Medical marijuana or MMJ has been used for decades now to help people afflicted with serious medical conditions that include, but are not limited to glaucoma, cancer, epilepsy, AIDS, and MS (Multiple Sclerosis). As one of the most effective agents that help people cope with chronic pain, medical marijuana offers patients relief from extreme discomfort by alleviating their symptoms.

Understanding the science behind the effectiveness of marijuana is important in order to dispel these myths and make a well informed choice about what it truly offers. When administered under the supervision of a qualified and competent doctor or medical practitioner, medical marijuana reduces the pain and nausea that various health problems cause. Scores of people believe that medical marijuana is extremely addictive and it increases the dependency on the drug.

Research indicates that there is no evidence to support this belief because to start with, medical cannabis does not even have any chemicals that may trigger addiction in people who use it as a part of their treatment process. Then there are other misconceptions that MMJ may also lead to the use of hard drugs such as cocaine and like the former, this is also just a misconception. While medical marijuana can be smoked, this is not the only way that it can be used.

Right from prescription drugs and pills that contain synthetic forms of medical marijuana to other alternate treatment methods, cannabinoids such as THC can be delivered to the body without smoking MMJ. The flowers and leaves can be soaked in a mixture of alcohol to extract the cannabinoids in marijuana. This infusion can either be added to drinks and food or absorbed through skin patches and in this form; it takes MMJ as little as a half hour to produce the desired effect. The active components can also be transferred into cooking oil and butter by simmering the plant in them for several hours. This is usually used to bake cookies and brownies or make other types of food that a patient might find appetizing.

Thought there are tests that show that Medical cannabis can cause short term memory loss in some patients who are undergoing treatment, the truth is that the effect is only temporary. Medical marijuana neither reduces their intelligence nor does it affect their long term memory. Though medical cannabis is an all-natural substance that is obtained from plants, the misconceptions about it are quite controversial and baseless.

The term medical tourism was initially minted by travel agencies as the practice of travelling to international countries in order to receive the best desired medical care and health care abroad. Traveling for medical treatments offers every type of healthcare such as dental works, alternative medicine, orthopedics, and psychiatry. Alternative medicine is something about any healing practice that does not fall within the realm of the conventional medicine. It encompasses therapies with cultural or historical rather than on a scientific basis. These alternative medical treatments include herbalism, naturopathy, traditional Chinese medical medicine, yoga, acupuncture, nutritional based therapies and many more.

World Health Organization (WHO) has placed Costa Rica higher for the health benefits than in the United States. So it is appealing for those who are seeking for treatment to do it in Costa Rica for medical travel alternatives. With the rising health care in the United States, Costa Rica has become a favorite medical tourism destination that include modern hospitals with state of the art facilities that provide effective procedures but the country has seen an increase in herbalism, commonly known as the botanical medicine. Herbal medicine is a kind of approach to the treatment of medical complaints and diseases that involve the use of plants and other extracts. There are many conventional drugs that also use medicines that derived from plant sources. Costa Rica ranks as first place in entire Latin America for the development of preventative and curative diseases.

According to the US National Cancer Institute that more than two thirds of all medicines that have cancer fighting properties come from rainforest plants which Costa Rica has a lot of. Some of the compounds of the rainforest plants are used to treat in heart disease, malaria, diabetes, tuberculosis, and other health problems. Many commercially available enzymes, antibiotics are derived from herbs and rainforest plants. Herbal medicine is considered as an alternative medical philosophy as many of these ingredients used has been scientifically approved or proven in the United States and becoming more popular and openly practiced in the country of Costa Rica. Costa Rica is excellent in alternative holistic approach. This approach goes far beyond the mind and body connection like yoga, which becomes a preferred place for wellness whether after surgery recuperation, weight loss, rehabilitation, drug treatment, or even general conditioning in an exceptional environment. All parts of the person’s life are considered. Taking a holistic approach involves seeking the tools that will help the person attract their desires and find some personal power. This is the resting and healing after a medical procedure. Every day Costa Rica becomes the preferred place for wellness whether it is after surgery or for just general conditioning of the mind. This becomes the place for the famous and rich people who want privacy. Many of the centers in Costa Rica have top professional and trained medical personnel for holistic healing. Some of the centers are focused on alternative medical care. They work on you not just on short term solution but on long term solution as well.

