How to Brew a Laxative Tea

Laxative teas are a simple, natural way to aid your normal bowel function. Here are a few to try at home.

Instructions

Licorice Root Laxative Tea

1

Add 1 tbsp. broken licorice root (a good mild laxative) per each cup boiling water.

2

Boil uncovered for 1 hour and then remove from heat, cool and strain.

3

Add apple, grape or other fruit juice to dilute tea if it is too strong.

4

Drink 1 cup in the morning and 1 at night.

Barley Brew Laxative Tea

5

Combine 1/4 cup organic pearl barley, 1/4 cup organic figs, 2 tbsp. licorice root, 1/4 cup organic raisins and 10 cups water in a non-aluminum pot.

6

Cover and simmer until liquid is reduced by half (this takes about 8 hours).

7

Strain and drink 1/2 cup in the morning or at night.

Buckthorn Bark Laxative Tea

8

Add 2 tbsp. each of nettles, Oregon graperoot and plantain, followed by 1 tbsp. peppermint leaves to 6 cups of boiling water.

9

Remove from heat.

10

Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.

11

Add 2 tbsp. buckthorn bark, cover and let stand for an hour or 2.

12

Strain and drink in moderation. The tea may be reheated, but do not boil.

How to Do a Liver and Gallbladder Flush Fast

This particular fast is based on European folk medicine and is still used in health spas and hospitals to cleanse and revitalize two of your body's most essential cleansing tools--the liver and the gall bladder. We recommend that you read "How to Understand a Liver and Gall Bladder Flush" and consult your doctor before beginning this fast.

Instructions

1

Abstain from all solid foods for the first 2 days of the fast and drink organic apple juice, warmed with cinnamon sticks in it. Also drink dandelion root and dried dandelion leaf tea, made by simmering the 2 ingredients in water for 20 minutes.

2

Drink both drinks, 2 hours apart, for a total of 7 drinks each day.

3

Follow this general schedule with your drinks: 8 a.m.: 1/2 cup warm apple juice with 1/2 cup dandelion tea, together; 10 a.m.: 2 cup plain apple juice with 1/2 cup water; 12 noon: 1 cup tea and 1 cup apple juice, together; 2 p.m.: 2 cup juice, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup fresh pressed beet juice; 4 p.m.: 2 cup apple juice, 1/2 cup water; 6 p.m.: 1 cup apple juice, 1 cup tea, together; 8 p.m.: 2 cup apple juice. Continue this schedule for 2 to 4 days.

4

Take an internal bath on the last day of your fast before you begin the final step. This is optional, but recommended.

5

Begin to end your fast about 3 hours before you go to sleep by completing the following procedure.

6

Soak a 12-inch square of cloth, cotton or wool flannel fabric is best, with castor oil, and prepare either a heating pad or a hot water bottle.

7

Drink 1/4 tsp. Epsom salt dissolved in 1/3 cup warm water to dilate your gall bladder and liver ducts in preparation for the olive oil cocktail. You can chew orange or lemon rind if the Epsom salt bothers you.

8

Drink a blended combination of 1/3 cup cold pressed olive oil, 1/4 cup cream, 1/3 cup hot apple juice and 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice.

9

Get into bed lying on your right side. Place the castor oil cloth, with the heating pad over it (use old towels to avoid a mess), over your liver and gall bladder area (on your right side, just under your rib cage). Leave it there for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

10

Remove the hot pack and castor oil cloth and drink the same Epsom salt drink that you drank earlier.

11

Rest easy. Drink some fresh-squeezed orange or lemon juice. And by the next day you should notice various sized pebbles in your eliminations, ranging in color from bright green to dark brown--gall stones formed by rancid fats in your diet.

12

Break your fast by avoiding fried foods, oils, and fats. Eat oranges, pineapple, grapefruit and berries in the morning; a leafy green for lunch; fresh soup, salad and steamed vegetables for dinner. Continue this general type of diet for a few days after your fast.

How to Reduce Cold Sores Naturally

No cure exists for herpes simplex type I virus, which causes cold sores, but here are some natural ways to stimulate blisters to heal quickly.

