A cure for binge drink may be found in a humble root. According to a new study, herbal medicine may hold the key to prevent excessive alcohol consumption.

Components found in the root of the Chinese herb kudzu could possibly reduce excess alcohol drinking without any serious side effects. This may be a promising start but in order to truly know if kudzu holds a cure for binge drinking, science needs to understand how chemicals found in the kudzu root affect alcohol consumption behavior.

The new kudzu study was set up by David Penetar, PhD, from the Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory at McLean Hospital. Researchers focused on one particular component of the root, isoflavone puerarin, to see if it helped reduce alcohol consumption. Kudzu is native to parts of China and Japan but is considered to be a weed because it grows so quickly limiting sun exposure to trees and shrubbery that it grows over.

Isoflavone puerarin was singled out because puerarin has been shown to be safe and effective in treating various heart diseases including coronary heart disease, heart attack and angina, which is chest pain when your heart does not get enough blood.

The isoflavone puerarin extract was given to 10 men and women who had reported regular weekly alcohol consumption. The researchers set up an apartment inside the laboratory and filled a refrigerator with the participant’s preferred alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Researchers let the participants drink up to six beverages in a 90-minute timespan.

After the initial 90-minute apartment session, participants were randomly given the puerarin extract or a placebo for a week and a follow-up 90-minute session was conducted. A third session was conducted without the participants using either the puerarin or placebo. Whatever supplement the participant did not get initially was given to them for a week prior to the final session.

Puerarin was effective in reducing alcohol consumption in the participants, note researchers, reducing intake by one beer. The participant’s alcohol consumption went from 3.5 beers to around 2.4 beers after taking puerarin.

Puerarin not only helped reduce alcohol consumption but altered how the participants consumed alcohol. Researchers noticed that the participants took more sips and took longer to finish their beer. While researchers do not believe this will stop drinking it can help alter risky behavior like binge drinking which could help treat alcohol abuse.

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Sir, – With regard to Kelly Johnson’s letter (May 4th) commenting on my article (“Disturbing claims by homeopaths” Science Today, April 12th), may I make a correction and some comments? I am not and never have been a member of the Irish Association for Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy. I am a member of the Psychological Society of Ireland and of the British Psychological Society and adhere to their codes of ethics, which are essentially equivalent.

My article focused on the homeopathy-based Cease (Complete Elimination of Autistic Spectrum Expression) method for the treatment of autism, which I described as “glaringly inaccurate nonsense”, a position that I maintain. I mentioned Ms Kelly’s name as the advertised presenter of a course on Cease and said nothing further about her and so did not disparage her personally. Homeopathy on the other hand has been properly disparaged by many, including myself, as pseudoscientific sympathetic magic.

Within psychology, science and medicine, codes of ethics are constructed primarily to protect the users of the relevant services and to ensure appropriate and evidence-based practice.

Within these professions, robust debate and criticism regarding day-to-day practice and claims made are actively encouraged as part of the evolution of ideas and the elimination of what is false, or constitutes poor practice.

This latter approach is largely absent from the world of alternative therapies, where a radical relativism prevails in which all practices are viewed as valid and are based primarily on anecdote and testimonial and are touted on the basis of their longevity. As a consequence, they do not evolve and remain mired in mysticism.

While autism cannot currently be cured, there are many science-based interventions that have made enormous improvements in the lives of those with the condition and their families.

I do not advocate depriving people of any treatment road they wish to pursue, but I do insist on provision of the information necessary for informed decision-making, and I object to unproven alternative treatments being paid for by overstretched national health services and health insurance companies, which ought to fund on the basis of evidence rather than popular demand. – Yours, etc,

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The term "alternative medicine" is used to describe healing treatments that are not part of conventional medical training — like acupuncture, massage therapy, or herbal medicine. People used to consider practices like these outside the mainstream, which is why they got the name "alternative."

Eastern countries have a longstanding tradition of teaching alternative medicine. But until recently, most Western hospitals didn't provide any alternative treatments and Western medical schools didn't teach them.

