If you are not sure if you know enough about holistic medicine for it to be of benefit to you when you are in need of pain relief then read on for some frequently asked questions (FAQs) and their accompanying answers.

What is the number one cause of health problems according to most healthcare providers?
The answer is stress. Stress can cause tension in the muscles, fatigue, anxiety attacks, insomnia, migraine headaches, high blood pressure, depression, heart problems and many other problems. Stress can lead to a great many illnesses.

What is yoga and what is it good for?
Yoga is a holistic therapy that attempts to redirect stress and negative energy and helps to diffuse it so it will not lead to a buildup of stress, which can then cause illness in the human body. Practicing yoga on a consistent basis helps to keep the body in its natural form of balance and it helps to keep an individual’s level of health at its best.

What is shiatsu used to treat?
Shiatsu has been used to treat a number of health problems including anxiety, back pain, headaches, Insomnia, constipation, skin problems and many others. The number one thing shiatsu is good for is decreasing and relieving stress levels as well as relaxing the work of the nervous system and encouraging the immune system and the circulatory systems to work to their absolute best. Any stress related disorder can be greatly helped by the practice of shiatsu. Shiatsu is also beneficial in stimulating the hormone system and also plays a role in stimulating the digestive system and the reproductive system. Shiatsu can help free a person from almost all of the symptoms that accompany many health problems and it is effective at correcting behavioral imbalances in the body as well as postural imbalances that have become chronic.

Is hydrotherapy useful in treating many disorders or not?
The answer is yes it is. Hydrotherapy is an excellent holistic option to ridding an individual of many stress related disorders such as extreme anxiety, tension, and anxiety attacks. Hydrotherapy is also beneficial for those with hyperthermia, pulmonary disease, swollen ankles and varicose veins.

Does chelation therapy work to get rid of pain?
Chelation therapy is believed to be beneficial to those who are suffering from atherosclerosis as well as any other type of chronic degenerative disease that is related to the heart and the overall circulatory system. Chelation therapy is believe to work well because it gets rid of metallic catalysts in the human body that are responsible for the development and growth of free radicals in the body.

How can fasting help my pain?
Fasting is often recommended as a way of cleaning out the body when an individual is suffering from a sickness or has recently recovered from one. Illnesses that are acute are more receptive to the benefits of fasting than are chronic degenerative diseases and these include health problems such as disorders of the colon, respiratory diseases and allergies. By allowing the body a break from digesting food, fasting helps to get rid of toxins as quickly and efficiently as possible, thereby encouraging healing to begin. Fasting is good for the body in general and not just when a person is sick or is going through a low cycle. Fasting on a regular basis provides a rest from work for all of the body’s organs.

Some studies point to the fact that a deficiency of vitamin B6 might be partially to blame for the development of carpal tunnel syndrome although this has not been proved beyond the shadow of a doubt. Studies have shown that individuals who boast higher levels of vitamin B6 in their systems tend to have fewer painful symptoms that are associated with carpal tunnel. Through research studies it has also been discovered that people who show greater levels of vitamin C and lower levels of vitamin B6 tend to have more painful as well as recurrent symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

There are certain foods that are particularly high in vitamin B6 and therefore are excellent foods for sufferers of carpal tunnel syndrome to consume on a regular basis. These include chicken, bananas, brown rice, chick peas, potatoes, turkey, salmon, pork, avocadoes, sweet potatoes, barley, bok choy, mangoes and sunflower seeds. Carpal tunnel sufferers should make sure to take 50 milligrams of vitamin B6 at least two to three times on a daily basis for optimum effects. Be aware that there is the risk of side effects if you decide to increase your consumption of vitamin B6. The number one potential sided effect is an increase of urination. However this should dissipate within a couple of days. It can take up to six weeks time to notice an improvement in symptoms when you increase the amount of vitamin B6 you take in. The maximum amount of vitamin B6 you should get from all sources whether they be food and/or supplements is less than 200 milligrams on a daily basis.

The vitamin B12 is also supposed to do some good for carpal tunnel sufferers although studies have only been done on those with severe and chronic carpal tunnel syndrome and not those who are only in the beginning stages of the syndrome. Vitamin B12 however has been should to be of help to those who suffer from severe carpal tunnel syndrome. Taking enzyme supplements such as bromelain for example or taking a combination of enzyme products such as Wobenzym can help to decrease the swelling of tissue but it can sometimes take many weeks for improvement to be noted. The number one source of bromelain is the pineapple. The homeopathic herbal medicine called arnica whether taken orally as a tablet or applied to the wrist and hand as an ointment has shown it is capable of bringing relief to carpal tunnel sufferers in a variety of research studies although it has not been shown to improve the incidence of swelling or to improve grip strength in patients.

