Alternate Therapies

Update 15th November -

Introduction to Pranayama and Yogic Breathing
Breathing is so simple and so obvious we often take it for granted, ignoring the power it has to affect body, mind and spirit. With each inhale we bring oxygen into the body and spark the transformation of nutrients into fuel. Each exhale purges the body of carbon dioxide, a toxic waste. Breathing also affects our state of mind. It can make us excited or calm, tense or relaxed.      Read in detail

How Furry Toys, Animals, and Dolls Help People With Dementia
The hottest tool for people with Alzheimer's and dementia is a baby harp seal. A robot baby harp seal, that is. "Paro" is soft and cute as a stuffed animal, but it also coos when its fur is stroked, wiggles on the lap, bats its eyelashes, and makes little noises. Paro reacts to warmth and sound, and remembers previous interactions.Read more

Music Could Help Dementia Sufferers
Music could succeed in unlocking memories for dementia sufferers where conversation has failed, Australian researchers say.Know more

 

Update 1st June -

The Healing Power of Pets
For elderly pet owners, who often live alone or in group facilities, pets can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, increase social interaction and physical activity and help them learn. Read More

Older Adults Use Alternative Medicine and Its Types
This study found that 71 percent of older adults used some form of alternative medicine in 2000. A study done in 2002, found a lower rate -- about 62 percent – among all adults. “The percentage of older adults who used alternative medicine was higher than I expected,” Hong said. “Many types of alternative medicine have not been tested for safety and effectiveness, and yet a large majority of older adults are using them. This tells us there is a serious need for more consumer education.” Read more

Complementary and alternative medicine and dementia
Public interest in complementary therapies is growing at a significant rate, easily outpacing the research conducted into their safety and effectiveness. People are often attracted to the 'natural' and safe image of these therapies, particularly in treating chronic medical conditions, for which conventional treatments are often less than completely effective. This sheet addresses some of the issues surrounding the use of complementary and alternative treatments and outlines the current evidence for their effectiveness. Read More

Ayurveda
Ayurveda is a science of life so to know more about it, we must know what is life? Life according to Ayurveda is a Combination of senses, mind, body and soul. So it is clear from this definition of life that Ayurveda is not only limited to body or physical symptoms but also gives a comprehensive knowledge about spiritual, mental and social health. Read More

AYURVEDA AND GERIATRIC CARE
The biggest challenge with geriatric problem is that in most of the cases the condition cannot be attributed to a single cause or in certain conditions of neuro-psychiatric disorders like, Senile dementia, Alzheimer’s depression, the structural cause is unknown. In such cases the conventional medical therapy fails to come out with effective management plan and hence is severely compromised. Another challenge with conventional medical therapy is that it does not have health-promoting agents. Ayurveda on the other hand has interventions like chayavanaprasha, triphala that enhance physiological processes that influence metabolic and immunological status. Such interventions are significant in the context of geriatric care. Read More

How can Aromatherapy Help People with Dementia?
Imagine waking up and not knowing where you are; then strangers come and take you into another room where they take your clothes off, put you into a small confined space on freezing cold tiles and turn on a tap that squirts warm water all over you. No wonder you might resist and want to prevent these strangers from touching you, let alone rubbing you with soap or a cloth. Not surprisingly, you might yell out and use swear words that normally you'd never use. Read in Detail

Pranic Healing
Prana is a Sanskrit word literally meaning "life-force" - the invisible bio-energy or vital energy that keeps the body alive and maintains a state of good health. The Japanese call this subtle energy Ki, the Chinese Chi, while the Greeks refer to it as Pneuma. In Polynesian it is known as Mana, and in Hebrew, Ruah - meaning "Breath of Life."
Pranic Healing is a form of energy healing which makes use of Prana, or vital energy, in the treatment of a wide variety of ailments. As an art and science, Pranic Healing was widely practiced in ancient civilizations in China, Egypt and India. In Pranic Healing, cure is effected by simply removing diseased energies from the patient's invisible energy body and by transferring fresh vital energy (Prana) to the affected areas with the use of the hands. Read More

Reiki
Reiki is the technique of tapping into ones "life force energy" to bring about a harmonious balance between the body and mind. An amazingly simple technique, the ability to use Reiki is not taught, but is transferred to the student by the Reiki Master. Its use is not dependent on one's intellectual capacity or spiritual development and, therefore, is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds. Read more

Tai Chi
Tai chi, pronounced "tie chee," is a gentle exercise program that is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Derived from the martial arts, tai chi is composed of slow, deliberate movements, meditation, and deep breathing, which enhance physical health and emotional well-being. Read More

The Stress Management and Health Benefits of Laughter
Research has shown health benefits of laughter ranging from strengthening the immune system to reducing food cravings to increasing one's threshold for pain. There's even an emerging therapeutic field known as humor therapy to help people heal more quickly, among other things. Humor also has several important stress relieving benefits. Read in detail

Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete medical system that has been used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses for more than 2,000 years. TCM is based on a belief in yin and yang—defined as opposing energies, such as earth and heaven, winter and summer, and happiness and sadness. When yin and yang are in balance, you feel relaxed and energized. Out of balance, however, yinandyang negatively affect your health.
Practitioners also believe that there is a life force or energy in every body, known as qi (pronounced "chee"). In order for yin and yang to be balanced and for the body to be healthy, qi must be balanced and flowing freely. When there's too little or too much qi in one of the body's energy pathways (called meridians), or when the flow of qi is blocked, illness results.
The ultimate goal of TCM treatment is to balance the yinand yangin our lives by promoting the natural flow of qi. In an interesting analogy, often used to explain its nature, qi is described as the wind in a sail; we do not see the wind directly, but we are aware of its presence as it fills the sail. Read more

What is Aromatherapy
well being and in restoring balance to the body. Essential oils are aromatic essences extracted from plants, flowers, trees, fruit, bark, grasses and seeds. There are more than 150 types of oils that can be extracted. These oils have distinctive therapeutic, psychological and physiological properties that improve health and prevent illness. All essential oils have unique healing and valuable antiseptic properties. Some oils are anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, anti-depressant, stimulating, relaxing, expectorating, support digestion and have diuretic properties too. Read More

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