Many people suffering from mental illnesses are prescribed psychotropic medications to manage or alleviate their symptoms. However, certain medications can sometimes cause undesirable side effects. Some turn to holistic treatments such as...
Anxiety is a mental health condition that can interfere with work, school or sleep. Common symptoms include feelings of powerlessness, increased heart rate, sweating and fatigue. Standard treatments include prescription antidepressants, as well as...
Junk food is the common name for fast food, which is a dietary product that has high amount of calories, low nutritional value and lacks essential nutrients. Junk food is highly processed and contains a number of additives, such as synthetic...
The holistic approach to treating anxiety and depression recognizes that mental health is influenced by diet, exercise, spirituality and lifestyle. Allopathic approaches to mental health focus on treating symptoms, whereas holistic approaches...
Bipolar disorder affects over 5 million people in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health. Formerly known as manic-depressive disorder, this condition strikes adults as well as children and is characterized by sudden and intense...
In Western cultures, the idea that thoughts can influence the body or that healing can come from thinking happy thoughts was considered ridiculous until a few decades ago. Recently, however, the idea of a mind-body connection has been gaining...
Proponents of Ayurveda claim it is the oldest healing system. Its existence has been documented for 5,000 years, and its origins go back farther. Ayurveda is a holistic method of health that focuses on mental, physical and social aspects of your...
Holistic therapy is a general term that refers to a variety of therapies striving to treat patients as a whole on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. At times the term is used interchangeably with integrative medicine or complementary and...
Zen yoga was created by Aaron Hoopes and is a blending of tai chi, qigong, Shanti yoga and meditation performed to develop the physical and mental health of the body in a holistic system. Some of the goals of zen yoga include stress relief, weight...
Your eyes are complex sensory organs that require more than 25 percent of the oxygen and nutrients you take in to function normally. Without specific vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, your eyes are susceptible to infections,...
While stress affects everyone from time to time, some people experience inordinately high levels of stress on a daily basis. Persistently high levels of stress can deplete your body of important nutrients, making you more vulnerable to the...
Yoga is a form of exercise that links breathing with controlled movements. It is a popular way to relieve stress, increase focus and improve your mental health overall. There are many forms of yoga. The type you do will vary, according to your...
Yoga is an exercise that combines meditation, breathing and physical postures, all of which focus on the link between your mind and body. Practicing yoga not only can make you stronger and more flexible, but it also can help reduce your stress and...
Holistic medicine is a form of medical care that focuses more on natural treatments for illness and disease processes than merely drugs. Holistic medicine takes into consideration the whole body, mind, spirit and soul, while conventional medicine...
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, almost 15 million adults in the United States suffer from some form of depression, which is a mental disorder associated with imbalances in the chemical neurotransmitters in the brain. Medical...
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, homeopathy was developed in Germany and has been used in practice since the early 1800s in the United States. Homeopathic doctors...
Plant-based herbs that have medicinal and energy promoting properties have been recognized by indigenous peoples for countless generations. Ancient cultures from China, India and Africa used herbs as both food and medicine, often not...
Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental disorders to affect Americans, according to a 2008 study by Arieh Moussaieff and colleagues in "The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology." Since many medications used...
The most common forms of depressive disorders are major depressive disorder and dysthymia, notes the National Institute of Mental Health. Symptoms can include feeling hopeless, irritability and fatigue. For some, physical symptoms such as...
Herbal remedies that have been used by countless generations of people the world over to promote health and increase vitality. Today, many modern people are rediscovering the numerous benefits of herbs, in part due to their use in many energy...
Aromatherapy is a form of holistic medicine that utilizes essential oils and other plant oils to promote physical and mental health. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy defines aromatherapy as "the art and science of utilizing...
In yoga, an ancient form of holistic health, asanas, or poses are performed to improve physical and mental health. Inversions, or poses where your heart is positioned above your head, are regularly practiced. The benefits of inversions are seen by...
Occupational therapy helps people perform everyday functions so they can be involved in meaningful occupations. It is a system that heals on many levels and draws from backgrounds as diverse as psychology, anthropology and medicine. The ancient...
Systemic lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect numerous organs. Traditional medicine is necessary to control symptoms; however, the addition of holistic medicine can be beneficial. The American Holistic Medical Association states that a...
The current Macrobiotic diet plan is based in Japan and was formed by George Ohsawa. His vision was continued throughout the United States by his student, Michio Kushi, the current leading expert on the Macrobiotic diet. This method of eating is...
Migraines often come with throbbing pain on one side of your head that is strong enough to affect your daily living. You might be affected by light and sound and experience nausea and vomiting. If you want to try an alternative treatment,...
Raja yoga, or Yogoda, is the practice of specific yogic meditation intended to help promote self realization and enlightenment. Paramahansa Yogananda, the author of "Autobiography of a Yogi," founded it and claimed that Raja yoga would help bring...
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in four adults suffer from a mental illness each year. Additionally, 14.8 million American adults suffer from some form of depression. Chronic or severe depression is typically...
Holistic health is the alternative medicine concept of addressing the conditions of the entire person rather than focusing the treatment on the physical symptoms alone. Holistic practices examine the physical, mental and emotional factors...
