Category Archives: Alternative Medicine

Even as an increasing number of Americans have come to accept the use of cannabis, one thing that hasnt budged much is how accessible it is. Sure, more states are legalizing the stuff every year, but even where weed is legal, you cant just walk into the corner store and buy it alongside some toilet paper and a bottle of winewith the exception, in many states, of CBD and delta-8 THC products.

Loopholes in the 2018 Farm Bill freed up the production of hemp-derived products at the federal level, which resulted in an explosion in the market for CDB oils and other CBD-based products. And CBDs skyrocketing popularity and sorta-legal nature led to a surplus of the stuff, and old techniques used to derive intoxicating THC alternatives like delta-8 THC from hemp in a lab setting suddenly gained new commercial applications. Thanks to its hemp-derived origins, delta-8-THC became federally legal, and enjoys the same juicy loophole status as CBD in some not-so-cannabis-friendly areas of the country. Delta-8 THC products, from gummies to vapes, are now shipped and sold all over, even where weed remains illegal.

But delta-8 THC is not the only other intoxicating form of original THCaka delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. As weed is studied more and past research is revisited, more different types of THC are being developed in labs and discovered in cultivars. You can now also order products containing THC-O and THC-V, for examplebut how are these substances different from one another, and how can you make sure they are safe to use?

While weed has been smoked or eaten for thousands of years, names for their individual compounds came along much later. According to Weedmaps, THC was genetically mapped in 1964 by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, after he identifed CBD in 1963. These are just two out of hundreds of cannabinoids, which can be either synthetic, plant-derived, or made by the body.

The cannabinoids we are aware of are able to modulate the bodys endocannabinoid system. THC is a phytocannabinoid, or a plant-developed cannabinoid; our bodies also make their own cannabinoids, like anandamide, known to kick in when youre doing a rigorous workout. Synthetic cannabinoids have also been lab-developed using scientific processes to convert chemicals into cannabinoids, or one cannabinoid into another.

There are countless endocannabinoid receptors all over the body, and its wild that even after years of study, we dont have a full picture of the human endocannabinoid system. But we do know that cannabinoids can influence appetite, body temperature, sleep patterns, and more.

The THC made popular by the original methods of cannabis consumption (smoking, eating) is produced in the living plant as THC-A, or Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid, which needs to be decarboxylated by either drying, time, or heat (smoking!) to convert into psychoactive delta-9 THC. This occurs naturally in the curing process, or is engineered by the creation of edibles, extraction, or the vaping/combustion process.

A rare, sought after cannabinoid from the THC family is THC-V, which only occurs in very specific cultivars like Durban Poison. Nate Ferguson, Chief Product Officer at Jetty Extracts, keeps an eye on the minor cannabinoid space as part of his expertise in cannabis extraction.

As Ferguson told us via email, the effects of THC-V are very different from that of delta-9 THC, [which is] the most common cannabinoid that we all know and love. The effects are energizing and uplifting. There are also some potential medical benefits that are being researched including, appetite suppressing properties, or as a stimulant replacement.

Legitimate medical research could be exploring these phytocannabinoids for their potential, but THC carries the stigma of all weed, and with it, federal illegality (despite state legalization), and all of those associated barriers to study.

Ferguson thinks that unique cannabinoids are of interest due to their potential for meeting health needs. Most consumers searching out these rare cannabinoids are looking for medicinal benefits or a pointed effect, he notes. And, sure, some people just want to get high. Whats wrong with that?

As noted above, delta-8 THC is another child of the Farm Bill, yet its not exactly new on the scene. According to Chemical and Engineering News, a trade publication for chemists and entrepreneurs, using simple chemistry reported in the 1960s, the industry...started experimenting with ways to convert CBD into delta-8-THC. The resulting products target consumers who are looking to relieve stress and anxiety, especially those who dont want to use traditional cannabis products or those who live in places where cannabis products are not legally available.

Essentially, patchwork legality and market forces have created an alt-weed space where, as long as the extracts or synthesized cannabinoids come from CBD first extracted from low-THC hemp (as opposed to high-THC cannabis), they exist in the same grey area as CBD does. Cannabis plants do produce delta-8-THC, but in small numbers that would waste too much biomass to obtain; by synthesizing delta-8 THC from CBD, brands are actually widening THC access, not to mention mainstream cannabis acceptability.

How does delta-8 compare to cannabis? Its hard to saymany users report it has more mild effects (one purveyor claims in its marketing that its products carry fewer of the negative effects of THC, like laziness and paranoia. But its effects can reportedly be wildly inconsistent. And delta-8 isnt the only alternative around.

THC-O, aka THC-o-acetate, like delta-8 THC, also occurs naturally in trace amounts, but is more commonly synthesized from cannabinoids derived from low-THC hemp. According to the industry advocacy site delta8.com, it is rumored that THC-O is roughly 3 times more potent than regular THC, which is the kind of dubious phrasing that tells you exactly how much rigorous study has gone on.

We asked Phiton Nguyen, president of Qwin, a company that makes a variety of hemp-compliant cannabis products, including delta-8 and THC-O taffy, syrups, and other alt-weed products, to explain precisely what THC-O is, what it does, and why customers are interested in it.

What we see on the mass market are isolated forms of these cannabinoids. THC-O is also one of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis, short for THC-O-acetate, which has a milder and very different effect than delta-9, he says. From our experience, it produces a psychedelic experience giving users mild visuals and enhanced vision.

Of course, your own experience may vary, as with the use of any drug, legal or notwhich might explain why Nguyens touts milder effects while delta8.com promises three times the potency. For their part, Qwin products are created in a facility in Long Beach, California, a regular cannabis hub, though their SKUs dont end up at the same dispensaries as their neighbors. Nguyen says the family-owned business was created after cancer caused them to consider cannabis as an alternative treatment method.

Were huge advocates for plant-based medicine, Nguyen says. We want to give people access to cannabis who need it but [who] dont have a local dispensary or dont want to buy it on the black market where they cant verify the quality of the product.

Other forms of hemp-derived THC are also emerging, including delta-10 (reported to be less potent than delta-8) and THC-P (discovered in late 2019, and said to be 33 times more effective at binding with cannabinoid receptors, delivering an intense and intoxicating experience). But as in the CBD industry, the line between fact and marketing claims can be pretty blurry, and it can be hard to determine how the products are being produced and whats actually in them. Still, while traditional cannabis advocates tend to be against these alt forms of THC or hemp derived solutions, preferring to pursue national legalization, but the demand for them is there for a reason.

