Eastern Medicine

Alternative treatments are becoming increasingly common, and Chinese medicine specifically has been used to treat virtually everything under the sun. Whether using herbs or certain exercises, Chinese medicine supposedly targets the whole problem, not just the symptoms.

Tai chi is a method of exercise that is natural, and many use it just because. Researchers say that it can increase the effectiveness of cancer treatments, though it is not a cancer treatment in and of itself. But another study has now shown that Tai Chi on its own can help to reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a pain disorder diagnosed through the process of elimination. And sometimes, it takes years to diagnose. Most sufferers look for alternative treatments, though some choose to simply use conventional pain killers. Studies continue to pop up, touting the benefits of new age approaches.

The Study

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, this study is an “impressive finding” according to Dr. Daniel Solomon, chief of clinical research in rheumatology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He was not involved in the research, providing an objective perspective. He states “This was a well-done study. It was kind of amazing that the effects seem to carry over.”

The study was small, but it still provides promise. It used 66 patients, and yet it is still well-recognized, because “fibromyalgia is a complex and often confusing condition, affecting five million Americans, mostly women.” Nobody understands exactly where it comes from, and unfortunately, it can easily mimic other disorders.

Tai chi doesn’t seem revolutionary, and there were many who doubted it would work. But its slow exercises, breathing techniques, meditation, and other gentle approaches seems to be effective not only for fibromyalgia, but also things like arthritis. And it even seems to help those with problems with sleep walking and depression.

Patients are popping up every day, proclaiming the benefits of tai chi. Patients who have used everything else from conventional pain killers to physical therapy, swimming, and other approaches seem to find tai chi to be particularly effective.

There are no easy answers when it comes to infertility and trouble conceiving. But traditional Chinese medicine has been gaining steam for years, being used across the world. It might seem rare, and there are a few different forms of Chinese medicine that seem to be more popular lately. But some say that it even targets problems with unexplained infertility. In other words, Western medicine cannot explain the problem.

If you have unexplained infertility, chances are you’ve gone through a battery of tests, looking for a reason why you are currently having certain issues. But all blood tests have come out normal, and you have been told to “just keep trying.” But these tests only target certain parts of the body.

Chinese medicine on the other hand looks at the whole body, supposedly including the spirit. In traditional Chinese medicine, practitioners look at what it takes to relax the body and maximize the body’s natural potential. Some say that it is more successful, and some even describe it as more relaxing rather than referring it to the ordeal that traditional Western medicine can be.

Dr. Robert C Hirsch, a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist states “It’s a very ancient and balanced approach to total wellness, and it tries to find the underlying cause of disease, rather than just treat the symptoms.”

It is important to keep in mind that Traditional Chinese medicine is not foolproof, and there are no guarantees. But it may introduce a new way to look at things, a new perspective that Western medicine just does not have, even among DO’s (doctors of osteopathy).

Yoga is the most popular Eastern relaxation technique. But you might have also heard of something called Qigong. It is considered to be an internal marital art which helps the individual to sense the Qi movements in one’s own body. Advanced practitioners move their body at will, and it is considered to be a quiet meditative approach with profound physical, mental, and spiritual side effects.

It is gentle enough to be used in people with osteoarthritis, and some even say that it can reduce pain, strengthening leg muscles, strengthening posture, and improving balance, flexibility, and mobility teaching you to relax and focus.

Some of the moves are as basic as standing meditation. All you have to do is stand with certain technique. Most recommend that you stand with shoulder width apart, head and neck stacked on top of your spine, abdomen contracted, pelvis tipped up, knees slightly bent, etc.

Improving the Qi

To measure and improve the Qi, internal Qigong directs you to mix the Qi ball, taffy pull, left hand right, compress it again, mix the qi again, spin the qi ball, and then taffy pull, right hand high, and compress it back into the Qi ball. You should do this in a relaxed way, even a leisurely way.

Other techniques include the Eight Internal Iron Palm, the Eight Brocades, the Sun Salutation, Eight Pieces of Silk, Taoist Five, etc., all of which are based on the same basic principles. Breathe through the nose for the best results, the tongue should touch the top of the mouth, and the body should be relaxed with no physical exertion or at least little. You should never fully exert yourself, working out at only about 70% of your capacity.

