Our Favorite Places On The Web
Chi Kung: Healthy Body, Peaceful Mind: It’s probably not possible to teach either form of Tai’ Chi through a web page, and this one doesn’t even try. What they do, however is give you some useful information on using sounds and breathing techniques to aid you in your quest for wellness, and the 32 movement Tibetan Chi Kung form is much superior to the more complicated 108 movement Chinese form. They do try to sell you a CD, but they’re not too pushy about it. Don’t miss the link at the top of the opening page to “Tibetan Tonglin Meditation.”
The Merck Manual of Medical Information – Home Edition: This link is to the text version of the plain English lay version of the Merck Manual, the most widely used diagnostic and treatment tool for those in the medical profession. There is an interactive version also available online, but we’ve found it cumbersome and difficult to use. Although this manual is published by Merck, the mainstream pharmaceutical company that brings you drugs like Propecia, we still think that this site should be on everybody’s bookmark list, as it’s a comprehensive guide that can be invaluable during a medical emergency.
Friends Of The Earth: This site is sub-headed “Fighting Environmental Destruction Where It Begins.” A great site for anyone who’s interested in the environment.
Union Of Concerned Scientists: This is the web site for an organization of citizens and scientists who’re attempting to convince the technological folks to take a more sane and sensible approach. A great source of credible news on the environmental front.
Henriette’s Herbal Homepage: Do a search for “herbal medicine” and you’ll find thousands of sites. The trouble is, most of them are trying to sell you expensive concoctions and aren’t very useful. This site, though, has a great searchable database with information on hundreds of medicinal herbs, with useful information on preparations and uses. There’s also a database of pictures, to help you recognize herbs growing in the wild.
healingpeople.com. This is a very comprehensive site, with in-depth sections on Chinese Medicine, Homeopathy, Western Herbalism, Ayurveda, Aromatherapy and more. Especially useful is the “Natural Health Encyclopedia,” which has a triple function. First, you can check under “Herbs and Supplements” for the latest scientific research on natural remedies and their uses. Second, is the section on “Conditions,” where you can learn about medical conditions, illnesses and recommendations for treatment. Finally, you can look under “Drug Interactions” to see how natural substances will interact with any medications you might be taking.
Health and Healing News. This site is updated daily and contains a wealth of information for anyone interested in holistic health. Sections include Aromatherapy, Book Reviews, Herbs and Oral Health, with each section containing many well written articles on the subject heading. You can also search the site for articles and other information on specific medical conditions, as well as subscribe to a free email newsletter. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this site is the section on holistic wellness for pets. Does Fido need an herbal tonic? Find out here.
Yoga Research and Education Center. It’s hard to decide where in the cycle of body/mind/spirit the practices of yoga belong, since they attempt to integrate all three into a unified whole. However, most yoga teachers say that the building of a strong and healthy body is essential if one is to develop a vital mind and spirit, so we figure that yoga belongs under bodywork as much as it belongs anywhere. The Yoga Research and Education Center offers a very deep site that offers a rich overview of the many various forms of yoga. Everything is covered here, from FAQs for the beginner to advise on how to choose a yoga teacher. Unfortunately, yoga is not something that you can teach yourself, as this site makes abundantly clear.
The Reiki Pages. Reiki is a hands-on healing technique that was reportedly “discovered” by Japanese Christian missionary Dr. Mikao Usui in the late 1800s. This form of healing is said to channel the “Chi,” or “universal life force,” for healing purposes. Anyway, these days it’s all the rage in New Age circles... so much so that it often seems that there’s more people practicing Reiki than there are people who need healing. Although you can’t practice Reiki until you have been personally “activated” by a Reiki master, this site offers an excellent overview on the subject for anyone who’s considering this practice. “The Reiki Pages” covers everything from ethics (“Charging for Reiki“) to explanations on the principles behind this healing technique. This site also contains a page that illustrates the proper Reiki hand placements.
Vegetarian Pages. This site is dedicated to all aspects of living a lifestyle that is free of animal products. Not only is the subject of vegetarian diets included here, but other related topics such as “alternatives to leather” and a section on “famous vegetarians” (did you know that Hank Aaron didn’t eat meat?). The site also includes great recipes and a section on “How To Win An Argument With A Meat Eater.”
