Facebook Links

 https://www.facebook.com/simplymagickal  - Holistic and Esoteric Information 

https://www.facebook.com/myjourneythroughmadness - Mental Health, Addiction Recovery and Support Resources and Information 

LinkedIn

 Check out Kristie Townsend’s profile on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/simplymagickaluk

Simply Magickal

 

Check Us Out! 

https://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(holistic-health-healer-leicester)_710269.htm

Hi From Kristie

 Kristie Townsend

Ms Kristie Townsend

(VTCT, FHT, IIHHT, IIST, IHBC, BTEC, NOCN, ITEC, CIDESCO, OCR/RSA , CIBTAC, C&G, AoR, ISAP, CAM PGICH)

Membership (Professional & Paid), Nationally Recognised Qualifications & CPD with these Awarding Bodies and Affiliations.

Qualifications include; Diploma in Stress Management, Diploma in Holistic Therapies, BTEC National Diploma in Beauty Therapy Sciences, PGCE Education Certificate, Customer Services, Advanced Diploma in Holistic Therapies, Various Certification for Holistic, Complementary, Natural Beauty Treatments and Manufacturing of Holistic and Natural Beauty Products. 

Offering a wide range of services and products of excellence, quality and value. Price of Services Provided are via Donation.

MINIMUM £1.00 (all monies go to replenishing stock or improving our practices) 

Holistic Therapies

IMPORTANT NOTICE: 

Esoteric, Spiritual Treatments, Energetic Workings, Holistic and Non-Holistic Therapies, Beauty Treatments, Informal Learning Groups, Circles, Classes and Readings are NOT intended to replace the advice and guidance of Medical Professionals. 

They should be used as a supplemental to help facilitate good health and well-being.

ALWAYS SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE FOR AN ONGOING AILMENT. 

Our Philosophy :- 

We are of the belief the human body from your mind to your immunity and down to your very thoughts can impact you in the most positive and negative ways. 

Our aim is to bring you the highest quality...

Treatments, Therapies, Learning Resources (That contain the very best advice, information etc. in the most empathic, professional, Up-to-date Products, Procedures and Research Material possible). 

Our goal is to get you into the best health possible, and keep you there and we do this,  One Consultation, Therapy, Treatment, Reading, Care Plan, Informational Publication, at a time. 

Our Mission: Our products and practices are unique in that we produce high quality-high impact services.

Holistic Health Healer Leicester finds the researchers, writers, and knowledge necessary to bring you the very best practices, procedures, products and information that can change lives to all who stand to benefit.

https://www.facebook.com/simplymagickal

Yellow Calcite

Yellow Optical Calcite that comes to us from China. These are really beautiful double-refractive, honey colored pieces of Yellow Optical Calcite. These pieces are great for placing on the chakras during body-layouts and meditation. Their energies of manifestation make them excellent for grid work.

Yellow Optical Calcite is often used to enhance self-confidence and self-esteem. Wear it when you want to meet new people and make new friends. Yellow Optical Calcite is an excellent crystal for students, especially those that suffer from dyslexia, learning disabilities or any person who tends to freeze up during tests and exams.

The sweet, subtle, and vibrant energy of Yellow Optical Calcite can sometimes be felt when placed directly on the Solar Plexus chakra and can infuse one with a sense of new hope and optimism to face the future.

Physically, Yellow Optical Calcite can be helpful with building up calcium in bones, joints and the spine. It can be used to assist in hormonal imbalances, painful muscles and the detoxification of the kidneys

What Are Essential Oils

What is an essential oil?

An essential oil is a concentrated, volatile, aromatic liquid that is obtained from the fruits, seeds, flowers, bark, stems, roots, leaves or other parts of a plant. There are estimated to be 10,000 aromatic plants (ie that contain essential oils) on Earth, and about 500 of these are processed commercially for essential oil extraction. These oils have been used for centuries for both their healing and aromatic benefits. This is most commonly accomplished by steam distillation (steam is passed through the plant material), and sometimes hydrodistillation (the plant is gently boiled in water). More modern methods include mechanically expressing oils from citrus fruit peel, and solvent extraction. Solvent extracted oils include CO2 extracts and absolutes, and these are not classed as essential oils.

Purity and quality. Equally as important.

