Monthly Archives: June 2021

1. GreenMedInfo - The Science of Natural Healing

Read the original here:

Top 100 Alternative Medicine Blogs and Websites in 2021

You may be new to using alternative medicine or perhaps you have already seen the amazing benefits alternative medicine and alternative therapies can bring to your life. But do you know how long it has been practiced and where it originated? Well, let me take you on a journey into the fascinating history of alternativemedicine.

The history of Alternative Medicine is an interesting one and has links with many different cultures. However, its difficult to say exactly when Alternative Medicine began, in part because up until recently the practices that fall under this term were the conventional medical practices of their time.

But if we go back in history and trace several of the forms of healing that are now labeled as an alternative, we find that their origins go back as much as 5000 years.

One of the oldest forms of alternative medicine can be traced back to Chinese history. The ancient Chinese, in much the same way as alternative medicine, is used today, based their healing on the importance of the body and spirit being in balance.

Much of the philosophy of Chinese Medicine is based on Taoist and Buddhist principals and the belief that a person and their environment are closely interlinked. The widely known principles of Yin and Yang come from Chinese Medicine and are integral to its practice.

Yin and Yang explain how opposing forces are integral to each other and how for harmony within the body to take place, these must be in balance. When these are out of balance, the disease occurs. Chinese Medicine works at restoring balance in various ways including herbal medicine, acupuncture, breathing, and movement (Tai Chi and Qigong) and also through diet.

The practitioner looked at the patients health and life in detail to ascertain where their life force or Qi (pronounced Chi) was out of balance.

Various methods would then be used to restore the patient back to health. Such was the effectiveness of Chinese Traditional Medicine that it still forms a large part of modern health care in the East. Its not unusual for these alternative practices to be used in hospitals alongside western medicine.

The other Eastern Culture has a long history of alternative medicine in India. Ayurvedic medicine dates back as far as 6000 years ago and like Chinese Medicine also has links with Buddhism.

Ayurveda comes from 2 Sanskrit words Ayu meaning life and Veda meaning knowledge of. It is a system of medicine that keeps a persons body, mind, and spirit in tune with nature in order to maintain good health.

In the West, the History of Alternative Medicine goes back around 3000 years. Treatments such as hydrotherapy were popular with the Romans and Greeks. The Ancient Greeks who were greatly influenced by the Babylonians and to a lesser extent by India and China brought herbalism into the West. Hippocrates (c. 460-377 BC), a Greek physician commonly referred to as the Father of Medicine, practiced herbal medicine.

During the Middle Ages, Monks in Europe studied and grew medicinal plants and translated many works on the subject from Arabic. Folk Healers also passed on their knowledge of healing through word of mouth, from Master to Apprentice. The understanding of the power different plants have is ingrained in many native civilizations and has allowed a man to understand and thrive in often challenging environments.

When the Europeans settled in America they found that the Native Americans had extensive knowledge of the healing power of their indigenous herbs. Likewise, the Aborigines in Australia understood the power of plants found in their environment.

Moving forward in time towards the 19th Century, before the rise of Western Medicine, as we now know it, medical practitioners were more like todays naturopaths. They would take a detailed medical history paying particular attention to the patients lifestyle. They would then suggest ways to improve this by changes in diet, environment and would also prescribe herbal remedies.

The widespread use of alternative medicine in its various forms decreased during the 20th Century. Treatment of patients became more focused on the use of hospitals, and developments in modern medicine lead to the widespread use of Pharmaceutical Drugs to treat disease.

The discovery of Penicillin and its development into a drug that could treat bacterial infections in the 1940s revolutionized health care and alternative medicine lost favor with most medical practitioners. Although many Doctors let go of what they considered to be outdated treatments such as homeopathy, herbalism, and traditional Chinese Medicine many patients still sort them out, especially when conventional medicine did not appear to be working for them.

The result now is that Alternative Medicine is on the increase. Practices such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, aromatherapy, and healing are kept alive by practitioners who specialize in one or more alternative forms of treatment. Frequently alternatives are used alongside modern medical treatments, which have led to alternatives being given the term complementary medicine.

