A golf career sounds like an exciting and glamorous dream to many who love the sport. However, it is more accessible than you may believe. According to a 2005 study by Golf Digest, there are over 35,000 golf courses currently operating worldwide, over half located in the United States. This translates into a booming job market filled with exciting golf careers of every description. You may not be the next Tiger Woods, but many golf jobs are open to those of varying levels of skills and a wide variety of professional interests. Here is what you need to know to make your dream a reality.Types of Golf CareersYou may never have given much thought to all of the available golf-related job titles. Here are just a few popular and in-demand career positions available at golf resorts:Golf Professional: If you love to play and are good at the sport, this might be the position for you. You can build a career track, starting as an assistant and working your way to the top. Of course, you must be a highly skilled player for this career choice.Marketing and Sales: Golf is big business, and resorts compete heavily to draw in customers. If you have marketing education and experience, you may want to take your skills into an industry that you truly love.Course Design: Each new golf course must have its own unique hook to draw in players. If you have engineering and architectural expertise along with a passion for golf, it is possible to combine the two in a career as a golf course designer.Golf Course Superintendent: If you have a passion for landscaping and maintenance, and a desire to pioneer new environmentally friendly means of course maintenance, consider a career as a golf course superintendent.Golf Management: Qualified managers are always in demand at golf resorts around the world. If you have what it takes, you can work your way up to a highly profitable career.Education and Experience RequirementsTraditionally, golf jobs have not had specific educational requirements beyond those that are expected for the specific position (computer science education for an IT job, for example). Experienced golf players with a passion for the sport were hired and trained on the job. It is still quite possible to begin a golf career this way. However, if you want to make yourself more competitive in the field, you may want to consider a golf degree. A two or four year specialized degree will give you an edge over other competitors for available jobs.A Golf Career for a Non-PlayerIf you love the sport but do not play, you can still find a great career in golf. Many of the available jobs required specialized knowledge and training in other fields, from marketing to telecommunications. Attending a golf academy in a management program can familiarize you with how the sport is played, adding additional knowledge to your repertoire and making you a more competitive candidate. Ultimately, however, it will be your personal skill set, combined with your passion for the sport, which will lead you to the perfect career.If you love golf but never thought you could find a career in the field, now is the perfect time to explore golf career options. Golf has become big business, and thousands of professionals from a wide variety of fields are necessary to make the golf industry a success. Even if your playing skills are less than stellar, you may find a golf career that is perfect for you.

Small Businesses in Canada are continuously running out to their local retail office store to purchase their computer supplies and accessories for their business. This practice is great for those businesses that need an ink cartridge or some DVD’s to backup their data, however, it is not the best practice for them to run out to purchase their next notebook computer or computer system.Today’s small businesses are often purchasing the wrong computer system for their business. Many times when meeting with small businesses during my travels and inspecting their existing infrastructure, we are still finding many Windows XP Home or Media Centre computers that they have purchased for their business at the local retail office supply store. The sales people at these locations may lack the business technology training to properly understand what a small business needs and how business affects technology investments. The small business world is definitely different from the home or SOHO marketplace.The business decision maker is often upset when the IT professional has to pass along the bad news that their existing systems need to be upgraded or the operating system replaced when they hit that critical point in their business that the need for a server in their business is identified. Computer Professionals that focus on small business often struggle with this daily, the need to inform the business owner that their existing systems will not be able operate effectively in a Windows domain with a home based operating system adds additional stress to their daily job.The original reason why they went to purchase their latest computer at the retail store was perhaps the immediate gratification of getting a computer system that they can use today or out of urgency that they need something immediately. Small Business today, needs to start planning their technology investments wisely instead of spontaneously purchasing or impulse buying. This is where the Microsoft Small Business Specialist can assist them to ensure that they are investing in the right computer systems to allow their business to thrive with the right technology solution.Where can small business turn? Business owners must find a trusted technology provider to assist them before they run out to the local office supply store. Microsoft has a great website for business owners to find that trusted resource at http://www.microsoft.ca/smallbusiness. An experienced small business specialist understands what a small business requires and will recommend the correct solution, even if they do not have a server today, a small business specialist has the skills to plan for the future. The Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Vista Business Editions are what a small business needs to ensure that are ready for grow, so when the day comes that they need to invest in their first server, they can purchase the server and it can easily fit into their existing investments.What prevents the home or media versions from working in business? These versions of Windows were developed with scaled down functionality to work in the home market or to work with your entertainment systems, sure they will run all the software that you purchase for your business, however, they lack critical business functionality like logging into a Windows domain network, file synchronization and they lack the additional security features found in the Professional and other business editions of Windows XP and Vista.The Small Business Specialist community needs to continue its effort in educating today’s small business marketplace to ensure that they are investing in the right technology solutions for their business needs. Small Business consultants can leverage the Business Assessment Toolkit to paint the picture for the small business on their exact needs and ensure that they are investing their dollars wisely in technology.

