Holistic Healing: Restore to Health Using Energy Medicines
”Like Qigong, Reiki and Magnetic Field Therapy.”
Holistic healing is at the very core in all types of complementary and alternative medicines. Each person is treated as an individual and seen as a whole. All aspects of the mind, body and spiritual needs are taken into account. Only when all aspects are functioning harmoniously can optimal health be present.
A holistic healing practitioner works with you in partnership to develop the plan that is right for you. Holistic medicines empower individuals to make the changes necessary and to accept responsibility to achieve and maintain good health.
Energy Medicines
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in the United States identifies energy medicine as one of five non-scientific fields of complementary and alternative medicine. The other four are:
The theory behind energy medicines is that illness is caused by an imbalance in the body’s energy field and that health can be restored by re-balancing the body’s energy field.
The NCCAM divides energy medicine into two categories. Therapies that on based on theorized forms of energy that is scientifically unconfirmed are known as putative energy. Types of putative energy therapies include acupuncture, Qigong and reiki.
Therapies which rely on known forms of energy are called veritable energy therapies. Types of veritable energy medicine include magnet therapy and light therapy.
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Qigong
Pronounced chee gung, Qigong has been part of the Chinese culture and traditions for over 2,500 years. According to the Qigong Research and Practice Center in Colorado, it is “the art and science of using breathing techniques, gentle movement, and meditation to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate the life energy (qi). Qigong teaches us how to manage our responses to stress.
Qigong practices are divided into four different types of training. Dynamic training involves particular movement. Static training requires that the practitioner hold the body in a specific position. Meditative training involves visualization and the fourth are activities that require external aids such as the ingestion of herbs.
Contact holistic healing and alternative medicine practitioners in your community to learn more about classes and workshops in your area.
Reiki
The practice of Reiki uses a palm healing technique to help the body return to a natural state of health. The belief is that healing energy is transferred to the individual through the palm of the practitioner. During a treatment, a Reiki practitioner would utilize a variety of unique hand positions placed above your energy centers.
Although results will vary with each individual, there have been reports of chronic or acute pain diminishing or vanishing completely in just a few sessions.
Despite the fact that very little scientific evidence exists proving that Reiki is effective, it continues to grow in popularity along with all techniques that fall under the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) umbrella.
One study published in October 2009 looked at Reiki, therapeutic touch and healing touch – what the authors referred to as biofield therapies. They found “strong evidence that biofield therapies reduce pain intensity in free-living populations, and moderate evidence that they are effective at lowering pain in hospitalized patients as well as in patients with cancer.”
Magnetic Field Therapy
The annual world wide sales of therapeutic magnetic devices are estimated at up to $4 billion US. The belief is that by subjecting certain parts of the body to static magnetic fields, beneficial health effects will be produced. Magnets may be specifically used to heal a wound or in a more general sense for increased health and vitality.
The volume of magnetic products available to consumers is staggering – everything from straps for the wrists, ankles, knees and back to insoles, mattresses, blankets, creams and supplements. If you want to try a magnetic product, we recommend Full Body Magnetic Therapy Set - 8 Pieces - Large available online.
While billions of dollars in product are being sold around the world, the scientific evidence in conflicting. An October 2009 study led by a University of York academic found that “copper bracelets and magnetic wrist straps are ineffective in relieving arthritis pain”.
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Stewart Richmond, a Research Fellow in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York said that “it appears that any perceived benefit obtained from wearing a magnetic or copper bracelet can be attributed to psychological placebo effects. People tend to buy them when they are in a lot of pain, then when the pain eases off over time they attribute this to the device. However, our findings suggest that such devices have no real advantage over placebo wrist straps that are not magnetic and do not contain copper.”
Holistic healing and health involves taking responsibility for attaining and maintaining your own well-being. If you are considering any therapies within the CAM umbrella, use your own discretion and the guidance of your doctor or primary health care provider before participating.
available online.