This brief history of alternative medicine shows that many of the practices used today have been with us for thousands of years. Given the rising popularity of using alternative medicine to deal with health issues today, its likely that these practices will be around for many more.

Read more:

HISTORY OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE - The Complete Herbal Guide

What is alternative medicine? An alternative medicine does not use self-treatments of conventional medicine . Of course, there are times when both treatments are combined. These treatments are used for curing purposes. Alternative medicine involves the dos that are not at all generally categorized as conventional medical approaches.

Conventional medicine is practiced by the doctors of osteopathy, and associated wellbeing experts. This also include nurses and physical therapists practice alternative medicine.

Yes, instead of contemporary approach alternative medicine can be used. One of the very good examples is by treating a heart disease with chelation therapy in which excess accumulation of metals is taken out of the blood.

In other words, the term alternative medicine is used to describe therapeutics that is not included in learning of conventional medicine, such ashomeopathy, traditional medicine, chiropractic, and acupuncture

People usually consider such therapies outside the mainstream, so that is the main reason it is called alternative. Many patients and medical professionals use alternative therapies along with conventional therapies. This is known as complementary medicine.

The alternative, integrative, or complementary medicine has a number of therapies, methods, techniques and practices. These treatments depend on the elements of nature and have less chemical substances than traditional medicine; therefore they are more beneficial with little or no side effect.

It is practiced by people that want treatment with less side effect and more. So with this belief some people are drawing more towards alternative medicine, as they want a fundamental change in the body, and a balance between body, mind, and spirit.

Many Americans use treatments that are not part of traditional or conventional medicine. These treatments may be called complementary, integrative or alternative. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. For example, acupuncture can relieve the side effects of cancer treatment.

When doctors or hospitals provided both care together and in a coordinated manner it is called integrative medicine. When not used in conjunction with conventional medicine is called alternative.

The benefits of these non-traditional treatments may sound promising. However, researchers do not know the safety of many alternative medicine treatments does not know if they work well.

Studies are underway to determine the safety and usefulness of many of these practices.

One of the main therapies of alternative medicine is acupuncture. This technique, which is part of traditional Chinese medicine, involves the insertion of very thin needles in certain specific points on the body in order to alleviate some conditions that a patient may have, for example, neck pain, or migraines.

Homeopathy is other alternative therapies that are discussed and practiced at the best health and alternative medicine sites. It can cure some symptoms that are administered in small doses.

Other therapies:

Some see as laughter the best medicine to improve the state, both physical and mental of a person

Homeopathic treatments or acupuncture is available to everyone and anyone can use it. Health and alternative medicines are famous in recent years and it has greatly increased in therapeutic approaches. Because of these reasons, the best health and alternative medicines sites are on the fire.

Many of these alternative practices come from different parts of the world and have been used for thousands of years. So, what is an alternative medicine and what it does?

Alternative medicine is common today due to the interest that many people these days want to access more natural and healthy treatments. This treatment has dependent elements of nature and less of chemicals.

However, alternative medicine has many limitations in resolving situations of complexity greater because the scope of its components is not as extensive, but indeed it is effective.

Typically, alternative medicine is based on two main pillars: on one hand, the use of natural components which are obtained directly from nature and put in combination. This results in many medicines that are available in different formats (drops, sprays, creams, ointments and even tablets or pills).

On the other hand, alternative medicine also uses therapies and not invasive treatments that are structured around systems of meditation and relaxation. Therapies are used as it is believed that many ailments and current complications that are experienced by people mainly relates to stress and other habits as it is a daily routine.

In many cases, alternative medicine can be more effective than other medicine because the use chemical substances is in much lower content, so the body may be less harming.

However, if they are consumed in the longer term, then it is certain that damage or affect can be made. In addition, if we make use of these therapies so it is figured that, the use of other substances limit.

This means there is a less dependency rate that is observed in many people (e.g. dependence on sleeping pills, pills for menstrual cramps, for headaches, etc.). However, it is important to note that alternative medicine has much scope at present and to achieve the solution to more complex cases, it is now very useful.

The fact is that people are requiring and looking for all that which is less harmful, so viewing the best health and alternative medicines sites, they are surely benefited.

