Before the development of modern medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has already long existed, treating various conditions and diseases without the use of chemical-based approaches. Up until now, they still exist, giving alternative treatments to those who are not benefitting from western medicine.

What drew me personally to the Geelong Chinese Medicine Clinic was their philosophy of treating the body as a whole. In fact, they believe that it is an interactive system, where one’s health and well-being are very tightly connected not just to physical factors, but also to mental, emotional, environmental and even dietary ones. This means they view conditions not just as a problem of the body, but can be linked to other roots. 

They also strongly believe that the body can heal itself naturally, and their approach is to activate these natural processes. This idea appeals to me because I do not want to always be reliant on pills and chemicals to address every symptom, when in fact, the root cause can actually be stress or fatigue. Nowadays, with the fast pace of life and busy working schedules, many forget to keep the balance of mind and body and end up with conditions that are manifestations of this imbalance.

Your expert in Chinese Medicine still acknowledges, though, that a multi-disciplinary approach is required. Your Geelong clinic works, then, in close coordination with other health professionals, including your general doctor, physiotherapist, psychologist and others. By combining the strengths and unique contributions of each branch, a well-rounded approach can be created.

What can you expect when you go for a consultation?

Although there is a list of conditions that have been proven to be successfully treated by Chinese medicine, you may also go there even when you have some symptoms unconnected to a disease. For example, many come with chronic pain for some acupuncture treatment as part of pain management and moreover, treating the root cause. 

On your consultation visit, you can expect to go through an assessment of your lifestyle, exercise, and diet. You will be asked about all symptoms, whether related or not, that you are experiencing. 

Experts will also check on your tongue and pulse, which is quite unique to this approach.

Your Chinese medicine practitioner views each patient as an individual, approaching their cases separately. So he/she will look into your constitution and health history. This is how they develop a treatment plan specific only to you as a patient.

You may also come for a visit if your goal is to preserve your health. Chinese medicine believes in the idea of treating someone before they get sick. The assessment of your body and lifestyle can lead to you to develop better habits and stay in great health longer.

Which diseases can be treated by Chinese medicine?

Traditional and most popular treatments of Chinese medicine include acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, which are sub-divided into more specific procedures. The following conditions are have been proven by research to have been successfully treated by one or both of these procedures:

1. In children, eczema, cough, asthma, colic and digestive problems

2. Dermatological conditions like acne, psoriasis, dermatitis and herpes

3. Issues with the digestive system, including toothaches, indigestion, bloating, constipation, ulcer, diarrhea, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome and even poor appetite

4. Emotional conditions like stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia

5. General conditions, for example, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), obesity, travel sickness and support to quit smoking

6. Conditions specific to women like heavy menstrual bleeding and period pain, irregular cycles, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), symptoms of menopause, even fertility issues and pregnancy problems

7. Men’s health issues, including impotence, infertility, and prostate disorders

8. Musculoskeletal conditions, from various types of pain (back, neck, shoulder, foot, among others) to arthritis, tennis elbow and frozen shoulder

9. Neurological issues like headaches, migraines, dizziness, paralysis, carpal tunnel syndrome and tinnitus

10. Problems with the respiratory system, for example, rhinitis, hay fever, laryngitis, bronchitis and flu

11. Others like kidney disease and even high blood pressure.

In fact, there are more conditions and symptoms that can be addressed, especially if you go for a consultation and describe your issues. Moreover, quite a few patients turn to Chinese medicine after finding no solution through western medicine, and perhaps requiring a more holistic approach or in-depth assessment. 

At the same time, Chinese medicine can complement whatever therapy they are currently undergoing, to deal with symptoms like pain that can be more naturally addressed. They can also offer alternative approaches for those who look for other solutions.

In fact, those who have tried Chinese medicine treatments with success are more likely to come back, attracted by the natural approach it offers. Moreover, this holistic view of our health and wellbeing is a great way to always keep in touch with our lifestyle and remind us to always strive for balance. As I am personally of the same perspective, I find my trusted Geelong Chinese medicine clinic a good partner to staying in tiptop shape.

Although quite a few jobs carry a risk of health issues, no other job is harsher on the body than that of a long-haul truck driver. Having a friend who has been employed as one for the past 10 years I have seen first-hand how the work conditions really are: unnatural schedules, many hours sitting on the vehicle and lack of access to good nutrition other than fast-food stores or pit-stop cafes. In addition, their work system do not normally allow for a regular fitness regimen.

Truck driver health issue is something that should really be addressed. This huge industry brings goods across the country every day, supplying our supermarkets and moving around our mail. Our long-haul transport professionals have to survive tough conditions in order to keep us well stocked, and in turn, we should put value on their well-being.

