Aromatherapy

The National Institute for Health Center for Complimentary Medicine defines CAM as follows:

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term for medical products and practices that are not part of standard care. Standard care is what medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy and allied health professionals, such as registered nurses and physical therapists, practice. Alternative medicine means treatments that you use instead of standard ones.

Use of CAM in Pediatrics

The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes the increasing use of complementary and alternative medicine in children. and, as a result, the need to provide information and support for pediatricians. They convened and formed a Task Force on Complementary and Alternative Medicine to address issues related to the use of complementary and alternative medicine in children and to develop resources to educate physicians, patients, and families.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine has such a wide range of subjects that I have divided the various topics into individual posts. Today I will focus on Acupuncture .

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston uses acupuncture for the following cancer related problems:

Ease nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy drugs. (In a 2008 study by researchers at Germany’s Saarland University, for example, 23 children undergoing chemotherapy who received acupuncture were significantly less likely to need anti-nausea medications.)
Peripheral neuropathy, caused by nerves damaged by toxic cancer drugs.
Alleviate hot flashes, side effect of treatment for breast cancer.
Relief from xerostomia, a condition that occurs when radiation damages or destroys salivary glands, causing extreme dryness of the mouth. (A common side effect of treatment for head and neck cancer, xerostomia can make it difficult for patients to swallow or eat.)

Acupuncture is one of the treatments the Western World has adopted from traditional Chinese medicine and is used for many other health problems other than cancer. It is recommended that you seek out certified practitioners for your safety.

Other topics that will be explored in coming weeks include:

Music Therapy, Homeopathy, Aroma therapy, Holistic Medicine, Bio-field Practices and Intergrative Therapies

Touch therapy based Practices such as Reiki, Reflexology, Rapid Eye-Movement (REM) and others

Spirituality based Practices such as Prayer, Faith Healing, Shaman, Psychics, Medicine Men

Biologically based practices such as Nutrition, Herbal Treatments, Dietary Supplements, Medicinal Mushrooms & Kelation

Manipulative and body-based practices such as Chiropractic, Massage Therapy, Thai Chi, and other movement-treatments.

Mind–body medicine such as Progressive relaxation, Meditation, Guided imagery, Biofeedback and Hypnosis and more.

We have already explored Chrystal therapy and alternative Medicine. See the Archives for these topics.

How Chrystal Therapy Works

Today my guest is helping us explore a different kind of alternative therapy. Cindy Williams is a Crystal Therapist.

Margaret: Please tell us how you became involved with Crystal Therapy.

Cindy: I became involved with Crystal Therapy through learning about Aromatherapy. I was taking the course of Aromatherapy and was thinking something was missing for me. I kept wanting to learn more about the chakras and how crystals can compliment Aromatherapy. “Crystals” kept cropping up everywhere, there were different workshops around all of the sudden, my friends had crystals and I asked them what each stone’s functions were. And all the sudden, I found myself learning about crystals and receiving my diploma. And now, I am passing on my knowledge, as I want to help people to heal and want to teach them how stones can help in their everyday lives.

Margaret: Have you had special training or certification in the therapy you offer your clients.

Cindy: Yes, I am a certified Crystal Healing Therapist and I received my diploma from School of Natural Health Sciences in London. I have also attended various workshops for crystal healing and lots of healing with clients.

Margaret: What kind of health issues can crystal therapy assist with?
Cindy: I havent really found a health issue that you can’t use crystal therapy with, however, I wouldn’t treat someone with cancer, in person, as I would do that in distant healing. There are contra-indications of course, that you would be cautious to use crystal healing. Also, you have to give a person a consultation, to see what they are allergic to, as sometimes there are stones you may not use on certain people.

Margaret: What other modalities and therapies do you offer and use?

Cindy: I use Aromatherapy and sutble energy healing, I am also a Reiki Master and I am also a professional relaxation therapist. I teach people how to use the crystals and I teach them how to use relaxation therapy, as in this day and age, stress is a major factor in dis-ease.

Margaret: Have you ever treated anyone with cancer?

Cindy: Yes, but I haven’t used the stones on anyone with cancer, I do distant healing. I DO use stones in distant healing, as I place the stones on a drawing of the person I intend to help, and I also use candles in the distant healing and aromatherapy oils.

Margaret: Have you ever treated any pediatric cases?

Cindy: I haven’t personally treated any pediatric cases, as far as laying on stones. I have cleansed and charged stones for people to use for their children and I teach them how they can help their children with crystals.

Margaret: Can you tell us one or two of your best success stories without compromising their privacy?

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What is CAM?

How Chrystal Therapy Works

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