Best health and alternative medicine websites are readily available over the net; which are a must to see. Also, not all offer this service, there are however, many existing therapies, but usually some are selected in particular.

However, there are, some treatments that are better known than others and/or that are usually included in most health insurance offered by this type of medicine. But, for some people practicing alternative medicine and reading best health and alternative medicine websites is a charm. Where they can tap knowledge and methods through information provided on those sites.

According to the Mayo Clinic, over 40 percent of adults seek some form of holistic therapy,complementary or alternative medicine, when dealing with their physical health

These best health and alternative medicine websites should be visited on daily basis to stay inform about healthy living;

Note: there are manifold sites that are supporting and talking in favor of health and alternative medicines. This is the best way to cure these days and is a newer yet, accepted practice.

Sources

http://www.alexa.com/topsites/category/Health/Alternative

alternativemedicine.com

http://www.medicinenet.com/alternative_medicine/page2.htm

http://www.alternative-therapies.com

http://www.livestrong.com/article/121642-benefits-alternative-medicines/

More here:

21 Best Health And Alternative Medicine Websites - Must ...

Alternative medicine has been playing a large role in the healing industry for centuries and its popularity is showing no sign of slowing down.

The numerous benefits directly linked with alternative or natural medicine has created a wave of interest, especially in the western world, that seems to continue to grow at a rapid rate.

Alternative medicine includes a range of treatments that, while considered unorthodox, have various advantages that many modern forms of medicine simply cannot achieve.

Due to its practices being generally not accepted as a traditional or standard approach in the medical field, alternative medicine consistently receives criticism and backlash for being backwards and unreliable.

Unfortunately natural medicine is also commonly associated as a remedy that is only used by those who are unable to afford modern treatment despite the countless studies focused on the subject that say otherwise.

One study, for example, found that majority of individuals who use alternative medicine use it because they find these health care alternatives to be more congruent with their own values, beliefs, and philosophical orientations toward health and life says the Jama Network.

There is no denying the substantial difference between a standard hospital room with sophisticated tools and equipment and an acupuncture table where needles are inserted into specific points of the body to help cure ailments such as depression or anxiety.

Just because the former is considered superior doesnt mean the latter isnt as effective.

There are several common forms and their benefits of alternative medicine are extraordinary and have been helping people in need for hundreds of years. Lets take a look.

An extremely popular form of alternative medicine, acupuncture has helped millions of Americans with its use of needles and/or electric stimulation and is even used by licensed physicians who say it has increased success in treating problems that often resist Western medicine, such as female sexual dysfunction.

This ancient Chinese technique has been tested with case-controlled clinical studies and has shown that acupuncture can successfully help cure illnesses such as:

Herbal medicine is tailored around the use of plants, roots, berries, and leaves and is utilized to employ the bodys natural healing capabilities.

This technique has not only been around for thousands of years but it has also been known to help cure conditions such as heart problems, skin rashes, chronic fatigue, and premenstrual cycle, obesity and more.

There are about four billion people (80% of the worlds population) who are currently using herbal medication treatment as their primary health care further proving the benefits of alternative medicine.

Similar to acupuncture, acupressure therapists use their feet, hands and elbows to focus on the pressure points of the bodys meridians or channels of the body instead of needles.

Meridians are believed to be the invisible channels that carries the flow of energy, or chi, that connects all parts of your body and acts as a passageway for communication between your vital organs.

The theory goes that when one of these meridians is blocked or out of balance, illness can occur according to WebMD.

Acupressure has been known to relieve anxiety for individuals who are about to endure surgery and nausea for those are in the process of chemotherapy. Acupressure also helps those dealing with motion sickness and sickness from pregnancy.

Generally referred more as a complementary medicine as opposed to alternative due to its wider range of acceptance, chiropractic is constantly used to help develop strong bones and healthy surrounding muscles.

Chiropractors focus on manipulating the spinal cord with force exerted from their hands to realign and ensure proper form in regards to the spine.

They focus on the direct relationship between the nervous system and the spine to reduce pain in the lower back or neck. It also helps headaches, joint pain and high blood pressure.