Instructions

1

Take supplements that inhibit viral growth at the first sign of an outbreak. Try 500 to 1,000 mg daily of the amino acid L-lysine. Antioxidant vitamins and 50 to 100 mg of zinc per day may also help.

2

Boost your immune system. Take echinacea and goldenseal and make sure you get 5,000 mg vitamin C daily. Get plenty of rest and reduce stress.

3

Treat the cold sore topically. Dab tea tree oil, a natural antiseptic, at either full or half strength directly on blisters several times a day.

4

Promote healing by avoiding foods that contain arginine, another amino acid that suppresses lysine; nuts, dairy products, meat, seeds, oats, peanuts and corn all contain arginine. Limit citrus and other acidic fruits because they can irritate blisters.

How to Treat a Yeast Infection Naturally

Vaginal yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans, a fungus that normally lives in your body. Certain conditions can create an environment for the fungus to proliferate, and some of the common symptoms are a cheesy white discharge, irritation, intense burning and itching, and redness in the area.

Instructions

1

Eat yogurt. It contains helpful bacteria (live cultures, including acidophilus and bifidus) that destroy yeast. It also works when applied topically. Insert some into the vagina using a finger or plastic tampon applicator. Use only plain yogurt with active cultures.

2

Take lactobacillus/acidophilus supplements. Use according to the directions on the bottle.

3

Douche with a solution of 1 to 3 tbsp. vinegar in a quart of water. Repeat once a day while having symptoms, but no longer than a week.

4

Decrease or eliminate sugar and sugary foods. Sugar promotes yeast growth.

5

Use a garlic clove as a suppository. Garlic contains a natural anti-fungal agent. Peel a fresh clove, wrap it in gauze and insert it into the vagina.

6

Try gentian violet. It's a traditional remedy for yeast and other infections, and can be found in pharmacies. Swab the area with it once or twice a day. Make sure to use a thick pad - it stains everything.

7

Use an herbal douche. Combine equal amounts of sage, raspberry and comfrey with 1/4 part goldenseal. This can be combined with cider vinegar.

8

Use an over-the-counter yeast infection remedy. Apply as directed.

How to Use St. John's Wort

St. John's wort has been used for centuries to treat a variety of illnesses, including respiratory problems, dysentery, worms, jaundice and gastrointestinal disorders. Its most popular use today is to treat mild to moderate depression, and in fact, it is the best-selling anti-depressant in Germany.

Instructions

1

Choose a St. John's wort product that says it has a standardized 0.3 percent hypericin content. The higher the hypericin content, the higher the potency will be per milligram.

2

Make sure you buy a brand that has a standardized concentration. Since herbs are unregulated, this is a way of ensuring you are getting a quality product.

3

Buy St. John's wort in capsules, as a tincture or as a tea. Use according to product directions.

4

Take at least 900mg a day. That is the amount usually needed to be effective. The usual dose is 300mg capsules, taken three times per day.

5

Use sunscreen when taking St. John's wort. It has the potential to increase photosensitivity, although studies have found side effects to be rare.

6

Don't expect an instant cure when taking St. John's wort. It works more slowly than prescription medication, so you may need to take it for several weeks before noticing the benefits.

How to Do Self-Hypnosis

You are getting very sleepy....

Instructions

1

Recognize that to be hypnotized is to enter a trance state. You will be very focused, but will also be aware of what is happening around you.

2

Sit in a comfortable chair or recline on a couch in a quiet place. Be sure that your clothes are loose and comfortable and the temperature is not too warm or cool.

3

Turn down the lights so that it's not too bright. It doesn't need to be dark.

4

Relax. You can have your eyes open or closed, whichever is most comfortable for you.

5

Let yourself go loose. Feel every muscle go limp. Feel your mind slow down. Good.

6

Breathe deeply and hold it. Feel all of your stress and worries sucked from your body and your head into your lungs. Blow them out slowly and watch them swirl away from you.

7

Notice the different colors of each concern. See them float away and dissolve in the air. You are feeling more and relaxed with every breath.

