaluate pulse points and establish
how healthy the individual’s twelve meridians are. A diagnosis
is then given, followed by the use of between 6 and 12 needles
as treatment is commenced. Patients keen on acupuncture must
realize that the exact placement on target points on the
meridians is more important, not the number of needles used.
The initial insertion may make the patient feel pricked or
stung. However, the treatment should be painless and comfortable
for the duration that could extend to an hour or more. An
individual should immediately tell the acupuncturist to
discontinue if he feels any numbness, discomfort or pain.
Variations of the treatment may involve use of herbal medicine -
capsules, tablets or tea made from Chinese herbs to boost the
therapy. Some practitioners also integrate cupping – a suction
effect created with the use of glass cups on the skin, in part
to promote blood circulation and continuous qi flow.
7. Rising Popularity
The recent withdrawal of the Vioxx painkiller has raised
apprehension over pain relievers available in the market. This
concern, combined with statements from the NIH and other
government and health organizations that side effects from
acupuncture are significantly lower, has made more individuals
turn to the treatment, particularly for pain relief. Several
studies have also shown how acupuncture has helped patients with
osteoarthritis, post-chemotherapy nausea and even depression.
Despite all the apparent positive feedback, those considering
acupuncture should still consult regular doctors and health-care
professionals for advice on their conditions first. If they
decide to pursue the treatment, they must make sure that the
acupuncturist or practitioner they see is highly-qualified and
certified by organizations such as the American Academy of
Medical Acupuncturists.
“Personal relationships are the fertile soil from which all advancement, all success, all achievement in real life grows” Ben Stein
Life would be difficult without the blessing of significant relationships as an integral part of our lifestyle. However although relationships can be the source of much joy and happiness, they also can frequently be a source of pain, stress, conflict and anxiety. It is a sad factor that when we have a close relationship the openness and vulnerability that we share with that person has the ability to bring both happiness and also pain.
There is a natural response when we feel hurt to protect ourselves from being hurt again. Frequently this protection involves creating a wall around the heart, distancing the emotions to avoid pain. This very act may well protect a person from feeling more pain, and keep it at bay, but also means shutting out the potential of enjoyment in the relationship as well. A wall keeps out both good and bad!
Unfortunately it is a fact that too many people become detached from potentially meaningful relationships through misunderstanding and assumptions about the other person. The reality is we can never fully know a person and understand them, and often we see things from a totally different perspective, and even speak a different emotional language. A tone of voice, a look, or a comment can easily be misinterpreted, and our response is to feel hurt or offended. If this happens it is all too easy to into a pattern of assuming and responding to that assumption until the whole incident becomes a large issue.
How does this situation occur? The basic problem arises from the fact that people are afraid of what they don’t know. They assume facts that may not in reality exist, and then build prejudices around those assumptions. Bad decisions are then made based on those assumptions, on rumors, other people’s opinions or perceived behaviour.
Many of these situations could have been non events, if time had been taken to check out the actual facts. If a person is aware of the actual facts about a situation, person, problem or opportunity, then decisions can be made based on what is real rather than what is being perceived.
“There may be some substitute for hard facts, but if there is, I have no idea what it could be.” J. Paul Getty
For example, I go to a social function and meet my friend. She has a scowl on her face, seems aloof and practically ignores me and my efforts at friendly conversation. It would be easy for me assume that she is mad at me, and spend a lot of energy wondering what I had done to upset her. I may start tiptoeing around her anticipating a blow up.
A healthier alternative for our relationship would be to say “You don’t look happy, what’s going on?” By checking out what the real facts are I will either discover whether I really did do something wrong, or that something has happened that I don’t know about that is totally unrelated to me. Either way I am in a better position to help lighten her mood as I know the actual facts.
