by Joe Watkins Jr

Created on: May 17, 2009

Alternative medicine choices

Ohio (and many other states) and the insurance companies really should come to terms with alternative/natural medicine fields as healthcare costs have soared. More and more people and not just the elderly are turning to the shelves and the internet for more affordable ways to better health and to assist them with the problems associated with aging and genetics. Just as well is word of mouth from families to neighbors about what works and where to get it, or even how to grow it for cheaper, healthier alternatives.

Holistic health is another rapidly growing area of natural medicine, which also can be found under Complimentary Therapies and Integrated Health that some insurance companies recognize as it is "an array of healing and self-help practices, often used in conjunction with conventional medicine," as described by one of the many popular web sites on natural medicine. This natural medicine site has information that is not only current, but has a practioner database, links to connect with natural health and living community, finds green living services and products, and an educational database for natural health and living choices. These links and the topics section that range from acupuncture to yoga, make this one of the informational sites that should be reviewed weekly, and not just in time of need.

Herbal medicine, also known as Herbalism or Botanical Medicine is another arm of holistic and alternative medicine and has become even more popular as another cost effective source of maintaining ones health. Most popular uses of herbs for their medicinal value are green (tea) leaves. Known for its organic anti-oxidants and anti-aging properties, other studies have shown that drinking up to 10 cups a day of green tea or a green tea supplement can lower the risk of breast cancer in women. Other research also shows that green tea can enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy and protect against its side effects. Ginkgo Biloba, another organic herb, is advertised as being very good mental health and other types of brain health. Recently studies have shown that Ginkgo used in the treatment of Alzheimer's and dementia in the elderly, reducing deterioration of their cognitive function as it has beneficial effects on a persons moods enabling them to live a normal life. It has also shown that Ginkgo's properties focuses its effects on tissues in the brain that lack oxygen, therefore increasing blood flow that can affect levels of glucose and ATP in the cells to help maintain energy levels.

It seems that plants (as always) are supplying our needs, and hopefully in the very near future there will be consistent medicinal plant use in all medical fields.

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