You grew up with being taken to a modern doctor. Your parents grew up going to modern doctors. Your grandparents most likely grew up going to modern doctors. But now there is a resurgence of interest in medicines such as herbs, essential oils, pressure points and acupuncture . You wonder if these are any better for you in your circumstance. What are the advantages of alternative medicine?

The late, great Douglas Adams wrote about a detective who used a different but effective method for solving crimes. He ran a “holistic detective agency”, looking at all areas of life, the universe and everything in order to find clues. In a way, you and your alternative medication expert are also holistic investigators. You do not look just at the physical causes of your illness. You are to look at your emotional, social and spiritual causes. You also have to take a look at your whole diet, your whole exercise routine (or lack thereof) and your whole ways of handling stress. This glance at the complete person is among the best benefits of alternative medication.

You know the old chestnut, Give a person a fish and you feed him for one day ; teach a person to fish and it’ll feed him forever? That is the same principle behind most alternative medicines . They really hope you to not only get better, but stay better. This preventive approach is also one of the very finest benefits of alternative medication. You learn a life of talents about eating, exercise, picking chums, good sleep and handling stress. These skills can keep from having to go to any medical practitioner’s office later in life.

Except for some, the very best of the best benefits of alternative drugs are that you develop self esteem. In the area of health, we all too readily give all the decision-making powers away to doctors and surgeons. Medication is complex, although not to someone that truly wants to grasp. Most credible alternative doctors will ask and expect your cooperation in your own treatment. You have more of a say in things than in modern medicine. And your reactions to alternative medicines are expected to be personal. If you’ve an uncommon complication, you are thought and taken off right off the herb or whatever.

The more you learn about your chosen alternative therapy, the more you realize that a lot of the healing power lives within you. You simply have to give it an opportunity. First, you’ve got to believe its there, then you’ve got to help it do its job with life-style changes. The thrill of finding out about yourself is also one of the finest benefits of alternative medication.

Acupuncture has been coming down the ages and is one of the oldest methods for cure. Additionally it is generally known as needle treatment. It has proven to be a great method of remedy for ailments and diseases. As per the traditional Chinese medicine , acupuncture is believed to keep up and restore the health by working on the primary and very important factors of the body.

Many a time, people reside beneath the misunderstanding that acupuncture only results in relieving ache on the strain points. However although it does work on the strain factors, it serves properly for several other issues as well. It helps in an overall enhancement of well being by indulging in stimulation of certain parts of the body.

There are several benefits that are associated with acupuncture that are as follows:

· There aren’t any uncomfortable side effects to the treatment. All it wants is to be carried out by an expert. In actual fact research have proclaimed that acupuncture is the least harmful medication in comparison to some other medicine carried out in the same situations
· It can be carried out on folks of all ages, whether or not or not it’s an outdated man or a young little one
· It might treat psychological in addition to physical illnesses. In fact it proves helpful even in case of persistent diseases. Analysis proves that acupuncture is claimed to work miraculously in instances of osteoporosis, dental pain, asthma, migraine, infertility among other such larger problems.
· Stamina and energy is restored within the body after completion of a fully prescribed acupuncture session.

Acupuncture is a extensively used mechanism by physicians, dentist’s acupuncturists and other well being practitioners worldwide. It is among the hottest forms of Chinese medicine in the Oriental countries. Nonetheless even in the western countries it has picked up immensely in the past few years. For instance, acupuncture NYC is a one of the common destinations for the therapy.

Carolyn O. Bachtell

The term alternative medicine can bring to mind a vision of unlicensed practitioners, using a variety of experimental treatments to try and cure diseases. Alternative medication was once the common source of treatment for ailments. Modern medicine gradually stepped in and alternative medicine was pushed back from the mainstream population.

Today, alternative medicine is becoming a more sought after treatment form. There are many reputable treatment facilities that offer many of the services that were once thought to be fraudulent. Many countries around the world are now offering University degrees in alternative medicine, and finding many students interested in these courses that include things like naturopathic medicine and homeopathic medicine.