Thankfully, employers are also taking steps to address this problem, implementing programs to keep track and help improve the fitness of their valuable staff. As for my friend, he is currently working at Effective Logistics. His company started to implement programs to support those who are at risk of obesity and other conditions common to those in this profession. Moreover, they offer support for those who already have developed ailments during their employment, as was the case of my friend. He developed diabetes as a result of the lack of regular exercise and was overweight. He was connected to specialists who put him on a strict diet and training regimen.

These initiatives are definitely necessary, as there is actually a long list of ailments that are common to those in the trucking industry:

Obesity 

When you are sitting in a cab the whole day, trying to make it to your destination in good time, you suffer from a lack of adequate movement. In fact, only your feet and your arms get a bit of exercise at this time. The punishing work hours do not make it easy to head out to a gym for some training as well. It is no wonder then that most drivers struggle with their weight. 

What more, in the wee hours of the night, when they take a break, the restaurants offering healthier options are probably closed. On isolated roads, there is simply a lack of choice. There is also no opportunity to prepare their own meals, so they just have to eat what is available. High-fat and high-sugar products common to fast-food places can really have an effect on your waistline.

Diabetes

In addition to the lack of exercise and better nutrition, most drivers have to resort to drinking sodas or coffee with sugar to keep them awake on their journey. Sugar gives a jolt of energy so it is certainly the most popular snack to have when you have to work very long hours. Unfortunately, it can eventually lead to Type-2 Diabetes, another ailment common to those in the industry. 

High blood pressure and Hypertension 

All those burgers and the high-sodium fast food are also very punishing on your cholesterol levels and can put you at risk for future heart attacks. When you are in the cab, having a stroke that can debilitate you poses a serious hazard for all vehicles on the road.

Of course, the depressing part of this is that once you develop these ailments, they tend to be lifelong. This means that though your diabetes or hypertension can be controlled using medication, they can never be “cured” or reversed. One simply has to maintain a better lifestyle and hope that this can prevent complications or further sickness.

Sleep Apnea

In this industry, you have to get comfortable sleeping in a truck, in an unnatural sleep schedule. You might develop problems like sleep apnea as well. This is a condition where someone stops breathing while they sleep, increasing the risk of daytime sleepiness. It can also lead to congestive heart failure, and when one is tired on the wheel, possibly lead to accidents.

In fact, though it is a well-paid job, the conditions put off most applicants. Employers struggle to hire workers, so providing them with better conditions and other programs to support their health and well-being is key. Not only can they attract new talent, but they can also improve the lives of all their current staff. 

A great first step is to provide them with access to specialists that create special diet and fitness plans tailored to their schedule and being on the road all the time. Frequent checks can catch risks earlier, and trigger the need to see a doctor. Other programs like support groups, options to bring, store or prepare their own food and even financial incentives to stay fit also help bring good results. 

In the end, drivers like my friend love their profession, and with support from their employers they can continue performing their jobs well and remain in good physical shape. After all, good health is what makes them more efficient and productive in their job.

I have a female friend, Elise, who has been married for about 5 years when I noticed they weren’t having any kids yet. I thought it was more of a conscious decision on their part to really forego with having children at the moment and concentrate first on their careers. But then, I also knew that they were already in their early 30’s and if my memory serves me right, getting pregnant after 35 is already considered very high risk because of the inherent changes in body physiology. I approached my friend one day and joked about whether they will still have children or what. I knew something was off. I have never seen Elise suddenly turned pale. The warm bright sparkle in her eyes simply vanished into thin air. I will never forget that day.

What’s wrong? I thought getting pregnant was easy? Elise told me they thought it was easy, too. They have both tried getting comprehensive reproductive examinations. Her husband had a complete sperm count. Elise had her ovaries and other reproductive organs examined. She told me her gynecologist recommended having in-vitro fertilization or IVF. My very first concern was that “Is IVF safe?” I knew some friends who had the procedure before and it did not end well for some. Aside from the very expensive cost of the procedure including its maintenance, there was no guaranteeing that Elise will be carrying the pregnancy to full term.

I guess Elise read my mind and she said that her gynecologist, surprisingly, recommended visiting the Freedom Chinese Medicine clinic in Ivanhoe, Victoria. I never knew that a western-taught medical doctor will believe, and will actually recommend to her patients, an oriental type of medical treatment. Perhaps she saw through Elise’s confusion the same way Elise saw through mine. Elise said that acupuncture is not necessarily a treatment per se for infertility. She said that she will still be receiving some medications as well as other therapies to make sure that the whole IVF procedure will be successful. The overall plan should take quite a long time. Well, as long as Elise and her husband are safe, I should be fine as well.  

