Acupuncture - a Chinese way of alternative medicine

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a Chinese way of medical therapy that treats patients by insertion and then manipulation of needles in to the body parts. It typically encompasses the traditional Chinese medicine and the prime part of its practice and therapy. This practice always drags us to the prehistorically times but it has supporters who claims that this practice relieves pain, infertility, treats and prevents diseases. Acupuncture upholds the normal body health and also used as the remedial purposes.
Evidences have proved that Acupuncture has been effective in relief of pains due to nausea and it is agreed that this is safe when administrated by well experienced practitioners by using sterile needles. The basic thought brought out by Acupuncture therapy is that disease is caused by an imbalance in the body systems or to say due to some blockage or stagnations.
The following are the common practiced Acupuncture therapies:

• Needling
• Medical acupuncture
• Moxibustion
• Sonopuncture
• Acupressure
• Acupuncture point injection
• Cosmetic acupuncture

This traditional Chinese medicine is based on a pre-scientific pattern of medicine that developed over several thousand years which inculcates the study of anatomical systems. The anatomical system parts the body's organs into "hollow" and "solid" organs. It is believed that solid organs are related, and hollow organs are related, and that there is a balance between the two "systems" of organs which is important for one’s health. TCM also associates the organs of the body to the stars, planets and astrological beliefs to explain the observed fact of the persistence of health and illness in the human body.

Clinical Practices:

The needles vary from half an inch to several inches in length and depth of insertion together with the way in which they are twirled and vibrated, effects the treatment. Acupuncture sets out and corrects any imbalance that is in the body or in the mind and restore harmony and equilibrium, thus eradicating the causative factors of the sickness. The tip of the needle should not be made too sharp to prevent breakage, although blunt needles because it may cause more pain.

Traditional diagnosis
The acupuncturist decides which points to treat by observing and questioning the patient in order to make a diagnosis according to the tradition which he or she utilizes. In TCM, there are four diagnostic methods: inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiring, and palpation. Examination of the tongue and the pulse are among the principal diagnostic methods in traditional Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture is dominant medicine which aids in intensification of the immune system and serves to prevent disease and control pain. It increases both the ability to function and quality of people’s lives. Acupuncture is well developed whole healthcare system based on natural energetic laws. Counting back to over 3,000 years as a primary healthcare system in China, acupuncture is widespread in Asia, Europe, and now the U.S.
Working of Acupuncture therapy:
Acupuncture uses instinctive laws and energetic principles with the application of needles, energy, and pressure to specific functional parts of the body. Each point provides a specific function in the body in regulating the free flow of central energy for health and wellbeing. The Acupuncturist opens or closes specific gates or points grouped along certain lines of energy flow called Meridians, which go deep into the body. Vital energy then is strengthened or sedated, monitored, and balanced to achieve the desired result.
Effectiveness of Acupuncture:

• Studies indicate that acupuncture influences the central and peripheral nervous system.
• Acupuncture affects sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in the blood, the functioning of the gastrointestinal system and the activity of the endocrine system.
• Acupuncture works with the body, strengthening and balancing energy.
• It improves circulation and allows the body to heal itself more quickly and more completely.

This practice is again very much prevalent in our country which should be considered as a variation of acupuncture cure looking at the remarkable similarities in the nature

