What is a Holistic Doctor?

The quest for the ideal holistic doctor in NJ can take you down some interesting paths.  Many people who claim to be "alternative doctors" may not be medical professionals at all, so it's important to know what you're searching for when you explore this line of health care.  An alternative medicine doctor practicing in NJ is a certified medical professional who believes that a complementary combination of modern science and natural, traditional methods of health care should be melded to balance both your body and mind at the same time.

There are a multitude of holistic approaches to wellness. However, the most important determinant of wellness is a healthy lifestyle like wholesome eating habits, proper rest and appropriate exercise and recreation. For those seeking professional help, some other forms of treatment may include:

Metabolically Directed Therapy

Medically Supervised Alternative Therapies (provided by a trained and licensed MD)

Nutritional Therapy

Traditional Chinese Therapies

Acupuncture

Acupressure

Aromatherapy

Energy-based therapies

Meditation and/or prayer

Herbal remedies

Homeopathic remedies

Practitioners who believe in a "whole person" approach put their patients as people first and will look at "the big picture" when they are selecting appropriate therapies as opposed to micromanaging specific symptoms or abnormal lab values.   It's important to look for an alternative doctor who listens to you, so that together you can begin on the road to recovery. There are a few other things one should look for when seeking the help of alternative doctors.

Hemorrhoids Home Remedy

Hemorrhoids or piles are caused because of swollen veins in the anus and rectum, and often cause embarrassment for many. There are several home remedies that have been used since ages to relieve the pain and stress caused by hemorrhoids:

- White radish is known to be a common hemorrhoids home remedy. You could either eat it with a pinch of salt, or drink about 60-90 ml of juice in the morning. A paste of milk and radish can also be applied externally to ease the pain.

- One of the best and most common known solutions is the cold water treatment. Patients are asked to sit on a tub of cold water filled up to the chin. Water shrinks the vein and tones up the walls.

- Witch hazel is a herb commonly available in North America and used to treat hemorrhoids. You can either use them in the oil form or buy them as creams. There are several manufacturers who sell them as creams.

How Long Can We Remember This?

Keeping your brain active throughout life helps prevent Alzheimer's. A study published in JAMA Archives of Neurology included 65 healthy adults ages 60 and older, 10 adults with Alzheimer's and 11 adults ages 20-30. All the participants completed mental tests, answered questions about mentally challenging activities and had brain scans. Older adults with the highest cognitive activity over a lifetime – reading, writing, puzzles – had ofbeta-amyloid levels (a protein linked to Alzheimer's) comparable to the younger adults. Older adults with the least cognitive activity had ofbeta-amyloid levels comparable to those with Alzheimer's. Hmmm, let's think of crossword puzzles and "happyword" puzzles.

Overeating may increase the risk of memory loss in the elderly. A Mayo Clinic study included 1,200 seniors – ages 70-89 – of which 163 had mild cognitive impairment. MCI is the intermediate stage between normal cognitive decline and dementia and it increases the risk of dementia. In the study seniors were questioned about their daily caloric intake and then divided into 3 caloric groups: 600-1,526; 1,526-2,143; and 2,143-6,000 calories daily. The risk of MCI was more than double for those in the highest caloric group. It seems remembering not to overeat now will help us to remember that and more when we're seniors.

Mild memory problems are more common in men. Symptoms include difficulty remembering recent events and/or new information, as well as problems with language, thinking or judgment. The 1,450 study participants ages 70-89 were dementia free. They took mental tests every 15 months for 3 years and were interviewed about their memory. The rate of developing mild cognitive impairment was higher among men. It was also higher in the less educated and singles. Some of the strongest risk factors for MCI are high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity – which occur earlier in men – and may explain the "men" in dementia.

Smoking may cause earlier mental decline in men. According to a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, the mental function of a 50-year-old, male smoker can decline as quickly as that of a 60-year-old non-smoker. This was true even when educational level and overall health were considered. Also, this finding didn't apply to just pack-a-day smokers. Intermittent smokers showed the same cognitive decline as persistent smokers. Surprisingly, the same cognitive decline wasn't seen in female smokers. However, this finding was attributed to gender differences in smoking and health patterns – not because female brains received different "smoke signals".