When you go for a treatment the acupuncturist will ask you questions about your general health and medical history, this is to discover if there are any contraindications to you having this treatment. All this means is, does the client have a condition that could affect how the treatment is provided in order for it to be safe for them, For example if you have a blood disorder i.e. haemophilia, suffer from epilepsy or have a pacemaker. If this is the case the acupuncturist may ask you to get a signed letter from your G.P. saying it is medically ok for you to have the treatment. Acupuncture is suitable for most people, however it may have to be alter slightly to meet a persons needs, for example if a women is pregnant there will be certain acupoints that must be avoided. The acupuncturist will also ask you about your diet, sleeping pattern and your emotional state, in order to gather enough information to select the most appropriate treatment for you. Next they will look at your tongue as this is a good indicator of what’s going on inside, for example if your tongue has a white coating it indicates too much heat, if on the other hand it has a yellow coating it means too much moisture. Then they will feel your pulse, according to Chinese medicine we have six pulses in each wrist, these make up the twelve meridian lines in our body.
As well as contraindications there are also contra-actions, these are reactions which may occur as a result of the treatment, after a treatment you may feel relaxed and calm or you may even feel tired or drowsy for a few hours after a treatment, remember to take this into consideration if you are driving or using heavy machinery.
The acupuncturist needs to diagnose which meridians are out of balance, in order to decide which acupuncture points (acupoints) to treat. There are about five hundred different acupoints in the body, but the acupuncturist may only use ten or twelve of these for your treatment. You will need to wear loose and comfortable clothing as you may need to remove clothing in order for the acupuncturist to access acupoints on your torso as well as arms and legs. The acupuncturist inserts very fine needles made out of stainless steal, which are not hollow like conventional needles. The needles used are pre-sterilised and are disposed of immediately after use. When the needle is inserted you may feel a slight tingling sensation or a dull ache. The needles are only inserted deep enough into the skin to ensure they don’t fall out. The needles may be in place for thirty minuets or more, or they maybe removed immediately, depending on the required effect. Most patients feel a heaviness of limbs or a feeling of relaxation during a treatment and many people find that they have an increase in energy, appetite, sleep and general well being (BacC 2007). In order to enhance the treatment the acupuncturist may apply heat or a weak electrical current. To apply heat the acupuncturist will burn moxa, a small bundle of tightly bound herbs which is then used to warm the acupoints or by burning the top the acupuncture needles. This is called moxabustion and it is believed that the heat that is produced from doing this penetrates deep into the body and helps restore balance and the flow of energy. Electroacupuncture is when an electrical devise is attached to the needles, which generates a small electric current that flows through the needles. This treatment is regarded as very good at treating pain and the side effects of chemotherapy (en.wikipedia.org 2007). After having acupuncture you are encouraged to have a rest and let the body heal itself, as it is trying to get rid of toxins in the body.
Acupuncture is mainly used for treating symptoms of conditions for example nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy or joint pain caused by arthritis. According to NHS direct there is some evidence to “suggest that acupuncture can encourage the body to make disease fighting antibodies, improve circulation and reduce the severity of allergic reactions.”
Most people who receive acupuncture have private treatments, however it is becoming more and more available on the NHS for example many physiotherapy departments at NHS hospitals offer acupuncture and more than two thousand G.P. are trained in certain acupuncture techniques.
There are risks to acupuncture such as infection, punctured lung or spinal cord. However these are very rare and are usually due to bad practice, so if you are thinking about having acupuncture, make sure they are properly trained and a registered acupuncturist. As it is not a regulated profession and therefore anyone can say they are an acupuncturist. The main acupuncture authorities in the UK are the British Acupuncture Council (BacC), the British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS), and the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP). If an acupuncturist is registered with one of these authorities then they are safe to use.
