MITCM

Posts Tagged ‘Alternative’

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.

Chinese Alternative Medicine seeks to treat illnesses through a combination of various techniques that cure diseases by unblocking the energy flow in the body. One of the most well-known Chinese treatment methods is acupuncture.

According to the acupuncture theory, the body’s vital energy is Qi and it circulates throughout various body parts through energy channels called meridians. This flow of energy is similar to the way the body’s circulatory system works. If there is any interruption on the flow of Chi, the body succumbs to illness.

This form of medical treatment began around 2500 BC and is highly effective in treating various diseases that cannot be cured by western medicine. There are many acupuncture styles and techniques and these include Japanese style acupuncture, Korean Hand Acupuncture, Auricular Acupuncture, and Classical Chinese Acupuncture. The most commonly practiced form in the United States is the Classical Chinese Acupuncture.

The process of healing is done at three levels – mind, body and spirit. In curing the problem, it seeks to not just completely remove the symptoms of the problem but also the cause. Traditional acupuncture can treat chronic problems such as arthritis, migraines, and also other problems such as PMS, depression, chronic fatigue, headaches, migraines, chronic back pain, withdrawal symptoms of drugs and alcohol, infertility and so on.

During an acupuncture session, needles are inserted in various points of the body for the purpose of releasing blocked energy. However, it is not just the inserting of needles that is the critical factor here. In addition to the use of needles, a wide array of herbs is used with the needles or on their own. Pressure points are massages to help relieve muscle tension and bring abut relaxation. Lifestyle changes are also prescribed to reinforce treatment effects.

Acupuncture is a very effective alternate medicine or health medicine. In order to gain the best benefits from acupuncture treatment, it is necessary to have it done by an expert. Depending on individual health and the illness, it can take just a couple of sessions or maybe many sessions to ensure that the problem does not continue.

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.

Cupping, sometimes called fire cupping, is one of the modes of treatment used in traditional Chinese medicine. The treatment in its various forms is found in many traditional medicine systems outside China as well, and is a popular choice of alternative medicine. It is sometimes called one of the most effective deep tissue massages available, making it a form of health medicine to some users.

Alternative medicine

Cupping evolved as a means of promoting healing by restoring the balance of the four ‘humors’ in the body, namely yellow bile, black bile, blood, and phlegm. It was initially used to drain sores and infected wounds, and later used to treat arthritis, rheumatism, poisonous bites, and body aches.

The method used is to place cups of glass or bamboo with reduced air pressure inside on the skin to create suction. The sucking effect is said to release toxins, clear blockages, rejuvenate blood vessels, and clear the skin. The cup creates an area of blood stasis, or stagnation, leaving the rest of the body free for energy to flow through.

The cups made of glass or bamboo come in different sizes, and are sometimes used with acupuncture needles. A pocket of low pressure is created by thrusting a burning cotton ball inside the cup and pulling it out quickly. The cotton is typically soaked in 90% alcohol, so that it quickly generates enough heat to create a mini-vacuum. These days, small suction pumps are used on the cups to eliminate the risk of overheating and burning.

A bruise-like reddish patch is the most visible after-effect of cupping. A darker patch is said to be indicative of high toxin levels in the blood. A ring-like mark is also common and should disappear soon after the treatment. Lubricating the skin is said to be a good way to allow movement of the cup and reduce the possibility of a burn.

Like any form of treatment, cupping should be done with certain precautions. Burns are an ever-present risk in the traditional method of cupping. Patients are also advised to take a brisk 30 minute walk after treatment to reduce the possibility of blood clots. Cupping should not be done during fever, convulsions, cramps, or pregnancy.