Even though the panic over H1N1 is at a fever pitch, and the immunization is ready, it would be safe to say that by the summer of 2010 the swine flu issue will have already faded to vaccine memorabilia. Policymakers have discerned that this kind of illusion has a finite shelf life, mainly because of the constant decline of the attention span of the country’s population.

We must recall that the commotion in recent years over smallpox, anthrax, SARS, and Avian flu lasted only as long as necessary for the drug and vaccine funds to be allocated. Once that happens, there is no longer any motive to continue to fan the flames of pandemic hysteria – a media campaign like that requires so much effort, and costs so much money to maintain, especially for a disease that never existed in the first place.

Anyone paying even moderate attention to the parade of emergencies that have been making their appearance lately with almost routine regularity, might begin to be desensitized to the urgency of these situations, vaguely remembering that since they survived the last one, well they’ll probably survive this one as well.

LICENSED AND UNTESTED. This is precisely where the present danger from the current swine flu immunization lies. The swine flu vaccine is being introduced to the public and immunization has begun for children. Five manufacturers started in August of 2009 and aren’t expected to be complete until April of 2010. This is an amazing lesson in the vaccine politics of the country. The FDA approved this untested vaccine in September of 2009, one month after testing started.

We see precisely the same sequence of events that led to the last swine flu fiasco in 1976 – 50 million were vaccinated with that untested vaccine. 21 deaths, 565 paralyzed, withdrawn in 10 weeks. And never replaced. Never replaced – that’s the point. Why not? If the threat was so urgent that we had to start vaccinating before the vaccine was even tested, then where did that threat go? Why didn’t we just withdraw the toxic vaccine and then continue with researching and testing to develop one that worked?

It’s becoming incredibly clear that the natural selection will be in favor the lines of the parents who are willing take extra precautions to protect the immunity of their children. Who else will come forward? The FDA, who doesn’t do any testing before making a decision regarding the immunization schedule, but relies completely on the research that the vaccine manufacturers have submitted to them; the same companies that stand to make billions if the vaccine is approved?

Will it be the CDC, NIH, or HHS that has political connections that are a matter of public record? Will it be the manufacturers that have been granted immunity from liability if death or injury occurs?

This is exactly what causes urgency, the hyperbole and misdirection. They realize that they won’t have time to fully test a vaccine because this takes about a year. By the time they have fully tested a vaccine, the imaginary disease will have disappeared, without hope of resurrection. Immunization is a here and now market. If a vaccine isn’t quickly added to the recommended immunization schedule, the media, regulators, manufacturers, and clinics won’t receive their reward.

Swine flu immunization is highly recommended to be done through your family doctor. Ask doctor about the immunization schedule, which may happen summer of 2010.

Practitioners of holistic medicine are those that use natural methods and therapies to help restore the healing process in the body. There are many different types of holistic medicine sometimes referred to as alternative medicine. These practices have not necessarily been validated by Western medical studies. That is no way implies that they are not valid. It simply means that they have not yet been studied.

These traditional practices have sprung up around the world with the development of different societies through time. A common theme running through them is the holistic viewpoint of healing the body. Many of these practices have been used for hundreds and hundreds of years. Western science is just beginning to get to the tip of the iceberg of traditional medicine.

Holistic medicine or alternative medicine is the use of more traditional practices of healing. Many of these traditional practices have a foundation of viewing the body as a complete system. The Western viewpoint of medicine is to keep taking things apart into smaller and smaller pieces. In a sense, holistic medicine is on the other side of the spectrum.

Chiropractic medicine is becoming a mainstream practice. One of the top reported health problems and the United States is back pain. Chiropractic medicine targets the diagnosing and treating of problems associated with the back. This includes the spine, musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. This industry is growing rapidly as insurance coverage is becoming available.

The chiropractic industry originated in ancient Egypt. The techniques and traditions of chiropractic medicine have changed through time. However, the focus is on using natural treatments and therapies to restore the health of the back. Many techniques are used including traction, electrical stimulation and massage chair therapy.

