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Understand why complementary therapies use homeostasis to cure
The word 'homeostasis' is made up of two Greek words: homeo;
meaning the same or similar, and stasis; meaning stable, or
standing in the same place. The body's systems participate in
maintaining homeostasis, keeping the body's internal environment
healthy despite external environmental change.
The cells that make up the body are bathed in extra cellular
fluid which remains constant only if the blood supply remains
constant. The circulation system takes blood to and away from
the capillaries, here the exchange with extra cellular fluid
take place. Nutrient molecules leave the capillaries to be taken
up by the cells, and waste molecules given off by the cells are
received by the capillaries to be transported away. Critical to
the internal environment is the circulatory system in that extra
cellular fluid is nourished and purified by the movement of
small molecules across capillary walls. Additional nutrients are
added to the blood by the digestive system, while waste is
removed by the excretory system. Oxygen is taken in by the
respiratory system and excretes carbon dioxide. Oxygen is used
during cellular respiration and carbon dioxide is a waste
product of cellular respiration. Ultimate control over
homeostasis is by the nervous and endocrine systems as they
coordinate the functions of the body's systems.
Regulation of body temperature, blood pressure, pH, and glucose
concentration are four examples of how the body maintains
homeostasis. Involved to a degree in each of these regulations
is the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus has a regulatory centre
for body temperature but is also helps in the control of blood
pressure and breathing rate through its control over the medulla
oblongata. The hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland and
indirectly controls the secretions of other glands, such as the
thyroid and the adrenal cortex through the production of
hypothalamic-releasing factors and release-inhibiting factors.?
To control bodily conditions, the body has both long-term and
short term measures. To control temperature, the significant
long-term measure to increase body temperature is an increase in
thyroxin. Thyroxin raises the metabolic rate. The short-term
measures would include the constriction of arteries to conserve
body heat and shivering, and sweating with the dilation of
arteries to lose body heat.
When the vasomotor centre stimulates the constriction of
abdominal blood vessels and increases the heartbeat a rapid
elevation in blood pressure occurs. When the kidneys secrete
renin a longer lasting effect occurs leading to re-absorption of
sodium and water. The resulting increase in blood volume
increases blood pressure.
The kidneys are involved in regulating blood pH, but the effect
may not be noticed for up to twenty hours. The pH of the body is
immediately regulated by chemical buffers also, while the
excretion of carbon dioxide must wait until blood moves through
the lungs. The blood glucose level is usually regulated by
glucagon and insulin. But other hormones can also have an effect
since thyroxin and glucocorticoids promote gluconeogenesis.
In maintaining homeostasis a feedback mechanism is often
involved. When the body temperature rises above or falls below a
certain level, the temperature-regulating centre is activated.
The centre stops sending out stimulatory nerve impulses once the
temperature is within a normal range. The vasomotor centre
promotes a rise in blood pressure, but once this has been
attained the centre is no longer active. Chemoreceptors in the
aortic and carotid arteries signal the respiratory centre and
the breathing rate increases, if the pH is too acidic. These
bodies no longer signal the respiratory centre and breathing
rate returns to normal once the pH is within a normal range.
Insulin is secreted when glucose concentration is high; but once
the glucose level falls, insulin is not secreted. Feedback is a
self-regulating mechanism as these examples show.
There are numerous complementary medicines ranging from
acupuncture to yoga which help to regain balance in the body. I
am going to concentrate on the ones that you have probably read
about or heard of in the media. They are acupuncture, ayurveda,
aromatherapy, homeopathy,
nutritional therapy, and reflexology.
In Acupuncture, homeostasis is the centre pillar from which all
diagnosis is made. Acupuncture is a healing system which has
been practised by the Chininese and in other Eastern countries
for thousands of years. It focus on improving the overall well
being of the patient, rather than the isolated treatment of
specific symptoms. In traditional Chinese philosophy it is
believed our health is dependent on the body's motivating energy
- known as Qi - moving in a smooth and balanced way through a
series of meridians (channels) beneath the skin. Qi made up of
equal and opposite qualities - Yin and Yang - and when these
become out of balanced, illness may result. Inserting fine
needles into the meridians, an acupuncturist can stimulate the
body's own healing response and help restore its natural
balance. The aim of acupuncture is to treat the whole person so
they can recover the equilibrium between the physical, emotional
and spiritual.
Ayurveda is a system of healing which has been used in India for
thousands of years and its aim is to provide guidance in food
and lifestyle to maintain wellbeing, health and cure the ill.
Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words: 'Ayu' which means
life and 'Veda' which means the knowledge of. Ayurveda will
suggest specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines and
sometimes herbal remedies to assist the individual in reducing
the 'dosha' that has become excessive. There are three 'doshas'
- Vata (impulsion, circulation, respiration and elimination),
Pitta (metabolism) and Kapha (growth).
Aromatherapy is based on the principles of holistic health and
dates back 4000 years in the Middle East and China. It employs
highly concentrated essential oils extracted from herbs and
flowers that contain hormones, vitamins, antibiotics and
antiseptics. Applied to the skin--often in massage--or through
inhalation, the oil or combination of oils can be used for
medicinal, meditative, restorative or relaxation purposes.
Aromatherapists believe that essential oils restore the body's
natural life force to help the body heal itself and it is
believed that the oils have both physiological and psychological
affects.
Homeopathy is a system of healthcare developed by the German
physician Samuel Hahnemann in the late 1700's. Homeopathy gets
its name from the phenomenon of cure by similars; from the
Greek, homoeo = "similar", pathos = "suffering". Cure by
'similars' is where a substance that could produce disease in a
healthy person is used to invite a healing response in someone
presenting with a similar disease. Also in homeopathy is the
theory of administrating drugs in minute doses and keeping to a
single remedy at one time. Homeopathy views disease as a
disharmony of the whole person, and considers the state of the
whole person - physically, mentally, and emotionally.?
Nutritional therapy uses food and supplements to encourage the
body's natural healing. It does this by detoxifying the body,
correcting vitamin and mineral deficiencies, restoring healthy
digestion and developing a positive attitude. The nutritional
therapist will diagnose illness by asking questions concerning
medical history, dietary history, family history, menstrual
problems, digestion, energy levels and exercise and also doing
tests such as hair mineral analysis, hormone tests or food
intolerance tests.
Reflexology also known as zone therapy, is an ancient healing
therapy based on the idea that in our feet, hands and outer ear
have reflex points that are actually "reflections" of body
parts. Modern reflexology was developed by Dr William Fitzgerald
in the early twentieth century. He divided the body up into ten
zones which are believed to have energy flows. This healing
technique involves a steady pressure on the reflex points on the
feet, hands or outer ear, which correspond to areas throughout
the body. Reflexology speeds up the body's natural healing
abilities and directly acts upon particular organs, glands and
body parts through gentle stimulation upon the points or
reflexes.
About the author:
Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh
Advice for a healthier natural life
website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com
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