In this issue you will find:

• Important Summer Dates
• Herbal Medicine Chest
• Tui Na - Chinese Bodywork Therapy
• International Massage Week
• Chinese Wisdom: Quote of the Day

Important Summer Dates

• July 28: New York Open House
• August 10: Chicago Open House (Massage)
• August 13: San Diego Open House
• August 14: New York Graduation Ceremony
• August 21: San Diego Graduation Ceremony

-- TOP --

Summer Herbal Medicine Chest

Vacations, bug bites, poison ivy and sunburn: summer just wouldn't be summer without them all! Use these herbal remedies to combat summer ailments, so you can focus on enjoying the outdoors.

ALOE
Technical Name: (Aloe vera) gel extracted from the inside of aloe leaves

Used For: Topical treatment of sunburn, first and second degree burns, skin irritation or inflammation, mosquito bites, rashes from poisonous plants, constipation and colic

Available In: Whole, living plants, commercial gels and lotions.

ARNICA
Technical Name: (Arnica montana ) a daisy-like mountain flower

Used For: Bruises, sprains, soreness and swelling/muscle spasms from sports activity; arthritis set off by seasonal change; general muscle and joint pain

Available In: Tincture, homeopathic ointment, cream, salve and pills 

BROMELAIN
Technical Name: Enzyme extracted from the fruit of the pineapple plant

Used For: Swelling, pain and bruising after injury, persistent hematoma, bunions, bursitis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, gout, sinusitis

Available In: Capsules

GINGER
Technical Name: (Zingiber officinale), fresh or dried pieces of the underground stem of the ginger plant

Used For: Arthritis, bursitis; motion sickness, nausea; relief of chest congestion; it is a natural anti-inflammatory agent.

Available In: Whole fresh root, crystallized ginger, honey-based ginger syrups, capsules containing powdered ginger extracts, alcohol extracts

TEA TREE OIL
Technical Name: (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil from the leaves of the Australian tea tree

Used For: Fungal infections of the skin (athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch); acne; localized infections and sores on mucous membranes (canker sores, boils, abscesses); yeast infections, bee stings, lice. It's a great germicidal and antibacterial agent.

Available In: Pure essential oil and many formulations (toothpaste, mouthwash, etc.)

WITCH HAZEL
Technical Name: Hamamelis virginiana ,distillation of leaves, bark and twigs

Used For: Insect stings; sun and wind burn; poison ivy blisters; disinfectant of minor cuts and abrasions; skin care, cleansing, toning and refreshing; muscle soreness, and hemorrhoids.

Available In: Liquid distillation of leaves, twigs, bark

-- TOP --

Tui Na - Chinese Bodywork Therapy
By Bill Helm

Introduction

Tuina is an Oriental Bodywork Therapy that has been used in China for 2,000 years. Tuina uses the traditional Chinese medical theory of the flow of Qi through the meridians as its basic therapeutic orientation. Through the application of massage and manipulation techniques Tuina seeks to establish a more harmonious flow of Qi through the system of channels and collaterals, allowing the body the naturally heal itself.

Tuina methods include the use of hand techniques to massage the soft tissue (muscles and tendons) of the body, acupressure techniques to directly affect the flow of Qi , and manipulation techniques to realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships (bone-setting). External herbal poultices, compresses, liniments, and salves are also used to enhance the other therapeutic methods.

Tuina has a variety of different systems that emphasize particular aspects of these therapeutic principles. The main schools in China include the rolling method school which emphasizes soft tissue techniques and specializes in joint injuries and muscle sprains, the one finger pushing method school which emphasizes techniques for acupressure and the treatment of internal diseases, and Nei Gung method school which emphasizes the use of Nei Gong Qi energy generation exercises and specific massage methods for revitalizing depleted energy systems, and the bone setting method school which emphasizes manipulation methods to realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships and specializes in joint injuries and nerve pain.

In a typical session, the client, wearing loose clothing and no shoes, lies on a table or floor mat. The practitioner examines the specific problems of the client and begins to apply a specific treatment protocol. The major focus of application is upon specific pain sites, acupressure points, energy meridians, and muscles and joints. Advanced Tuina practitioners may also use Chinese herbs to facilitate quicker healing. Sessions last from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Depending on the specific problems of the client, they may return for additional treatments. The client usually feels relaxed but energized by the treatment.

Tuina is now being popularized in this country as a powerful therapeutic extension of traditional western massage methods. Tuina's simplicity and focus on specific problems, rather than a more generalized treatment, make it both an excellent alternative and/or extension of the Swedish-style massage. By utilizing treatments of shorter duration, it can be used in a variety of settings, including home, office, clinic or hospital. It is well suited for both the professional massage therapist or the active, health conscious individual.

History

Tuina dates back to the Shang Dynasty of China, 1700 B.C.E. Oracle bones show that tuina massage was used to treat children's diseases and digestive complaints in adults. By 600 C.E. Tuina was included in the Imperial Medical College as a separate department. Tuina flourished throughout China until the Qing Dynasty where it was suppressed along with other Chinese cultural arts. Following the Communist revolution, Tuina was restored along with other traditional medical arts and was included in the creation of the current system of Traditional Medicine Colleges.

Currently, Tuina is taught as a separate but equal field of study in the major traditional Chinese medical colleges. Tuina doctors receive the same demanding training as acupuncturists and herbalists and enjoy the same level of professional respect.

Benefits, Limitations, Contraindications

Tuina is well suited for the treatment of specific musculoskeletal disorders and chronic stress-related disorders of the digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems. Effective treatment protocols have been tested in a practical setting. Tuina is not especially useful for those seeking a mild, sedating and relaxing massage since it tends to be more task focused than other types of bodywork. Contraindications include conditions involving fractures, phlebitis, infectious conditions, open wounds, and lesions.

-- TOP --

International Massage Week

International Massage Week, July 17-23, 2005, is designed to raise public awareness of the benefits of therapeutic massage and encourage people to take the extra time to care for their health through massage.

Popular among all age groups, massage is effective for relaxation and stress reduction, as well as medical reasons, including muscle soreness/stiffness/spasms, injury, headaches, pain reduction, blood and lymph circulation and improved immune system function. Massage has been shown to reduce blood pressure and heart rate and increase endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. More than one in four Americans report having had a massage from a massage therapist in the past five years, spending a total of between $4 and $6 billion on 114 million visits each year. And in recent years, massage therapy has reached some of the nations' top hospitals, including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and Stanford Hospital in California .

The explosion in the popularity of massage can be attributed in part to the growing population of aging baby boomers and an increased awareness of the effects of stress and the physiological benefits of massage. Doctors are now prescribing massage to their patients, and sports teams are hiring massage therapists as well. A growing number of businesses and organizations, including the U.S. Department of Justice, are also offering massage in the workplace to decrease job stress and increase productivity.

-- TOP --

Chinese Wisdom: Quote of the Day

"The heavy is the root of the light. The tranquil is the ruler of the hasty."

Lao-Tzu (6th century B.C.), Legendary Chinese philosopher