Monthly Archives: June 2017

Pitfalls of Artificial Intelligence Decisionmaking Highlighted In Idaho ACLU Case – ACLU (blog)

Posted: June 3, 2017 at 12:29 pm

One of the biggest civil liberties issues raised by technology today is whether, when, and how we allow computer algorithms to make decisions that affect peoples lives. Were starting to see this in particular in the criminal justice system. For the past several years the ACLU of Idaho has been involved in a fascinating case that, so far as I can tell, has received very little if any national coverage, but which raises fascinating issues that are core to the new era of big data that we are entering.

The case, K.W. v. Armstrong, is a class action lawsuit brought by the ACLU representing about 4,000 Idahoans with developmental and intellectual disabilities who receive assistance from the states Medicaid program. I spoke recently with Richard Eppink, Legal Director of the ACLU of Idaho, and he told me about the case:

It originally started because a bunch of people were contacting me and saying that that the amount of assistance that they were being given each year by the state Medicaid program was being suddenly cut by 20 or 30 percent. I thought the case would be a simple matter of saying to the state, Okay, tell us why these dollar figures dropped by so much.

What happens in this particular program is that each year you go to an assessment interview with an assessor who is a contractor with the Medicaid program, and they ask you a bunch of questions. The assessor plugs these into an Excel spreadsheet, and it comes out with this dollar figure amount, which is how much that you can spend on your services that year.

But when we asked them how the dollar amounts were arrived at, the Medicaid program came back and said, we cant tell you that, its a trade secret.

And so thats what led to the lawsuit. We said youve got to release this, you cant just be coming up with these numbers using a secret formula. And then, within a couple of weeks of filing the case, the court agreed and told the state, yeah, you have to disclose that. In a ruling from the bench the judge said its just a blatant due process violation to tell people youre going to reduce their health care services by $20,000 in a year for some secret reason. The judge also ruled on Medicaid Act groundsthere are requirements in the act that if youre going to reduce somebodys coverage, you have to explain why.

That was five years ago. And once we got their formula, we hired a couple of experts to dig into it and figure out what it was doinghow the whole process was working, both the assessmentthe formula itselfand the data that was used to create it.

Eppink said the experts that they hired found big problems with what the state Medicaid program was doing:

There were a lot of things wrong with it. First of all, the data they used to come up with their formula for setting peoples assistance limits was corrupt. They were using historical data to predict what was going to happen in the future. But they had to throw out two-thirds of the records they had before they came up with the formula because of data entry errors and data that didnt make sense. So they were supposedly predicting what this population was going to need, but the historical data they were using was flawed, and they were only able to use a small sub-set of it. And bad data produces bad results.

A second thing is that the state itself had found in its own testing that there were problemsdisproportionate results for different parts of the state that couldnt be explained.

And the third thing is that our experts found that there were fundamental statistical flaws in the way that the formula itself was structured.

Idahos Medicaid bureaucracy was making arbitrary and irrational decisions with big impacts on peoples lives, and fighting efforts to make it explain how it was reaching those decisions. This lack of transparency is unconscionable. Algorithms are often highly complicated, and when you marry them to human social/legal/bureaucratic systems, the complexity only skyrockets. That means public transparency is vital. The experience in Idaho only confirms this.

I asked Eppink, if Idahos decisionmaking system was so irrational, why did the state rely on it?

I dont actually get the sense they even knew how bad this was. Its just this bias we all have for computerized resultswe dont question them. Its a cultural, maybe even biological thing, but when a computer generates somethingwhen you have a statistician, who looks at some data, and comes up with a formulawe just trust that formula, without asking hey wait a second, how is this actually working? So I think the state fell victim to this complacency that we have with computerized decisionmaking.

Secondly, I dont think anybody at the Medicaid program really thought about how this was working. When we took the depositions in the case I asked each person we deposed from the program to explain to me how they got from these assessment figures to this number, and everybody pointed a finger at somebody else. I dont know that, but this other person does. So I would take a deposition from that other person, and that person pointed at somebody else, and eventually everybody was pointing around in a circle.

And so, that machine bias or complacency, combined with this idea that nobody really fully understood thisit was a lack of understanding of the process on the part of everybody; everybody assumed somebody else knew how it worked.