Quantum-Touch - A new alternative medicine

Imagine a book written like an operator’s manual that enables an individual with no prior background or training in the health sciences to perform vital healing work on himself and others. Imagine being able to learn these vital skills in less time than it would take you to fly from upstate New York to Northern California.
Imagine a book so valuable that it is endorsed by numerous healthcare practitioners, including medical doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, nurses and a wide variety of bodyworkers.
Quantum-Touch is such a book.
Dr. Norman Shealy, M.D., founder of the American Holistic Medical Association and internationally renowned for his accomplishments in the field of alternative healing, wrote the forward, and cited Quantum-Touch as “the first technique that may truly allow us all to become healers.”
Shealy was so impressed after testing Quantum-Touch on his most difficult chronic pain patients – who had not been helped by any traditional or alternative modality – that he included it in a course he teaches at Greenwich University.
Quantum-Touch is a significant breakthrough in hands-on healing in that it enables both lay people and healing professionals to direct life-force energy (often called chi, or prana) to correct health problems. Practitioners learn to hold a very high vibration in their hands through a combination of simple breathing and body awareness techniques, and create a remarkably powerful field of healing energy.
The process of “resonance and entrainment” causes the recipient to match the vibrations of the practitioner, and the patient’s body accelerates its own healing process. The practitioner never becomes fatigued; in fact, it is quite the opposite. Regarding this effect, Dr. Jerry Pittman, M.D., wrote “In its elegance, Quantum-Touch provides healing bioenergy for the healer as well as fro the person seeking healing.”
When the life force is applied to skeletal structure, bones often spontaneously align themselves. Author Richard Gordon provides x-rays showing how a single session caused the axis vertebra to move eight degrees back into alignment, and how the orbitals rotated two degrees to become aligned.
Click here to view the x-rays Chiropractors are finding Quantum-Touch an invaluable addition to their practice, and as Dr. Darla Parr, D.C., wrote: “You actually have to see this work to know how good it is. Bones move into alignment with just a light touch, and it speeds up the healing process.” Gordon explains that “You don’t need to know where the bones should go, any more than you need to understand how you digest your lunch. It is all about letting the body’s intelligence decide such things.” Since these adjustments require no force, there is very little tendency for the body to revert to its old alignment.
Moving bones is only the tip of the iceberg for the variety of healings that occur. Quantum-Touch seems equally good for reducing pain and inflammation and for balancing glands, organs and even emotions.
Quantum-Touch is so well written that many lay people have learned and are using the skills just by reading it. Practitioners of numerous healing modalities use Quantum-Touch because they can seamlessly integrate it into their practice.
Perhaps the most exciting part of Quantum-Touch is that it enables a lay person to develop the competence to help himself or herself – and others – quickly and easily.
For example, most newborn children need an immediate cranial-sacrum adjustment, yet less than 29% of them are likely to ever receive one in their lifetime. This will not be the case in a family using Quantum-Touch.

Through resonance, the recipient matches the vibration of the practitioner, and the patient’s body accelerates its own healing process.
There are an increasing number of valuable new hands-on healing modalities being used around the world. Quantum-touch is the most elegant and most efficient of all the ones I have evaluated. For professionals and lay people alike, Quantum-Touch is an essential and invaluable tool.

–Christopher Hegarty
Christopher Hegarty reports on research and practices in alternative medicine. Contact him at leaders@cutting-edge.com

Panel discussion on ‘Alternative Medicine’ on Sunday, 8th July BANGALORE,INDIA

BMC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION& BMC DEVELOPMENT TRUST
Are pleased to announce
a panel discussion on
‘Alternative Medicine’
as part of a series of Panel discussions on
Consumerism and Health Care
The Panelists:
R Vathsala Moderator
B N Sathyanarayana Rao Allopathy
Jyothi Nayar Ayurvedic
Y V Ashwathnarayana Consumer activist
R Nagarathna Yoga
B S Manjunath Homeopathy
Darshan Shankar Scientist / Statistician
Date: Sunday, 8th July 2007
Time: 10 am to 12 noon
Place: Basavarajendra Seminar Hall
Bangalore Medical College, Fort. B’Lore
INDIA
All are Welcome Admission Free

Siddha -a new alternative Treatment method for rare diseases

Siddha system of medicine, like Ayurveda, is equally ancient system. The name seems to have been derived from siddhars, or saintly persons, and eighteen of them are believed to have contributed in its development. The principles and doctrines of this system, both fundamental and applied, have a close similarity to Ayurveda.
The strength of the Siddha system like in its ability in treating most types of diseases other than emergency cases. The system is effective in treating sexually transmitted disease, urinary tract infections, liver and gastro-intestinal tracts ailments, general debility, postpartum anaemia, diarrhoea, arthritis and allergic disorders.

Ayurvedic treatment for leukemia (Cancer)

Constipation is a frequent cause of distress in advanced cancer. A palliative care unit in Kerala, a southern state of India, conducted a controlled trial comparing a liquid Ayurvedic (herbal) preparation (Misrakasneham) with a conventional laxative tablet (Sofsena) in the management of opioid-induced constipation in patients with advanced cancer. Although there was no statistically significant difference in the apparent degree of laxative action between the two, the results indicate that the small volume of the drug required for effective laxative action, the tolerable taste, the once-daily dose, the acceptable side effect profile, and the low cost make Misrakasneham a good choice for prophylaxis in opioid-induced constipation. There is a need for further studies of Ayurvedic medicines in palliative care.

