Discovering the Benefits of Acupuncture Through Science

a model dummy of acupuncture showing the channels and pointsAcupuncture has been used for thousands of years in China to help ease pain, alleviate tension and provide healing for a number of ailments.

People from Canada, Western Europe, and the United States began turning to acupuncture as an effective alternative treatment method for a variety of medical conditions and illnesses around 60 years ago. Since this time, the practice of acupuncture has continued to grow in popularity in the West.

The Background of Acupuncture

Acupuncture uses very fine needles. These needles are placed into specific points, known acupuncture points, which are located along channel pathways, which are said to traverse the body.

Although there is no conclusive evidence as to how acupuncture works, science has observed that there are in fact numerous therapeutic benefits of this alternative approach.

More specifically, results have been achieved for pain relief and the relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea, although acupuncturists claim that the therapy can treat far more than just these ailments.

According to the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body contains an energy force called Qi (pronounced Chi). The patient’s Qi flows through twelve pathways throughout the body. These channels are referred to as meridians.

The different meridians are responsible for various organs and physiological and psychological functions of your body. Acupuncture points are located along these meridians, each with different functions and eliciting a unique response in the body.

There is not yet any conclusive scientific evidence proving the existence of these meridians and acupuncture points; therefore, there has been a lot of controversy regarding acupuncture theory among Western scientists and doctors.

a picture of the yin yang symbol from Chinese medicineScientists have a difficult time doing case studies of acupuncture because of its invasive nature. In these studies, one group of participants have needles placed in areas that are not acupuncture points. The other group of participants has actual acupuncture. Some studies have shown that both methods of “treatment” offer benefits while other studies have shown that the benefits only occur with real acupuncture. The British Medical Journal states that acupuncture is indeed grounded in science.

The World Health Organization, also known as WHO, states that acupuncture can be used to treat 28 conditions. Evidence also indicates that acupuncture may be therapeutic for many more conditions.

One study done by the Technical University of Munich Germany found that acupuncture can help relieve the symptoms of migraines and tension headaches.

The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center also found that acupuncture can help alleviate dry mouth suffered by patients receiving radiation for head and neck cancers.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Traditional Chinese medical practitioners believe that health is the result of the balance of the Qi. Qi flows throughout the body along the meridians.

There are said to be around 350 acupuncture points along these meridians. When the Qi cannot flow properly, it can cause illness and disease. Placing acupuncture needles along the acupuncture points restores energy flow, thus healing the body.

Acupuncture can be explained using the concepts of neuroscience. Western practitioners believe these acupuncture points are specific locations that stimulate the muscles, connective tissues and nerves in the body. When these points are stimulated, blood flow to the region increases and triggers the body to release its natural pain killers.

Many conditions can benefit from acupuncture, including migraines, stress, nausea and the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. More and more people are turning to this alternative treatment to find healing and relief of a multitude of symptoms.

Learning Acupuncture

As one can expect, learning acupuncture is not an easy task. A person needs to undergo at least three years training at an established institution to be able to practice acupuncture.

The International College of Oriental Medicine (ICOM) is one of the oldest acupuncture colleges in the West. Founded in 1972, ICOM was the first training college to be the established in the United Kingdom. Click here to see ICOM’s location.

ICOM’s core philosophy and practice are rooted in Classical acupuncture. However, they teach an integrated syllabus, which encompasses all the main disciplines and techniques of acupuncture. Here is more information on acupuncture tuition at ICOM.

ICOM frequently hold open days for people interested in becoming practitioners and for those who are curious about acupuncture and would like to know a little more about how it works. If this interests you, then you can attend one of their open days to finds out more about this fascinating practice.

How Massage Can Benefit The Body And Mind

a person receiving massage on their shoulderMassage is an exceptionally beneficial therapy and can provide a number of different benefits for both the mind and body.

When it comes to health and well-being, massage can:

1. Minimise or eliminate lower back pain while simultaneously increasing the range of motion.

2. Boost the immune system by increasing the flow of lymph throughout the body.

3. Improve the flexibility of the joints and tendons.

4. Ease labor by shortening its duration and intensity, resulting in a shorter stay in the hospital for new mothers.

5. Lengthen tight or weak muscles, leading to increased flexibility.

6. Prepare the muscles for strenuous athletic events, or help to speed recovery times after a major workout.

7. Increase circulation to the skin, resulting in healthier, glowing skin.

8. Reduce the symptoms of anxiety or depression.

9. Minimise swelling and adhesions after surgery.

10. Stimulate the body to release endorphins, providing natural pain relief.

11. Encourage the growth of new tissue, minimising the appearance of stretch marks and scars.

12. Increase circulation by stimulating the flow of blood throughout the body.

13. Lessen muscle cramps and spasms.

14. Ease the pain associated with migraine headaches.

15. Assist in relaxing muscles that have been injured or pushed beyond their limits.

An Effective Weapon

Without a doubt, massage therapy can be a powerful weapon to have in your wellness arsenal. While most people turn to massage as a way to pamper themselves or relieve stress, it also provides incredible health benefits.

