Alternative and eastern medicine content that is of interest to practitioners or that contains information which assumes some background knowledge on the part of the reader.
The care of our health is a complex endeavor. Whether we make it that way or our bodies and environments are changing in complex ways, I'm not sure. What I do know is that there is a tremendous amount of information out there about health, this along with a huge amount of misinformation, marketing propaganda, and many good willed people sharing their stories of success regardless of how odd their approach may seem.
Not getting enough sleep? This is a common problem in many parts of the world, perhaps more so in western developed countries where overwork and lack of rest are often seen as the way to obtain success in your career. Many are aware, at least at a gut level, that poor sleep and lack of sleep are bad for us. And most health care professionals are aware of the many processes in the body related to healing that will not happen unless people have a certain duration and depth of sleep.
Type II diabetes is a lifestyle oriented condition which, in many cases, is tied directly to obesity, poor dietary choices, and lack of exercise. While there are pharmaceutical treatments available, they do not offset many of the complications of diabetes nor do they foster proper lifestyle changes which can eliminate the need for medications. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, and other alternatives are used extensively in the treatment and management of diabetes and related complications.
Meditation is a scientifically founded tool for improving our physical and psychological well-being. Many people incorrectly assume that meditation has something to do with various eastern religions or other more esoteric systems of belief. Meditation is an important aspect of Buddhism and Taoism, but also of all religious traditions including Christianity where it plays a vibrant role in certain denominations and within commonly practiced techniques such as the Christian Centering Prayer.
For many people when they begin to think about acupuncture it can all appear quite foreign. Outside of the problems people generally have considering needles placed into their body, concepts such as Yin and Yang, Qi, and the "meridians" often mislead people into thinking acupuncture is a sort of pseudoscience alternative medicine. And if you add in another common misunderstanding - that acupunctur
Every patient is looking for a good healer. Even the healthy ones are too. But few realize a healer can do only so much for them. Yes, herbs, pills, surgery, acupuncture… these all help. Sometimes they bring miracles. However, they are considered the lowest level of healing.
There is a healer in every one of us. Dr. Wu and I call this type of healing the Tai Chi healing. Tai Chi is not just a mere collection of slow movements. It helps the body to be relaxed and grounded, but more importantly it nurtures the mind-body connection. It helps us to realize what inherent weakness each one of us has in the body, and ultimately leads to life style changes that heal and prevent disease. Regardless of what the patient practices - Yoga, Tai Chi or any of the exercises that promote this awareness and bring positive changes - they belong to this category of healing. It is always at work to bring balance in ever-changing physical environment, having a far greater impact on our lives than an occasional visit to a doctor. Nevertheless, it is only a step higher than the first level.