8

Feel your heart. It is strong and slow. You can feel it beating, slowly, slowly. Each time you exhale, your body relaxes more. You are calm and safe. You can feel your heart. It's beating so slowly.

9

Feel your toes. They feel empty and light. They want to float away. That lightness is spreading up your legs, through your hips and into your back. Your body is so empty. You can see through it.

10

Feel your arms. They feel empty. Your shoulders are empty. Your neck is empty. Your head is floating, weightless. You feel so calm.

11

Feel liquid begin to fill your body through your navel. It's deep blue. It feels cool and comfortable. Watch it fill up your body. Cool blue. When you are full, you will feel calm and completely at ease.

12

Now open your eyes and sit up. Your cool, blue feeling will stay with you.

How to Find Alternative and Holistic Practitioners

Government and medical research institutions have poured millions of dollars into studies on promising complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). You'll still need to check with your doctor, but here's how to find legitimate CAM professionals.

Instructions

1

Ask your doctor for a referral. You may face possibly well-warranted skepticism. Also ask friends, family, nutritionists or physical therapists for recommendations. Some alternative-medicine professional organizations have CAM referral services.

2

Find out what your health plan covers; many costly CAM treatments are not. While more insurers include chiropractic treatments in their plan, far fewer cover acupuncture, let alone Ayurvedic medicine or homeopathy.

3

Do some detective work at state and local departments of health and consumer affairs, which increasingly have licensing and accreditation requirements for alternative practitioners. Ask about practitioners' educational background and training, and if any formal complaints have ever been filed against them. Inquire if any scientific research supports specific treatments you may be considering. Search for existing study results at the National Institutes of Health Web site (clinicaltrials.gov).

4

Check qualifications if possible, despite the patchy regulations on CAM. For example, acupuncturists must be licensed in more than 35 states, but might also be called registered or certified, or doctors of acupuncture or Oriental medicine.

5

Consider applying to be part of a clinical trial or study if money is an issue. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is the federal government's lead agency devoted to supporting research; learn about trial participation at www.nccam.nih.gov/clinicaltrials.

How to Find Out Whether Your Insurance Covers Homeopathy

The cost of medical treatment is skyrocketing. It's no wonder, then, that many people are seeking less expensive options to traditional medicine. More and more people are turning to homeopathy to save money when treating allergies, depression and serious diseases. Homeopathy uses diluted natural products to trigger the body's immune response to disease. As the science behind this becomes more widely accepted, more insurance companies are beginning to offer individuals the option to choose a plan that covers homeopathy as well as traditional medical treatment.

Instructions

Find Out Whether Your Insurance Covers Homeopathy

1

Ask your insurance agent. Your agent is the best resource you have for questions regarding individual coverage. If you have employer-sponsored insurance, ask your company's HR Manager to give you the appropriate contact names and numbers.

2

Be persistent. It may take several attempts to find out whether your insurance covers homeopathy, especially if your agent is unfamiliar with alternative medicine. You might explain the cost-efficient nature of homeopathic treatments to an agent who is interested in learning more.

3

Speak with someone else. Insurance agents are human and do not have all the answers. If you don't like what you're hearing, ask to speak to a supervisor or manager.

4

Form an alternate plan. If your insurance doesn't cover homeopathy, consider switching to a plan or broker that does cover homeopathy. If you have employer-sponsored insurance, work with your Human Resources representative to find out how many company employees would be interested in homeopathy coverage. There is always room for negotiation in company-sponsored plans.

How to Use Neuro Linguistic Programming to Change Behaviors

With its roots in the human potential movement of the 1970s, the neuro linguistic programming self-help curriculum seeks to induce change in behaviors by altering mental "maps." It seeks to change how we view our experiences: past, present and future. Supposedly, a person reshapes his or her map through modeling, matching behavior and outlook to those of successful people. It is said that people can use NLP to change bad behavior like overeating, smoking, nail-biting or excessive drinking.

Instructions

Find Out if NLP is Right for You

1

Search the Internet for information on the history and practice of NLP. The NLP Basics Web site is a great place to start (see Resources below).