Stress is one of the leading causes of illness and ageing. Leading a life that is filled with stress can result in premature ageing and disease.

a massage practitioner giving someone a massage with oilMassage’s unique ability to reduce stress and promote deep relaxation can help combat these effects. As a consequence, you may experience:

  • Less anxiety
  • More energy
  • Better sleep
  • Improved circulation
  • Increased focus and concentration
  • Less fatigue

The benefits of massage are not just limited to the physical body. The mind also benefits from deep relaxation. Most people notice that they are more focused and clear-headed after bodywork. These mental and emotional benefits are just as important as the changes that happen in the body as a result of massage therapy.

There are many different types of massage that a person can have. Some will be more beneficial for certain health conditions than others. Here is a good overview of massage along with an explanation of the many different forms of the healing art.

Incredible Changes

Amazing changes can take place in the body as a result of massage therapy. Studies have shown that bodywork can provide the following benefits:

1. A reduction in pain, itchiness and tension in patients suffering from burns.

2. Increased lung function and peak airflow in children who suffer from asthma.

3. A reduction in arthritis-related pain and stiffness.

4. Less cramping and bloating for women with premenstrual syndrome.

5. Faster weight gains in premature babies.

6. A reduction in diastolic blood pressure accompanied by lower levels of stress hormones in people who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure.

The healing power of touch cannot be overrated. Countless studies have shown that it can be beneficial for treating a variety of different health conditions and diseases, ranging from brain disorders to arthritis, injuries, high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety.

Many doctors and other medical professionals are turning to massage as a complement to traditional therapies. Bodywork is being integrated into neonatal care and hospice care.

Some medical complexes are also adding spas to their facilities where patients can go to speed up the healing process after surgery and to help them deal with chronic pain.

How to Drink Water According to Ayurvedic Medicine

two people drinking bottled waterYour body is somewhere between half and three-quarters water. Consumption is essential for cellular activities and organ function; therefore it is a vital component of good health.

As a result of this importance, Ayurvedic Medicine has established guidelines regarding drinking water. These are designed to maximise the health benefits obtained from water.

Ayurveda: How to Drink Water Correctly

1. Rather than standing or lying down, sitting is the preferred position for drinking.

2. Do not chug the water; instead, sip it slowly.

3. You should never drink iced water; room temperature is ideal. The theory is that water that is too cold will cool the kidneys down too much, which need to stay warm. If the kidneys are continuously cooled, it may sap the energy of the body, render the kidneys less efficient and cause premature ageing.

4. If you are feeling thirsty, then drink some water. Learn to pay attention to your bodily cues and sip your water as the day goes by.

5. Once you no longer feel thirsty, stop drinking the water. You do not have to continue out of a misguided sense that more is better. Over-drinking can cause you to feel bloated and will only lead the body to excrete the excess through urine.

6. One of the easiest means to tell if you are drinking the proper amount of water each day is to look at your urine. Ideally, it will be a pale yellow colour, similar to that of straw. The darker your urine is, the greater your dehydration levels. Bright dark yellow to orange is an indicator of extreme dehydration. In this case, you must make a conscious effort to drink more regularly.

a bottle pouring a glass of water7. If you regularly have dry or chapped lips, it is likely a sign that you are not drinking enough water.

8. You need to leave a gap before and after meals in regards to drinking water. At a minimum, your stomach should have a one and a half hour break; some may need to wait an additional hour. The reason for the variation is largely dependent on the outside temperature because this has a direct impact on the speed of your digestive processes.

9. However, you can drink small amounts of water with your meal. Sip only enough to make eating and swallowing easier and avoid doing so before you begin to eat and once you have finished your meal. It is preferable that any water consumed during your meal is warm or hot as this will aid the digestion process.

10. To address thirst after your breakfast meal, have a cup of freshly squeezed juice. Following lunch and dinner, you can have a delicious glass of buttermilk. These will both treat your dehydration and provide additional nutrients for your body.

11. The practice of Ushapan is an essential aspect of Ayurveda. It is the practice of drinking water to boost ones immunity. This involves drinking water in the morning, which helps with many common complaints like frequent headaches, anaemia, obesity and high blood pressure.

Why should you avoid water once you have finished your meal?

Doing so is strictly prohibited because it is said to dull your digestive energy. Food will remain in your digestive tract longer, where it may begin to rot and create problems such as bloating and gas.