Alternative medicine has helped people for hundreds of years and will continue to help people for years to come.

Prices for modern medicine are skyrocketing and there are countless cases of people finding help and relief from alternative medicine.

Alternative medicine works to find the core of the problem and takes a different route than most are used to.

With so many countless benefits of alternative medicine it only makes sense that we offer a degree program that specializes in the teaching and preparation for entry-level careers in the respected field as we understand and recognize the unlimited potential.

If youre interested in learning more about our degree with a Major in Alternative Medicine do not hesitate to reach out to Request More Information.

Visit link:

Benefits of Alternative Medicine - Everglades University

Alternative medicine is a broad field that covers a wide range of career options. Some popular choices include Chinese medicine practitioner, massage therapist, personal trainer, nutritionist, chiropractor and aromatherapist. Learn more about some of these career options here.

Alternative medicine offers a number of different treatment options for patients and career choices for potential practitioners. Wellness with a focus on natural remedies is a common theme throughout the various branches.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Chinese alternative medicine includes acupuncture, oriental medicine and herbology. As one of the healing arts, it deals with understanding and treating the body as a whole by identifying the body's energy points, which are known as meridians. The techniques seek to balance the body's Yin Yang. Acupuncture involves the application of fine needles to the body's meridians to cure certain ailments, while herbology uses natural plant remedies as an alternative to prescription drugs.

A career in massage therapy could be another option. It incorporates different features of alternative medicine with modern science. Traditional massage therapists manipulate the muscles to ease pains. However, massage therapists who are interested in alternative medicine often include elements of Reiki, herbology, aromatherapy, reflexology, ayurveda and other common forms of the healing practice.

Although personal training does not necessarily include elements of alternative medicine, some clients look for personal trainers who include both traditional and non-traditional techniques in their wellness regimens. Personal trainers may integrate life coaching, nutrition and other holistic healing techniques into a routine of personal wellness.

Chiropractic therapy, one of the most mainstream forms of alternative medicine, involves adjusting the spine to cure back pains. A chiropractor typically works with people who have suffered sports injuries, whiplash and related ailments.

Aromatherapy uses fragrances of various essential oils and plant extracts to cure a variety of conditions and relax the body. This practice involves a mixture of different elements of herbology and therapeutic massage.

Holistic healthcare treats the whole person, not just the symptoms. It takes into account one's spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health. Other career options might exist within the following branches of the healing and medicinal arts:

Go here to read the rest:

What are Popular Career Options in Alternative Medicine?

Integrative medicine: Different techniques, one goal

Discover how integrative medicine combines mainstream and alternative practices to improve health.

More than 30% of Americans adults report using health care approaches not typically associated with conventional medicine, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Doctors are also embracing evidence-based alternative therapies, often combining them with mainstream therapies to treat disease and maintain health an approach called integrative (in-tuh-GRAY-tiv) medicine.

Exactly what's considered integrative medicine changes constantly as treatments are studied and move into everyday practice. To make sense of the many nonconventional therapies available, it helps to look at how they're classified by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH):

Dietary supplements and herbal remedies are considered natural products because they contain ingredients found in nature. Examples of herbal remedies include ginseng, ginkgo and echinacea; examples of dietary supplements include glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin and SAMe. Herbal products and supplements come in many forms, such as teas, oils, syrups, powders, tablets and capsules.

Mind-body techniques strengthen how your mind and your body work together. Practitioners believe these must be in harmony for you to stay healthy. Examples of mind-body techniques include meditation, prayer, relaxation, yoga, music and animal-assisted therapy.

Manipulation and body-based practices use human touch to move or manipulate a specific part of your body. They include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation and massage.

Some traditions believe an invisible energy force flows through your body, and when this energy flow is blocked or out of balance, you can become sick. This energy has different names, such as chi, prana and life force. The goal of these therapies is to unblock or re-balance your energy force. Energy therapies include acupuncture, qi gong, healing touch and reiki.