2

Think about the behaviors in your life that you would like to change. Add these to your search criteria to find out how NLP addresses these problems.

3

Try some of the exercises you find at the NLP Marin Web site (see Resources below). Focus especially on those exercises involving guided imagery.

4

Determine in your own mind how comfortable you feel with this experience. If you are "turned off" or "don't get it," NLP may not be the best choice for you.

Decide How to Use Neuro Linguistic Programming

5

Gather the facts you have learned about NLP in relation to your own needs. Test out those techniques that can safely be self-taught. For instance, you can learn a popular technique known as "the Swish" at the Speak Like a Pro Web site (see Resources below). You can practice basic eye accessing cues at the Smart Driving Web site (see Resources below).

6

Seek out a practitioner if your particular behaviors are best addressed by professional help rather than self-help.

Choose a Practitioner and Change Your Behaviors

7

Write down any questions you would like to ask a practitioner about NLP and your particular goals.

8

Use a directory (telephone or Internet) or ask a friend to help lead you to a practitioner. Contact one or more of the people listed, preferably by phone, and ask your questions.

9

Make an appointment with the person who seems most satisfactory.

10

Cooperate fully with your practitioner for best results.

11

Expect private sessions to range in price from moderate to expensive.

How to Treat Skin Problems With Folk Medicine

Use herbal remedies discovered through the development of folk medicine to treat skin problems like excema inexpensively. These herbs are available as tea or as topical applicants from many from different parts of the world. Follow these steps to find the best remedy for you.

Instructions

Educate Your Consumption

1

Learn that your diet can contribute to skin problems.

2

Lower the amount of preservatives you eat each day. Folk medicine experts believe that skin problems are a direct result of preservative-packed snack foods that are full of calories and high in sodium.

3

Trade carbonated, sugar-filled soft drinks for herbal teas. These days, they're available in bottles for those times when you're "on the go."

4

Use herbal teas to cleanse skin from the inside out, as they've done for hundreds of years in Asia and other parts of the world.

Apply These Topically

5

Try tea tree oil, honey, vinegar or a paste of salt and water to ease itchy skin.

6

Apply a mildly thick mixture of ground nutmeg and milk for an hour or two directly onto your acne. This may benefit your skin problems within 3 days.

7

Mix honey and cinnamon powder together into a light paste, then apply to face before bed. Don't remove until morning. Continue nightly for 2 weeks.

Treat With Produce

8

Apply and wear on the face or hands ripe tomato innards for an hour each day to relieve skin problems.

9

Position against the skin a section or the trimmings of a freshly-cut potato. It's said that it can extract pollutants from the skin.

10

Treat regular skin problems by mixing lime juice with boiling milk. Apply to blackheads or excessively dried skin.

11

Rub a freshly-cut clove of garlic around acne developments for a few days. You may see results soon.

How to Check If Your Insurance Covers Alternative Medicine

In recent years, the popularity of alternative medicine, which is defined as treatments not normally used in "conventional medicine," has skyrocketed. With this rise in demand for alternative therapies, many insurance companies have begun to cover certain treatments. One of the biggest determinants insurance companies use when deciding whether they'll cover an alternative medicine treatment is whether it's medically necessary. The most common treatments covered are those that require official licensing by the state or government. Certain therapies, like aromatherapy and herbal treatments, can also be covered. When insurance companies don't cover alternative therapies, you can always try to pick up a supplemental discount medical card. These cards provide discounted, negotiated rates on medical services. There are several companies that offer cards targeted at alternative medicine patients. Follow these steps to learn more.

Instructions

Check if Your Insurance Covers Alternative Medicine

1

Browse through your insurance plan booklet, if available. Alternative medicine, like chiropractic and massage services, may be listed inside.

2

Call your insurance representative to ask whether your specific plan covers alternative medicine. To speed the process along, it may be a good idea to have 1 or 2 specific procedures already in mind.

3

Read through any supplemental clauses concerning alternative medicine very carefully. You may find loopholes in your insurance policy as well as with specific prohibited specialties.