This, of course, is one of the time-honored horrors of bureaucracies: the fragmentation of intelligence that (as I have discussed) allows hundreds or thousands of intelligent, ethical individuals to behave in ways that are collectively stupid and/or unethical. I have written before about a fascinating paper by Danielle Citron entitled Technological Due Process, which looks at the problems and solutions that arise when translating human rules and policies into computer code. This case shows those problems in action.

So what are the solutions in this case? Eppink:

A couple years ago after wed done all that discovery and worked with the experts, we put it together in a summary judgment package for the judge. And last year the court held that the formula itself was so bad that it was unconstitutionalviolated due processbecause it was effectively producing arbitrary results for a large number of people. And the judge ordered that the Medicaid program basically overhaul the way it was doing this. That includes regular testing, regular updating, and the use of quality data. And thats where we are now; theyre in the process of doing that.

My hunch is that this kind of thing is happening a lot across the United States and across the world as people move to these computerized systems. Nobody understands them, they think that somebody else doesbut in the end we trust them. Even the people in charge of these programs have this trust that these things are working.

And the unfortunate part, as we learned in this case, is that it costs a lot of money to actually test these things and make sure theyre working right. It cost us probably $50,000, and I dont think that a state Medicaid program is going to be motivated to spend the money that it takes to make sure these things are working right. Or even these private companies that are running credit predictions, housing predictions, recidivism predictionsunless the cost is internalized on them through litigation, and its understood that hey, eventually somebodys going to have the money to test this, so it better be working.

As our technological train hurtles down the tracks, we need policymakers at the federal, state, and local level who have a good understanding of the pitfalls involved in using computers to make decisions that affect peoples lives.

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Artificial Intelligence: Chinese internet company teams up with German firms to make self-driving cars – The Indian Express

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The Indian Express
Artificial Intelligence: Chinese internet company teams up with German firms to make self-driving cars
The Indian Express
A Chinese firm specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) has partnered with two German companies to make self-driving systems and vehicles. China's Baidu will cooperate with the two German firms -automotive suppliers Bosch and Continental AG in ...

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Editorial: Circumspect, respect – Sun.Star

Posted: at 12:28 pm

IN THE world of psychology, there is this phenomenon called copycat suicide. It's when one suicide story triggers another or several others. Psychologists have been looking the way of the media and how suicide is reported as having a role in this. And this was way before social media became the rabid no context, no verification, no holds barred sharing of information, both fake and real.

In 2004, sociologist Dr. Steven Stack of the Wayne State University in Detroit and recognized as one of the experts in suicidology, analysed 42 studies on the impact of media's coverage on suicides and its potential of triggering copycats.

His research yielded three explanations for the media impact. First, is plain copycat, where troubled people relate to the stories of the troubled people reported on media who commit suicide, and thus can influence the equally troubled to do the same. Second is differential identification with models, especially when the suicide victim is a celebrity or highly regarded in society or even just among the circle of associates of the troubled.

The third is audience receptiveness. Like the youth being more prone to suicide can have more copycats. That was suicide sans social media.

Today, we have terrorists, jihadists, and yes, the IS, amid the anger that has been brewing all these time, fanned by those who have ill motives. As anger is spread and becomes mainstream, the people feast on reports of terrorist attacks. Anger, agitation, fear, and all negative emotions are dished out by the thousands everyday on social media, the contagion of anger spreads all over. Emotions are high, suspicions higher, and then there are the terror-inclined. Much like the suicide-inclined, really. The warnings have been raised years ago, but our penchant to express our views and little knowledge spurred on by the claim of "my wall-my post" does not heed such warnings, most likely do not even know of such warnings.

"Copycat terrorism makes compelling sense when we understand the simple but deadly psychology of contagion. A phenomenon of 'disinhibition' can occur when suicidal or murderous thoughts - inhibited by conscience, uncertainty or fear - are exposed to what is perceived as the positive consequences of suicide or murder. When this happens, the mental conflict between urges and inhibitions may be resolved, resulting in a suicidal and possibly murderous mind being made up," wrote Paul Marsden, Contagion psychologist and visiting research fellow at the University of Sussex in UK wrote in "Copycat Terrorism: Fanning the fire" published as a letter in the Journal of Memetics-Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission in 2001.

Now here's the difficult part of it all: A lost soul, a loser, and someone who has taken to heart all the injustices of the world will find greater fulfillment when dying for a cause. They may not join IS, but the swag will be tempting.

Now tell us, with the real threat of copycats, should we still remain as selfish as claiming "my wall-my post"?

