What is Oriental Medicine? Oriental Medicine, or another known name Traditional Chinese Medicine, is a comprehensive system of health care, with a continuous clinical history of over 3000 years. Oriental medicine combines the use of acupuncture, Chinese herbology, bodywork and dietary therapy. Doctors of Oriental Medicine often recommend exercise, breathing disciplines, and meditation in the forms of Chi Gung and Tai Chi as part of an ongoing, holistic wellness program. These therapies work with the natural, vital energy inherent within all living things, to promote the body’s ability to heal itself. How does it work? Oriental Medicine is based on an energetic model, rather than the biochemical model of Western Medicine. The ancient Chinese recognized a vital energy behind all life forms and life processes. They called this energy Qi (pronounced chee). In developing an understanding of the prevention and cure of disease, these healing practitioners discovered that this energy flows along specific “gates,” or pathways called “meridians,” which go deep into the body. Each pathway is associated with a particular physiological system and internal organ. Disease is considered to arise due to a deficiency or imbalance of energy in the meridians and their associated physiological systems. Acupuncture points are specific locations along the meridians. Western doctors are discovering medications can suppress or stimulate electrical impulses within the body, but they cannot regulate it in the way in which acupuncture can. What Can I Expect? Many conditions may be alleviated very rapidly by acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. However, some conditions that have arisen over a course of years will be relieved only with slow, steady progress. As in any form of healing, the patient’s attitude, diet, determination, and lifestyle will affect the outcome of a course of treatment. Patients are encouraged to actively participate in their healing process. Although Oriental Medicine can treat most conditions, there are circumstances that can be dealt with more effectively by Western medicine. In such cases, your acupuncturist will recommend you contact a Western medical doctor. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine should be seen as complementary to Western Medicine. Is Acupuncture Painful? Acupuncture bears no resemblance to the feeling of receiving an injection, since the main source of pain from injections is the larger diameter, hollow needle, and the medications being forced into the tissue by pressure. Acupuncture needles are very fine and flexible, about the diameter of a human hair. In most cases, insertion by a skilled practitioner is performed without discomfort. You may experience a mild initial sensation upon entering, followed by a tingling, numbness, ache, or traveling warmth. Most patients find the treatments very relaxing and may fall asleep during treatment. What is Sports Rehabilitation? Sports Rehabilitation aids in reducing or eliminating pain in areas to which it is administered. It is also defined as systematic and scientific rehabilitation of body tissues for the purpose of affecting the nervous, muscular, visceral, circulatory, and digestive systems.
What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Doctors of Oriental Medicine may use herbal concoctions. Prescriptions can be complex, and may include as many as 20 or more ingredients. Medicines may be taken as teas, liquid extracts (homeopathic) raw herbs, capsules, and tablets. Some commonly used prescriptions are premixed and available as tablets. How will Dietary Changes Help? The diet that you are on may be contributing to poor health and disease. An Oriental Doctor may prescribe certain foods, seasonings or dishes that have healing properties. Other foods or alcohol may be removed from the diet to enhance healing. Eating proper foods can make a difference in your health. What is Saliva Hormone Testing? These are laboratory tests for hormone levels using saliva. These various tests are very accurate and are detailed diagnostic tools used for treating various forms of disease and hormone imbalances. This type of testing will measure what your body is naturally utilizing on a daily basis according to what your body’s individualized receptors cells are receiving. It can also reveal specific areas targeting disease and how they can contribute to your symptoms. Testing can include female hormones, adrenal, male hormones, thyroid, post and pre-menopause, testosterone, DHEA, etc. Tests are completed in the privacy of your home and then sent to a reputable laboratory for results. Which conditions are effectively treated with alternative medicine? Neurological: headache, migraine, neuralgia, post-operation pain, stroke residuals, Parkinson’s disease, facial pain.
Musculoskeletal: pain, and weakness in – neck, shoulder, arms, hands, fingers, knees, legs, feet, backache or pain, muscle cramping, localized traumatic injuries, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, sprains, strains, sports injuries, arthritis, sciatica.
Digestive: abdominal pain, hyperacidity, chronic diarrhea, indigestion, constipation.
Eye, Ear, Nose, Dental: poor vision, tired eyes.
Respiratory: sinusitis, common cold, tonsillitis, bronchitis, allergy (hay fever), asthma.
Gynecological: impotence, infertility, PMS, cramps, menopause syndrome, obstetrics, hormonal imbalances.
Emotional: traumas, hypertension, insomnia, depression, anxiety, nervousness, neurosis.
Other benefits: increases vitality and energy; stress reduction; deep relaxation; skin rejuvenation; weight control; stop smoking, alcohol, drug & other addictions; enhanced athletic & physical function; regulates heart rate, blood pressure & chemistry; stabilizes the immune system. |