Patients in Western countries are becoming more receptive to trying alternative techniques, and have been asking for them. As a result, many Western medical schools are starting to teach these medicine techniques and theories. Some hospitals and doctors are supplementing their regular medical care with alternative techniques.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard care. Standard care is what medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy and allied health professionals, such as registered nurses and physical therapists, practice. Alternative medicine means treatments that you use instead of standard ones. Complementary medicine means nonstandard treatments that you use along with standard ones. This type of medicine has played an important role in modern treatment and cure for many know illnesses. Millions of dollars are spent yearly to research complementary medicines and their positive effects on the human body

What is Herbal Medicine? A herb is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor or therapeutic properties. Herbal medicine products are dietary supplement that people take to improve their health. Many herbs have been used for a long time for claimed health benefits. They are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts and fresh or dried plants. However, some can cause health problems, some are not effective and some may interact with other drugs you are taking. Countries in the Pacific, Asia and tropical Caribbean have long depended on herbs for cures and treatment of common illnesses.

There are many online herbal stores and companies offering Alternative Herbal Medicine These products have been used by thousands of people with one thing in common: vast improvement in health and chronic illnesses. Alternative Herbal Medicine made by real Doctors is very effective in reversing the root causes of: diabetes, blood pressure, gout, acid reflux, menopause, asthma, arthrits, stress, sex problems in men and women etc.. Millions world wide are using herbal medicine to reverse their health problems with amazing results. Why not learn more about alternative herbal medicine to see what it can do for you?

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With mild cases of acne topical ointments are usually the best method of treatment. More severe cases may require more drastic measures. Some options include: antibiotics either orally or in ointments and physical treatments like chemical peels and drainage.

If your acne needs physical treatment you will need to see a dermatologist to perform them. Technically popping pimples yourself is a form of physical treatment but it is not an advised method of treatment. This can lead to spreading the acne causing bacteria and scarring. Having physical treatments provided in a clinical environment such as a dermatologist's office will provide you with the best results.

Exfoliation
Exfoliation is the removal of the top layer of skin; this can be achieved either chemically or through abrasion. Chemical peels work by dissolving a microscopic layer of skin cells, which opens pores and removes the build up of dead skin cells. This is usually accomplished by using salicylic acid or glycolic acid. The same think can be accomplished through abrasion using an abrasive cloth or liquid scrubbing solution. Glycolic acid can be used every two to six weeks for about six months. Salicylic acid is a much milder form of acid and is included in many over the counter face cleansers; these can be safely used on a daily basis.

Comedo Extraction
Blackheads and whiteheads (comedones) can be removed with specialized instruments at your dermatologist's office. After the skin is numbed with an anesthetic cream the Dr. will use a pen like instrument to open the top of the comedones to remove the dead skin cells and sebum. It is typical to treat the area with an antibacterial agent after this treatment. Remember you should not try this at home because it can lead to infection and increased scarring.

Drainage
Sometimes in cases of sever acne cysts will form under the skin. Cysts can be very painful and cause severe scarring even permanent disfigurement. Some mild cysts can be treated with cortisone injections, which should clear up the cyst in a few days. More severe cysts will need to be drained and surgically removed. Draining the cyst will greatly reduce the pain and the chance of scarring. You should never try to drain a cyst at home, there is a very high risk of infection and scarring if not performed with the proper sterile instruments.

Light Therapy
This is used to combat the acne causing bacteria, it is especially useful in hard to reach places. However this may only provide shot term relief because it does nothing to combat the excessive sebum and build up of dead skin cells.

Laser treatment can often be beneficial in the treatment of acne scars. This is capable of helping with lighter surface scars as well as deeper tissue scars caused by severe cases of acne. Currently there is research being performed on using lasers to treat the actual acne as well. There are several different procedures being tested. Using the laser to burn away the follicle sac that produces the hair, burning away the gland that produces the sebum and causing the formation of oxygen with in the bacteria to kill them. These procedures are all still under testing and it is not known yet if the laser will cause any long-term damage to the skin.

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BOZEMAN, Mont. -- A course in Bozeman taught people how to make natural, herbal medicines you can find in your back yard, with plants such as dandelions. "We all discussed making medicines from herbs and plants of southwestern Montana," said Toyia Hatten, a certified clinical herbalist who taught the course.

