Archive for category Tuina
Fibromyalgia Treatment With Integrated Chinese Medicine
A recent study has found that T’ai Chi can improve quality of life for fibromyalgia sufferers, with both mental and physical improvements noted for the T’ai Chi group, significantly more than the control group who were given wellness education and stretching exercises.
Although this was a small scale study, it is further evidence for the health benefits of T’ai Chi and Qi Gong, especially for difficult conditions such as fibromyalgia, which Chinese Medicine classes as ‘knotty problems’ which involve complex interconnections of different causes and symptoms. A number of previous studies have also shown that acupuncture can significantly improve symptoms in fibromyalgia, especially pain, fatigue and anxiety.
Fibromyalgia is a complex condition involving pain and other symptoms such as tiredness, increased sensitivity to gentle touch, weakness of the limbs, sleep problems, anxiety, depression and muscle spasms. Difficulty concentrating and problems with the memory are common – this is often referred to as ‘brain fog’ or ‘fibro-fog’. The clinical picture varies tremendously from person to person, with each individual having different symptoms. Read the rest of this entry »
Programs in Chinese Medicine – From Acupuncture to Tuina
Programs in Chinese medicine offer health career-minded students unique ways of learning about alternative and complementary healthcare systems. In addition to gaining in-depth knowledge in the history and philosophies of TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), students participating in Oriental medicine courses have a variety of professional pathways from which to choose.
Were you aware that programs in Chinese medicine offer training in Oriental bodywork like Tuina, acupressure, and Shiatsu? Additionally, you can opt to enroll in a doctoral program; where you gain essential skills and knowledge in the Five Elements, acupuncture, needling techniques, Chinese medical language, meridian therapy, Qigong, Tai chi, Chinese herbology, and Chinese medical massage, and other related studies.
Depending on which one of the programs in Chinese medicine you wish to pursue, it is always a good idea to explore your options and what types of prerequisites may be necessary for enrollment. For more comprehensive coursework, (like doctoral programs) you must have an extensive educational background in basic sciences like anatomy, physiology, pathology, chemistry and biochemistry, among others. And while certificate programs like Tuina or acupressure may be completed in less than one year, graduate programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine may take up to four years to finish. Read the rest of this entry »