holistic

December 9, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Mindful Meditation

Mindful Meditation for Brain Health

Introduction to Mindful Meditation

Meditation is a form of alternative medicine that has been associated with a number of benefits, specifically to the individual’s mental health, such as decreased stress levels and improved mood. Mindfulness, in particular, is a form of meditation that involves intense concentration and focus on the present.

Mindful meditation requires awareness of one’s thoughts and actions in the present, putting aside all thoughts of the past and the future.

Meditation in Holistic Care

No matter who you are or the stressors in your life, meditation is a sure fire way to improve wellbeing. Those who meditate will attest to its powers. Meditation masters can literally detach themselves from any type of chaos and outside noise by simply going into their minds and into a meditative state.

Enlightenment is often experienced by those who meditate. It brings them closer to their internal feelings, and who they are deep inside.

In holistic medicine, meditation is often used to treat those with anxiety, depression, and stress. It can help relax, calm, and provide a truly 100% natural and effective treatment method with numerous health benefits.

Here are Some Key Points to Remember When Performing Mindful Meditation:

Be aware of your own breathing – pay attention to the sensation of air entering your nostrils and leaving your mouth, and the rise and fall of your belly.
Let each thought come and go, without suppressing or ignoring each of them. Stay calm and focus on your breathing.
If you get distracted, simply follow your thoughts without being too hard on yourself.

Mindful Meditation Evidenced-Based Study

A recent study published in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” online journal suggested that a few hours of mindful meditation or integrative body-mind training can help improve mood, self-control, and response to stress.

The study, which was published on June 11, 2012, involved 68 undergraduates from the Dalian University of Technology in China. The students were divided into relaxation-training and meditation-training groups. Each of the group underwent either a 30-minute relaxation training or integrative body-mind training over a period of two weeks, totaling 5 hours of training for each group.

Researchers of this study found changes in the brain’s “white matter”- a part of the brain’s anterior cingulate cortex – after performing mindful meditation after just a short period. These changes weren’t observed in the brains of those who underwent relaxation training. None of the participants from both groups had any previous meditation training experience.

A non-invasive, MRI-based technology known as diffusion tensor imaging was used to observe the white matter in the brains of the students, together with other imaging technology that measures the white matter’s ability to adapt and change.

The researchers focused on certain areas of the brain that were most susceptible to these physical changes, and measured these areas before and after mindful meditation training.

The white matter is an area in the brain that affects how it learns, and coordinates and relays information among the various brain regions. According to the authors, understanding the white matter in relation to training, learning, and human development can potentially prevent various mental conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, depression, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and even addiction, disorders that all involve the anterior cingulate cortex of the brain.

The most common problem with meditation, just like with any other alternative form of medicine, is that scientific evidence is often lacking.

There is an argument that people who have practiced meditation may have been “conditioned” to feel positive about the therapy, and thus have responded favorably to the training.

This study, on the other hand, offers a quantifiable result that is based on scientific evidence. Because the actual structural changes that the brain went through were observed and measured, this breakthrough study opens up a number of new possibilities in the world of alternative medicine.

December 6, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Ayurveda

Ayurveda Uses and Health Benefits

Known as an ancient healing system originating in India, Ayurveda is a holistic medical system that focuses on a spiritual way of life. Highly individualized, the Ayurveda treatment can incorporate a wide variety of methods such as changes in diet, exercise, herbal therapy, massage, and meditation.

History

Written between the second and fourth centuries, the first recorded book of Ayurveda is believed to be based on an older oral tradition. Focusing most of its attention on digestion, the book discusses all the principles of Ayurveda. Ayurveda tradition influenced the development of traditional Chinese medicine, which served to further the development of Ayurveda.

The Principles

Ayurveda states that the body contains three forces known as the tri-dosha. The dosha are vata, pitta, and kapha and work in unison. It is said that each person is dominated by one of these dosha. Other aspects of the body that Ayurveda considers are 5 sub-dosha, 7 tissues, 4 states of agni, and 14 body systems.

The principle of Ayurveda is that all of these body systems must be working in balance in order for the body to be healthy. It is believed that disease occurs in the body when one or more of these systems is out of balance. For example, excessive kapha is said to cause people to suffer from obesity.

The Practice

Ayurveda does not only focus on the physical health of a person but also the emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness in order to obtain perfect health and to treat and prevent disease. The path to healing is specific to an individual, as each person’s body is unique and may respond in different ways.

Diet is one of the basic principles in Ayurveda, and is used as one of the primary methods of healing. It is believed that different foods strengthen or weaken different dosha; therefore, people are prescribed a specific diet according to their personal needs. This differs from our usual approach to food where we categorize foods as healthy or unhealthy. In Ayurveda, a specific food may be healthy for one person unhealthy for another.