I often speak to groups of small business owners and I keep hearing the same comment over and over again with many of them saying that marketers don’t matter or marketing doesn’t matter anymore.There are many reasons I’ve heard as to why marketing doesn’t matter: “all my business comes by referral,” “I never spent money on marketing and my business grew,” “marketing is a waste of money,” “I see no value in marketing,” “marketing is all luck so why spend money on it,” and so on.Oh, how they are so very wrong! Below are the top 3 reasons why:1. Their definition of marketing is wrongWhen business owners tell me that marketing doesn’t matter, they usually have a totally different understanding of what marketing is than those who recognise how marketing contributes to business goals where it enables you to charge the most money you can for your services and products.Marketing is first about spending time building a solid foundation based on strategy before proposing a series of tactics aimed at lifting sales. Until the business finds a way to change the context of how their ideal customer views what they do, and then becomes become the obvious choice provider, they’ll find that their marketing efforts never seem to build momentum or gain any return on investment.You must be able to enter the conversation taking place in the head of your customers. Or, to look at it in a different way, to be able to address the number one question on your customer’s mind at exactly the right time.So, how do you do this? The conversation that is taking place in every prospective customer’s mind revolves around two major points. There is a problem they have, and that they don’t want… and there is a result that they want, and they don’t have.Those who often misunderstand marketing believe that it is only about advertising campaigns, brochures, flyers, website, email marketing, SEO, tradeshows, social media, copy, etc. These are the tactics – the way you implement your marketing. I’d argue that marketing is essentially the core of business strategy because it is about understanding the current customer, tapping into their fears, their goals and their aspirations and then creating products and services that the ideal customer is willing to buy from a brand they now they know, like and trust.2. They believe either they or their co-worker can do itSometimes in the “do it all yourself” world of small business (or even big business when it comes to it), it’s difficult to identify the areas that require outside help. A business may be able to set up their newsletter, add plugins to WordPress, write a Facebook or LinkedIn post, and clumsily create header graphics, but you need somebody who is trained, practiced, and skilled at looking strategically and holistically at the marketplace, understanding the customer, and then creating unique opportunities based on this understanding.Just think about it for a minute; just because you have a calculator and excel does that mean you are an accountant? If you have a ruler, pencil and have watched some episodes of Grand Designs – does that make you an architect? If you post regularly to your friends on Facebook and Instagram – does that mean you are a social media expert?So why do small businesses believe that by buying a Mac and some software they will become a designer, marketer and communications expert?It needs to be led by a strategic marketer who can then develop an integrated marketing approach. Can you or your co-worker do this? In some cases, you can. But those who can are most likely to either come from marketing or consulting backgrounds where they have transferable skills and experience defining AND delivering against a growth strategy.If you are a small business, you need somebody who will have a very solid, process, streamlined, consistent, repeatable approach. First, they will research and learn about your company in great depth, the dynamics of the marketplace and identify shifts, trends, and changes. From there, the strategic marketer will be able to present the different elements of your marketing plan in logical order of how you should construct them, update them, or revise them; and identify the key areas you should be focusing on – be it generating leads, converting leads, increasing transactions right down to changing prices.3. They hire the wrong marketing helpThere is a huge misunderstanding around marketing strategy, marketing tactics, and marketing execution.There is a difference between being strategically capable, creatively capable and executionally capable.Small business owners don’t hire a strategic marketing coach/firm to develop creative graphics and headers; nor should you hire an advertising/graphic design agency to handle marketing strategy. A small business doesn’t need to hire a consultant or a firm who is a strong marketing executor when their biggest need is a strategy for sustainable growth. You may get more attention, but not the best results.