In this troubled times, the role of a citizen is always to be circumspect in sharing every bit of information picked up without proper verification, but most of all, we must hold high the respect for those tasked to keep our people safe. Do not blow their covers; do not force them to speak up even before they have all the data together. We are all in this together; it can no longer be "my wall, my post." This is all about our country and how we have made it several times over as very enticing for all those who have held the IS in high regard for one reason or another, by opening our mouths and tapping our keyboards even when we shouldn't.

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Public broadcasting’s immortality defies reason – The Washington Post – Washington Post

Posted: at 12:28 pm

As changing technologies and preferences make government-funded broadcasting increasingly preposterous, such broadcasting actually becomes useful by illustrating two dismal facts. One is the immortality of entitlements that especially benefit those among societys articulate upper reaches who feel entitled. The other fact is how impervious government programs are to evidence incompatible with their premises.

Fifty years and about 500 channels ago, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was created to nudge Lyndon Johnsons Great Society it aimed to make America great for the first time the final inches toward perfection. Today, the CPB, which has received about $12 billion over the years, disperses the governments 15 percent of public televisions budget and 10percent of public radios. Originally, public television increased many viewers choices by 33 percent from three (CBS, NBC, ABC) to four.

Twenty-five years ago, Sen. Al Gore, defending another appropriation increase for the CPB, asked what he considered a dispositive question: How many senators here have children who have watched Sesame Street and Mister Rogers Neighborhood? ... This is one thing that works in this country. So, senators, mostly affluent, should compel taxpayers, mostly much less affluent, to subsidize the senators childrens viewing because it works, as measured by means that Gore neglected to reveal.

Eighteen years ago, some public broadcasting officials, who understood the importance of being earnest and imaginative testified to Congress that public televisions educational effects on the workforce give the economy a $12 billion boost. Fifteen years ago, however, the then-president of public television said, We are dangerously close in our overall prime-time numbers to falling below the relevance quotient. Relevance? To what?

Today, Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, thinks we can risk terminating the CPB. This would reduce viewers approximately 500choices to approximately 499. Listeners to public radio might have to make do with Americas 4,666 AM and 6,754 FM commercial stations, 437 satellite radio channels, perhaps 70,000 podcasts, and other Internet and streaming services.

America, which is entertaining itself to inanition, has never experienced a scarcity of entertainment. Or a need for government-subsidized journalism that reports on the government. Before newspaper editorial writers inveigh against Mulvaney and in support of government subsidies for television and radio, they should answer this question: Should there be a CPN a Corporation for Public Newspapers?

The CPB was created to encourage public telecommunications services which will be responsive to the interests of people. Of course: peoples interests, not peoples desires. The market efficiently responds to the latter. Public broadcasting began as a response to what progressives nowadays call market failure. This usually means the markets failure to supply what the public has not demanded but surely would demand if it understood its real interest.

One reason many Americans are becoming cord cutters, abandoning cable and satellite television, is that they want an a la carte world. One reason ESPN has lost 12 million subscribers in six years is that it is an expensive component of cable and satellite packages and many of those paying for the packages rarely watch ESPN.

Compelling taxpayers to finance government-subsidized broadcasting is discordant with todays a la carte impulse and raises a point: If it has a loyal constituency, those viewers and listeners, who are disproportionately financially upscale, can afford voluntary contributions to replace the government money. And advertisers would pay handsomely to address this constituency.

Often the last, and sometimes the first, recourse of constituencies whose subsidies are in jeopardy is: Its for the children. Big Bird, however, is more a corporate conglomerate than an endangered species. If Sesame Street programming were put up for auction, the danger would be of getting trampled by the stampede of potential bidders.

The argument for government-subsidized broadcasting is perversely circular: If the public were enlightened, there would be no need for government subsidies. But, by definition, an enlightened public would understand the inherent merits of subsidies by which the government picks more deserving winners than the market does.

However, because government-subsidized broadcasting exists, any argument for it would be superfluous, given what governmental inertia usually accomplishes for government enterprises. Long ago in January there was bold Republican talk about Congress restoring regular order: There would be 12 appropriations bills, and they would be enacted before the 2018 fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Instead, there probably will be another swallow this or shutter the government omnibus bill in which almost everything survives by sparing almost everyone the torture of choices. This is, of course, a choice.

