MITCM

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The next time you fall ill, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check if your personality had something to do with it. According to traditional Chinese medicine, personalities give important clues to the state of one’s physical health and tendency to fall ill. A personality-based assessment is becoming increasingly common in many alternative modern health medicine techniques.

As per Chinese thinking, every person has five elements in their birth chart. The relative weight of each element will determine the personality, and since all elements are present, a person will always have a mixed personality. The five elements are Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. Each element has its good and bad sides.

Metal is the element that signifies righteousness and intellectual sharpness. Metal persons are detail-oriented perfectionists, and pursue their goals with single-minded devotion. Since Metal types are prone to respiratory illnesses and eczema, they are advised to take up aerobic exercises. Water types are known as deep thinkers, and are generally considered to be far ahead of their time. Such persons tend to be philosophical, and enjoy solitude and tranquility. They are likely to develop problems of the kidney and bladder if they do not have an adequate liquid intake or socializing opportunities.

Wood persons have Type A personalities, and are high on vitality, energy, and ambition. They are extremely driven and focused, and quite likely to assume positions of leadership or athletic supremacy. Wood personalities are therefore prone to stress and tension related ailments, and would do well to learn meditation.

Fire persons are the life of any group they’re in, and are fun, sociable people who love to read and travel. They are extremely gifted communicators. Fire types can maintain their health by taking time to nurture themselves, and limiting the intake of spices. Earth persons are compassionate nurturers, who are also natural peacemakers owing to their empathy. They are likely to suffer from weight gain, food allergies, and fatigue, and must learn to maintain the right balance in their food habits and emotions.

Knowing your personality type is the first step to making traditional Chinese medicine work effectively for you.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese Medical practice where fine needles are inserted into specific parts of the body for the purpose of curing an illness. When the needles pierce through the body, they release blocked energy which is responsible for causing imbalances in health. This alternative medicine technique has been practiced in China for thousands of years and has been used to effectively treat health problems.

During an acupuncture session, the patient will lie flat on the table while the practitioner will insert needles into the body at various points. These points are gateways for the body’s energy flow. Acupuncture points redirect the energy to areas that are deficient. The needles inserted will be at an angle of 15 degree to 90 degrees. These needles can be manipulated by hand and they will be twisted depending on what the practitioner considers as right. Other motions that can be used include vibration, heating, cooling, and gentle electrification.

What can acupuncture help to treat? Acupuncture can strengthen the body’s immune system. This makes the body strong and also resistant to various illnesses such as infections, flu, and cold and so on. It can be used to treat psychological disorders such as phobias, eating disorders, anxiety, addictions and so on. Studies show that depression can be cured through acupuncture.

After surgery, acupuncture is highly effective in increasing vitality and body energy. Those with hypertension will find acupuncture to help them to control the problem and also give better energy levels. Today, everyone is interested in looking slim, but losing weight is not an easy task. Acupuncture is highly effective in bringing down weight by suppressing the appetite.

Those who have to take drugs for fighting off pain will find acupuncture to help reduce the need to take them frequently. It improves body circulation and in doing so energizes the body and strengthens it to fight off diseases. It has been noted that where various health medicines have failed to give adequate treatment, this form of Chinese medicine has proven to be quite effective.

When did it become standard practice for health professionals to issue prescriptions for the symptoms of an ailment rather than addressing the actual problem?

It seems that Americans have become inured to the concept of the “source” ailment. They are quick to recognize and treat symptoms, but overall, the underlying problems are overlooked. Hence, over-the-counter medicines are used at frightening rates to “fix” health issues—but what is really fixed?

Pills for everyday symptoms—headache, sneezing, cough, fever, allergies, fatigue, and so on—have become commonplace. If you have an ailment and can’t make it to your doctor right away, chances are good that you can run to the supermarket and get something to tide you over for a while. When you do get to the doctor, he or she will prescribe another medication. You will stand in another line, to see another druggist, to take yet another pill.

Good health is a precious commodity, and it is fortified by good living, good exercise, and good food. Unfortunately, society approves of pharmaceuticals as the general be-all and end-all of health maintenance, and the dollars spent annually on prescription drugs prove it. Health professionals have been taught that most ailments can only be addressed with drugs, to the point that a well-rounded diet of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats has been ruled out as a solution to anything.

Medicines have their place in helping people recover. In an alcohol rehab center or a drug rehab center, pharmaceuticals used to manage withdrawal symptoms make a great deal of sense. Pharmaceuticals have their place in situations of trauma and severe disease. However, the general belief  that disease is best assuaged by drugs is startling, especially when the most basic tenets of healthy living are pushed aside.

“Take personal responsibility” is the modern day mantra of so-called life coaches. Taking responsibility for each area of your life including health, career, and relationships will make you successful and a contributing member of society. There is increased awareness of one’s influence on one’s own environment. In this era of mutated superbugs, our personal hygiene has an impact on other people’s health and the amount of time and money they will waste on medicines. Corporate social responsibility is on the rise too. It’s not unusual to see advertisements from beer companies advocating responsible drinking and encouraging only people who are age 21 and over to drink.