Traveling for medical treatments offers every type of healthcare such as dental works, alternative medicine, orthopedics, and psychiatry. Alternative medicine is something about any healing practice that does not fall within the realm of the conventional medicine. It encompasses therapies with cultural or historical rather than on a scientific basis. These alternative medical treatments include herbalism, naturopathy, traditional Chinese medical medicine, yoga, acupuncture, nutritional based therapies and many more.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (also called TCM) is the term given to a wide variety of treatments from various locations across Asia. While considered an alternative therapy in Western countries, it’s a long-standing and widely accepted medical practice in many Asian countries. But what exactly is TCM?

The Simplest Definition

Traditional Chinese Medicine is all about balance. It’s also a holistic approach, treating the mind, body and spirit as intertwined. Any one part of a complete organism that gets out of balance – in both the physical and meta-physical sense – and illness will occur.

It gets it’s roots in the yinyang theory (which has been absorbed by Taoism). Yinyang theory is again all about balance. It states that all phenomena in the universe can be divided into two opposite yet complementary parts. Some familiar examples might be female/male, cold/hot, moon/sun, light/dark and so forth. In the strictest sense, neither is good or bad, but instead both are parts of the whole. Traditional Chinese Medicine is meant to maintain balance and maintain health in the process.

Qi and Meridians

Qi (pronounced and often written as chi) refers to the vital force of the body. It’s often mis-understood to mean “spirit” or “soul” when it fact, it’s more like an energetic blood that flows through the body. It flows through the body along the meridian lines, as well as through other channels.

The details of qi alone can be a lifetime study, and it’s far beyond the scope of this article. All you really need to know is this: qii s an energy that flows through the body and it’s very important to Chinese medicine.

So What Kinds of Treatments Can I Expect from Chinese Medicine?

As a holistic therapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine includes a surprising array of treatments. Here are just a few:

Herbal medicine- This includes the use of herbs, roots, mushrooms and other natural products for their medicinal value. Some exotic animal parts and minerals may also be used, some of which are very controversial. There are herbal medicines to treat virtually illness and condition known to medical science, and even some that aren’t.

Acupuncture- This is the practice of inserting needles – very thin ones – into certain points along the body. Traditional acupuncture follows the meridian lines mentioned earlier, but modern practitioners are adding their own spin to their methods. Acupuncture is commonly used for chronic pain, psychological disorders, or other nervous-system disorders. It’s more devout supporters will recommend it for just about anything else, too.

Cupping- Cupping is an unusual form of massage/detoxification. This requires special glass cups which have the air inside heated by a flame or smoke. While still warm inside, they are placed on the back where they then suck up the skin into the cup. Some of the more modern clinic also use cups with pumps installed. Meant to cleanse the body of toxins, it’s not recommended if you plan to go to the beach: it leaves great big red circles all down your back!

Gua sha- Another unusual treatment, gua sha is the process of rubbing the skin with smooth bits of jade, stone, bone or tusk. It’s not a gentle treatment, often resulting in painful bruising or red marks on the skin. It’s believed therapeutic use is quite broad, however, as it is be used for everything from hot weather to cholera. Not a treatment for those with a low pain threshold!

Physical and Breathing exercises – Traditional Chinese Medicine also encourages its practitioners/patients to engage in healthy exercise. For the flow and balance of qi, however, only the right exercises will do. Taichi, qigong, yoga, meditation and martial arts are all considered excellent exercises within Traditional Chinese Medicine, as is meditation and various breathing exercises.

Is Traditional Chinese Medicine Safe?

Traditional Chinese Medicine is… medicine. That means that if used correctly, it can have great therapeutic value. But like any medicine used incorrectly, it can be dangerous. Always consult health care professionals before starting any new treatment.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has the additional hazard of being less regulated. Scams and con artists abound, so it’s as important to check credentials as carefully as any other healthcare professional you see. Also, this lack of regulation means that many Chinese medical practices are largely untested by the scientific community. This means that the therapies can range from beneficial, to useless, or even to harmful. Again, care and common sense should be your guide.

Is Traditional Chinese Medicine for Me?

Put simply: maybe. Between drug recalls, doctor errors, and skyrocketing medical costs, many people are turning to alternative therapies. They can benefit a patient in many ways. For some people, however, it may not be the best choice. For those with serious conditions such as cancer or acute conditions like appendicitis, Western medicine still has a better track record. However, it doesn’t mean these treatments can’t be supplemented with Traditional Chinese Medicine for even greater effect. Ultimately, the choice is up to you and your healthcare plan.