...benefit. As for acupuncture, there are actually a lot more well-designed studies done on this field when compared to Chinese herbs, mostly because Europe and the West have become very interested over the last couple decades and are funding better clinical trials. The evidence trail is building, which is great for everyone. So, what works, and what doesn’t? The New York Times has a very readable article (http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/studying-acupuncture-one-needle-prick-at-a-time/?hpw) which covers this issue. The gist of the article discusses the most recent, well-designed studies on back pains and other disorders; the studies usually show no difference between acupuncture and placebo (usually a “sham” needle that doesn’t penetrate the skin). In other words, the best studies lately are usually showing that most of the perceived effect from acupuncture is simply a placebo effect. These recent findings are by no means surprising, as most of the best studies have been reporting similar conclusions for many years. The best collection of acupuncture research is from the Cochrane Review Group, which performs the world’s most rigorous reviews of all treatments, including alternative medicines. They have an outstanding collection of the best literature on acupuncture (http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/details/collection/691705/Acupuncture-ancient-tradition-meets-modern-science.html) which details the best evidence regarding a number of acupuncture treatments. Unfortunately...
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...patient demand for these treatments, it is important for the nurses to be able to implement various CAM into their nursing practice to provide holistic care for their patients. It is also important for nurses to be knowledgeable about the various forms of therapy and its benefits. CAM is meeting the needs of many consumers due to various reasons. The increase in healthcare cost has encouraged many consumers to research alternative methods to help cope with various medical conditions as opposed to turning to the pharmacological methods that were typically accepted years ago. Consumers also have more access to new trials and studies in regards to CAM because of increased access to the internet and media. Because of this, patients are more involved in their own healthcare and treatment decisions than in the previous years. According to the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 1 in 4 adults from various backgrounds are currently using CAM therapies. (“The use of, 2011) Some of the most common medical reasons patients decide to try CAM therapies are problems with anxiety and depression, reoccurring nausea and pain related to cancer, and symptom management related to labor and delivery. Nurses play a major role in the patient education and treatment of these 3 areas. One of the largest growing health concerns for all ages currently is the growing problem of anxiety and depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 28.8% of the US population...
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...All of which need no or light touch. This second group also uses Energy to heal, but this needs some touching or body manipulation. There are eight systems covered: 1. Acupressure 2. Aromatherapy 3. Crystal Therapy 4. Magnet Therapy 5. Music Therapy 6. Self massage 7. Sujok 8. Taichi and qigong There is a separate book for each. This one is about Sujok Therapy. I have tested all the links mentioned. As on May 2010, all links are secure, correct and working. You should look for more as you surf. You may find many that will suit to your needs. This is just a first step. Please feel free to share this with anyone you like. 2 of 23. Sujok Therapy Introduction Sujok is a drug free system using and manipulating energy points like acupuncture and acupressure. But here the organs and systems of the body are represented totally in the hands and feet only. It is similar to Reflexology in concept. It is developed by Prof. Park Jae Woo, a Korean Scientist, about 35 Years ago. "Sujok" is a combination of two words. In Korean 'Su' means hands and 'Jok' means feet. Thus, SuJok actually means treating hands and feet. Sujok Therapy incorporates the best of traditional oriental medicine practices and terminology. It recognizes energy systems of meridians, and chakras and has similar as well as different...
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...The classic Chinese book on medicinal herbs was written during the Ming Dynasty (1152-1578) by Li Shi-Zhen. It listed nearly 2,000 herbs and extracts. By 1990, the latest edition of The Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China listed more than 500 single herbs or extracts and nearly 300 complex formulations The Early Rise The development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) follows the course of Chinese civilization. Acupuncture, acupressure and moxibustion all date to the Stone Age. In the late 1920s, the Peking Man, an extinct cave man who lived 300,000 to 500,000 years ago, was excavated in Zhou Kou Dien, just north of Beijing. Polished flint-stones, bone needles and bamboo shafts, which are believed to be acupuncture and acupressure tools, were unearthed at the site. Herbal medicine can be traced to a man named Shen Nung, or the "Divine Husbandman," circa 3494 B.C. He is one of three legendary ancestors of the Chinese people. The other two are Fu Xi, who started animal husbandry, and Shui Ren, who discovered fire. Shen Nung experimented on himself, trying numerous herbs to study their healing effects. Legend has it that he died of herb intoxication. His most ancient portrait and records are now kept at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. The well-known Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine (Hung Di Nei Jing) is the work of the Warring States Period which occurred from 475 B.C. to 221 B.C. Bian Chueh, also known as Ching Yueh Ren, compiled...
