Medical News

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a system of diagnosis and health care that has evolved over the last 3000 years. The Chinese approach to understanding the human body is unique. It is based on the holistic concept of the universe outlined in the spiritual insights of Daoism, and it has produced a highly sophisticated set of practices designed to cure illness and to maintain health and well being.

These practices include acupuncture, herbal remedies, diet, tui-na massage, meditation and both static and moving exercises call Qi Gong and Tai Chi. Although all these practices appear different in approach, they all share the same underlying sets of assumptions about the nature of the human body and its place in the universe. The world view that underpins the principles and practices of Chinese medicine is based on the Daoist understanding of a universe where everything is interdependent and mutually interactive. Nothing is excluded; nothing is analyzed or interpreted without reference to the whole. To understand what Chinese medicine is all about, it is important first to explore this idea of holism which is best explained by the concept of Yin and Yang.

The concept of Yin-Yang is fundamental to Traditional Chinese Medicine. The idea of yin and yang developed from observing the physical world. It was observed that nature appears to group into pairs of mutually dependant opposites, each giving meaning to the other. For example, night has no meaning without the concept of Day, the concept of up doesn’t mean much without the idea of down. The idea of yin and yang is essentially a descriptor of the dynamic interactions that underpin all aspects of the universe. Yin and yang shouldn’t be thought of as things but as a key to a way of thinking about the world.

Along with the concept of yin and yang, there are other fundamental ideas or energies that define TCM. The theory of the Five Elements also comes from observation of the various groups of dynamic processes, functions and characteristics observed in the natural world.

The energies of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water relate to both the natural world and the human body. Further to Yin/Yang and the Five Elements there are the basic substances that make up the universe and the human body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine terms these are called the Qi (chee), Jing essence, the Shen or mind/spirit, the blood and body fluids.

Meridians, or energy pathways of the body, have been mapped out and acupoints determined along them. These points and meridians are stimulated by acupuncture, the insertion of fine needles into the skin, or acupressure (massaging and pressing on these acupoints). Traditional Chinese Medicine also uses herbal medicine, cupping and Gua Sha or scraping, auricular therapy, Tui na massage and physical exercises like Tai Chi and Qi gong.

Insomnia is one of those words that scare most people. The word ‘Insomnia’ scares most people either because they do not know what it is, or do not know how to deal with it. If you have Insomnia, you do not want to ‘deal’ with it, rather solve the mystery of missing sleep and cure the Insomnia that plagues us.

No matter what kind of insomniac you are, whether it be intermittent or advanced, the end result is the same… no sleep. Insomnia cures should be on the basis of individual needs, this is very important. Six of seven good hours of sleep every night are absolutely essential in order to function properly during the day. Any If you are not getting enough sleep at night you going to feel tired throughout the day and you will also increase your risk of health problems.

The problem lies with the big pharmaceutical corporations. We have been led to believe that insomnia can be cured with just a few pills like a headache or indigestion. What people don’t realize is that these big corporations are businesses and are purely profit driven.

The major benefit of herbal cures is that they’re gentler on your overall health than drugs. It’s best to use the herbal insomnia cures in combination with the next two cures, especially exercise.

The most common of curing insomnia is by taking medications. This is probably the way most people take when they start to have sleepless nights. The medications can indeed serve as a way for insomnia cure. However, it should not be seen as a long-term cure for it. One of the risks of taking insomnia medications is that one can become over dependent and additive to it.

Popular insomnia cures include chamomile (as a tea), hops (also as a tea), and valerian, which may be taken in tablet or liquid form. While valerian’s taste won’t thrill you, it’s very effective and will help you to get a good night’s sleep. The most common way people treat insomnia is by taking medication. This is usually how most people react when they start having sleepless nights. Medication should not be seen as a long-term way to cure insomnia. You can become very dependent and addicted to sleep medication.

This is a huge reason why so many people suffer from insomnia. When this is the cause, acupuncture insomnia cures can really help. One of the best applications for acupuncture is in pain reduction. When the pain is reduced or controlled, the acupuncture insomnia cure has done its job. Long-term treatments might be necessary for chronic conditions, but they can help keep sleep issues at bay. When pain is the cause of sleep disorders, acupuncture insomnia treatments tend to work very well for some people.

Most sufferers treat insomnia like a cold or a cough, believing that it can be cured with the use of a few pills. It’s easy to fall into this way of thinking because we believe what we see. We turn on the TV and see sleep aids advertised by big corporations. We instinctively assume that there is a quick fix solution and that the big corporations are not just in it for the money.

The theory behind acupuncture is at once complex and rich in detail, yet really quite easy to grasp. The following will outline the basics of acupuncture theory and provide a springboard for further investigation into the depths of Chinese medical theory.

Most basically, Meridians or energetic lay lines, have been mapped throughout the human body. These meridians flow within the body and not on the surface.

Each meridian exists in a corresponding pair and has many acupuncture points along its path. The meridian system consists of twelve main channels. Each channel or meridian has many specific, recognized acupuncture points.

Although the meridians themselves are not thought of as physically identifiable, their existence is proved by observation of the effect of stimulating various pressure points.

The theory and practice of acupuncture developed hand in hand as practitioners observed the effects of different kinds of needling in different specific areas of the body.

The meridian system can be thought of as an energetic distribution network that in itself tends toward an energetic manifestation. Many charts and graphs exist that show the meridian pathways of the body.

