Ever since Westerners started practicing yoga, a.k.a. the gateway drug to alternative therapies, the health care industry has lost its final word on cures for allergies, back pain, common cold, lack of energy, weight loss, anti-aging, digestive disorders, heart conditions, joint pain (and all those other side effects you get from taking pharmaceuticals).

The term “quackery” no longer holds water, no two remedies are equal for different individuals and getting second, third and eighth opinions are a few clicks away. Knowing what the choices are, and then experimenting by trial and error have become the final barometer, not the American Medical Association (AMA) or the Food and Drug Administration.

More cops or more meditators?
Approximately 4,000 meditators reduced crime in Washington, D.C. from June 7 to July 30, 1993.

Pepto Bismol or Acupuncture?
Tongues are the new X-Rays — According to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey, 8.2 million people in the U.S. have tried acupuncture, but the A.M.A. reports that only one percent of U.S. doctors recommend the therapy.

Stick your tongue out in front of a mirror. Go ahead. Look at it. What a weird part of your body! It’s slimy, it may be different colors in different places, maybe even a little bumpy.

So many things to look at, yet an acupuncturist sees more: “Your liver is a bit toxic…you’ve got too much yeast in your intestines…your spleen is unhealthy…” Some people think this is just a bunch of hocus pocus, while others swear that it has helped prevent heart disease, liver problems and any other ailment you can think of. And, it’s a great way to kill time while waiting for your doctor’s prognosis. 

Cold Medicine or Hot Bath?
From Russian and Turkish bath houses to Native American sweat lodges to models partying (and sweating) half-naked at clubs with saunas in Germany, the healing power of water is becoming a tried and true alternative therapy for fighting off colds, stress and circulatory problems.

Swim laps or Mesotherapy?
Singer Roberta Flack reportedly lost about 40 pounds through Mesotherapy, occiassionally referred to by some critics as a “Cowboy Cosmetic Fix.” While it is probably healthier to do those laps or ride that elliptical machine at the gym, it doesn’t always get rid of those pesky dimples….but the jury is still out on this relatively new therapy giving liposuction a new competitor.

Brand New House or Burn Sage?
As the suburbs fill up with brand new cookie cutter homes, conservationists moving into and restoring old homes have borrowed the Native American ritual of burning sage to clear previous owners’ energies.

Asprin or Chiropractor?
Many mainstream health insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield are now covering chiropractic medicine, once pooh-poohed by the AMA. Now they’re saying it cuts health care costs. Hey, when it comes to saving money (and maybe avoiding a nasty pain reliever habit & surgery to reduce their back pain) Westerners are as willing as a chick at the club to try something new.

Explore the Alternative: Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Eastern medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Holistic Medicine, Environmental Medicine.

Tell us: How do you alleviate your aches and pains outside the doctor’s office?

Entering the world of Alternative Therapies is the best way to know your mind, body and soul.  We can only get so much from Western Therapies and Medicine, and in some cases the wild, wild, west creates other ailments and dependencies.

Two weeks ago we talked about detoxifying and cleansing the body, which are common alternative therapies. Others seem so far out (singing soothes the soul), and some are just common sense (drinking water alleviates headaches).

Being your own detective and playing a role in your diagnosis and treatment will have you actively exploring alternative therapies.  In The Story of how The Balance Group was started, I talked about the book, Ultra Prevention, the book that changed my life! 

 “My life was controlled by allergies and the medications to relieve the symptoms.  After reading Ultra Prevention, I learned that my allergies were a result of the food I was eating and the main culprit were Dairy products.  So I stopped eating cereal, drank my coffee black and cut out 99% of ice cream and other dairy treats, but not cheese (can’t get the monkey completely off my back).  Within in 2 months I was off my daily double dose of allergy medications”

Ultra Prevention was written by the Medical Directors of Canyon Ranch.  In the book they discuss several cases they’ve had where the patients did not receive the proper diagnosis and treatment.  These people were suffering for years and hopped on medication, which in some cases, led them to taking more medications because of the new ailments that developed from the original treatments (we all remember Vioxx which reduced inflammation but came with a high risk of heart attacks and strokes and was withdrawn from the market…CRAZY!)

In the end, your doctor is a great resource but you should be involved in the process and look outside the box.  Western Practices are needed, but living in a preventative state and being open to Alternative Practices will add your health, happiness, longevity and possibly your bank account. 

Tiffany Houser
The Balance Group

 by Olga El

I’m sure many of us who are students, stressed from the demands of school, work, and society, would love to indulge in a luxurious massage or an aroma-therapeutic bath complete with salts and essential oils more often.  However, I think a lack of time or money is a factor.

I just don’t observe many people my age going to the chiropractor or seeing an acupuncturist on a regular basis. This may also be the result of a lack of knowledge of these alternative forms or it may reflect a lack of need—many people seem to seek out these therapies after contracting chronic illnesses that many people my age haven’t had the chance to deal with yet.