Different herbs can be combined to make natural vinegars and teas. "I like to use herbs in as many aspects of my day to day life as possible. So i like to make herbal vinegars to include in my foods, I like to do infused honeys to use with foods and teas. I make a lot of teas from locally dried herbs. You can use a lot of plants in your bath time and your shower and your skin care as well," Hatten said.

Hatten said natural medicines can benefit your health and your bank account. "Getting out and actually getting the exercise and harvesting the herbs and then taking them home and making your own medicines ends up being a lot cheaper. Today we made a tincture from dried hops which were given to me. We made a tincture that cost us about three dollars to make today and if you went and bought it in a store you would be spending over a hundred dollars for the amount we made," she said.

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Acupuncture is a natural approach to the treatment of infertility. At the Lokahi Acupunctue clinic in San Jose, CA, treatment is targeted towards common causes of infertility stemming from the quality of eggs, sperm, endometrial lining and cervical fluid. Treatment is also focused on key aspects of fertility such as regular menstrual cycles, timely ovulation and balanced levels of reproductive hormones. For some couples these first steps are sufficient enough to lead to conception. In more difficult cases, acupuncture has been shown to enhance success rates and alleviate the harsh side effects associated with the more advanced and expensive infertility treatments such as IVF and artificial insemination.

Acupuncture treatment should be considered as a starting point for anyone who has been trying to conceive for more than 6 months, or have been on birth control for more than 5 years or, are over 35 years old. Patients with established diagnosis of poor sperm motility or disorders of the menstrual cycle such as irregularity, pain or clotting can also be treated with acupuncture. Patients who have already started treatment for infertility such as hormonal therapy or are embarking on more intense procedures such as IVF or artificial insemination should consider acupuncture for its support benefits.

The treatment session typically lasts 60 minutes and is offered in a safe, inviting and warm environment. Perusal of the patient's health history and, discussion of current medications helps the acupuncturist to arrive at a Traditional Chinese Medical diagnosis, upon which the treatment is be based. Following the treatment plan, 4-12 acupuncture points are selected, cleaned with alcohol before inserting very thin, sterile disposable needles. These needles are sharp and solid as opposed to the hollow hypodermic needles that are usually used in western medicine. Therefore, they are virtually painless and every effort is made to keep the patient warm and relaxed. Many patients find the experience very relaxing and may fall asleep. Once the session is over the acupuncturist provides an herbal prescription and follow up instructions. Dietary recommendations associated with the treatment plan are also explained. The treatment is covered by some medical insurance policies and the clinic also has pricing plans available.

Acupuncture can also be used as a completely natural treatment for infertility without any western medical interventions. The efficacy of acupuncture treatment for infertility is increasingly touted in various recent peer reviewed medical journals. Therefore, acupuncture not only provides a natural low-cost and non-invasive alternative treatment option but also serves as a support therapy for any couple trying to get pregnant.

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In this article I would like to talk about the sort of things that students might feel – or not feel – when receiving attunements or empowerments, when working with energy and when treating or being treated, and the significance of these sensations. The article is particular addressed to people who have just taken a First Degree course or who are only just starting on their journey with Reiki, though it should be of interest to people at all Reiki levels.

Attunements or empowerments
(Please note that, to avoid unnecessary repetition, I am going to use the word ‘empowerment' to refer both to Reiju empowerments and Western-style Reiki attunements.)

When we arrive on a Reiki First Degree course, we probably have very little idea of what we might experience when going through an empowerment. If you read books about Reiki, everyone seems to be going through an exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime experience, but for most people it really isn't like that.

There is no way of predicting what an individual will experience when receiving an empowerment, whether in person or at a distance. You may have an amazing experience, or you may feel very little or nothing. It is not uncommon for people to see some colours or feel some heat or tingling or pulsing or pressure in various areas of their bodies. For some people an empowerment is a unique experience, profound, emotional, an experience that is almost unbelievable. For others very little happens.

