Health Service and Therapies

The amount of people using complementary therapies has seen a dramatic increase in recent years. There are many reasons for this increase, and many reasons to believe that the increase is a trend that is set to continue.

The motivation to use complementary therapies can be broadly categorized into those seeking a remedy for a particular ailment or condition, and those who desire to use therapies to promote personal well being.

Traditionally, complementary therapy could be defined as the use of therapies in addition to those that a local GP was able to prescribe and refer clients to.

Today, this definition is outdated and has changed. In recent years more and more complementary therapies have become available through the NHS and the prescription of these therapies is becoming more common-place. When considering the use of therapies widely accepted and prescribed by local GPs, the definition of Complementary really is one of Therapies that go together with, accompany and complement conventional medicine.



Acceptance and Recognition

This recognition of many individual therapies by the National Health Service has helped to promote them and their acceptance in the public eye. There is a growing recognition both within the medical profession and in the minds of the public that Complementary Therapies have a role to play in our healthcare. This growing acceptance goes hand in hand with the increase in popularity of using Complementary Therapies, which in turn has helped to remove many of the unwarranted stigmas attached to using alternative forms of medical practice.

Health Service and Private Appointments

The increase in use of Complementary Therapies is only due to a small part to the NHS.

A client's desire to seek the use of Complementary Therapies is not always satisfied by the NHS. Not all GPs will prescribe Complementary Therapies as with all initial diagnosis and prescriptions what is recommended is a matter of clinical judgment. Furthermore, not all Health Trusts are structured and or funded to provide Complementary Therapies. In addition, those that have been prescribed a Complementary Therapy may as with all NHS referrals; find an appointment may involve a lengthy waiting period.

The use of private appointments to see complementary therapists is a significant area of growth and this is not just due to clients that want to avoid waiting lists.

The use of a private complementary therapist is often based on disappointment with conventional medicine and the growing acceptance and recognition that an alternative exists.

A patient may have the need to seek a remedy that wasn't found through their local health service. Many complementary therapies offer solutions which do not involve the use or perceived use of drugs or harmful treatments. Sometimes, just an alternative to the NHS experience is sought, after previous negative experiences with a local GP, surgery or the system. Sometimes an individuals opinion on health care may just be different from those of conventional medicine.

Personal Well Being

There has also been a significant increase in the use of Complementary Therapies by those who use therapies to promote general personal well being. The growing acceptance of Therapies, the removal of the stigmas attached to seeing a therapist and the general increase in personal awareness, health and wellbeing, has resulted in more and more people investing their time and disposable income in complementary therapies.

It is estimated that every year in the UK over five million people visit a Complementary Therapist.

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Relieve Stress

Aromatherapy is the use of fragrant oils extracted from plants in the treatment or prevention of disease and help in the reduction of stress, often called essential oils. The term essential indicates that the oil carries distinctive scent (essence) of the plant, not that it is an especially important or fundamental source.

Since essential oils are so potent, many can irritate the skin unless diluted with carrier oil such as sweet almond oil or olive oil. Essential oils are extracted by distillation but can also be extracted by expression or solvent extraction.

How To Use
Essential oils can be used through the skin (massage, shower, adding to bath water), and inhalation (ceramic burner, vaporizer, handkerchief, pillow).

Inhalation. Add a few drops into a ceramic burner with a lit candle underneath. When the oil warms up the scent will be dispersed into the air.
Vaporizer. Add a few drops to boiling water and inhale the vapours.

Skin Application. Add several drops to almond or olive oil, pour into your bath water, climb in and relax. You can also buy ready made oils for baths from some pharmacies. If you shower, mix up half the quantity and use on your shower sponge, flannel or body scrub.
Infusion. Some herbs and essential oils can be used as an infusion in a tea but always check before use.

Which to use

Firstly, you need to identify which essential oils are best for treating stress and meeting your needs. Lavender, clary sage, chamomile and lemon are a few of the common ones.

Lavender is a relaxant:-
add a few drops to warm bath water, climb in and relax;add a few drops to water and put into a spray bottle. Spray around your home when you feel stressful.

Clary Sage* gives a feeling of being uplifted:-
add to a vaporizer to help you relax;add a few drops to a carrier oil and get someone to massage you to help you relax.Caution:- Expectant mothers, those with active tumours or cancer must contact their medical practitioner before using this essential oil.

Chamomile is a relaxant:-
place a few drops on your pillow or on a handkerchief under your pillow to help you to relax and have a good nights sleep.

Lemon gives a feeling of being uplifted, helps you to relax and feel calmer:-add a few drops to a vaporizer to help you relax and feel calmer.

