When it comes to female related problems there are a variety of holistic and alternative approaches that work very well. Homeopathy for example is a good therapy to try but be aware that for some problems constitutional treatment is recommended not just for the female but for her male partner as well. For women who have suffered miscarriages before the 12th week, Sabina 6c is an excellent therapy to undergo. For problems such as irregular periods, a lack of libido, or the desire to cry all of the time, Sepia 6C is recommended. Sepia 6c is also recommended for constant feelings of irritability and constant feelings of being cold.

Homeopathy is good for other problems as well. Silica for example is an excellent choice of a constitutional remedy while aurum works for individuals who are constantly exhausted and find themselves suffering from either depression, a lack of sexual desire or both. Females who experience tenderness in their breasts and who may or may not suffer from pockets where there is a great deal of swelling in the breasts should look to conium for help. Conium is also recommended for females who have little if any interest in sex. Females who suffer from vaginas that are dry or who experience tenderness in their abdominal areas over where their right ovary lies should look to lycopodium fro the relief they need to feel better again and to heal.

The surface of the skin has a great deal of nerve endings and these all receive stimuli from a variety of sources on a regular basis. There are more cold receptors on the skin than hot receptors. When water of one temperature touches the skin and the skin is of a different temperature then either heat will be absorbed from the reaction or else heat will be conducted to it.  The stimuli involved affect both the hormonal system as well as the sympathetic nervous system. Alternating back and forth between cold and hot sitz baths is extremely beneficial for the circulation of the pelvis. If the water applied to the body is the exact same temperature as the body is presently then this causes a relaxing and calming effect on the nervous system. This is referred to as a neutral bath and it is an excellent tool for both relaxation and stress management.

Hypnotherapy takes into account self-hypnosis, hypno-healing as well as cell command therapy and these are all ways methods that can decrease the amount of stress a person is suffering and also encourage the body and mind to be soothed, calmed and to relax. Hypnotherapy is a way to provide affirmations for health and well being that are very positive and they tend top be very energizing as well.

If a woman has fears about getting pregnant or delivering a baby a hypnotherapist can help her to deal with her fears, by way of regressing her back in time to uncover the root of her fears. Perhaps her mother had problems in delivering one of her children and these fears were translated to the baby.

Holistic living is about living in as healthy a manner as you are able to live. In its most basic way holistic living means staying as close to nature as you are able to such as by eating wholesome and organic foods, by residing in a clean and harmonious environment and surrounding yourself with good things such as love, peace, joy and positive thoughts and feelings. Holistic living means finding natural and alternative ways to cope with illnesses, traumas and diseases, both physical as well as emotional ones. Holistic living is also about being careful to avoid as many environmental toxins that are man made as you can and to always buy products that are natural, whether you are talking about food, clothing, bedding, towels, furniture, beauty products and the like.

Holistic living is beneficial for everyone as it improves one’s appearance as well as one’s mental and emotional functioning. Many people who choose to adopt the holistic and natural lifestyle find that their senses become better and brighter as in clearer vision, better hearing, a keener sense of smell, taste and even touch. With the absence of many toxins individuals find that their hair grows in smoother and shiner and their fingernails are smoother and gleam with good health. Some people report being able to see very small objects far away that they could never before and even being able to detect the most faint of sounds. Vitality and energy is increased ten fold when a person gets rid of the unnatural and starts living the holistic and organic way of life. This all adds up to better perceptions and a better overall experience of life. The expression, “Live life to the fullest” really becomes clear once a person takes up the holistic lifestyle.

Going as basic and back to nature as possible is good for the mind, body and spirit. The person who chooses this way of life will automatically feel better and so many positive channels will open up to the person. People who live holistically think clearer and they can work more productively as well as becoming more joyous, compassionate, supportive and understanding.

What are some things you can do to become active in the holistic lifestyle? There are many things you can do. Start slow with one or two facets of the holistic lifestyle and work up gradually to more. Do not allow yourself to feel pressured into jumping into a whole new way of living, i.e. the wholesome life,  but just take small steps at a time. Some examples include work in natural sunlight whenever possible or lese working under full spectrum light bulbs. Keep a few plants in whichever room you work in during the daytime, whether it be work or home and work with an open window that came bring fresh air into the room as much as possible. Where fresh air is not available make sure to use an air purifier.

Consume plenty of herb tea that is warm not hot and drink it frequently throughout the day as well as in the evening, Also drink a fair share of water between meals from glasses. The best type of water to consume is purified water that is served at room temperature. Squeezing your own juice, such as fresh squeezed orange juice is your best bet and then make sure to drink it immediately.

Menstrual pain including the cramps and other types of discomfort it brings along with it is no fun at all.  Also referred to as dysmenorrhea, cramps are often similar to a dull, throbbing pain that makes itself known in the lower part of the abdomen before and during the monthly menstrual periods. Some women experience pain at the lower part of the back or the thigh area.  Some women suffer more discomfort than do others.

