Sunday, March 31, 2013

Why You Should Consider Using EFT to Overcome Depression

Depression is a disorder that affects approximately 9.5% of the American population, and its incidence is on the rise. In a fast paced world, where no one has time for their emotions, handling one’s feelings can be a little overwhelming, especially in cases where the situation has the capacity to make one feel sad, bereft and alone. Depression is often treated with antidepressants and psychotherapy, sometimes in conjunction with each other. EFT to overcome depression is gaining popularity due to its usefulness and its lasting impact.

Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT as it is popularly called, is a type of psychotherapy that is being used extensively for helping people with anxiety and depression. EFT is a form of therapy that focuses on desensitization and uses the tapping of acupuncture pressure points while the client is focusing on a certain emotional issue. EFT has been used for a wide range of emotional issues, and is especially beneficial in the treatment of depression and anxiety. It teaches the client to focus energy so as to release tension and deal with triggers of anxiety or depression.

EFT to Overcome Depression: How does it work?

Research has shown that the mind and body have electrical energy running through them. This energy runs through a set of what scientists call meridians. EFT works on the premise of tapping the energy running along these meridians and using it to bring about emotional calm. EFT is a technique that the therapist actually teaches the client, thereby cutting down the client’s dependency on the therapist. Traditional therapy sometimes results in the client becoming dependant on the therapist. Therefore, progress is not made in the state of mind.

EFT to overcome depression works to make the patient independent and able to deal with triggers of depression. Here is how EFT to overcome depression works:

  • Assessment of Pain: Pain is mostly perceived by a person. EFT to overcome depression starts with assessing the pain a client is undergoing. Pain does not necessarily have to be physical. It is assessed on a scale of zero to ten, with zero being no pain at all and ten being the worst imaginable pain.
  • Tapping: This is a major part of the therapy. While the client talks about the pain or the emotional stress, various points on the body are tapped. While using EFT to overcome depression, the patient talks about what makes him sad. As the tapping takes place, the patient repeats the issue, and as a result, stays connected to the issue. When the tapping is over, the person will find some relief with regard to the emotions associated with the issue.

The beauty of EFT is that once a patient learns what pressure points to tap on, he does not necessarily need the therapist to guide him through a session. In this aspect, EFT to overcome depression works very well. Along with addressing the core issue at hand, EFT to overcome depression also helps to build back the person’s self esteem. In this way, the Emotional Freedom Technique helps a depressed patient on two counts; the actual depression and the resultant lowered self esteem.

The Health Effects of Genetically Modified Food

Did you know that genetically modified (GM) food has been found to cause changes in the gut, pancreas and liver functions? Studies on animals show that it causes infertility in second and third generation animals fed GM food.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Top Benefits of Organic Bee Pollen

Organic bee pollen is a popular health supplements that offers several health benefits. Also called super food and wonder food, organic bee pollen helps sustain life through its high nutrient content. Bee pollen comprises over 98 nutrients that our bodies can easily absorb for maximum benefits. However, people allergic to bees may have to avoid taking the supplement.

Main Benefits of Organic Bee Pollen
Here are the top benefits that organic bee pollen offers:

  • It offers a natural way of clearing nasal congestion by reducing swelling and relaxing the airways. Hence, air passes easily through the respiratory system. Bee pollen can also be blended with other natural oils for quick relief from congestion. As they are organic, they give a healing boost without introducing any harmful chemicals. Bee pollen has been used as a healing agent since centuries (the pharaohs of Egypt also used them).
  • Their regular intake helps increase lifespan, given its rejuvenating properties.
  • Cosmetic companies also use bee pollen in their skincare and other products, given their natural fungicidal and bactericidal properties. They not only help fight bacterial and fungal infections, but also work as long-lasting moisturizer; thus fighting wrinkles, fine lines, creases and dry skin.
  • It stimulates the production of new skin cells, thus resuscitating external and internal skin.
  • The high levels of nutrients in organic bee pollen, including calcium, nucleic acids, beta carotene, polyunsaturated fats, lecithin, vitamins and proteins, helps in maintaining healthy skin and immune system.
  • It also improves digestive health by fighting problems like stomach ulcers. Additionally, it helps fight high blood pressure, emphysema and allergies and boosts the metabolism. It also lowers cholesterol and strengthens and stabilizes capillaries.
  • Low in calories, bee pollen also helps in weight control. While lecithin flushes out body fat, phenylalanine acts as an appetite suppressant.
  • Fresh pollen contains a spectrum of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, which in turn build all the cells, tissues and organs in the body.
  • It is a popular tonic among sportspeople and kids, as it helps rejuvenate the body, enhance vitality and accelerate recovery.
  • Unheated pollen contains enzymes that fight diseases, such as cancer and arthritis. They are also used to affect quick healing of wounds and acne.
  • Fresh, high-quality pollen is neither pasteurized nor heated.
  • They are granules of different colors that can be chewed alone or blended with foods. Their tastes vary depending on the plant they are collected from.
  • A complete food with all essential nutrients, organic bee pollen supplements support different areas of your health.

While beginning to take the supplements, it is best to consume them in small amounts and gradually increase the quantity to ensure safety.