People want access to cannabis so badly that they are succumbing to subpar products made with potentially hazardous byproducts, according to the FDA. All of these cannabinoids, both synthetic and naturally occurring, have been studied by the military industrial complex for almost a century, but wider research needs to take place to not only deem safe quantities and processes, but to eradicate a taboo that creates chaosand the potential for unsavory characters to put K2 synthetic marijuana in a gummy and call it wellness.

While many of these alt-weed products are available across the country or can be ordered online, all commercial cannabis products, whether sold online, in dispensaries, or as general merchandise, should always be made in safe settings, and quality ensured via testingpractices that are only common among reputable brands.

When exploring these products, always look into who made themand via what methods and what what safeguardsbefore ingesting them in the hopes of achieving a particular outcome, even if it is just getting high. Its never a bad idea to research the latest cannabis and hemp rules in your state, too: while delta-8-THC is regularly added to dispensary offerings in states like California, New York is cracking down on the stuff, and recently passed a law that made its sale illegal, despite the states legalization of recreational cannabis. Cannabis prohibition is still very real in some places and you dont want to face legal troubles over a THC-infused confection if you can avoid it.

Read the original here:

Do 'Legal' Weed Alternatives Really Work? - Lifehacker

New York, Jan. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Herbal Medicines Industry" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06031785/?utm_source=GNW Offered in tablets, powder, capsules, and tea forms, these products have few or no side effects and present a safe alternative to standard options to improve health and organ function. Growth in the global market is being spurred by increasing attention on self-care, rising awareness and influx of significant investments for R&D activity. Market growth is augmented by increasing awareness regarding negative effects of using allopathic medicines as well as compelling health benefits of herbal medicines. Factors such as rising attention on natural products, increasing aging population and rising cases of chronic disorders are providing a significant impetus to the global market. The outbreak of Covid-19 has also provided an opportunity for herbal medicine manufacturers to increasingly roll out herbal products that boost immunity. Growth is supported by increasing focus on products that offer digestive support, stress relief and better immunity health. The market growth is also favored by increasing attention on personalized medicines and easy availability of herbal supplements. On the flip side, lack of a proper regulatory framework and low level of awareness about these products remain major barriers to the market growth.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Herbal Medicines estimated at US$110.2 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$178.4 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 8.1% over the analysis period. Herbal Pharmaceuticals, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 8.6% CAGR to reach US$84.1 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Herbal Functional Foods segment is readjusted to a revised 7.9% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 25.4% share of the global Herbal Medicines market. Known for medicinal properties, leaves from herbal plants are extracted to produce numerous herbal supplements. Herbal pharmaceuticals, and supplements contain whole plants or individual parts of plants used to prevent or treat illness or disease. Besides offering reliable treatment medications for a range of health disorders, medicinal herbs are also ideal for use in food and beverage products as health consciousness is poised to remain as one of the important aspects of modern population.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $22.8 Billion in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $32.9 Billion by 2026

The Herbal Medicines market in the U.S. is estimated at US$22.8 Billion in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 18.4% share in the global market. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$32.9 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 10.8% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 7.4% and 7.1% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 6.5% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$35.8 Billion by the end of the analysis period. The demand for herbal supplements has been predominantly concentrated in the West, due to relatively high levels of health consciousness, and widespread and easy access to products. An ageing population, changing health perception and the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance are driving the demand for herbal supplements and remedies. Major factors driving growth in emerging countries include expanding population base, growing tendency of living healthy among consumers, increasing consumer awareness about wellness and dietary requirements, and growing demand for natural remedies. Growth in the region is supported by cultural affinity to herbalism and strong consumer confidence in the efficacy and safety of herbal ingredients.

Herbal Beauty Products Segment to Reach $20.2 Billion by 2026

Medicinal herbs offer highly functional ingredients for manufacturing beauty products and cosmetics. Herbal ingredients provide reliable ingredients to enrich the cosmetic products and deliver much better functionality than regular chemicals-based cosmetics. The increasing uptake of these herbal products is credited to rising consumer awareness regarding negative implications of inorganic cosmetics ingredients. In the global Herbal Beauty Products segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 4.8% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$11.4 Billion in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$15.8 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$2.7 Billion by the year 2026, while Latin America will expand at a 5.8% CAGR through the analysis period.

Select Competitors (Total 234 Featured)

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06031785/?utm_source=GNW

I. METHODOLOGY

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. MARKET OVERVIEW Impact of Covid-19 and a Looming Global Recession 2020: A Year of Disruption & Transformation As the Race between the Virus & Vaccines Intensifies, Where is the World Economy in 2021 EXHIBIT 1: World Economic Growth Projections (Real GDP, Annual % Change) for 2020 through 2022 Role of Herbal Medicine in the Fight against Covid-19 Pandemic Leads to Increased Consumer Focus on Health and Wellness Products, Driving the Consumption of Herbal Supplements and Foods Heal Thyself Motto amid COVID-19 Drives Uptake of Herbal Medicines Herbal Medicines on the March as Mutant Versions of COVID-19 Virus Emerge A Regional Overview of How Herbal Medicine has Gained Attention Amid the Pandemic A Prelude to Herbs Herbal Medicine Market Insights Outlook Geographic Landscape An Overview of Select Markets Japan China China Gives Green Signal to Herbal Medicines to Expand COVID-19 Treatment Options India Salient Factors Establishing Phytopharmaceuticals as Promising Niche Market in India South Korea Cuba Africa Thailand Why Few Herbal Medicines have Secured Approval as Prescription Medicines? Recent Market Activity World Brands

