Alternative Health News

Everyone knows that we need to keep well hydrated and that drinking plenty of water is good for us – the major question is how much is good for us and can you drink too much? There have been many studies into how much water people should drink every day and most studies agree that we need approximately 8 glasses of water a day – but how do you define ‘a glass’? Another survey suggested that we need 2.5 litres of water a day. This should mean that you avoid drinking too much or too little, drinking the right amount of water will mean that your body is able to function properly, alongside a healthy diet and lifestyle. Water helps the brain function, gets rid of waste in your body, keeps your skin clear and improves concentration.

At the moment I have been really getting back into yoga – or body balance as it is called at my gym. I think yoga is a great way to relax, work muscles that I didn’t know I had and regain my focus. Yoga has recently become the must-do sport for most celebrities such as Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Geri Halliwell. Yoga has many health and spiritual benefits, such as improving your overall flexibility as specific yoga positions work muscles, tendons and ligaments that are not normally used or stretched. Yoga also helps flush out toxins from the body as the positions and stretches help to increase blood flow around the body. The primary aim of yoga is to achieve a level of calm for body, mind and spirit, which is designed to create calmness and positive outlook.

No longer are people satisfied with the good old builders brew, there are now hundreds of options available when it comes to choosing a cup of tea. There is the traditional English breakfast tea (a personal favourite of mine) there is now an array of other teas available, such as herbal and detoxing teas, the most health beneficial one being green tea. It is claimed that green tea is packed with health and beauty benefits as it is full of antioxidants. Green tea has also been associated with weight loss management. The different substances contained in green tea have also been associated in helping people fight against cancer, low bone density, cognitive function and kidney stones.

There is a now a diet for every part of your body – there is the detox diet which is designed to cleanse your liver, etc and now there is a diet that is designed for our brains! We are constantly told by advertising companies, magazines and ‘industry experts’ to keep our ‘hearts healthy’ and to top up our gut with ‘friendly bacteria’ but now there is a new organ that we need to keep healthy and it’s our brains. A brain-healthy diet is essential for keeping your memory, concentration and intellect sharp and alert, the basis for the brain diet is that we need to eat regularly throughout the day, preferably three meals and to snack on nuts and seeds, whilst highlighting the risks of drinking too much caffeine on your brain.

Well, as its technically meant to be summer – although you wouldn’t think so judging by the torrential rain we’ve had over the last few weeks, it means all day BBQ’s and all day drinking. It is therefore more important than ever that people are aware of the safe limits in order for them to drive home and also the safe limits per week as often in summer, especially when on holiday, its too easy to drink your weeks allowance in a day! According to the Department of Health women should drink no more than two to three units of alcohol a day. A standard 175ml glass of red or white wine is around 2 units, whereas a large 250ml glass of red or white wine is around 3 units.

Chiropody (also known as podiatry) is a medical practice focused entirely on the feet and ankles, aiming to relieve the pain and discomfort caused by foot injuries, illnesses, or inherited disorders. Chiropodists are classed as medical professionals, and there are many associated with the NHS, but some still consider some areas of podiatry to be more like alternative health treatments.

Podiatrists can take care of anything foot-related, from giving patients shoe inserts to correct minor problems to performing some small surgical procedures. They can remove warts, deal with ingrown toenails and issue medication to relieve pain. There are also some speciality areas, such as those dealing with sports injuries.

Many people regularly undergo alternative health treatments such as aromatherapy, yoga and magnetic therapy all the time, but what about more obscure methods to promote well-being? Here are a couple of the most obscure (and kind of nasty) ones:

• Ear Candling – You might have heard of this one; it is where specialist ear candles are placed in the ear canal to loosen and remove wax and other impurities. It is perfectly safe provided you take the proper precautions, and it is generally more effective than other wacky treatments you may have read about.

• Urine Therapy – As you may guess, this is a particularly disgusting treatment, but not to people who swear by it. They believe that urine is not waste water, but that it does, in fact, contain excess nutrients. Amongst other ailments, alternative health therapists believe that by imbibing your own urine, you can help to cure allergies.

A row with senior aide to Prince Charles five years ago has resulted in the imminent closure of one of the leading centres for alternative health research in the world, after it apparently ran out of funds.

This controversial incident occurred back in 2005, when Professor Ernst of the facility rubbished a report promoting alternative medicine. This upset Prince Charles’ private secretary, Michael Peat, who claimed Ernst had discussed a controversial document as part of his criticism. Due to this and the fact that the facility has not managed to secure adequate funding, it looks likely that it will soon be shut down.

The facility and Prof. Ernst himself have generated a great deal of controversy amongst alternative health practitioners in recent years, as the results generated from research have been generally negative. Ernst believes in testing alternative treatments in the same scientific way as standard medical practices, but claims he has found that therapies such as homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic and iridology are ineffective and make little or no difference to the health of the patient.

Many people don’t realise how much the sense of smell can affect their physical and emotional well-being. Aromatherapy is the perfect example of this, as it harnesses the power of certain essential oils to offer health benefits. For example:

• Basil is great for relieving stress, anxiety and nervous tension
• Eucalyptus has the power to clear a blocked-up nose or a congested chest
• Chamomile is often used to relieve the symptoms of pre-menstrual tension (PMT)

How does aromatherapy work?
According to aromatherapists, this treatment works by stimulating the sensory system, which in turn sends messages to the limbic system. This is located in the brain, and it has an influence on major systems such as circulatory and respiratory functioning.

Often classed as an alternative health treatment for minor complaints, aromatherapy will never be able to cure serious illnesses and conditions.

Put simply, magnetic therapy is an alternative health application designed to relieve pain, improve sleep and alleviate the symptoms of various degenerative diseases. It is apparently safe, as it only involves the application of specialist magnets to various parts of the body.

How does magnetic therapy work?
One negative aspect of magnetic therapy is that no one is quite sure how it works. Some theories claim that it affects the haemoglobin in the blood, increasing circulation to the affected area, whilst others believe that it helps to oxygenate the blood in order to accelerate healing.

How effective this treatment is varies from patient to patient, and you should never use it in the place of approved medical practice, if you have a pacemaker or other device, or if you are pregnant.