Austin Meditation

Archive for the ‘Medicine’ Category

Many people are not comfortable with the idea of taking over the counter prescriptions due to all the ingredients and the negative side effects they may experience from them.  Some of the prescriptions have side effects that can be worse than the ailment.  One alternative is herbal treatments.  Here is a brief description of what herbal treatments are.

Herbal treatments are special medicines and treatments that are made from herbal plants.  Since they come from plants these treatments are often referred to as “all natural”.  Many people who prefer to stick with medicines and treatments that are considered natural because they think they will be better for them and their body.  These herbal treatments can include herbs from one type of plant or several types of plants.  The herbs come from various parts of the plant including the root, flower, seeds, fruits or even the leaves.

Herbal treatments can come in many forms.  Some of the treatments come in a caplet form while others look like a multivitamin.  Other forms can include but are not limited to teas that can be drank, liquid extracts that you can combine with other liquid forms or even in the form of balms that can be applied to affected areas.

These treatments are used for a number of different ailments.  They can be used to help treat severe conditions such as cancer to more mild ailments such as sunburns. Many people also take herbal treatments to help with emotional problems such as depression.  Some people prefer to take a number of different herbal treatments combined together because they think they will get the maximum results. If you have a reliable wireless broadband or any internet connection, do some research on your own too.

Herbal treatments can be very effective but just like anything there are certain things to look out for. It is possible to take too much of one type of herb.  Some people may suffer from unexpected side effects so it is important to read the dosage instructions very carefully and take it as directed.

If you are a smoker and have always had the desire to quit but have tried different methods with no success, consider acupuncture. You may have heard about acupuncture and how it can help people with all different kinds of ailments including addictions such as smoking.  Many people are left asking “Does acupuncture help you quit smoking?”.  The answer is yes.  In most cases it has a very high success rate.  Here is a look at how acupuncture and how it can help you quit that bad habit.

You will want to visit a professional  acupuncturist who can inform you of what all the procedure consists of.  In the beginning they will go over your smoking habits thoroughly.  They are going to be looking for what triggers you to light up.  For each person it is different.  Some people are social smokers, finding they smoke more when they are around friends or family while others smoke during stressful situations.  The acupuncturist will look over everything very carefully to determine how to help you the most.

Acupuncture itself involves using very small, thin needles inserted into various pressure points throughout the body.  Generally for those who want to quit smoking they are applied around the area of the ear. The time of the process will vary.  One of the most common concerns is whether or not the process hurts.  Many people avoid acupuncture because they are afraid of needles.  The process is actually pain free and has a very high success rate.

Acupuncture is an excellent way to quit smoking if you have tried all other methods and have had no success.  Prices will vary and in some cases the acupuncturist may have you take special herbs to help you with the cravings, especially to those who were heavy smokers.

Most cancer treatment centers confirm that meditation as an alternative cancer treatment is beneficial. Where no one is claiming that meditation can cure cancer, it can greatly reduce some of the symptoms of the disease. The benefits are both mental and physical. The method of meditation is sometimes different than what is practiced in a sangha but since there really is no wrong way to meditate, it is greatly beneficial to some cancer patients.

It has been proven that meditation can help with the stress, fear and depression associated with a cancer diagnosis. Certainly, an insight meditation practice would greatly reduce these mental symptoms of the disease. However, patients are sometimes taught to focus on an object or the use of a repetition of a phrase or words to help reduce symptoms. They may be instructed in deep breathing exercises or envisioning calming thoughts and scenarios. From a spiritual practice, envisioning can get quiet complex, but as an alternative cancer treatment, this form of meditation can be done in such a way that anyone can do it. Whether everyone will be open to meditation as a treatment is another thing, but forthose who are willing to explore an alternative, the results will likely be positive.

Meditation has also been reported to reduce chronic pain, lower heart rate. and decreased blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In order for meditation to work as an alternative treatment, most experts suggest that the patient will have to engage in the practice for at least seven weeks. Those willing to do it will see as much as a 30 percent decrease in some symptoms of the cancer. If a patient needs help finding a meditation expert, the American Cancer society offers a list of resources for most locations. In rural areas, health care providers may be able to help a patient find an individual in the community that can guide meditation.

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian philosophy that incorporates both proactive and healing therapies for improved health. More than a health care regimen, Ayurveda is a lifestyle choice frequently promoted by alternative health practitioners. It is not meant to replace traditional medical treatments; rather, it is a healthy lifestyle that will prevent the need for traditional medication by using natural methods to maintain good mental, physical and spiritual health.