2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Market to Gain from Mounting Concerns Over Side Effect Profile of Synthetic Drugs Shifting Preference towards Traditional Medicines to Widen the Addressable Market Rising Uptake of Medicinal Herbs Enriched Functional Foods Herbal Supplements Gain Traction Leaves, Roots Extracts Thrive Well Key Trends and Products Shaping the Herbal Supplements Market Rising Popularity of Curcumin & Turmeric Products Consumer Focus on Self-Care Organic Products Nutritional Deficiency & Sedentary Lifestyle Open New Avenues Ashwagandha: A Star Performer Fall of CBD Products Adaptogens: Growing Role as a Stress Buster Natural Garlic Herbal Supplements Gain Interest for Keeping a Healthy Heart Ginkgo Biloba Gains Popularity for Treatment of Blood Disorders and Memory Disorders Echinacea Gets Popular for Immune Stimulating Properties St. John?s Wort for Depression and Mood Disorders Ginseng Supplements for Energy Boost Ayurvedic Supplements Go Mainstream Research Evidence Supports Positive Role of Herbal Remedies in Boosting Immunity and Stress Management Changing Demographics and Growing Emphasis on Preventive Healthcare Boost Prospects Demand for Traditional Chinese Medicine Surges amid the Pandemic New Technologies Transform Chinese Herbal Medicine Indian Ayurveda to Witness Rapid Worldwide Growth led by the Pandemic Demand for Ashwagandha Containing Supplements to Soar Growing Opportunities for Herbal Medicines in Beauty & Cosmetics Sector Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance Drives Opportunities EXHIBIT 2: Deaths from Antimicrobial Resistance to Increase by 2050 With Depression Increasingly Becoming a Common, Herbal Alternatives Gain Attention EXHIBIT 3: Anti-Depressant Market: Percentage Share Breakdown by Depressive Disorder Type Herbal Supplement Usage in Dentistry Surges amid Concerns Rising Aging Population Drives Demand EXHIBIT 4: Aging Population Steps-Up The Burden on Healthcare: Global Aging Population Statistics for the 65+ Age Group in Million by Geographic Region for the Years 2019, 2025, 2035 and 2050 EXHIBIT 5: Global Cost of Chronic Diseases (In US$ Billion) for the Years 2018 and 2030 Unique Healthcare Needs of Women Propel Demand for Various Herbal Supplements Increasing Focus on Weight Management Spurs Demand for Herbs that Aid Weight Loss Epidemic Proportions of Obesity Lead to Increased Focus on Weight Management EXHIBIT 6: Obesity Prevalence Rate (%) in Select Countries for the Years 2019 and 2030P EXHIBIT 7: Global Obesity Epidemic: Percentage of Overweight, Obese, and Severely Obese Adults for 2014 & 2025 Increasing Prevalence of Chronic & Lifestyle Diseases Enhances Consumer Demand EXHIBIT 8: Global Cancer Incidence: Number of New Cancer Cases in Million for the Years 2018, 2020, 2025, 2030, 2035 and 2040 EXHIBIT 9: Global Breakdown of Total Number of Cancer Cases by Type: 2020 EXHIBIT 10: World Diabetes and Population Statistics (2019, 2030 & 2045) EXHIBIT 11: Global Annual Medical Cost of CVD in US$ Billion: 2010, 2015, 2020, 2025 and 2030 Urbanization Trend Drives Uptake of Herbal Supplements EXHIBIT 12: World Urban Population in Thousands: 1950-2050P Regulatory Regime for Herbal Medicine The EU Regulatory System for Herbal Medicinal Products Emerging Demand for CSR and Sustainable Sourcing Key Challenges Hampering Growth Prospects for Herbal Medicines and Supplements Risk Drug Interactions between Herbs and Conventional Drugs Challenge Market Prospects Safety Assessment and Registration Requirements Restrict Herbal Medicinal Market

4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Table 1: World Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 2: World Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 3: World 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 4: World Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Pharmaceuticals by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 5: World Historic Review for Herbal Pharmaceuticals by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 6: World 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Pharmaceuticals by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 7: World Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Functional Foods by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 8: World Historic Review for Herbal Functional Foods by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 9: World 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Functional Foods by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 10: World Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Beauty Products by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 11: World Historic Review for Herbal Beauty Products by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 12: World 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Beauty Products by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 13: World Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Dietary Supplements by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 14: World Historic Review for Herbal Dietary Supplements by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 15: World 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Dietary Supplements by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 16: World Current & Future Analysis for Capsules & Tablets by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 17: World Historic Review for Capsules & Tablets by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 18: World 15-Year Perspective for Capsules & Tablets by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 19: World Current & Future Analysis for Powders by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 20: World Historic Review for Powders by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 21: World 15-Year Perspective for Powders by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 22: World Current & Future Analysis for Syrups by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 23: World Historic Review for Syrups by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 24: World 15-Year Perspective for Syrups by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 25: World Current & Future Analysis for Extracts by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 26: World Historic Review for Extracts by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 27: World 15-Year Perspective for Extracts by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

III. MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES Table 28: USA Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 29: USA Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 30: USA 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Category - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 31: USA Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 32: USA Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 33: USA 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Form - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

CANADA Table 34: Canada Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 35: Canada Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 36: Canada 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Category - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 37: Canada Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 38: Canada Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 39: Canada 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Form - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

JAPAN Table 40: Japan Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 41: Japan Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 42: Japan 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Category - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 43: Japan Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 44: Japan Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 45: Japan 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Form - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

CHINA Table 46: China Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 47: China Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 48: China 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Category - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 49: China Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 50: China Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 51: China 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Form - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

EUROPE Table 52: Europe Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Geographic Region - France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 53: Europe Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Geographic Region - France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 54: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe Markets for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 55: Europe Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 56: Europe Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 57: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Category - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 58: Europe Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 59: Europe Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 60: Europe 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Form - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

FRANCE Table 61: France Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 62: France Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 63: France 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Category - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 64: France Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 65: France Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 66: France 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Form - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

GERMANY Table 67: Germany Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 68: Germany Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 69: Germany 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Category - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 70: Germany Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 71: Germany Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 72: Germany 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Form - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

ITALY Table 73: Italy Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 74: Italy Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 75: Italy 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Category - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 76: Italy Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 77: Italy Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 78: Italy 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Form - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

UNITED KINGDOM Table 79: UK Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 80: UK Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 81: UK 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Category - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

Table 82: UK Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 83: UK Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Form - Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

Table 84: UK 15-Year Perspective for Herbal Medicines by Form - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Capsules & Tablets, Powders, Syrups and Extracts for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027

SPAIN Table 85: Spain Current & Future Analysis for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR

Table 86: Spain Historic Review for Herbal Medicines by Category - Herbal Pharmaceuticals, Herbal Functional Foods, Herbal Beauty Products and Herbal Dietary Supplements Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR

The rest is here:

Global Herbal Medicines Market to Reach US$178.4 Billion by - GlobeNewswire

In Austin, Texas, Marika Alvarado is attempting to keep the teachings of Indigenous healers alive through the generations. Her work, which was passed down from her mother and grandmother, she realized, would end with her. Alvarado, a Lipan Mescalero Apache medicine woman and healer, began the Of the Earth Institute of Indigenous Cultures and Teachings and offers a certificate-granting course to instruct others in the craft.

