Alternative Healing
Welcome to my website.
My name is Erika M Szabo, I am an Alternative Medicine Practitioner. My main goal is disease prevention and healing by using nature's pharmacy. Alternative Healing is looking at health and disease a little differently, and trying to find natural methods to incorporate into the healing paradigm. If you're interested in Alternative healing methods, you're not alone. Today more than ever, millions are seeking out alternative opinions on how disease can be both prevented and healed. There is tons of information out there regarding natural healing. More and more people taking vitamins, using herbs, Homeopathic medicine and aromatherapy, or other methods which are effective and followed by fewer side effects, but...there is always a but...
Using alternative medicine can be just as dangerous as using any medication without careful consideration. Herbs have side effects just like medications, and they can interact with other herbs or with your medications. Not knowing what and how much to use can put you in grave danger. I've been working in the medical field for 30 years; I am familiar with modern medicine as well as alternative medicine. I am aware of the effects, side effects, advantages and disadvantages of both modern and alternative healing methods. Taking herbs for different conditions became very popular lately. However, herbs can be dangerous when they're not used properly. They have side effects-although fewer that prescription medications-but they still do. The interaction with prescription or OTC medications can be even fatal sometimes.
Visit my other pages, you will find many useful information
Ilona the Hun novels, you can read chapter one
Webstore, you can buy my ebooks in PDF form
You found my website maybe because…
You're interested in Alternative Healing. You're not alone, thousands are looking for treatments for their illness or condition, wich offer fewer side effects and is effective.
You might be thinking about using herbs for your cold symptoms, asthma, IBS, anxiety or other ailments, but you're taking medications, and you're not sure of their interactions. I have some books for you on the subject; you can order them in ebook or paperback at AMAZON.COM, AMAZON.UK and BARNES&NOBLE websites.
You might want to find out what are the best diet, lifestyle and nutrition for your type. You can have your own “user guide or owner's manual” for your own body.
Read more on the Keep your body healthy page.
You might want to detoxify your body the natural way, you don't want to use harsh and torturous methods. Okay, I have the answer for you.
Read more at Detoxify your body, and you can watch the video here.
You might be experiencing bizarre, unusual symptoms such as discovered ridges on your nails, you found a wrinkle on your earlobe, you developed dark upper eyelids, or you have skinny lower legs, and you don’t know what kind of illness or condition is causing them.
You can find out easily from the book, Bizarre symptoms.
In my "free" time, I write fantasy novels.
Read more at Ilona the Hun novels page and you can watch the video here,
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and I published the "baby book" of our orphaned foxes growing up in our backyard.
The magnificent seven baby foxes pages and you can watch the video here.
Thank you for your attention; hope you will enjoy your visit.
On this page, let's talk about Alternative Medicine?
Alternative medicine is a group of healing methods which formed through centuries by the experiments of our ancestors. Their insights into the successful use of indigenous foods and plants as medicines have survived through generations, to give us a rich, global heritage. Herbs were used in India five thousand years ago, oils in Egypt, and acupuncture in China.
The goal of Natural Healing is to reach a healthy state, and to form the ideal diet and lifestyle tailored to the individual. The goal is to provide the body with the right nutrition, vitamins and minerals, as well as to prevent toxic buildup in the body. When illness develops, it is the goal of natural healing to help the body heal to itself.
Alternative healing is a wide concept that includes a wide variety of healing methods. For example, osteopathy, naturopathy, and acupuncture require close to the same length of schooling as traditional medical doctors, but people often put them in the same hat with kinesiology, iris diagnostics or shamanism that anybody can learn in a couple weeks long course, never having medical schooling in anatomy, physiology or psychology.
Although from time to time the uses of extremist or “magical” treatments provide negative results, people view them as important. Usually healers, including the extremists pay more attention to the person; they listen, show empathy and look at the whole person. Physical touch is also important to people. The ancient method of healing by touch wins against the machines that stand between the modern doctor and patient. The “magical” healers with their chanting and unusual, rituals create a mystical atmosphere that can be powerful along with their placebo effect, if the person believes in them.
Alternative medicine treats the whole person; including body and mind, taking into account the person’s symptoms, lifestyle, diet, feelings and beliefs. Most well informed people seek out an Alternative Practitioner who has medical knowledge and background in combination with alternative methods. They use the discoveries of modern medicine along with herbal, vitamin or other natural treatments. They pay attention to the person’s physical and emotional state, as well as family, relationships, job environment, stress level, which is all playing a major role in developing a healthy diet and lifestyle, thus preventing and treating illness.