While several distributors claim to offer organic bee pollen, it is best to check the product’s organic certification. The certification process requires the use of sustainable farming techniques and plant growth in a land free of pesticides and toxins. So, to ensure that the product is reliable and offers great standards, purchase your organic bee pollen from reputable providers.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

5 Effective Herbal Remedies for ADHD

Recent studies show that ADHD has become increasingly prevalent among children. It is estimated that approximately 10% of school children have ADHD. While ADHD treatment drugs are effective in reducing the symptoms of ADHD, the benefit comes at a price. Nearly all ADHD treatment drugs have troubling side effects. Due to this reason, in recent years, more parents are experimenting with various herbal remedies for ADHD treatment.

Today, the verdict on herbal remedies for ADHD is nearly unanimous. Herbal remedies for ADHD are as effective as ADHD treatment drugs and have little or no side effects. Read on to know more about the side effects of ADHD drugs and different herbal remedies that are available for ADHD treatment.

Common side effects of ADHD drugs
The most common medications used for ADHD treatment are amphetamine and methylphenidate. The drugs are effective in alleviating ADHD symptoms, but they also have many troubling side effects and a high risk for abuse.

Common side effects of ADHD drugs include:

  • Weight changes
  • Appetite changes
  • Nervousness
  • Insomnia

The troubling side effects of ADHD drugs and the high risk for abuse have convinced parents to look for alternate treatments for ADHD. Most health experts recognize herbal remedies for ADHD treatment as the most effective option available under the ADHD alternative treatment umbrella.

Below are the top 5 herbal remedies for ADHD.

1. Ginkgo Biloba
Gingko Biloba is recognized by herbalists as one of the most effective herbal remedies for ADHD treatment. Gingko Biloba works by increasing the blood flow and neurotransmitter levels to the brain. This in turn increases an ADHD patient’s ability to focus. In addition to improving the blood flow to the brain, Gingko leaves also act as an antioxidant for the nerve tissue.

2. Brahmi (Bacopa Monniera)
Brahmi also sits atop in the list of herbal remedies for ADHD treatment. Brahmi is known to have various positive effects on the brain and helps in strengthening learning skills and increasing total cognitive function. This herb also protects the brain from free radicals and various toxic substances.

3. Schisandra (Schisandra Chinensis)
Regular use of Schisandra has proved to very beneficial for ADHD patients. This herb is known for its ability to increase brain efficiency and work capacity.

4. Skullcap (Schuttellaria Laterifolia)
When talking about herbal remedies of ADHD treatment, one name you can’t ignore is skullcap. This herbal remedy has found to be very useful in reducing restless and agitation, both of which are common symptoms of ADHD.

5. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
St. John’s wort is known to help in alleviating certain symptoms of ADHD such as insomnia, despair, and anxiety. This herb takes some time to show effect, so you need to use it continuously for at least a month to allow it to work.

It is true that there is no permanent cure for ADHD. However, the good news is that various herbal remedies for ADHD can help ADHD sufferers a great deal in managing ADHD symptoms.

Monday, March 25, 2013

The Use of Hypnotherapy for Depression

Did you know that nearly 9.5% of the American population suffers from depression? That adds up to 18.8 million people at any given point in time. Depression is a serious illness that needs to be checked in time and treated well. Depression has no particular age of onset and can affect anyone. It is a mood disorder and has varying symptoms that manifest in different ways in different people. The most common symptoms of depression are a lack of interest in what is going on around the person and a general feeling of "sadness".

Depression is usually treated with mild to strong medication, depending upon the severity of the symptoms and the extent of the illness. However, in recent times, using hypnotherapy for depression has emerged as an effective option, since it treats the person as a whole. Therapy that addresses the person and not just the symptoms is usually found to be more effective.

Hypnotherapy for Depression Treatment: How is it better?
Hypnotherapy opens the doorway to a person’s sub-conscious. The key to understanding and treating depression lies in helping the individual regain his sense of self worth. Psychotropic medication only treats the physiological symptoms of depression, while the root cause of an individual’s depression is not addressed through medication. Using hypnotherapy for depression is a way to address the cause of the depression by accessing the subconscious. Hypnotherapists say that depression leads to a state of negative self hypnosis, where the individual is convinced of all things negative, and the aim of the therapy is to remove these thoughts and feelings.

  • Move in a Positive Direction: Hypnotherapy for depression helps the patient move in a positive direction through post hypnotic suggestions. Hypnosis helps a patient to learn psychological coping skills.
  • Positive Way Out of the Predicament: Hypnotic suggestion is given to the person to believe that it is possible to change the negative self suggestion and to reduce feelings of guilt and self blame. Hypnotherapy helps the person to make positive choices again.
  • Countering and Refuting Negative Thoughts: Depression is a thought process that leads an individual to believe that everything is hopeless, leading to a pessimistic outlook. Hypnotherapy for depression makes the patient rehearse coping skills that become embedded in the subconscious. This helps the patient deal with situations that he has been perceiving as negative or depressing.
  • Self Hypnosis: Hypnotherapy for depression also including teaching the person self hypnosis, in order to achieve a sense of inner calm. Deep relaxation helps to focus on the energy without wasting it on negativity. The sense of comfort achieved through self hypnosis helps the person recognize that they can be comfortable with themselves as well.

Hypnotherapy for depression focuses mainly on removing the negative beliefs of an individual. Depression can make a person believe that the worst is always going to happen. Medication often only results in numbing the feelings of the person but does not actually do anything constructive in terms of removing the self doubt and low self esteem. Through the use of hypnotherapy for depression, the clinician aims at removing this negativity.