Summary

Avoiding dehydration is essential for a healthy body. Make sure you frequently drink but not in excess. Drinking warm or hot water is preferable to cold fluids to ensure you do not weaken the energetics of the kidneys. Avoid drinking at meal times, but instead sip fluids after to assist with your digestive process.

Alternative Medicine: What Exactly Is It?

Bach flower remediesAlternative medicine is a term used to describe other forms of therapy other than traditional Western or allopathic medicine. Instead of using standard medical treatments, alternative practices are used. Alternative medicine differs from complementary medicine which does not replace medical practices that are standard but accompanies them instead. In general, the medical community does not recognise alternative medical practices as conventional or standard.

Alternative medicine includes disciplines such as spiritual healing, magnet therapy, massage therapy, herbal preparations and dietary supplements.

There are five major domains, or categories, into which alternative and complementary medical therapies fall into.

Medical Systems That are Considered to be Alternative

Complete systems of both theory and practice provide the basis for alternative medical systems. In many cases, the systems evolved earlier than and apart from the approach that is taken by the conventional medicine commonly practiced in the Western world.

Naturopathic and homeopathic medicine developed within Western culture and were examples of alternative medical systems. Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine are examples of medical systems that arose in cultures, not of the West.

Interventions Between Mind And Body

To help the mind to affect both disease symptoms and bodily function, a variety of techniques exists in mind-body medicine. Cognitive behavioural therapy and patient support groups were considered to be CAM (Complimentary and Alternative Medicine) techniques in the past but have now entered the mainstream. However, mind-body therapies using dance, music, art, or other creative outlets and mental healing, prayer, and meditation are still considered CAM.

Therapies That Are Based On Biology

In CAM, there are therapies that are biologically based that rely on natural substances, such as vitamins, foods, and herbs. Some examples are not proven scientifically but are natural, such as treating cancer using shark cartilage. Others make use of herbal products and dietary supplements.

Body-Based and Manipulative Methods

Body-based and manipulative methods in CAM either physically move or manipulate a single or multiple parts of the body. Examples include massage therapy, osteopathic manipulation, or chiropractic care.

Therapies Using Energy

Energy fields are used in energy therapies. There are two primary types:

Biofield therapies work by affecting the fields of energy that penetrate and surround the human body. There is no scientific proof that these fields exist. Some types of energy therapy manipulate these fields by applying pressure or moving hands through the fields. Examples include therapeutic touch, Reiki, and qi gong.

Electromagnetic fields are used unconventionally in bioelectromagnetic-based therapy. The fields used may be direct current, alternating current, magnetic, or pulsed fields.

Here is an interesting interview with Dr Kelly McCann on alternative medicine

The Importance of Alternative Medicine In The Modern Era


image of some of the herbs used in alternative medicineAlternative Medicine has been growing in popularity over the last few decades. With the general public losing faith in the ‘traditional’ allopathic approach to treatment, many are turning to alternative means for a more holistic approach to healthcare.

The return to more natural forms of treatment goes to show the collective shift in consciousness towards health and well-being. People, by and large, are taking their health more seriously as they are beginning to adopt a more health-based lifestyle.

The cause of this phenomenon is not entirely clear and may be a result of numerous factors. Firstly, with the age of the internet brings information to the fingertips of the masses and with this comes a more informed public of health issues and concerns that may otherwise be treated as unimportant.

For years now, people have been criticising the health care system, complaining that they do not receive the level of care they expect. Although in the west we certainly are fortunate to have the state health care system, many are becoming dissatisfied with the treatment they are receiving.

Popular Therapies Emerging

There are many therapies in the alternative spectrum. However, a handful, in particular, have been especially gaining momentum and popularity over the last few decades and even a degree of acceptance from allopathic doctors.

picture of a pestle and mortar depicting herbal medicine alternativesTreatments such as osteopathy, chiropractic and acupuncture are among those who have gained considerable acclaim in recent years. Acupuncture, in particular, has been heavy scrutinised since its arrival in the west, but with more current and update methods of scientific testing accompanied by the widespread reports of positive improvement following the treatments, acupuncture is now becoming more accepted and is even being trialled on the national health service.

However, there are other forms of alternative medicine that, although have been around for a good while, are still under heavy scepticism, mainly due to a lack of scientific evidence to back up the treatments.

Thousands of people report the wonderous benefits they have received from homoeopathic treatment year after year. However, there is still very little evidence to support the effectiveness of the treatment and it is often brushed aside as nothing more than placebo by western physicians.

Reiki is another treatment that holds little weight with allopaths. However, many people report significant improvements in their general well-being from having the treatment.

Perhaps in time, as science continues to evolve, we may see new evidence emerging in support of these treatments.