Plant Therapy’s standards of quality are some of the strictest in the industry. Before we sell an essential oil we do everything possible to establish that it is 100% pure, natural, AND of the highest quality, making it appropriate for use in aromatherapy. To ensure that each oil meets these strict standards, Plant Therapy works directly with world renowned essential oil expert, Robert Tisserand, and several analytical laboratories.

From the beginning.

Before we even obtain a sample, we need to know everything about the farmer, distiller or supplier. We need to know their background, reputation, commitment to quality, and commitment to the industry. Once this has been established to our satisfaction, we then move on to the oil.

The Oils.

Essential oils are composed of many constituents, typically about 100, though it can range from 10 to 200. Factors that affect the composition, and therefore the quality of an oil, include where the plant was grown (country of origin, latitude, elevation) soil and weather conditions, time of day and time of year of harvest, and various parameters of distillation.

Essential oils with the same common name, such as Eucalyptus, Lemongrass or Wintergreen, may come from more than one species of plant. Others, such as Basil, Rosemary or Thyme, come from the same species, but they come in different 'chemotypes', which means there are significant differences in the composition from one chemotype to another.

All of these factors potentially affect both quality and therapeutic effect. When we finally know what oil we are sampling we can then move on to the testing phase. We typically test 3-5 samples from different suppliers for every essential oil that we buy. Even when we re-purchase from the same supplier, we test the new batch of oil.

Testing the oil.

Our essential oils are first organoleptically tested by Robert Tisserand before being sent to a third party testing facility. Robert has been evaluating essential oils professionally for over 40 years. Organoleptic testing means smelling the oil from a testing strip over time – some characteristics do not reveal themselves until the oil has been evaporating for 30 minutes or more. It also includes evaluating the color, consistency and general appearance of an oil, and comparing it to what a good quality oil should look like and smell like.

Following this, our oils are sent to one of several third-party laboratories where they undergo multiple tests including Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (also known as GC/MS testing). Every batch of oil we receive goes through both rounds of testing, and these tests will show us the quality of the oil and also what is in the oil. Most contaminants or adulterants show up with these tests, and for those that don’t, if we suspect that some of what looks like a natural constituent of an oil might be a synthetic addition, we use chiral analysis – a more sophisticated form of gas chromatography – to find out if it is in fact, a natural constituent or a synthetic addition.

Even though we work with distillers and farmers who have repeatedly proven to provide excellent quality essential oils, when Plant Therapy claims that our oils are 100% pure and of the highest quality, we want to make sure that we are doing everything possible to guarantee that.

Making it to our customers.

Essential oil batches are eliminated at each step of the quality control process until we have found the best, and only the best ones make it through to our facility in Southern Idaho to be bottled, labeled and shipped off to our customers.

Batch information and testing details.

Every bottle of oil that you purchase from Plant Therapy will have a specific batch code that tells us exactly what batch of oil is in your bottle. This information is also directly linked to the testing reports for each batch of oil. You can see each essential oil’s GC/MS report by going to the essential oil’s product page and clicking on Test Reports.

