Alternative Therapies: Safe and Effective Means of Healing

Let the Power of Your Mind Heal Your Body and Soul

There are alternative therapies that are much more natural and don't assault the body in the way Western medications do. Among these are acupuncture, Ayurvedic medicine and Reiki to treat a wide range of illnessess and promote optimum health. Shiatsu massage, meditation and yoga recognize the importance of the mind/body connection. These practices promote good health and wellness through the use of the mind to relieve stress and encourage a calmer, more centered way of life. Take a few moments to read the following information on some of the most popular alternative therapies available today and learn how they can promote a healthier, happier you.

Acupuncture

The vital energy that flows along the meridians in our body is referred to as "qi" (pronounced "chee"). Our body performs at optimal levels when the qi within our body is in balance. When it is out of balance, it shows up as various illnesses or aches and pains that make our lives uncomfortable. We can promote and maintain good health by stimulating various acupuncture points that restore the balance of qi.

Although acupuncture originated with traditional Chinese mediciine, it has gained widespread acceptance around the world. Today, Western doctors are using acupuncture to treat chronic pain, including headaches, back pain and migraines, lower blood pressure and help minimize seasonal allergies. Some of these doctors believe that acupuncture works by stimulating nerves and muscles, triggering the release of natural pain killers produced by the body, increasing endorphin levels and blood flow, and providing relaxation by reducing tension in the body.

However the mechanism of acupuncture works, millions of people around the world use acupuncture successfully to treat a variety of ailments and to reduce or eliminate pain. There are no harmful side effects to acupuncture done by a licensed practitioner, making it one of the safest forms of treatment available.

Ayurveda

Ayurveda's key precept is focused on the universal connectedness of all things, including the body, mind and spirit interacting with the world around it. If we are in harmony, one's interaction with the universe is positive and we feel good. Disease is the result of being "out of harmony." The resulting disruptions can show themselves as physical, emotional or spiritual symptoms.

Ayurvedic medicine practitioners will diagnose you by asking questions about your lifestyle, emotional state, diet, activities and illnessess. They will also examine the teeth, tongue, eyes, skin and overall appearance as well as weight to determine the relative health of your body. They will also check your pulse, urine, stool, and speech as well as listening to your pulse to determine what may be out of balance in your body.

To bring the body and spirit back into the proper balance, Ayurvedic practitioners focus on eliminating impurities in the body, improving the immune system's function, reducing or eliminating any adverse symptoms, and increasing the harmony in one's life through yoga, meditation and other mind/body techniques.

Treatments almost always include a combination of herbs, plants, oils and spices that are used to create various compounds targeting specific symptoms or illnesses or taken to promote digestion or increase vitality. You may also be put on a specific diet that is considered more appropriate for your body type and problems.

There are many Ayurveda practitioners who can provide you with healthy, natural formulas for a variety of ailments. In addition, they can guide you toward a healthier, calmer lifestyle that is conductive to good health through yoga, meditation and other relaxation techniques.

Reiki

Reiki is generally practiced by a Reiki Master who has received the gift of healing from another Reiki Master who transferred the healing ability to him or her; this transfer is known as attunement. A Reiki Master lays his or her hands on the person who is ill and allows the life force energy he controls to flow through his own body and out through his hands, thereby promoting healing and an increase and balancing of the life force in the other person.

The life force energy tapped into during Reiki sessions not only promotes healing, but balances the mind, body and spirit of the person being helped. Reiki also advocates daily meditation or spiritual persuits to balance the spirit.

During a Reiki session, the Reiki Master will either lightly touch the body of the recipient or place his hands a few centimeters above the body, palms down, and enters a meditative state. While in this state, he focuses on gathering and targeting the life force energy into the body of the recipient. In many cases, those being treated experienced a mild warmth and tingling as the energy is directed into their bodies. There is also often a sensation of calm and well-being experienced during a Reiki session.

Today, there are thousands of Reiki Masters who have learned directly from others all tied directly back to the original students of Mikao Usui. The practice of Reiki is growing quickly in the United States as a form of healing that can enhance traditional medicine.

Shiatsu

A Shiatsu therapist will apply pressure to various points on the body using her fingers, thumbs and the palms of the hands. The movements are very rhythmic and are ususally done in a particular sequence. It usually feels very relaxing and is meant to bring the qi back into balance by stimulating key points with various forms of tapping, rubbing, kneading and pressing motions. Unblocked energy can then flow through the meridians more effectively. Because shiatsu is done without the oils used in traditional massage, you remain clothed throughout a shiatsu session.

Shiatsu relies on proper diagnosis derived from a history taken from the patient and palpation of the abdominal area, which can reveal a great deal about the imbalances in the body, what has become blocked and any problems with digestion or elimination which can lead to illness.

As a complimentary medicine, Shiatsu is often used along-side traditional Western medicine to relieve pain, reduce stress and control circulatory problems. It is effective for chronic pain, migraines, coughs and colds and digestive and bowel disorders as well as arthritis and high blood pressure. It is also beneficial in reducing stress and tension in the neck and shoulders and improving sleep.

Meditation

During meditation, you direct your mind to focus on one object or thought in order to clear your thoughts of all distractions. You can focus on anything from a candle flame to your breathing, a fond memory or prayer. The most traditional forms of meditation were originally developed for spiritual growth in an attempt to grow closer towards the guiding presence, God or wisdom the meditator was seeking. Today, many people meditate to find a place of peace and relaxation in their hectic, stressful lives.

Meditation is also used to promote healing (both physical and emotional), enhance insight, inspire life changes and unleash creativity and create inner harmony. In fact, many doctors now suggest meditation to those who suffer from anxiety or panic disorders and those who have dangerous or high blood pressure. Practiced properly, meditation can result in both better physical health and greater mental clarity.

Yoga

Yoga originated in India, developed over the centuries by various mystics and philosophers. It uses a variety of poses that, combined with deep, controlled breathing, focus your energies on reaching a state of balance. In its purest form, yoga encompasses not only the practice of actual yoga poses, but your way of life, which should become focused on achieving your best innermost health as a way to reach enlightenment, spiritual peace, God or whatever you perceive as a higher, more spiritual plane of being.

The most commonly practiced yoga in the United States is Hatha Yoga, which focuses on the various poses and deep breathing. Within Hatha Yoga are many smaller sub-divisions, all of them with slight variations in style. There are also many other forms of yoga practiced around the world; all of them share a common goal of increasing your health as well as your awareness of your own mind, body and the world around you.

You can find yoga classes at community centers, health clubs and yoga studios as well as through hospitals. The Cleveland Clinic, a world-famous orthopedics specialist, teaches and encourages the practice of yoga for patients. If you are interested in learning the ancient art of yoga, a Yoga Master, sometimes called a Yogi, can guide you through the first stages, or you can get a book or video that will explain the principles and practice of yoga for you to try in your own home.

Information within this site is for educational purposes only. Statements about the products efficacy have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The products mentioned within are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. As always, please consult your health care practitioner for any medical advise or treatment.