Sometimes you might find that there will be four people, say, on a course. Three people are talking about the surprising, or interesting, or special experiences that they just had, and one poor soul is sitting there thinking to themselves "I knew this wouldn't work for me… I know Reiki is supposed to work for everyone, but it hasn't worked for me". We assume that if we notice a lot happening then the empowerment has ‘taken', that it has worked really well, and we assume that if we felt very little – or if we felt nothing – then the connection ritual has not worked, that we haven't been attuned, or we haven't been attuned properly.

But what a student experiences when they receive an empowerment is no guide as to the effectiveness of that empowerment. In fact what a student experiences really is irrelevant, because empowerments always work. Of course it is nice and reassuring to have the "bells and whistles and fireworks" – it helps you to believe that something definite has happened - but someone who has noticed all these things has not been more effectively empowered when compared with a student who felt very little or nothing.

Experiences are interesting, but not important. They don't mean anything in terms of whether, or how well, an empowerment has worked, because empowerments always work, no matter what the student feels or doesn't feel.

Experiencing energy
People are all different, and people differ in terms of how sensitive they are to the flow of energy in the early stages of their work with Reiki. Sometimes people arrive on a Reiki course massively sensitive to the energy, and perhaps better able to sense subtle differences than is their teacher, and that's nice for them, while other people may notice something very subtle, or perhaps nothing at all. Most people will feel something.

So when playing with energy, most people will feel something in between their hands when they try to make an energy ball. Most people will feel something when they try to feel someone else's energy field, or if they practise ‘scanning' (assuming that there is something there to detect – there won't always be). But not everyone will feel these things to begin with, and the people who do not feel anything should not be disheartened: because sensitivity to such things can develop with practice and repetition. Most people will find that, no matter how sensitive they find themselves when they first learn Reiki, when they start to work with the energy regularly – for example by carrying out Hatsurei ho every day, and by self-treating – their sensitivity to the energy will increase. But this is a work-in-progress and we may need to be patient. And we may find that our sensitivity to the energy never reaches our goal, or is never as great as other Reiki people that we come across. Maybe we are setting an unreasonable target for ourselves.

And we should remember that sensitivity to the flow of energy is not the be-all and end-all of Reiki. We can work on ourselves and derive the many benefits that come through Reiki, no matter what we feel or don't feel when we carry out hatsurei ho or self-treat. We can treat other people effectively no matter what we might feel or not feel in our hands. I have come across several successful and effective Reiki Master / Teachers who do not feel anything going on in their hands, and never have done. The reason why they continued their Reiki training, rather than giving up in the face of no physical sensations to encourage them, was because they practised on lots of people and they could see, by the positive responses they received from the recipients, that something was definitely going on, that they were doing good things, that Reiki was certainly doing something for the people they treated even though they couldn't feel the energy.

You may ask how you can treat someone when you can't feel anything, or if you can't scan very well at the moment. Well, most people in the world of Reiki are taught a standard set of hand positions to use when they treat, and these standard positions can be followed, giving general coverage over the body; the energy is drawn to areas of need, so that works perfectly well. Not everyone scans. Not everyone is taught how to scan. It isn't a vital step in a treatment, but it can be a useful one to perform if you can do it.

But if you can work intuitively then of course you can place your hands in the right places for each person you work on, and stay in each position for the most appropriate amount of time, not based on the sensations you are feeling in your hands but based on your intuitive impressions. Everyone can work intuitively with some practice, and you may well be taught how to carry out "Reiji ho" (a Japanese method for opening to your intuition during a treatment) on a Second Degree course. So an intuitive approach to treatments actually eliminates any advantage in being able to sense strongly in your hands.

Sensations experienced by people you treat
Now, you will not be surprised to know that the experiences of people being treated also varies a great deal. For some people, on some occasions, treatments are very strong. They might feel intense heat from the practitioner's hands, see coloured lights, drift in and out of consciousness. And on other occasions that same person might feel the treatment to be mild and gentle. The energy is drawn by the recipient in amounts that are appropriate for them on that occasion, so the perceived ‘strength' of any treatment is determined by the recipient's need. The practitioner is just a necessary bystander in the treatment process.

