Aromatherapy in its simplest definition is the smelling of vapors for health & well-being effects, howsoever gained. This article examines a cross-section of the art and proposes a future course of direction for those professionals not wishing to be tarred with an aromatherapy brush.

Of course the fragrance of a nice perfume will leave you in a better frame of mind than the smell of rotting cadavers. The general intuitive appeal of a nice smell (etc) has launched a blind universal hype on essential oils, the mainstay of aromatherapy. Over the years it has attracted a large following of uncritical persons eager to believe good news. By contrast it has produced research well beyond the scope of aromatherapy.

Much opposition has been leveled against the wild claims that border on or even cross the line of fraud. Where there’s money to be made, there is opportunism. The truth is often the first casualty.

Then there is the medical profession. They are the stalwarts to uphold and defend the medical truth. Unfortunately there is opportunity to denigrate the practice of aromatherapy for motives other than altruism, leaving academia to the rescue. Disappointingly, much academic research is in effect unavailable to the general public as good research papers can be expensive.

Deserved or otherwise, alternative medicines such as Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Chiropractic, Homeopathy, Kinesiology, Light Therapy, Phrenology, etc. have been slow to gain traction in mainstream medicine. Within each field there may be something worthwhile. There is risk of throwing the baby out with bathwater.

Aromatherapy by semantic definition is in lockstep with things smelled, the nose being solely equipped to perceive things smelled. Thus aromatherapy armoury consists solely of essential oils. “Essential” not because we can’t live without them but because essential is merely the adjective from the noun “essence” being a vapor from a liquid at a low boiling point.

This semantic deception taken together with people such as those involved in routinely claiming these potions to cure things like ADHD, arthritis, high cholesterol, lupus, asthma, migraines, cancer, fibromyalgia confuses even more. It is there, on offer, all without the rigours of scientific validation. Long Live The Placebo!

Then there are the others making ambiguous claims that leave lots of wiggleroom such as “cleanses air of negative energies”, “restoring harmony and balance between the mind and body”, “restore psychic energy flow”, “return to one’s center and chakra”. These and more have become aromatherapy’s articles of faith in some circles. Most are seen as nonsense to the mind versed in scientific methods.

Contrast these with Moss et al in the peer-reviewed paper “Aromas Of Rosemary And Lavender Essential Oils Differential Affect Cognition And Mood In Healthy Adults” where they showed the efficacy of Lavender and Rosemary oils. 144 persons took part in the study and no one was informed of the study nature. Before and after inhalation tests included 15 words to be flashed on a screen for 1 second and participants were asked to remember as many words as they could in the space of 60 seconds. More tests were done using 20 photographs enabling researchers to test recall and reaction time.

Nominal recall improved from 5.5 for the control group to 6.2 for the Rosemary and showed little change for the Lavender. Nominal reaction time improved from a score of 246 for the control group to 259 for the Lavender. Little change was reported for the Rosemary tests. They concluded that essential oils can significantly affect aspects of cognitive performance.

Worth considering is a paper by Sayorwan et al, who, using electroencephalography (EEG), measured the changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate before and after Rosemary oil inhalation by uniformed groups of subjects and controls. Their findings provided evidence that brain wave activities, autonomic nervous system responses, and mood states could all be modified with Rosemary

Aromas may well have a placebo effect and as such it is a good thing. However it is not the smell that gives essential oils their efficacy but the compounds that comprise the oils. Compounds such as Eugenol, Carvacrol, Thymol, Geraniol, and Menthol appear to stimulate while Linalool appears to calm or relax. Then there is Eugenol, a very powerful antioxidant as well. These compounds can enter the bloodstream via the olfactory system and the lungs through breathing. The bloodstream can also be fed via the skin by massage and contact patches. Other possible routes are ingestion and intravenous injections. The latter are subject to much more research than currently appears in the literature.

In conclusion, the subject of essential oils is therefore a much wider field, rich with potential discovery. Thus it is important that practitioners who prescribe the use of essential oils in their practice divest themselves of any stigma that has grown around aromatherapy. A whole new name for their practice would help to distance themselves from any hint of quackery and dogma.

The general public may well be sceptical as a result of conflicting opinions. The misnomer “essential” does not help. Volatile Oil Therapy (VOT) as a name may engender some trust especially if the practitioners of VOT confine themselves to proven effects.

HEALTH SERVICES

The health-care scenario in Bengaluru city is a mix of plenty and scarcity. A number of government bodies and schemes provide health services. In infrastructure terms, if all primary health facilities maintained by different government bodies were combined, there are likely to be enough centers to 2 Health care in Bengaluru city – need for a participatory, comprehensive health plan meet the primary care needs of the population. The city is also host to autonomous institutions with high caliber medical professionals, such as National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS) and the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology. Further, like in other urban areas, a huge private sector caters to the health needs of the population.