Other approaches to integrative health focus on a system, rather than just a single practice or remedy. These systems center on a philosophy, such as the power of nature or the presence of energy in your body. Examples include:

Research on integrative approaches continues to grow as the use of these treatments becomes more common. Researchers are looking to identify safe, effective therapies as well as those that offer no benefit and may even cause harm.

In general, there has been a lack of research because large, carefully controlled medical studies are costly. Trials for conventional therapies are often funded by big companies that develop and sell drugs. Fewer resources are available to support trials of integrative approaches.

That's why NCCIH was established to foster research into therapies typically not associated with conventional medicine and make the findings available to the public.

Work with your conventional medical doctor to make informed decisions about integrative medicine. Even if your doctor can't recommend a specific practitioner, he or she can help you understand possible risks and benefits before you try a treatment.

It's especially important to consult your doctor if you are pregnant, have medical problems or take prescription medicine. And don't stop or change your conventional treatment such as the dose of your prescription medications without talking to your doctor first.

.

See the original post:

Integrative medicine: Different techniques, one goal ...

Complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, is a category of medicine that includes a variety of treatment approaches that fall outside the realm of conventional medicine. An increasing amount of research is being done to establish the safety and efficacy of alternative medicine. But compared with traditional "Western" therapies such as drugs, research on alternative medicine is still limited.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Whats the Difference?

It is important to understand the difference between complementary medicine and alternative medicine the two approaches are often lumped together but are, in fact, distinct.

Complementary medicine refers to healing practices and products that work in conjunction with traditional medicine. For example, a cancer patient receiving chemotherapy may also undergo acupuncture to help manage chemo side effects like nausea and vomiting. Alternative medicine differs in that it is not used as a complement to, but rather as a substitute for traditional therapy. An example would be a cancer patient who forgoes recommended chemotherapy and instead chooses to treat the disease with specific dietary changes.

There is a third category that also often gets lumped in with conventional and alternative medicine integrative medicine. Integrative medicine draws from both complementary medicine and alternative medicine and combines these with traditional Western therapies, says Donald Abrams, MD, director of clinical programs for the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Whos Using It?

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) recently surveyed Americans on their use of complementary and alternative medicine. The survey, which gathered information from more than 20,000 adults and nearly 10,000 children, found that about 40 percent of adults and 12 percent of children use some form of complementary and alternative medicine.

Women, people ages 40 to 60, and adults with higher levels of education and income tended to use complementary and alternative therapies more frequently. There have been considerable increases in the number of people using common forms of complementary and alternative medicine, such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and massage therapy.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine: What Are the Categories?

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) recognizes five main categories of complementary and alternative medicine:

If you are considering using complementary or alternative therapy, make sure you consult with your regular doctor and do some research before your first session.

Link:

Defining Complementary and Alternative Medicine ...

People are not only living longer, but according to recent research from Duke University, theyre also living better. Todays seniors are increasingly healthier in mind and body as they age than ever before. Theyre also putting off retirement and working later. Over the last 20 years the percentage of Americans working in their 70s has risen from less than 10 to 15 percent.

As people live longer and continue to be active, they increasingly rely on healthcare professionals not just to heal them when they are sick, but to also provide services that enable them to live full, active lives. As a result, more are exploring alternative therapies as preventive medicine and to alleviate symptoms such as chronic pain and arthritis. In fact, according to a recent study conducted at Ohio State University, about 70 percent of those 50+ use alternative medicine an increase from the 53 percent reported in a 2014 study. Despite a rise in interest, Medicare has evolved little in the way of offering alternative medicine benefits.

What is Alternative Medicine?Alternative medicine is an umbrella term for medical practices or theories that fall outside the generally accepted Western traditional medicine. When used with traditional medicine, alternative medicine is sometimes referred to as complementary medicine.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has divided the field into four general approaches: biologically-based practices such as herbs or supplements, mind-body medicine approaches such as meditation or music therapy, body-based practices such as massage, chiropractic or acupuncture, and energy medicine, which can include approaches like Reiki or therapeutic touch. Many of these specific techniques are used by what NCCAM calls whole medical systems such as traditional Chinese, homeopathic, and naturopathic medicines.