Mandarin* helps you feel more joyful and calmer:-
add a few drops to a vaporizer, sit back and relax

Peppermint* helps to clear your mind:-
add a few drops to a carrier oil and get someone to massage the stress away; can also be infused and drunk as a tea.

*Clary Sage, Mandarin and Peppermint oils MUST not be used by pregnant women as they could cause blood thinning and premature labor.

*Warnings*
*Aromatherapy products are never to be used in place of medical treatment.
*Essential oils are potent, so they always need to be used in safe quantities.
*Using more than the recommended dose can be as dangerous as overdosing on medicines.
*If you are pregnant, epileptic, suffering from high blood pressure or already taking medication consult your medical practitioner or a qualified aromatherapist

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Milium Treatment and Prevention Tips

Colloid milium is more common in fair-skinned individuals. Colloid has a distinct electron microscopic appearance, which helps to distinguish it from amyloid. Colloid milium (CM) is a rare cutaneous deposition disease with at least 3 distinct subtypes. Colloid milium (CM) is a rare cutaneous deposition disorder characterized by the presence of multiple dome-shaped. Colloid milium is a degenerative condition linked to excessive sun exposure and possibly exposure to petroleum products and hydroquinone. Colloid milium is a rare condition characterized by (1) the presence of multiple, dome-shaped, amber- or flesh-colored papules developing on light-exposed skin and (2) the observance of dermal colloid under light microscopy.

Lesions are usually asymptomatic aside from occasional pruritus and are only distressing to patients due to their unsightly appearance. Pigmented colloid milium has a distinct clinical presentation. Colloid milium can involve upper eyelids in isolation, sparing the lower eyelids and facial skin. Such rare presentations should be kept in mind while examining similar lesions. Some entities to consider in the differential include systemic amyloidosis, primary cutaneous amyloidosis, syringomas, sarcoidosis, steatocystoma multiplex, lipoid proteinosis, molluscum contagiosum, papular mucinosis, and sebaceous hyperplasia. Dermabrasion, cryotherapy, and diathermy have been tried with limited success.

Milium -Prevention and Treatment Tips

1. Cryotherapy and chemical peels also treat Colliod millium.

2. Sunscreen use may also be helpful.

3. Genetic counseling is advisable for the rare juvenile form.

4. Solar elastosis is marked and closely approximated to the colloid.

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Basal Cel Epithelioma - Treatment and Prevention Tips

A basal cell carcinoma is a skin cancer that originates from basal keratinocytes in the top layer of the skin. These tumors typically appear on sun-exposed skin, are slow growing, and rarely metastasize. In the United States skin cancer is the most common malignant tumor. Basal Cell Cancer will affect one in five Americans. It is most often found on the face, neck, hands, or other parts of the body that have been exposed to the sun. Basal cell carcinoma is usually a problem for people with fair skin and a poor ability to tan. In the United States, Caucasians have a 28% to 33% chance of developing a basal cell carcinoma over a lifetime. These cancers seem to be associated with exposure to ultraviolet light; they tend to develop on sun-exposed areas.

Basal cell carcinomas are most common from middle age until old age. Basal cell carcinomas are caused by genetic damage to a skin cell. Basal cell carcinoma is usually a problem for people with fair skin and a poor ability to tan. Exposure to sunlight, the most frequent association (UVB, 290-320 nm, which causes sunburn. Other determining factors include your family's history of skin cancer problems and an impaired immune system. Basal cell carcinoma is less serious than the other two types of skin cancer. Interferon alpha injected into the tumor is sometimes effective for basal cell carcinomas. Other imiquimod cream has been used recently for the treatment of BCC. Electrodesiccation and curettage is a short procedure and is effective in treating primary nodular.

Liquid nitrogen is applied to the clinically apparent tumor.Cryosurgery has good cosmetic results and good cure rates when treating tumors with well-defined clinical margins (eg, nodular BCC). Ionizing radiation is a good treatment option for patients who are not surgical candidates, especially those patients who have facial tumors. Mohs micrographic surgery is time consuming, and patients might require additional anesthesia before each stage. Radiation therapy requires multiple visits. Genetic disorders such as nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, xeroderma pigmentosum, and albinism. Avoid sun exposure, wear hats and other protective clothing, and use sunscreens with a sun protection factor of at least 15.

Basal Cell Epithelioma -Prevention and Treatment Tips



1. Radiation therapy is less effective for nonfacial tumors.

2. Avoid sun exposure, wear hats and other protective clothing.

3. Interferon alpha injected into the tumor is sometimes effective for basal cell carcinomas.

4. Imiquimod cream has been used recently for the treatment of BCC.

5. Electrodesiccation is a short procedure and is effective in treating primary nodular.

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