4

Ask your alternative medicine provider whether he or she accepts any type of insurance coverage. You can then consult with these companies to see if they offer supplemental plans for individuals.

5

See if your employer has a flexible spending account, also known as a "Section 125" plan. These plans, which are designed to cover excess medical and dependent care costs, will sometimes cover alternative medicine services.

6

Work with your alternative medicine doctor to pay the costs of treatments not covered by your insurance. Some doctors allow patients to make monthly payments to cover service costs.

7

Find out more about insurance coverage and alternative medicine by visiting the "National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine" Web site (see Resources below).

How to Research Folk Medicine Remedies

Use the limitless power of the Internet to research folk medicine remedies. The term "folk medicine" refers to traditional and/or natural remedies that have been handed down anecdotally. They may or may not have been scientifically tested. Visit your local library or bookstore for more in-depth knowledge of free, time-tested folk remedies. Follow these steps to prepare for your research.

Instructions

List Your Interests

1

Write out your search objectives before beginning an Internet search for folk medicine remedies.

2

Find information quickly by entering small, concise search parameters. Limit your descriptions to three words or less, like the following: "home bursitis remedies."

3

Know that when you commit to an Internet search, online companies will frequently target you for sales. They'll do this by offering a small amount of the information you want, then leading you to a product they want to sell you. Noncommercial sites like the UCLA Folk Medicine Archive (see Resources below) are more likely to give unbiased information.

Visit the Public Library

4

Find in-depth folk medicine history and suggestions in a library book. The public library is a free resource available in most towns. Many libraries will also let you use personal computers to do an Internet research for free.

5

Perform research by locating medical books. Search the library's computerized database for books on folk medicine. Research is easy in a library, especially with the help of the qualified librarian who's there to help the public.

6

Bring writing paper to take notes. While a public library may provide free computer usage, they will not typically provide free notebook paper. Arrive prepared to write down what you learn.

Interview Experts

7

Read through your local phone book to seek out holistic health practitioners. Research their techniques and discover that much of holistic health is based on folk medicine.

8

Locate health food specialists in your area that may provide less-popular ingredients for folk medicine treatments. Research your needs, then find treatment ingredients like raw potato juice and bulk ginger, grown organically for natural purity.

9

Speak with conscientious health food store employees to access free and frequently useful information with a smile.

How to Use Mexican Folk Medicine

Derived from a combination of Aztec, Native American and Spanish influence, Mexican folk medicine is indeed multicultural. With many treatments enlisting the use of popular herbs and vegetables, common cures are quite affordable. Known as "curanderismo," Mexican folk medicine is still popular today. It includes treatments like ground rattlesnake meat for healing cuts and sores. Follow these steps to learn more.

Instructions

Locate Materials

1

Use rosemary, a broadly available herb said to effectively treat earaches, skin rashes and various minor illnesses. It's known to possess many powerful healing properties. You can find it among the fresh spices at your grocery store.

2

Explore the many-faceted popularity of "yerba buena," a form of mint used in tea. Drinking the tea may aid in curing indigestion and other common forms of stomach discomfort. In the folk tradition, whole leaves are boiled along with the water for the tea.

3

Purchase ground rattlesnake in capsule form to fight serious illness. Known more likely in Mexico than in the United States, rattlesnake meat is used to treat a number of maladies from indigestion to erectile dysfunction to cancer. The ground powder is also applied externally to wounds to speed healing. Use with recommendation of a "curandero," or folk healer.

Apply Appropriately

4

Be aware that in many of the Mexican folk healing traditions, the healing process must be spiritually oriented. In the past, a healer would be brought in to determine what in the spirit world had caused an injury or illness to appear.

5

Find recommended practices and literature in a "Botanica," which is a store where "curanderismo" items may be found. In many cases, a "bonafide curandero," or Mexican folk healer may be found on the premises. Ask for advice while you're looking.

6

Know that the spiritual side of "curanderismo" must be respected and represented for best results in Mexican folk medicine. When traditions are followed to the letter, success tends to follow more consistently. Learn more by reading Eliseo Torres' book "Curandero: A Life in Mexican Folk Healing" (see Resources below).