Older adults tend to be more prone to encounter problems from standard medical treatment, suffering more from side effects and complications. Alternative medicine therapies like these are usually less invasive than conventional medicine and have fewer side effects making them more and more popular amongst seniors.

Medicare and Alternative MedicineAs of 2020, over 62 million US citizens (nearly 19 percent of the population) rely on some form of Medicare to help cover their healthcare needs. The primary rule of Original Medicare (government-funded Parts A & B) is that if a treatment or service is medically necessary it is covered; however, very few alternative medicine services meet this requirement by Medicares standards.

For example, Chiropractic care is one of the most commonly requested alternative medicine services amongst our Medicare insurance clients. However, while Original Medicare Part B does pay for manual manipulation of the spine when deemed medically necessary to correct a subluxation, it does not cover other services or tests a chiropractor might order, such as acupuncture, massage therapy or X-rays.

Massage therapy, another widely requested service, has been shown to ease joint and muscle pain and can reduce the increased levels of stress that tend to come with aging. However, Medicare categorizes massage therapy as an alternative treatment not deemed medically necessary, and so it is not covered by Original Medicare Parts A and B.

Acupuncture has been show to also ease chronic conditions such as low-back, neck and osteoarthritis pain. On January 21, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services passed the decision to cover acupuncture in certain circumstances as an alternative method of pain management in an effort to help fight the opioid use epidemic. As such, Original Medicare now covers acupuncture to treat medically-diagnosed chronic lower back pain.

According to Medicare, chronic lower back pain is described as pain lasting at least 12 weeks and caused by a non-identifiable condition or disease. If qualified, you can receive up to 12 sessions within a 3-month window. After that, if you show improvement, Medicare may cover an additional 8 sessions.

Medicare Advantage and Alternative MedicineMedicare Advantage is a type of Medicare health plan offered by private insurance companies. Medicare Advantage plans are required by the government to provide the same coverage level as Parts A & B, so they will always provide the same alternative medicine benefits offered by the Original Medicare program.

Oftentimes, plans will also provide additional benefits. Most commonly, these include things like dental, vision, hearing or prescription drug coverage, but were seeing more plans begin to offer coverage of some alternative medicine services like chiropractic care, massage therapy and acupuncture. As with Original Medicare, these benefits are usually limited to medically-necessary situations. For example, some Medicare Advantage plans will cover massage therapy, but only if the therapy is related to a specific injury or illness. In these cases, policyholders are generally required to first obtain an order or prescription from an in-network doctor to treat the covered medical condition.

Room for Improvement Calls for Close ExaminationThere are currently 1.4 million Americans living in nursing homes at an average cost of $48,000 per year. Meanwhile, every day, 10,000 members of the Baby Boom Generation celebrate their 65th birthday (the age at which one becomes Medicare eligible.) While the insurance industry, and especially the Medicare program, continues to expand benefits there remains a lot of opportunity for improvement surrounding alternative medicine coverage.

Taking advantage of these opportunities will help ensure aging adults have the ability to receive not only treatment but also preventive measures that will help keep them healthy and out of nursing homes longer, saving insurers money in the long-run.

While insurance companies and Medicare work to keep up with increasing interest in these types of treatments, its important for adults 65+ to carefully examine any health insurance program theyre putting their money into. Close examination will help ensure they receive the coverage they need not just to get well, but to stay well.

Photo: photovs, Getty Images

Excerpt from:

Medicare slow to respond to seniors' increasing interest in alternative medicine - MedCity News

A baby in England has been the first patient on the countrys NHS to receive a potentially life-saving new gene therapy to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

Five-month-old Arthur Morgan was given a dose of the treatment known as Zolgensma at Evelina London Children's Hospital on May 25.

Arthur was born in December last year and diagnosed with SMA, a rare and debilitating neuromuscular disease that prevents muscle development, just a few weeks ago.

Babies born with SMA experience problems with movement, breathing, and swallowing.

The novel gene therapy treatment, produced by US pharma giant Novartis Gene Therapies, repairs affected genes inside the cells, making it easier to manage and potentially cure the disease.

But the wonder drug comes at a price.