Menstrual Monday: This is a sometimes frivolous and fun, but often serious, site about menstruation. In case you don’t know, Menstrual Monday is an unofficial holiday begun by Geneva Kachman and some of her friends to celebrate our monthly cycles. Last year, this holiday was officially observed on many college campus throughout the world. By the way, Menstrual Monday is celebrated on the Monday before Mother’s Day, “because menstruation comes before motherhood, and usually long after it, too.”
AromaWeb: In our opinion, this is one of the best sights on the web for information on aromatherapy. The sight includes profiles on 90 essential oils, a section on aromatherapy recipes, and a list of suggested books on the subject. Be sure to take the aromatherapy poll while visiting.
Wilson’s Almanac: Pretty cool site. We especially like the “Planetary Links Directory” which currently has links to over 1,500 alternative sites worldwide. Other interesting stuff includes “folklore, festivals, calendar customs, New Age, On This Day, and inspiration.”
NCCAM Home Page: The NCCAM is the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and is a federal government agency connected with the National Institute of Health. According to them, they are “dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science; training CAM researchers; and disseminating authoritative information.”
Melusine: There are thousands of sites on the Internet that deal with aromatherapy, but most of them aren’t worth the microchips they’re written on. This site, by “AromaAlchemist” Françoise Rapp, is a notable exception. A certified aromatherapist, Ms. Rapp sells her own blends of oils, offers insights on a wide range of subjects, including “astrological perfumes.” In addition, she offers training and certification in aromatherapy and special services for other alternative practitioners.
The Digger Archives: Many people think that if it hadn’t been for the Diggers, such landmark events as the Summer of Love and the Electric Cool Aid Acid Tests wouldn’t have happened. This from an organization (or non-organization, as we would’ve said in those days) that ceased to exist by 1968, at the very latest. This site proves that you can’t keep a good organization down. Included are all of the Diggers published writing, as well as bulletin boards and a virtual “Free Store.” Bookmark it, and go back often.
Alien Jesus: This site bills itself as “The Heathen’s Guide to Spirituality.” As you might imagine, the tone is somewhat irreverent throughout, but a whole lot of fun! An eclectic mixture of humor and news, we find that we don’t always agree with their viewpoint – and we suspect that’s part of the point. Besides, any site that contains a column called Trailer Park Astrology gets a B+ in our class.
Christslove.com: Adults only. “The Christian Porno Site.” We thought that would catch your attention! Actually, in most cases, the word “porno” has been scratched-out and the word “parody” written in – if that gives you any ideas about what this site is about. In any case, there’s not any porno here – though a few of the articles get really close. If you’re easily offended, stay away from this site, but it’s a pretty funny send-up of the plethora of fundamentalist sites on the web.
Awareness Magazine: A bimonthly online magazine devoted to improving the life of the individual and the life of the planet. We give this site four out of five stars.
Dance of the Soul: We put this monthly online publication under “body” only because so many of the articles published here deal with healing – on many levels. There is, however, much more to this site. Articles are placed under the headings of “conscious living,” “spirituality,” “holistic health,’ “native wisdom,” “metaphysical/energy,” and “creative expression.”
InnerSelf Magazine: This is an extensive site with hundreds of articles on a variety of alternative subjects. Although most of the articles on spirituality are on the entry level, their articles on holistic health run the gamut from articles for the newbie to articles for the well-versed in alternative treatment modalities. AlternativeApproaches.com is a pending member of their banner exchange program.
Innerchange: Innerchange is a Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina based print magazine that has sometimes been the only cohesive force behind the area’s New Age community. This is their online presence. Although regional in approach, it deserves a look-see, even for those of you who live in Katmandu!
Bliss... New Age and Beyond: This monthly online magazine is very rich in its depth. We particularly like the section with vegetarian recipes!
Life Positive: Online version of the print magazine. This is a huge site with special sections on Ayurveda, “holistic cancer cure,” meditation, pranic healing, Reiki and Yoga. As on our site, they divide many of their subjects in the categories of body, mind and spirit. Although we’ve placed this site under the heading of “body,” because so much of their information is focused on health and healing, it’s really an extremely inclusive site. Five out of five stars!
Spirit Crossing: Make no mistake - this site is all about spirituality and consciousness. We're only putting them under our "Body" umbrella because these folks are very aware of the fact that our bodies are part of our spiritual selves. Lots of great information on holistic health and environmental issues.