Obviously, this isn’t necessarily for extreme fat burning, and it is meant to be used for the most part supplementally with other workouts. But used correctly, this form of Eastern practice can be used for both medicinal and healthy workout practices.

There are literally hundreds of different Chinese medical treatments that come from animals, and some are considered to be the most popular. Some are hard to come by, which makes them even more popular. Snake oil is probably the most popular option being used to treat joint pain by rubbing it on and reducing inflammation. But there are a few others to go along with this as well.

1. Tiger’s Penis
Obviously, a tiger comes with the image of fertility and virility. So some have used tiger’s penis to treat impotence. Because many tigers are now endangered, laws attempt to protect species such as the Sumatran tiger. But black market sellers continue to sell both tiger penis’ and tiger eyes.

2. Shark Fin Soup
Shark cartilage has been popularly used to treat joint pain, and some believed for a long time that it could treat cancer, because it was believed that sharks could not get cancer. But it is traditionally believed to be healthy and even elite, and it has consequently caused serious problems and a threat to the shark population.

3. Seahorse
Used to treat many disorders, seahorse has been used to alleviate problems with asthma, arteriosclerosis, inconstinence, impotence, thyroid disorders, skin problems, broken bones, heart disease, and it has been used as an aphrodisiac that also improves child birth.

Controversy

Obviously, there has been some controversy surrounding these particular choices. Some animal conservationists protest on a regular basis, and because of overhunting and poaching, many governmental agencies have made laws to try to protect these particular animals. But because of the demand, the popularity continues to grow.

Cupping is a method of traditional medicine for diseases associated with local congestion. While it may cause a temporary red spot, cupping creates a small vacuum combined with heat, which is applied directly to the skin. It draws skin up into the jar, creating an area of blood stasis, and it temporarily turns the skin bright red or even bruises it, apparently indicating the degree of stagnation and toxins in the blood.

How Chinese Medicine Cupping Has Been Used

Some experts have used cupping to drain postulating sores. But since then, it has been used to treat consumptive and rheumatic diseases, and while bamboo jars have been used in the past, most use glass jars and occasionally bamboo jars now.

It has been used to treat arthritis, eliminating the pain, abdominal pain, stomachaches, indigestion, headaches, hypertension, the common cold, coughs, low back pain, painful menstruation, insect bites, and poisonous snake bites.

Possible Dangers of Cupping

Cupping has its benefits. But not everybody should use it. Cupping should not be used if you are experiencing a high fever or if you have problems with convulsions, cramps, allergic skin conditions, or ulcerated sores. It can only do so much, and if you for example have cancer, it’s probably not going to help you to treat the problem. It should not be used on so muscle tissue, and it should not be used on the abdomen or lower back of pregnant women due to the risk to the fetus.

But risks or not, the best thing that I can tell you about cupping is to use a solid and reputable practitioner. Use someone who actually knows what they are doing. It lowers the risk of infection, and it will help you to get more successful results. And a good practitioner will obviously know if you should or should not use cupping in the first place.

Known as Tui na, Chinese massage is commonly used in combination with acupuncture, moxiibustion, fire cupping Chinese herbalism, tai chi, and qigong. It is a hands on body treatment that is commonly used by Chinese Taoists and martial arts practitioners for better relaxation and wellbeing, and it is thought to balance the body and the 8 principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Many traditional Chinese schools have been known to teach tui na to their students, mostly for the treatment of chronic pain and temporary injury, and it is also used in combination with anma, another form of Chinese massage. It has even been used on infants and small children.

So where did Chinese massage originate?

Tui na has its origins in the Shang Dynasty, specifically around 1700BC. Ancient inscriptions show that it was traditionally used on infants and small children, and it was specifically used to treat digestive conditions in people of all ages. One famous physician of the Han Dynasty in 206 BC wrote, “As soon as the heavy sensation of the limbs is felt, Daoyin, Tui na, Zhenjiu, and Gaomo, all of which are therapeutic methods, are carried out in order to prevent…..the disease from gaining a start.”

Now, the art of Tui na is taught in China, Korea, Japan, and many other Asian countries. It is an occupation that is accepted in Japan for the treatment of those with disabilities, and many blind people go in for regular tui na treatment.