Yoga is a therapeutic form that never seems to lose it’s relevancy among people in “my generation”—either they love it or they hate it and/or disregard it totally. Personally, I tend to prefer something with a little more movement such as dance or Tai Chi. I can experience the same benefits that many people claim to experience with Yoga (i.e. serenity, focus, flexibility, spirituality etc.) but through a constant flow of movement.

Dance in particular is universally sited as a therapeutic form of creative expression. It is accessible to all people: rich or poor, old or young, worldly or uneducated. Dance is more than an art form. For cultures across the globe, it is a mode of storytelling, teaching, and healing.

Dance is the most ancient form of worship. And, unless you’re paying to learn a specific type of dance, it is a FREE form of therapy that you can teach yourself—all that is required is that you express what’s in your soul through movement. This form of alternative therapy is not only relevant to “my generation” but to all people.

Many people my age spend their leisure time at clubs or parties where dance is often a taking place. I’ve often heard people claiming that dance helps them “relieve stress” or “forget their problems”. This may have a scientific basis, as it is now being studied how physical exercise stimulates the release of certain chemicals in the brain that elevate mood.

Anyone who is bored with lifting weights in a gym can add creativity and diversity to his or her fitness program by dancing because it is also a great source of exercise.

 by Mark Bromson, M.D.

Very few people escape the wrath of some form of back pain. And the statistics are quite real. Right now one in two adults is suffering from back pain. And unfortunately the cards are stacked against you with the odds of a 4 out of 5 chance you will experience back pain at some point in your life

Back pain is a big deal. I’ve seen how patients suffer with it. I’ve heard the stories about missed work and lost wages. I know the toll that back pain takes—physically, financially, and emotionally.

I saw a patient just the other day that was at her wits end. She asked me about surgery, but I reserve this option only for when the back is seriously injured. I suggested she explore some other options that are safer, less expensive, and effective ways to treat back pain.

Today I want to share five pain-relieving strategies with you that I’ve seen work successfully in my practice.

1. Visit Your Chiropractor: Many people, especially doctors in my profession, question the value and safety of chiropractors. But, according to research reviewed by Orthopedics Today, chiropractic medicine has a high level of patient satisfaction and a low risk of side effects. Often back pain can come from misalignment in your spine. A chiropractor can help you restore your mobility and reduce your pain. I do offer one bit of cautionary advice when seeking a chiropractor—choose one who recommends stretches to prevent a recurrence of the condition.

2. Make Stretching a Part of Your Daily Routine:Regular, gentle stretching can help to prevent injuries and may offer some pain relief throughout your day. If you have a Yoga center near your home I suggest this form of exercise as a great way to help stretch those back muscles. If not, here’s a good and easy stretching exercise to alleviate and in some cases eliminate back pain!

For the lower back, I recommend that you lie flat on the floor on your back. Bend one leg at the knee so that your foot is flat on the floor. Extend the opposite arm out to the side, letting it rest on the floor. Look in the direction of your arm. Gently let your raised leg fall over your straight leg. Do not force the stretch past the point of comfort. Hold the stretch for four deep breaths.

For the upper back, sit in a chair and give yourself a hug. Do this by grabbing your opposite shoulder with each hand. Holding your shoulders, look down. Again, hold the stretch for four deep breaths. When you do this, one arm will be above the other. Once you complete the stretch, switch so that the other arm is on top and repeat the stretch.

Ask your chiropractor or orthopedic doctor for additional stretches.

3. Take a Vitamin B Complex:People with healthy vitamin B levels are less likely to experience chronic pain. Different types of vitamin B relieve pain in different ways. If you have ongoing back pain, adding a vitamin B complex may help to reduce your symptoms.

4. Take an Omega-3 Supplement:Omega-3 fatty acids have proven anti-inflammatory properties and can play an important role in pain management. They are also good for your heart and will give your mood a lift, so you’ve got nothing to lose by trying this supplement.

5. Take Melatonin Before Bed:There are a number of studies that show taking melatonin before falling asleep at night can reduce pain caused by a number of things. One animal study suggests that melatonin may not only relieve back pain, but may promote healthy tissues in the spine.

These 5 back pain remedies are safe and free from dangerous side effects. Wouldn’t it be great if you could avoid dangerous surgeries and expensive drugs? Give these a try and see if you find relief.

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1″Time to recognize value of chiropractic care? Science and patient satisfaction surveys cite usefulness of spinal manipulation.” Orthopedics Today February 2003:23(2), ppl4-15 2 Turgut M, et al. “The effect of exogenous melatonin administration on trabecular width, ligament thickness and TGF-beta(1) expression in degenerated intervertebral disk tissue in the rat,” J Clin Neurosci 2006; 13(3): 357-63

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