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...Acupuncture: New Uses for an Ancient Remedy General Purpose: To inform. Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about what happens during acupuncture, how it works, what it can treat, and its use in Western culture. Central Idea: Acupuncture is the insertion of needles into the skin that can improve the flow of energy, can treat a wide range of medical conditions, and is being used combination with Western medicine. Pattern of Organization: Topical Introduction Six months ago, my 78-year-old grandmother was quickly losing her independence. Severe arthritis in both knees hampered her ability to take care of herself. Shopping, getting around the neighborhood, even walking down her front steps was becoming almost impossible. Pain medications helped somewhat, but the side effects created their own problems. Then her doctor suggested acupuncture. My grandmother was skeptical at first, but she was willing to try just about anything. She did and the results were miraculous. After six weeks, her pain and stiffness were significantly reduced. She was able to take care of her apartment again. She could get out on her own to go shopping, to visit friends and family, and to do the other things her arthritis had prevented in the past. Acupuncture restored her quality of life and her independence. My grandmother’s story is not unique. Performed for well over 2, 000 years in China and other parts of Asia, acupuncture is becoming...
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...Proposal Paper: 2 Acupuncture Treatment and Needle Transmitted Infection 3 4 5 6 7 9 Acupuncture Treatment and Needle Transmitted Infection Problem Identification Acupuncture is a coherent and self-consistent body of knowledge based on a philosophy which differs radically from the conventional Western worldview. Rather than seeing disease as the result of a single causative agent, acupuncture medicine regards illness as a pattern of disharmony, a function of both internal and external phenomena adversely affecting the whole person (Prady et al, 2007). In other words, it describes the universe as a dynamic system, within which all phenomena are interrelated. It has been one of the most popular complementary and alternative therapies for the treatment of pain conditions in developed countries (Barns et al, 2004). The report from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that acupuncture is being widely practiced by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners for relief or prevention of pain and for various other health conditions. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which included a comprehensive survey of NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), an estimated 3.1 million U.S. adults and 250,000 children had used acupuncture for pain control...
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...Acupressure and Acupuncture as an alternative medical treatment. Alternative medical treatments and cures are increasingly becoming more popular. These treatments or cures are thought to be helpful in treating various medical conditions. They can be safe as long as the practitioner is properly trained and licensed. Before deciding to try acupressure or acupuncture, it is best to learn about these techniques ( Newell, 2015) and check the similarities and difference between the two. Acupressure differs from acupuncture in terms of specialised equipment used, the areas that are stimulated during the procedure, and the healing messages send throughout the human body. Acupressure is an old ancient healing art developed by Chinese people in...
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...Traditional Chinese medicine China was one of the first countries to have a medical culture. In comparison with western medicine, the Chinese method takes a far different approach. With a history of 5000 years, it has formed a deep and immense knowledge of medical science, theory, diagnostic methods, prescriptions and cures. Traditional Chinese medicine is a broad range of medicine practices sharing common concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy. It is primarily used as a complementary alternative medicine approach. Traditional Chinese Medical Science is based on yin-yang and the five element theory, they are metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Human body is regarded as an aggregation of essence, energy and spirit. The four diagnostic methods, namely inspection, olfaction, inquiry and pulse-taking are the presuppositions of correct differentiation and effective treatment in TCM. Inspection is the thorough and unhurried visualization of the client. This requires the use of the naked eye. In medical practice, inspection is however not limited to visual information alone. it also involves: listen to any sounds emanating from the client. Olfaction means smelling the patient’s odor. Inquiry is a diagnostic method in which the patient or his companions are inquired to collect the information concerning a disease. The...
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...Acupuncture and Anxiety Acupuncture and Anxiety Acupuncture and anxiety are two words that go hand and hand. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body by inserting needles to cause a change in the physical functions of the body. Anxiety is a disorder that causes fear, apprehension and worrying. Acupuncture is one that relieves stress and anxiety is a form of stress. When these two are put together, it calls for total body healing and restoration. Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles into the skin at specific points, in order to influence the functioning of the body. The person requiring the treatment must have a careful observation of the body, which consist of looking, touching, smelling and listening. Acupuncture came from China and is their ancient form of healing. It was invented by William Ten Rhyne, a Dutch physician. This form of healing consists of three hundred and sixty five acupuncture points. These acupuncture points are grouped into a system of channels that runs all over the body and in return produces a flow of energy throughout the body. Chinese medicine believes that the body has a natural flow called Qi. Qi travels along the body in channels called meridians. The flow of Qi is constant, and when the flow is interrupted due to an ailment, sickness or disease, it causes an imbalance. The way that acupuncture works with diseases, is that, the acupuncture points vary from person to person and treatment to treatment, therefore...
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...Acupuncture Acupuncture originates from China and has been practiced there for thousands of years. Although there are records of acupuncture being used hundreds of years ago in Europe, it was during the second half of the twentieth century. Acupuncture started to spread rapidly in Western Europe, United States, and Canada. It does have some therapeutic benefits, including pain relief and alleviation from nausea caused by chemotherapy. You don't need Chinese philosophy either to make it work, or to practice it. The Chinese have developed complex theories and philosophies of acupuncture that form the foundation of their traditional medical system. Without argument, they were the most influential in developing this unique form of medicine into what it is today. Acupuncture works in many different ways on a human body. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through the patient’s skin at specific points on the body the needles are inserted to various depths. Acupuncture points are seen by Western practitioners as places where nerves, muscles and connective tissue can be stimulated. Acupuncture practitioners say that the stimulation increases blood flow while at the same time triggering the activity of our own body's natural painkillers. Through 350 acupuncture points in the body, these meridians and energy flows may be accessed. Illness is said to be the consequence of an imbalance of the forces. If needles are inserted into these points with appropriate combinations...
