WITH more diseases today than ever before, treatments are no longer restricted to modern medicine. The growing demand for alternative medicine is evidence for this as people explore other options for getting well. Although doctors are sceptical about it, studies on such treatments show that, in some cases, they appear to work.
CUPPING
The Malays call it bekam. This traditional healing technique uses materials such as bamboo, glass, copper and even buffalo horns. It is said to be derived from an ancient Chinese healing treatment, and is also practiced by the Japanese and Arabs, who call it Al-hijamah. There are two methods of cupping: the dry and wet version. In dry cupping, the glass cups are heated to create a vacuum. The cups are then placed on specific parts of the body to "suck" skin upwards. This helps to open up the pores, thus stimulating the flow of blood, balancing and realigning the flow of energy called qi, loosening obstructions and creating an avenue for toxins to be drawn out of the body.
Wet cupping uses needles to prick the skin before treatment. As soon as the cup is placed over the pricked skin, a little blood may flow from the punctured site to help remove toxins from the body. Cupping is said to be able to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, and clear colon blockages and veins. It is also believed to be an effective treatment for a number of musculo-skeletal conditions, besides promoting general well-being.
Leech treatment is getting more popular.
HIRUDOTHERAPY
It may not work for the squeamish, but this treatment using medicinal leeches is fast becoming popular among some. Hirudotherapy dates back 2,500 years when it was used as a form of bloodletting in ancient Egypt. But when modern medicine came into the picture, it was cast aside until it made a comeback in the 1980s.
This was when it was used after microsurgery to prevent painful swelling and blood-clotting by having leeches suck the excess blood, thereby reducing the swelling in the tissues and promoting healing after the surgery. Studies have found that leech saliva contains about 100 biologically active substances including hirudin, the substance that inhibits blood-clotting.
Leech therapy is said to be able to reduce stress, normalise sleeping patterns, treat a number of cardiovascular diseases as well as hypertension and arthritis. It is also reputed to restore the impaired vascular permeability of tissues and organs, enhance immunity and accelerate detoxification, and prevent strokes. It could even replace botox or plastic surgery - Hollywood actress Demi Moore used it to detoxify and cleanse her blood. Perhaps that's why she's looking younger than she is.
ACUPUNCTURE
This has long been used as alternative therapy for the treatment of various diseases. Based on the belief that the body's qi needs to be balanced if we are to stay healthy, it is said to restore any imbalance of this energy, thus healing the sick. It involves using fine needles to pierce specific parts of the body (called acupoints).
According to MayoClinic.com, acupuncture is useful as a stand-alone treatment for some conditions, but it is increasingly being used in conjunction with Western medicine. For example, doctors may combine acupuncture with drugs to control pain and nausea after surgery.
Some studies have found that acupuncture may offer symptomatic relief for a variety of conditions, including low back pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, migraines and osteoarthritis. It is reported that between 10 and 15 million Americans spend about US$500 million (RM1.7 billion) a year on acupuncture for treatment of AIDS, allergies, asthma, arthritis, bladder and kidney problems, bronchitis, constipation, depression, diarrhoea, dizziness, colds, fatigue, flu, gynaecological disorders, headaches, high blood pressure, migraines, paralysis, sexual dysfunction, smoking, stress, stroke, tendinitis and vision problems.
CHI NEI TSANG
Can massaging your belly make you healthier and happier? With Chi Nei Tsang (CNT), some believe it can. "CNT was practised thousands of years ago in China by Taoist monks to help detoxify and strengthen their bodies," said Dr Aminah Amin, a CNT practitioner. "The term means bringing about a transformation of the internal organs' qi. It is a way of creating qi in the body, specifically in the abdominal area.
"One is able to increase energy flow to specific organs through massaging a series of points around the navel area. This area is supposed to be the most powerful energy centre in the body as it is connected directly to every other part of the body," she said.
Benefits include improved lymphatic, circulatory, digestive, endocrine, reproductive and nervous systems. CNT has also been helpful against back, neck and shoulder pains, and postural problems resulting from visceral imbalances. Crucially, it removes deep-seated physical and emotional tension stored in the abdomen and internal organs that can affect health and well-being.
Although a qualified doctor of conventional medicine, Dr Aminah practises CNT and other natural methods of healing. She said before getting a CNT massage, clients are asked to get approval from their doctor first, as CNT cannot be performed on people with certain medical conditions: for instance, when a person is fitted with a pacemaker or has high fever. For more information on Dr Aminah and CNT, log on to www.healingworkskl.com.
Black and white stone massage at the
Thann Sanctuary.
BLACK AND WHITE STONE MASSAGE
This Ayurvedic treatment begins by placing healing crystals on the body, concentrating on the body's seven chakras (energy centres) associated with the glands of the endocrine system. Hot stones are then used to massage the body to help reduce tension by absorbing negative energy and calming the mind.
Ng Ming Sim, co-partner of the Thann Sanctuary, said the heated black (onyx) and white (howlite) stones help to massage the body's acupoints like those of acupuncture. The healing crystals are placed on the chakra points for 10 minutes before the massage with the black and white stones.
"In new-age therapies like these, it is believed that illness first manifests itself in the realm of thoughts and feelings. The crystals balance the body's chakras to remove mental and emotional blockages before they manifest physically as illnesses," said Ng. The black and white stones are cleaned and heated in hot water or an electric blanket before they are used.
"The howlite stones help with healing, while the onyx ones are believed to have the power to absorb anger and negative energy as well as serve as a protective and healing agent," added Ng. Each massage lasts for 90 minutes and costs RM260.
ANTIOXIDANT REJUVENATION THERAPY
All you need to do is lie down in a heated room and breathe. The magic lies in the hot air circulating around you which contains antioxidant particles that neutralise free radicals in the body, rejuvenate the body by removing toxins and improve overall immunity to diseases.
Also known as hot-bed therapy, the treatment rooms are built with special building materials containing antioxidants, which are released into the surrounding air when heated up to 42oC. In Malaysia, hot-bed therapy is offered by Ecoparadise Spa's two centres in the Klang Valley (Sunway Mas, Petaling Jaya and Fraser Business Park in Kuala Lumpur).
Ecoparadise executive chairman Augustine Koh said the antioxidant therapy is not a cure but a treatment that rejuvenates and improves overall immunity. "Once you've acquired stronger immunity your resistance to disease would improve." Koh said the therapy started in Japan six years ago and is very popular there. At the moment the therapy is also available in Singapore and Vietnam.
The treatment is said to help with weight loss and skin conditions like pigmentation.
ROLFING
Also known as structural integration, this was developed by Ida P. Rolf 50 years ago and is believed to improve body alignment and function by relaxing connective tissue that surrounds the body's bones, organs and muscles. Although many view it as a form of deep massage, rolfing practitioners say it is different because of its focus on body realignment and balance, which can alleviate pain.
It is believed that the fascia - the fibrous layers covering muscles - stiffens, shortens, and loses its elasticity after prolonged poor posture, and mental and emotional stress. Rolfing practitioners use their elbows, fingers and knuckles to stretch and open the fascia to correct the misalignment in the head, shoulders, abdomen, pelvis and legs resulting from habitual bad posture and constant stress.
This is believed to help improve breathing and digestion, balance the nervous system and enhance physical and emotional health. By helping the body use its muscles better, problems resulting from chronic stress, repetitive stress injuries, chronic pain and poor posture are better managed.
Photos by New Straits Times
This story was first published in the New Straits Times on Sept 15, 2008.