How to Use Herbs as Alternatives to Prescription Drugs

Herbal remedies have been in use far longer than prescription medications. In fact, the original intent behind pharmaceutical companies was to capture the active ingredients found in herbs. Over time, this gave way to the creation of synthetic ingredients that are the main component of many types of prescription medications today. Since the original prescription medication was a more potent form of herbs, it's possible to use herbal remedies as alternatives to more conventional approaches. In recent decades, herbal remedies have become viable alternatives to prescription drugs in the minds of many Americans. That's why there's been a spike in the demand for herbal products, which can now be found in grocery and health food stores across the country. You can't just stop taking your prescription drugs, though, and pick up any old herb. Instead, you have to know what you're looking for and how to use it once you've found it. Follow these steps to learn more.

Instructions

Use Herbs as Alternatives to Prescription Drugs

1

Discuss the possibility of using herbal remedies in place of prescription medication with your doctor. This is especially important if you decide to forgo conventional treatment, as your doctor needs to be aware of any changes in your health.

2

Identify the prescription medications your doctor recommended, as well as their uses. Some of the more common prescription medications are antibiotics and anti-inflammatory pills.

3

Research available herbs very carefully. There are thousands of different types of herbs from all over the world. You'll need to know what herbs are out there as well as what they can do before you begin. A good place to start is the "Herb Research Foundation" Web site (see Resources below).

4

Decide which herbs you want to take, being careful to consider recommended dosage, possible side effects, availability and price.

5

Buy your herbs either online from an organic grower or at your local health food store.

6

Take the herbs as indicated on the packaging. Any deviations may reduce the effectiveness of the herbs.

How to Choose an Alternative Medicine Doctor

Alternative medicine has been used to treat conditions ranging from migraines to anxiety to cancer. There are many different kinds of alternative medicine. Anything not used in conventional medicine is considered an alternative practice. There are 2 different kinds of alternative medicine doctors: those who use alternative theories and treatments in the course of their usual work, and those who have set up a practice dedicated solely to alternative therapies. Since alternative medicine covers such a broad spectrum, it's fairly easy to locate a competent doctor in your area. Follow these steps to find out how.

Instructions

Find an Alternative Medicine Doctor

1

Decide what kind of alternative medicine doctor you're looking for. There are more than 100 disciplines in alternative medicine, including acupuncture, aromatherapy, reiki, color therapy and homeopathy.

2

Ask for recommendations from the staff at your local health food store. This is a great place to find out about doctors in your area, as well as about alternative medicine products and procedures you've never heard of.

3

Talk to friends and family to get recommendations for alternative medicine doctors.

4

Tell your general practitioner about your desire to seek treatment from an alternative medicine doctor. He or she may have some good references within your medical group and insurance plan limits.

Choose an Alternative Medicine Doctor

5

Arrange for in-person consultations with your top choices. You can also speak to doctors over the phone; but in-person consultations are better. You'll get a feel for the environment of the doctor's office.

6

Bring a list of questions you want answered to your consultations. These can be about anything from how the doctor conducts his or her practice to general health questions. Selecting an alternative medicine practitioner is a big deal. You'll want to choose someone you're comfortable with.

7

Check your doctor's qualifications before you commit. While many alternative medicine professions aren't officially licensed, you can search individual organizations for competent practitioners. There's a fantastic database of alternative medicine organizations and associated practitioners at the "Alternative Medicine Foundation" Web site (see Resources below).

How to Balance Your Body's Chemicals Through Orthomolecular Medicine

Poor dietary habits and the depletion of nutrients in soil may mean that our bodies do not have the necessary nutrients to facilitate normal functions. Orthomolecular medicine attempts to restore balance to the chemicals in our bodies by reintroducing the natural chemicals to the body in the form of antioxidants, minerals, lipotropes, fiber and more. It is said to treat everything from snake bites to schizophrenia.

Instructions

Educate Yourself About Orthomolecular Medicine

1

Understand that orthomolecular medicine practitioners do not consider their field to be 'alternative medicine' but a necessary complement to other medical practices. These practitioners feel that orthomolecular medicine is a safe treatment while more tests are performed on commercial pharmaceuticals, which typically have dangerous side-effects.

