Due to increasing side effects of allopathic medicines, people are moving toward alternative treatments for their healthy life. These natural treatments are much more effective and widely used now days because they not only cure the disease but also eliminate the basic root causing factors and any type of disturbing elements in our body. They make us healthy not only for today but also for tomorrow.

Some commonly used natural cures are yoga, meditation, massage therapy, aromatherapy, ayurveda and herbal treatments. These types of treatments are widely used today and gaining worldwide popularity. So let see them in brief about what they are and how they are beneficial to us.

Yoga

Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word meaning join or unite. This implies union between body, mind and soul of the individual to achieve good health and well being.

Yoga relieve from depression, stress, and tension. It also helps in muscle flexibility, stamina, lowers fat, improves blood circulation, lowers bad cholesterol levels and makes the mind calm. It is the best exercise to get rid from the diseases. Its goal is to develop a balance of strength and flexibility within the body.

There are eight disciplines of yoga that includes

1. Asanas - Practice of the yoga postures or position.
2. Dharana- Concentration or focus
3. Dhyana- Meditation
4. Pranayama- Breathing techniques
5. Niyama- Principles of self-conduct: purity, self-surrender and satisfaction.
6. Samadhi- State of higher consciousness where the individual dissolves in the meditation 7. Yama- Universal ethics like sexual restraint, non-stealing, truthfulness, non-violence.
8. Pratyahara- Control of Sense

Yoga is an excellent fitness activity for health and wellness. It is the exercise where breathing and stretching takes the forefront. A person practicing yoga is working both his mind and body to bring about an overall good sense of health and wellness.

Meditation

Meditation is a technique of bringing peace and harmony into the hectic and stressful lives of people. It develops an intense positive energy. It removes anxiety. It is an integral part of holistic medicine. It helps in reducing stress and improves physical, mental and spiritual health. It also assures good night sleep.

There are two basic approaches to meditation. First is concentrative meditation that involves focusing the mind to one particular natural element such as sound or breathing. A famous example of concentrative meditation is breathing meditation. In this type of meditation a person tries to concentrate on his or her breathing until such a time when it becomes slow and calm.

The second approach to meditation is mindfulness meditation. The aim of mindfulness meditation for the person is to be able to pay attention to every detail of his or her surroundings. However, the challenge for the person is not to react to any of these happenings. The idea is to just let these things pass by the person's mind, like a wind that smoothly swifts through the air.

To many it is a doorway to the non-physical, energetic and spiritual aspects of life and a state of heightened awareness. To the yogis, it is a systematic process of moving inward, through those levels, so as to experience the center of consciousness.

The main focus of meditation is to quiet our busy mind. It is becoming popular among working people who have grown tired of the frazzled pressures of every day work. It is now practiced by millions of people worldwide.

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that literally translated means science of life or practices of longevity. According to it, the five elements that make up everything in the universe are earth, water, fire, air and ether.

Ayurvedic remedies are simple and natural, using common household herbs and strategies such as a warm bath and soothing herbal tea. It is a largely herbal science. It delves into the medicinal properties of herbs and studies their effects on the human system. Though Ayurveda mainly deals with herbs; that is not all there is to it. It also deals in several minerals, which it calls as dhaatus. Some dhaatu preparations are very important to the human wellbeing, like, the Shilajit.

Charaka Samhitha by Acharya Charaka and Sushrutha Samhita by Acharya Sushruta and the compilation of the two books, Asthangahridaya by Acharya Vagbhata are the earliest known organized literature on Ayurveda. Charka Samhita is not just a medicinal or a treatment book; it also explains the ways to increase the living standards and to attain a lifestyle that will keep you away from sorrows and miseries.

Ayurveda recommends detox, or purification, to get rid of ama that has accumulated in the system. There are three ways to detox: establish a good daily routine so that less ama accumulates; use simple self-purificatory measures at home; attend an Ayurvedic clinic for panchakarma, a residential treatment to cleanse the system of deep toxins, recommended at least once a year, ideally during spring.