www.planttherapy.com

Holistic Health

Definition of Holistic Health While researching the definition of holistic health I discovered that there a variety of explanations. Many sources confused it with the definitions of holistic healing and complementary alternative medicine. CAM includes all healing modalities except conventional modern medicine. Those explanations describe the hows of health and healing, but fail to include the overall condition of body and mind. The well-being of the whole self is what the definition of holistic health is based on. A complete definition of holistic health explores answers to the following questions: What is holistic health? How do you achieve and maintain improved levels of whole self wellness? Borrowing from a variety of definitions, including the biopsychosocial model, I created the following inclusive definition of holistic health. It takes into account all areas of your life, including body mind health. Holistic health is your overall state of wellness on all levels of your being: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. It encompasses the health of your entire being and extends to everyone and everything that affects you in any way. That includes your resources, your environment, and your relationships. The World Health Organization says it this way: Holistic Health Definition Although we are accustomed to dealing with each of these areas separately, the word holistic implies the condition of the whole. In reality, body, mind and spirit are completely intertwined aspects of the whole. They are not separate entities and cannot be separated. When you affect one level, either positively or negatively, to some extent you affect the whole person. Biopsychosocial Model of Holistic Health For a deeper understanding of the definition of holistic health, it is helpful to look at the work of American psychiatrist, Dr. George Engel. Dr Engel rejected the medical approach of separating body as machine from the emotional makeup of patients in favor of an integrated approach. He believed it was important to examine all areas of life, including body mind health, interactions with your environment and others. These interactions are important measures of well-being on all levels. George Engel named his method of determining an individual's current state of health the biopsychosocial model. It helps you assess your level of holistic wellness now and in the future as you make changes. Dr. Engel considered wellness to be based on many factors interacting together to create a whole picture of health. These factors include biological, environmental, psychological, and aspects of life. A few measures of wellness include: How many hours do you sleep each night? How well do you get along with others? Do you have unresolved relationship issues? Are you regularly around toxic chemicals in work or at home? How much fresh food do you eat each day? What is your exercise routine? Are you happy with your job and financial status? Do you have a social support system? This view is contrary to the model embraced by the modern allopathic medical system, but I dare say in view of recent research about epigenetics (what is over the genes and influences them), the line is beginning to blur. Still, modern medicine still mostly operates from the viewpoint that we are our genes. It is our genes that primarily determine how long we live, our mental outlook, and whether or not we eventually succumb to heart disease, Alzheimer's, cancer and other conditions. It is us and the medical establishment versus our genes. Recent research into the field of epigenetics is proving Dr. Engel correct. This is good news. It proves that we have a great deal more influence over our health and well-being than we were led to believe. The definition of holistic health as it relates to you Holistic health is your state of overall well-being right now. It is not a static thing, but an ever changing state of being.

Holistichealthhealer@outlook.com

Massage therapies and ayurvedic treatments are becoming increasingly popular because of their long lasting affects in terms of ensuring the overall health and well-being of an individual. These ancient methods provide holistic treatment of the mind, body and the soul to help individuals feel peaceful and relaxed from within. Our Holistic Clinic is a renowned provider of alternative healing therapies. The clinic provides various options to individuals who might like to treat themselves to session of holistic healing therapy conducted by experts. Every session is designed to leave the clients feeling re-energised, relaxed and happy.

The expert therapists at the centre work towards ensuring the fitness of the body, mind and soul of individual clients. They make conscious efforts to understand the needs and expectations of the clients and suggest a treatment methodology based on the same. Unlike other similar clinics, Our Holistic Clinic does not shy away from combining a variety of treatment therapies and methodologies to offer the most satisfactory results to the clients. Clients tend to get the best benefits of age-old treatment therapies practices in eastern countries for ages, by attending only a few sessions at the clinic.

In addition to offering healing services to clients visiting in person, the clinic also offers distance healing facilities. This is a relatively unique concept that enables the clinic to reach out to a greater number of people seeking relief from stress and pain. This method of treatment, known as Reiki, is based on the concept that energy flows through cannels and it is possible to transfer energy to remote locations for healing purposes using the right channels. In addition to Reiki, the other therapies offered by the clinic include Energy Healing, Massage Therapy, Ayurveda Treatment, Tibetian Anti- Stress Care and Yoga, all of which are aimed at enhancing the quality of life of the individuals undertaking them.

This is only sample of our unique services. ..
www.holistichealingeastmidlands.co.uk

Rose Quartz

http://www.crystalvaults.com/921151#product-tab1

EXCESSIVE SWEATING TIPS

Holistic Therapy

Holistic medicine focuses on caring for the whole patient, mind, body and spirit. 

So based on the belief that each individual has a powerful capacity for health and healing within them, holistic medicine relies on the body's systems functioning as parts of the whole individual, dependent on each other. Illness occurs when there's an imbalance in any of the body's systems, and the holistic practitioner looks at each of them in order to determine the cause of the imbalance and how to restore it. Biologic, physiologic, social and spiritual factors are all considered, and they work together in connection to influence health and illness. The overall goal of holistic medicine is to treat the person and not the disease. 

