Absolute Beginner's Guide to Alternative Medicine

■ Chiropractic manipulation

■ Herbs: valerian, nutmeg, gotu kola; to ease local discomfort soak a compress

in 1/2 cup hot water containing 1 tbsp. camp bark and 1 tsp. cinnamon tinc-

tures

■ Homeopathy: 4 tablets of arnica as soon as possible after an injury and

repeat every hour for the first day while awake, second day—4 tablets every 2

hours; third day—4 tablets four times

■ Hydrotherapy: for acute back pain, use an ice pack on affected area for 20

minutes every 1–2 hours

■ Magnets: place small magnets over area of muscle spasm in back

■ Massage with warm oil

■ Reflexology: work the spinal reflexes, especially the tender points, on the

medial longitudinal arches of the feet (the bony ridges on the inside)

■ Sleep on back with pillows under knees or on side with pillow between bent

knees

■ Yoga: lie down with legs bent, feet flat on floor, exhale fully and slowly for at

least 12 breaths; long-term yoga practice can strengthen back muscles

Balance Problems

■ Qigong

■ T’ai Chi

■ Hippotherapy

Bee Stings/Insect Bites

■ Aromatherapy: tea tree, basil, bergamot, lavender, thyme, ylang-ylang

■ Add enough water to baking soda or meat tenderizer to make a paste and

apply it to the sting

■ Cover affected area with a small amount of mashed fresh papaya

■ Herbs: apply fresh aloe vera sap directly to the bite; if bite becomes infected,

bathe with marigold or echinacea tea; apply a fresh slice of onion to both bee

and wasp stings; a mixture of honey and crushed garlic makes a soothing

ointment

■ Homeopathy: Apis, 1 tablet every 30 minutes, maximum 6 doses for burning

and swelling

322 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TOALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

34 0789731193_app_a.qxd 3/3/04 12:21 PM Page 322