Now, when we talk about small business loans, we mean just that – small business loans. We are not talking about a $1 million loan to purchase some commercial real estate or $500,000 to buy some investment property. We are not talking about a $3 million credit line just to show capital on a balance sheet. And, we are not talking about a $250,000 equipment loan for a regional construction company.We are talking about true small business credit – loans under $150,000. Capital amounts that the 22 million small businesses in this country could use at some point in time for working capital, to renovate their location, purchase inventory, marketing, meeting payroll, developing new products or to simply have the capital on hand to acquire and satisfy customers (what business is really about).But, we have heard ad nauseam that banks are just not lending to small businesses – claiming there is too much risk in smaller firms. So, many small companies are not even applying for credit anymore out of fear of being turned down. And, as a result, we are seeing small businesses not reach for or obtaining their full potential – essentially letting profitable opportunities slip by.However, just because banks don’t see the true value of small companies, that does not mean that others don’t – others who are willing to do what they can to fund your business.The Benefits Of Small BusinessThere are some 22 million small businesses in the U.S. and they are quite the power house.According to the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, small businesses;Provide two-thirds of all new jobs in the nation.
Contribute almost 50% to our Gross Domestic Product.
Account for 97.8% of all exports. And,
Create 16.5% more innovation than larger firms.All items that help make America the country that it is.But, if banks think these firms are too risky, that is OK, because given the entrepreneurial spirit in this country, other financing firms (lenders) are stepping up to cover the small business loans that banks and traditional lenders will not. So now, you don’t have to be afraid of being turned down anymore.3 Sources That Will Fund Your Small Business1) SBA Loans: Sure, SBA loans have to go through banks – which are not lending. However, banks might not be lending for their own loan portfolios but they are lending under the SBA’s programs.Did you know that over the last three years, the SBA has been growing the number and dollar amount of the under $150,000 loans they back – even given that banks (who originate these products) are not approving them?From the latest SBA data;In 2012, the SBA guaranteed 14,520 under $150,000 loans for a total loan amount of over $802 million. In 2014 (two years later), the SBA increase the number of these loans to 16,043 with a total volume of $955 million – with a down year in 2013.Part of this increase is the fact that the SBA has reduced or waived its fees on these smaller loans. From the SBA’s website:”The SBA determined to eliminate the fees on loans of $150,000 or less after conducting a review of the 7(a) Loan Program. As a result, a small business owner obtaining a $150,000 loan will save more than $2,500.”Bottom line – the SBA is actually doing what it can to fund small businesses in this country – including yours.Programs to look for:The 7(a) program offers nearly any business loan under the sun from working capital to commercial real estate.The CDC/504 program only focuses on real estate and equipment lending. But, if your business needs either one of these under the $150,000 amount – including renovating your location – then by all means as this is a great program.And, the express program – which is capped at $350,000 – is a great program. Quick and easy access to needed capital.Now, for some quick benefits of SBA loans. The SBA’s guarantee does several things:By capping interest rates and fees, these products tend to be cheaper in the long-run for the borrower.
Lower down payment requirements – meaning that you can keep more of your own money in your own business.
