Markers and Crayons: Not Just for Kids
Posted on March 25, 2010
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Markers and Crayons: Not Just for Kids
Have you ever watched a young child drawing with markers or crayons on a blank piece of paper? They seem to be able to let go and scribble with an abandon rarely matched by an adult. And why would an adult want to doodle for no reason? Because there might be a practical purpose to art after all.
Art therapy is a widely used form of therapy using both the creative process and psychotherapy to elicit a healing response in the patient. By using simple tools like the ones found in any child’s craft box – crayons, markers, colored pencils and paints – a professional art therapist can help a patient discover and deal with internal emotional turmoil. Art therapy is frequently used in mental health clinics, but can also be found in more casual places like art studios.
Who Is The Art Therapist?
Posted on February 23, 2010
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Who Is The Art Therapist?
The profession of art therapist is not a new one, but it is one that is not familiar to many people. Art therapists are professional therapists who have extensive training in both art and psychotherapy. In order to be an art therapist, a person must hold a master’s degree in either art therapy or a similar field. This knowledge and education allows an art therapist to help patients identify emotional problems through artistic mediums.
Most patients of art therapy are able to cope with their problems, like stress and personal trauma. Art therapists can bring out in a patient the ability to gain insight into their own minds and feelings, as well as boosting the patient’s ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships. All of these things are important parts of healing, and art therapists are trained to use the artistic processes of the mind to bring these results out of their patients.
Therapeutic Processes in Art Therapy
Posted on February 17, 2010
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Therapeutic Processes in Art Therapy
Art therapists, like other therapists, use several different therapeutic processes to analyze and treat emotional problems in their patients. Unlike other therapies, however, art therapists’ have techniques that center on having the patient create and interpret art pieces. This can help the patient gain personal insight as well as help them to address personal issues.
Some of the techniques used are interpreted by the art therapist instead of the student. In these techniques, the patient’s art is analyzed according to the colors, shapes and designs used. Some techniques are used to determine the current psychological state of the patient; these techniques generally involve the patient choosing geometric shapes and then recreating them. Other techniques involve the patient drawing specific pictures and then explaining the pictures; these techniques give the art therapist clues to the personality of the patient.
The Philosophy of Herbalism
Posted on January 26, 2010
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The Philosophy of Herbalism
Herbalists, or practitioners of herbal medicine, believe in the use of herbal medicines to treat common medical complaints. This is not to say that herbalists do not use, or believe in the use of, conventional pharmaceutical medications. Many herbalists simply think that the use of pharmaceuticals should be limited to emergency situations.
So the question remains, why do herbalists believe in the use of herbs to treat everyday problems and illnesses? Many herbal medicines are thought to actually help the person not only defeat the symptoms of a cold or other medical problem, but to actually help build a resistance to the illnesses. Herbs can do this because they provide natural and nutritional benefits to the person as opposed to introducing foreign chemicals to the person’s body. Herbs can also boost the human immune system, which in turn helps the person build resistance to disease.
Pharmaceuticals Often Derived From Herbs
Posted on January 18, 2010
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How Far are Herbs from Pharmaceuticals?
The thought of using herbal medicines to treat colds, headaches, and even chronic illnesses can send the average person into a state of shock. The fact is that most people in Western countries think of herbs as the medicines of barbaric medieval surgeons and tribal "witch" doctors. But while this was and is certainly true, most of these people would be shocked to discover that many of the pharmaceuticals commonly used in Western medicine are derived from these same "barbaric" herbs.
Western medicine frequently uses herbs like digitalis and even opium to treat many of the medical complaints and illnesses of the average, modern person. Digitalis is actually a plant from the Scrophulariaceae biological family and is closely related to the common English foxglove plant. Opium is used to create many pain medications commonly prescribed for hospital patients; it is created from seed pods of the opium poppy.