Another alternative form of holistic medicine is massage treatments. There are many different types of massage treatments for different ailments. These types of treatment are commonly used to reduce stiffness, aches, pain and discomfort found in the soft tissues and muscles. Different schools of massage therapy have developed in different parts of the world.

To important schools of medical practice originate around the use of acupoints. Ancient Chinese medical practitioners used acupoints to help restore health and the body. Acupoints were stimulated either using needles or through the application of pressure and movements. These were found to promote health and restore healing in the body.

Acupressure uses pressure and movement on the acupoints. Acupuncture requires the use of needles to be placed directly into the acupoints. The acupoints do not have any nerve receptacles and are not painful when a needle is inserted. Acupressure uses specific movements to help stimulate the acupoints.

It is interesting to see how fast many of these traditional treatments are being integrated into Western medical practices. Many doctors are realizing the benefits of many of these holistic therapies. They are being used to supplement the treatments already been provided or as an alternative to surgery. This is an important step to bring a better balance of medical service to everybody.

The main disadvantage of these holistic practices is simply a lack of medical studies. Most medical studies are funded by companies hoping to profit from a beneficial treatment or drug. There simply isn’t enough money to validate many of these treatments since there would be no clear owner of the process.

Alternative medical treatments and holistic medicine are being accepted increasingly by the medical insurance industry. This is an important step forward for these treatments. Chiropractic medicine is leading the way as the more high profile and increasingly validated form of holistic medicine.

If you have a problem with your knee crunching while you walk, your doctor might recommend knee replacement surgery. What if your insurance policy is not enough to cover this procedure or you are underinsured? With the costs of knee replacement surgery in the U.S. being so high, where do you turn? You obviously don’t or cannot afford to wait until your savings enable you to pay for the treatment.

Here’s the answer. An option might be to have your knee replacement surgery abroad. Destinations such as India, Turkey, Costa Rica, Mexico are considered as top destinations for this procedure type. To recieve assistance with the arrangements and coordination, you can contact a medical tourism website that will assist in every step of the way.

Medical tourism companies are good at arranging flights and receiving the best deals through inside contacts. They also make it possible for you to save up to seventy percent off the U.S. cost of knee replacement surgery. An attractive destination for this knee replacement procedure is India. It is understood that a group of the doctors there actually developed a procedure known as knee resurfacing and it only became approved by the FDA in the U.S. a few years ago. The hospitals are state of the art and in line with the U.S. hospitals and facilities.

You can head to a major city in India and be received by an English speaking personal assistant. The specialists in India has vast amounts of experience performing knee replacement surgery procedures abroad. Many are board certified and have past formal training in the U.S., U.K. or Canada. These doctors have completed hundreds or thousands of knee replacement surgeries.

There are other benefits of traveling abroad to India for your knee replacement surgery, such as yoga and other therapeutic treatments. Besides, there are a lot of sight seeing activities and tourist attractions. Hospitals are modern and equipt with the best technology. All the surgical and prosthetics used are of best quality. More importantly, the treatment rooms are second to none.

Prior to surgery, you will probably stay in a nearby hotel and then be transported to the hospital to meet with the surgical team and doctor before receiving your knee replacement surgery. You will be provided with a patient assistant that will care for you throughout the procedure. Then the nurses will administer the IV’s to get you all ready to receive your knee replacement surgery. Mexico has a similar treatment program to India.

The Philippines is another great vacation spot. There are sight seeing attraction in and around the city. If you have the time, it might be worthwhile to check them out. Shortly after your arrival, you will be taken to meet with your surgeon who will be perfoming the operation. Many of the surgeons are board certified and have received specialized training in the U.S. The prosthetics and technology used are of great quality and the same as in the U.S.

The knee with the arthritic problem is removed during the surgery and a plastic and metal prosthetic is inserted. The pain afterwards is minimal for this knee replacement surgery. The hospitals in Philippines offer pain medication after the procedure and provide therapists that help to get you back walking as soon as possible. Shortly after, you will be strong enough to travel back to the U.S.