Iridology is a complementary medicine which involves the study of the iris, the coloured part of the eye with the pupil at the centre. Iridologist’s analysis the iris in order to asses a person’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. The basic idea of iridology has been around for centuries. In 1690 a book published by Philippus Meyers called Chiromatica medica marked that signs in the iris indicated diseases. However it is Dr. Ignatz von Peczely how is referred to as the father of iridology. As a child he captured an owl, in its effort to escape the owl broke its leg, Ignatz observed that the owl developed a black line in its lower iris. After the owl’s leg had healed he noted that the black line had changed in appearance. Once Ignatz became a doctor he treated a patient with a broken leg and observed that they too had a black line in the same location as on the injured owl’s iris. After continuing to observe patients eyes, he was convinced that there was a link and developed a chart which mapped iris-body connections. In 1881 after decades of study he finally published his theories in a book called Discoveries in the Field of Natural Science and Medicine: Instruction in the Study of Diagnosis from the Eye.
Iridology is a holistic approach to care that is it aims to treat the person as a whole and not just their symptoms. Iridologists believe that by analysing a person’s iris they asses a person’s overall level of health. They can also tell you if you have any injury, inflammation, chemical imbalances or if you inherited predisposition to certain disease such as coronary heart disease. However it is not used as a means of diagnoses and there are no unique colours or markings which indicate a particular disease.
The idea of an iridology analysis is to reflect the causes of problems not the symptoms and is therefore used as a preventative tool. The information that people obtain from these analysis’s can be used to improve their health.
The concept of iridology is based on the neural pathways between the body and the iris, this is because the iris has hundreds of nerve endings which can reflect what is going on throughout the body via these nerve conductions. An iridology consultation usually includes a client’s history, iris assessment, digital photographs and analysis. Analysising the iris may be done using an ophthalmoscope (an instrument to examine the eyes with) which shines a beam of light into the eye and has several lenses that can magnify up to about fifteen times. Iridologists also use charts where different parts of the iris are mapped to particular body systems or organs, as seen below.
Source users.mrbean.net.au/~wlast/iris.diagnosis.html
In the iris charts the left eye is mapped to the left part of the body and the right eye is mapped to the right side of the body. The top of the eye is mapped to the top of the body i.e. the brain, the centre of the eye is the stomach and the other digestive organs and the lower iris is the lower body for example the legs.
The iridologist based on the analysis will make a health assessment and they will recommend a wellness program which is tailored to meet your needs. This usually incorporates health improvements and prevention regimes such as vitamin and mineral supplements and diet and nutrient.
There are no contraindications that could affect a person from having this treatment. However if a person does not like strong lights they can ask that the ophthalmoscope is not used during the assessment. There are also no contra-actions.
In a study published in the British Medical Journal (Knipschild, 1988). Paul Knipschild MD, of the University of Limburg in Maastricht. Chose a selection of thirty nine patients who were all due to have their gall bladder removed because of suspected gall stones. He also has a control group of people who did not have the disease. Five iridologists examined a number of slides of both groups’ irises. The results showed that the iridologists were not able to identify which people had the disease and which did not, for example one iridologist diagnosed 51% of the control group as having gall bladder problems. However iridology is not meant to be used as a diagnosis tool, medical experts do acknowledge that some symptoms of non-ocular (not relating to the eye) diseases can appear in the eyes such as brain injury, however they argue that there is not enough scientific evidence to give iridology credibility.
A reason why the study may have failed is because there is no law regulating the practice of iridology and therefore anyone can call themselves an iridologist with very little training.
Angel therapy is a new age therapy which believes that by connecting and communicating with your angels they can help with the healing process. The word angel comes from the word angelos which means messenger. Angels exist on a different vibrational frequency this means we can not see them normally; however some people who practice angel therapy say they have seen angels. Many people are able to sense their presence, others have dreams of angels.
Everyone has a guardian angel who accompanies us throughout our lives and by working with our guardian angel you can synchronise every aspect of your life. You can connect with your angel by simply calling upon them for help or guidance, as most people cannot see angels, you may be able to feel their presence fro example the temperature in the room may change, the hairs on the back of your neck may stand on end, you may notice different coloured lights out of the corner of your eye. A very common angel symbol is feathers, which may suddenly appear. Some people experience the feeling that someone is standing right behind them with there hands on their shoulders, if this happens do not be alarmed your angle has no wish to scare you. All of these are positive signs and means that they are there waiting to help.