Herbs are also used in Ayurveda in the same way. Herbs that balance one person’s body may create imbalance in someone else.

Scientific Evidence

We are all individuals. It makes sense that our medical treatments should be individualized, but modern medicine is grounded in protocols that treat people as a similar group rather than individual parts. Ayurveda treatment is grounded in the individual’s reality.

Since the treatments are so highly individualized it is challenging to find scientific measurements to provide proof for the theories of Ayurveda. Although Ayurveda as a whole is somewhat lacking in scientific proof, the herbal remedies have been studied in several trials and were shown to improve heath dramatically.

Uses and Benefits

Ayurveda focuses more on preventing diseases rather than curing them. Treatments are not given to the ailments, but to the body as a whole. Ayurveda is used to eliminate toxins from the body and create a natural balance to reach optimal health. Ayurveda is not a treatment for disease, but is a way of life thought to further the prevention of disease. Here are a few of the benefits of practicing Ayurveda:

Treat Respiratory problems – Studies have shown that using Ayurveda can help address respiratory issues that accompany colds and flus.
Improve circulation – Treatments such as the use of essential oils or massage help to relax your body and herbal treatments help improve blood flow as well as oxygen distribution throughout the entire body.
Skin issues – Bloodletting by use of leaches or needles has been shown to help with issues such as acne, eczema, and skin blemishes.
Relaxation benefits – Treatments such as medicated baths or massage help with the relaxation of the mind and body. Along with relieving stress, these treatments are said to help balance and heal one’s mental state.

Research is ongoing when it comes to the treatments used in Ayurveda. Even though a robust body of scientific proof is not available, those who have used the practice rely on their own experiences as the evidence of its validity.

For more information, see the resources available on the internet.

November 3, 2018 By BalanceYourPower

Anti-Aging

Holistic Approach to Anti-Aging

As people live longer, many of us search for a way to slow down the effects of aging. Many people use different creams and gels, or use plastic surgery to keep their youthful appearance. But there is a holistic approach that we can use to combat aging.

Holistic healing, unlike the topical creams and gels, treats the underlying cause for the problem and not just the symptoms of the problem. While we may never be able to stop the aging process, we can use holistic practices to slow down the aging effects.

Your Skin

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and is easily impacted by day to day factors. You cannot have good skin if you are not eating right, getting enough sleep, or if you live your life in a state of constant stress.

Inflammation and Free Radicals

Understanding that free radicals cause inflammation in the body is very important because, according to Dr. Michael Klentze, international medical director of the Vitalife Corporation at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok, inflammation is what causes us to age. Free radicals occur naturally and, if your body does not get enough antioxidants to fight them, they are free to go about the body and do their damage.

Damage caused by free radicals can be stopped by eating antioxidant-rich foods or taking supplements such as vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, zinc, and magnesium. Water is also an important factor in slowing the signs of aging. Your body is made mostly of water and if you allow it to dehydrate you will see more wrinkles. Ensuring that you get enough water will also allow your skin to retain its elasticity over time.

Proper Circulation

Using holistic healing to maintain proper circulation is important when it comes to slowing down the aging process. Your entire body relies on proper circulation, and without it you will quickly see your body start to age and “fall apart”.

How Holistic Healing Works

There are reasons one person ages faster than another, and it is those reasons that can be treated with holistic healing. You cannot separate the health of your skin, your mind, and your body. You must be treated as a whole person. The chances of you reducing the signs of aging by simply focusing on your skin are slim, but if you focus on your entire body ensuring that you are physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy you will see that you can significantly reduce the signs of aging.

Reversing the Signs of Aging

It is also possible to reverse the signs of aging with holistic healing. One way to do this is to ensure that your body is getting enough essential fatty acids. Each cell must have essential fatty acids in order to function properly, help to nourish the skin, and provide tone. You can find essential fatty acids in foods such as leafy greens, walnuts, fish oils, and flax seed oils.

Exercise

Physical activity is an important factor when it comes to reversing or slowing down the aging process. Our bodies are made to move, and physical exercise can help to raise your metabolism as well as reduce your weight. Ensuring that you are not over-stressing your body by causing it to carry around extra weight is an important part of slowing down the aging process.

Through adding exercise and supplements to your daily routine, ensuring you are getting enough water and sleep, and keeping stress levels at a minimum, you can help to reduce the signs of aging. The best way to slow down the signs of aging is to focus on your body as a whole ensuring that you are in the best health possible instead of focusing on your specific physical aging symptoms. This way you will be likely to keep your youthful appearance for years to come.

Balance

Keeping your body in its optimal state of balance will keep your stress levels low, your cells oxygen-rich, and your emotional and physical health at their peak. Knocking down the walls of resistance to exercise, healthy eating, and emotional stability are key to your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Schedule your next healing session now to explore your possibilities. You may even find your own personal Fountain of Youth!