Austin Meditation

Posts Tagged ‘Medicine’

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.

Many of today’s medical journals note the complexities that stress can cause on health. Individuals may face complex health concerns, ranging from cancer to high blood pressure, and have doctors tell them one of the treatment options needs to be reducing daily stress. For those who are looking for an alternative health therapy, consider the value of such treatments as meditation, or using another holistic treatment.

Don’t Stop Your Medication

While using meditation is a strong way to improve your health, it should not replace other treatments your doctor’s are using to help treat your ailment. Rather, it offers a simplistic method of improving health through a proven and natural method that works alongside other treatments you may be using.

How Can Holistic Treatment Help You?

This alternative health therapy will work well for your situation, in most cases. Holistic treatments are simply an approach to healing that looks for imbalances in the way you live your lifestyle. In this type of treatment, the belief is that the pain you feel from your illness comes from an imbalance within your lifestyle. They are sometimes the cause of physical conditions, but other times stem from emotional or other types of imbalances. When you use a holistic treatment, you improve your overall health by giving your body more of what it needs to remain healthy.

Try Meditation

One of the alternative health therapy options you have is meditation. When you meditate, you do not focus on the aches and pains you have, but you focus on breathing and peace. By doing this, you can calm your body and mind. It is possible to use meditation to help reduce anxiety and stress, too.

-Meditation can help you to focus on your health and well-being.
-It works to draw your mind away from what is ailing you.
-It can reduce the body’s working power that is being put towards stress and focus it on your health improvement.

Because of these factors, meditation and other alternative health therapy options should be part of your daily life. This holistic treatment can help.

Unfortunately, it’s a sad fact that so many people today report having the overwhelming effects of anxiety and depression in their lives. It has been estimated that there are close to 17 million Americans who suffer from depression as well as over 19 million who suffer from some type of an anxiety disorder. Those are truly staggering numbers that continue to increase.

Anxiety disorders and depression are so destructive and debilitating that’s hard to believe that so many struggle with them so regularly. They are considered to be two of the most common mental conditions found plaguing individuals today. Regrettably, even though people are prospering and have all the things they could possibly need and want, there are great numbers failing to find happiness present in their daily lives.

And it is really no wonder how and why this happens so readily in our world today. People are increasingly becoming so busy and focused on things such as material wealth and spend more and more of their time working and less of their time enjoying life and developing important and lasting relationships with their families and friends. Their lives are so hectic, crazy and fast-paced that it leaves little time for meaningful or relaxing things to be a part of it. It leads to why there are so many developing feelings of anxiety and depression.

So, what can be done to combat the symptoms of depression and other anxiety conditions? Undoubtedly, medical treatment is critical and beneficial in coping with anxiety or depression issues and those suffering from them should definitely consult their physician. However, there are many alternative treatments outside of traditional medicine that have been discovered to aid in treating depression and anxiety for individuals. One of those is meditation and many people have found it to be an effective tool that helps them better deal with the depression and anxiety in their lives.

When you experience pain or illness, it really isn’t any fun. You want to find something (anything) that will help you get better or make you feel better. Sometimes the right answer is medication to fight off a virus or help your body heal itself, but often you can find more natural approaches to use that can help. It seems like more and more doctors are jumping on board to advocating the use of alternative medicine and treatments for their patients. Changing certain things regarding your behavior or lifestyle can provide huge benefits to your overall health and wellbeing.

You can choose to change your behavior to help you cope with the everyday stress that comes. Everyone knows that laughter is the best medicine and having humor as a part of life can be a great tool to use to melt away stressful situations and experiences. Other changes in behavior that can be made are things like managing your time better, getting more organized and being more assertive in a respectful way (not letting others walk all over). Additionally, it’s good to have hobbies and interests that you enjoy doing and that create a distraction or diversion in your life. If you don’t have any of these currently, find some new ones to incorporate in so that you are able to take a break away from everyday life and do something you enjoy to take your mind of things and help you to be rejuvenated so that you can face life better.

Meditation is one highly effective alternative treatment that is being used to help people who suffer from high blood pressure, angina, asthma, insomnia, depression, anxiety as well as many other ailments. Using meditation as a form of healing is not a new concept. People around the world in different countries and cultures have been practicing meditative techniques for centuries. It has even been found to be intertwined with many of the world’s religions and traditions. The advantages found from doing meditation to help alleviate physical and mental suffering and to promote healing has been used for thousands of years.