The plan called for preparing Elise’s reproductive organs for in-vitro fertilization as well as that of her husband’s sperm cells. For about a year, they underwent several sessions of acupuncture to prepare their reproductive organs.

Acupuncture helps improve the flow oxygen and nutrients to the ovaries and uterus to make sure that egg cells will really be healthy. The uterus will also have to be ready to accommodate the fertilized ovum. It must be ready to supply the fertilized ovum with the correct amounts of nutrients and oxygen to support the life growing inside. Acupuncture also improves the way in which the brain communicated with the ovaries so that every month it releases a healthy mature egg cell. Acupuncture helps improve the regulatory control of the different hormones on the release of mature egg cell.

In addition to acupuncture Elise also needed to watch her stress levels and the food that she ate. Elise told me that acupuncture provided the relaxation that she needed. Acupuncture also prepared Elsie’s mind to be at ease, fully relaxed. Acupuncture eased tensed muscles making her feel more comfortable in her everyday routine. It has helped Elise manage her stress in ways that she never thought possible. She recalled her gynecologist telling Elise that stress can play a very crucial role in pregnancy success. And since acupuncture helps relieve the inflammation that comes right after stress, Elise felt more confident that she will get pregnant this time around.

Elise’s husband also sought acupuncture in order to improve the health of his sperm cells. Acupuncture stimulates the correct meridians of the body to help his testicles to synthesize healthier, more motile, and more sperm cells.

Acupuncture prepared Elise’s body to get pregnant. After a year of undergoing regular fertility acupuncture at Freedom Chinese Medicine, they decided to give it a try. They thought that if she won’t get pregnant the natural way then they will proceed with in vitro fertilization. Elise would tell me that they somehow knew that fertility acupuncture has made them healthier, more capable of bringing life into this world.

Elise is now 6 months pregnant. And, no, she did not have the in vitro fertilization procedure. It turned out that with the correct advice, proper diet, correct stress management techniques, and regular visits to both her gynecologist and acupuncturist is enough to bring the miracle of life. She still visits her acupuncturist simply because Elise knows that it can also help improve blood flow to the developing fetus inside her womb.

I am not a believer of fertility acupuncture. But with the experience of my friend, Elise, I can say that I now support it wholeheartedly. It is cheap and, best of all, comes with no side effects. If I were a woman wanting to get pregnant, I would ditch fertility drugs and seek acupuncture instead.

For a lot of people, living near the beach can be risky. There’s the danger brought about by storms, the potential of a flood, and even threat of being exposed to polluted water. However, it is an old belief that there are also health benefits living near ocean. 

Owning a house that is a short drive from the beach makes a person have a different perspective in life. He knows how to appreciate the simple life because feeling the fresh air and sun on your skin is enough to experience joy and contentment. But for a more convincing note, there are several benefits that one should consider when getting Chilli Realty’s new offer of living in an apartment near the beach. 

Access to a Therapeutic Pool

A beachfront property gives unlimited access to your very own therapeutic pool. Seawater is known to promote health as it contains minerals like magnesium and potassium. Magnesium calms the nerves that is why having a dip in sea water is very relaxing. The potassium content, on the other hand, promotes a good urinary flow. All the known elements inside the body can be found in saltwater and they help the lymph system in removing harmful toxins. Regular bathing in salt water can also increase skin elasticity and improve its overall appearance.

Promotes an Active Lifestyle

The beach is home to many fun activities. You can play games, run through the beach front, or simply take a swim regularly. Swimming remains to be one of the best forms of exercise and it will do you good to do it at least once or twice a week. When you are this close to an active environment, you become interested in maintaining an active lifestyle. This, in turn, will make your body lean and fit and will encourage you to keep that healthy body. Once you become accustomed to being active, you become passionate at promoting it to your family and friends and will find no trouble sticking to being healthy at all times.

Skin Aid

As the largest organ of the body, the skin is prone to many conditions because of ts exposure to the environment. Some skin conditions are treated with low- level UV rays. Living near the beach assures free treatment for psoriasis, dermatitis, and other skin disorders. However, much care should be taken as overexposure to the sun can also lead to other conditions or worsen the existing diseases.

Mood Enhancer

The sun has a direct effect on a person’s mood. The relaxed feeling is magnified because endorphin or the happy hormone, becomes free-flowing when you are exposed to sunlight. This chemical is a natural feel- good stimulant and is released in heaps when you are near the beach. This is why you instantly feel uplifted when you see the sun, sand, and sea.