Long loan terms also allow payments on these facilities to be more affordable. Just image which loan payment would be easier to make on a $100,000 loan at 10% interest. A bank may require the loan to be repaid in 36 months – making the monthly payment $3,227. While the SBA could extend the term to 6 years (72 months) making their monthly payment $1,853. The lower the payment amount, the easier it is to cover with current cash flow, making the overall loan less risky and easier to get approved.
Express programs can significantly speed up funding as some traditional business loans can take months to close while those under the express programs can be funded in the matter of weeks.If you have been fearful of applying for a SBA loan, knock it off and go apply!2) Alternative Lending: Alternative loans (non-bank loans) from factoring and business cash advances to revenue based loans have really picked up steam over the last 5 plus years.These lenders are focused solely on small businesses and as such have created products that allow them to approve more loans to companies that traditional lenders will not touch – by not using old and outdated underwriting standards but by focusing more on technology.Most alternative lenders – especially the leaders in this space – have seen their loan volumes (thus their approval rates) – increase by 150% or more year after year.A couple of examples: According to the SBA, their largest lender – Wells Fargo – approved and funded just over $266 million in small business financing last year. However, OnDeck Capital, a leading revenue based lender, nearly doubled that amount over the same period. Further, CAN Capital claims to have funded over $800 million in 2013 – far out pacing even the top 100 SBA lenders combined.While these loans are high-cost loans, they offer several benefits like approvals when other lenders say “no” as well as quick (in the matter of days) funding.3) New Players: Peer-to-peer lending is know for its ability to match regular people who have extra money to lend with regular people who need to borrow. These loans are typically personal loans that can be used for nearly any purpose – like starting or growing a small business.However, just this year, Lending Club – the leader in P2P lending – has begun to offer a true small business loan product where businesses can borrower anywhere from $15,000 to $100,000 at low rates. And, their approval and funding is not based on some standard cookie cutter formula that most businesses just do not meet but comes from regular people who listen to your story and decide for themselves the merit of your financing request.ConclusionCapital for your business is still available.Don’t always believe what you hear. Sure, small business lending is tight – when compared to the hey days of the mid-2000s. But, that does not mean that you still cannot get the funding your small business needs to start, grow and succeed.To truly know if your company is qualified for business loan all you have to do is one thing – and that is to apply. But, if you don’t apply, you will never know for sure and then all you can do is reflect on how far your business COULD have gone.

Approaching the purchase of a new car can be both an exciting and a daunting experience. The thrill of considering a new vehicle in which to commute, run errands, and simply let loose on the road of life can bring a lot of positive images and ideas to mind, but the high costs of automobiles means that there are typically financing considerations to be made before a new car or truck can be driven off the lot. A number of options exist for the modern car buyer, whether the object of sale is a new or used vehicle, is associated with a special period or type, or has any number of esoteric attributes when it comes to seeking financing. Frequently, car buyers may choose to work with the sellers themselves or with dealerships to arrive at a workable financing solution, but this is not always the best choice. Consulting with a vehicle finance broker is an excellent way to ensure that the maximum value is obtained with a minimum of hassle and needless expense.Vehicle finance brokers are fairly unique among sources for financing as they work independently, and are not answering to the policies or procedures of parent companies or associations. This often translates to increased value and greater attention to taking care of each client’s individual needs; if you’re concerned about being treated like just another customer in a long line of financing seekers, working with a vehicle finance broker may be an excellent option. The personal service afforded by a vehicle finance broker is matched by such a broker’s ability to reach far beyond the boundaries of other financing sources. Brokers must obtain extensive training to meet local professional requirements, and arrange their deals through making new contacts and arrangements with lenders. This process demands an extraordinary level of skill in negotiation and the ability to identify or create a great deal, attributes which a vehicle finance broker can in turn bestow upon a client.Choosing a vehicle finance broker is a wise move when buying a new car, whether the expense is significant or will only require a short-term commitment. Vehicle finance brokers are extremely knowledgeable about their field, and can help clients understand the particulars of a given arrangement, from the terms of a loan to the specific way in which an arrangement will benefit a client’s tax profile. This personalized and distinctive service is one which can make the car purchasing experience much more pleasant, and can yield quick and efficient progress towards getting a new vehicle out of a lot -and into all the gears of your life. With a professional vehicle finance broker on your side, you can say goodbye to confusing repayment terms, anxiety over scams or bad deals, and generic, cold service. Experience the difference that a dedicated professional can make and consider using a car finance broker for your next car purchase.