While some people seem to quite often notice a lot happening when they are treated, there are also people who feel very little or nothing when they receive a Reiki treatment, no matter who they receive the treatment from. If you have just started out on your Reiki journey and you just happen to treat one of these people, or a few of these people, as your first ‘clients' then you may end up disheartened, thinking that their lack of a strong sensation means that you are ineffective as a practitioner. We want the recipient to feel a lot because that reassures us that we are doing things ‘correctly', that we are effective as a channel for the energy. But things aren't always so simple: while quite often there may be general correlation between what the practitioner feels and what the recipient feels (a very hot area for the practitioner is felt as a very tingly area, say, for the recipient) this correlation will not always be there and, sometimes, you might find a practitioner feeling a raging furnace in their hands, amazed at the strength of what is going on, while the recipient did not notice anything at all, and perhaps didn't notice anything at all during the entire treatment!

Summary
So really this whole article boils down to one simple phrase: "just for today, do not worry". While it is perfectly natural to want to have some physical sensations to help us believe that we are really doing something when we use Reiki on ourselves and on other people, and while most people who learn Reiki will receive sufficient feedback to reassure them, this will not always happen. With practice and experience we start to let go of the need to be reassured by what we and others feel, and we come to realise that no matter what we feel or don't feel, Reiki is working for us. But it can be difficult to accept this in the early stages, particularly if we are a little sceptical.

If you aren't feeling too much at the moment my advice to you is to follow the instructions you were given: carry out your Hatsurei ho every day, self-treat regularly, and get your hands on as many people as you can. Do short blasts on someone's knee or shoulder, treat people in a straight-backed chair for 20-30 minutes, do full treatments; go with the time you have you have available. The important thing is to get the hands-on practice and you will find, if you treat a good cross-section of people, that you will receive from them the positive feedback that you need, and with sufficient practice you may find that you start to notice more with time.

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Herbal and natural medicine has gained so much more interest than it ever had previously seven to ten years. So, why is the fact that? There ought to be something to it apart from a consumer trend or perhaps a fleeting fad. And there is certainly – a whole lot more. Consumers are discovering that herbal medicines are helping them in a lot of of the identical approaches as standard drugs prescribed by physicians – without the substantial expense, at times adverse unwanted effects, and over-prescribing and combining of too many meds at as soon as.

Herbal medicine is among the oldest forms of healing and aiding the human physique and thoughts and eliminating or alleviating human suffering. Hippocrates, probably the most renowned philosophers and earliest proponents of all-natural medicine and herbal healing, believed that humans were meant to live in harmony with nature, and that nature itself prescribed cures and antidotes for human ailments – we just had to discover by means of trial and error which of nature’s plants were the best choices to heal several human illnesses of the mind and body.

Hippocrates notoriously believed that we ought to “let food be our medicine and medicine be our food”, which means we only had to look as far as our atmosphere and natural surroundings for cures and treatments to heal and mend ourselves, too as to keep our bodies in optimal situation for so long as feasible in order that a productive and meaningful life might be lead.

Herbs, organic compounds and botanicals had been discovered to have dramatic healing capabilities too as therapeutic properties for health maintenance and prevention centuries ago, just before modern day medicine evolved into what it truly is these days. The most fascinating part with the historical past of herbal medicine is that herbalism simultaneously occurred in vastly various places in the globe.

What we know today as Indian herbal medicine, or Ayurvedic, Chinese herbal medicine and western herbal medicine, all have deep roots of ancestry going back as far as 202 BC. The reality that so a lot of cultures came up with their very own version of normal medicine is fairly staggering. What’s much more fascinating is the culmination of all of those cultural medicines paved the way for modern day, man-made medicines that we all know right now.

What are one of the most Well-known and Powerful Alternative Remedies Right now?

Treatments for lack of rest, anxiety relief and relaxation, depression, anxiousness, discomfort, weight reduction, hair loss, skin issues and a lot more are some of the most well-liked and in-demand herbal goods at present out there right now. Together with these, there are much more obscure remedies for illnesses and physical conditions, including hemorrhoids, smoking cessation aids for withdrawal signs and symptoms, cold treatments, and even herbal medicines purported to assist folks with cancer as well as to assist stop cancer cells from forming.