The course, which Alvarado has taught to 25 students so far this year, is focused on holistic healing and Apache traditions. For 6 months, she instructs her students on plant-based medicine, nutrition, and other natural remedies.

"As a child, I was taught the traditional way, as my family tended those who came to them in need," she notes on her website. "I am here to help in the healing of others and to pass on these teachings I have been given."

For Alvarado, becoming a healer was predecided. At birth, her grandmother foretold that she would one day be a healer. When Alvarado was 5 years old, she began seeing the spirits of her ancestors. Soon after, she began shadowing her mother and grandmother, learning their methods and the lessons that had been handed down to them through generations.

When her grandmother and mother died, it all changed.

"Suddenly, I was standing alone," she said to the Houston Chronicle. "I have my own medicine that will die with me because there are no Apaches to pass it on. I would hate to know that it gets lost."

Marika Alvarado, a Lipan Mescalero Apache medicine woman and healer, began the Of the Earth Institute of Indigenous Cultures and Teachings and offers a certificate-granting course to instruct others in the craft.

Alvarado's solution was to begin passing it down to others, the same way that her grandmother and mother did for her.

"I believe that I should teach all people who have the dedication and spiritual will to use these teachings as Mother Earth and the generations before me intended," she said on her website.

During the time between her training and her decision to begin equipping the next generations of healers, Alvarado offered alternative healing at Lone Star Circle of Care Clinic in Austin. There, her work focuses on treating people with care. It's not purely medical according to the Chronicle, Alvarado's sessions often start with her offering a cup of tea to people and just talking.

Her traditional approach, she told the Chronicle, isn't meant to be the replacement for Western medicine. It's supposed to be an alternative and that the two methods should work in tandem with one another.

Alvarado's work in healing and teaching exists to pass down what she's learned, as well as the legacy of Indigenous healers before her. Her course, as listed on her website, is meant for people who have felt the calling to heal.

"We need to be the shift," Alvarado told the Chronicle. "We need to educate and let everyone know what we do, how we do it, and how we do it with plants."

For more news, follow Medscape on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, andLinkedIn

Continue reading here:

Handing It Down: The Craft of Indigenous Healing - Medscape

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

The current trend toward alternative medicine is often credited to the anti-vaccine movement, but the flawed U.S. health care system and companies that sell these treatments leads people to seek these other options.

While alternative medicines do not always work, instead of shaming people who seek these treatments, people should shame the companies that sell them as well as the inadequate health care system that leads people to seek other options.

There are several forms of alternative medicine such as healing crystals, essential oils and herbal supplements. These treatments are often thought of as being complementary form of medicine to the customers standard health care. However, alternative forms cannot be a complement to healthcare if there is no adequate standard healthcare to begin with.

From inadequate response to the pandemic to high costs which serve as deterrents and to reliance on crowdfunding websites for medical care, there are multiple ways in which the current standard health care system is failing. People shouldnt have to plead their case for medical bills on a crowdfunding platform or forego treatment due to the high cost.

The high costs of health care is what often leads people to turn to alternative medicines such as crystals, which are considered to be a source of healing in some alternative medicine circles. Many people joke about the trend of crystal healing and shame those who consider it to be a real treatment or a substitute for actual health care.

However, this distracts from the reality that alternative medicine can be a response to anxiety and skepticism about the health care system.

While some people have listened to anti-vaccine propaganda, many people are skeptical about health care for understandable reasons. The health care system has a racist, sexist history that continues today. Women have been known to be misdiagnosed at higher rates than men while Black women die more during childbirth than white women.

People distrust doctors often due to bad personal experiences with them where they felt unheard and gaslit. This is why people may turn to crystals, herbal concoctions and other alternative medicine products.

The blame is not just on the health care system in the U.S. but also on the companies that take advantage of desperate customers who want health care in order to maximize their profits.

Many companies that sell crystals, supplements and other alternative treatments are just taking advantage of these customers. Their goal is to make money, not treat patients. The treatments are often inaccurately advertised as well, with companies often selling fake crystals and watered down treatments. Customers who buy these treatments often do not even get what they paid for.

Rejecting these treatments should not include scorning people for engaging in the consumption but companies who market these products and the health care system that creates the demand for such products to exist.

Christopher Hernandez is an English senior who can be reached at[emailprotected]

Tags: health and wellness, health care, Medicine

Read more here:

Health care system, companies are to blame for interest in alternative medicine - The Cougar - The Daily Cougar

As doctors shift away from large and frequent doses of addictive painkillers to stem a surge in deaths by opioid overdose, clinicians prescribing alternative treatments tout a range of options but agree that exercise improves almost every regimen in which alleviating pain and restoring functionality are the goals.

In Chesterfield County, opioid overdose deaths are climbing. Excluding cases in which the Virginia Medical Examiners Office also detected fentanyl, a synthetic opioid added to increase the potency of illegal heroin, Chesterfield had 66 deaths from opioid overdose in 2019, 100 in 2020 and 56 in just the first half of 2021. Opioid addiction isnt always obvious or preceded by other forms of substance abuse; many victims of overdose are people with jobs and stable lives who find themselves hooked on drugs prescribed legally.

Stacy, a 60-year-old Goochland County resident who wants to remain anonymous to protect her interests in an ongoing lawsuit, had minor knee trouble before a car crash a few years ago. She controlled the pain of an expanding airbag hitting her knee with over-the-counter analgesics and physical therapy. I had difficulty walking for any period of time. Just sitting down, getting up, the knee would catch and the last time it did, I fell down the steps, she recalls. Barely able to walk, she decided to have her knee replaced.

Stacy suffered both major categories of pain: Before surgery she endured chronic pain, the sort lasting more than eight weeks, associated with conditions like a tricky knee, bad back, arthritis or fibromyalgia. Post-operation, Stacy had acute pain, the short-term sort that comes after an incision, broken bone or deep bruise. For this acute pain, she took narcotics prescribed by her doctor.

