Natural remedies that have been around for thousands of years are still in use today. In many cases, these “ancient health secrets” are just as effective as the remedies provided in the modern health care environment.
The Roots of Eastern Medicine
Since ancient times, Eastern medicine has approached illness or disease by treating the root cause rather than the symptoms. In antiquity, methods such as acupuncture, cupping, Tui Na, Gua Sha, tai chi, reflexology, meditation and yoga were disciplines that healers used to prevent and overcome health issues. Although it’s not clear when or how these customs developed, many scholars pinpoint the timing of acupuncture, for example, to 4,000 years ago, around 2,600 B.C.E. However, other historians argue that treatments such as this date back 10,000 years, as indicated by some stone lancets that have been found in archaeological digs.
The Yellow Emperor’s Legacy
Whatever the timeline, practitioners of old preserved their techniques for posterity in a book called “Huangdi Neijing,” or the “Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine.” While this dissertation on health and the treatment of disease was meant to reflect a conversation between Chinese Emperor Huangdi and his doctor in 2,600 B.C.E., modern academia dates the work to around 300 B.C.E. and suggests the essay was a compilation written by multiple scribes.
The manual is still an authoritative study guide for specialists today, according to Victoria Ansell, licensed acupuncturist and owner of Turning Point Acupuncture.
Healing From Within: The Role of Qi
The philosophy behind Chinese medicine and acupuncture, Ansell said, is that “The practitioner does not heal the patient. Rather, the patient is their own healer. This medicine is focused on finding out how the body has coped with a pattern of disease and adapted to survive, suggesting through needle manipulation a path for energy flow called Qi that will allow balance and ease.”
Therapies That Restore Balance
Ansell further explained that the benefits of acupuncture can include reducing chronic pain, regulating the immune system, managing digestive issues, enhancing sleep quality and much more.
America’s Acupuncture Awakening
Of note, although the practice of acupuncture found its way to America sometime in the 1800s, it didn’t become a popular procedure until the 1970s, when the Black Panthers adopted the treatment for combating an intensifying drug cri- sis. To learn more about how acupuncture’s following evolved in the United States, read Eana Meng’s fascinating thesis, the “Use of Acupuncture by 1970s Revolutionaries of Color: The South Bronx ‘Toolkit Care’ Concept.”
Cupping, Tui Na, and Gua Sha
In addition to acupuncture, Ansell practices cupping, which she said increases Blood flow and the circulation of oxygen and nutrients to tissue. It is also believed to relieve pain, alleviate muscle tension, reduce inflammation and widen the range of motion. The process can also help eliminate toxins and waste products.
Ansell also offers Tui Na, Chinese medical massage that helps ease muscle tension and pain, increases circulation, improves range of motion, aids with lymphatic drainage and manages digestive issues, while also reducing inflammation and stress levels.
Further, Ansell performs Gua Sha, a scraping action that she said can alleviate muscle tension, lessen pain and aid with muscle recovery after injury. The treatment is also helpful for lymphatic drainage and improving circulation. Consequently, inflammation is reduced, giving the patient relief from ailments such as arthritis. Gua Sha also fosters the production of collagen, which improves skin elasticity while erasing wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles and puffiness.
Tai Chi and the Art of Awareness
Additionally, Ansell recommends practicing tai chi. “Tai Chi helps with being present in the body so that we gain aware- ness,” she said. “The movement lowers Blood pressure and enhances cognitive function, balance, flexibility and muscular strength while lessening stress, anxiety and depression.”
Reflexology: Pressure Points for Wellness
Reflexology is another ancient practice in which the specialist applies pressure to points on the ears, hands or feet that are connected to the body’s Organs and systems. Benefits range from relieving pain, reducing stress, improving circulation, balancing hormones and so much more.
Meditation: Ancient Calm Meets Modern Science
Meditation is a discipline that surfaced sometime between 3,000 and 5,000 B.C.E., according to religious texts and archeological discoveries. With roots in India, China and Egypt, the method spread with traders along the Silk Road. In the 1960s, Western academics began studying the benefits of the process and learned that perks include improved mental health, reduced stress, better memory and focus and regulated emotions. Meditation can also help manage chronic pain, regulate blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Yoga as Moving Meditation
As humans would sit and meditate for hours or even days, yoga evolved as a practice that encouraged movement and stretching, according to Sarah Frick, who is As humans would sit and meditate for hours or even days, yoga evolved as a practice that encouraged movement and stretching, according to Sarah Frick, who is a yoga teacher and owns The Works. In the 1960s, yoga gained popularity in the West when students became attuned to the benefits of physical stretching and connection to breath. She said that some advantages of inversions are improved cardiovascular and lymphatic systems, which govern physical health. “In addition to eliminating toxins, yoga releases endorphins in the brain that make you feel better and enjoy more contentment, focus, energy and strength,” she added.
Explore Charleston’s Holistic Health Scene
To learn more about the effectiveness of these holistic practices, visit turningpoint-acu.com and theworkschs.com.
In the Taoist tradition, the editors of HealthLinks have decided to capitalize the words Blood, Organs and Qi in this article.
By Sarah Rose