We know that corporate entertainment is an effective tool for entertaining both your clients and your staff, but some people still have their doubts. So what can entertaining do for your company?Different clients entertain for different reasons, it could be a client hospitality event, a networking event, team building or a seemingly ‘just for the hell of it’ event, whatever your particular reason there is certainly ways of maximising the results!Knowing your audience is a distinct advantage when planning your corporate entertainment but it’s not the be all and end all. Knowing your objectives however is obviously crucial.If you have your top clients attending and the objective is to ultimately discuss business then you don’t want any entertainment that you host to completely take over the night, there has to be time for the networking and selling to happen.Selling your event to your team or to your clients is crucial, you want people to turn up! You want to create a positive spin on your event before it’s even happened!Sometimes there is apprehension about evening events amongst clients and staff, this is their time and it’s got to be something worthwhile to get them to turn up. This is where careful event selection is critical.Some corporate clients find that the ‘little and often’ approach is most effective and report very good results from hosting entertainment between the courses of a meal. The feedback is that it breaks the ice initially, especially if your guests don’t know each other, entertainment such as a game show will force them to speak to each other and form a bond.Throughout the evening as the event progresses the bond is strengthened and barriers are broken down with the end result of fantastic team spirit and a sense of group achievement. The results are normally really felt some time after the event, when clients are more likely to take your calls, they refer back to it and a common ground is found that was not there before the event.It’s important to say that in the last decade corporate entertainment has developed and moved on, it’s not just sporting events or reception drinks and canapes that are hosted, there’s so much more from full action days, lavish themed party nights to corporate game shows and many event companies can take a brief from you and create a unique event especially for your requirements.To be able to see what potential corporate entertainment could have for your company it’s good to draw up a list of your objectives, your clients and what industries they are in, what you’ve done before and what your budget is.Once you have these then event entertainment companies can start giving some good ideas to maximise the results for you.

Google is one of the popular search engines online. Millions of users’ daily use Google search engines to find relevant information to their search, or to sift through products, online auctions and so on.Google offers the communities free e-mail accounts, free web pages and various other free items, which draws users to the search engine. At Google, you can also sign up at various programs or visit Usenet, bulletin boards, news boards and so on. Google offers the community frees news, quotes and updates on stocks exchange. Many stockholders visit Google search engines to get quotes, updates in stock exchange, and to read charts. The stockholders have many options at Google, which allows them to buy/sell or trade with fewer risks.Community boards are available through Google also. Community boards allow users from around the world to market crafts, arts, music, images, software and more. The community can also post information at the boards, find help, and communicate with other users online. Community boards offer great opportunities to users, since it provides them many resources to help them market, stay updated and more. At the boards, users can play games at some areas.Google also providers Internet users access to millions of open directories. The directories allow webmasters, Internet marketers, Internet businesses and so on invaluable tools that help them to promote their business online.Webmasters, Internet marketers, Internet businesses can search for incoming, outbound, inbound, or other links of relevancy at Google search engines. The links are often collected to promote business or websites. In addition, Webmasters, Internet marketers, Internet businesses can use open directories to submit articles. This is another way to promote businesses. Most of the open directories offer free listings for articles.Google has also attracted millions of users worldwide with its innovative Techno Serve. This page allows small businesses options in creating jobs, promote the growth of the economy and develop the new world. The server provides you with business plans, seed capitals and so on to build businesses.Google created the Google Grants programs also. This program offers business free marketing tools and links them to other resources. Nonprofit businesses if selected can use the sites.One of the nicer options Google has given to the community is the “Make-a-Wish Foundation.” The site opens room for grants to children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Google also has a foundation to help people find support for disaster, epidemics, armed conflict and so on.Google also provides the community free game sites. Users can go to the websites to play poker, chess, other card games, board games, pool, or whatever game they enjoy. Most of the games are free to users.