When communication issues occur in a relationship the best way to find out the truth is to ask questions to discover what the other person actually means. What a person means can be very different from an interpretation from your different perspective. Sometimes people may make a statement, and not tell you the reasons why they said it. This can lead to a minefield of speculation and assumptions. This can often happen when communicating with men. A man tends to answer questions with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’, (or a brief response) and not give any explanation for his position. Women are more likely to give reasons. So by asking questions such as ‘Do you mean……’ you will get more clarity and will not be left wondering what is going on.
It does take more commitment to the relationship to push through communication difficulties and not rely on assumptions. We prefer to not speak or confront when we sense an atmosphere, or feel hurt by a comment. However if you keep to the adage ‘When in doubt, Check it out’ and push through those uncomfortable feelings you will reap the benefits in the relationship. Your relationship will become stronger and you will gain a greater understanding and appreciation of each other. So……… Don’t doubt, Check it out!
Barbara White is the President of Beyond Better Development, a company which inspires and empowers individuals and organizations in their personal and professional development. For more self improvement articles visit her websites www.livingbeyondbetter.com and www.articlesbeyondbetter.com
The Stem Christie combines a stem and a christie, would you believe, the christie bit involving a little unweighting and bringing the skis parallel for the majority of the turn. The stem is used to start the turn, and before reaching the fall line the unweighted ski is slid in parallel to the other to provide the christie finish. At the start of the turn a pole plant is usually incorporated in order to germinate the seeds of anticipation, angulation, and a minimal unweighting movement.
From a traverse the outside ski is moved into the stem position. At the same time the skier bends slightly at the knees and hips and plants the opposite pole just back from the tip of his inside ski. As the weighted stemmed ski approaches the fall line the skier rises up. The inside ski is brought in parallel as the skier rises up. At his stage the turn becomes a christie as the initially stemmed ski has now become partially unweighted by the up movement. It continues to turn across the fall line, and from his somewhat upright stance the skier drops down again for the next pole plant.
This is the theory, but in practice it is quite difficult to combine a pole plant with one side of the body and a stem with the other. If the pupil finds it too difficult, the pole plant can be passed over until practising the Christie and Christie stop.
There is, however, a major problem with the Stem Christie as a skier can become a victim of its very success. It is a reasonably uncomplicated turn to master in its basic form without a pole plant, ie just a quick stem to get the ski started in the turn, and a sliding in of the inside ski soon after. Once mastered in this form it becomes the mainstay of most skiers’ repertoire. As the mileage increases, the upper ski will slide in almost immediately after a minimal stem has started to turn the lower ski. It then looks like a parallel (christie) turn.
Even if a pole plant has been learnt at the start it is soon discarded, as there is no technical reason to plant the pole because the weighted ski is being steered round with a stem. Once the pole plant has been dispensed with, there is no angulation, which means less work, and a skier can quite happily spend the rest of his life tooling down well groomed pistes in the sunshine without a care in the world apart from being late for the lunchtime rendezvous.
The Stem Christie should be the end of the beginning, and the aim of these articles on better skiing technique is to convert some of the thousands of skiers who may have been using it for years to the exciting world beyond.
Simon Dewhurst has taught downhill skiing in North America, Scandinavia and the European Alps for 35 years. He currently runs a ski chalet agency in the French Alps. His book “Secrets of Better Skiing” can be found at http://www.ski-jungle.com. If you have any comments about the above article, he will be happy to answer them.
In this day and age, most of us find ourselves failing to take in the recommended daily amount of nutrients that we should be getting. Nutritional supplements help to fill this gap by providing the vitamins, minerals, and other substances that we may be missing out on. In addition, personal food preferences, lifestyle habits, or special health needs may prompt a person to take nutritional supplements in order to remain in the pink of health.
It’s a common practice among cultures of different countries to give multivitamins or other supplements to their children (many grown-ups nowadays still wrinkle their noses at the memory of cod liver oil). Giving vitamins and minerals to children is a good idea more than ever today, simply because of the types of food many of them eat — fast food, junk food, food that is full of empty calories and which do not provide them with the nutrition they need to develop properly. In addition to the basic vitamins and minerals, many children’s supplements today include ingredients that would enhance growth, such as chlorella growth factor (for height) and taurine (for proper physical development).