Many women don’t know this but menstrual cramps are broken down into two different categories- there is primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea is the type that most women do not escape throughout their many years of periods. This type generally gets its start a few years after the menstrual cycle kicks into gear and is related to hormone-like substances that are known as prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are substances that are naturally produced by the body and they are believed to be to blame for the pain and inflammation and sometimes even fainting and nausea that accompany the monthly menstrual period.  Primary dysmenorrhea is in no way connected to any type of physical dysfunction in the body. Secondary dysmenorrhea on the other hand is the sign of a problem and should be checked out immediately. Secondary dysmenorrhea always has a physical cause underlying it. Some of the most common causes include uterine fibroids or uterine polyps, endometriosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

If you suffer from menstrual cramps, whether they be mild to moderate to severe then it is important to schedule an appointment with your doctor for a check up so that the source of the problem can be properly diagnosed. If you are diagnosed with regular menstrual cramps (or primary dysmenorrhea) then simply taking an ibuprofen and getting extra rest should help. Exercise is also recommended as a method of alleviating the pain associated with monthly menstruation. It is wise to cut back significantly on your intake of caffeine as you near “that time of the month.”

There are a variety of holistic and alternative methods that can help to relieve the pain and discomfort that is often par for the course when it comes to menstrual periods for women. A number of studies have shown a positive correlation between increasing one’s intake of omega-3 fatty acids in terms of fish oil and a reduction in menstrual cramps. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in plentiful supply in fish such as salmon, sardines, anchovies and mackerel. If you are not a fish lover then do not despair, you can still get your share of the healthy omega-3 fatty acids by way of fish oil capsules which can be purchased at most health food stores and grocery stores as well as drugstores in the alternative food section of the store. Be aware that fish do contain a certain amount of mercury and pollutants such as PCB’s so there are instances where it is possible to overdo a good thing. In this case capsules might be preferable as all of the impurities and pollutants are taken out of the product before it reaches the stores for consumers to purchase. Always look for the active ingredients EPA and DHA when it comes to fish oil capsules.

Do you know your holistic terms in relation to pain and healing? Are you aware of what therapies could help you? If you are not then you should read on for more information.

Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine believes in the principle that the human body holds within it the ability to heal itself. Practitioners of naturopathic medicine discuss the patient’s health problems with him or her at length and then suggest a variety of therapies that could bring about relief from pain and healing such as dietary supplements, exercise, nutrition, lifestyle counseling, homeopathy, plants with medicinal value as well as treatments that derive from TCM (or traditional Chinese medicine).

Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements are supplements that are taken orally so as to improve the diet of the individual when food is not enough. Dietary supplements include such things as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs and other types of botanicals, as well as enzymes and metabolites. Dietary supplements can be purchased as gel caps, capsules, powders and liquids.

Meditation
Meditation is a method of centering the mind and calming the senses in order to bring about relaxation in the body and calm, peace and serenity in the mind. Meditation is something a person can learn to do himself or herself and it is recommended that it be practiced once or twice a day on a daily basis for an average of 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Meditation has been shown to have positive results when it comes to relieving high levels of stress as well as modifying hormone levels and improving a person’s state of mind as well as their mood. Blood pressure levels can also be reduced when meditation is done and as well as the level of adrenaline, the heart rate and even the temperature of the skin.

Mind-Body Interventions
Mind-body interventions include a number of different holistic techniques that are geared towards encouraging the mind to work its strong healing powers in order to improve the function of the body as well as the symptoms of different infections and diseases. Some examples of these interventions include Alexander technique, aromatherapy, autosuggestion, Bach flower therapy, eutony, Feldenkrais method, hatha yoga, hypnotherapy, metamorphic technique, journaling, meditation, self-hypnosis, support groups, taijiquan, visualization and yoga.

Reiki, Energy Work and Therapeutic Touch
These are all types of energy therapies that look at energy in its variety of states in regards to motion and vibration. It is believed that the body is composed of a number of different energy fields that are interacting and vibrating all of the time and can play an integral role in healing as well as relaxing the mind and body and relieving stress that has built up in the body.

Yoga
Yoga is an East Indian therapy that has found its way into the Western world and is becoming more popular all of the time. There are many different styles as well as schools of yoga. The goal of yoga is to center the body and mind and to balance and calm the mind, body and spirit. Yoga takes into account a number of breathing exercises as well as physical postures and meditation and is effective at calming the central nervous system as well as relieving stress, lowering blood pressure, improving flexibility and concentration. Yoga has been effectively used to improve a person’s sleep as well as digestive processes. Yoga has been used effectively as a complementary form of medicine to improve a variety of health conditions including asthma, cancer, diabetes, and Aids.