2

Know that the process of orthomolecular medicine only tries to correct the balance of chemicals found naturally in your body through adding or subtracting nutrients. Nothing foreign is ever introduced.

3

Learn that orthomolecular medicine was first tested in the 1950s to treat mental disorders. Later, in the 1960s, Linus Pauling adopted the treatment in regards to psychiatry. He believed that 'the right molecules in the right amounts' were medically beneficial.

4

Learn more online at Web sites like Orthomolecular Medicine Online (see Resources below).

Contact a Doctor and Balance Your Body

5

Find an orthomolecular medicine doctor at the American College for Advancement in Medicine Web site, which allows you to search by specialty (see Resources below).

6

Speak with your chosen doctor to see if this treatment is right for you, and then set up a nutritional plan that can correct and restore the chemical balance of your body.

7

Understand that the entire purpose of orthomolecular medicine is to correct chemical imbalances for the physical and mental benefit of the patient. By undergoing treatment with a skilled practitioner, you will balance your body's chemicals.

How to Find an Orthomolecular Doctor

Orthomolecular medicine consists of balancing the body's naturally occurring nutrients and chemicals through vitamin therapy and introduces other nutrients, often in megadoses. While a substantial body of evidence supports the medical benefits of this treatment, many in the medical community reject these findings as the result of the 'placebo effect.' As a result, finding an orthomolecular doctor can be challenging.

Instructions

Decide if Orthomolecular Medicine Is for You

1

Learn about orthomolecular medicine before undergoing treatment. The practice, which originated as a way to alleviate neurological disorders in the 1950s, was later assimilated by Linus Pauling to treat a wider range of illnesses, like cancer, influenza and autism.

2

Know that the concept of treating patients with nutrients was first considered a last resort when traditional medicine failed. Today, doctors who practice this method consider it a safe, effective alternative.

3

Learn more when you visit Orthomolecular Medicine Online (see Resources below).

Find an Orthomolecular Medicine Practitioner

4

Use the search engine at the American College for Advancement in Medicine Web site to locate a practitioner (see Resources below).

5

Find a Web site dedicated to orthomolecular practitioners. Orthomolecular.org provides links to doctors in both the United States and abroad (see Resources below).

6

Call the offices of practitioners within a reasonable distance to schedule an initial consultation. Find out how long this consultation will last and whether or not you will be charged for it.

7

Make an appointment with the practitioner(s) who strike you as the most trustworthy and experienced. Arrive at your appointment with a list of questions.

8

Begin a course of treatment if the practitioner feels--and you agree--that you could benefit from orthomolecular medical treatment.

How to Relieve Stress Through Guided Imagery

Those looking to relieve stress may find the solution in guided imagery. In this technique, a person imagines specific types of images to achieve positive mental, emotional or physical results. Guided imagery revolves around the theory that the mind can control the body. Therefore, if a person can relieve the mind of stress, the body will be relieved as well. Scientific evidence shows that guided imagery can cause some patients to relax their muscles.

Instructions

Learn About Guided Imagery

1

Know that guided imagery is not a new fad. It has been around since ancient times, when it was used to relieve pain, heal the body and cure diseases. It was believed that just having a strong image of sickness could create the symptoms within the body. Therefore, being exposed to positive, healthful images was paramount.

2

Get more information through a local guided imagery practitioner. You can find one by visiting the Worldwidehealthcenter.org engine (see Resources below).

3

Learn more about the treatment, including history, procedures and concerns, at the Holisticonline.com Web site (see Resources below).

Guide Your Own Images to Relieve Stress

4

Find a place where you can be undisturbed for your session.

5

Use headphones or a stereo to play soothing sounds. You can use a purchased audio recording of a professional to aid you. Many Web sites provide you with a script to read. You may find that you prefer the sound of soothing music to the sound of voices. Feel free to follow your preference.

6

Think of the most relaxing place you would ever want to spend time. Really think of the details that surround this place. Hear the sounds. Feel the breeze. Smell the scent in the air.