Adults who partake of similarly nutritionally-deficient food also need to take a dietary supplement. Eating convenience foods like take-out or microwave dinners is fine once in a while if you’re pressed for time, but not always. A person should remember that being nutritionally deficient will make him or her more prone to a variety of diseases.
Sometimes our food or drink choices influence the degree to which we need nutritional supplements. For instance, vegetarians forego a significant source of protein and iron — meat — and they do not get the necessary amounts of these nutrients in vegetables; so protein and iron supplements are suitable for them. Those who avoid dairy products, on the other hand, whether because of lactose intolerance or a general dislike for this type of food in general, should make sure to take a calcium supplement to correct any calcium deficiencies. Smokers and alcoholic beverage drinkers need a greater supply of vitamins B and C since they find it harder to absorb these nutrients. Those on a weight loss diet should use supplements to ensure that their nutritional needs are being met even as they eliminate or reduce the amount of certain foods in their diet. And women who are pregnant are advised to take supplements that contain ingredients beneficial to them and their babies, such as folic acid, vitamin D, iron, phosphorus, and calcium; women’s needs for them increase as much as twofold during pregnancy.
Nutritional supplements are also recommended for those who are at risk for a certain disease or health problem. For instance, people who are in their thirties and forties are advised to take calcium supplements to head off osteoporosis. Regular intake of vitamin C and B would help prevent scurvy and beriberi, respectively. Studies have also shown that vitamin C can aid in the prevention of eye disorders, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Vitamin D, on the other hand, has been shown to have preventive effects against some cancers, including colon, prostate, and breast cancer, while some studies suggest that vitamin E is helpful in preventing colds and other upper respiratory tract infections.
Did you know that dietary supplements can also help a person psychologically and emotionally? At the American Psychiatric Association’s 2003 meeting, papers were presented on the effects of vitamin and mineral supplements on the mental state of young adults. For instance, study subjects in a prison population started exhibiting less anti-social behavior after going on a supplement regime. Another experiment showed that female college students had faster reaction times and less mood swings after taking a larger amount of thiamin or vitamin B1. Further, young adults who took selenium found themselves less depressed, anxious, and tired. Finally, a group of young female adults who were given the recommended amounts of nine vitamins exhibited improved cognitive functions after one year.
Nutritional supplements are an essential part of today’s diet for the vast majority of us. But remember that not all supplements are created equal. Offerings by other companies are pharmaceutical-grade; meaning that they have more active ingredients and that they underwent more rigorous quality control. Also keep in mind that taking although vitamins and minerals are more often than not safe and good for one’s health, taking too much of them could produce toxic effects and result in complications.
Supplement-info.com provides you with information on (herbal) nutritional supplements, weight loss and bodybuilding supplements, and anti aging natural supplements. Our mission is to help you choose the right nutritional supplements for you. http://www.supplement-info.com/
“Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven’t fallen asleep yet”
Unknown
What mom couldn’t write a book on the effects of stress? Is there a mother out there who isn’t intimately acquainted with all that makes her blood-pressure rise, her head pound, and her stomach acid burn, turning a perfectly nice women into a fire-breathing dragon?
Stress is part of the job description of motherhood. In fact, if you do a search for the top ten stressors in the work place you’ll find that it’s just a description of a normal day in a mother’s life.
So what is a mother to do?
Well, believe it or not, there are some very simple things that any mother can do to reduce stress and to cope better with her daily chaos. Here are a few to start with.
• Breathe – yes, it sounds rather simple, but when was the last time you took a really deep breath? Deep breathing clears stale air out of your lungs, re-energizes your brain, and even helps you lose weight! It’s true! Here’s an exercise to try the next time you start to boil. Using your abdominal muscles, fill your lungs completely to the count of five (count quickly!) then hold your breath for the count of 20 (thus the counting quickly part – don’t want you to pass out!) then completely empty your lungs to the count of 10. Do this five times in a row, 2 to 3 times a day. This is especially good first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
• Sun Yourself - According to Dr. Marie-Annette Brown and Jo Robinson, authors of the book “When Your Body Gets the Blues” you need 20-30 minutes of outdoor light everyday. Their research shows that “bright light is critical (as it) enhances your mood, reduces your food cravings, and gives you more energy. It even increases the blood flow to your brain, improving your memory and sharpening your thinking ability.”