However, she discontinued using them after a week or so. Like many, she feared the possibility of addiction. Instead, shes relied on ice to numb her healing joint and vigorous exercise on a stationary bike to keep it loose. I was very conscious of drugs, Stacy says. I knew I didnt want them.

Now, she manages her residual pain from the injury stiffness caused by inactivity by trying to exercise regularly.

Anchoring treatment for pain with physical therapy is common. Its the grandfather of drug-free pain therapy in modern medicine. Physical therapists use rehabilitative exercise, joint manipulation, massage, applications of heat and ice, ultrasound, electronic stimulation and other techniques to reduce discomfort and improve strength and range of motion.

Physical therapy is relatively inexpensive and sometimes a prerequisite for other treatments. Lisa Berman is a physical therapist at the Sheltering Arms Rehabilitation Centers outpatient therapy clinic in Chester, one of seven in the region. As it gets tougher to access opioid drugs, she says, patients are desperate to find other ways to manage their pain.

Berman also uses a technique called dry needling. To the untrained eye, dry needling appears to be the same as acupuncture. In both treatments, thin stainless steel needles are pushed through the skin. The similarity ends there. Developed in China over centuries, acupuncture presumes pain and illness are caused by an imbalance in the bodys energy, and that application of needles along energy pathways can ease pain and promote healing.

Dry needling was developed in Europe in the 20th century by doctors using scientific methods. Energy pathways arent the targets. Dry needling stimulates or relaxes muscles directly. I use dry needling for recalcitrant kinds of pain, like pain that doesnt respond to other kinds of treatment, Berman says, adding that she isnt surprised that alternative treatments are growing in popularity. New therapies for pain management are attractive because people are increasingly aware of the danger of opioid addiction.

At JNT Dental, Dr. Joseph Tregaskes uses lasers as an alternative to narcotics in painful craniofacial conditions. Laser therapy was first developed in the late 1960s and involves placing a light source on or close to the skin to manipulate tissue and cells in the body.

Tregaskes treats headaches temple mandibular joint pain, muscular issues, nerve issues, ligament and tendon issues, and cervical spine issues. Adjusting a lasers power, pulse and wavelength allows the lights energy to penetrate the skin and reach places where pain begins, according to Dr. Nelson Marquina of Laser Biotech International, a Richmond-based company that sells the equipment to the medical market.

It stimulates at the cellular level, Tregaskes explains. And it works really well on pretty much all tissues. You work on nerve tissues, vascular structures, your ligament and tendon issues. Lasers can also reduce inflammation. Because the energy is delivered at the cellular level, lasers can even stimulate broken bones to heal, he says.

Doctors also promote therapies that target how we feel about ourselves when burdened by pain. These include meditation and even hypnosis.

Dr. Benjamin Seeman at Integrative Pain Specialists in Henrico says theyre essential: Mindfulness is incredibly important Studies have demonstrated the link between stress and pain, and mindfulness can be an excellent way to reduce stress.

Seeman says attitudes about opioids are changing among both practitioners and patients. When we are able to convince a patient to try a different approach, or at least decrease their dosages, they find they are able to enjoy an improved quality of life and decreased pain.

Berman says insurance companies usually require a patient to try other mitigations for pain, such as physical therapy, before authorizing more novel approaches, which can be more expensive.

Whether drugs are part of a pain management therapy or not, she emphasizes the power of exercise. Motion is lotion, she says. Even going for a walk is extremely therapeutic. I really encourage people to just be active. Im big into yoga Im big into any kind of movement.

Seeman agrees: Exercise is very important. I encourage all my patients to stay as active as possible.

Opioids arent the only solution.

Originally posted here:

In response to the opioid epidemic, some health care providers are rethinking pain management - Chesterfield Observer

Meditation has long been used to promote calm and relaxation, cope with stress and illness, and manage anxiety and depression. As its list of positive effects grows, so too has the percent of adults in the United States who reported meditatingfrom 4% in 2012 to 14% in 2017, according to the most recent National Health Interview Survey.

Runners often call their time logging miles their moving meditation. However, if the disappointment of a slower-than-expected mile split or panic over unexplained tightness in your calf can derail your race or ruin your workout, adding a formal meditation practice to your training routine can better prepare you to handle these feelings and emotionsboth on the run and in life. Just as lifting weights can strengthen your hips or hamstrings, meditation can strengthen your mind, enhancing your running and overall wellbeing.

Here, we will explain what meditation is, the benefits to your health and performance, and how you can make it a part of your training plan.

Meditation is a set of techniques used to bring awareness back to a specific focus when your mind wanders. These techniques can help your mind process emotions, contributing to your overall wellness and stress management.

A meditation practice typically involves focusing your attention while in a comfortable posture, such as sitting, lying down, or walking. And ideally, its practiced in a place with limited distractions.

Once youve checked those boxes, the meditation exercises themselves are simple. Focus on your breath by counting or repeating a mantra. Or you can scan your senses and observe what your body sees, hears, tastes, smells, or feels to center your attention.

When distracting thoughts ariseThis is boring; My nose itches; Were out of milkcome back to that focus. There is no time requirement to make the meditation count, so meditate for as long as you feel comfortable. Though the more you make an effort to meditate, the more you will get out of it.

Dont be fooled though; while the practice itself is simple, meditating is not always easy. What meditation is not is peace and stillness from the moment you begin, so dont get discouraged if your first few attempts feel awkward.

Rebecca Pachecothe author of the book Still Life The Myths and Magic of Mindful Living, and a meditation and yoga instructoracknowledges that it will, at times, feel difficult for even the most experienced meditators. You may find you are bored, anxious, or fidgety, and thats okay, Pacheco, a two-time Boston Marathon finisher, tells Runners World. Youre not doing it wrong.

Meditation also is not self-improvement, but by practicing awareness and self-compassion, some people may argue that meditation can help you improve yourself. Your thoughts are not bad or wrong; the key is to approach them without judgement.

Meditation is self-acceptance, says Pacheco. The purpose is to give you a place where you dont have to get it right. And the irony is that things often will improve.

Mindfulness and meditation are sometimes used interchangeably, though the two boil down into more specific descriptions: meditation is the practice, while mindfulness is a state of being. Practicing meditation trains your mind to pay attention mindfully.

Mindfulness training uses meditation exercises in combination with informal practices, such as running, to incorporate mindfulness into daily life. Together, these practices train your mind to focus less on negative thoughts, emotions, and memories, and instead makes space for it to concentrate on the present, without getting ahead of itself.