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AI experts: Prepare for a sad immortality – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Posted: at 12:28 pm

AI experts: Prepare for a sad immortality
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
AI experts: Prepare for a sad immortality. By Lucien Crowder. For a June special issue on The Benefits of Building an Artificial Brain, the good folks at IEEE Spectrum decided to ask a range of technologists and visionaries a few questions, including:.

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Beilue: In ’93, Amarillo’s Urban was one word from spelling immortality – Amarillo.com

Posted: at 12:28 pm

David Urban knew the answer to the question almost before the question was even asked.

Renascent.

I can definitely spell that now, Urban said. I spelled it without the s. I possibly could have come across the word before, but I dont ever remember having seen it.

It was 1993, nearly a quarter century ago, and Urban was 13 and just finished seventh grade at Crockett Middle School. It was his second of what would be three trips to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

It was a more innocent time, unlike this weeks whiz kids at the spelling bee with professional tutors, year-round study and a $40,000 cash, among several awards, to the winner.

But 24 years ago, through 15 rounds at the Capital Hilton, Urban, who was 66th the previous year, found himself with Geoff Hooper of Arlington, Tenn., as the only two contestants remaining out of 234 spellers. One would be crowned national champion.

A few rounds before, when only six spellers remained, the parents were invited to go on stage. Dr. Steve Urban, with his lucky dinosaur tie, and wife Joan were among a handful with a close-up view of their children.

It was an anxiety-provoking event, Dr. Urban said. But once he was in the top 10 or so, it was really a feeling of elation. I kind of had the anxiety leave me.

Urban, by the unluck of the draw, would finish as the national runner-up, the highest finish ever by an area speller. Before and after that year, two local spellers have finished eighth.

There was anxiousness and nervousness countered by boredom. Its a stark contrast of just sitting there for an hour and half, and then all of a sudden, youre at the microphone and its pretty intense, he said.

After 13 rounds, three were left Urban, Hooper and Yuni Kim, 12, then of Pottsville, Pa., who would inadvertently later play a major role in Urbans life. Kim stumbled on apotheosize. Urban breezed through connubial and Hooper nailed stupefacient.

Then there were two.

Words were a blind draw, but, man, did Hooper get a couple of late softballs thrown his way. While Urban scratched his head on renascent, Hooper got enchilada. Yes, enchilada, a word Texans can spell by second grade.

Competition rules required Hooper to spell one more word to be champion, which he did. His word? Kamikaze.

I remember getting a little bit perturbed that the guy who won got substantially easier words than the ones I got, Urban said. If anything, maybe a little bit amused and annoyed.

There was a special room, Urban said, where contestants could privately cry, and with a punching bag in it, even vent. For Urban, he was thrilled to be second.

He was interviewed by a couple of TV stations in Washington, and was the banner headline on the June 4, 1993, Amarillo Daily News: Urban Blows It no, wait, Amarilloan finishes 2nd in spelling bee. The next week, they had a brief ceremony at City Hall to declare the day David Urban Day.

It was not a holiday anyone remembered, but it was kind of fun to have a ceremony, he said. Being a champion speller is not going to impress a lot of 12- and 13-year-olds.

Later that year, I got a letter from a lady in Minnesota who had seen me on TV and said I looked exactly like her grandson, and she included a picture of her grandson. I didnt see the resemblance, but Ill have to take her word for it.

Its ironic now, but in a time when spelling has decreased emphasis in school curriculum, the stakes and emphasis for the national championship have never been higher. Like age-group volleyball and basketball players, its essentially year-round.

A word like renascent would be a second- or third-round word now, Urban said.

Urban would start practicing just after the holidays. He would work for about 30 minutes a night, increase that to an hour or so in the spring, and increase that to maybe a couple of hours as the bee drew near. His dad was his coach. That would be positively quaint by todays standards.

To show how long ago that was, Urban got $4,000 and a set of Encyclopedia Britannicas. His parents have all the old encyclopedias they want. Daughter Elizabeth, now a professor of history at West Chester University in Pennsylvania, twice went to the national bee as well.

Urban, 37, graduated from Amarillo High in 1998 and got an English degree from Rice University in 2002. He went to graduate school to study English Literature at Princeton University. He then did an about-face, and for the last four years has been a computer programmer in New York City for a start-up company, Medstro, a social network for physicians.

But the National Spelling Bee runner-up did have one major perk. While at freshman orientation at Rice, he was approached by a freshman girl from New Jersey named Celina Fang. She asked if he was David Urban, a one-time spelling bee finalist?