Zolgensma is one of the world's most expensive drugs with a price tag per dose of 2.08 million. Fortunately for Arthur and his family, the NHS negotiated a non-disclosed discounted price for the drug, making it more accessible for patients suffering from SMA to receive the treatment.

Arthurs father, 31-year old Reece Morgan was overjoyed at the news.

"When we found out that Arthur would get the treatment, and be the first patient, I just broke down," he said.

"It had been such a whirlwind few weeks, filled with lots of anxiety and adjustment, as we learnt about his condition and what it might mean for him and our family".

In a statement, Sir Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, also acknowledged the importance of using innovative therapies to treat diseases and disorders, such as in this case.

"It is fantastic news that this revolutionary treatment is now available for babies and children like Arthur on the NHS," he said.

Getting to this moment was a long road, Imran Kausar, Medical Director at Novartis Gene Therapies UK, told Euronews.

"These are hugely transformative therapies. To bring something in that only requires treatment once, that actually requires a lot of systems and processes to change," he said.

"The NHS has tried its hardest to deal with the changes".

The agreement between Novartis and the NHS is part of a "series of smart deals" aimed to secure more cutting-edge treatments for the British people, according to the NHS website.

Novartis says that while the cost of the single-dose treatment sounds expensive, it isnt when you compare the alternative treatment for SMA which can include ongoing hospital admissions, ventilators and round-the-clock care.

"Our mindset is to think of things over a long period of time," Kausar added.

"When you consider lifetime costs - actually gene therapies arent expensive. The value we provide is more beneficial to healthcare systems".

Whilst Kausar was reluctant to say if Zolgensma was a complete cure given the many variables, including when the infant is diagnosed and when the drug is administered, he does believe there is a curative future for gene therapy drugs "if the entire system is in sync".

I do see us moving into a genomic era which is an era of medicine where we can harness our understanding of genetics and the impact on health in a much great way," he told Euronews.

More here:

A revolutionary gene therapy is bringing hope to UK parents - but it comes with a steep price tag - Euronews

House Bill 1802 would allow the study of the use of alternative therapies for treating PTSD, more specifically the use of psychedelic therapy.

TYLER, Texas House Bill 1802 was sent to Governor Greg Abbott's desk for his signature Monday.

The bill would allow the study on the use of alternative therapies for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, more specifically the use of psychedelic therapy.

"It's a reset of the things that are going on in your head," Marcus Capone, veteran and advocate for the bill, said.

Capone has been pushing for the bill alongside it's author State Representative Alex Dominguez.

"This specific type of psychedelic has been studied for the treatment of depression, it's also being looked at for the treatment of anxiety," Dominguez said.

The bill has passed both the senate and house.

"More importantly, we want to show the FDA and Congress and in Washington DC that there are ways to treat our veterans that they haven't been looking at," he said. "So we can start that conversation to help our veterans nationwide."

According to a statement, HB 1802 directs the Health and Human Services Commission, in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine and in partnership with a military veterans hospital or medical center that provides medical care to veterans, to conduct a clinical study on to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of psilocybin in the treatment of PTSD in veterans. The Commission shall also complete a literature review evaluating the safety and efficacy of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and ketamine in the treatment of veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

"One of the first psychedelic medical treatments that has been approved by the FDA is medication called ketamine." Dr. Carlos Tirado, addiction psychiatrist and chief medical officer of Carma Health, said. "It's been used for decades, in general anesthesia, in part two, to act as a sedative and pain reliever."

Dr. Tirado says in this case the psychedelic therapy would be administered under medical and therapeutic supervision and guidance.

"For instance, say they [patient] have a psychotic disorder or they have a familial history of certain types of severe mental illness, you either, you may not be able to safely take that treatment or it has to be done with a lot of lead time and upfront assessment to decrease the possibility of any risk of becoming psychiatrically unstable," he said.

Capone says the therapy has been life changing.

I'm a better person, I'm more aware, you know, higher level of consciousness. however you want to call it," he said. "I'm still me. But, you know, I'm a better version of me."

Go here to see the original:

Texas veteran and state representative advocate for psychedelic therapy to treat veterans with PTSD - CBS19.tv KYTX