Dr. Keith Kaufman, a clinical sports psychologist and co-developer of the Mindful Sports Performance Enhancement (MSPE) program, describes mindfulness as a nonreactive approach. The challenge is that humans naturally react to feeling uncomfortable and try to minimize it. He related it to the discomfort felt in a race.

Its called an ironic mental process, Kaufman tells Runners World. If you are saying, Im in so much pain right now. I shouldnt feel this pain, I dont want to feel this pain, what it does is actually bring more of your focus to the pain and can actually make it worse. Mindfulness training gives us a way of accepting [the pain and helping us think], Right now, my body is in pain. Right now, this is how my body is feeling, but I can still feel this, and I can still proceed.

The benefits of meditation have been widely studied and researchers are continually finding positive effects on a variety of health conditions. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), some of those benefits include reducing high blood pressure, helping symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis flareups, and easing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Meditation has also shown promise when it comes to managing pain and improving insomnia, and it may help people quit smoking.

For some, these benefits may be enough to convince you to start meditating. But for those runners who need the extra nudge, research has shown sports-specific benefits associated with mindfulness-based interventions.

Meditation can help you get in the zonewhen you are so absorbed in your run that it feels effortless, an experience that has been associated with peak performance. A 2009 study in the Journal of Clinical Sports Psychology, following long distance runners who used the MSPE program co-developed by Dr. Kaufman, showed improvements in mindfulness and awareness, and decreases in sport-related worries and perfectionismfactors that may aid runners in reaching that flow state.

If youre thinking about your time and if youre thinking about the end result of the race, its really hard to get into that rhythm, its really hard to get into that flow. By letting go of the outcome and instead focusing on whats happening right now, which is one of the big targets of attention that we talk about, then that can help us get more into the state of flow, Kaufman says.

Meditation can also improve your perception of pain and fatigue, which may prevent you from giving up or slowing down on the run. A 2020 study in Neural Plasticity showed athletes who completed mindfulness training improved endurance performances by having a higher threshold for exhaustion. And a 2021 study in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that following the completion of a mindfulness-based training program, female college students reported decreases in their perception of exercise intensity and other negative feelings, such as fatigue, following an 800-meter run.

The takeaway here: If your brain thinks you have more gas in the tank, your body can push harder, or at least enjoy the run a bit more.

Additionally, meditation can get you back on your feet sooner following a workout or injury. A 2021 study in the Journal of Athletic Training found mindfulness training, in conjunction with traditional physical therapies, reduced pain while running, improved coping strategies, and decreased pain catastrophizing in patients with knee pain.

And a 2000 study in the Journal of British Sport Medicine showed that runners who practiced meditation exercises as part of a relaxation training significantly decreased their blood lactate concentrationwhich is an indirect marker for fatigue in exercising musclesafter exercise. This is just another reason to take a rest day, and using some of that time off from running to meditate may get you back on your feet sooner.

But will meditating make you run faster? A 2011 study in the Journal of Clinical Sports Psychology showed improvements in runners mile times one year after the mindfulness training program was completed by participants.

However, Kaufman cautions, It would be way overstating the science of meditation to say if you meditate, youre going to be faster. But by meditating, it can change the way you pay attention in competitive moments. It really can change the entire trajectory of your performance if youre not getting stuck in a reaction to something. You can stay present, and you can keep making choices that are best for your performance, and in that sense it could help you run faster.

It would be way overstating the science of meditation to say if you meditate, youre going to be faster. But by meditating, it can change the way you pay attention in competitive moments.

Both Kaufman and Pacheco agree that using running as an informal way to practice mindfulness is important because the goal, ultimately, is to integrate these skills into daily life. However, much like your training plan may include easy, tempo and long runs, Kaufman believes a formal meditation practice can help you develop the range of skills necessary for remaining mindful on your run, or life, as a variety of situations are thrown your way.

Here are a few tips to start your meditation practice:

Start small. If you were starting to run for the first time, you would not go out for a ten-mile tempo run. The same goes for meditation. Start with three minutes, says Pacheco, Then try to string together days, then weeks. A little can go a long way.

Just begin. The hardest part of a run is often getting out the door. Set yourself up for success by designating a time to meditate when you might actually do it, like immediately after a run. And then actually do it! Just as it might take a mile or two to settle into a run, so too may it take a moment to get settled into a mediation practice.

Often if you keep going, something clears and the run turns around. And even if it doesnt, you often feel better than when you started. Meditation works the same way, Pacheco says.

Use available resources. Apps like Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer have libraries of guided meditations if you feel you dont know where to start. Dr. Kaufmans podcast, Mindful Sports Performance, begins each episode with a mindfulness exercise. Find what works for you.

Fit meditation into your day in a way that works best for you. If you cant sit down on a meditation cushion with incense burning to meditate, thats okay! Meditation doesnt have to look a certain way. All it takes to be a good meditator, is to meditate, Pacheco says.

Pacheco suggests using existing moments in the day to meditate, such as while waiting in the exam room for your doctor or while sitting in your (preferably parked) car if you arrive early for a meeting or date. Or the next time you are about to mindlessly scroll on your phone, try two minutes of breathwork instead. There is no right or wrong way to meditate.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Go here to read the rest:

Benefits of Meditation for Runners - Why Runners Should Meditate - Runner's World

I am writing this in response to the Brain Supplements section of your article Ask Science (GT, 1/5), which I feel is not accurate, and is misleading to your readers.

I am a Ph.D Nutritional Scientist and researcher with over 45 years experience and author of several hundred published articles, and was previously a columnist for the Press Banner.

The article has a quote from a neurologist who I am sure is very competent in her field, but lacks credibility in her comment: There really isnt evidence to suggest that any particular vitamin or supplement can help improve or reverse cognitive changes.

I am very sorry Dr. Hellmuth, but you seem to have missed hundreds of scientific studies that disprove your statement.

I have included several studies in this letter, but I am prepared to provide additional scientific studies to prove my point.

The following findings were presented at the 14th Clinical Trials on Alzheimers Disease (CTAD) on November 10, 2021, in Boston. The placebo-controlled study included 2,262 adults aged 65 and over without dementia who underwent cognitive tests at baseline and annually for 3 years. The average age at baseline was 73 years, and 40.4% were men.