So although this integrative approach may be different from the conventional medical approaches you might be familiar with, holistic medicine is far from new. In fact, what we think of as mainstream medicine in the Western world is a much more recent innovation. Ancient healing techniques go back as far as 5,000 years ago where practices in China and India stressed health as a reflection of harmony within one's self and with nature. And today holistic medicine revisits those practices. Health care practitioners who use the holistic model work together with patients as partners in a collaborative approach to health problems

Simple Green Smoothie Recipe

CARING CARROT

serves two

2 cups kale
1 cup water
2 oranges, peeled
1 large carrot*
1 cup mango *Can chop and steam carrot to make easier to blend, or leave raw.

1. Blend kale, water, and oranges together until smooth.
2. Add remaining ingredients and blend again.

Essential Oils

Essential Oils 101

   

INHALE, EXHALE

A GUIDE TO ESSENTIAL OILS
It’s no secret I struggle with anxiety. Whether it from personal relationships, over-stimulation, abrupt changes, living in the city, or too many hours spent on my phone, my anxiety has this uncanny way of creeping up and grabbing hold. And, more often than not, these unpleasant encounters cause me to lose my sense of self.

That said, I’m so happy mental health is becoming more of a public discourse. I am living proof that everyone, at one point or another, has or will struggle with issues regarding their mental wellbeing. You know the quote, “Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind?” Well, those words ring true. People can be very skilled at hiding their feelings.

In hopes of helping me combat my anxiety, my mom introduced me to essential oils. I now rarely leave the house without a vial in my purse or a dab behind my ears. I hope that by sharing what I know, I can help you too! It’s important to use public spaces like ours to start and continue these difficult but necessary conversations.

WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?
Essential oils are oils extracted from the bark, leaf, root, seed or flower of a plant through processes like cold pressing or stem distillation. The resulting liquid (oil) is highly concentrated. One drop reaps many health benefits. When purchasing essential oils, it is important to only buy the pure therapeutic-grade ones.

HOW DO THEY WORK?
Because essential oils are made up of smaller molecules, it seeps into the skin easily when topically applied. When used aromatically, the blood vessels in your lungs absorb the oil and your blood circulates it throughout the rest of your body.

I started using essential oils to reduce my anxiety. After seeing positive results, I started experimenting with different ways to incorporate them into my daily routine. You can say that I’m mildy obsessed. There’s something very fulfilling about conscientiously working towards a healthier me. There is SO much to learn about these oils and about a billion different ways to use them. It really depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re interested in doing more research, this is a great place to start!

HOW DO YOU USE THEM?
You should always read the dilution instructions! Remember, different oils have different uses and those uses are generally non-transferable.

1. Topically
Apply 2-3 drops directly onto your skin and massage.
To cover larger surface areas, pair the essential oil of choice with a carrier oil. Note: Not all carrier oils maintain essential oil properties when mixed together. For that reason, I personally recommend pairing with only coconut oil or olive oil.
2. Aromatically
Rub 2-3 drops between your palms and cup your hands. Place your hands over your nose and take a long, slow inhale.
Add 2-3 drops into a bowl of hot water. Place a towel over your head and hover your face over the bowl. The idea is to trap the rising steam with your towel. Again, concentrate on your breath. Inhale in and exhale out.
Use a diffuser. My favorite way.
Add 2-3 drops to my bubble bath. Hello, at-home spa!
3. Ingestion

Place 2-3 drops into a gelatin capsule and swallow with water.
Add 1–2 drops to a glass of water.
Cook with 1–2 drops.
MY FAVORITES
Lavender
Lavender essential oil is commonly used to promote balance and relaxation. It can also help with skin irritations. It smells divine. I usually add 3 drops to my diffuser before I go to sleep. The diffuser automatically shuts off when there’s no water left, so it’s totally safe! I’ve also been known to add a drop of it to my night-time moisturizer. Sometimes I dilute it in a spray bottle and spray it on my pillows. Can you tell that this is my favorite scent?

Stress Away
This unique oil blend from Young Living was the introductory oil my mom gave me. I use it when I study and when I work. The oil has lime and vanilla notes. It also has lavender and copaiba to help reduce mental rigidity and encourage balance within the body. The cedrol found in cedar wood and the eugenol found in vanilla work together to increase feelings of relaxation and reduce the body’s nervous tension.

Peppermint
When applied topically (typically to the back of your neck), peppermint oil instantly cools the skin. When diffused or added to a bath, it awakens all of your senses. I use this oil whenever I need an extra boost!

