Healing and Medicine ~ Eastern and Western Approaches

Eastern and western medicine have come together a bit more in recent years, the west is beginning to understand what the ancients have always known - that the body, emotions, mind, and spirit are all inseparable, in fact … the holistic approach is going to be fashionable!

Hooray!

Please excuse me if I sound frivolous, but it’s my experience that nobody can separate the physical from the emotional, so to me it seems obvious, I have tried it and it doesn't work!

Of course I haven't always known this, I had to experience it for myself.

When going through a divorce I kept telling myself that I was all right, so I didn’t have a ‘mental breakdown’ no, I had a physical one…yes this is possible. I had such sorrow that I lost two stones in a very short time.

If we ignore the needs of one part of ourselves another will protest, simple.

Physical abuse if ignored by the victim often results in a mental breakdown; my experience was in another way. In other words I kept my head but my body gave out. It was not ‘till I had only a few weeks to live that I listened to the specialist, this is how powerful the mind can be when we are determined to ignore all else.

If we look at the organs of the body as houses for different emotions a picture emerges. In Chinese medicine this is how it is viewed.

Family relationships are also used to illustrate the organs and positions on the Chinese medicine charts; I’ve added the partner organs to the list below to illustrate this.

Liver = Anger - “What a gall that person has!” - ‘Partner’ Gall Bladder

Heart = Hysteria - Dad worked himself up into a heart attack - ‘Partner' Small Intestines - a heart attack can be mistaken for indigestion.

Spleen = Worry - Ulcers commonly caused by over work - ‘Partner’ Stomach

Lungs = Sorrow - Pining away for a loved one is very common - ‘Partner’ Large Intestines, malfunction results in starvation when the organs cannot absorb the nutrients.

Kidneys = Fear - Children’s nightmares - peeing with fright - ‘Partner’ Bladder

So, what do you think? Is it possible to die of a ‘broken heart’?

Of course it is!

I was within a short time of doing just that, my body was telling me to change the situation so it could heal itself.

The worry, fear, and sorrow all stopped the digestion and so the tissues started to die.

What is the cure?

Look to our whole situation when you become physically unwell.

Look to our emotions when you feel lacking in energy. Are you draining the batteries?

Look to our mental attitude when you have allowed the whole world to revolve around your own needs first.

Look to our spiritual growth when you feel stuck in a rut. See what you have learned - Needing to progress?

God bless our ‘built in’ programme of rehabilitation!

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Acupuncture and Auricular Therapy 

 As a spiritualist I find that as in most things when our spirit draws us to find new things in our lives it is always a path that is interesting.

I, like so many people, came to spiritual healing as a patient, and out of curiosity went on to find out how this worked, I wanted to know what had happened to me when I was healed, and it was just the same with Acupuncture, I was curious!

Acupuncture is recorded as at least four thousand years old, and is respected as an ancient craft that evolved through time into a 'unique system'.

Does it work?

The answer is 'Yes it does'.

I speak as a patient, who for many years has had great relief from pain, and also I speak as a witness to my husband’s and my many patients’ progress also.

You might ask me why did I need acupuncture when spiritual healing was so freely available? [See article "The Healing Husband" under True Stories.]

I can only think that the Masters are right when they say that when this happens it's the spirit within that needs something more, and also the 'learning a lesson' part is often taught this way through the medium of pain, [I don't know about you, but nothing drives me to greater action than a sharp pain!] and surely nobody thinks that there's only one way for the spirit doctors to help us!

Here you see the basics of this beautiful therapy treatment - and I hope it will give a new understanding to all who read it, after all that’s what we are about - isn't it?

The continuous progression on all our paths of understanding!

What are the components of Chinese Medicine? 

What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an aspect of traditional Chinese medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years.  It became popular in the West in the early Seventies, and is now one of the most widely recognised complementary therapies. It is an integral part of the rapid growth of complementary therapy in the UK and abroad. 

Acupuncture is an holistic approach to full body health based on over 2000 years of developments and refinements in the Far East.  The skill of the acupuncturist lies in their ability to make a traditional diagnosis from what is often a complex pattern of disharmony.  The exact pattern and degree of disharmony is individual to each patient, and acupuncture aims to treat patients with a personalised treatment plan.

How does acupuncture work?
Fine needles are inserted at points around the body to stimulate or suppress the flow of "Chi" - the enigmatic life-force sometimes described as "electro-chemical" or "electro-magnetic" energy. There are about 500 acupoints along 12 energy meridians. 100 of these acupoints are most commonly used.