The blooming age of synthetic medication overuse, extreme use of pesticides, loaded with preservatives TV dinners, greasy fast food, full of Trans fat snacks and chips, and chemically treated, genetically altered food is slowly over. We’re coming to our senses that organic food is better for us; and we’re developing quicker and healthier cooking methods that fit our faster lifestyle. We don’t take antibiotics to treat the viral flu, and we try using herbs, massage or acupuncture to treat aches and pains instead of taking pain killers by the handful. We again are learning to use common sense. We’re relearning what our grandparents learned from their parents and so on for generation to generation. We’re relearning the forgotten knowledge, such as scrubbing fungus spots off the bathroom wall with thyme tea instead of using harsh chemicals, or deodorizing the kitchen by boiling water with lemon peel, instead of using sprays. Drinking peppermint and chamomile tea for heartburn and avoiding the foods which cause too much acid instead of eating antacids like candy.
We’re learning, but some people today are taking the concept of natural to the extreme. Many are turning their backs completely on modern medicine, and they’re refusing immunizations, surgery or lifesaving medications according to the false notion of getting back to nature. They use herbs without careful consideration, they use utmost amount of vitamins and quickly changing extreme diets. They get their information from popular books and websites that promise close to magical, cure everything in no time remedies. Sometimes I browse websites and I’m honestly amazed. Does anybody read these? Is there anyone foolish enough to follow these advices? I ask myself, and then I see that their visitor counter shows 2-300 visitors a day. Yes, some people are gullible enough to believe that they need the 300 times more vitamin, otherwise they will die, or an exotic herb from the jungle will save them from cancer, cure their diabetes, obesity and all their diseases.
We're not going to the drug store to buy up all the medications that are in style because our neighbor recommends it, or we read about it in a magazine or website. We trust the doctor to prescribe the right medication for us.
Many people follow the advice of magazines or the nature store cashier's sales pitch on which herb, vitamin or homeopathic medication to take. They’re just flowers and leaves or roots, they’re natural, and therefore they can’t harm us - they think, but they don’t realize that herbs could be very dangerous if they’re not used properly. Herbs have side effects, and they can interact with medications, and herbs could be contraindicated in certain medical conditions. For example Alfalfa is a great herb to reduce bad cholesterol and blood sugar levels, but it can dangerously flare up Lupus, and it can alter the effect of blood thinning medications because of its high vitamin K content.
The vitamin mania is another example. The more the better! They can't harm us, they're just vitamins and vitamins are good for you. This way of thinking is just as dangerous. We need vitamins and minerals, no question about that. However, the big question is what kind and how much. The body can store overdosed fat-soluble vitamins for a while, but when all storage spaces are exhausted, the result can be serious organ damage. For example, vitamin A overdose can cause acute reactions such as severe headache, vomiting, fatigue, loss of hair and peeling of the skin. When these symptoms occur, changes in the liver, spleen and bones already occurred.
Using alternative healing methods is not without dangers. We can either do a very thorough research, or ask advice from a qualified person who is well informed about the effects, side effects and interactions of the herbs. Sensible people realize that herbs can be as powerful as medications; we shouldn’t use them without careful consideration.
The flare up of natural healing mania is kind of understandable. In the past decade or so, there has been a rapid incline in the number of people who seek alternative methods. People’s trust is declining in the medical field and its doctors lately. It seems that overbooked and overworked doctors are not giving enough information, they are in a hurry, and they don’t listen to or adequately explain the patient’s illness and treatment. The visit is short, mechanical, and it concentrates mostly on the symptom and most of the time ends with one or more prescription or a referral to a specialist. The patient then takes the medication, develops side effects or new symptoms, returns to the office where new tests, change of medication or a prescription for a new medication follows. Meanwhile, the patient’s diet, lifestyle, feelings, work and family circumstances get little or no attention at all. Modern medicine with its businesslike set up ignores the whole person, pays attention mostly to physical symptoms. A person is reduced to a name and number that doesn’t mean much in a busy, overbooked office. The time of family doctors who visited their patients in a horse buggy and knew the family, their medical history, personality, social status from birth to sometimes death, has long gone. Today in our fast paced lifestyle, the quick and hurried visit leaves the patient anonymous. This feeling of I’m important, not only my back pain or diarrhea forces the patient to turn to alternative medicine where they receive attention as well as plenty of time and empathy, which are a very important part of healing.