Wintergreen & Cypress
This combination of oils is great for alleviating muscle pain. I use it to ease the carpal tunnel in my right hand. I add 2 drops of both wintergreen and cypress to coconut oil before applying the mixture to my forearm, wrist, and hand. I do this twice a week. The wintergreen works to cool the area of inflammation and relieve  pain. The cypress works to increase the circulation in the affected area.

Purification & Wild Orange
Purification is another oil blend from Young Living. It’s a combination of citronella, rosemary, lemongrass, tea tree, lavender, and myrtle oil. They work together to eliminate bad odors from anything and everything. Given the underwhelming square footage of my apartment, this blend comes in handy when cooking. I use it with Wild Orange to spray away lingering smells.

Frankincense
Frankincense is said to reconnect you spiritually and encourage you to find your purpose. Many people use it during their yoga or meditation practices to help them find inner peace. You can also add it to your moisturizer to enhance your natural beauty!

Flipboard

Join my Flipboard magazine, Holistic health, to collect and share stories together: http://flip.it/8Z-Zy

Fiery redheaded1

tumblr.com

Tumblr

http://fieryredheaded1.tumblr.com

Why Organic?

Its been 20 years now since I found out that a food as healthy as an apple is sprayed 16 times with poisonous pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and growth regulators. This single fact shocked me so much that I started to question everything I was eating. A major turning point in my life, my shopping spree went from 10 minutes to hours as I read every single ingredient – hydrogenated fats, preservatives, colourants, flavourings, E numbers- where was the actual food? Why did it take me 27 years to become aware? Switching to Organic food along with Homeopathy transformed my health and there was no going back for me. It can be overwhelming when everything we believe in is turned upside down but so often I hear people still saying, there no point choosing organic, its so much more expensive and it doesn’t make a difference anyway. Occasionally I am so dumbfounded by this comment but then I remember myself 20 years ago, the difference was I didn’t know any better and the information that is so freely available now was not available back then. What we put on and in our bodies profoundly affects our health and well-being. Nothing can be more important than that. Cheap chemical ingredients result in cheap chemical products that often do more harm than good. We can choose to live a better, healthier life. The new Soil Association Campaign for September is just perfect – Small Changes Big Difference. Each week or each day change one thing. On one day it could be your milk, on the next your lip stick, on the next your bread, on the next day read about a toxic ingredient and so on until before you know it you have changed everything and really become in tune with your body and what it needs to be healthy.

Homeopathy Books

INTRODUCTORY READING Below is a suggested introductory reading list with supplier details. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook Homeopathy for Mother and Baby, Pregnancy, Childbirth and the First Years of Life Homeopathic Guide to Stress, Safe and Effective Natural Ways to Alleviate Physical and Emotional Stress Miranda Castro FSHom. Pan. A series of three guides to everyday health care written by a Registered Member and Fellow of the Society. Practical Homœopathy: Homeopathy and the Menopause Beth MacEoin RSHom. Bloomsbury. Complete guides to homeopathic treatment written by a Registered Member of the Society. Homeopathy, An Introductory Guide to Natural Medicine for the Whole Person Peter Adams RSHom. Element. An introduction which explains what to expect from a consultation with a homeopath, written by a Registered Member of the Society. Homeopathy, Science or Myth? Bill Gray MD. North Atlantic Books. The place of homeopathy in relation to modern conventional medicine and the treatment of contemporary disease patterns. Science of Homeopathy George Vithoulkas ‘Principles and Practice of Homeopathy’ David Owen MBBS, FFHom. Churchill Livingstone ‘Medicine Flows – Homeopathic Philosophy’ Mo Morrish BSc, MCCH, RSHom. Homeopathy Centre Publications. Further Reading Resonance The Homeopathic Point of View Richard Moskowitz MD. Xlibris Corporation www.xlibris.com A modern textbook. Studies in Materia Medica D M Gibson. Beaconsfield Publishers. Thorough well presented introductory studies in materia medica. Repertory to the Homeopathic Materia Medica: Lectures on Homeopathic Materia Medica: Lectures on Homeopathic Philosophy James Tyler Kent. Reprinted in India. Three great classics, essential texts for students and practitioners. The Organon of the Medical Art Samuel Hahnemann. Birdcage Books 1996/2001. A modern translation of the major theoretical book first published in 1810, translated and edited by Stephen Decker and Wenda O’Reilly. Organon of Medicine, 5th & 6th Edition Samuel Hahnemann, Translated by Dudgeon 1849 and Boericke 1922. Reprinted in India. Homeopathic Drug Pictures Margaret Tyler. Health Science Press. Snapshot pictures of our most important remedies full of references from the classic literature and clinical experiences. The Spirit of Homeopathy The Substance of Homeopathy The Soul of Remedies The System of Homeopathy Rajan Sankaran. Published in Bombay. Four inspiring modern textbooks. Homeopathy: Good Science – how new science validates homeopathy Peter Adams RSHom. Rhyme and Reason Books. Science has not reached definitive conclusions on many of the experiments discussed in this book, so it is not about finding definitive answers, rather it provides an interesting introduction to readers who are new to this subject area. Mail Order Book Suppliers Alternative Training Orchard Leigh, Rodborough Hill, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 3SS Tel. 01453 765956 or 0800 043 9349 www.alternative-training.com Homeopathic Book Co Ltd Manor House, Manor Road, Burton-le-Coggles, Grantham NG33 4JR Tel. 01476 550754 Email: contact@homeopathicbooks.com" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(101, 2, 104); -webkit-transition: all 0.5s ease; transition: all 0.5s ease; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.298039); background: 0px 0px;">contact@homeopathicbooks.com www.homeopathicbooks.com Minerva Books Tel. 01225 760003 Ainsworths and Helios Pharmacies also sell books. See our find a pharmacy: click here The products and services included here do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Society of Homeopaths.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SEE A HOMEOPATH