Even though herbal medicine might be regarded by some with skepticism, particularly these in the medical and pharmaceutical profession (go figure), its long standing usage and historical past of effectiveness is nothing to become scoffed at by any stretch of the imagination.

Should you really examine what herbal medicines are and how they’re found, is it actually all that different from modern day medicine? Not only that, but most modern day medications have been derived from nature, albeit they are in an altered and corrupted form within the last stages of manufacture. Still, they have largely begun in a naturally biochemical state.

Herbal medicines have come a lengthy way given that their ancient origins, and are making new strides every day, just like modern day medicine. Not simply that, pharmaceutical engineering and medicine have really helped to create much more effective and powerful herbal treatments. Inside a way, the genuine journey for herbal medicines and option strategies of healing has just begun!

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A director of traditional medicines in the Health and Welfare ministry, Onias Ndoro, said the lobby group idea came after realising that Africa was failing to tap fully its huge herbal medicine market in the continent, which the West was effectively exploiting.

“African governments are not investing in traditional medicines. The countries lack the capacity to develop herbs into drugs,” said Ndoro. Yet according to the World Health Organisation, 80% of the African and Asian population depend on traditional medicines for primary health care.

“Currently, 50% of pharmaceutical drugs are from plants but it is baffling to realise that herbs in their raw form are considered ineffective and evil,” said Ndoro. “The presentation and packaging for traditional medicines in Zimbabwe and Africa is very poor, with a few exceptions from countries such as South Africa. This makes us susceptible to counterfeits,” said Ndoro.

“Herbal medicines generate a lot of income in Asia and Europe,” he said, adding that research had shown that a new anti-malaria drug, developed from a plant in China, had the potential to be 10 times more potent if grown on African soil.

West stealing ideas

Elizabeth Mandy Mazicho, a registered herbalist, accused western countries of stealing ideas and exploiting the African herb medicine opportunity that exists on the continent. She cited male circumcision as an African concept that was now being promoted as a western idea of reducing HIV incidences.

Help Age Zimbabwe Director, Priscilar Gavi, said there was need to deal with negative perceptions of African medicine which was often associated with witchcraft. He said there was need to promote traditional healthy life styles, which existed in the past.

A HelpAge International research in Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe showed that there was lack of collaboration among traditional health practitioners due to lack of mutual trust and lack of inadequate knowledge.

The research, however, showed there was potential for close collaboration in improving access for health services at community levels because traditional healers were viewed influential.

Shuvai Mtore (60) in Mudzi said her clients preferred visiting her at night because of stigmatisation and pointed out that more people were turning to traditional healers because it was cheaper.

Mtore, whose healing powers were identified when she was 12, said she received clients from as far as Botswana, Mozambique and Harare who consulted her on infertility, cancer and sexually transmitted diseases among others.

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IRISH PATIENTS have been warned about the potential dangers of some Chinese and herbal medicines that may contain prescription medicine agents not included on the product ingredients list. Research presented at the Hospital Pharmacists Association of Ireland (HPAI) annual conference called for the inclusion of herbal medicines in patients’ medication reviews.

The study was carried out in the Mater hospital following the case of a patient who was reviewed for type 2 diabetes. Under questioning the patient admitted to taking a “vitamin-type” tablet that turned out to be a Chinese herbal medicine called Cow’s Head Brand, Tung Shueh Pills.

Following analysis by the Irish Medicines Board, the pills were found to contain a corticosteroid despite it not being listed in the ingredients. Regular unintended administration of a corticosteroid can result in adrenal fatigue, and cause exhaustion, vomiting, dizziness and more severe symptoms if continued. Cow’s Head Brand, Tung Shueh Pills are banned in the US.

Speaking to The Irish Times, one of the study authors, Mater hospital medicines information services manager Mariosa Kieran, said patients should consult their doctor when considering taking Chinese or herbal medicines, and only buy herbal supplements from recognised manufacturers and suppliers.

The study was one of 98 submitted for appraisal to the HPAI conference. Common themes included improving medication safety measures and highlighting the role of the hospital pharmacist in reducing medication errors.

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