Alternative Healthcare and Medicine Encyclopedia

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Alternative Healthcare and Medicine Encyclopedia
Šrift:Väiksem АаSuurem Aa

Complementary Healthcare and Alternative Medicine Encyclopedia









Encyclopedia of Thai Massage







and Alternative Medicine









The Jap-sen guide to alternative and complementary medicine, self development and natural health.









ISBN 978



-0-557-61853-8







Publisher: Heinz Duthel







© Heinz Duthel 2010



 - 2018







Encyclopedia of Thai Massage and Alternative Medicine









This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circul



ated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
















For my children

















Therapies,Information







Acupressure







Acupuncture







Alexander,Technique,







Anthroposophical,Medicine







Aromatherapy,







Art,therapy,







Aura,Soma,







Autogenic,Training







Ayurveda







Bach,flower,remedies,







Bates,method,







Biochemic,Tissue,Salts







Biofeedback,







Bio



rhythms,







Bowen,technique,







Buteyko







Chiropractic







Cognitive,and,Behaviour,Therapies







Colonic,irrigation







Colour,therapy







Cranial,Osteopathy







Cranio-sacral,therapy,







Do,In,,







Ear,acupuncture,







Emotional,Freedom,Technique,(EFT)







Feldenkrais,Method,







Feng,Shui







Healing,







H



ellerwork







Herbal,medicine







Holographic,repatterning







Homoeopathy,







Hopi,ear,candles,







Hypnotherapy,







Indian,Head,Massage







Iridology







Johrei







Kahuna,Bodywork







Kanpo







Kinesiology







Life-coaching







Manual,Lymph,Drainage







Massage,therapy,







McTimoney,Chiropractic







Medau,Movemen



t







Meditation







Metabolic,Typing







Metamorphic,Technique







Naturopathy







NLP







Norris,Technique







Nutritional,therapy,







Osteopathy,,







Pilates







Polarity,therapy,







Psychotherapy







Qigong,







Radionics







Reflexology







Reiki,healing







Rolfing







Seichem,/,Seichim,/,Sekhem







Seiki







Shiatsu,







Sou



nd,Therapy







Thai,Foot,Massage







Thai,Yoga,Massage







The,Journey







Thought,Field,Therapy,







Toyohari







Trager,Work







Tuina







Yoga







Zero,Balancing







Acupressure







Acupressure is the application of pressure to the body to affect the flow of energy (Ki) in the 12 meridians accor



ding to the principles of Oriental medicine. It is widely practised in China where more emphasis is given to a person's responsibility for their own health than it is in the West, and is often used as a self-help treatment.







Acupressure is believed to be th



e 'mother of Acupuncture' in that it predates the use of needles to stimulate the body's energy flow. It has the same principles as Acupuncture, but the pressure is applied directly to the Acupoints of the body mainly by using the hands, fingers, thumb or



knuckles and sometimes by using a smooth, blunt object. Stimulation of the body's meridian system by touch is perhaps one of the oldest healing systems, and many other therapies use Acupressure techniques including Shen Tao, Jin Shen, Do Jin Shen, Qigong,



Shiatsu and Tuina.

















Acupuncture







Acupuncture



 is an ancient Chinese medical procedure involving insertion and manipulation of needles at more than 360 points in the human body. Applied to relieve pain during surgery or in rheumatic conditions, and to tre



at many other illnesses, acupuncture is used today in most hospitals in China and by some private practitioners in Japan, Europe, and the United States.







Acupressure,



 a variant in which the practitioner uses manipulation rather than penetration to alleviate



 pain or other symptoms, is in widespread use in Japan and has begun to find adherents in the United States and elsewhere. Also known as



shiatsu,



 acupressure is administered by pressing with the fingertips-and sometimes the elbows or knees-along a complex



network of trigger points in the patient's body.







In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed an energy called chi flows along invisible energy channels called 'meridians' which are believed to be linked to internal organs. Sticking needles at particula



r points along those meridians is believed to increase or decrease that flow of energy.







Chinese traditional medicine sees that a balance has to be kept between two opposing yet complementary natural forces called 'yin' (female) and 'yang' (male). Yin force



 is seen as being passive, tranquil, and represents darkness, coldness, moisture and swelling. Yang force is seen a



being aggressive and stimulating, and represents light, heat, dryness and contraction.







History







Acupuncture needles dating from 4,000 years a



go have been found in China. The first needles were made of stone; later, bronze, gold, or silver were used, and, today, needles are usually made of steel. Initially, needles were used only to prick boils and ulcers. Acupuncture was developed in response t



o the theory that there are special "meridian points" on the body connected to the internal organs, and that "vital energy" flows along the meridian lines. According to this theory, diseases are caused by interrupted energy flow, and inserting and twirling



 needles restores normal flow.







