| "Energy medicine is medicine based on the | | | | is a form of Chinese massage. Practitioners say that |
| appreciation that living systems have energy fields | | | | their energy moves through the palms to create a |
| inside of them and around them and that these fields | | | | relaxing - but energizing - effect. |
| play important roles in physiology, regulatory biology | | | | It's believed that a Reiki Master can reach one's life |
| and regulating processes that are going on inside the | | | | force energy through 10-20 specific positions and |
| organism," says Dr. Jim Oschman MD. Though he's a | | | | techniques that generally last about 90 minutes in |
| practitioner of Western style medicine, Dr. Oschman | | | | duration. Some emphasis is given to the intention of |
| recently authored a book about the scientific basis of | | | | both the practitioner and the recipient and it is said |
| energy medicines. He talks about alternative therapies | | | | that if the recipient doesn't truly wish to be healed, |
| like Chinese acupuncture and other complementary | | | | then the effects will be mitigated. While the energy |
| therapies that improve human performance. | | | | may encourage healing, Reiki is not viewed as a |
| These days, there's an increasing trend for Western | | | | "miraculous cure" for serious illnesses, but rather a |
| doctors to look to ancient Chinese medicines to treat | | | | way of stimulating the body's natural energy centers. |
| some of their patients who aren't responding to | | | | American doctors have spent their entire professional |
| traditional medicines and treatments. Finding the | | | | careers focused on tinkering with chemicals and |
| scientific root of lethargy, for example, can be | | | | running clinical trials to scientifically prove the |
| terribly tricky, but doctors from the school of | | | | effectiveness of traditional medicines. So naturally |
| Chinese medicine say that chronic fatigue is a | | | | there will be some resistance and attempts to |
| symptom of the body being out of harmony in one | | | | subvert traditional Chinese practices. |
| way or another. | | | | Energy medicine is not intended to be a cure-all. In |
| By examining the patient's external environment, | | | | the school of Chinese medicine, doctors recommend |
| dietary habits, attitude and other symptoms, | | | | lifestyle modifications that include exercise, meditation |
| specialists in energy medicines are able to prescribe a | | | | and dietary alterations. For serious ailments, they say |
| healthier lifestyle, which many patients find more | | | | emergency medical treatment can't be denied, but |
| advantageous in the long run. | | | | for long-term problems, such as chronic fatigue, why |
| Energy medicine encompasses many different | | | | not try non-invasive Chinese energy medicines? After |
| processes from qigong (martial arts and yoga) to | | | | all, starting your day off with a massage or cup of |
| Chinese acupuncture. One form is called "Reiki," which | | | | herbal tea isn't so bad, is it? |