Author : Dr. P. R. Ramesh, Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal (P. O.), Malappuram Dist., 676 503, Kerala, India

Treatment avilabale at : Pain and Palliative Care Clinic, Kottakkal, Kerala, India

Different kinds of ayurvedic treatment in KERALA , INDIA

Nasya:In this type of treatment, medicatd oil is poured on into the nose drop by drop. It is effective for cronic sinocitysis, breathing related problems, etc.

Sirovasthi: The prescribed oils are kept at a bearable temperature on the head inside a feather cap.

Sirodhara:Continuous stream of oil/ decoction/ milk is made to drop on the forehead of the patient using special devices Uzhichil: This is a type of massage with different kinds of herbal oils, practiced specially in Kerala.

Pizhichil: The oils are poured on the body continuously followed by gentle massage done by four masseurs. Thalapothichil:In this, the head of the patient is packed with specially prepared Amla pulp.

Snehapanam: This is a method of internal administration of medicated ghee in increasing doses for a particular period.

Njavarakizhi: This is a massage with linen bags filled with cooked navara rice, soaking the bags frequently in a mixture of milk and decoction.

Elakizhi: In this treatment the body is massaged with cloth bags filled with fried medicinal leaves.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Psoriasis

Author : Adina Stanescu

Psoriasis is a relatively common skin disease, occurring in about 2% of the population. Onset is usually between 10 and 30 years of age, and tends to run in families. In its most common form. it presents itself with thickened patches of inflamed, red skin, covered with waxy silvery scales which tend to occur on elbows, knees, scalp, trunk, and back. This is known as plaque psoriasis. It is considered incurable by allopathic medicine, although acute flare-ups can subside, while severity and suffering vary considerably.Modern medicine treats psoriasis with ultraviolet light, topical steroid creams, tar creams, and even anti-cancer drugs such as methotrexate. While these treatments may help in the short term, they can cause rebound reactions which are more severe than the initial attack, or in the case of topical steroids, cause immediate worsening if the psoriasis is currently very active.On the other hand, Chinese herbal medicine can treat this illness completely in 60% of sufferers, and partially in the remaining 40%, over a period of several weeks.1 By the third to seventh week of treatment, there should be unmistakable reduction in symptoms, motivating the patient to persevere with the treatment until all plaques have gone.The main TCM diagnostic pattern in psoriasis is “Heat in the Blood,” and it is the pivot around which other secondary pathologies revolve. The Heat is clearly reflected in the redness of the skin lesions, as well as the often red tongue of the patient. Western medicine has identified that in psoriasis, skin cells are produced 10 times faster than normal, and this over-activity is another manifestation of excess “heat.” It is also noted that the guttate psoriasis subtype often occurs after a sore throat, which is localized invasion of Heat and Fire Poison. Unresolved, it can ‘spread’ its Heat to the skin. Unlike eczema and acne, psoriasis does not feature much Dampness in its presentation. This is shown in the lack of moisture, i.e. no weeping, crusting, or exudation. In fact, even where there are small, fluid filled pustules in pustular psoriasis, their contents are sterile.Having determined then that Heat in the Blood is the main pathology in psoriasis, the TCM practitioner must assess what co-factors are present, by looking at the visual characteristics of each patient’s skin. This step is important, and part of the reason why no generalized “psoriasis formula” can be very effective. Each patient’s presentation has to be addressed specifically.If the patient has a severe outbreak of new lesions, especially on the nails or palms and soles, recurring sore throat, and yellowish scales — in other words, if the psoriasis is very widespread and intense — it indicates Fire Poison is also present. Treatment will aim to cool the Blood and clear Fire Poison, with herbs such as Rx. Rhemannia Sheng Di Huang and Rx. Isatidis Ban Lan Gen.If plaques are covered in large amounts of scales and there is itching, which is not that common in psoriasis, this indicates Wind, and herbs like Rx. Ledebourielae Fang Feng must be added to the formula.If plaques are more purple than red, and the psoriasis is fairly inactive, Blood Stasis will be suspected. Purple, as we all know from observing bruising, is a clear indication of impaired blood circulation. This means Heat is bound with Stasis in a stubborn deadlock, manifested in this subtype’s poor response to many treatments. It can, however, respond well when herbs like Fl. Carthami Hong Hua are used in the prescription. There is a visual confirmation that the Stasis is improving in these cases: the lesions tend to enlarge slightly as they begin to heal, much as we might enlarge a knot’s surface area as we untangle it.TCM treatment for psoriasis works best in the form of herbal decoctions. This means that a formula composed of eight to 12 herbs is boiled together for about half an hour, and two cups of this liquid are drunk daily for the duration of the treatment. Lifestyle recommendations exclude anything that may add to Blood Heat, i.e. spicy foods, great mental and emotional stress, and skin damage such as tattoos and hard contact sports. 1. Statistics and training received from Mazin Al-Khafaji, internationally renowned TCM dermatologist. Adina Stanescu, Ac. D.C.H.M., treats dermatological and general health problems at her Toronto clinic. She can be reached at (416) 968-3308 or through www.thetcmclinic.com.
source : vitalitymagazine.com/node/358

