WELLNESS

Alternative Therapy Treatment

Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has evolved over thousands of years.
TCM practitioners use various mind and body practices (such as
acupuncture and tai chi) as well as herbal products to address health
problems.
 Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal products have been studied for many medical
problems, including stroke, heart disease, mental disorders, and
respiratory diseases (such as bronchitis and the common cold), and a
national survey showed that about one in five Americans use them.
Because many studies have been of poor quality, no firm conclusions
can be made about their effectiveness.
 Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific
points on the body, usually by inserting thin needles through the skin.
Studies suggest that acupuncture stimulates the release of the body’s
natural painkillers and affects areas in the brain involved in processing
pain; however, some trials suggest that real acupuncture and sham
acupuncture are equally effective, indicating a placebo effect. Results
from a number of studies, however, suggest real acupuncture may
help ease types of pain that are often chronic, such as low-back pain,
neck pain, osteoarthritis/knee pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. It also
may help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent
migraine headaches.
Treats pain conditions such as:
- Low-Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Osteoarthritis/Knee Pain
- Headache
If you decide to visit an acupuncturist, check his or her credentials.
Most states require a license, certification, or registration to practice
acupuncture; however, education and training standards and
requirements for obtaining these vary from state to state. Although a
license does not ensure quality of care, it does indicate that the
practitioner meets certain standards regarding the knowledge and use
of acupuncture. Most states require a diploma from the National
Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
for licensing.
Some conventional medical practitioners—including physicians and
dentists—practice acupuncture. In addition, national acupuncture
organizations (which can be found through libraries or by searching the
Internet) may provide referrals to acupuncturists. When considering
practitioners, ask about their training and experience.

 Tai Chi and Qi Gong (low impact excercises)

Tai chi combines certain postures, gentle movements, mental focus,
breathing, and relaxation. Research findings suggest that practicing tai
chi may improve balance and stability in older people and those with
Parkinson’s disease, reduce pain from knee osteoarthritis, help people
cope with fibromyalgia and back pain, and promote quality of life and
improve mood in people with heart failure and cancer. There's been
less research on the effects of qi gong, but some studies suggest it may
reduce chronic neck pain (although results are mixed) and pain from
fibromyalgia. Qi gong also may help to improve general quality of life.
Both also may offer psychological benefits, such as reducing anxiety.
However, differences in how the research on anxiety was conducted
make it difficult to draw firm conclusions about this.
 Falling and Balance
Exercise programs, including tai chi, may reduce falling and the fear of
falling in older people. Tai chi also may be more effective than other
forms of exercise for improving balance and stability in people with
Parkinson’s disease.
 A 2012 review determined that tai chi, as well as other group- and
home-based activity programs (which often include balance and
strength-training exercises) effectively reduced falling in older people,
and tai chi significantly reduced the risk of falling. But the reviewers also
found that tai chi was less effective in older people who were at higher
risk of falling.
Fear of falling can have a serious impact on an older person’s health
and life. In a 2014 review, researchers suggested that various types of
exercise, including tai chi, may reduce the fear of falling among
older people.
Findings from a 2012 clinical trial with 195 people showed that
practicing tai chi improved balance and stability better than resistance
training or stretching in people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s
disease. A 2014 follow-up analysis showed that people who practiced
tai chi were more likely to continue exercising during the 3 months
following the study compared with those who participated in
resistance training or stretching.
 For Pain
Knee Osteoarthritis
Results of a small NCCIH-funded clinical trial involving 40 participants with
knee osteoarthritis suggested that practicing tai chi reduced pain and
improved function better than an education and stretching program.
An analysis of seven small and moderately-sized clinical studies
concluded that a 12-week course of tai chi reduced pain and improved
function in people with this condition.
Fibromyalgia
Results from a small 2010 NCCIH-supported clinical trial suggested that
practicing tai chi was more effective than wellness education and
stretching in helping people with fibromyalgia sleep better and cope
with pain, fatigue, and depression. After 12 weeks, those who practiced
tai chi also had better scores on a survey designed to measure a
person’s ability to carry out certain daily activities such as walking,
housecleaning, shopping, and preparing a meal. The benefits of tai chi
also appeared to last longer.
 A small 2012 NCCIH-supported trial suggested that combining tai chi
movements with mindfulness allowed people with fibromyalgia to work
through the discomfort they may feel during exercise, allowing them to
take advantage of the benefits of physical activity.
Chronic Neck Pain
Research results on the effectiveness of qi gong for chronic neck pain
are mixed, but the people who were studied and the way the studies
were done were quite different.
A 2009 clinical study by German researchers showed no benefit of qi
gong or exercise compared with no therapy in 117 elderly adults (mostly
women) with, on average, a 20-year history of chronic neck pain. Study
participants had 24 exercise or qi gong sessions over 3 months.
Back Pain
In people who had low-back pain for at least 3 months, a program of tai
chi exercises reduced their pain and improved their functioning.
 Mental Health and Cognitive Function
While a range of research has suggested that exercise helps reduce
depression and anxiety, the role of tai chi and qi gong for these and other
mental health problems is less clear. However, there is evidence that tai
chi may boost brain function and reasoning ability in older people.

