For an investment of 20 minutes each morning, the payback is reduced stress, a sense of calm and peace, improved strength, limberness, better immune function and lower blood pressure. It's not too good to be true. The investment is practicing yoga or tai chi, which were developed and revised over many centuries.

Many people appear to be using alternative medicine to treat chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), according to a recent study. Typically resulting from an allergic reaction or upper respiratory infection, CRS is marked by inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. Lasting at least 12 weeks, the condition causes symptoms such as nasal congestion, postnasal drip, facial or dental pain, headache, and cough. CRS disorders account for as many as 22 million doctor's office visits each year. For the study, researchers surveyed 75 people about their use of 49 different complementary and alternative treatments, including acupuncture, massage, and aloe vera. Of the respondents, 65 percent reported using such treatments; 30 percent said they used complementary and alternative medicine to treat CRS specifically. The study also found that only 43 percent of those who used complementary and alternative medicine talked to their doctors about their self-care practices. Since herbs and other natural remedies can

New research shows that tai chi may benefit people with vestibular disorders, a class of conditions that can cause dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and problems with hearing, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and concentration. A gentle Chinese martial art, tai chi combines slow, graceful movement with meditation and deep breathing. For the study, researchers focused on 21 people from an outpatient rehabilitation program. After an eight-week course in tai chi, patients reported improvements in their vestibular symptoms. The study's authors suggest that tai chi may enhance coordination by promoting relaxation, and that the exercise may be useful to patients whose symptoms fail to improve with conventional therapy. Past studies indicate that tai chi may also be helpful for people dealing with diabetes and arthritis pain, as well as for elderly people seeking to reduce their risk of falling. Tai Chi May Dispel Dizziness, Boost Balance originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Wedne

While some Chinese herbal medicines may help reduce your risk of diabetes, there may not be enough scientific evidence to support their use. That's the finding of a recent review of 16 clinical trials (involving a total of 1,391 people who received 15 different herbal formulas). In traditional Chinese medicine, herbs have long been used to help stop people with impaired glucose tolerance from developing diabetes. Also known as pre-diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance is marked by higher-than-normal blood sugar levels. Chinese herbal medicine aims to normalize blood sugar levels in a number of ways, such as by boosting function of the pancreas and increasing availability of the blood-sugar-regulating hormone known as insulin. Although this approach shows promise in the treatment of pre-diabetes, more clinical trials need to be carried out to confirm its effectiviness, according to the review's authors. In past studies, natural substances such as cinnamon and ginseng have also been foun

General practitioners in the Netherlands are prescribing far fewer homeopathic remedies than 20 years ago.

Taking up a mindfulness meditation practice may benefit doctors who feel fatigued or stressed out, according to a recent study. For the study, researchers assigned 70 primary care physicians to eight weekly 2 ½-hour sessions of training in mindfulness meditation, followed by 10 monthly 2 ½-hour sessions. Over the course of the program, and at a follow-up, the doctors showed a significant improvement in wellbeing, as well as decreases in burnout and mood disturbance. The study members also showed an increase in empathy and positive changes in how they related to their patients. The majority of practicing physicians report symptoms of stress and emotional exhaustion, according to the study's authors. A mind-body technique meant to hone your attention, mindfulness meditation has been found to boost mood, lower stress levels, and strengthen the immune system in past studies. Meditation May Help Doctors Beat Burnout originally appeared on About.com Alternative Medicine on Friday, October