I thought my fame had preceded me, he said.

Rather surprised, he said indeed he was. As it turned out, Celina Fang was a high school friend of Yuni Kim, who finished third in 1993 when Urban was runner-up. Who knew?

Celina Fang, a former reporter for the New York Times and ABC News, would eventually become Urbans wife. Theyve been together now for 16 years. Rather s-e-r-e-n-d-i-p-i-t-o-u-s for both.

Jon Mark Beilue is an AGN Media columnist. He can be reached at jon.beilue@amarillo.com or 806-345-3318. Twitter: @jonmarkbeilue.

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Second Thoughts: LeBron needs to get physical in quest for immortality – MyDaytonDailyNews

Posted: at 12:28 pm

The Memorial Day forecast is looking good, so enjoy the holiday and pause to think about why you dont have to go to work on Monday. I also suggest a trip to the meat counter at Dots Market. That is the recipe to a great cookout.

Im already sick of the LeBron vs. MJ debate. The NBA Finals havent even tipped off and thats all we hear. Who is better, James or Jordan? Thats subjective, so lets play basketball. LeBron is making his seventh straight trip to the Finals, a jaw-dropping statistic. Can he will the Cavaliers past the latest super team to dominate the league?

The Warriors are off-the-charts talented, but the Cavaliers are battle tested. I think it comes down to the style of play. If its a jailbreak, up and down the court, its Golden State. If the refs are allowing some extra effort on boxouts, then Cleveland has the edge. Ill say Warriors in six which should quiet the LeBron vs. MJ debate.

The Indianapolis 500 will be held today, weather permitting. I watched some of the Carb Day practice Friday. Not very exciting. I did learn that Honda motors have been problematic, so I guess its safe to pick a Chevy-powered car.

There are 18 Honda engines in the field of 33 cars. There are 15 Chevrolet engines. There are no engines powered by squirrels and none of them have carburetors. My oldest daughter is going to the race (these things happen when you send your kid to Purdue) and I shared that bit of trivia with her so she can impress her friends.

The betting lines for Week 1 of the college football season are out. Ohio State is a 21-point favorite on the road against Indiana in its Aug. 31 opener. That is a Thursday night game, so plan accordingly. I think that line will balloon, so it might be time to break the piggy bank and place a wager on Urban and the boys. With Kevin Wilson calling the offensive plays against his old team, this one could get ugly.

I checked on the Maryland-Purdue Big Ten baseball tournament game Thursday night just in time to see Maryland coach John Szefc make a fool of himself in the eighth inning. The game was tied when a Maryland player was beaned. The home plate umpire said he didnt attempt to get out of the way (he did). Szefc charged from the dugout and unloaded a barrage of F-bombs and BS this and BS that. The Big Ten Network picked it up, loud and clear. Hopefully the children were in bed.

Trending up: NFL hot dogs, Tim Adleman, Jose Berrios. The NFL is relaxing its rules on touchdown celebrations, which should lead to assorted injuries as players gyrate their way to the training room. Im not much on TD merriment; I prefer the Barry Sanders reaction to reaching the end zone. But if I had to bring back just one touchdown dance, Id go with Billy White Shoes Johnson.

Trending down: Justin Gilbert, Andrew McCutchen, Nationals bullpen. Gilbert, one of the Browns many draft-day mistakes in recent years, has been suspended for four games by the NFL for violating the leagues substance-abuse policy. Whether any team signs the wayward free agent so he can serve his time is questionable. Cleveland took the cornerback with the No. 8 pick in 2014, then grabbed Johnny Manziel at No. 22. Ouch.

KNUCKLEHEAD OF THE WEEK

There are a lot of football players named Michael Bennett, including one from Centerville. This weeks knucklehead is not our Michael Bennett. The Michael Bennett who used to be a star running back at Wisconsin and played 10 years in the NFL is staring at a five-year prison term after pleading guilty to felony charges in California. He was busted in 2015 after stealing the identity of his girlfriends parents and taking out $225,000 in loans. He reportedly broke into their house to steal papers that helped him fake his identity. Bennett was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft in 2001 so this is a guy who made some good money. And then fumbled it away.

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5 ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES EVERY MAN SHOULD BE AWARE OF – TORO Magazine

Posted: at 12:27 pm

Until a couple of years ago, alternative medicine was an alien concept in North American culture. However, there appears to be a growing consciousness regarding alternative medicine as a better form of health care as compared to conventional medicine.