Daily multivitamin-mineral supplementation appears to slow cognitive aging by 60%, or by 1.8 years, said study researcher Laura D. Baker, PhD, professor, Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She continues Our study provides new evidence that daily multivitamin supplementation may benefit cognitive function in older women and men.

In a Feb 2017 study published in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, researchers analyzed 5,269 men and women, and compared to non-supplementers, those who supplemented with vitamin C and/or vitamin E had a 38% lower adjusted risk of all-cause dementia and a 40% lower risk of Alzheimers disease. They also had a 23% lower risk of developing cognitive impairment.

In a 2020 randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease, researchers concluded: Vitamin D supplementation for 12 months appears to improve cognitive function through reducing oxidative stress Vitamin D may be a promising public health strategy to prevent cognitive decline.

Researchers in a randomized controlled trial published in a 2021 issue of the Journal of Alzheimers Disease reported: Folic acid and DHA [from Omega 3 fish oil] improve cognitive function.

Research findings in Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine (2011) indicate that Lions Mane (a nutritional mushroom) may have potential in stimulation of neurons to regrow in the treatment of senility, Alzheimers disease, repairing neurological trauma from strokes, improving muscle or motor response pathways and cognitive function.

I appreciate the honest and accurate information your paper usually provides; however, your article on brain supplements has more holes than swiss cheese.

I would hope you would provide your readers with accurate information on how nutritional supplements can benefit their lives and improve their brains.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion.

Richard Goldberg

Felton

This letter does not necessarily reflect the views of Good Times.To submit a letter to the editor of Good Times: Letters should be originalsnot copies of letters sent to other publications. Please include your name and email address to help us verify your submission (email address will not be published). Please be brief. Letters may be edited for length, clarity and to correct factual inaccuracies known to us. Send letters to [emailprotected].

View original post here:

Letter to the Editor: Supplemental Information - Good Times Weekly

Whether one buys basic health insurance or a critical illness policy, it is no longer a question of debate if one requires health coverage in todays day and age. Ones income and savings may not be able to match up to the high costs of hospitalisation and treatment in India. Besides, there is always the looming threat of lifestyle diseases, pandemics and critical illnesses striking one at any time. Health insurance helps pay the cost of future health concerns, and gives one the required peace of mind knowing that they have taken concrete measures to safeguard the health of themselves and their loved ones.

Did you know that there are some hidden benefits in your health insurance plan that you are possibly not aware of? We list 5 of them:

#1 Restoration benefit.

Also known as a reset option, the restoration benefit effectively replenishes the sum insured amount when it is exhausted against a claim. The policy with a restoration benefit automatically restores the sum insured during the same policy year. Suppose you have a coverage of Rs 5 lakh and it is exhausted with treating a serious accident. If you have exhausted the entire coverage and require more coverage in the same year, the insurance provider will cover the new claim as well. This is beneficial for those who are likely to require lengthy or repeat hospitalisation, or those who have aged parents with pre-existing health conditions likely to require hospitalisation.

#2 Wellness benefits.

The best health insurance plans incentivise maintaining good health and fitness with a range of wellness benefits. These might include a reduction of premium for a no-claim year, or reward points that can be redeemed for specific benefits in your city, or reimbursement for certain outpatient procedures (under certain conditions), fitness programmes in association with gyms and fitness centres in your city, etc. These are all aimed at keeping the policy holder and their family members in good physical health, so that they may avoid hospitalisation and treatment for as long as possible. Besides, the health insurance provider will offer health insights to better care for your health with advice on exercise, sleep practices, nutrition, diet, mindful living, etc.

#3 Including AYUSH treatments.

Lately, people have started reposing greater faith in alternative medicine. Not every person is content with undergoing Allopathic treatment, not least because of the expense involved and the possible side-effects. However, health insurance in India has traditionally not covered alternative medicine treatments. This picture has now changed, with leading health insurance providers including AYUSH treatments in their coverage. AYUSH is a term to encompass the alternative medicine streams of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy. Apart from these, AYUSH also covers Naturopathy treatments. Consultation, medicines and other procedures under AYUSH are covered by leading health insurance plans in India.

#4 Day-care procedure coverage.

Indian health insurance also did not cover treatments that were discharged on an OPD basis. Even today, most generic health plans entertain claims for 24-hours or more hospitalisation only. But leading insurers cover treatments administered under day-care or OPD, which are made possible due to technological advancements and which do not require 24-hour hospitalisation.

#5 Almost immediate cashless settlement.

If customers have one grouse against insurance policies, it is that the claims are processed slowly and the process is tedious. However, the best health insurance plans settle cashless claims in about a couple of hours from the time of receiving the claim. This means that you or a family member can undergo the treatment you require without having to worry about settling the bills yourself.

Read more from the original source:

The 5 Hidden Benefits Of Health Insurance In India - The Hindu

It's a sobering statisticmore than 100,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in just one year's time. And the CDC says it's getting worse each year.

Kayla Pramik knows the struggle all too well.

"There's no face that goes with addiction. It can hit you, it could hit your closest family members," she said. "My entire life I have struggled with mental health, I've struggled with addiction. It wasn't a fun go for me for about 26 years of my life."

Pramik was introduced to alternative medicine and was able to overcome her battles. She now uses her experience to help inspire others to heal.

"I know what it's like to be in a very dark corner in life and really not having anybody who understood what I was going through. So it makes my heart feel so full it makes my heart explode that if I can help one person, even if it's just one person," she said.

Pramik is also a passionate advocate for those silently struggling because she's seen the other side of the disease. Her sister lost her battle.

"She ended up passing away in 2013. It was a fatal mixture of heroin, cocaine, and Klonopin. Ever since then I knew there was something had to be done," Pramik said.

She turned her pain into a plan and started lighting the way for others. She donates part of the proceeds of her homemade candles to help others.

Kayla wants them to know it can get better, just as it did for her.

"You're not alone, there's more of us that have gone through it not than have not, we will sit with you and listen to you and do everything in our power that we can to make sure that you make it out alive because that's the most important part,"Pramik said.

View original post here:

Woman sells candles to help light the way for others struggling with drug addiction - 69News WFMZ-TV

As were aware, Asia is big on spa and wellness. From onsen to flotation therapy, here is a list of seven exotic spa and wellness treatments to explore in Asia.

