Complementary Medicine – Hello Doctor

Can magnets heal you?

October 19th, 2020 by The Hello Doctor Team

Magnetic therapy is a popular alternative medicine. What exactly is it and what can it do for you?

Magnetic field therapy involves using magnets to treat specific conditions or boost your overall health. Your body has several magnetic and electric fields, that’s because all of the molecules within your body have a small amount of magnetic energy in them.

The thought behind magnetic field therapy is that health problems occur because your magnetic fields are out of balance. If you put a magnetic field near your body, it’s believed things will go back to normal. There are several types including:

Static magnetic field therapy: In this, you touch a magnet to your skin, for example, you might wear a magnetic bracelet or other magnetised jewellery.

Electrically charged magnetic therapy (electromagnetic therapy): These magnets have an electric charge. Treatment with electromagnetic therapy usually comes through an electric pulse.

Magnetic therapy with acupuncture: Magnets are placed on the same sections of your skin that an acupuncturist would focus on in an acupuncture session.

What is it used for?

Some people use magnet therapy for treating pain, like foot, back, or joint pain, which includes:

Arthritis pain
Wound healing
Insomnia
Headaches
Fibromyalgia pain

While it’s generally safe for most people to wear low-intensity static magnets, it’s not a good idea to have magnetic field therapy if you’re pregnant, have a pacemaker or take chronic medications, such as insulin. You should also take off any magnets before having an X-ray or a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI).

Some people who have magnetic field therapy have experienced side effects like nausea, dizziness and pain.

Does it work?

There haven’t been many studies on magnetic field therapy. The ones that have been done don’t have enough data to draw solid conclusions. Although some clinical trials have shown potential for magnetic field therapy as a treatment for back pain, for the most part, there’s no clear proof that it can successfully treat any condition.

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8 ways honey can help your health

March 7th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Honey is one of the world’s oldest medicines. Its strong antibacterial and healing properties make it a great natural remedy for many common health problems. It was the most used medicine in ancient Egypt, and was deemed so precious that it was traded as a form of currency!

The Roman legions also treated their wounds with honey, and athletes at the ancient Olympic Games ate honey and dried figs to enhance their sports performance.

Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, believed in honey as the golden healer. “Honey cleans sores and ulcers, softens hard ulcers of the lips, and heals carbuncles and running sores,” he wrote. Science has shown us that, in fact, the ancients were not so far from the truth:

Sore throats and coughs

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists honey as a substance that relieves irritation in your mouth or throat by forming a protective film. It has strong antibacterial properties and provides temporary pain relief. Combine a spoonful of honey with some freshly-squeezed lemon juice and drink at regular intervals. Honey also relieves mild coughing (especially night-time coughing in young children). It shouldn’t be given to babies younger than a year old though.

Wounds, cuts and burns

As a natural antiseptic, honey can be used as a first aid remedy. According to research published by the journal, Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medication, it inhibits the growth of bacteria and helps keep wounds clean from infection. After gently cleaning the wound with warm water and mild soap, apply a layer of honey on a dressing. Change every 24 hours.

Hay fever

Do you suffer from hay fever? Eating honey that’s local to your area can help boost your immune system and reduce your hay fever symptoms. Honey contains very tiny amounts of the pollen found in your area. These bits aren’t enough to trigger an allergic reaction when you ingest honey, but they do help your body build up a tolerance to the pollen.

Digestive health

Honey has a mild laxative effect that can help combat constipation and bloating. It’s also rich in friendly bacteria, which act as a probiotic and keep the digestive and immune system healthy. For a homemade digestion aid, try tea with honey and lemon. Honey may also be effective in the treatment of ulcers – take about two teaspoons of honey on an empty stomach (half an hour before a meal), up to three times a day to provide pain relief.

Hangovers

Too much to drink? Honey is a great way to help the body deal with the toxic effects of a hangover. According to The Royal Society of Chemistry, the fructose in honey is essential to help the body break down alcohol into harmless by-products.

Healthy skin

Honey is great for your skin as it locks in moisture. If you suffer from dry skin, dab some honey on your skin, leave for 20 minutes, and rinse off with warm water. Legend has it that Cleopatra’s great beauty was thanks to baths of milk and honey. If you’d like to give it a try, run a warm bath and add a cup of milk and half a cup of honey to the water.

Mosquito bites

Honey can help reduce the itch and irritation of mosquito bites. Dab a bit of raw honey right on the bite. Honey’s antimicrobial properties will also help prevent infection.

Athletic performance

Honey can boost athletes’ performance, endurance levels and reduce muscle fatigue. It provides an easily absorbed supply of energy, making it ideal for energetic morning starts and as a pre- and post-exercise energy source.

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Is alternative medicine real?

December 3rd, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

Needles, blood tests, waiting rooms and plenty of poking and prodding. Many of us would rather not visit the doctor’s office, unless it’s an absolute last resort… so what if there were other options available? Alternative medicine, also known as CAM (complementary and alternative medicines), isn’t associated with medicine or science in the strictest of terms, but they are widely used by many. But what’s effective and what isn’t?

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Juice shots – what’s all the fuss?

February 6th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

They look gorgeous, sometimes they taste so intense that they make you shudder, but what’s the deal with juice shots? Can they really do all that juice champions claim they do?

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What’s the deal with “alternative medicine”?

June 8th, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

Alternative medicine, as opposed to western medicine, is any practice that claims the healing effects of medicine, but it’s often not proven or based on scientific research and results. Popular examples of alternative medicine include: homeopathy, herbal medicine, hypnosis, acupuncture and chiropractic.

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