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SEE A HOMEOPATH Homeopath clinic When you see a homeopath it’s their job to get a thorough understanding of your health and the exact symptoms you are experiencing, so that they can find a homeopathic remedy which matches you and your symptoms as closely as possible. During this confidential, in-depth ‘case-taking’ process your homeopath will want to know precise details of your current illness, but will also consider other aspects of your health including your past medical history, diet, lifestyle and personality. Holistic Homeopathy is a holistic medicine and as such takes into account all aspects of the individual and their symptoms before making a prescription. This first consultation will usually take between one and two hours, depending on the practitioner. You will be asked many questions and some of them will seem strange for those not used to homeopathy. The practitioner is building up a picture of your unique make up, a bit like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Follow-ups The first follow up consultation will usually be around four weeks after the first prescription, although in some cases it may be sooner. The session may be shorter, and the homeopath will ask about changes that have occurred, using their detailed notes as a reference point, before deciding on the next step in your treatment. The number of consultations an individual may need is difficult to predict – it depends on a number of factors such as the age of the patient, how long the symptoms have been going on and their individual response to the prescription. What about seeing my doctor? It is recommended that you maintain your relationship with your GP or specialist. When necessary homeopathic and conventional approaches can be used alongside one another to give the most appropriate medical care. Your local NHS services will also be able to arrange any diagnostic procedures you may need and provide emergency cover. Some people choose homeopathy because they are unhappy with side effects from their current conventional medication. However you should continue with any conventional medical treatment that may have already been prescribed as it can be dangerous to stop this suddenly. Any change in use of conventional medication should be discussed with both the prescribing doctor and your homeopath as treatment progresses. If at any stage of your treatment you are concerned about changes in your symptoms, you should contact your homeopath and/or medical practitioner immediately