You will always have Your Brand to Fall Back onThe best security you have to ensure that, despite any challenges or setbacks you may face, you are able to bounce back and continue travelling down the path to success, is a brand, which people can depend upon. Who you are speaks volumes and when you live in alignment with a consistent brand, which adds real value to the people around you. Your brand will stand the test of time, allowing you to triumph over adversity, earn the support and buy in of people who matter, allowing you to build and sustain mutually beneficial relationships with them.Shaping your BrandYour authentic brand must obviously be aligned with your mission and vision for the future. So when designing your brand and crafting your brand statement, it is crucial that you ensure, you craft it to support, both your mission and vision for the future.Developing your Brand StatementExamine your mission and vision for the future. Try to discover an authentic brand, which is in alignment with both, but is a true reflection of who you are. People will very quickly see through you, if you are not authentic and you are trying to reflect an image to the world, which is false and not who you really are inside. Build a crystal clear picture in your mind of what that brand is and find one word which encapsulates that image. This one word will now form the foundation for crafting your brand statement.Who are you, What do you do and Who do you serviceUsing that one word, which encompasses and describes your brand and what you stand for as a starting point, start to craft your brand statement. Your brand statement is effectively a statement which aligns you and what you stand for with your mission and vision. My brand statement is “I share the gift of inspiration with high performance business professionals”Action Idea: Now invest the time to craft your own brand statement. Strive to ensure that it reflects who you really are, what you stand for and that it is aligned with your mission and vision.Packaging your BrandIf you think about any great brands, such as Apple, Starbucks, Harley Davidson or Nike, they all have a story behind their brand, which we can relate to on an emotional level. Their stories allow us to get to know them, connect with them and in many cases even fall in love with the brand. Ask any loyal Harley rider or Apple computer user, if they would consider using any other brand and they will give you a quizzical look and shake their head. Every great brand that exists out there has a fantastic narrative, which is compelling and awe inspiring. One which arouses emotions illustrates what they stand for and illuminates the values they project to the world.Action Idea: Explore your own story, which defines who you are and what values you stand for. This is one of the most difficult parts of the process and requires you to open your mind and to allow it to walk freely into your past. Explore your life and uncover a few stories you remember from your childhood or any stories in your life, which were defining moments for you.This is a very difficult step, if you are struggling to come up with any stories. Interview your family, or friends who you have shared a common history with and try to piece together stories, which could help you to have stories to support your brand.I know it is difficult to talk about yourself, but to build your brand, it is crucial that you have stories to tell. People relate far better to you, if they see that you too have vulnerabilities, can laugh at your own mistakes and that you are real. Your stories will help you to better engage, connect with people and allow you to have a far greater impact on your world.Sharing your BrandAs you move around in your world, share the stories which reflect your brand. These stories must reflect who you really are, where your passion lies, what your values are and must reflect what makes you unique. Social media offers us a wonderful opportunity to tell our stories and to build our brand. What story are you telling the world via your social media platforms, is it the picture you want and need to have in place to realise your mission and vision into the future.Walk your TalkThe final step in the process of telling the world about your brand requires you to live according to it. This means that you must be living your brand 24/7/365, not only in business settings. You are your own giant billboard. Whatever the world sees projected from this billboard is what they use to make decisions about what your brand really stands for. For example my brand stands for “Inspiration”. I work very hard to project an image of inspiration to the world in everything I do. I always try to project an inspired and energised persona, where I try to exceed people’s expectations.Are you living up to your Brand all the time? Are your personal actions reflecting your brand all the time? If not what adjustments are you going to make to bring it into line with what you need to be doing? Once you have invested into building your brand, you will become an unstoppable force, which will succeed, despite any current or future economic conditions.

