The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body - Heal Your Body Naturally and Maintain Optimal Health Using Alternative Medicine, Herbals, Vitamins, Fruits and Vegetables (5 page)

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How to start doing yoga

Bowen Therapy

Bowen therapy is a type of gentle bodywork that was developed in Australia by osteopath Tom Bowen (1916-1982). Bowen therapy is more widely used in Australia and Europe, but it has been growing in popularity in North America.

Bowen therapists use a series of specialized "moves" using their fingers and thumbs. The moves typically involve the therapist pulling the skin slack away from the muscle, applying pressure, and then quickly releasing the tension.

These moves are performed on precise areas of muscles where special receptors are located. Nerve impulses are sent to the brain, resulting in muscle relaxation and reduction of pain.

The moves are not continuous - the therapist allows the client to rest for a few minutes between each move. A typical treatment is between 30 to 40 minutes.

Breathing Techniques

Breathing techniques that make use of the mind-body connection have been found to reduce pain. These techniques integrate body awareness, breathing, movement, and meditation. What is great about breathing techniques is that you can do them yourself at home at no cost.

Research:

One study compared 6-8 weeks (12 sessions) of breath therapy to physical therapy. Patients improved significantly with breath therapy. Changes in standard low back pain measures of pain and disability were comparable to those resulting from high quality, extended physical therapy. Breath therapy was found to be safe. Other benefits of breath therapy were improved coping skills and new insight into the effect of stress on the body.

Massage Therapy

When many people have backaches and pain, the first thing they think of is massage. Studies have found that massage may be effective for subacute and chronic pain. It has been found to reduce anxiety and depression associated with chronic pain. Massage therapy is the most popular therapy for low back pain during pregnancy.  

Chiropractic

Back pain is one of most common reasons people see a chiropractor. Doctors of chiropractic use chiropractic spinal manipulation to restore joint mobility. They manually apply a controlled force to joints that have become restricted by muscle injury, strain, inflammation, and pain. Manipulation is believed to relieve pain, muscle tightness, and encourage healing.

A study published in the
Spine Journal examined manipulations compared to simulated manipulations in 102 people with back pain and/or radiating pain. The researchers found that active manipulations were more effective at reducing acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion.

Alexander Technique

Alexander technique teaches people to improve their posture and eliminate bad habits such as slouching, which can lead to pain, muscle tension, and decreased mobility. This technique was created by Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955), an Australian actor who learned how to correct hoarseness in his voice by improving his posture.

You can learn Alexander technique in private sessions or group classes. A typical session lasts about 45 minutes. During that time, the instructor notes the way you carry yourself and coaches you with verbal instruction and gentle touch.

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy addresses damaged ligaments (bands of connective tissue that help keep bones attached to each other) to relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain.

 
How does it work?

Tendons and ligaments in the back often do not heal completely after injury. Bones of the spine become less stable, which can lead to chronic pain.

Prolotherapy involves the injection of a liquid solution into soft tissues such as ligaments and tendons. This triggers local inflammation and triggers the body's natural healing response, which repairs the weakened soft tissues and relieves pain. Unlike drugs, prolotherapy is thought to address the underlying problem.

After locating the areas that require treatment, the doctor inserts a thin needle with the solution into the area. There is often mild pain, but it can be reduced by using a local anaesthetic. A typical course of treatment is 10 to 25 sessions for back pain. Since it is believed to repair the joint, no other treatment is necessary.

Research:

Preliminary studies have found that back pain, which often involves ligament injury, responds particularly well to prolotherapy. It is the position of the American Association of Orthopedic Medicine that prolotherapy is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of selected cases of low back pain and other chronic myofascial pain syndromes. Prolotherapy injections must be administered by a medical doctor (M.D.), osteopath (D.O.) or by a state-licensed naturopathic doctor (N.D.) in certain states.

Balneotherapy

Balneotherapy is one of the oldest therapies for pain relief. The term "balneo" comes from the Latin word,
balneum, meaning bath. Balneotherapy is a form of hydrotherapy that involves bathing in mineral water or warm water.

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A study compared bathing in mineral water to plain tap water using 60 people with low back pain. They found that mineral water containing sulphur was superior in reducing pain and improving mobility compared with tap water.

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A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Rheumatology assessed spa therapy and balneotherapy for low back pain. The researchers found that the data suggest beneficial effects compared to control groups. They concluded that the results were encouraging and that large-scale trials were warranted.

 
Dead Sea salts and other sulphur-containing bath salts can be found in spas, health food stores, and online.

People with heart conditions should not use balneotherapy unless under the supervision of their primary care provider.