Herbal Remedies

Mother Nature has gifted us with many herbs possessing amazing medicinal properties that are widely used in the treatment of various ailments.

Holy basil has various medicinal properties and is one of the five essential plants that every Indian garden is supposed to have. The other four plants are neem, amalaki, bilva and palash. These herbs are very popular all around the world for their amazing curative properties.

Herbs like brahmi, ginkgo, gotu kola, ashwagandha, yohimbe, yashtimadhu, arjuna, etc. have now gained worldwide popularity. The western scientists are spending a great deal of time and research in investigating the properties of these herbs. With every test they conduct, their belief in the powers of Ayurveda is only strengthening.

Garlic, onion and ginger are also used all over the world for several medicinal reasons. It has been proved that garlic can prove extremely beneficial in reducing cholesterol and increasing longevity. However, it was Ayurveda that was the first to bring the curative properties of these herbs in the limelight. There are several other such herbs that were given their importance by Ayurveda first. Some of them are fenugreek, licorice, betel nut, cardamom, cinnamon, cumin seeds, dandelion, lemon grass, rauwolfia, zizzyphus, etc.

Massage Therapy

Massage is an ancient art that involves rubbing or kneading of body parts to aid circulation, stimulate nerves or relax the muscles. However, when massages are used for physical and psychological benefits, it is termed therapeutic message. Researches have shown that massage can have a positive effect on muscle building capabilities and fitness levels.

It is very helpful for the whole body as it relieves stress and improves blood circulation. Body massage is a great way to heal the body. Getting a full body massage is an incredible feeling, leaving the daily stress and tensions. It not only makes the external parts of the body healthy but also makes the internal organs in our body work efficiently. A full body massage helps fight depression, infertility, blood pressure, back problems, diabetes etc. It also improves the immune system.

Oil massage is the best way of relaxation for the whole body. There are different types of oils used for massaging the body. Each oil has its own properties to heal, relax, and strengthen the body and immune system.

If you are stressed then you can use apricot kernel oil for massage. Borage oil massage is good for eczema and psoriasis, olive oil is good for relieving stiffness, Emu oil is good for arthritis, Kukui nut oil and Sweet almond oil massage have good anti-inflammatory properties. You need to first know whether you are allergic to these oils and then use it for massage.

Massage improves circulation therefore improving the supply of nutrition to the muscles. Massage maximizes the supply of these nutrients and oxygen through an increase in blood flow, which helps the muscles to grow and burn more calories and thus results in body tone up. It also improves muscles flexibility that can help reduce the danger of experiencing injuries during exercise.

Although massage is beneficial for health it is not suitable for all. People with heart problems, cancer, and skin problems should consult a physician before they go for a massage session.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is said to trigger certain biochemical responses in the brain that in turn activate certain dormant function of the body and mind to impart a sense of well being.

Aromatherapy candles and essential oils are widely used in the treatment of various ailments. Most commonly they are used in reducing stress, bringing mental peace and for mind relaxation.

Although there are a lot of ways aromatherapy candles may work for you, people generally rely on aromatherapy candles to provide them with the following effects:

Invigoration – People with busy schedules might faces problems of stress and fatigue, so light up some aromatherapy candles that produce invigorating effects and they’ll feel refreshed and with replenished levels of energy in no time.

Relaxation – There are numerous types of aromatherapy candles which produce relaxing effects because of the ingredients they’re made of. They will help your body to relieve from stress and anxiety.

Concentration – There are also aromatherapy candles that help to improve mental concentration. Its scent allows clearing the cobwebs from your mind and sharpening your clarity and vision.

Atmosphere Enhancement – Lastly, there are aromatherapy candles that simply make the atmosphere more conducive to whatever purposes you have in mind. If you desire to spend a romantic night alone with your partner, for instance, lighting up a few aromatherapy candles will set the right tone and mood for the night.

Massaging with essential oils also add a superb experience and spice up your special moments. Essential oils are also used on account of their innumerable benefits they have on the mind body system of human beings. Even some aromatherapy oils help you in pain management like in joint pain, headache or arthritis.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

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