Conventional medicine is being viewed as a form of treatment that has numerous side effects. The approach of conventional medicine appears focused on the illness of the patient instead of their health. Physicians have also been blamed for intentionally downplaying better medicines in order to remain in business.

INTRODUCTION TO ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Generally, the approach of conventional medicine is based on the treatment of symptoms rather than the underlying cause of most ailments. For instance, oncology is basically focused on hammering cancer cells into submission, or amputating the affected areas as in the case of breast cancer. Alternative medicine on the other hand appears more focused on preventative treatment and holistic treatment. In other words, alternative therapies attempt to understand the underlying cause of disease in the human body.

Alternative medicine refers to any form of treatment or therapy that is outside western standards of medicine. There is no official definition of alternative medicine since it comprises so many varied forms of treatment and their efficacies have not yet been fully studied.

For instance; stress, poor dieting, and exposure to certain carcinogenic substances are among the underlying causes of cancer. Alternative medicine appreciates this and approaches treatment of cancer from the perspective of treating the mind, body, and spirit for effective and lasting treatments.

Conventional treatments, such as the use of painkillers and other strong drugs, chemotherapy and radiology have been found to harm the body more than the diseases they are meant to treat. Its no wonder, therefore, that many people are turning to alternative medicine as their primary form of treatment. Some physicians recommend the use of both conventional and alternative forms of treatment for the best results.

There are so many different alternative therapies available for patients, so lets examine the most common of these alternative medicines.

ACUPUNCTURE

This is an eastern form of treatment that has been practiced in China and other Asian countries for centuries. It involves inserting needles into specific areas of the body to induce relaxation and create an energy balance in the body.

Acupuncture is based on the ancient Chinese philosophy that health is attained when the human body and the universal forces are in harmony. Acupuncture therapists have, for decades, discovered acupuncture points which can be stimulated to attain this universe-body energy equilibrium.

By inserting fine and sterilized needles into these acupuncture points through the skin, the body re-orients itself to the universal forces. Further enhancement of stimulation can be achieved by using heat, electric shocks and pressure. Acupuncture combines needle insertion into the skin with other techniques such as cupping, massages, heat therapy and the application of traditional herbs for maximum outcomes.

Acupuncture is believed to cure a wide range of ailments. It is believed to evoke the bodys natural healing capabilities. It also enhances the natural body systems such as the endocrine, digestive, circulatory, and cardiovascular systems, ensuring your body works as if its new.

This therapy is renowned as a pain reliever, especially for patients with chronic diseases. It improves sleep, dissipates stress and increases the feeling of well-being.

ACUPRESSURE

Acupressure can be considered acupunctures cousin since they both operate on the same principles. The main difference between acupuncture and acupressure is that the latter uses pressure instead of sterile needles to get the job done.

Acupressure is believed to unblock clogged body energy paths to restore energy balance in the body. The therapist uses her fingertips, elbows, palms and feet to apply pressure to specific points along the meridian of the body.

Acupuncture has been recommended by physicians treating patients with cancer. It releases anxiety among patients, reduces cases of nausea which is a problem associated with cancer patients due to the medication they are undergoing and cures insomnia.

In a recent study acupressure was also found to be very effective in easing fatigue especially among breast cancer survivors.

AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy involves using a number of plant extracts that occur naturally to enhance the body, mind and spiritual health of patients through inhaling and smearing on the skin as an ointment.Most of the essential oils that are used for aromatherapy have strong, relaxing and tantalizing aromas and have been used for centuries. Some of these oils, such as frankincense, are mentioned in ancient religious texts suggesting that they have been in use for over 2,000 years.

Recently, CBD oils which are extracted from Cannabis have been gaining popularity among Americans and are often administered through vaporizing or dabbing. They are believed to be instant mood enhancers and give immediate relief to anxiety and stress. They also relax muscles and, as a result, improve blood circulation in the body.

Other essential oils, such as lavender, peppermint, rosemary, bergamot, chamomile and many others are used in aromatherapy. In general, these essential oils are good for relaxation, improvement of blood circulation, and creating the feeling of well-being.

This therapy doesnt need to be carried out by experts and can easily be applied as a home remedy for most patients. It is used, in most cases, as a complementary form of treatment to be used as a preventative form of treatment or alongside conventional treatment.

