Are You Listening To Your Biofeedback

Are You Listening To Your Biofeedback?

You can control your own health through mind over matter. Without medication, the mind can use biofeedback control or remedy around 150 different medical conditions. Research supports the effectiveness of biofeedback in treating hot flashes, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, Reynard's disease, headaches, incontinence, blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, epilepsy, and vomiting/nausea associated with chemotherapy. Doctors are even using biofeedback in retraining children with ADHD to focus without using dangerous drugs. Stroke victims learn to retrain their muscles to regain movement, and psychologists use biofeedback to treat anxious clients.

Teaching control of involuntary responses of the heart and muscles, biofeedback techniques can help the person to treat both mental and physical problems. Potentially, biofeedback can offer freedom from medication, which is good news for people who are unresponsive to medication.

A therapist specially trained can teach anyone to use biofeedback. A training session usually lasts 30 minutes to an hour. Placing electrodes on different spots of the body to monitor responses to stress, the therapist explains that a reaction in that spot, such a muscle contractions, will sound a beep on the machine. This teaches the patient to associate responses with the body's function so that he/she can try to adjust the response. Listening to the increase or decrease of the beeping sounds, the patient can measure whether they are reducing or aggravating a particular response.

After learning how the body responds negatively, the patient learns how to change those reactions to more positive responses. After enough practice, the person will know how to relax certain muscles and no longer need the assistance of the therapist.

Several types of equipment serve as monitors for biofeedback. Muscle tension is measured through electromyogram (EMG). Tension related problems benefit from using EMG to learn early signs of tension in order to avoid grinding teeth, tightening neck, back and head muscles, or stressing out to cause ulcers and asthma.

Measuring body temperature, which drops when you are under stress, indicates when you should start relaxation methods. Those suffering from Reynard's disease or migraines can use this to alleviate their condition.

The Galvanic Skin response training, measuring sweat gland activity, notes anxiety often associated with phobias and stuttering.

Brain waves that are connected with relaxation, wakefulness, or calmness are measured through electroencephalogram (EEG).

If you want to locate a certified biofeedback therapist, contact the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA). They will provide information on therapists throughout the U.S. Although it is difficult for patients to explain how biofeedback works for them, it has repeatedly provided control over involuntary body functions. This unique way of understanding one's own body is the ultimate natural way to healing.

Common Herbs And Some Specific Uses

Buchu

Use the leaves to treat urinary ailments as well as kidney, bladder, perspiration and prostate illness.

Bugleweed

Bugleweed is specific for over-active thyroid glands where there is tightness of breath, palpitations and shaking. Good for the central nervous system.

Buckthorn Bark

Acts as a mild, yet reliable and effective laxative. It also works again gout and dropsy.

Burdock

Also known as Lappa and Beggars Buttons. The part of the plant that is used is the rhizome. This is a bitter herb, but very effective for the treatment of skin diseases such as dry and scaly skin and when used over a long period of time can be helpful in the treatment of psoriasis.