NewsIsFree Search:

ADV:

More on Alternative Medicine becoming Mainstream

Andrea McCloskey suffers from fibromyalgia and used to take countless medications, including a high daily dose of the pain-killer Oxycodone. Now McCloskey takes no medications at all and is even working again.

She credits alternative health care practices offered at the Hazleton Health and Wellness Center.

�??I feel so much better. It�??s a fantastic exercise,�?? she said following a recent session.

While �??alternative�?? is the accepted term, instructor Mark R. Reinhart prefers to use �??complementary�?? to describe his brand of health care, specifically the Qigong (chee-gong) and Taiji (tai-chee) classes he teaches at the center.

Qigong and Taiji are similar practices consisting of fluid body movement, controlled breathing, balance and absolute concentration. �??They have the same core principles: alignment and flow,�?? Reinhart said. �??It pulls your focus in so you can�??t think about anything else.�??

Reinhart finds nothing wrong with traditional medicinal practices if used reasonably, but believes exercises such as Qigong and Taiji should also be incorporated to develop an entire healing of the mind, body and spirit.

�??I�??ve always been drawn to the culture; it always made sense,�?? said Reinhart, who has studied martial arts since 1975 and has been practicing Chinese internal arts for the past 15 years.

Reinhart received his Qigong therapist certification in 2005 and earned his Master of Medical Qigong degree in 2007. He now studies Chinese herbology one weekend a month in New York, the final requirement for full certification in Chinese herbal medicine.

Taiji is a trademark program at the Health and Wellness Center used to target specific conditions such as arthritis and diabetes, but according to Reinhart, the class is beneficial for just about any condition.

�??There�??s no question it works. It�??s guaranteed to change you,�?? he said.

The arts of Qigong and Taiji have raised questions from the traditional medical field regarding their true value, but some studies have shown the practices work �?? and not only for rehabilitation or simple aches and pains.

Research conducted by the University of Miami School of Medicine has shown that after 10 Taiji classes over five weeks, adolescents diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder displayed a decrease in anxiety, daydreaming behaviors, inappropriate emotions and hyperactivity, along with a greatly improved conduct.

Other studies, about the effectiveness among older patients, showed similarly favorable results. The Baylor Medical School conducted a study in which researchers took cells from long-term practitioners of Qigong and gathered the same cells from ordinary test subjects. The study found that the cells of those doing Qigong live up to five times longer.

Reinhart�??s students were not hesitant to add to these favorable claims.

McCloskey, who has been practicing Qigong for about two years and Taiji for one year, was able to talk her daughter, Shannon Petrill, into joining the classes.

�??Mom got me into it. One centering breath and I was hooked,�?? Petrill said.

Petrill is no stranger to exercise. She used to weight-train until she began suffering from a few nagging injuries.

�??Now I�??m in the best shape ever without any injuries,�?? she said. �??I don�??t have half the problems I used to.�??

After retiring from the Pennsylvania State Police, Frank Matweecha became overweight and had minor problems with his heart and blood pressure until he began taking the Taiji classes with Reinhart. He has taken Taiji for about a year and has noticed significant changes in both his health and appearance.

�??You get stronger the more you do it,�?? he said. Even his doctor has noticed an improvement in his health.

Reinhart has used Taiji to alleviate pain in his arm due to chronic tendonitis.

But Reinhart stresses to his students that if they want the Qigong or Taiji to work at its full potential, they must put in the time and effort to continue learning.

�??Everyone thinks they�??re too busy,�?? he said. �??The exercises work great but you have to do them, you have to make time. You have to focus and do it completely.�??

Focus is one of the main themes of these exercises. According to Reinhart, with complete concentration during the workouts, physical tension is released, which allows the participants to mentally let go of any stress they may have.

�??You learn how to relax on all different levels,�?? he said. �??This is a progression into physical and mental relaxation. You have to incorporate this into everything you do; that�??s where you really get the benefits.�??

The purpose of this art is to offer people a calming exercise that can be done anywhere at any time when stress builds up, even if it�??s as simple as conducting different breathing patterns while sitting in traffic.

�??There�??s no reason not to go through your day relaxed,�?? he said.

jkringer@standardspeaker.com

[in Alternative Health Care Network]

HeartMath Offers New Resources and Web-based Tools to Help People Stay Resilient through Tough Times

HeartMath®, internationally recognized for their scientifically validated approach to stress and anxiety, is offering a number of resources to help people find a little more ease through these tough times – from free monthly webinars and educational downloads, to new web applications designed to help people better manage stress and their convenient and widely popular mobile emWave® technology. (PRWeb Aug 13, 2008)

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/08/prweb1206934.htm

[in PR Web: Alternative Medicine]

Ekomed Signs Letter Of Intent for International Marketing of Its Herbal Phytomedicines

Ekomed LLC, a developer, marketer and manufacturer of over 26 herbal health products announced today that the Company has executed a Letter of Intent to expand its marketing initiatives globally with Zodiac Capital Limited - an investment banking group publicly listed on the NSX in Australia. (PRWeb Aug 13, 2008)

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/08/prweb1203044.htm

[in PR Web: Alternative Medicine]

Wordless Wednesday - Tree Hugger

Quiz: Are You a Tree Hugger?How to Hug a TreeDo You Talk to Trees? More Wordless Wednesday photos at About.com and the Wordless Wednesday Home Blogphoto credit © Andreas Pollok /...
[in About.com: Holistic Healing]

Yoga In the Olympics?

There is a movement afoot to try to introduce competitive yoga as an Olympic sport. Yoga competitions do exist in India, and are supported in the US by former yoga...
[in About Yoga]

Pill 'skews women's taste in men

Hormones in contraceptive alter how women perceive partner's smell and sexual attractiveness. It could end a relationship
[in Times Online: Health alternatives]

Women will find theory smells distinctly off

Why is money being spent on t-shirt sniffing when 100 million women have been waiting 50 years for the male pill?
[in Times Online: Health alternatives]

Surgeries stay open longer amid claims of ‘duress’

More than one in three GP surgeries now open in the evenings and at weekends amid complaints that extended hours are being imposed
[in Times Online: Health alternatives]

Two-drug combination found to retard tumours

A treatment for brittle bones can have a dramatic effect on breast cancer when combined with chemotherapy, research has shown
[in Times Online: Health alternatives]

Top Orthopaedic Surgeon Reveals How to Relieve Knee Pain, Without Surgery

Top orthopaedic surgeon, William T. Stillwell, MD, announces a new, non-surgical way to relieve knee pain, for good. In a new healing program, How to Avoid Knee Surgery, Dr. Stillwell reveals professional secrets to fast pain relief, while avoiding surgery. Using measures from across the medical spectrum, conventional and alternative, Dr. Bill details just how you can get fast, permanent pain relief and do it without surgery. (PRWeb Aug 12, 2008)

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/08/prweb1205204.htm

[in PR Web: Alternative Medicine]