NCCIH-supported research suggested that practicing tai chi may help

reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and also improve mood and self-
esteem. However, in their 2010 review, which included 40 studies with
more than 3,800 participants, the researchers noted that they couldn't
develop firm conclusions because of differences in study designs.
Tai chi and qi gong appear to be safe practices. One NCCIH-supported
review noted that tai chi is unlikely to result in serious injury but it may be
associated with minor aches and pains. Women who are pregnant
should talk with their health care providers before beginning tai chi, qi
gong, or any other exercise program.
Tai chi instructors don’t have to be licensed, and the practice isn't
regulated by the Federal Government or individual states. There’s no
national standard for qi gong certification. Various tai chi and qi gong
organizations offer training and certification programs—with differing
criteria and levels of certification for instructors.
Ayurveda

Ayurvedic medicine (“Ayurveda” for short) is one of the world's oldest

holistic (“whole-body”) healing systems. It was developed more than 3,000
years ago in India.

It’s based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate
balance between the mind, body, and spirit. Its main goal is to promote
good health, not fight disease. But treatments may be geared toward
specific health problems.

In the United States, it’s considered a form of complementary and

alternative medicine (CAM).

Students of CAM therapy believe that everything in the universe – dead or

alive – is connected. If your mind, body, and spirit are in harmony with the
universe, you have good health. When something disrupts this balance, you
get sick. Among the things that can upset this balance are genetic or birth
defects, injuries, climate and seasonal change, age, and your emotions.
 Vata Dosha

Those who practice Ayurveda believe this is the most powerful of all three
doshas. It controls very basic body functions, like how cells divide. It also
controls your mind, breathing, blood flow, heart function, and ability to get
rid of waste through your intestines. Things that can disrupt it include eating
again too soon after a meal, fear, grief, and staying up too late.

If vata dosha is your main life force, you’re thought to be more likely to
develop conditions like anxiety, asthma, heart disease, skin problems,
and rheumatoid arthritis.

 Pitta Dosha

This energy controls your digestion, metabolism (how well you break down
foods), and certain hormones that are linked to your appetite.

Things that can disrupt it are eating sour or spicy foods and spending too
much time in the sun.
If it’s your main life force, you’re thought to be more likely to develop
conditions like Crohn’s disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, and
infections.

 Kapha Dosha

This life force controls muscle growth, body strength and stability, weight,
and your immune system.

You can disrupt it by sleeping during the day, eating too many sweet foods,
and eating or drinking things that contain too much salt or water.

If it’s your main life energy, practitioners believe you may

develop asthma and other breathing
disorders, cancer, diabetes, nausea after eating, and obesity.

Ayurvedic Treatment

An Ayurvedic practitioner will create a treatment plan specifically designed

for you. He’ll take into account your unique physical and emotional
makeup, your primary life force, and the balance between all three of these
elements.

The goal of treatment is to cleanse your body of undigested food, which

can stay in your body and lead to illness. The cleansing process—called
“panchakarma”— is designed to reduce your symptoms and restore
harmony and balance.

To achieve this, an Ayurvedic practitioner might rely

on blood purification, massage, medical oils, herbs, and enemas or
laxatives.
WELLBEING LIFE STYLE REMODELLING
 Spa Therapy
 Yoga Therapy
 Meditation Therapy
 Holistic Therapy
 Thermal Therapy
 Palneology
 Thalassotherapy
 Algae Therapy
 Cryotherapy
 Electrotherapy
 Magnetotherapy
 Mud Healing Therapy
 Occupational Therapy
 Massage
 Diet & Nutritional Programs
 Detoxification
 Spiritual Tourism