Alternative medication is a term that classifies medical practices that may not be traditional in nature. Scientists look at fact based healing as factors for a confirmed medical practice. Some non-traditional medical interventions may not have what is believed to be enough proof to support the undeniable fact that it works. Alternative medication is a sort of medical intervention that’s utilised in place of standard medicine. There are more sorts of interventions that are regarded as complimentary medication. These are medical practices that are used in conjunction with traditional medicine. It is interesting to see how more and more alternative medical forms are making their way into the mainstream.

There are plenty of services that are regarded as alternative medicine. Prayer can be considered to be a type of alternative medication. Researchers have been studying the effects of prayer on a person’s well being, and made the outstanding conclusion that prayer does seem to assist in a persons healing process. While many of us use prayer to be the sole source of medication that they use, a lot more use prayer in association with what is believed to be standard medication.

Another form of alternative medicine would be homeopathic medicine . This medical practice relies on the belief that “like cures like”. This indicates that what bothers a person’s immune response is given to them in tiny doses for them to build a resistance too and then get over.

Chinese standard drugs are one kind of alternative medication that many individuals have heard about. This is the practice of balancing a person “qui” pronounced chee. By balancing this energy in the body, somebody will then achieve health. This is often accomplished thru acupuncture, natural additions and meditation.

Alternative medication is a private choice for patrons. Today it is less complicated to find an expert of this sort of medication than it ever has been. As these medical practices become more accepted, their services will become even more integrated into our medical world.

Cancer is a mounting concern nowadays. In fact, this possibly deadly disease will affect millions of people globally. If you are suffering from some type of cancer or are close to somebody who has it, then you understand how hard it can be to treat and deal with. Not merely is it challenging to get rid of, there’s always the likelihood that it will return. And the side effects of both the disease itself and of medical procedures including chemotherapy and radiation can be devastating.

In order to relieve some of these adverse reactions, you may want to try making use of traditional Chinese medicine as part of your cancer care program. Although you don’t want to give up your conventional treatment plan under the guidance of your doctor, Chinese medicine can make the entire situation significantly less distressing. It can enhance a variety of aspects of your illness, from enhancing your immune system to improving your frame of mind.

Chinese medicine for treating cancer is meant to perform as a complement to modern healthcare processes. No respectable practitioner of this curative art would tell you otherwise. Rather, this technique is intended to help people cope with the nasty side effects of the ailment, such as nausea and pain. It also strengthens the body so it’s better able to combat the disease. The herbs used in this approach are painstakingly chosen to help the body restore its balance and improve its well being. These herbal remedies are considered to improve your capacity to use nutritional elements in your system, and enhance your level of energy.

The method of treatment involves complicated formulas employing a combination of herbal remedies, minerals, and extracts from certain plants or animals. The precise formulation will be decided on an individual basis, after the trained practitioner assesses the individual and establishes exactly where the issue lies. Many folks have found a considerable amount of relief from their cancer symptoms such as nausea by making use of this approach. Furthermore, the general effect is to build up the immune system so that it’s better able to fight off anything from the common cold to the cancer itself.

It is vital that you pay a visit to a qualified practitioner if you want to get dependable treatment. Don’t endeavor to treat yourself when it concerns herbs. Some of these preparations can be harmful when used incorrectly. However, when utilized correctly, Chinese medicine has been known to ease a number of the adverse reactions of cancer, in addition to improving overall health in order to fight off future occurrences of the condition. In some cases, it has even been claimed that it can diminish the size of a tumor.

Ancient Chinese medicine has a lot to offer people, even in today’s enlightened culture. It has been used in Asian countries for thousands of years, and it’s just as useful in the present day as it was back then. Find out more about the benefits of this ancient practice at Traditional Chinese Medicine.

WELLNESS & LONGEVITY MOVEMENT

Many programs are offered through books, E-books, videos, DVDs, workshops, etc. on Tai chi but there is no comparison to learning from a real master over time. Much is lost when attempting to learn from these methods.This instruction, typically, provides enhancement to the seasoned martial artist who is already familiar with the form and linking steps. Nevertheless, a good Tai chi video can assist Tai chi instruction but replace the specific training offered by a Tai chi master. Additionally, serious injury can be avoided when learning the correct way to enjoying a great and ancient discipline. I humbly encourage all to find out why and how to practice this art in order to truely receive life-sustaining benefits.