Acupuncture aims to restore the balance of chi energy - a state of equilibrium when Yin and Yang are in harmony. Acupuncture may help to relieve pain (from injuries to a muscle, or a migraine, for example) and suppress cravings (food, alcohol, cigarettes etc). It is also widely used for stress relief.

  Although the needles used in acupuncture don’t hurt, some people are nevertheless put off by their use. Other therapies are available such as Acupressure, Tui-Na, Auricular Therapy etc.

Traditional Chinese Medicine - TCM - is based on the theory that all disorders and illnesses arise from an imbalance. This imbalance can be caused by problems arising from internal organs or the stagnation of energy circulating in the body. The name for the energy lines throughout all our bodies are Meridians. When the meridians or energy channels become blocked, the resulting imbalance of the body can cause pain or illness.

A trained TCM doctor will be able to clear the energy block through acupuncture, and so restore the body's balance. The physician will also seek to strengthen the organs that were giving problems through Chinese Herbal Therapy. Some people have acupuncture as a preventative measure to strengthen their constitution, or because they feel unwell without being "ill" in the Western sense, also this is where the assisting of the rehabilitation programme comes into play, when extra energy is needed to build up depleted resources.

What is the main difference between Chinese medicine and Western medicine?
Traditional Chinese medicine treats the cause of the disorder, and Western medicine tends to concentrate more on the symptom of the disorder. For example, two people may have the same symptoms of eczema, but the cause of the complaint may be completely different: one patient may have an imbalance of his or her liver, the other an imbalance of his or her spleen. Whereas a Western doctor may prescribe the same medicine for the ailment, the TCM doctor will treat the underlying cause of eczema and in this case, one patient will be treated for a liver imbalance and the other for a spleen imbalance.

How does a Chinese doctor make a diagnosis?
An Acupuncture doctor will ask you to put out your tongue to examine it, and test your pulse too, and from this he or she will be able to make a diagnosis. The condition of your tongue, its overall colour and the coating will tell the doctor about the condition of your internal organs. Each of us has many different pulse rates to which Chinese doctors have been trained to be sensitive. From these pulse rates the doctor will again be able to tell the state of your internal organs.

Is acupuncture painful?

Acupuncture needles bear little resemblance to needles used in blood tests and injections. They are much finer, and are solid rather than hollow. Most people find acupuncture and electro-acupuncture a pleasant and deeply relaxing experience. There should be no pain during the insertion of needles if the doctor is fully trained and experienced. Below you see how small the needles actually are.

When the practitioner carefully inserts the needles, you may feel a slight tingling sensation. This indicates that the treatment is beginning to have some effect, it is called 'obtaining the qi'. Some people may feel numbness at the point of entry or an energy transfer along the meridian to another part of the body.

Needles are inserted either for a second or two, or left in place for up to 20 minutes, depending on the effect required, and electro therapy can take from 20 to 40 minutes. After acupuncture, you will feel relaxed or even slightly sleepy, so please take care not to tackle anything strenuous for a few hours following your treatment.

The benefits of acupuncture frequently include more than just relief from a particular condition: many people find that it can also lead to increased energy levels, better appetite and sleep, as well as an enhanced sense of overall well being. Infertility and 'morning sickness' are commonly treated also.

It is strongly advised that you make sure that the doctor who treats you is fully qualified, the training is 2-3 years for the much coveted Diploma, which is needed to join the CMIR [Chinese Medical Institute Register.]

How can acupuncture help me?
Below are some of the problems and diseases commonly treated by acupuncture:

What will happen on my first visit?
Your first consultation may be longer than subsequent sessions. The acupuncturist needs to assess your general state of health in order to identify the underlying pattern of disharmony and give you the most effective treatment. You will be asked about your current symptoms and what treatment you have received so far. You will also be asked about your medical history and that of your close family.

The practitioner will also ask you about your diet, digestive system, sleeping patterns and your general emotional state. To discover how the energies are flowing in your body, the acupuncturist is likely to feel your pulse, noting the quality, rhythm and strength. The structure, colour and coating of your tongue also gives a good guide to physical health.

Once enough information has been gathered to determine the most likely cause of your problems, the acupuncturist can select the appropriate treatment. The aim is to discover which energy channels need adjusting for your specific complaint to improve, and which require treatment to boost your overall energy and vitality. Each time you visit the points might be different, this is because as you progress to better health the needs of your system will change.