BALNEOTHERAPY

Balneotherapy is one of the oldest forms of treatment, and has existed since around 1700BC. There are references to ideologies of this therapy in ancient texts such as the Bible (certain people immersed themselves in the River Jordan and were cured of leprosy).This proves that it has been in use for centuries, but is now regaining its lost glory in the US.

As a therapy, Balneotherapy involves the use of water laced with minerals that are considered healthy for the skin. The treatments are used as mineral baths (also referred to as Dead Sea salt), sulfur baths, and radon-carbon dioxide baths. These baths are usually available in specific spas across the US.

According to a study in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, Balneotherapy has been found to be very effective in the treatment of rheumatological diseases such as osteoarthritis, chronic spinal cord and lower back pains, fibromyalgia and ankylosing spondylitis. It is also very good for the treatment of dermatological, allergic, and respiratory ailments among patients. Therefore, it is a form of alternative therapy that can be very beneficial to a wide range of patients.

MASSAGE THERAPY

Massage therapy is also something that has gained popularity among Americans. Initially, massages were viewed as a form of luxury for the rich. However, more and more people are going for massages for health reasons.

According to the American Massage Therapy Association, 53% of all Americans that underwent massage therapy did so because they were recommended by a physician. Evidently, it is no longer a hobby for the rich, but a necessary alternative form of medicine.

Massage therapy involves kneading and squeezing and other manipulations of the soft tissues of the body. These soft tissues include body muscles, and tendons and ligaments that connect muscles to the bones or other tissues.

People seek massage therapy for a number of reasons; to reduce stress, help relax the body, improve blood circulation, help heal injuries faster, relieve pain, and acquire the feel good feeling. There are very many types of massage therapies designed to meet the specific needs of the patient which are categorized into two.

Relaxation massages are generally geared around relaxing the bodys muscles and also relieving stress. They also calm the mind. Swedish massage is the main type of massage under this category. Relaxation massages are generally done by massage therapists in spas and massage parlors.

Deep tissue massage, or rehabilitative massage, is mainly given to patients recuperating from an injury or surgery. It is also given to patients who are bedridden to improve blood circulation in body tissues, relax muscles and relieve pain. This type of massage is performed by qualified medical practitioners who are qualified to perform the therapy. It is usually performed in hospitals, clinics, or the offices of chiropractors.

With the growing number of American believed to be stressed, massage therapy is something that can be done frequently to ensure you stay away from the doctor. However, it can cost you up to $500 for a monthly subscription. Its worth every dime though.

CONCLUSION

What makes alternative medicine preferable to conventional medicine is the holistic approach of alternative medicine. Therapies such as acupuncture are based on the ideology that the body has the capacity to heal itself if working properly.

Alternative medicine aims to relieve the stress that patients face and to make them feel good about themselves. Once the human body is calm and stress-free, its immune system is strengthened and can therefore fight off diseases. Therefore, alternative medicines aim to heal the mind, body and spirit and are considered a more complete form of treatment.

Conventional medicine is generally viewed as paying too much attention to the symptoms of the disease and avoiding addressing the underlying causes of these diseases. In addition, most of the treatments used in conventional medicine settings have a lot of side effects for patients.

Current trends indicate that alternative medicine will become even more popular in the future.

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How To Become An Alternative Medicine Provider | Good Herald – Good Herald

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Healing through alternative medicine is a broad subject, traditionally referred to as practices and applications not usually taught by conventional or western medical schools as treatment for illnesses. Alternative medicine is typically not covered by health insurance, although acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic have recently gotten the go ahead. For those of you interested in becoming alternative medicine providers, the practice is divided into seven major categories: Bioelectricmagnetic applications-which include magnet therapy, diet, nutrition, and lifestyle changes (homeopathic practices), herbal medicine, manual healing, ( Chinese medicine, massage, acupuncture) and biological treatments.

Alternative medicine is meant to treat the body holistically-body, mind, and spirit, and is highly based on preventative practices. That is, Alt. med. is geared toward preventing rather than simply treating symptoms of ailments. Actually, only about 30% of the world uses what we call western or modern medicine. The other 70% use holistic or alternative medicine and Americans are just now catching up. The good news is that American doctors are beginning to see the benefits of alternative forms of therapy and more of them are beginning to add some form of alternative medicine to their practice. Mainstream doctors are beginning to refer patients for massage therapy, surgeons are referring to chiropractors. The result is that the terms mainstream and alternative are beginning to blur.