“From experience, I have learned that it is better to learn a few moves well rather than many superficially. The essence of tai chi can be found in just one move.”

TAI CHI CHUAN  

Pure Natural Energy & Healing From Within

Over time Tai Chi takes root and imbues youthfulness where once the hardness of aging withered all chances for longevity. The ancient art of tai chi softens the sinews as concentration on the “chi” rejuvenates the body, mind and spirit.

Dating back to the 14th century, Yang Style Tai Chi seeks health in moderation. Health and balance is achieved by forming body movements that are not extreme but gentle and cleansing. Yang style tai chi developed from Chen style tai chi which began in the 13th century. Wu, Hao and Sun style tai chi followed adding their valuable contributions to the internal martial arts in 1800s. These are the five main families where tai chi was cultivated.

“Life exists because qi is amassed, when qi is dispersed, one dies.” — Zhuang Zi, ancient Chinese philosopher

TAI CHI HEALTH BENEFITS 

Tai Chi is an exercise program that uses a sequence of precise body movements, meditation, and synchronized breathing to improve health and well-being. Tai chi movements are designed to express the yin and yang components that are fundamental to Chinese medicine in a balanced and harmonious form. Like most moderate physical activities, tai chi can improve:

• stamina
• muscle tone
• agility
• flexibility
• strength
• pain alleviation

The practice of breathing exercises may serve a meditative function to reduce stress.

Clinical studies show that tai chi is effective for:

• slowing bone loss in early postmenopausal women
• improved physical functioning in older women with osteoarthritis
• increases the range of motion in the lower limbs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
• improves aerobic capacity in sedentary adults
• reduced hypertension and lipid profile in hypertensive individuals
• improved sleep in elderly individuals
• significant improvement in symptom management and quality of life for patients suffering from chronic heart failure, fibromyalgia and breast cancer

 The adept practitioner learns to receive the energy or “chi” from below, above and beside him or her. This reception is free, elevating and life sustaining. While the enterpretation of this phenomena is varied, nevertheless, the experience is greatly welcomed.    Sifu Mark Hammer  

Low back pain doesn’t happen overnight and once understood, can resolve quicker than you realize. We have to look at our lifestyle, nutrition, how we think & feel, etc. to undo the ailment. You could take a pain reliever but still the underlying imbalance will be there after the relief is gone. The key word for low back pain is DEFICIENCY.

Causative Setting: Holistically speaking, our lifestyle and ability to manage it appears to be overstressing most of us whereas our circulatory systems are tight and obstructing thus preventing nutrients to nourish us and elimination of toxins. Our dietary preferences in the U.S. are excessive while empty of nutrients, full of preservatives, pesticides, hormones and processed with additives. Our generation has to manage more stress, life events, media exposure and emotional changes thus disturbing our sleep quality. The result is we lack the necessary energy or life force to be our best. This further makes us irritable in our relationships which worsens all the scenarios described before.

As we break down our energy, immunity and support, our self image and esteem parallels our internal organs ability to weather the challenge. In particular our kidneys and adrenals become weakened or deficient requiring us to take back what has been given up to regain our essence, vitality, our quality of life.

To begin, we need to construct successful strategies in the areas of nutrition, sleep, and lifestyle. This article was wriiten to suggest successful alternatives enabling the reader to rapidly acquire anti-aging versus aging strategies.

The source of deficiency stems from 4 main areas: 

• LEFT KIDNEY DEFICIENCY
• RIGHT KIDNEY DEFICIENCY
• KIDNEY ENERGY DEFICIENCY
• EXTREME CHRONIC FATIGUE

FOOD THERAPY: LOW BACK PAIN 

This issue may involve not only low back pain but also sciatic pain complicated by other syndromes such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, Epstein Barr, etc. Below are the 4 main causes of pain in the low back and leg weakness.