Bengaluru is a hub for medical tourism, with super-specialty hospitals boasting state-of-the-art treatment facilities. On the other hand, the communities that particularly need public health services, such as the urban poor and working classes, are unable to access them due to the shortage of medical staff, lack of medicines and diagnostic services, high levels of corruption and the low sensitivity towards their needs. They end up using the private sector, which is an expensive option, or postpone essential health care – an even more expensive option for which the individual, family and society pay a price. There have been cases of women delivering babies at home or in auto-rickshaws as they were turned away at Maternity Homes and did not have time to reach a secondary or tertiary institution, or the resources to get there. Tertiary care is expensive even in government hospitals due to bed charges, medicines and other expenses. The result is high levels of indebtedness and health indicators among the urban poor that are almost as bad as the rural poor.

Government hospitals have a few advantages over private hospitals, which make them better and efficient for patients. This includes their facilities are affordable in cost, which is an advantage for the masses, who cannot afford expensive treatments. Best doctors are majorly found in the southern part of India. Bengaluru has a few government hospitals that make them stand out in other private ones.

In order to make health care available to the weaker sections of society Bengaluru is dotted with numerous government hospitals. Most of the government hospitals in Bengaluru are run and managed by the municipal corporation of the city. The government hospitals in Bengaluru are usually multi-specialty hospitals

Many American’s are writing their health care out of their budget due to the uncertain economy. The Kaiser Family Foundation conducted a poll, which showed that 53 percent of participants said that they or someone in their family has cut back on health care because of the high costs associated with it. Especially for American’s who are out of work, not having coverage can send health care costs skyrocketing with bills piling up rather quickly. The poll also indicates that more people are turning to home remedies and over the counter drugs, as opposed to seeking the help of a physician. Lastly, more American’s are not filling prescriptions and/or avoiding medical tests or treatments in order to just get by.

A few things that will help you save money is to request your own records and do it well in advance of your doctors appointment, Take note of any changes you have had in the last six months and write everything down before your visit, so you don’t forget to ask any important questions. Essentially, get the most out of one appointment as possible. Ask your doctor for free samples of any prescriptions to help keep costs down and ask about cheaper generic alternatives to your current medications.

American’s do have an option to ask for financial help as many hospitals and clinics usually have financial assistance programs. Some doctors, like Feltheimer of New York Presbyterian, lowers his fees to $50.00 for patients’ who are out of work or uninsured. Many doctors will work out a payment schedules, so do not hesitate to ask what your physician’s policies are. People with chronic or debilitating disease such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, can access the Patient Advocate Foundation. They provide help negotiating with insurers and helps people get the most out of their health plan. There are no financial requirements to qualify, so call (800) 532-5274 to be assigned a case manager.

Have you ever wondered if you were receiving the best health care you could be? Doctors aren’t infallible and their diagnoses aren’t always the final word. It’s important know as much as you can about your health and what options are available to you depending your situation.

Not all doctors are equally qualified. Some have more experience that others. Following are some tips on how to ensure you are receiving the best treatment to stay your healthiest.

Do some research before selecting a physician. Ask about his education and areas of expertise. If you have a specific illness, look for a specialist in that field. It’s OK to ask for a second opinion and seek out the best care. Your good health is worth making the effort.

Don’t worry about hurting your physician’s feelings if you go ahead and get a second opinion. It may help set your mind at ease and know that you’ve done all you can for your health and your future.

You should also feel free to ask to see any test results that you may have received. Ask the doctor questions about the tests and/or his diagnosis until you feel satisfied. You may want to inquire if additional tests would be useful.

It’s important to understand your particular health concerns as well as you can. If you’re not an MD you may not know that much about your diagnosis. So, take the time to learn what you can about it. Think of you and your doctor as partners in your health care journey.

Find a doctor that you are comfortable with and rely on them to help you maintain your good health.

Strive to develop a relationship with them so that you feel comfortable asking questions and exploring your options as they pertain to your health.

The Health Resources and Services Administration, frequently known as the HRSA, is an agency operating inside the United States Department of Health and Human Services that is largely answerable for bettering the public’s access to quality health care services.

The grants and initiatives of the HRSA are all particularly designed to contribute to the attainment of its main agency mission which is to “improve health and achieve health equity through access to quality services, a skilled health work force and cutting edge programs.”

In accordance with this mission, the Health Resources and Services Administration has recently constituted the establishment of the Telehealth Resource Center Grant Program, also known as the TRCGP.