Other natural therapies for back pain are:

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White willow bark

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Exercise

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Pilate’s

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Feldenkrais Method

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Hellerwork

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Trager Approach

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Rolfing

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Aston-patterning

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Reflexology

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Proteolytic enzymes

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids

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Back Pain and Dehydration

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Anti-inflammatory Diet

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Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine is a relatively common condition that can be present for years before it is detected. That is because despite overuse of antibiotics, antacids, and other medications that wipe out friendly intestinal bacteria, many physicians do not test their patients for it.

Instead, people with chronic digestive problems such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, and/or constipation are often told they have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) when the underlying problem is actually small intestine bacterial overgrowth. Given that IBS is the number one gastrointestinal diagnosis, bacterial overgrowth could be significantly under diagnosed.

Research:
A study by researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in California examined 202 people who met the diagnostic criteria for irritable bowel syndrome and gave them a test for bacterial overgrowth called the lactulose hydrogen test.

Researchers found that 157 of the 202 people (78%) had bacterial overgrowth

When the unwanted intestinal bacteria were eradicated, symptoms of IBS improved in 48% of the subjects, particularly diarrhea and abdominal pain.

It is not just people who have similar symptoms to IBS that have bacterial overgrowth. Bacterial overgrowth can also present with non-digestive symptoms such as fatigue. It is believed to be involved in chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, allergies, arthritis, lupus, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and many other chronic conditions.

What is Bacterial Overgrowth?

It is not an overstatement to say that the small intestine is the most important segment of the entire digestive tract, which starts at the mouth and ends at the rectum. Nutrients we eat -- carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals -- are absorbed in the small intestine. If anything interferes with the absorption here, nutrient deficiencies can result.

The small intestine normally contains relatively small numbers of bacteria. However, certain factors can cause the growth of excess bacteria.

Through a process called bile acid deconjugation, the unwanted bacteria causes’ fat malabsorption. It also blocks carbohydrates from being absorbed. Instead, they are left to ferment in the intestines, resulting in gas, bloating, pain, mucus in stools, foul-smelling gas and stools, and diarrhea. Sweets and starchy foods cause the worst symptoms.

A toxic metabolic substance produced by the bacteria injures intestinal cells and impairs absorption, resulting in nutrient deficiencies, food allergies and intolerances, and poorly functioning digestive enzymes.

What Are The Causes of Bacterial Overgrowth?

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Decreased motility in the small intestine
– This is caused by excess dietary sugar, chronic stress, and conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, and scleroderma. In the United States, up to 40% of chronic diarrhea in people with diabetes is associated with bacterial overgrowth.

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Hypochlorhydria
- as people get older, the amount of stomach acid they secrete decline. Because stomach acid is acidic and helps to kill bacteria in the small intestine, if there is less stomach acid, bacteria are more likely to proliferate. Another very common cause of hypochlorhydria is due to excessive use of antacids.

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Structural abnormalities in the small intestine
- gastric bypass surgery, small intestinal diverticula, blind loop, intestinal obstruction, and Crohn's disease fistula are some of the structural causes of bacterial overgrowth.

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Other causes include immune deficiency, stress, and certain medications such as steroids, antibiotics, and birth control pills, inadequate dietary fiber, and pancreatic enzyme deficiency.

Symptoms

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Abdominal bloating and gas after meals

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Pain

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Constipation

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Chronic loose stools or diarrhea - studies have found 48% to 67% of people with chronic diarrhea had bacterial overgrowth.

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Soft, foul-smelling stools that stick to the bowl

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Fatigue - megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 malabsorption

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Depression

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Nutritional deficiency despite taking supplements

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Weight loss

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Abdominal pain

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Mucus in stools

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Bloating worse with carbs, fiber, and sugar

Herbal Remedies

It can be difficult to get proper testing and treatment for bacterial overgrowth, because some doctors do not understand this condition. The conventional treatment for bacterial overgrowth is antimicrobial drugs.

Herbs -
the most studied natural treatment for bacterial overgrowth is enteric-coated
peppermint oil
, which is peppermint oil that has an edible, hard shell around it so that the capsule does not open until it is in the small intestine. It kills bacteria in the small intestine.

Dosages:

The course of treatment is usually 1 to 6 months. A typical dose of enteric-coated peppermint oil is one to two capsules three times a day, taken in between meals with a glass of water. Side effects can include heartburn, rectal burning, and minty burping.

Other herbals used to treat bacterial overgrowth are:

• Grapefruit seed extract - for people who do not like taking capsules, grapefruit seed extract can be found in liquid form. Add a few drops to a glass of water and drink in between meals.
  
• Oregano oil capsules
  
• Garlic
  
• Berberine - goldenseal, Oregon grape
  
• Olive leaf extract
  
• Pau d'arco