There are several categories based on Chinese medicine nutrition and Traditional Chinese herbs that support and correct low back pain:

LEFT KIDNEY (yin) DEFICIENCY:
Characteristics: Heat symptoms such as 1) dry throat and mouth, ringing in the ears, slight fever or heat wave, low back pain, dizziness, weakened leg strength, excessive spontaneous pirspiration, involuntary seminal emission, excessive weight loss, tongue (red) and/or shiny

Foods: millet, barley, tofu, string bean, black bean, black soy bean, mung bean, mung bean sprouts, kidney bean, azuki bean, and most other beans, kuzu root, watermelon and most others, blackberry, mulberry, blueberry, huckleberry, water chestnut, wheat germ, potato, seaweeds, spirulina, chlorella, black sesame seed, sardine, crab, clam, eggs, pork, cheese
Herbs: marshmallow root, rehmannia root, Asparagus root, aloe vera gel, colloidal silver (If the constitution is cold and/or most or low back & sciatic is cold and/or moist then choose from the groups below)

RIGHT KIDNEY (yang) DEFICIENCY:
Characteristics: cold symptoms in the body such as cold extremities, weakened knees, weakened lower back, avoidance of cold environments, pale skin, depression, lethargic thinking, deficient libido, intermittant menstruation and clear vaginal fluid

Foods: walnuts, black beans, onion family (onion, garlic, chives, scallions, leeks), quinoa, chicken, lamb, trout, salmon
Spices: cloves, fenugreek, fennel seeds, dried ginger
Avoid cooling foods, fruit, raw foods, excessive salt, use seaweed cautiously.

KIDNEY ENERGY (qi) DEFICIENCY:
Characteristics: deficient energy constitution with lower back pain, lack of knee strength, tongue (pale), cold areas of the body. Urinary problems: incontinence, dribbling, frequent urination, unable to urinate, involuntary seminal emission as well as other urinary/seminal problems.

Foods: wheat berry, sweet rice, parsley
Herbs: rose hips, oyster shell, clam shell, schizandra berry, raspberry and blackberry leaves, gravel root

EXTREME CHRONIC FATIGUE (Jing Deficiency):
Characteristics: dizziness, ringing in ears, loose teeth, loss of head hair, painful knees and lower back

Food: micro-algae (chlorella, spirulina, wild blue-green), fish, liver, kidney, brain, bone and its marrow, human placenta, cereal grasses, wheat grass,solomon seal, almonds, ghee (clarified butter), goat’s milk, nettle leaves, royal jelly, bee pollen, Doddler seeds, millet, wheat, black sesame seeds, soybeans, chestnuts, mulberries, raspberries, strawberries, seitan, walnuts
Herbs: deer antler, deer horn velvet, Deer Placenta, Lycium fruit, Polygonum multiflorum root, Eucommia bark, Dendrobium stem, Cinnamon bark, white ginseng, semen cuscutae, astragali seed (complanati), cordyceps, astragalus, codonopsis, reishi, morinda, eleuthero root, paeonia , gambir, gecko, cibot rhizome, tianshan snow lotus, tibet carthami

For final decision on which foods to choose for your condition, please consult a trained master herbalist with in-depth knowledge of Traditional Chinese herbs and food therapy, American herbology and other nutritional systems.

Traditional Chinese herbal medication has been known to be helpful to patients who have cancer. All the same, it’s crucial for people to realize that curing cancer is something that an herbal remedy can’t do. While there are plenty of websites that promote herbal cancer cures, most of their research does not give an explanation for their claims, and herbologists normally will not endorse such claims. Though it is not a treatment for cancer, herbal medicine has risen in demand when utilized along with conventional cancer treatments. That’s because patients who use it seem to benefit in many ways.

Utilizing herbal remedies for cancer treatment has the ability to alleviate side effects that are experienced by a lot by people going through radiation or chemotherapy. Most patients undergoing these therapies will have diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and other digestive conditions. Cancer patients might be able to have a a better quality of life if they use traditional Chinese medicine to help cure adverse effects while undergoing treatments.

When a person undergoes radiation and chemotherapy therapies, their immune system is at risk as a result of the treatment killing not just the harmful cells but also the good cells. Utilizing herbal cures might assist in increasing the immune system of the body. This means that the system is more prepared to tend to any maladies that transpire throughout cancer treatments. To offer one example, herbs are correlated with low probability of complications from pneumonia and other maladies.