Essentially, the aim of the program is to be able to financially support the establishment and development of Telehealth Resource Centers (TRCs).

The Telehealth Resource Centers will be engineered to provide technical assistance to health care affiliations, health care networks, and several other groups of health care providers during the process of implementing inexpensive telehealth programs that would serve medically underserved communities and populations.

With this, the program will be able to expedite and customize the provision of telehealth technical assistance services throughout the country, while simultaneously moving towards the provision of a wide range of expertise that may not be readily available in any existing community.

The program seeks to seek applications from entities who have already manifested daunting experience in providing technical assistance regarding the development of sustainable telehealth programs.

In addition, the program also hopes to expedite the successful dissemination of health-related information, the effective collusion and communication between health care providers, and finally, the marketing of the integration of new technologies used in clinical information systems with other telehealth technologies.

The Telehealth Resource Center Grant Program intends to financially support the creation of up to five Telehealth Resource Centers by administering funds in the amount of $1,625,000.

The organizations and institutions who will be eligible to submit an application under this program are the following:

a) Non-profit setups

b) Faith-based organizations

c) Community-based organizations

d) Tribal non-profit organizations

The Department of Health and Human Services, the mother agency that is financing the Telehealth Resource Center Grant Program, is the federal government’s leading agency that is responsible for defending the health of all Americans through the provision of essential human services to all, giving greatest priority to the vulnerable and to the medically uninsured.

Advertisements are being sent to doctors via facsimile in various parts of the United States from a California company asking them if TENS/EMS units are presently being prescribed to patients for home use? If not, this company reports that they can show how to give patients drug-less pain relief and add a new profit center to the doctors office with TENS/EMS.

The company says their program is simple – they sell TENS to doctors for $29.00 (when 2 or more are purchased) EMS for $38 (when 2 or more purchased) and instruct the doctor on billing procedures for the TENS and fitting fee where the profits range from $200.00 to $600.00 per unit depending on the type of insurance coverage and amount charged for the unit/fitting fee. Next, the company indicates that they provide the patient with necessary supplies (batteries, pads & wires) and will bill the insurance company direct.

Good deal? Maybe.

Many state regulatory boards have prohibitions against excessive charges for health care services rendered – could the billing insurers $200 to $600 for providing a patient with a TENS the doctor purchased for $29 be considered excessive? What would the involved payer think of this activity – are they going to knowingly pay $200 to $600 for your providing the patient with a $29 TENS unit? And, what happens when insurance doesn’t pay – is the patient going to be billed the higher rates for the $29 unit?

I would recommend that doctors ensure that this practice activity is consistent with their administrative laws, third-party payer rules and to check it out first with their attorney prior to use.

When it comes to lowering your health insurance premiums it takes no rocket scientist to figure out how it’s done. If you’re trying to reduce your insurance premiums then you need to become less of a risk for the insurance companies. You can become less of a risk for insurance companies through exercise, eating healthy and preventative care.

If you’re not exercising at least three times per week then you have got to get on a program. A good program consists of you doing cardiovascular training three times per week for 45 minutes. You should be weight training at least twice per week for 30 minutes. For some, getting to the gym might be out of the question. If it’s difficult for you to get to the gym, then take up some other form of exercise including walking, running, hiking and sports.

If you’re not currently eating 5-6 meals per day then you have got to get on the band wagon. All nutritional experts agree on the principle of grazing throughout the day, taking in smaller portions for meals. When you are doing this you are allowing your body to digest food much easier thus creating a faster metabolism. When your metabolism speeds up then you are able to lose weight and get in shape. Along with eating five to six meals per day also remember to eat healthy. The best part about eating healthy is that there are many options for healthy food. The best tip for eating healthy is to keep it as natural as possible. Try to avoid processed food at all costs.

Preventative care is you being proactive with your body, and going in for a check-up if something feels out of place. Preventive care is you avoiding unnecessary risks that could jeopardize your health. This mindset is you acting, and not being acted upon. If you are truly exercising a preventative attitude then you won’t allow yourself to get obese or unhealthy, because you are in control of your future. If you exercise, eat healthy, and implement preventative health care, you will be able to not only live longer and healthier, but you will also have reduced your health care substantially.

Dealing with lower back pain can be tough for some patients. At times, the pain is hard to manage, and painkillers might not be the right solution. Depending on the facts of the case, doctors may use epidural steroid injections. In this post, we will discuss some of the aspects of such injections in detail.

What’s an epidural steroid injection?