Alternative medicine is being used along with other alternative therapies or traditional therapies (called complimentary) and reflects a shift in attitude. It seems people are much more accepting of alternative medicine if it is used in conjunction with conventional methods of treatment rather than as an alternative or instead of. Professional alternative medicine practitioners are trained by accredited schools and practice in established locations-no back alley medicine here-you must meet all the entry requirements of the holistic medicine schools and maintain excellent skills to become accredited. Each health care system has its own accreditation, and includes Traditional Oriental Medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, anthroposophy, and ayurvedic (Indian) medicine.

Each system has its own theory of illness (although if you study them separately you will see that they are very much the same indeed, which is another feather in alternative medicines cap-to have the same principles work on either end of the world), an educational plan to teach theory and practice, a support system and a legal and ethical committee to answer to. All have the need to restore balance as a common denominator. Homeopath medicine is used world wide, and involves natural animal, plant, and mineral substances. Practitioners of homeopath medicine usually are also accredited acupuncturists and are regulated by the food and drug administration. They treat acute and chronic diseases and into preventative therapies and promoting good health in order to prevent sickness. Homeopathy very much is able to combine modern medicine with natural and herbal care. Native American alternative medicine involves much sweating and expelling of toxins which cause imbalance and disease. This is achieved by the use of herbs and teas, and a lot of heat. Ceremonial dances and chants add to the mystical properties of the healing.

Or maybe youre interested in working in the bioelectromagnetic field of alternative medicine. Working with magnets is growing in popularity as people are beginning to discover the benefits of wearing magnetic insoles in their shoes and sleeping on magnetically charged mattress pads. The magnets increase blood flow and bring about circulatory health which lessens back pain and headaches. Chances are youve decided to enter the world of alternative medicine because youve had a good experience with it. Your current health provider can help you research the area of your choice and give you advice as to how to proceed.

Emanuele Allenti offers valuable tips and help about alternative medicine at best alternative medicine and alternative medicine tips websites.

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How To Become An Alternative Medicine Provider | Good Herald - Good Herald

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The True Meaning of Alternative Medicine | Good Herald – Good Herald

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Many people who are suffering from disease or pain have thought about trying the alternative medicine route. Before you try alternative medicine, you may want to learn a bit about it. There are a lot of different types of alternative medicine and they all may not be right for you.

Alternative medicine is a type of therapeutic practice that is not considered to be a part of traditional or conventional medical treatment. People use alternative medicine instead of using traditional medical treatment. This is often because they feel it is a natural way to get better.

There are many types of alternative medicine. Some are covered by medical insurance, but most are not. Some forms of alternative medicine that may be covered are chiropractic and osteopathic therapy. These forms of alternative medicine are widely used.

There are other forms of alternative medicine that are not as widely used, but are becoming more popular by the minute. These are: massage therapy, therapeutic touch, folk medicine, herbal medicine, special diets, homeopathy, music therapy, aromatherapy, naturopathy, faith healing, and new age healing. There are also some non-western forms of alternative medicine such as: Chinese medicine, gi gong, reiki, and ayarveda.

There are some less commonly practiced forms of alternative medicine as well. One is called biofield therapy. This is a form of alternative medicine that works with your so called energy fields to heal you. Another is bioelectrical magnetic therapy. This alternative medicine uses pulse and magnetic fields to heal you.

Alternative medicine is quite popular for people who are terminally ill. Many AIDS and cancer patients prefer it. An example of this is a cancer patient who uses alternative medicine instead of receiving traditional chemotherapy or radiation therapy. People also use alternative medicine to heal ailments such as back pain or migraines. Instead of traditional painkillers, the patients would use aromatherapy, sound therapy or herbal therapy. Alternative medicine is even used on animals. Have you ever seen the movie The Horse Whisperer? That was about a form of alternative medicine used on an animal. Acupuncture, herbal therapy, and others have also been used on animals.

The last thing you should know is that there is no scientific evidence that alternative medicine is effective. There have been no scientific studies to prove if they are safe or if they work for the diseases or ailments they are used for. Before using an alternative medicine, talk to your doctor, make sure your doctor feels it is safe and will not harm you.

There are many different kinds of alternative medicines to choose from. Now that you understand it a bit better, you can decide if it is right for you. For more information talk to your doctor or research it online. With careful research, you may find one that is right for you.

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.medsonlinecenter.info a blog focusing on the Medicine, resources and articles. For more info on medicines visit: Medicine

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