My opinion is that the future looks bright for integrated medicine, combining the ancient gathered knowledge with modern discoveries, using the best of both.
The discoveries in modern medicine offer quick diagnosis, lifesaving treatments and surgeries, but are not really equipped for the prevention or the treatment of chronic conditions. Modern medicine offers mostly one size fits all medication, diet and exercise.
Alternative medicine is more personalized. It takes into account the patient's physical and mental state as well as preferences. With good nutrition, healthy lifestyle and exercise, many conditions, organ damage or the development of chronic diseases can be prevented by giving the body what it needs to build and heal itself. By integrating modern and old medicine, we could develop the best treatments tailored to the patient’s needs.
For example: in heart failure, the person needs diuretics to get rid of the extra fluid that accumulates in the extremities or in more serious cases, the whole body. The diuretics deplete potassium, which can cause dangerous arrhythmia, unless the potassium is replaced. The integrative healer might use dandelion, - and herb which is rich in potassium and also a powerful diuretic – to get rid of the extra fluid and replacing potassium in one step.
Most medications used to treat asthma and cough contain ephedrine which raises blood pressure and speeds up the heart. The herb ephedra sinica also contains ephedrine as the main ingredient as well as six other alkaloids that reduce this side effect. Pill–bearing spurge relaxes the spasm of the bronchioles, eases the breathing in asthma, but doesn’t have the side effects of steroids. In the majority of the cases, the use of herbs makes more sense because of their fewer side effects.
In asthma attacks, the inhaled or injected medicine is a lifesaver; however, herbal teas, diet change or acupuncture can reduce the frequency and strength of the attacks.
The integrative healer admits the lifesaving benefits of chemotherapy and radiation in cancer treatment, but in addition, helps the body heal with appropriate natural methods to cope with the drastic effects of the treatment. Throat cancer usually treated with radiation, but it burns very painful blisters in the mouth and throat. By rinsing the mouth with sesame oil before treatment could prevent the mucus membranes from burning, but it will not interfere with the treatment.
Chronic rheumatoid pain is debilitating, the side effects of the pain medications are even worse. Using therapeutic massage, acupuncture and anti-inflammatory herbs can make the pain tolerable without the unwanted side effects.
In gout, medication and a well-planned diet to reduce uric acid buildup -which is the cause of the condition- and using herbs that reduce the uric acid, can aid the treatment.
In Insulin dependent diabetes, medical treatment is essential, however, developing a diet and exercise plan as well as herbal therapy can greatly reduce the chance for accompanying conditions such as peripheral neuropathy and circulatory problems.
We can treat high blood pressure with medications, but, we might get much better result by combining medications with stress reduction, increased nutrition, exercise, herbs that improve circulation and healthy lifestyle to improve the overall condition and balance of the body.
We can treat allergies with antihistamines, but we may get better results by eliminating the trigger factors and calm the jumpy immune system with the aid of herbs.
Overall, integrated medicine uses both the natural and modern medicine to treat the person according to the situation and the person’s needs. Just twenty years ago my doctor laughed at me when I told him that I use Arnica ointment to reduce swelling and bruising on my foot, or Lavender oil to treat my burn. Instead of taking the prescription antacid, I used herbs and diet change to treat my frequent heartburns. Instead of prescription Imigran, I used feverfew for migraines before I eliminated all my trigger foods from my diet.
Today more and more doctors recognize the usefulness and benefit of herbs and other natural healing methods. More doctors turn towards integrated medicine to better help their patients. Today many doctors recommend Omega 3 oils and niacin as well as dietary changes and exercise as additional treatment for slightly high cholesterol level, but they prescribe medications when the level is high. They recommend elderberry to treat viral cold and flu. This herb thought to block the replication of viruses by altering their DNA. Studies showed great promises in treating herpes and Epstein-Barr viruses with elderberry. They realize that gingko might be effective in treating dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) and poor circulation in the legs. It also shows promise for enhancing memory in older adults. Laboratory studies have shown that ginkgo improves blood circulation by dilating blood vessels and reducing the stickiness of blood platelets. We’re slowly getting there.