7

Feel your muscles relaxing as you relieve your stress through the image in your mind.

8

Breathe deeply and steadily as you perform your guided imagery meditation.

9

Relax each part of your body, step by step. Start from the top of your head and work your way down to your feet, or start at your feet and work your way up.

10

'Tell' each part of your body to relax. (You can do this silently, through thought.) For instance, inhale as you think the words 'relax, relax,' then exhale as you think the words 'feet, relax.' Use the same technique on your ankles, calves and so on. It may sound silly, but it's intensely relaxing after a few minutes of practice.

How to Improve Your Nutrition Through Orthomolecular Medicine

In orthomolecular medicine, the adage 'you are what you eat' is considered to be true. In this form of medicine, the regulation of the body's chemicals and nutrients is used to treat many forms of sickness, like herpes, skin disorders and viral pneumonia. By working with an orthomolecular practitioner, you can form a nutrition plan that may help improve your health.

Instructions

Familiarize Yourself With Orthomolecular Nutrition

1

Know that Orthomolecular nutrition has been used since the 1950s when doctors were used it to treat those suffering from mental disorders. Linus Pauling adopted it in 1968. He created the concept of using 'the right molecules in the right amounts,' through which psychiatric ailments could possibly be treated.

2

Understand that you may already be performing a type of modified orthomolecular therapy. If you take vitamin pills, you are following the tenets of this therapy. With the help of an orthomolecular nutritionist, you may improve your overall nutrition with supplements as varied as dietary fiber, amino and fatty acids, megadoses of vitamins, minerals and enzymes.

3

Feel comforted knowing that, while this practice may be somewhat controversial in the medical community, it is thought to be safe and natural. Only the chemicals and nutrients that occur naturally in the body will be manipulated. Nothing foreign will be introduced into your body.

4

Get your questions answered online. Visit Web sites like Orthomolecular.org for more information (see Resources below).

Find a Practitioner in Your Area

5

Locate a practitioner in your area by using search engines. Try the American College for Advancement in Medicine Web site (see Resources below). Facilitate your search by specifying specialty.

6

Use the Orthomolecular.org Web site to find links to practitioners in the United States and abroad. Only a small portion of the medical community prescribes orthomolecular nutrition plans. Therefore, finding a doctor near you may prove difficult.

7

Choose your doctor and develop a nutrition plan for your specific needs.

How to Learn About Orthomolecular Medicine

Orthomolecular medicine is the practice of restoring the nutritional and chemical balance of the human body to treat or prevent illnesses from influenza and colds to schizophrenia and epilepsy. The medical community is divided on this method of treatment. Some believe that the health benefits are illusory, while practitioners and many patients claim it is effective.

Instructions

Learn the History of Orthomolecular Medicine

1

Know that this treatment originated in the 1950s when doctors developed this method to treat mental disorders with vitamins.

2

Discover the involvement in 1968 of Linus Pauling who popularized the idea of introducing 'the right molecules in the right amounts' to treat sicknesses related to psychiatry.

3

Study the claims that orthomolecular medicine can treat diseases like acne, cancer and clinical depression. You can purchase 'Putting It All Together: The New Orthomolecular Nutrition' through Amazon.com (see Resources below).

4

Find answers about the treatment online. The Orthomolecular.org Web site has a detailed historical timeline, as well as medical data and other resources (see Resources below).

Learn About Both Sides of the Debate

5

Realize that many in the medical community classify orthomolecular medicine as 'alternative medicine'. Practitioners believe that Orthomolecular Medicine is not an alternative to conventional medicine, but rather a complement. The use of insulin to regulate blood-sugar levels is an example of orthomolecular medicine, yet no one considers it to be 'alternative medicine.'

6

Appreciate this treatment's commitment to natural health. It only manipulates the levels of nutrients that occur naturally within the body, whereas pharmaceuticals introduce foreign or synthetic chemicals into the body.

7

Speak to a practitioner by finding one online. The American College for Advancement in Medicine has a Web site that allows you to locate orthomolecular doctors in the United States (see Resources below).