New Developments in Holistic Therapy
One of the things any health professional is expected to do is keep up with new developments, information, research, and products in their chosen field of practice – often known as Continuing Professional Development or CPD.
Sometimes, even developments from some years ago are good to be reminded of. In an effort to reduce the pile of magazines awaiting my attention, I’ve spent some time this summer reading (and in some cases re-reading) a few therapist-centred issues. Here are some of the fascinating (and hopefully helpful) tips and snippets I came across. These are all from a back issue of CAM Magazine from 2008!
- Garlic (allicin) supplements have been found to cure MRSA in the majority of cases. Garlic (along with its extract, allicin) has long been known as a superb anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal supplement, so it’s no great surprise to learn that it can be effective against MRSA, but it’s good to know there’s research to prove it.
- Red Yeast Rice supplement can help to control cholesterol levels, and also provides significant benefits to people who have suffered heart attacks. It also doesn’t have much in the way of unpleasant side effects, as statins do, so may be a viable alternative to anyone who’s been recommended to take statins but can’t or doesn’t want to.
- The supplement pycnogenol has been found to reduce symptoms of painful periods, allowing sufferers more relief from pain with less conventional pain relief being taken. The number of painful days also decreased by the third to fourth cycle from starting to take this supplement. Pycnogenol is a natural plant supplement extracted from a maritime pine tree species.
- For all those who have ever found that cutting down on food intake, or taking supplements to suppress the appetite, doesn’t create an equal or even noticeable weight loss – research can now tell you why. While the hormone serotonin is responsible for both appetite and metabolism/weight control, it does these two things via two completely separate mechanisms, meaning that controlling hunger and calorie intake doesn’t necessarily cause the metabolism to change or fat cells to be mobilised and excreted. Unfortunately, the article doesn’t go on to tell you how to mobilise the metabolism of fat. More news on this when I have it!
- Ginkgo biloba extract has been found to help with a number of symptoms of dementia and Alzheimers’, including loss of cognition, peripheral vascular disease, tinnitus and blood flow issues. It’s been taken in some countries for centuries as a general anti-ageing supplement. Yet again, science has now caught up with what folk medicine has known for generations.
I hope that some or all of the above is of use or interest. Feel free to pass on any useful information to friends, family and loved ones. There will be more to come from other magazines in future posts, and I’m also excited to be visiting the CAMExpo event again late this month, from which I’m sure I will bring back some more interesting and useful hints and tips.
Do let me know if you’ve found any of my posts useful – I’d love to hear from you. And watch this space for more of the same.
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