Ayurveda is based on the concept that each individual is capable of controlling his or her own life, health, and physical and mental restoration. In addition to promoting a health- and consciousness-centered lifestyle, Ayurveda practitioners also incorporate many of the healing arts, including herbalism, yoga, meditation, and various purifications.

Rather than offering one-size-fits-all “cures”, this holistic philosophy is based on creating programs for individuals according to their type. The three different types, called “doshas”, are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. An Ayurveda consultant will analyze a person’s skin, hair, taste preferences, eating habits and sleep patterns to determine their dosha.

With the idea that each dosha has different requirements in order to achieve proper balance and thus maintain good health, the diet, exercise and meditation routines are specific to each individual. Each person also has specific emotional needs, and their diet, exercise and meditation programs will work together to balance these needs.

Meditation is an important component of Ayurveda, especially for people who have stressful lifestyles that affect their physical and mental health. Meditation helps the mind overcome the effects of both physical and mental stress, leading to a better balance and fewer physical manifestations.

While it is not intended as a cure-all or a substitute for life-saving medications, many adherents of Ayurveda report fewer physical problems and a reduced need for over-the-counter and prescription medications. Even people in top physical condition practice Ayurveda for the emotional and mental well-being it provides without chemical or artificial enhancements.

Modern medicine is based on treating a disease or symptom with a scientifically proven drug, procedure, or surgical remedy. These therapies have been proven through carefully controlled and regulated studies, and people generally accept them as safe and effective. But the idea of proving effectiveness through a study is a relatively recent development in the medical world. Innumerable doctors and healers have been treating patients successfully for millennia, without the benefit of scientifically proven cures.

Because the scientific community requires an explanation of “proof”, it is less likely to recommend an alternative therapy, even when clinical studies show its effectiveness. Numerous medical studies conducted in the 1970s through 1990s showed that imagery and visualization techniques were effective in improving remission rates, reducing pain, and enhancing traditional medical treatments.

Patients who were receiving traditional medical treatments were taught to visualize things like diseased cells shrinking and dying, pain disappearing, or healthy cells growing and flourishing. A significant percentage of patients actually experienced physical manifestations of the outcome they visualized. The control groups that did not practice visualization had lower success rates.

There have also been studies and clinical trials that demonstrate the effectiveness of meditation on lowering blood pressure, incidence of strokes, and chemical and behavioral addiction relapses. Test subjects who meditated also had lower rates of surgical complications and better immune system function.

Although the results are dramatic, science can’t explain the mind-body connection or exactly how it works. Because of this, these therapies are considered “alternative” and are not prescribed by traditional health care providers as a primary course of action.

Unfortunately, many people today still tend to be leery of being a part of alternative medicine because it is different from what they know or are used to or they don’t understand much about it. Sometimes it is described as being unreliable, hippie like, or even dangerous. However, there are many forms of alternative medicine that have proved to be beneficial in helping people down a healing path back to wellness and recovery. So, it seems to be something definitely worth looking into and having an open mind about. You just never know whether something will help you until you try it and a lot of times doing a home remedy or something alternative has been found to be a lot healthier for you and have less side effects on you than traditional medicines used for treatment.

The fact is that alternative medicine or home remedies can turn out to be a huge benefit to those suffering with various injuries or illnesses. Nowadays, more and more doctors are learning about alternative medicine and are noticing that they can provide many cures and benefits for their clients. One form of alternative medicine that is really gaining popularity is the practice of meditation due to its great health benefits of calming both the mind and body.

Also, you need to remember that this isn’t about choosing one type of medicine over another. Alternative medicine and modern medicine can easily coexist and be used in conjunction with one another, even simultaneously. In a lot of cases they have actually been found to directly complement one another and make for a better overall remedy for the individual. And isn’t that essentially what everyone is looking for? So the next time you are faced with an illness, pain, or injury in your life turn to your doctor for advice, but also ask about and research other medicine alternatives that may be of benefit to you. It’s about improving your health and your life and having a mix of modern medicine and alternative medicine choices can bring you the best of both worlds!

Why is meditation a preferred stress buster as opposed to pills, tablets and other drugs? Why do doctors encourage individuals to meditate instead of having antibiotics? Well, the mind is the only thing that can control the mind.

Why don’t you try using stimulants and antidepressants to get rid of your depression? You will discover that the mind reacts violently and pulls you further into depression when the effect of the medication wears off.

On the other hand, when you meditate and when you start exerting more control over your mind, you will realize that the real cause behind the depression and the right way to overcome the problem automatically crop up.

Science has proved that meditation is beneficial. Why exactly is it beneficial and how does it offer so many benefits is not clearly known. In any case, such knowledge is not useful either. Knowing what hormones are released and understanding how the body reacts is not going to make meditation easier.