Immuno Booster

Sunlight is also a great source of vitamin D. This vitamin is not only good for strengthening the bones but also with boosting the immune system. Autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s Disease are associated with vitamin D deficiency. Aside from keeping the immune system at its best, having enough vitamin D is also said to prevent various types of cancer especially skin cancer.

Respiratory Aid

Taking a deep breath of sea air is one of the best treatments for people who are suffering from respiratory illnesses. Those who have trouble breathing because of asthma, cough, sinusitis and bronchitis will find themselves getting better even with just a day at the beach. Imagine how much relief it would be when you are able to have an unlimited supply of sea air at home!

Promotes Restful Sleep

Sea air contains negatively charged ions that enhance oxygen absorption. These ions also balance serotonin levels that affect mood and stress. When you inhale sea air, you become alert, relaxed, and feel more energized thereby making it easier for the body to rest and sleep soundly.

The beach evokes a feeling of serenity. Aside from it being a marvelous beauty, the benefits that it gives the body is more than enough reason to try your best at snagging a beachfront property. Securing an apartment that is either in front of the sea or, at least, a few minutes away from it will give you the assurance that you will reap the benefits as soon as you live in it.

Living near the sea will always remind you to breathe in fresh air. It will be a simple way of rejuvenating yourself and lets you free from all kinds of stress. You get to enjoy the multiple health benefits without worrying about extra costs. But it is not only the body that needs healing. The soul needs to be refreshed too and the simplest way to do this is by spending a few calming minutes facing the sea. Truly, a beach life is a remedy of sorts.

If the brain is the central processing unit of the human body, consider the heart and its associated blood vessels as the motherboard that supplies the necessary nutrients and oxygen to the body. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the world’s top killers among adults, especially those in their middle ages and up. And while scientists and experts agree that the key to good heart health is in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the management of risk factors, many individuals have taken it upon themselves to establish and maintain cardiovascular health.

One of the fastest-growing markets today is in the nutraceutical and vitamin and mineral supplementation. While not everyone believes in the benefits of supplementation especially in heart health, many agree that these products offer certain advantages over ordinary food alone. This is due to the fact that not everyone can have a truly nutritious and well-balanced diet. Not everyone is as skilled and knowledgeable as licensed dieticians and nutritionists to account for every bit of calories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in their diet. As such, many consider nutrient supplementation as a very viable alternative to healthy feeding.

Essentialhealthfoods.com.au and other similar online health stores are expanding their inventory in order to meet the increasing demand for nutritional and dietary supplementation products.

Taking Supplements for Heart Health

It should be noted that there are no strict regulatory requirements imposed on dietary supplements. This is because they are viewed not as therapeutic agents but rather as ‘additives’ to healthy diet. As such, many in the medical community distrust the claims of dietary supplement manufacturers because their health claims may not really be proven by science. It is therefore imperative that, if you are going to purchase a dietary supplement, you need to conduct your own research first on the scientific underpinnings of these health claims.

Another issue that you have to understand is that dietary supplements are not treatments or cures to heart problems. As such, do not expect that you will be treated of your cardiovascular problem simply because you are taking dietary supplements. Sadly, it does not work that way. Heart health is best achieved by a good mix of regular exercise, healthy diet, and sensible lifestyle modification that aims to reduce the risks associated with heart conditions. Just look at dietary supplements as an additional protection in case one of the primary management methods fails.

Dietary supplements can interact with other substances like drugs, alcohol, and medications. It is thus imperative that before you take a dietary supplement, you need to check with your doctor if it is safe to do so.

You need to understand these things before you start flocking to your favourite health food shop.

Dietary Supplements Proven to Help in the Promotion of a Healthy Heart

Now, not all supplements are created equal. As was discussed earlier, manufacturers of dietary supplements are not required by law to undergo strict scientific testing of their products. As such, there are some that are dubious at best. The following, however, are known and have been proven in many scientific studies of their beneficial effects on the human heart.

• Vitamin B complex, especially Vitamins B6 and B12, have been shown to be particularly helpful in reducing the levels of homocysteine which has been implicated in the formation of blood clots. This can significantly affect coronary blood flow leading to angina and heart attack.

• Calcium is not only good for the bones but is also important for the health of the blood clotting system, the heart, and the nerves. It is shown to modestly lower blood pressure on people with hypertension but not among healthy individuals.

• Coenzyme Q-10 has been shown to reduce blood pressure in moderate amounts but large enough to lessen the dosage of anti-hypertensive drugs.