Therapeutic touch makes use of the hands in a therapeutic manner to concentrate and then transfer what is referred to as “energy fields” from one individual to another in order to help bring relief to those who suffer pain in relation to their carpal tunnel symptoms. Unfortunately the reach of therapeutic touch can only go so far. The function of the median nerve does not improve in relation to this holistic therapy and some people question whether it really relieves pain to any large extent or not.

The holistic approach to pain relief does not break the body down into sections but instead looks at it as one whole integrated part. In a very basic sense, holistic is defined as, “Care for the whole person, mind, body and spirit.” When it comes to the mind, this means the brain, which is the logical, rational side of ourselves that processes thoughts. The body is what we see, it is our physical home or physical shell. The spirit defies a logical explanation. The spirit is not an easy entity to define or describe. The spirit is what gives our personality life as well as our morals, values and dreams. The spirit is who we really are and it is the most unique part of us. The spirit is believed to be where our conscience comes from as well as the root of all feelings.

The holistic approach to health and to pain relief is different from traditional Western medicine in that it takes into consideration an entire human being, looking at the mind, body and spirit as a unit and does not just look at individual symptoms in isolation.

Therapists who practice the holistic approach believe that the human body contains a very strong life force, life energy or vital force. It is believed that it is this vital force or energy that helps to guard the body against any number of ailments and diseases and helps to encourage healing when something in the body does break down. This is what we know to be called the body’s immune system and without it a person would be sick all the time, as he would succumb to every kind of virus or bacteria that crossed his path. It is believed by holistic therapists that when the immune system is out of synchronicity and the balance is upset that the symptoms of any number of diseases crop up. It is the goal of holistic medicine and holistic therapies to keep the balance of the body in check and to restore it to normal when it does go awry.

Holistic therapists believes that stress is one of the greatest causes of many health problems such as tension in the muscles, fatigue, anxiety attacks, insomnia, migraine headaches, high blood pressure, depression, heart problems and so on. The list of stress related disorders are long and exhaustive. Stress is defined as, “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other demands placed on them both at home and in the workplace.”

Stress can lead to illness and illnesses have symptoms. It is when symptoms crop up that most people go to see their doctor. Realize that you can nip many health problems in the bud simply by giving yourself the time to relax, unwind and recharge your batteries. The holistic approach is a great way to get at stress before it turns into an illness. Holistic practices take many forms so you can try one or try a variety and they are designed to work in unison with one another. For example massage and seeing a chiropractor are both good for the body but doing both is even more beneficial.

Varicose veins develop as a result of an increase in blood pressure that develops over time. This causes the veins to dilate. When the walls of the veins are then pushed as far apart as possible this means that the valves are no longer able to seal as they were meant to. This in turn makes it extremely difficult for the muscles to push the blood in the direction it is supposed to go, which is in an uphill direction. The blood is supposed to easily flow from one valve and onto the next valve but instead the blood begins to pool in a vein which then causes the pressure in the vein to increase which heightens the chance that congestion will take place in the vein and will change the way the vein works in that it will contort, twist and bulge in an unnatural fashion. Superficial veins are closer to the surface of the skin and they have much less support from muscles than do deep veins which means that the chance that they will become varicose is much greater.

Varicose veins can occur whenever there is a great deal of extra pressure placed on either the abdominal area or the legs. Varicose veins are also sometimes referred to as “varicosity.” It is common for hormonal fluctuations that take place during pregnancy or hormonal changes that occur as a result of menopause. This may explain why varicose veins occur more readily in women than they do in men. Deficiencies in the diet a person consumes on a regular basis as well as the loss of elasticity in the skin which are linked to aging are believed to also be contributing factors when it comes to the development of varicose veins.

There are factors that can greatly increase the chance that a person will develop varicose veins over time and these include constipation, clothing that is constrictive, prolonged sitting or standing, obesity, constant heavy lifting, and a lack of adequate physical activity. These factors can also worsen a pre-existing case of varicose veins. In the most chronic of cases, the veins that are distended can also have other symptoms accompanying them such as aching discomfort and/or itching. In some cases if the stretched skin ends up breaking down then open sores may develop.

A person should telephone their physician if their varicose veins suddenly become very sore, uncomfortable and painful. If the swelling in the legs becomes to the point where you are unable to walk or move about or if your skin where the varicose veins are located becomes ulcerous, discolored, flaky or starts to bleed then you will need to visit the doctor and might even have to consider having the veins removed from your leg(s). Removal of the veins can help to prevent further pain and discomfort and can help to prevent more serious problems related to the circulatory system. If your varicose veins turn a very red color then this could very likely be a sign of phlebitis, which is an extremely serious and can be severe circulatory problem.