Aromatherapy

When we think of health care, we usually think of traditional medical care that involves the diagnosis and treatment of chronic illness, cancer, etc., which many people refer to as “Western medicine.” In addition to the type of medical care we have all grown up with, there are several other approaches to health care that are known as “complementary” and “alternative.” Other areas of nontraditional health care include “integrative medicine” as well as “functional medicine.” So, what do all these terms mean and why should we think about using these types of health care? In general, these are different approaches to health care with a history of use and origins outside of mainstream medicine; and although the term CAM uses the words complementary and alternative together and often interchangeably, these two words refer to somewhat different concepts of health care. “Complementary” refers to using non-mainstream health care together with traditional or conventional medical care. The term “alternative” refers to using non-mainstream health care in place of traditional health care. Another term we hear is “integrative medicine.” Think of the use of massage therapy or guided imagery. These are ways of treating a person using nontraditional means to help them heal. They integrate traditional medical care with alternative therapies. As an example, some cancer treatment centers use integrative health care programs which offer acupuncture or meditation to help manage symptoms and side effects of the cancer along with its traditional treatments (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc.). It is interesting to see that “integrative health care” is happening now and is a growing trend among people who understand the benefits. For these individuals it is important to utilize any and all means of health care that will help them treat their illness or, in the case when a person does not have a defined illness, simply stay healthy. The National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) uses the term “complementary health approaches” when discussing natural products or, mind and body health care practices. “Natural” products include herbs and botanicals, vitamins, minerals and probiotics which are often marketed as dietary supplements. Evidence shows that the value of these alternative products is significantly underestimated. When you look at the research and the scientific evidence for the use of botanicals (herbs and plants) for the treatment and prevention of illness and disease, the evidence is overwhelming. There are hundreds if not thousands of research reports that support the use of natural products for treatment and prevention. Examples include fish oil, echinacea, and mineral supplements. It is interesting to remember that penicillin comes from a fungus; and digoxin, a heart medication, comes from the foxglove plant. When we talk about using anti-oxidants to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, we need to understand that most of these come from plants. NCCAM also includes “mind and body practices” as other forms of alternative health care. These include acupuncture, massage therapy, meditation, relaxation techniques, spinal manipulation, osteopathic manipulation, chiropractic therapies, tai chi, yoga, hypnotherapy, to name a few. NCCAM is the government’s lead agency for scientific research on health care practices outside of mainstream medicine. Its mission is to define through scientific investigation the usefulness and safety of complementary health care approaches and to understand their roles in improving health. This scientific evidence will help people make informed decisions about their health care. More information about this organization can be found at nccam.nih.gov/about/ataglance. Another area of complementary medicine is called “functional medicine,” which focuses on alternative treatments emphasizing the interaction between the environment and the gastrointestinal, endocrine and immune systems. Knowing the function of these systems within the body helps to understand the approach of functional medicine. The gastrointestinal (GI) system is the first line of defense the body has to bacteria, viruses, toxins, chemical, and other potentially harmful substances. Maintaining a healthy GI tract is necessary if we are going to be able to ward off these invaders. The endocrine system is the chemical system of the body which contains and controls the hundreds of hormones that keep us healthy. Knowing that there are so many environmental, health and life factors that affect our hormones is a no-brainer to understand why it is so important to keep this system healthy. The immune system allows us to fight infections and probably also helps us to deal with cancer cells and other illnesses. Keeping the body functional should be one of the most important goals for health care. How do you do this? The answer to this is what I like to refer to as lifestyle management. This is a daily approach to life that allows you to maintain good health: • a functional GI, endocrine and immune system; • a sound and productive brain; • a musculoskeletal system that allows you to move around and do all the physical things you want to do every day; • a social and spiritual personality that brings you happiness and fulfillment and enables you to give back, pay it forward and to be grateful for all the blessings you have. I can tell you from personal and professional experience that one of the most rewarding things you can do is to practice lifestyle management. I do this in my medical practice and in my personal life. It is so enjoyable to see a person take control of their health by taking control of their life. When they realize the power they have over their health, and all the benefits they get from keeping good health practices as the No. 1 priority in life, it is amazing to see what a person can accomplish and what a wonderful life they can enjoy! Functional medicine is practiced by many physicians who find it important to not only treat a person’s illness but also to prevent illness, disease and disability. The American Board of Functional Medicine (ABFM) is an independent organization that certifies physicians who practice functional medicine. I believe in and have practiced traditional medical care as a board certified internist for 20 years so I can attest to the significant benefits of this approach. With the addition of complementary health care products and services, we add another dimension to our health care and make available many other prevention and treatment approaches. Therefore, the recommendation would be to continue to rely on traditional medical/health care and add on complementary products, services and treatment approaches as necessary. This will enable you to take full advantage of all that is offered from Western and Eastern philosophies. Dr. Salvatore Lacagnina is vice president of health and wellness for Lee Memorial Health System. Dr.Sal@Leememorial.org This was first published July 17, 2014 by new-press.com and is republished here with the author’s permission