Handbook of Alternative Therapies

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From the Back of the Book:

Since the dawn of civilization, people all over the world developed their native systems of medicines and therapies to overcome their health problems - which often varied from region to region depending upon the climatic and other conditions. In today's world, the allopathic system of medicine, which is treatment of disease by conventional usage of drugs having effects opposite to the system, is widely accepted across the globe. But, as many of us have realized over decades and centuries, allopathy alone cannot always solve our mental and physical problems. Hence the global demand for alternate sources of medicine. Today the best-run hospitals almost everywhere in the world have separate for alternate treatment of maladies.

The present work is designed to scientifically introduce the subject of alternate remedies to the general reader. It clarifies the various terms, classifications, safety measures and effectiveness of the therapies, their cost and service delivery and needed the expertise of the practitioners in the field. The work delves into the various forms of alternative therapies, their uses, procedures of treatment, benefits and side-effects. The book also provides a comprehensive glossary that will be of immense benefit to the readers in comprehending the technical terms used in the text.

About the Author:

Dr. Raj Kumar, A PhD from Kurukshetra University, acquired his Law degree from Delhi University. Later he did certificate courses from Jawaharlal Nehru University on International Politics and from Swami Vivekanand Yoga Research Centre, Banglore, on yoga research methods. A seasoned teacher and researcher, he served in the Harayana Education Service from 1970 to 1973, and was Deputy Director (Research) in the Indian Council of Historical Research from 1973 to 1999. at present, he is the member of the Supreme Court Bar Association.

He is a well-read and widely traveled scholar who has presented papers in national and international seminars and conferences. Dr. Kumar delivered that 1993 Annual Lecture at Banaras Hindu University and Sir William Mayer's Lecture at Madras University in 1994. A celebrated author and member of national and international academic organizations, he has many outstanding books to his credit.

Alternative therapy has become a global craze. In this book we have made an attempt to collect some authentic, highly informative and educative aspects of the alternative therapies. Each therapy has been scientifically explained along with its application and uses.

The aim is to make available to our readers a ready- to-use handbook for any ailment which they, their friends or family members may at any stage of their life, like to refer to or use for a happy, healthy and hassle- free living.

I take this opportunity to gratefully thank the authorities on the subject.

I am thankful to Vivek Ahuja and his staff who have helped in various ways. My wife Sudershan, daughter Romila and son Rakesh have been a great support. I cannot adequately thank them.

Introduction

The alternative therapies have became popular globally. There are more than 100 systems of-alternative therapies. This system considers the human body as the sum total of its physical, mental, social and spiritual dimensions. In it preventive and promotive aspects of health are accorded equal emphasis.

Ever if you do not know what alternative therapies are you would have used them in one or other way in your own life. If you have ever had tea with Tulsi leaves and a bit of ginger in it, or if you have decided to fast a day you have already used alternative therapy techniques. If you ever massaged your temples to ease a headache, applied an ice pack to a sprained ankle or listened to your car radio to de-stress during a traffic jam you have already practised nature's healing technique.

In fact the World Health Organization estimates that between 65 and 80 per cent of the World's population, about 3 billion people, rely on traditional medicine as their primary form of health care.

There is a growing acceptance that health is more than just the absence of disease and involves more than just the physical body. Moreover alternative therapy treats you as a person who is a part of nature rather than just a case of a particular disease, and has brought, more and more people into its folds. It has been established that many alternative medical treatments are more effective, less expensive, less and less invasive harmful than conventional medical treatments.

According to ABC News, February 8, 2002, Americans are spending more than $30 billion a year on alternative medical treatment. In wealthy countries growing numbers of patients rely on alternative medicine for preventive or palliative care. In France, 75 per cent of the population has used complementary medicine a least once; in Germany, 77 per cent of pain clinics provide acupuncture, and in the United Kingdom, expenditure on complementary or alternative medicine stands at US $2300 million per year.

Traditional medicine is becoming more popular in the north and 80 per cent of the people in the south use it as part of primary health care. The situation has given rise to concerns among health practioners and consumers on the issue of safety above all, but also on questions of policy, regulation, evidence biodiversity and preservation and protection of traditional knowledge. Now a word about the principles of Therapeutics. The physician must take into consideration that drugs differ with respect to land, season, source, flavour, taste, potency, post-digestive effects, specification, and also that men differ with respect to their body, constitution, age, vitality, gastric fire, morbid tendency and state of disease. So after carefully considering the severity of the disease and the strength of the medication, the physician should administer it neither in too large a dose nor in too small a dose.

Let us conclude the introduction about cautious thereapy. It is better to take a potion of a mild medication repeatidly, as it is attended with only slight discomfort and no risk, than to take a very strong medication which is attended with immediate danger to life. Always remember that all thereaputic measures designed to alleviate disease, however wholesome and however skillfully given, fail to bring about the alleviation of disease if they are used either in insufficient or excessive measures or at the wrong time or in the wrong manner.

The alternative therapies have became popular globally. There are more than 100 systems of-alternative therapies. This system considers the human body as the sum total of its physical, mental, social and spiritual dimensions. In it preventive and promotive aspects of health are accorded equal emphasis.

Ever if you do not know what alternative therapies are you would have used them in one or other way in your own life. If you have ever had tea with Tulsi leaves and a bit of ginger in it, or if you have decided to fast a day you have already used alternative therapy techniques. If you ever massaged your temples to ease a headache, applied an ice pack to a sprained ankle or listened to your car radio to de-stress during a traffic jam you have already practised nature's healing technique.

In fact the World Health Organization estimates that between 65 and 80 per cent of the World's population, about 3 billion people, rely on traditional medicine as their primary form of health care.

There is a growing acceptance that health is more than just the absence of disease and involves more than just the physical body. Moreover alternative therapy treats you as a person who is a part of nature rather than just a case of a particular disease, and has brought, more and more people into its folds. It has been established that many alternative medical treatments are more effective, less expensive, less and less invasive harmful than conventional medical treatments.

According to ABC News, February 8, 2002, Americans are spending more than $30 billion a year on alternative medical treatment. In wealthy countries growing numbers of patients rely on alternative medicine for preventive or palliative care. In France, 75 per cent of the population has used complementary medicine a least once; in Germany, 77 per cent of pain clinics provide acupuncture, and in the United Kingdom, expenditure on complementary or alternative medicine stands at US $2300 million per year.

Traditional medicine is becoming more popular in the north and 80 per cent of the people in the south use it as part of primary health care. The situation has given rise to concerns among health practioners and consumers on the issue of safety above all, but also on questions of policy, regulation, evidence biodiversity and preservation and protection of traditional knowledge.

Now a word about the principles of Therapeutics. The physician must take into consideration that drugs differ with respect to land, season, source, flavour, taste, potency, post-digestive effects, specification, and also that men differ with respect to their body, constitution, age, vitality, gastric fire, morbid tendency and state of disease. So after carefully considering the severity of the disease and the strength of the medication, the physician should administer it neither in too large a dose nor in too small a dose.

Let us conclude the introduction about cautious thereapy. It is better to take a potion of a mild medication repeatidly, as it is attended with only slight discomfort and no risk, than to take a very strong medication which is attended with immediate danger to life. Always remember that all thereaputic measures designed to alleviate disease, however wholesome and however skillfully given, fail to bring about the alleviation of disease if they are used either in insufficient or excessive measures or at the wrong time or in the wrong manner.