Smoking is connected to various diseases including cancer and heart ailments. There is ample evidence that passive smoking, the inhalation of secondhand smoke, pretty much causes the same level of harm that active smoking does. However, new technological advancements like electronic smokes help people to indulge in their smoking habits without creating smoke that can harm the people around them. They are touted as the healthier, smokeless, and odorless version of traditional cigarettes. These electronic cigarette kits deliver different levels of nicotine in the form of vapor and give the “smoker” a better experience. People nearby need not worry about passive smoking at all!

At the end of the day, your health is in your hands…Literally! When care is taken to improve hygiene and when one is concerned about the ecosystem in which one lives, there are bound to be improvements in public health. With increased social responsibility exhibited by individuals, corporations, and communities at large, there’s a better chance of combating diseases. Prescribing medicine is a reactive step that’s taken after someone is sick. The goal should be to prevent people from getting sick in the first place. That is the best way to fight the newer strains of the numerous diseases that are emerging around the world.

Many people try alternative health medicines because they fear the potential side effects that arise when using chemical-based medicines. The most popular alternative health therapy is Chinese Medicine. Though it has many techniques and practices, the most commonly known practice is acupuncture.

Acupuncture has been practiced in China for more than 2000 years. In the past hundred years, it has spread to Europe, United States and also Canada. It is a much sought after form of treatment because it can effectively curb many health problems such as depression, inflammation, high blood pressure, vertigo, angina and obesity. Those who do not want to take pain medication will find acupuncture effective in helping them control pain.

How does acupuncture take place? As part of the acupuncture process, fine needles are inserted into the patient’s skin at various acupuncture body points. The needles are inserted at various depths. The acupuncture Chinese medicine treatment takes places over a couple of weeks or on a fortnightly basis. A typical treatment course lasts for twelve sessions or less and each session last for half an hour.

A person taking the treatment has to lie face-up or face-down, while the needles are being inserted. When the needles first pierce through the skin, the person will not experience any pain, but once the needles reach the correct depth a penetratingly acute stimulation is felt. At times, the practitioner may pre-heat the needles, or electrify them with minute amounts of electricity post insertion. The needles stay inserted for some 20 minutes time, after which they are carefully removed.

People who undergo acupuncture treatment feel quite invigorated and energized afterward. Their health problem also reduces and they do not experience any pain or side effects that can occur with normal drugs. Those who have undergone acupuncture Chines alternative medicine treatment show positive results in treatment outcome particularly when normal drugs and medial treatment have failed to bring a cure.

Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM comes with a history of over 3000 years. It tries to diagnose the human ailments with a Taoistic understanding of the universe and the nature of alternative Health Medicine. Its unique method of diagnosis and treatment is very different from Western medicine. Its foundation of treatment is based on diagnosing and differentiating syndromes. The body of literature encompasses a vast array of folk medical practices based on mysticism.

It believes that the body’s vital energy,chi, circulates through networks called meridians. The energy running through these pathways reaches each and every organ in the body and determines healthy functioning of each organ. When chi is interrupted or is not in balance, the body falls sick. It treats the zangfu organs, which is believed to be the core of the human body. and the Chi, which is believed to be the carrier of information and any imbalance is manifested through the jingluo system.

Traditional Chinese medicine treats and diagnoses an ill or diseased human body on the basis of the yin-yang theory as weel as the idea of the five elements. These theories are based on the belief that there is a connection between the laws of nature and the physiological and physiological changes in human body. It studies the phenomena of nature’s laws and its effect and relationship with the human body.

Chinese medicine is also referred to as Oriental Medicine, and involves ancient practices like acupuncture, Qigong exercises and use of various herbs to heal and restore balance in the human body. Though these therapies appear to be very different form each other, they all share the common belief and assumptions of the nature of human body and its relationship with the universe.

Acupuncture treats the body by stimulating certain external body parts while qigong exercises regulate and maintain smooth flow of Chi or energy through the channels or meridians in the body. The herbal medicines, on the other hand, keep the internal organs of the human body in a good functioning order. Many scientists describe the different methods of treatments in Chinese Medicine as Information Therapy.

It was once a pervasive assumption, formed by years and misunderstandings: the public believed traditional Chinese medicine (more often named TCM) to be little more than an illusion. It was considered weak, ineffective and often dangerous; as so many thought it discouraged use of the more accepted methods. Modern science branded it without merit and the common man blindly followed. Times, however, have fortunately changed. And through this individuals are greeted with more choices than ever before. A local pharmacy can contain both a free discount prescription card and ancient herbal treatments. It’s a coupling that should thrill.

Because it serves as proof of new philosophies. No longer is TCM kept as a secret, hidden in the shadows of western techniques. It is instead offered without hesitation, with its emphasis on the balance between body, mind and soul embraced by many. Those tired of the standard choices look instead to TCM and they are often satisfied. It’s reliant on nature instead of the usual chemicals. And, with this, it has taken its rightful place among the public consciousness. The perception is no longer one of confusion but instead of a willingness to learn. Chinese medicine is no longer derided. It is used.

TCM is included with the more well known medications; and this offers a far better selection for all. Individuals are now encouraged to decipher their own needs, determining which is the better method for them. The scenarios may vary and the effects may not always be the same; but there is now the opportunity to discover more than traditional means and all should examine that opportunity closely. It may yield surprising results.

The old world and the new can indeed exist together. You must now simply embrace them both and discover which is right for you.