Treatment







The primary use of acupuncture in China today is for surgical



analgesia



 (pain relief). Chinese surgeons estimate that 30 per cent of surgical patients obtain adequate analgesia with acupuncture, which is now done by



 sending an electrical current through the needles rather than by twirling them. American doctors who have observed surgery done under acupuncture have verified that it is effective in some patients, but put the figure closer to 10 per cent. Brain surgery



is especially amenable to this form of analgesia. Chinese surgeons claim that acupuncture is superior to Western, drug-induced analgesia in that it does not disturb normal body physiology, and, therefore, does



not make the patient vulnerable to



shock



 (acut



e fall in blood pressure).



 





Chinese doctors also treat some forms of heart disease with acupuncture. As part of an attempt to put the practice on a more scientific basis, they studied the effects of acupuncture treatment on more than 600 people with chest p



ain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. They claimed that almost all the patients greatly reduced their use of medicine, and that most were able to resume work. Other physiological conditions treated with acupuncture are peptic ulcers,



hypertension






(high blood pressure), appendicitis, and asthma.







In 1979, the World Health Organisation listed some 40 diseases that could be successfully treated with acupuncture, including breathing difficulties, digestive problems, disorders of the nervous system and p



ainful menstruation







The Alexander Technique







The Alexander Technique is used to help to teach people about how efficiently and effortlessly they can use their bodies in everyday life. Often, we develop bad posture and habits without being aware of this, an



d expend too much energy or muscle force to achieve a task. Alexander Technique teachers help to adjust the client's posture to recognise the difference between current habits and what it feels like to use muscles with minimum effort and in a relaxed, flui



d way. The Technique teaches how to become



more aware of your own posture, balance and movement in everyday life.







The lessons usually last for between 30 and 45 minutes and are normally on a one-to-one basis. The teacher uses his/her hands to gently correc



t any muscular imbalances and encourages the body to a better alignment. This is a direct body experience, so the client becomes familiar with the sensation of correct alignment in their own body. This can feel strange initially, as the body is not used to



 using it's muscles in this way, and the new methods of movement need to be practised with constant awareness as to how we choose to use our bodies in everyday tasks. It is a process of re-educating the body by learning how to stand and move correctly. Thi



s leads to health benefits as often poor spinal posture will lead to other symptoms like poor breathing due to restriction in the throat and diaphragm areas. Breathing and how we breathe is an important aspect of the Alexander Technique.







The Alexander Tech



nique was developed by an Australian actor, Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955). He suffered from respiratory problems as a child, which later affected his voice and career in the theatre. He tried many remedies without success and eventually began a



process of self-observation to try to find a way of curing himself. He realised that the voice problem was a result of muscular tension in his whole body and that his thought patterns also had a great part in contributing to the tension that had become an



ingrained habit. Alexander studied his posture with the aid of mirrors to see how this was affected when he recited and as a result could see that



his body alignment was incorrect. He gradually taught himself to correct his posture and found that he had cu



red his voice problem. He went on to pass the technique to others and eventually opened a clinic to help people to learn about their own use of posture.

















Anthroposophical Medicine







An Austrian - Rudolf Steiner, founded the philosophy of Anthroposophica



l Medicine in the early 1900's. Steiner's aim was to complement and develop medicine as it existed, rather than set up an alternative system. Together with Dr Ita Wegman, he developed his ideas to include a medical science, as well as his own principle of



polarity.







The Seven Principles of Anthroposophical Medicine







Spirit manifests both within the human organism and outside of it in the substances of the kingdoms of nature.







The wisdom that created nature is also at work within the human being.







Anthroposophic



al Medicine is a leading holistic health movement throughout Europe and has been on the cutting edge of preserving therapeutic freedom in the public and legal realm.







Man has a divinely guided individual destiny, which includes individual freedom with the p



otential for error and illness.







Art is an indispensable part of human life. Out of AM, specialized disciplines of Therapeutic Eurythmy,



Rhythmical Massage, clay modeling, painting and music therapy have evolved.







Remedies are derived from substances of the



mineral, plant or animal kingdom. They can be prepared homeopathically, alchemically or as whole substance. They can be given orally, by injection or through external application.







Every treatment aims to enhance the life force of the patient as an axis for



 improved health and deepened self-knowledge.







What to expect







An anthroposophical doctor will ask questions about diet, lifestyle and constitution, with an emphasis on the body's rhythms - eating, sleeping and menstrual patterns. The doctor may also carry o



ut standard medical tests, and will use the information to aid diagnosis, prescribing treatment to balance the poles and systems regulating the body.



Practitioners are fully qualified doctors, who make use of modern technology and medication as required -



 they consider that this approach gives them a fuller picture of an individual, allowing them to take a broader view of illness and therapy.







