Holistic Medicine

Millions of people around the world are living with pain that could be

prevented with the use of alternative therapies.  As a result many of

these people use harmful or ineffective drugs and surgeries in an attempt

to cure their ailments.  With a steady schedule of massage therapy,

acupuncture, and healthy foods, people can lead a healthy and invigorating

life without drugs or surgery. During the time of the ancient Roman

gladiators, massage therapy was used to treat everything from headaches to

sports injures on them. Today massage therapy is widely recognized as a

sensible alternative to traditional medicine, in that it relieves pain and

soreness otherwise helped by taking pills or other medicines.  Massage can

help everyone, including premature infants according to USA Weekend,

"premature infants who get regular massages in the hospital gain more

weight and leave the hospital sooner then unmassaged babies"(McNichol,22). 

  I firmly believe that massage therapy is one of the best preventative

measures that a person can take to avoid most medical problems involved

with aging, physical exertion, and the stress of everyday life.  Some

doctors agree by saying, "If you have a massage every week, you will have

2/3 less illness" 

           (H. Gruenn, M.D.). 

 There are many different types of massage therapy including relaxing

Swedish massage for relieving stress, sports massage for treating sports

related injuries, and therapeutic massage to name a few.  Relaxing Swedish

massage is one of the most effective ways to deal with that invisible

killer, stress.  By applying smooth gentle stokes or other non-invasive

massage techniques, the Swedish massage practitioner can relieve the

client of the every day stresses of life that can be fatal if not dealt

with. 

 In sports massage, the use of more advanced massage techniques can

relieve athletes of lactic acid and other wastes that accumulate in the

muscles due to exertion.  Other therapeutic massage techniques such as

Neuromuscular, Myofascal, and Lymphatic drainage can aid in the recovery

of injured clients. 

 Another form of alternative therapy is the ancient Chinese healing art of

acupuncture.  Acupuncture was first experimented within the First Imperial

Medical College of China during the Sui Dynasty in 589 AD. "In Chinese

medicine, and therefore in acupuncture, health is determined by a persons

ability to maintain a balanced and harmonious internal environment."(Mills

pg. 8). This theory of internal harmony is expressed through the

principles of Ying and Yang and it’s five separate phases: wood, fire,

earth, metal, and water.  Internal harmony is also based on the

uninterrupted flow of the "Qi", or vitality. The Qi is responsible for all

of the body’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical processes. The Qi

flows up and down channels of the body called "Jingluo", or meridians. 

Twelve particular meridians run up and down the body in a continuous

circuit connecting the internal organs of the body known as "Zangfu".  If

the acupuncturist knows the correct point along the meridians, the Qi’s

flow may be returned to normal by using the needle. 

 I have experienced acupuncture first hand and I do believe it is an

effective tool for relieving pain and diseases that effect the body.

Overall, the basic principle of acupuncture and all of Chinese medicine is

to restore the balance of Ying and Yang.  Acupuncture works best in

conduction with massage therapy and a good diet of healthy foods. How many

times did your mother have to tell you to eat your vegetables? "In fact,

scientists say that a little more attention to our diets might slash the

death rate for heart disease by seventy percent."(Michaud,28). As a result

of all the junk food in the world, clogged arteries, overburdened hearts,

stone filled gall bladders, ruined livers, and many other chemical enemies

are eating away at our health. As the well known saying goes, "An apple a

day keeps the doctor away", because apples and other fruits can lower

cholesterol, prevent gallstones, and protect against certain cancers.  Dr.

Neil Stone, M.D., says "It’s important to eat a balanced diet rich in

fruits and vegetables" (Wild,29).  Among other healthy fruits there are

apricots that combat constipation and bananas that heal ulcers and prevent

strokes.  Experts state that, "Fortunately, bananas are the overwhelming

fruit snack of Americans.  Americans have increased the consumption of the

fruit by about 30 percent over the past couple of decades"(Michaud, 38).

Vegetables such as beans lower cholesterol and can even control appetite. 

Berries may also prevent certain cancers and also battle arthritis and

urinary tract infections.  Carrots and cherries may also help lower

cholesterol levels that can result in heart attacks. Many other tasty

entrees such as fish and other meats may prevent iron deficiency anemia

and even memory loss.  Meats can also bolster the immune system to fight

diseases and keep people out of the hospital. Any of these foods combined

with a drink of calcium enriched milk or an artery clearing citrus drink

will improve your health dramatically. 

 The junk food companies will say that their products are low-fat or light

on the calories, but who are they kidding?  They just want to sell their

product and could care less about the health of the world. Sometimes it is

hard to resist the temptation of a freshly baked batch of cookies or a bag

of salty potato chips on Super Bowl Sunday, but the only one responsible

for your health is you. There are many other ways to avoid common health

problems that can send people straight to the hospital for surgery.  Other

alternative therapies like chiropractic care and aromatherapy are also

great ways to keep people healthy.  It is important to inform people of

the many preventative measures in alternative therapy that could improve

the people of the world’s health dramatically.  Thousands of people die

every year due to the side effects of prescription medicine and surgeries

that go wrong.  No one in the history of massage therapy or acupuncture

has died from the application of these therapies.  Too many people decide

that the application of these therapies is a waste of money or frivolous,

but when it comes to the doctor prescribing medicine or surgeries that

pose a threat to health, people take this seriously. Some doctors, the

ones who truly care for your health, will recommend alternative therapies

before dangerous medical procedures, but there are many medical doctors

out there who have dollar signs in their eyes and will recommend expensive

and sometimes unnecessary surgeries and medicine just to make their

pockets thicker.  Do yourself a favor, look into alternative therapies or

ask your doctor about them, the future of your health may depend on it. 

WORKS CITED

Michaud, Ellen. "Healing Foods."

The Complete Book of Natural and Medicinal Cures. Rodale Press Inc.,

1994.

Mills, Simon M.A., and Finado, Stephen J. Ph.D.

Alternatives in Healing.  Marshall Editions Ltd., 1988.

Fritz, Sandy.  Mosby’s Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage.

Mosby-Year Book Inc., 1995.