Imagine sitting in a calm place while your mind and body are in sync with the surroundings. Doesnt that just feel relaxing? Such are the effects of aromatic wellness spa treatments that help you de-stress your body and mind to create one of the most serene and heavenly experiences.

Though a periodic trip to the spa or a wellness retreat is quite common these days, what adds to the whole experience is the luxurious and exotic way we get these spa therapies. Exclusive and tailor-made options, which were once available only at high-end treatment centres and wellness retreats, are becoming increasingly common.

The concept of a wellness sanctuary that sets customised wellness goals and promotes a healthy lifestyle is what many are looking for. Availing luxurious massages through holistic programmes by professional therapists, who not only provide beauty treatments but also aim at establishing emotional balance while appealing to all the senses, is what defines a modern-day luxurious spa.

While there is an array of services in many international markets, those found in Asia have become quite popular with their unique rejuvenation and spa treatments. While some of these might be new, others are ancient practices. From authentic hammams, Onsen and crystal massages to floatation and chocolate therapies, the endless options are as luxurious and exotic as they get.

The method of Toji bathing or the ancient Japanese practice of onsen is one of the most surreal experiences where you bathe in a hot spring. The term onsen literally translates into hot water cure and refers to the medicinal values involved in this balneotherapy.

Prolonged stay in a relaxing hot water spring at a ryokan, or a Japanese inn, enables the body to absorb the healing properties from the mineral-rich water. Medicinal benefits include relieving joint pains, relaxing tired muscles, improving skin quality and blood circulation as well as inducing better sleep.

In todays time, a ryokan setup consists of onsen, along with rooms for guests to stay and unwind for a couple of days.

Sound baths, or the use of your auditory senses, as a medium to stimulate or relax your mind and body is becoming extremely popular among urban dwellers. It may come across as a modern therapy, but reports suggest it goes back to over 2,000 years.

To answer the most basic question of whether there is water involved in the therapy, the answer is no. This is because a sound bath cleanses your mind using sound notes.

The soothing vibrations produced by instruments, like Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, windchimes and crystal bowls, will not only calm your senses but also enable better stress management.

As the sound waves and vibrations pass through the body, you will feel serene and completely relaxed. Sound bathing is also considered to be a wellness journey that has a lightening effect on the body.

Close your eyes and immerse yourself in the vibrations in the dimly lit relaxing studio and feel the stress leave your body and mind. You will be one with yourself and the environment.

Enjoy a sound bath individually or in a group, but consciously absorb all the goodness of the spa treatment. Typically, an individual session goes on for an hour, depending on the routine or session you opt for.

Medicinal benefits of this treatment include reduced stress and anxiety. According to a 2014 study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, regular sound bathing can also reduce systolic blood pressure.

A sound and lightproof pod, floating without feeling the body weight and relaxing in complete silence, with very little light, make up this therapy. Although this might sound like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, floatation therapy is one of the most extravagant body treatments.

Float on your back on about 12-inches-high Epsom salt-saturated water inside a pod, which is set at a skin surface temperature, and feel the surroundings fade away. Feeling weightless and focusing on your heartbeat and breathing characterise this new-age wellness therapy.

The sauna-like feeling of floatation therapy is great for relieving stress, anxiety, hypertension, soothing your senses and relaxing your mind. It also helps in nervous stimulation, brain synchronisation and much more.

Experts are of the view that such a heightened state of total relaxation doesnt kick in until the first 30 minutes, but the effects can stay for over a day. Thus, Dr Justin Feinstein, clinical neuropsychologist and director of the Float Clinic and Research Center at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research, suggests this as a short term remedy for anxiety and depression.

Traditional Arabian style of cleansing the body, having deep tissue massages and taking your mind off in a humid sauna room sums up a typical hammam bath. Originating in the Middle East, the roots of this spa therapy can be traced to Turkey and Morocco where people visit local hammams for periodic cleansing.

In the steam sauna room or Hammam, a tellak or an attendant will first pour water on you before applying a black soap and exfoliating your skin with a kessa glove.

The treatment detans your skin and opens up the pores, releasing accumulated dirt. The massage exfoliates dead cells to give a healthy glow to your skin.

The nourishing elements of the exfoliator, often combined with a mud bath, enrich the body with minerals and the massage relieves joint pains and stressed muscles for an overall soothing effect.

Cannot resist the rich, decadent aroma of cocoa? Then this spa and wellness treatment is for you. Lathering rich cocoa butter and chocolate all over your body, a spa treatment couldnt get more delicious than this.

Soak in the rich essence of chocolate therapy and embrace its calming effect on your body and mind. With its rich exfoliating, deep nourishing and moisturising elements, chocolate and products infused with chocolate become the most sought-after choice for services like body massage, pedicure, manicure, facials and hair removal.

The immensely popular spa treatment is one of the most luxurious and premium wellness programmes.

Using crystals, precious and semi-precious stones help in attaining inner balance, as well as reducing stress and anxiety.

Although the practice of using crystals has been around for ages, its been gaining prominence again, with celebrities, like Victoria Beckham and Kate Hudson, speaking about them.

Solely targeted at mental well-being and providing tranquillity, crystals and gemstones promote healing energies when used to align various aspects of life. Placing crystals on pressure points and getting a deep massage relieves stress and joint pains.

Different kinds of crystals have various roles to play. For instance, rose quartz helps in promoting self-love, benevolence, happiness and compassion, while Lapis Lazuli is beneficial in truly knowing yourself and thereby feeling free, as well as improving immunity.

Those looking for a more holistic wellness approach to health and mental wellbeing may choose crystal healing.

This therapy finds its roots in ancient Chinese medicine. An alternative medical treatment, acupuncture helps to provide cranial relief and healing wounds by inserting thin needles into the area that needs to be treated.

Acupuncture experts examine the area and insert tiny needles into the skin, the number depending on the body part and the intensity of the pain. These pricked needles send a signal to the body that the area is affected and the immune cells must act upon it.

The wellness treatment has had several positive effects in helping those with chronic pain, insomnia and migraine, among other ailments.

However, it is advised to consult a licensed practitioner before choosing this treatment.

[Hero image credit: The Anam/ @theanamcxr/ Unsplash; featured image credit: RODNAE Productions/Pexels]

This story first appeared on Prestige Malaysia.

Read more from the original source:

7 Exotic Spa and Wellness Treatments to Explore in Asia - Prestige Online