Another feature that is always present on a meridian chart of the human body is the specific points that are marked upon the individual channel or meridian. These specific points are known as acupoints. Some channels appear to have many points distributed along them, some have fewer; some points are grouped closely together and others more distantly. These acupoints along the meridian channels can be thought of as access points to the flow of qi, or energy, in the body.

The idea of Qi flow in the body could be thought of as a river. A river has a source and it follows its course ultimately toward the ocean. As the river flows it will vary from shallow to deep, quick flowing to slow flowing, while always following the most ‘natural’ path. If we use this analogy of a river, we can think about a whirlpool in that river and consider how the whirlpool effect draws everything down into the heart of the river. This whirlpool is a vortex that gives access to the depth of the river at this point. We can consider acupuncture points as ‘energy vortices’ that draw Qi into or out of the body’s energy flow and provide access points at which the Qi flow of the body can be directly influenced from the outside.

Simple pressure on a specific point or ‘energy vortex’ will produce changes in the energy system, with consequent physical effects. This provides the basis for simple acupressure treatment. We do this simple acupressure technique naturally when we rub our temples when we have a headache or massage our lower back when it aches. Acupuncture simply takes this a stage further.

In acupuncture, fine needles are inserted into the patient’s body as a series of appropriately selected acupoints. The effect of the needling is expected to cause changes in the pattern of the patient’s energy system with the result being beneficial changes at the physical level. It is thought likely that the practitioner’s own energy system is also a factor in the process, the needle becoming an extension of that energy system.

Many conditions can be cured or at least improved by acupuncture administered by a qualified and experienced practitioner. A distal point (farthest from the site of the symptoms) is usually needled, as well as local points. A course of treatment is generally required, although results of a single treatment may sometimes be immediate and dramatic.

Acupuncture theory includes a system of differentiating disease patterns and the level of the problem in the body. If the client is suffering a lot of pain problems on the exterior of the body and/or an acute condition then the problem is considered a channel problem (meaning more superficial). Acupuncture at this level moves stuck qi, clears stagnation and expels external pathogenic factors. Local and distal points may be used and the results are often seen quickly.

If the client is suffering more chronic and long term problems, then the condition is considered to be an organ or Zang fu disharmony. The situation may be one of excess or deficient energy, or perhaps both, and the points selected will be dictated by the situation and the organs effected.

A combination of both channel problems and organ disharmony can also be treated at one time but priorities must be set. Excess conditions are usually treated before a deficiency condition and problems of a dual or complex nature are often treated with other modalities as well as acupuncture, such as herbal medicine or tui na massage.

You can feel it coming. Your shoulders feel tight, and there appears to be some kind of vice grip clutching your head like a bird of prey. You almost feel queasy because the pain is so immense. You cannot open your eyes without squinting because the light makes it worse. You finally give in and pop a few pain relievers all the while wondering how long you have to be attached to medication to feel decent. This is what headache pain relief often amounts to, but that is unfortunate.

Pretty much every person on the planet has experienced a headache at some point in their lives. Whether it is from squinting to read, a head cold or caffeine withdrawal, there are numerous reasons why a person gets a headache. However, it is not always necessary to take medication to rid yourself of the pain. There are many other more natural ways to get headache pain relief. Here are a few to try:

Massage: Trigger point massage is the most effective for headaches. There are all kinds of knotted up muscles in our bodies, and trigger point therapy can help release those areas, thus relieving the pain that they can cause in other areas of the body.

Acupuncture: The idea behind this ancient form of healing is that the body has energy centers that get blocked. Acupuncture is well known for its ability to relieve headaches and many other kinds of pain and illness.

Magnesium: Try taking some powdered magnesium as it is the calming mineral. It loosens muscle tension and relaxes the body.

Drink more water: If you are not drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day (and more if you exercise), drinking more water is one simple way to rid yourself of headaches. The body will produce headaches even in mild cases of dehydration, so start drinking your water.

Exercise: If you are not exercising on a regular basis, you should because “feel good” hormones are produced when you exercise. They are natural pain killers, so they work like a charm for headaches.
Headache pain relief can be simple and easy if you know what to try. You may have to try a few different techniques before finding the one that is right for you, but don’t give up. Getting away from medications is certainly worth the effort for your long term health.

The chemicals in cigarette smoke irritate the lungs, which in someone with asthma are already inflamed. If you have asthma, smoking is about the most dangerous thing you can do and the best thing to do is stop. Many smokers fear that is they quit they will put on weight. Some people do indeed gain weight, but usually only a few kilograms which are lost in a matter of months.

Smoking reduces the appetite so when you give up cigarettes, food tastes better and you eat more. Moreover, many smokers enjoy a cigarette after a meal. When you give up that may be replaced by a second helping or a dessert. If you are hungry, snack on fresh fruit and vegetables. If you feel you need hypnotherapy, acupuncture, nicotine patches or chewing gum to help you, by all means use them, but sometimes all they do is put off the day when you throw away the cigarettes, ashtray and lighter.

You will have a tough couple of weeks and you will need the support and tolerance of friends and family, but it will be worth the effort. You may experience withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability and sleeping problems. Be proud that you have given up smoking, take it one day at a time and congratulate yourself at the end of the day.

Do not be tempted to have just one cigarette. It will probably lead to another and another. Acid air is caused when gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide react with water vapor. Not much is known about its effects. Power stations, cars, lorries and heavy industry are among the main contributors to atmospheric pollution.