The health industry is at a booming pace now days. In case you want to have a future in this related industry then it becomes very essential for you to choose an apt course that can make things work for you. For instance, if you decide to do MBA in Health Management then you must pursue your course after understanding the relevance and importance of that course in enhancing your professional life. Apart from this, there are various other facts that you need to keep in mind before going for any specific health care education.Why seeking for health and well being education?Well, this is for all the courses, whenever you choose to go for any higher education you must be clear in your mind that why do you want to do this and what can you gain out of it. If you are clear with this, you will concentrate more on your education and will aim for a better future. If we talk about specifically for this health care field, then it has dual benefits. Firstly, immense monetary gain and secondly you are in a way helping people through your work.Career opportunities• Professional outlook: Being a graduate you may practice your skills and by the time you your MBA or any other health care management degree, you can easily look forward to a lucrative and responsible career ahead. Apart from this, if you are not interested in hard core health service then once you pursue MBA in this particular field you may even opt to become a financial manager or administrator for that matter.• Monetary prospects: As far as your annual income is concerned, pursuing a career in this field can really prove to be lucrative and money making for you.Degree SpecificationsThe course material vary from one institution to another thus, there is no specific detail on what all will you learn out of it. There are various types of courses addressing students requirement such as full time, part time, distance, executive or evening courses. All these courses in Health care Management try to fulfill the objective of the student. Health System Management, Health Information Technology, Law and Ethics in Health management, Managerial Communications, Financial Management, etc. are few relevant course materials that are taught to sharpen the skills of the students in this particular course.The degree of MBA in this field makes you capable of handling the responsibilities, keeps you updated with the technology and imparts knowledge to grow you as an individual and as a professional.

There are many alternative health care options including hypnotherapy, homeopathy, acupuncture and reflexology to name but a few.During a hypnotherapy session the subject is put into a trance-like state by several different methods. The hypnotist then makes various suggestions in order to change the subject’s sensations, thoughts or behavior. The results vary from person to person, depending on their susceptibility – in many cases it can be very successful.Homeopathic treatments are based on using very small amounts of a substance similar to that which may have caused the problem initially. This is said to stimulate the body’s own healing powers. This alternative therapy has its detractors but there is no doubt that it appears to work in some cases. This form of alternative health care has been around since the 18th century and has sometimes been described as ‘like cures like’.Reflexology is an ancient Chinese form of alternative health care. Areas of the feet are manipulated with the therapist’s fingers and thumbs, not needles as with acupuncture. The therapist stimulates certain areas of the feet and this relates to corresponding parts of the body. It can be used to treat stress, chronic back pain and infertility for example.Herbal remedies play a large part in alternative health care. There are hundreds of different types and they can be used to treat a wide range of disorders. However, care must be taken as they can react with conventional medicines. Many conventional medicines are, in fact based on herbs and plants. Digitalis (used for treatment of heart disease) comes from the foxglove and the painkiller Aspirin derives from willow bark. Herbal remedies are widely available from health food shops and come in the form of tablets, capsules, ointments, and teas amongst others. If your problem is more complicated it is possible to visit a practitioner. Take care when choosing a practitioner as anyone can set up as a herbal practitioner. Choose one who belongs to one of the professional bodies that regulate standards.Ayurveda is another alternative health care tradition originating in India. With Ayurveda traditional herbal remedies are used in combination with yoga, massage, diet and meditation – a very holistic approach.Many therapies including occupational, speech and physical can be carried out in the comfort of your own home. These therapies are invaluable for rehabilitation after a stroke or accident. Most medical insurance policies will support home health care.Home health care is also available for mainstream patients. Qualified professionals can give help with pain management, changing dressings and care after illness or injury. The advantages are enormous – saving the time and expense involved in travelling to a suitable medical centre, preserving quality of life and privacy for example.Studies have shown that patients receiving home health care recover more quickly than those who are cared for in institutions. A better atmosphere and the reassurance of being with family and friends all help the recovery process.