Ayurvedic treatment for PSORIASIS

Psoriasis is a non-infectious, inflammatory disease of the skin. It is characterized by well-defined erythematous (reddish) plaques with large adherent silvery scales. The main abnormality in psoriasis is an increased proliferation of the skin layers due to excessive division of the cell in the basal layers of the skin. Severe itching may associate with the plaques. Dryness of the skin and silvery scaling are characteristics of this condition.
1% to 3% of the most population has Psoriasis. It is very common among Europeans and North Americans. It is often seen between 15 to 40 yrs of age.
The exact reason behind Psoriasis is unknown. There is frequently a genetic predisposition. A child with one affected parent has a 15% chance of developing the disease and this rises to 50% if both the parents are affected. Streptococcal infection of the upper respiratory tract may exacerbate the condition. Deprivation of sunlight influences this condition and mental stress plays an important role in aggravating the condition. Certain drugs like chloroquine, chlorpropamide, lithium and practaol may aggravate this condition.
The peculiar lesions will be raised and red with dry, silvery-white scaling. Size may vary from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter. Common sites are scalp elbows knees and lower back. Pitting of the nails is very common. Involvements of palm is not uncommon. Many may develop sero-negative inflammatory arthritis, which is characterized by multiple involvements of joints and pitting on nails.
Ayurvedic view: Many basic Ayurvedic texts have explained skin diseases, which resembles Psoriasis. According these references, Psoriasis can be considered as the vitiation of Vata and Kapha. (Two of the basic energies/humors, which maintains our body equilibrium) Accumulation of low potency poisons (Dooshi vishas), are the basic pathological changes taking place in the system. Irregular food habits, consumption of foodstuffs that cannot be eaten together (Eg: diary products with fish), excessive intake of yogurt, black gram, seafood, sour and salted items etc can activate the pathogenesis. Alcohol and tobacco consumption will act as a catalyst here. Ayurveda do emphasize on the effect of stress in the pathogenesis of Psoriasis.
Treatment: Coming to the treatment aspects of Psoriasis according to Ayurveda, it aims at the detoxification of the body or elimination of toxins from the body fluids. It is achieved by "Panchakarma" treatments.
Current schedule, comprising various treatment aspects of Ayurveda is aiming at a better control of Psoriasis. This includes internal and external medications purely of plant origin. Rough out line of this schedule is as follows. (i) Consumption of medicated ghee, considering the Dosha type of the Psoriasis and the person, for 5 to 7 days. (ii) Detoxifying, by inducing vomiting (Vamana) and purgation (Virechana). This is followed by medicated buttermilk dripping overhead (Dahara) and pasting the entire body with a paste of medicines and mud. (iii) Basthies (medicated enemas) are being done for 8 days and internal medicines like herbal concoctions; medicated ghee has to be consumed for at least 90 days.
A strict diet regime has to be followed during the entire treatment period and it is better to continue as vegetarian. Yogurt, black gram, chilies and salted thing have to be restricted. It is better to avoid refrigerated/chilled foods. Psoriatic must keep a state of mental calmness.
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The author, Dr. . K. S. NANDALAL [B.A.M.S] is a Lecturer & consultant physician at Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College, Ollur Trichur. India. He is assisted by Dr. Reji.M.Varghese [B.A.M.S.] Lecturer & consultant physician, Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College,Ollur Trichur. They can be reached at-drnandalal@hotmail.com