New studies have recently been undertaken to attempt to assess the effects of herbal medicines in treating cancer. Some studies reveal that in a clinical setting, particular herbal remedies will stop tumor growth. A cure via herbal medication, however, has not been proven. Alternatively, it does seem to demonstrate that the combination of conventional drugs and herbal treatment can be effective for patients. Moreover, research has found that herbal medications will assist in preventing particular cancers from coming back. Before definitely concluding these results successful, most think that more research has to be done.

Herbal medicine has been utilized in the Eastern worlds for thousands of years and is still thought to be mainstream medicine in the majority of Far Eastern countries. These days a partnership formed between these methods and conventional medicines helps to create a much more well rounded way of treating individuals. Normally, treatment is comprised of an overall package that consists of diet, exercise, and taking herbal medications. Another part of this form of ancient medicine is acupuncture, which is used dependent upon the disease or illness.

Traditional Chinese medicine is an ancient form of medical treatment developed by the Chinese over 3,000 years ago. In today’s society, it’s experiencing a surge of recognition in the western world also. Learn more about using traditional Chinese medicine for cancer at the Traditional Chinese Medicine site.

The use of herbal remedies to cure illness and disease probably sprang from China. Several thousand years in the past, ancient Chinese herbal medicine was created, and it has been in force since then. Although we now experience the rewards of modern therapies to treat dangerous health conditions, the time tested traditional therapeutic methods are still highly applicable. This holistic, natural style of curing the primary causes of the difficulties is becoming progressively more accepted in western society. Even though it is still thought to be an alternative kind of medicine, more and more individuals are becoming well informed about how they could gain from this very old practice.

Practitioners of this healing form consider that the human anatomy is like a small universe. All of its different elements are interconnected and ought to work in accord with the others. Also, it is thought that the anatomy is divided into two elements called yin and yang (male and female), five elements, and pathways through which qi (energy) flows. According to this belief, sickness is the result of any of the anatomy’s components neglecting to work in the anticipated way.

It’s thought that by adhering to the principles of ancient Chinese herbal medicine, a number of the medical disorders that individuals are suffering from can be cured. This is typically achieved through using particular herbal treatments which have healing features which promote the correct performance of each component of the anatomy.

The practitioners of this form of therapy may employ various means of getting to the source of the problem. They may check your pulse and use their senses of smell, hearing and touch to scrutinize your meridian points. This could assist them to determine where the flow of qi is being interrupted. This will help to uncover the problem that’s causing your health problem.

Once your health condition is diagnosed, the practitioner will recommend appropriate remedies. These normally consist of changes to your eating habits, taking particular herbal therapies, and sometimes the use of Chinese acupuncture.

Luckily, the Chinese have maintained excellent records of the methodologies involved in this ancient form of therapy. This makes it simple for anybody today to study traditional Chinese medicine going back to the time of its inception thousands of years ago. For easier analysis, though, the writings have been replicated in modern language that may be read by specialist and layperson alike.

Before you determine to experiment with ancient Chinese herbal medicine, it is vital that you first consult your usual health care provider. If you have a severe health issue, it would be unwise to ignore the healing that contemporary processes can supply.

Herbal Formulas have been the chief agents of Chinese Medicine for over 4000 years. In its primary theory, the human and the natural world are considered an inseparable whole. Knowing how to work with Yin Yang, Meridians or channels, differentiation, etc., are considered essential to sustain the balance of the whole body. An herbal practitioner assists the body to unblock the circulation of energy thus supporting a natural healing. The stasis, excess or deficiency of energy will finally make the body vulnerable to “evils” or external invasions. For example: Evil heat is very similar to infection. The English word of Medicine transferred to China in the late 16th Century, without the knowledge of modern chemistry. The Chinese used the word “Chinese Medicine” and “Chinese Drug” as a way to translate or help the English speaking understand their healing methodology before there was a FDA regulation outlawing the use of Chinese/American medical terminology.