The use of injections for low back pain is limited to certain cases, but this is certainly one of the many ways to treat chronic pain. An epidural steroid injection essentially contains an anesthetic drug for pain relief with a corticosteroid. For the uninitiated, corticosteroid is a form of steroids known to have anti-inflammatory benefits. The injection helps in reducing the pressure from the nerves and surrounding areas and muscles, which can offer considerable respite, while the painkiller ensures immediate relief. Corticosteroids may work independently for pain relief, but since most patients want immediate effects, an anesthetic medicine is used.

Knowing the procedure

Please note that you cannot ask your doctor for epidural steroid injections. Unless the patient has stopped responding to nonsurgical treatments, doctors don’t try ESIs. In most cases, certain imaging tests are done, so as to find the right spot where the nerve roots at pressed or have a problem. In some cases, a x-ray machine may be used by the doctor, just to find the right point where the needle must be placed.

The need for epidural steroid injections

Typically, epidural steroid injections are used as the last resort to offer pain relief, especially in cases of extreme pain, often related to a condition known as “lumbar spinal stenosis”. This condition mainly starts from the lower spine and often spreads to the legs. There is limited information on how these injections may work in the long run, but like most steroid injections, this too offers relief for the next few weeks. It is always best to talk to your doctor, who can suggest more details in this regard. However, in cases of lumbar spinal stenosis, other treatments are tried and used as well.

What are the side effects?

There can be a few side effects with ESIs, but that varies from case to case. In most cases, the focus is on reducing the pain, so the minimal adverse effects are ignored. However, if you have issues with breathing or have swelling on your facial area, do contact your doctor immediately. There can be some pain at the injection site, but if that doesn’t subside in the next couple of days, check with your doctor. For immediate swelling at the injection site, you can use ice, which will also offer some relief from the associated pain.

Pain management clinics have a lot of information on epidural steroid injections. If you need to know more about lumbar spinal stenosis, you should consult a doctor at the earliest. With early intervention, other treatments may work more effectively for you, but it also depends on how you respond to the standard treatment plans.

Health is what can be defined as the general condition of a human being concerning all aspects of his life. In general good health is acquired by means of a combination of physical, mental and the social comforts and securities. You have to realize that maintaining good health is a never ending process and you have to constantly be on the lookout for ways and means to stay healthy.

Hygiene is one of the main factors that constitute to good health. Keeping yourself clean and tidy which involves brushing, bathing, washing hands especially before a meal etc. The list is endless and all these contribute to your well being and health. If hygiene is a factor that helps improve health, stress can affect your health adversely. Stress management is imperative to remain in good health. If you are in a job that often has you completely stressed out, then give some relaxation techniques a try. They can help to relieve stress.

Health care can be described as the treatment and the management of the various illnesses both physical and mental that you may contract through the years. Today more and more people are becoming aware of the fact that health and fitness are of prime importance in life. This improves the health and fitness industry that come out with various types of fitness equipment that promise to keep you healthy and fit.

To live a healthy life you may have to make some changes in your lifestyle by consuming a nutritious diet, drinking more water everyday, increasing your intake of foods that can give you more roughage, putting a brake on the fried and processed food intake and incorporating a regular exercise regime like going for a walk daily. Remember you are not required to carry out any hectic work-outs. It is just to ensure that all parts of your body remain supple. This is especially necessary as you grow older and various aches and pains start getting you down.

Health is such a significant matter that you simply cannot let things just be. You have to make a deliberate attempt to be healthy and remain so.

As a person grows older, the basal metabolic rate of the body tends to slow down primarily due to lack of activity and regular physical exercise. As the age of person increases, the calorie requirement of the body decreases. As the senses of smell and taste tend to decrease in older people, they often find food less palatable, resulting in situations called under-eating. However, vital nutrients are still essential for the body even at this age and require proper nutritional care supported by healthy diet.

Eating less during old age often provides an invitation for various unwanted diseases. Older people who are underweight are easily prone to get infected primarily due to a depleted immune system that fails to offer protection against invading pathogens. Apart from this, under weight persons are at an increased risk of developing various other diseases including anemia and osteoporosis. Nutritional abnormalities in older people could sometimes be an indicative of a serious medical complication such as cancer, dementia, heart failure or depression.

However, there are multiple ways through which elder persons can gain back the weight. According to doctors and nutritionists, elder people should take diet that is rich in nutrients and vitamins. These include fruits, vegetables, fluids and fibers. Dental and oral problems could also lead to decreased diet intake. Hence, it is important to have a routine checkup of gums, teeth and mouth. Elder persons often find it easy to taken liquid foods rather than thicker foods. Other options include serving finger-foods, liquid food supplements and serving familiar, palatable and tastier foods that are presented in a pleasing manner.