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Alternative Health Topics
This section will offer brief descriptions of a few
alternative healing modalities. It is by no means a
complete "list."
Acupuncture
Anywhere from one to more than a dozen slender needles
are inserted into the skin. These needles are placed in
alignment with the meridians (the connections to the body's
electrical system). During this painless procedure, the
faster nerve impulses (four times quicker than pain impulses)
that the needles stimulate, block the entrance of pain
signals, preventing the brain from registering them. These
healing messenger impulses also travel to every organ in the
body. This gives them the electrical energy they need to
re-establish proper function. Studies suggest that
acupuncture directly causes the body to release natural
morphine-like pain killers called endorphins and enkephalins.
In China, it is commonplace to use acupunture in place of
anesthesia during surgery. More often than not,
acupuncturists prescribe ancient Chinese medicinal herbs as
part of the treatment.
Even still, quite a few doctors and scientist believe
that acupuncture has no physiological basis and works through
a placebo effect. Not so, says a number of doctors who
have successfully performed surgery on animals using ONLY
acupuncture for anesthesia. Now, would an animal hold still
and not yelp in pain because it has used the power of
suggestion on itself? Not likely!
Even so, 3,000 American M.D.'s are now involved with the
ancient therapy. Plus, 1,200 non-medical acupuncturists
have become certified since the mid-'70s. It is becoming
increasingly more accepted by the American public.
Acupuncture sure has worked for me! In the mid-80's, I
was literally taken down (flat on my back) with an
excruciating bout of sciatica. I could barely get to the
phone to call an acupuncturist to come to my house. Within a
half hour after the treatment, I experienced moderate pain
relief.
Chiropractics
Chiropractic is a form of medicine which restores joint
and spinal motion based on the manipulation of specific
bones in the spine, the control center for the body's central
nervous system. This allows the muscles to become more
relaxed and lets once impinged nerves flow increased
amounts of electrical energy to our brains, organs and the
rest of the body.
Chiropractors look at health problems from a different
perspective than an M.D. They find the source of pain and
eliminate or at least greatly relieve it rather than
prescribe medicine. They sometimes prescribe vitamins, herbs
and other natural remedies, however. Chiropractors claim
they can treat dizziness, headaches, painful joints, muscles,
ligaments and tendons, sprains, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, ear
ringing, vision and swallowing problems, allergies and pain
in the neck and lower back. Many healers in Ancient Greece,
including Hippocrates, practiced chiropractics.
During the time I had sciatica, acupuncture along with
massage and chiropractics were the only way I got relief.
Many times I've been helped by my kindly 72 year old
chiropractor friend, Dr. Paul Bray. Once, I came in with
moderate carpal tunnel pain. Within two minutes of his
treatment, the pain had greatly reduced. In a matter of
hours, it was completely gone! Thanks to him and another
chiropractor, the sciatica is gone and my lower back is back
to normal.
Naturopathy
The basic premise of Naturopathy is that if we give the
body what it needs, it will bring itself back into balance
and totally heal itself. The Naturopathic doctor goes
through a rigorous six year training program that gives him
the knowledge and understanding of which remedies, treatments
and strategies to use to assist the body in it's healing
process.
This form of medicine recognizes that a single disease
may have multiple causes. For instance, chronic fatigue
could result from a viral infection, a thyroid or a digestive
order, or a long term illness - to name a few. And,
hypertension may originate from stress, not enough exercise,
allergies or cardiovascular disease. The naturopathic doctor
feels that making a diagnosis on symptoms alone is
inconclusive. There usually is a deeper, more hidden root
cause. The naturopath traces the illness back to this cause
so that he can give his patient an individualized treatment
plan. While devising this "plan", not only does he treat in
terms of their illness, he sees that the plan is in harmony
with their whole self - body, mind and spirit.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is based on the principal that "like cures
like" or the 'Law of Similars' laid down by the father of
homeopathy, German physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. He
declared: "If a medicine administered to a healthy person
causes a certain syndrome of symptoms, that medicine will
cure a sick person who presents similar symptoms." He
proved-out this hypothesis to his own satisfaction by giving
homeopathic remedies to many people.
Let's say you go to a homeopath for a fever. He would
prescribe something herbal or chemical which in a healthy
person would actually cause the fever to intensify (in a safe
proportion). He would give you this "remedy" in a small
dose, probably in pill form that is not only tiny but has the
medication in an extremely diluted form. This remedy would
stimulate your immune system to rise up and reduce the fever
brought on by the medication but also the fever you showed up
with.
Most homeopaths are also M.D.'s. And, assumedly, an M.D.
is going to know how to deal with an illness in a reasonable
way and would not use homeopathy where not appropriate. Some
homeopathic-practicing doctors do not use homeopathy in all
cases. They are just as likely to approach a given illness
as any other M.D. would.
There are not very many homeopathic physicians in the
United States. These few are said to have to have excellent
medical credentials and are usually very enthusiastic, open
minded and knowledgeable. I heard of one that cured his son
of a very serious illness after many specialists at a large
hospital fell short of helping him. The homeopathic
treatment he used consisted largely of herbs. Although there
is no scientific proof that says homeopathic medicine works,
there's at least one father who knows it does!
There are many more alternative ways to heal. There is
polarity, touch for health, laying on of hands, shamanic,
faith, psychic, crystal and gem, flower essence,
long-distance, spontaneous and biomagnetic healing - to
mention a few. Remember not to underestimate your mind and
body's capacity to heal itself by itself! Your local
library and bookstores are a great place to do your own
"resourcing" if this chapter has sparked your curiousity!
End of file.