• Niacin has been shown to reduce triglycerides and help lower cholesterol levels to aid in the reduction of this heart health risk.

• Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have a significant effect in the reduction of triglycerides by as much as 50 percent as well as modest reductions in blood pressure.

There are other dietary supplements that are being marketed as good for heart health. However, because studies show mixed results, it is often advised to be particularly cautious. If you do not have a heart condition yet, consider the supplement as an additional protection. If you already have a heart ailment, check with your doctor first if dietary supplements will not interact with your heart medications.

Anything for good health is considered a quality investment. This is the key to buying dietary supplements for heart health.

If you find this article interesting and helpful, you might want to read more of this kind. Just click here and you will find a lot of useful and informational topics such as this.

 

Physiotherapy is a very important allied medical profession that provides a host of benefits for many individuals. While many often associate the work of physical therapists in the management of pain as well as mobility problems often found in athletes as well as highly active individuals, only a few can really appreciate their value when it comes to helping senior members of society.

The elderly population is at increased risk of developing a host of health problems that are often attributed to the effects of aging. More often than not, their sense of perception gets noticeably lower, their perceptual abilities are diminished, and their skeletal muscle movements are severely impaired. With these changes in the human body, they become more prone to injuries sustained from accidental falls. They may thus be subjected to fractures, sprains, dislocations, and other musculoskeletal problems more often than younger individuals do. It is in any of these cases where the professional expertise of a fully licensed physical therapist can be deemed invaluable.

Physical therapy clinics have sprouted all over the world providing a host of remedies for many problems associated with mobility. The physical therapists that work in the best physical therapy clinics all over the world, like the best physio clinic in Prahran area or anywhere in key cities all over Australia, are more than competent to handle the many problems of the elderly. How?

Optimize Reduced Muscle Strength

Physical therapists understand what is essentially going on inside the body of the elderly individual. They know that there is nothing that can really be done in order to bring back the tone of the muscles once you have already reached a certain age. However, this is not a cause of concern because physical therapists are equipped with the knowledge and the skills necessary to help senior citizens make full use of their remaining muscle strength. By carefully examining the current state of the elderly muscle, appropriate physical exercises can be adequately planned to help optimize what remains of the muscle strength.

In a stepwise manner, elderly people are taught on how to gradually take full control of their remaining muscles in order for them to function optimally – not necessarily like the way they used to when they were a lot younger – but just enough to allow them to perform their activities of daily living in a safe way.

Improve Overall Range of Motion

As people grow old, the different tissues in joints can undergo significant changes that make joint movements rather limited, if not difficult. When joints have a very limited range of motion, mobility is also hampered. This creates a variety of problems related to the performance of mundane tasks such as combing the hair, cleaning oneself, or even preparing and cooking food. Many of the elderly population simply cannot move their joints as efficiently as they once did.

Physical therapy professionals can design both passive and active range of motion exercises in order to bring back the full range of joint motion. In situations where the individual may be subjected to pain, this is first addressed in order to ensure adequate compliance to the exercise regimen. Once the pain has been managed, the elderly person is then assisted into performing the range of motion exercises until he can do them on his own.

Reduce Pain Sensations

Physical therapists have been largely known be especially helpful in the management of pain primarily originating from musculoskeletal problems as well as neuromuscular disorders. And since majority of the elderly population complain about pain in movement, physical therapists can utilize a variety of non-pharmacologic pain management techniques which can include, but not entirely limited to, massage, hot and cold compresses, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, spinal manipulation, and myofascial trigger point dry needling.

Physical therapists can also teach the elderly on how to perform these same techniques so that they will be more empowered to manage their different pain experiences.

Reduce the Risk of Falls

By teaching the elderly on how to make full use of their strength as well as how to maintain proper posture and mobility, physical therapists can guide the elderly into averting accidental falls. Utilization of whatever remains of their strength will require a very systematic approach to teaching the elderly on how best to navigate through the different parts of his home as well as his neighborhood.

Enhance Quality of Life

Overall, physical therapists help improve the quality of lives of the elderly people. By teaching them how to make full use of their remaining faculties, they may still be able to enjoy some of life’s greatest joys
with minimal pain and optimum movement. Quality of life is something that is often the recurring
theme of any efforts of improving the lives of the elderly. Helping them move at the optimum level will somehow lead to a more favorable quality of life.

Physical therapists are just one of the professionals who dedicate their lives to taking care of people. They are part of a multidisciplinary team whose sole objective is to care for others. As the elderly have done their part in society, it is thus the younger generations’ turn to take care of them.