Because AM is a holistic system, aimed at harmonizing elements of the spiritual, as well as the physical self, it i



s said by its followers to be of benefit in cases where a conventional cure cannot be achieved.








Aromatherapy







What is it?







The art of applying essential oils to suit individual needs. The oils work directly on the chemistry of the body, via the skin and bl



oodstream.







Essential oils are extracts that contain the substances that give plants their smell. They are produced by tiny glands in the petals, leaves, stems, bark and wood of many plants and trees. In nature, they are released slowly, but when heated or



crushed, their oil glands burst, releasing the plant's aroma more strongly.







It isn't known exactly when or where the art of aromatherapy began. It is thought that Chinese knowledge of medicinal oils may have reached the west by way of the Egyptians, Greeks



 and Roman. The first recorded use of plants in Britain was in the 13th century and from then on, manufacture increase and the oils became widely used as perfumes, antiseptics and medicines.













How are the oils applied?







Usually by massage, they can be given



 as a relaxing treatment covering "stress" areas such as back, shoulders, face, legs.







Essential oils can also be inhaled, using an oil burner or breathing in an infusion and can also be very beneficial when added to baths.







Who can it help?







Aromatherapy is



believed to be suitable for people of all ages, even babies. Aromatherapists claim that they can treat many conditions, and often see a great improvement in nervous disorders, such as depression, anger, stress and other related symptoms such as headaches a



nd insomnia.







Practitioners say that aromatherapy is safe for home use, but the following general guidelines should be observed:







Only high quality oils should be bought from a specialist aromatherapy supplier.







Pure oils should not be applied directly to the



 skin.







Oils should not be swallowed unless they are supplied by a fully trained aromatherapist and used under his/her supervision.







Some oils are to be avoided by pregnant women. Check with a trained aromatherapist.







Art therapy







The use of art has always be



en used for self-expression and to convey ideas and emotions that are difficult to describe verbally. It's potential as a therapeutic tool became apparent after World War 2 when survivors of the war used art in hospitals and rehabilitation centres to help



to overcome the traumas they had experienced. Art Therapy is a non-verbal way of revealing deeper emotions that may not otherwise be clearly expressed.







Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy where art (creative expression using various media: painting, dra



wing, sculpture etc) is sued to allow safe expression of emotions. The client is encouraged to express themselves freely through art, allowing a link between the subconscious the product of the art therapy. The resulting images can help to bring to light a



ny suppressed emotions or conflicts. Reflecting on the images can help to



understand and deal with the issues that arise. Art Therapy is also used as a tool for personal growth and greater self-understanding.







There are two main approaches to Art Therapy. O



ne is that the act of creating the artwork is therapeutic in itself and allows the client to understand their own inner conflicts and emotions without any interpretation from the therapist. The other approach takes the view that the artwork is a non-verbal



 method of communicating and allows the therapist to understand and identify the client's needs through interpretation to help them to deal with the issues.







Art Therapy is often used in hospitals, prisons, education centres and mental health clinics and is



 suitable for people of all ages. It is especially beneficial for emotional and psychological disorders as it provides a means of communication to express feelings that are too difficult to verbalise. It is also of great use for personal development and gr



owth by helping to identify problem areas and then transform negative images into positive ones.







Therapy sessions may be on a one-to-one basis or in a group. An initial consultation is taken to determine general health, medical treatment and lifestyle deta



ils before any sessions commence. No previous art experience is necessary as the purpose is to use the art media to help to communicate deeper inner emotions which can then be self-interpreted.
















Aura Soma







Aura-Soma is a form of colour therapy. It was d



eveloped in 1984 by Vicky Wall, a UK chiropodist who developed psychic powers after losing her sight. She described Aura-Soma as "non-intrusive, self-selective soul therapy". The remedies are a collection of small bottles, each containing a layer of colo



ured essential oil on top of a layer of coloured spring water containing herbal extracts. There are over 90 bottles in all and most of them contain two colours each. You are asked to choose the four colours that most appeal to you. The four that you cho



ose are the most relevant to your physical and emotional condition and by applying the combination of colours to your skin daily, allows the body to absorb the colours and rebalance the body. There is no standard duration of treatment and the therapy is u



sed as often as it is felt necessary.



 





Autogenic Training







Autogenic Training is a form of self hypnosis that aims to induce a state of relaxation and wellbeing, and to utilize the body's own healing power. Its originator was Dr Johannes Shultz, a psychiat



rist and neurologist, who was strongly influenced by Professor Oscar Vogt, who had dedicated high life to psychosomatic medicine. Shultz developed Vogts theory that patients who practiced simple verbal exercises to induce hypnosis could alleviate many phys



ical and mental ailments.







Dr Shultz went on to develop a series of six Standard Autogenic Formulae - which still form the core of Autogenic Training and Therapy today. A book was published in 1932, and the training of teacher grew from there.







Autogenic Tra



ining is t