• Take a Hike – Wendy Bumgardner, the “Walking Guide” for About.com, reports that one study of 50 women divided into a group who walked briskly for 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week, and a control group that did not exercise found that the walkers experienced half as many colds as the control group. The walkers also showed an increase in natural killer cells, immune system cells that attack bacteria and viruses. Another study of employee fitness programs showed that people who exercised as little as once a week averaged nearly five fewer sick days annually than those who did not participate in such programs
• Follow Your Nose – Use the benefits of Aromatherapy to quickly decrease stress. 2-3 drops of Lavender Essential Oil on a cloth hankie can be carried around in your pocket. When stress hits, put the hankie to your nose and breathe deeply 3-4 times (in fact, you could save time and combine this exercise with the first one for a “double whammy” effect!)
• Trip the Light Fantastic – Put on some great music, and dance. Don’t worry about what you look like. In fact, take your kids to the park with a boom box, and dance together. Invite others to join you. Create a party!
• Laugh! – rent a funny movie, and have a good laugh. Laughter is one of the best health medicines out there today. Take full advantage of it, and try and have one hearty laugh every day.
So the next time you’re feeling stressed, instead of popping pills, take deep lavender-scented breaths, while walking and dancing around the block in the sunshine. Now, that’s a serious stress-buster!
Darlene Hull is an ordinary, imperfect mom who sees her mission as helpping moms look after themselves so they can better look after their families. Check out her site at www.mom-defrazzler.com
There are 2 basic VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) provider
options: free services or paid providers that charge a monthly
fee. Making that choice depends on how you plan to use VOIP.
If you just want to chat with friends and family over the
Internet, a free service may be adequate. If you’re looking for
a true alternative to normal phone service, however, consider a
VOIP service with a paid package deal.
Package Choices
There are so many choices. To determine which is the best
service for your money, you must decide which services you need,
and whether you want to quit your existing telephone service
completely. Most VOIP providers offer package plans with free
calls to a designated geographical area. Nearly all providers
offer free call waiting, call display, and conference call
services.
Even though the basic package for a similar fee is the same with
most providers, there is a great rivalry between VOIP service
providers, with each striving to offer services that set them
apart from their competitors. To make the right choice, you’ll
have to check several packages to find the best for your needs.
For example, if you make a lot of overseas calls, a package that
includes international calls makes sense. Or if you receive most
of your calls from a specific city, get a package that offers a
specific phone number that allows people to call you at that
local rate.
Service and reliability are other critical factors when
selecting a VOIP provider. This information is available from
reviews on the internet or by asking your friends which
providers they use. One suggestion is to find a provider
offering a money-back guarantee.
Find out how much bandwidth is required for a particular VOIP
service. If the information is not available from the company’s
web site, send an e-mail to verify that your broadband
connection is suitable for their VOIP service. Usually 128 kbps
on the upload side is sufficient.
Problems
Emergency calls are 1 of the technical drawbacks with VOIP,
because it’s hard to determine your physical location on VOIP
calls. 911 calls may not be routed to the correct call center,
and if they are, operators can’t establish your location if you
are unable to communicate. The Federal Communications
Commission, in the United States, is demanding that VOIP service
providers find a solution.
Providing phone service during a power outage is another
technical problem. Since VOIP requires electrical current to
operate modems, in a power outage the VOIP phone line goes dead.
One solution is to use a computer with a battery backup. Another
is an electrical generator to provides emergency household
electricity.
Finally, you may want to retain your existing phone service
after signing up for VOIP. Not all providers offer this service,
so if it’s important, verify that ability in advance.