As more seniors are becoming frustrated with traditional health care for one reason or another, many are turning their efforts towards nature’s remedies. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) shows that more people are using alternative therapies to treat pain. As a matter of fact, 38% of American adults are using some form of holistic medicine, vitamin supplementor alternative therapy and collectively spending $34 billion on it each year. â€I think people in general are more aware of the possible side effects of prescription medication and I find that people are looking to feel good as they age and do not want to be on a long list of medications,†says Naturopathic Physician Dr. Laura Futterman. â€They want a better quality of life.†To understand the holistic health options available and recommended for seniors, we first must understand exactly what â€holistic†means. According to The American Holistic Health Association (AHHA), holistic medicine is the art and science of healing that addresses the whole person - body, mind, and spirit. The organization explains that the practice of holistic medicine integrates conventional and alternative therapies to prevent and treat disease, and most importantly, to promote optimal health. Holistic medicine encompasses all safe and appropriate modalities of diagnosis and treatment. It includes analysis of physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, spiritual and lifestyle elements. â€Holistic medicine includes a number of factors, such as dealing with the root cause of an illness, increasing patient involvement, and considering both conventional and complementary, or alternative, therapies,†says Suzan Walter, President of the American Holistic Health Association. â€Seniors should consider whether or not they want to be off medications and free from the harmful side effects they cause,†says Dr. Scott Brunengraber. â€Many seniors truly believe their lives depend on the myriad drugs being pushed on them. Some may need them; some are ready for a change.†For those ready for change, let’s take a closer look at some of the therapies and medicines involved with holistic health. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine practice in which small needles are set in designated places on the body without giving a patient even the slightest discomfort. It is used in western medicine as an addition to traditional therapies. Generally it is safe for seniors but it is recommended that seniors be sure to mention current medications and other health concerns upon consultation so that their acupuncturist will be able to ensure maximum safety for each patient. Basically, this method targets acupuncture points within the body. In doing so, it stimulates the blood circulation and flow of natural healing energy each body possess, thus naturally healing the body. But does acupuncture work just as well on seniors as it does on younger folks? â€It can, but there is a possibility of the treatments being too stimulating, depending on the individual, including their current health status, age, bone health, and medical conditions,†says Dr. Futterman. â€It is important to seek a qualified practitioner who is familiar with working with seniors and who would be willing to discuss treatment plans with their physician.†Naturopathy, also known as naturopathic medicine, is a fast growing alternative medical system that focuses on natural remedies and the body's vital ability to heal and maintain itself. Naturopathic philosophy favors a holistic approach and minimal use of surgery and drugs. Naturopathy comprises many different treatment modalities of varying degrees. Homeopathy is a modality of naturopathy. Mind-Body Medicine is another modality of holistic health. Guided imagery is one of the strongest modalities in Mind-Body Medicine and is gaining popularity, especially with seniors. â€Related to meditation, hypnosis and visualization, imagery allows patients to influence bodily functions normally regulated by the autonomic nervous system such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure,†says integrative psychotherapist Leslie Davenport. â€By developing imagery skills, patients can help optimize the body’s natural healing abilities.†Davenport explains that The Center for Disease Control estimates that 88% of people over age 65 have at least one chronic health condition. Because of the range of conditions that imagery can assist with, she says it is a valuable health enhancing modality that most seniors could derive direct benefit from. â€The connections between the mind and physical health have been extensively studied and well documented,†she says, â€Research supports the benefits of guided imagery in a number of applications, including relaxation, minimizing side effects of medications or medical procedures, preparing for and healing from surgery, and coping with chronic illness. Imagery is known to enhance sleep, boost the immune system, alleviate pain, control high blood pressure, lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and decrease pulmonary symptoms such as asthma, allergies, and emphysema.†Natural supplements are an important aspect to holistic health and have also been growing in popularity over recent years. Seniors are increasingly turning to supplements as a way to fight off diseases such as Arthritis, Alzheimer's, Diabetes and Prostate Cancer. Recently Oprah’s protg, Dr. Mehmet Oz, described his belief, on several national TV shows, that the substance Resveratrol could substantially slow aging. It’s found in the skins of grapes and in red wine. But to get enough Resveratrol from wine you'd have to drink 24 bottles of wine a day. Dr. Oz explained that natural supplements that are based on Resveratrol allow you to ingest only one pill a day for the same results. According to Forbes Magazine, Dr. Oz’s glowing endorsements of Resveratrol spawned an overnight industry of these supplements. Other supplements have made the headlines as well. Clinical studies have shown that St. John's Wort is helpful in treating cases of mild depression; Ginkgo appears to slow the progression of Alzheimer's in patients with the disease, and Flexcin with Cetyl myristoleate (CM8) can do wonders for arthritis and joints as it can reverse the damage caused by arthritis. Acting like a WD-40-like lubricant for joints, CM8 can promote optimal joint health by helping to stimulate the lubricating fluid in the joints, support stronger cartilage and increase total mobility. Vitamin supplements are becoming more popular as a replacement to prescription pain medications because they’re less expensive, there’s no need to maneuver around confusing health insurance, and there’s no dangerous side effects since they’re manufactured with all-natural ingredients. But with all the choices of supplements on the market, how do you pick the right one? Do Your Research! Customer reviews give you important insight into the dependability of the supplements. Of course, not every supplement is going to work exactly the same on each patient, but if you come across pages of negative customer reviews, you may want to keep looking. On the other hand, if you see customers who are sharing their success stories online you can feel confident that you are onto something good. As with any kind of online purchase it's important to do research on the company and product to make sure it has plenty of credibility and reviews from others who've tried it with success. You wouldn't purchase a consumer electronics gadget online without reading what others has to say about it, nor should you with any kind of supplement. In addition to customer reviews and success stories, another sign that the supplement is made by a reputable company is media coverage that the product and/or company has received. This is not to be confused with advertisements that are paid for by a company. These are true news stories that journalists have published in magazines or newspapers or aired on TV news stations. Because journalism is unbiased, being featured in the news holds a great deal of credibility for the company and its product. Older Americans are finding great success with natural supplements, but doctors do ask that their patients consult them before trying anything new because they need to consider possible interactions with their current medication. If you are considering holistic health care options, discuss your options with a health-care provider, and ask their advice on using holistic therapies and dietary supplements to treat your condition once it’s diagnosed. The ultimate goal is for seniors to enjoy their â€Golden Yearsâ€, not simply â€deal†with the pain associated with aging. ### Editor’s Note: Tamer Elsafy is the CEO and founder of Flexcin, the only natural vitamin supplement with the cetyl myristoleate ingredient (CM8) clinically proven as an arthritis treatment to help repair joints from arthritis and other forms of joint pain. For more information on Flexcin with CM8 please visit http://flexcin.com. Article Sources: The American Holistic Health Association is a free, impartial clearing house for self-help wellness resources. You are encouraged to explore their website at www.ahha.org Dr. Laura Futterman is a Naturopathic Physician at the Stamford Center for Natural Health. Leslie Davenport is an integrative psychotherapist and author of Healing and Transformation through Self Guided Imagery. Dr. Scott Brunengraber is a Chiropractor at Smithtown Wellness and has more than 10 years of Chiropractic experience.
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