Are there any alternatives to acupuncture?
For people who are not comfortable with the idea of having needles inserted into the body, there are various alternative techniques based on the principles of acupuncture. These chiefly include:

Auricular Therapy

Does acupuncture conflict with conventional Western medicine?
It can be used alongside conventional medicine in the treatment of both acute and chronic disease. As with any treatment, it may be important to mention certain details about your current state of health, as this will assist the practitioner in his full diagnosis of your condition. Most European Doctors recommended acupuncture as a complement to any western medicine.

Can I prepare in any way for treatment?
Try not to have a big meal within an hour of your appointment as the process of digestion will alter the pattern of your pulse. Also avoid alcohol and food and drinks, [which alter the colour of your tongue just before you have your treatment.]

What about needle sterilisation?
All members of the CMIR (Chinese Medical Institute Register) must observe a code of practice, which lays down stringent standards of hygiene and sterilisation of needles and other equipment, and modern practitioners use disposable needles. These procedures have been approved by the Department of Health, and provides protection against the transmission of infectious diseases.

What is Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Chinese Herbal Medicine has evolved over 4000 years as a powerful and accurate tool regulating the internal organs and immune system. It assists greatly in helping many skin conditions. All the ingredients used by proper Chinese herbalists are natural, and unlike most Western drugs, have no side-effects.

Over 1000 herbs are used in Chinese medicine and the ingredients all come from the natural flora and fauna of China. A properly trained TCM doctor will be able to prescribe a mixture of different herbs to treat an individual's illness. No two patient prescriptions will be the exactly same, as an herbal prescription is tailored to treat the specific ailment of the individual, unlike Western prescriptions which are standardised by the pharmaceutical companies.

Is my diet important?
Yes, a healthy lifestyle in general is important. Diet, exercise, fresh air, deep breathing, enough sleep, and relaxation all contribute to good physical and mental health.

How does one take Chinese Medicine?
Traditionally, Chinese herbs are boiled in a soup or as tea to extract the essence of the herbs, which is then drunk by the patient.

Is Chinese medicine unpleasant in taste?
Most people find that tea is at least a little bitter and sometimes unpleasant to taste. Honey can be added as a sweetener, but it is generally accepted that the effects of the medicine far outweigh the sometimes a bitter taste. However, the herbal capsule makes Chinese Herbal Therapy more accessible and convenient for busy modern lifestyles.

How long will I need treatment?
Chronic cases can take many years to develop, and it is therefore likely that they will also take quite sometime to respond to treatment and start improving. It is important to allow the treatment time to take effect rather than to expect an instant "miracle cure". The total number of treatments will vary from patient to patient, and your practitioner will discuss your own specific case with you. The longer a problem has had to 'solidify' in a physical system the longer it may take to overcome it.

Is it true that you use the bones of tigers in medicines?
Traditionally ingredients such things were used in Chinese Herbal Medicine. All modern therapists consider the use of these ingredients unethical and, [even if they were legal,] would not consider exploitation of any endangered species.

Should I continue taking medicine prescribed by my GP?
YES.

Chinese medicine in general does not conflict with Western medicine, and may be used as a complementary therapy. However, please inform both your doctors about any current medications you are taking.

What is the role of Chinese Herbal Medicine with acupuncture?
Chinese herbs are said to regulate the internal organs and the immune system. With or without acupuncture, Chinese herbs can be a powerful therapy. 

A CASE STUDY 

Mr.A.P. Depression

Suffered from depression for all of his adult life. He had tried Western medicine, including two types of antidepressants, which gave terrible side effects. The symptoms of the depression were that he couldn’t sleep, eat, felt lethargic and became impotent. He fell into two bouts of serious depression where he thought about killing himself.

He lost 6 kilos in weight and spent 15 months having only 3 hours sleep per night. He described himself as ‘zombie like’ at work and lost his job because of the depression and the effect it was having on his life and his ability to function normally In his own words, Mr. R O'H described himself as ‘a mess.’

The attitude he received from conventional doctors was:   ‘if you can’t co-operate, then go away’.  

Within 2-3 days after initial treatment he felt he had more energy and was able to think more clearly than he had done in years. After 3-4 months of treatment he says he has benefited so much more than he ever did with Western medicine.

Mr. R O'H now says that his life has ‘opened up’ he is able to laugh and function normally for the first time in years.