We know that meditation is good for our health and we should follow the same. However, we should also keep the effect of meditation on our family. When children see their parents mediating and trying to focus and concentrate, they will automatically start following the lessons.

When children find that their parents do not lose their temper when something goes wrong but rather try to be constructive, they will learn accordingly. The children may not be meditating. Yet, they shall automatically inculcate the lessons of meditation.

Of course, you will enjoy better physical and mental health and will be in a position to take care of your child better. Hence, your decision to meditate and concentrate on a daily basis will have a positive effect on not just your health but on the health of your family as a whole.

What are the practical advantages of doing meditation? Many persons think in terms of inner happiness, self satisfaction, peace of mind and other such abstract concepts. Does this mean that meditation does not offer any practical benefits?

Meditation helps you save money. That is right. You enjoy hard cash savings. How? A person who meditates regularly will be in a position to manage stress much better. And often we deal with this kind of stress by spending money shopping for expensive items like jewelry at a site like JRDunn.com or purchasing clothes we do not need.  The mind will quickly step in and point out that the thing that is troubling the individual is not worth the thought.

It is difficult to say why this happens but meditation helps the individual keep things in perspective and context. Further, better concentration and positive framework helps the person get more work done. This automatically results in reduction of stress.

The combination is that you will never have to buy antidepressants and stimulating medicines ever again. You can just chuck those pills out of the window and never use it again. Further, you can avoid visiting the doctor and getting mental health advice at very high price. Just spending your time surrounded by peaceful thoughts doing various meditating techniques will help you save money.

The second advantage is that you will become very popular amongst your friends. A person who meditates very regularly will never lose his or her temper. In any case, the person would have control and can choose when to lose temper. Hence, don’t be surprised if your friends compliment you on the fact that you are looking so good and seem to constantly glowing.

Thirdly, you will enjoy complete peace of mind at home. Remember, it takes two persons to create a controversy. As your ability to tolerate irritation increases, you will find that small things that used to irritate you and irk you in the past can simply be ignored. This is going to simplify matters and help you avoid small conflicts with your spouse and family members at home.

It is important to meditate properly if you want to enjoy its benefits. There are different ways to meditate. Some find peace of mind when they focus on a specific thought in a quiet room. On the other hand, others like working in their garden all alone and spend time carrying out small tasks.

Others can even meditate by practicing physical exertion. Well, there is a sufficient flexibility for each and every individual to meditate as he or she deems fit. Yet, do not make the mistake of thinking that any and every task can qualify as meditation.

You should have the option of focusing inwards and trying to cleanse your mind off negative thoughts. The fact that you do this by spending time in natural surroundings is your choice. However, if you find that your activity is actually serving as a distraction and is not helping your mind settle, then you are not meditating at all.

Checking your Facebook profile when sitting in front of the computer and focusing on a single thought does not act as meditation. If you are going to expand the definition of this concept to such a wide extent, then each and everything you do will qualify as meditation. Well, you can adopt such a wide definition to please yourself. However, you will not enjoy the benefits.

There are different stages and levels of meditation. There are different thoughts you should focus on. In the beginning, you should make use of aids that will help you relax. As time goes by, you should make things more difficult.

It is just as doing physical exercise in the gym. When you start, you tend to be lenient on yourself. However, if you want to bring your body back in shape, it is very important to push it hard. The same is the case with the meditation and mental exercises as well.

What will happen if you ask your mind to focus on emptiness? The mind will immediately create a big box in your head and try to show how emptiness looks. However, the problem with this approach is that you will focus more on the box and not on the emptiness.

No matter how hard you try, you will never find anything that can qualify as empty and vacant when you are meditating. This is the rule of the pink elephant and is a very big problem faced by all individuals who try to mediate. So, what steps should you take?

Who says that you have to start focusing on emptiness at the very beginning? Why don’t you create a blackboard in your mind and draw images and figures on the same. You can then mentally erase each and every image individually. You can do this in a gradual and faced manner.

Soon, you would have wiped the entire blackboard clean. What remains is emptiness. The best part is that you would have meditated for 10 to 15 minutes by the time you reach the stage of the empty blackboard. From that point onwards, even if you meditate for a few minutes on the emptiness, you would have done a great job of keeping your mind under your control for close to 20 minutes.

As time goes by, you will discover that you can visualize the empty blackboard and black space without any difficulty. If it does not work, you can always go back to the idea of drawing something on the blackboard and wiping it off. This is the best way to control your thoughts. Rather than trying to impose artificial and external control, you can keep it natural and do it in a simple and effective manner for maximum benefits.