A practitioner can help you to connect with your angels and help to open your mind in order to help you recognise their symbols such as feathers. Angel therapy can help you to cut any negative etheric cords, these are cords that are attached to our chakras and extend to other people who you have a relationship with i.e. parents, friends, partner etc. These relationships are characterised by fear and therefore have a negative effect on a person often leaving them feeling emotional drained. You can have angel card readings by asking your angel a
Classic image of an angel
Source http://www.thehealingenergyzone.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=28121
question and then selecting three cards at random. The card on the left represents what’s happened in the resent past, the middle card represents the present and the card on the right shows what the outcome maybe.
There are no contraindications or contra-actions to this therapy. If you are thinking of having an angel therapy treatment, make sure they have training and are listed as a Certified Spiritual Counsellor CSC), an angel therapy practitioner (ATP) or are on the British Register of Complementary (Practitioners (BRCP)
Complementary therapies are used alongside traditional treatments is many different settings such as hospitals, GP surgeries and health centres.
NHS hospitals provide ten percent of complementary services in the UK and in 2001 it cost fifty million (BBC Health 2007). And it is becoming more and more widely available; however the type of complementary treatment you can assess on the NHS currently depends on where in the country you live. In the UK there are five NHS homeopathic hospitals located in Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Osteopathy and chiropractic are available on the NHS and are used alongside physiotherapy to treat bone and joint problems such as a back injury. Complementary therapies are used in other departments for example acupuncture is used in pain clinics and is often used to treat the side effects of chemotherapy. If you are going to see a therapist that works in a hospital setting you can be sure that they are qualified and are registered with the appropriate regulatory authority.
Your GP can also refer you to have a complementary therapy, many GP’s have further education in complementary therapies and it is now compulsory for medical student to learn about complementary medicine. Some GP’s may be able to provide certain therapies such as acupuncture and osteopathy form their surgery. Others may refer you to qualified complementary therapists in your area. If this is the case your GP has to be sure that they are sending you to a qualified and registered therapist. A resent survey carried out by pulse found that 56% of GP’s either recommended or provided complementary therapies. The most popular was acupuncture with 40% saying they’ve referred patients for it.
Complementary therapies can also found in private sector settings such as health farms which offer a wide range of complementary therapies, for example aromatherapy and reiki in a calm and relaxing environment which will help to relive the stresses of every day life and restore a clients body to it’s natural balance.
Some complementary therapist work as part of a health or fitness centre so they can provide holistic care and promote a natural approach to health and wellbeing. There are also independent practices, such as chiropractic practices, which is a health care profession, where practitioners diagnose and treat disorders of the spine and the musculoskeletal system. If you go to an independent practice you must make sure that they are qualified and registered with the appropriate regulatory authority.
Nutritional and behavioral centre which offer individually tailored holistic care designed for your specific symptoms. A nutritional therapist can work with you to find out if you are lacking any essential vitamins or minerals which can lead to a person feeling unwell and tried. Behavioral center’s can offer treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is a psychological treatment which works by trying to identify and change a person’s negative thoughts and beliefs (e.g. I'm a failure) which is affecting their behaviour. It also helps a person develop new coping strategies.
Bibliography
British Medical Journal (2007), "ABC of complementary medicine",
[accessed 18th Oct 2007].
Complementary therapists (2007), "The Aim of the IACT",
[accessed 18th Oct 2007].
Acupuncture
[accessed 18th November 2007]
How Does Acupuncture Work
[accessed 12th November 2007]
A Short History of Acupuncture
[accessed 12th November 2007]
Scientific theories regarding acupuncture
[accessed 12th November 2007]
Acupuncture considerations
[accessed 12th November 2007]
Electroacupuncture
[accessed 13th November 2007]
Acupuncture
[accessed 14th November 2007]
Acupuncture
[accessed 14th November 2007]
Iridology
[accessed 15th November 2007]
Iridology
[accessed 15th November 2007]
Iridology
[accessed 16th November 2007]
Angel Therapy
[accessed 16th November 2007]
Is complementary therapy available on the NHS?
[accessed 16th November 2007]
Complementary medicine on the NHS
[accessed 16th November 2007]
Half of GPs offering alternative therapies
[accessed 16th November 2007]
Chiropractic
[accessed 17th November 2007]