Herbal Medicine Usage Theories
Posted on January 4, 2010
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Herbal Medicine Usage Theories
When you use herbs, you probably don’t think about why you are using them the way you are. Most herbal medicine practitioners subscribe to one of several different theories about the proper use of herbal medicine. One of the oldest theories is the Chinese theory that states that herbal medicine is divided into two categories that produce yin-yang balance: pro-oxidants and anti-oxidants. Another, slightly more recent theory about herbal medicine is derived from Native American uses. Native Americans used herbs according to their physiological effects and spiritual uses.
A modern theory combines some of these older theories to create the use of herbal combinations to treat illnesses. According to the Triune formula, there are nine herbal combinations that nourish, supplement, or drain the main organ systems of the human body. This formula was derived from ideas in Chinese herbal medicine.
Is Homeopathy a Hoax?
Posted on November 20, 2009
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Is Homeopathy a Hoax?
Homeopathy has long been questioned as a legitimate medical practice. Most Western medical practitioners feel that homeopathy is completely ineffective. When any significant effects are seen in the use of homeopathy, most of these medical professionals credit those results to the placebo effect, a psychological response to the belief that something – like a medication - will help, making the brain believe that it does help.
Most of the theory behind homeopathy is, in fact, contradictory to the basic scientific principles of pharmaceutical medical practices. This is because there is no convincing or substantial scientific evidence to suggest that homeopathy is effective. But this is not to say that homeopathy doesn’t work. Some people do find relief from their medical symptoms through the use of homeopathic products. And while Western medicine feels these results are psychological, homeopaths feel that not only do homeopathic treatments work, they work both physiologically and psychologically.
How Popular is Homeopathy?
Posted on November 18, 2009
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The Usage of Homeopathy Here and Abroad
Because most practitioners of Western medicine view homeopathy in a negative light, there are not many homeopaths in the United States and other Western countries. This negative opinion of homeopathy comes from the fact that homeopathic medicine is not scientifically proven to work, nor is it tested thoroughly by the governmental agencies – like the Food and Drug Administration in the United States - that regulate medication in Western countries.
In the United States, for example, homeopathic medicine and treatments are only practiced by about 2% of the population. In Great Britain there is also a very small few who practice homeopathy: again, approximately 2% of the population. However, in countries like India, the numbers are much higher. Because homeopathy makes up a large part of the standard medical practices and traditional medicine in India, approximately 15% of the population uses homeopathic treatments and medicines.
Subjectivity in Homeopathy
Posted on November 12, 2009
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Subjectivity in Homeopathy
Few people know that the practice of homeopathy is actually very subjective. This means that homeopaths use their own judgment and opinions to choose the correct treatments for a patient. This means that the same patient could get two completely different treatments for the same ailment from two different homeopaths.
So how do two practitioners of the same medical profession come up with completely different treatments? Homeopaths take the entire patient into consideration, from the patient’s physical medical history to the patient’s emotional medical history. Homeopaths use this information in different ways depending on their personal opinions on what is affecting the patient. And since the treatments prescribed are dependent on the symptoms the homeopath focuses on, a patient can get different treatments for the same thing. The homeopath simply decides which symptoms are closest to the patient’s character and uses those to diagnose and treat the illness.
Homeopathic Remedies For Pets
Posted on November 10, 2009
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Homeo-pets
Let’s face facts: people love their pets. Particularly in Western countries like the United States, millions of dollars are spent every year on veterinary bills for Fido and Spot. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with this! It is wonderful that people love their pets so much! But some people who love their pets cannot afford some of the more expensive pharmaceutical treatments for their pets’ symptoms. So what can a pet owner do?
Many veterinarians and veterinary clinics are starting to offer homeopathic remedies for pets. Many of these treatments are not only cheaper than some of the conventional pharmaceutical medicines, but they are also easier on your pet’s body and are just as effective. And while it is important to know that, like human homeopathic remedies, there is limited scientific research proving the efficacy of these products, homeopathic veterinarians still state that these remedies can work well for some pets.
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