The Philosophy of Herbalism

Posted on September 30, 2008
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Herbalists, or practitioners of herbal medicine, believe in the use of herbal medicines to treat common medical complaints.  This is not to say that herbalists do not use, or believe in the use of, conventional pharmaceutical medications.  Many herbalists simply think that the use of pharmaceuticals should be limited to emergency situations.

So the question remains, why do herbalists believe in the use of herbs to treat everyday problems and illnesses?  Many herbal medicines are thought to actually help the person not only defeat the symptoms of a cold or other medical problem, but to actually help build a resistance to the illnesses.  Herbs can do this because they provide natural and nutritional benefits to the person as opposed to introducing foreign chemicals to the person’s body.  Herbs can also boost the human immune system, which in turn helps the person build resistance to disease.

Who Is The Art Therapist?

Posted on September 14, 2008
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The profession of art therapist is not a new one, but it is one that is not familiar to many people.  Art therapists are professional therapists who have extensive training in both art and psychotherapy.  In order to be an art therapist, a person must hold a master’s degree in either art therapy or a similar field.  This knowledge and education allows an art therapist to help patients identify emotional problems through artistic mediums.

Most patients of art therapy are able to cope with their problems like stress and personal trauma.  Art therapists can bring out in a patient the ability to gain insight into their own minds and feelings, as well as boosting the patient’s ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships.  All of these things are important parts of healing, and art therapists are trained to use the artistic processes of the mind to bring these results out of their patients.

Therapeutic Processes in Art Therapy

Posted on August 30, 2008
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Art therapists, like other therapists, use several different therapeutic processes to analyze and treat emotional problems in their patients.  Unlike other therapists, however, art therapists’ have therapeutic techniques that center on having the patient create and interpret art pieces.  This can help the patient gain personal insight as well as help them to address personal issues.

Some of the techniques used are interpreted by the art therapist instead of the student.  In these techniques, the patient’s art is analyzed according to the colors, shapes and designs used.  Some techniques are used to determine the current psychological state of the patient; these techniques generally involve the patient choosing geometric shapes and then recreating them.  Other techniques involve the patient drawing specific pictures and then explaining the pictures; these techniques give the art therapist clues to the personality of the patient.

Markers and Crayons: Not Just for Kids

Posted on August 14, 2008
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Have you ever watched a young child drawing with markers or crayons on a blank piece of paper?  They seem to be able to let go and scribble with an abandon rarely matched by an adult.  And why would an adult want to doodle for no reason?  Because there might be a practical purpose to art after all.

Art therapy is a widely used form of therapy using both the creative process and psychotherapy to elicit a healing response in the patient.  By using simple tools like the ones found in any child’s craft box – crayons, markers, colored pencils and paints – a professional art therapist can help a patient discover and deal with internal emotional turmoil.  Art therapy is frequently used in mental health clinics, but can also be found in more casual places like art studios.

Aromatherapy: Aromatic Blending and Therapeutic Blending

Posted on July 30, 2008
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While the term “aromatherapy” technically refers to the use of essential oils and plant extracts to produce a therapeutic effect in a person, many people enjoy blending essential oils simply for their fragrances.  Blending for fragrance is a wonderful idea, but the blender should be aware of the therapeutic uses of the oils he or she wants to use.  Using oils that are contraindicated for the person’s physical or emotional issues can produce a problematic response.

The same is true in blending essential oils for therapeutic use.  Beginning blenders should use established recipes for the problems they are trying to fix, and should not attempt to blend their own recipes until they have adequate experience.  When blending for fragrance, it is also important to remember that duplication of manufactured fragrances is not possible as manufacturers use artificial chemicals in their scents and perfumes.

Essential Oil Blends and Their Use in Aromatherapy

Posted on July 14, 2008
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People who seek aromatherapy treatments generally are looking for either a way to organically treat an emotional disturbance, or a way to enhance another alternative medical treatment.  While the use of aromatherapy in conjunction with other alternative medicine therapies is generally overseen by the practitioner of the other therapy (i.e. an acupuncturist or a massage therapist), aromatherapy for emotional disturbance is generally applied at home.

This involves the study and correct use of different essential oils in blends that will help the person achieve the desired effect.  Some of the most common blends are those used for energy, anxiety, insomnia and stress.  Some stores sell pre-made blends for common ailments like these, and if you don’t have a lot of experience in blending oils this might be a good place to start.  But for those who are more experienced with oils, blends can be made at home with a basic selection of essential oils.

Aromatherapy: Common Essential Oils

Posted on June 30, 2008
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There has been a huge influx of people interested in aromatherapy over the course of the last five years.  The reason for this could be the burgeoning interest in all alternative therapies.  But no matter the reason, major retailers have jumped onto the aromatherapy bandwagon and now provide easy access to a number of common essential oils.

Some of the most popular essential oils seen in stores today are those used for emotional wellbeing.  These oils are often packaged according to their desired effect and not by what they treat.  For example, aromatherapy oils like lavender, which help ease anxiety, are often used in products labeled “relaxation”.  Rose and ylang ylang are often packaged as “romance” products, though their actual use is to treat stress.  Thus it is important for aromatherapy practitioners to be aware of the actual uses of the oils and not just the corporate labels.

Aromatherapy: Stinky and Soothing Smells

Posted on June 14, 2008
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A lot of people like to use different smells in their homes to cover unpleasant odors.  In fact, there is a whole retail industry based on the public’s desire to eliminate nasty smells from their homes.  But plug-in air fresheners, potpourri sprays, and scented candles are not necessarily aromatherapy products.  The scents are not meant to sooth; rather they are meant to disguise.

Aromatherapy is actually the practice of using plant oils and extracts to bring about a sense of wellbeing in people.  Aromatherapy is often used in conjunction with other alternative medicine treatments like massage therapy.  There are approximately 90 essential oils commonly used in aromatherapy treatments, and each one has a unique profile and individual purpose.  But some essential oils are used together to create an effect that is different than that of the oils when used individually.

Poking and Prodding: The Practice of Acupuncture

Posted on May 30, 2008
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While acupuncture may seem almost barbaric to Western observers, it is in fact more firmly established and much older than any of the Western style medical treatments available today.  This 5000 year old medical procedure has had a lot more development and study than any of the most trusted medical treatments in existence.

There are six commonly used types of acupuncture needles.  Each of these types varies in size and shape; some have wider shafts, some have differently shaped heads.  The needles are inserted at different angles to the skin surface; the different angles produce different effects in the body.  The practitioner then applies a special technique to the needle: rotation, raising and thrusting, a combination of these two techniques, or vibration.  Like the type of needle, insertion point and angle of insertion, the type of technique used depends on the desired effect.

The History of Acupuncture

Posted on May 14, 2008
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The father of Chinese medicine, Shen Nung, is thought to be the first person to have theorized about circulation in the human body.  These theories were compiled approximately 5000 years ago, and led to the development of acupuncture.

Shen Nung developed the idea of the Qi, an energy force that flows through the human body.  This energy travels through channels called Meridians which run all through the body.  The theory is that when the Qi is not flowing correctly, the human body experiences illness.  This incorrect flow can be caused by blocked Meridians which causes unbalanced Qi.  In order to reestablish the flow of Qi, certain points of the body where the Meridians contact the surface of the skin must be manipulated.  These points are accessed through the insertion of needles into the skin, a practice known as acupuncture.

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