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...How Acupuncture Is Beneficial In Reducing Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia affects nearly 5 million Americans, particularly women. This disorder is described by diffuse tenderness and widespread pain. Even though there would not be cure, tailored acupuncture may offer some welcome respite as per a new study. Though very hard to categorize, fibromyalgia seems to be a rheumatic condition as it will impair soft tissues as well as joints by causing pain. Along with it, fibromyalgia carries many other life-disrupting symptoms varying from one individual to other. Some of these symptoms include headaches, stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome and also sensitivity to sounds, temperature and bright lights as well. The accurate cause of fibromyalgia is not well understood, but hypothesized culprits include stressful or traumatic life events along with repetitive injuries. There may also be connections to several other diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Some researchers even believe that there would be a genetic element at work. As there would not be any...
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...any historical information The alternative therapy activity for diabetes is the acupuncture therapy. Acupuncture is one of the ancient ways of treatment which is around 800 years old. In those years, the Chinese used sharp stones or bones as their surgical instruments. Acupuncture continued to develop since then and has now become one of the leading therapies in the world. The treatment of diabetes by acupuncture therapy is best known for reducing blood glucose levels mostly in the patients with type 2 which is non–insulin diabetes and the most common. The process has identified around 20 body points which are very effective in reducing the blood glucose levels. The main points of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of diabetes conditions are sanyinjiao, zusanli, quchii and the yishu. These points are chosen on the bases of the diabetes history, and the specific stage of the diabetes. The acupuncture points and the treatment process are different from person to person. This diabetes therapy is treated using the combination of acupuncture and specific Chinese herbal medicines which have a hypoglycemic effect. One of the herbs called ginseng plays a major in lowering the blood glucose levels (Oleson, 2012). In a single session, acupuncture may involve the application of dozen points for the treatment. The course for the treatment of diabetes using acupuncture therapy is long term since acupuncture treats only the symptoms but does not cure. The course of treatment involves two...
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...RUNNING HEAD: CHINESE MEDICAL CULTURE Chinese Medical Culture April 13, 2012 Carrington College Chinese Medical Culture Culture is defined as the thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious or social groups. There are millions of different cultures in the world, which are socially transmitted knowledge, behavioral patterns, values, beliefs, norms, and lifestyles of a particular group that guides their view of the world and decision-making (Fundamentals of Nursing ch.9). Just about every culture has their own way of assessing pain, giving medications, and treating procedures that may not be the same as the health care system in the United States but still is the same goal; which is to better the patient. The Chinese medical culture has there own specific and unique values, beliefs, and practices. Within the Chinese culture, values are strongly influenced by the Yin/Yang which are general opposing forces. Yin is said to be a female with cold negative energy and Yang is said to be a male with hot positive energy. Imbalance from these two forces is said to result in sickness. It is also said that hot and cold food resemble the Yin/Yang, are a necessity to maintain a proper balance of health. The Chinese also highly value the five elements wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Their belief is that the all of the five elements are in relation with each other and if one element is out of balance then...
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...Patients In recent years, the medical field has witnessed major changes in methods of treatment with the most common being complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). CAM refers to treatment methods that do not use conventional medicine. With time, the medical field is increasing research to establish the safety and efficiency of alternative medicine even though knowledge of CAM is still limited. Nonetheless, there is a difference between complementary medicine and alternative medicine. While complementary medicine refers to the conventional use of curative practices and products together with traditional medicine for instance a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy using marijuana to alleviate the effects of chemotherapy. On the other hand alternative medicine acts as a substitute of conventional therapy for example a cancer patient foregoing therapy and opts for dietary changes. CAM is on the verge of increase with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) reporting that up to 40% of adults 12% uses some form of CAM (Barnes, Bloom, Nahin, (US) & others, 2008). As opposed to traditional medical treatments that are comprehensively tested and vigilantly regulated professional bodies such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the majority CAM therapies have undergone exceptionally modest scientific study if any to assess their safety and effectiveness. One of the most common forms of CAM being used today is acupuncture. Despite the fact that it is...
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...where the body is in balance with and adaptive to the environment. Western doctors consider health to be the absence of disease, pain or defect. To the Chinese practitioner, disease is caused by an imbalance of the vital force of the body and stems from multiple causes, while westerners think of it as a difect of tissue or structure of the organism with a single cause. Symptoms, in the Asian view are messages from the body about its state of balance or vitality and should be listened to carefully. To the western doctor, symptoms are signs of the disease or defect and should be reduced or eliminated. There has been some crossover during the past decades. Many Chinese and other Asians now seek western treatment for illness, and some Chinese medical practices and herbs are accepted in the West. The debate over...
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