Chinese medicine is still used in most of European countries and recognized as a viable contribution to the health arts and practice. Again, the term was coined to help English and Chinese speaking medical practitioners understand, bridge and assist in the exchange of information. The goal was to never replace one another’s art but to share between methodologies. Accurately, Chinese medicine is not a chemistry form of medicine. Herbs are not drugs but food.

Two thousand years ago, Dr. Hauto, the most respected doctor of Chinese medical history declared that, ” Herb is food, food is medicine”. At that time, the English term of medicine did not exist yet. Language, sometimes, can cause problems. This is especially true when you are still learning a foreign language. The current situation is a challenging paradox for American Chinese herbologists who have to live under the standards of traditional American medical doctors while in the U.S.A. Whereas, in China, both traditional medical arts from America and China are respected, equally. In the U.S., its OK or legal for Chinese acupuncturists and herbologists to say, “Chinese Medicine heals the body, but herbs are not medicine”. This is difficult to understand when the Chinese practice of medicine has existed 4000+ years as compared to the 200 year practice of American traditional medicine.

Traditional Chinese herbs and medicine is a 4000 year practice as far as recorded history (between 2100 – 1700 B.C.) goes. But in probability, Chinese herbal has been used for as long as man has been in this region of the planet. The use, most likely, dates back to the populating of China. Given there is considerable argument here, we’ll agree, its been a long time. In general, the practice of Traditional Chinese herbal herbs fits prominently in Chinese medicine practices. In fact, if you specialize in this area alone, you could be very busy and well known for helping a lot of people. For your information, we will show its prioritized position in Chinese medicine and explain its application in this framework. The purpose of showing this order is to encourage customers to view physical conditions and their solution in a graduated process. By living in our fast paced life-style with high stress, long work hours, reduced family contact, fast food, low nutrition, reduced energy, etc., our immune system becomes extra challenged. It doesn’t happen over night and thus care is recommended at the same pace as the conditioned was entered. The exception occurs when illness is urgent and life-threatening.

TAM (Traditional Asian Medicine) CARE
(Four Tiers of Asian Medicine)

1. Food Therapy
2. Herbal Therapy
3. Exercise: Tai Chi & Qi Gong
4. Acupuncture & Cupping

I. FOOD THERAPY 

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
– Hippocrates circa 431 B.C.

Traditional Chinese Medicine first employs food as a therapeutic tool. Why? Because we are very pre-occupied with food. Our stomachs will let us know that we are hungry, so most of us, unless we are imbalanced, will eat 1-6 times per day unless food is not available. Since we eat, its important to consider what we are eating due to the fact food has a major influence on the health of our bodies. If we drink pop, alcohol, eat desserts, cheese, candy, red meat, bread, processed foods, etc. then guess what happens to the body? It clogs up and gains weight and we get sick. If we eat vegetables, fruit, water, fish, then what happens? We open up, lose weight to balance and leanness and we can get well. The effective TAM practice will include food therapy with the knowledge of what food works best with a particular constitution. Ever heard of, “You are what you eat”? What that means, is that certain foods will definitely determine the cell quality in the tissues of your body. Food, ideally, provides substance to make energy from, benefitting the cells so they can do their job. The more energy, the more capacity your cells have to do their jobs. If they are obstructed with poor choices, that fit your wants, then the result will be illness. Foods that balance your ailing constitution, are essential to re-establishing your health. Master herbalists, sophisticated in this specialty, will recommend this strategy in order to form a foundation for other traditional Asian medicine. No matter what treatment methodology, allopathic or naturopathic, healing can be sabotaged, if food therapy is not seriously considered in the remedial process. Therefore, food therapy is critical to restoration of your health. Though food is a more subtle remedy, its gradual nourishing effect, has the power to restore, unnoticed, only because it takes more time. Thus, when we get sick, it is difficult, to connect the dots as to how we got in that condition.

This discussion of the Four Tiers of Chinese Medicine is further covered at Longevity Mountain. For those of you who desire to know the prioretized next 3 levels, Traditional Chinese herbs, Chinese medicine exercise and Accupuncture/Cupping.  

Mark Hammer C.M.H., Master Herbalist     Longevity Mountain  5/09  

www.traditional-chinese-herbs.com