By Kathleen Rushall

Traditional Chinese medicine is a large practice composed of many aspects. There is acupuncture (the use of small needles to free and aid one's qi), qi gong (a self healing art that combines meditation and movement), massage therapy, herbs, and various manners of meditation, to name a few. Each practice has specific ailments that it can aid, and some may overlap in their benefits. For example, there is new evidence that the ancient arts of acupuncture and qi gong can help with hypertension, also known as high blood pressure.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, each season is ruled by an element. Summer is associated with the element of Fire. The ancient theory of The Five Phases was introduced almost two thousand years ago, and discusses the idea that the structure of the cosmos reflects the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each Season is associated with an element, with the Earth element relating to the change in seasons every three months. And along with its associated element, each season is related to parts of the human body and certain forms of energy.

Summer is not only correlated with the element of Fire, but with the heart, small intestine, and the tongue. Knowing which element relates to each season can provide knowledge from traditional Chinese medicine regarding health in that season. Special attention should be paid to those aforementioned organs during summer. Fortunately, when the Fire element is in balance (as it often is in summer), the heart is strong and healthy.

According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, current estimated cases of autism range from one in every 1,000 to one in every 500. Theories suggest vaccines are responsible, but there is growing concern that environmental toxins and pollution may be contributing factors. It is also theorized that nutrition, viral infections, immunizations, and antibiotics may be causal aspects as well.

People speak in terms of children "developing" autism, but new research cited by the Autism Society of America suggest genetic ties -- that the disorder is present prenatal. An autism symptom will usually appear before the age of three, at which age a formal diagnosis can be made. Because an autism characteristic can be any combination of insufficiencies in language, social communication, and cognition, autism is difficult to diagnose before normal development in these areas would usually occur.

By Alex Kecskes

Meditation and yoga are highly effective techniques for relaxing the body and clearing the mind. It all began some 1,500 years ago when the ancient sage, Patanjali, wrote the yoga sutra's 196 aphorisms on the art of meditation. Among these was this simple but transcendental saying that has survived the centuries:

"Yoga is the effort to still the thought and feeling waves of the mind."

Traditional Chinese medicine takes into account both external and internal factors in the creation of an individual's diagnosis. The current emotional state of the patient is one internal factor that traditional Chinese medicine believes to be very important. In fact, emotions are believed to directly correlate to specific organs and their states of being. Traditional Chinese medical theory believes the body is in the control of the Five Elements: Earth, Wood, Fire, Water, and Metal. Each element corresponds to a specific organ as well as a specific emotion. The emotions are not believed to always be the direct cause of an ailment, but have an undeniable connection with the progress and condition of the problem.

The Suwen, or Book of Plain Questions states "The five yin-organs of the human body produce five kinds of essential qi, which bring forth joy, anger, grief, worry, and fear." According to the Five-Element school of thought, anger is associated with Wood; joy is associated with Fire, pensiveness with Earth, grief with Metal, and fear with Water. The liver is associated with Wood and therefore with anger, the heart with Fire and joy, the spleen with Earth and pensiveness, the lung with Metal, and grief and the kidney with Water and fear. This is not to say that to experience any of these emotions means that the related organ is out of balance but, rather, that any extreme case or fluctuation of these emotions may be related to a problem with that organ.

Restless Leg Syndrome, also known as Ekbom Syndrome, can affect anyone, but it seems to most commonly affect women past the age of fifty. About ten percent of the population of the United States and Europe suffer from some degree of this condition. There is no specific known cause of RLS, but it is thought to possibly be genetic. Restless Leg Syndrome involves strong urges to move the to alleviate sensations in them like pins and needles, aching, or a "prickly" feeling. This uncontrollable urge can interrupt sleep, distract from daily tasks, and cause general discomfort. RLS can be a solitary ailment, but has been connected to several conditions. It is not uncommon for pregnant women to develop symptoms of RLS, but these symptoms usually dissipate about four weeks after labor. People with anemia are also susceptible to RLS due to their low iron levels, but once this is corrected, their RLS improves

RLS is a sign of poor blood circulation in the legs, and a history of smoking, lack of exercise, or diabetes could be contributing factors. Some painless, side effect free treatments include a diet low in sugar, as well as a juice combining carrot, celery, and spinach. A lack of iron in one's diet is thought to exaggerate symptoms of RLS. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the cause of Restless Leg Syndrome is heat in the Heart, which is thought to cause agitation in one's spirit, and can lead to restlessness during sleep.

Some of the best health results from the combination of Eastern and Western medicine. Fertility is no exception, and when combined with the Western idea of in vitro fertilization (IVF), Oriental acupuncture can increase chances of pregnancy. Some studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can affect the levels of pituitary and ovarian hormones, which can increase chances of pregnancy. Also, electro-acupuncture (the application of a pulsating electrical current to acupuncture needles as a means of stimulating one's "qi," or life force) has been shown to improve blood flow in the uterine arteries of infertile women.

Acupuncture is widely known for its ability to induce relaxation. Infertility can be extremely grueling; it often leads to stress and other intense emotions. This can be a vicious cycle for some women, stress can inhibit pregnancy; when the body is relaxed, it functions better. The feeling of well-being provided by acupuncture can serve to relax the muscles of the uterus. If the uterus is in a relaxed state at the time of the IVF embryo transfer, it is less likely to produce contractions that could push the transferred embryo away from fertilization. Acupuncture also improves blood circulation to the ovaries, which will boost the health of the eggs, as well as the uterus, which will increase the lining and make it strong enough to carry eggs full term.

The acronym 'CAM' stands for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that include treatments such as herbal remedies, naturopathy, acupuncture, and meditation. CAM is currently not considered to be a part of conventional medicine, and because of this, it is not covered by all health care providers. However, CAM is becoming increasingly popular and accepted by the medical community and many hospitals are beginning to include these alternative services. Helping the public to become more aware of the benefits CAM can offer is the first step to improving its availability for patients in need.

To help spread the word, The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has launched Time to Talk. Time to Talk is an educational campaign to encourage patients - particularly those age 50 or older -- and their health care providers to openly discuss the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

By Steve Goodman

Spring awakens nature's bounty after months of winter doldrums. With the rebirth of flowers and greenery the feeling of new hope is borne upon every wind. Unfortunately for millions, those same gentle winds bring with them seasonal allergies - along with the annual misery of sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, runny nose, and just overall suffering.

Traditional Chinese medicine often views springtime allergies as related to the Element of Wind. As in all TCM, allergies are looked on as being caused by an imbalance in the flow of qi. In this case, it is considered a blockage of qi to the nose and sinuses. TCM calls allergies "Bi Yuan," which literally translates to "nose-pool". Bi Yuan comes from a deficiency in Wei Qi - the internal force that protects us from wind. TCM practitioners will usually want to treat allergies by using all the disciplines that strengthen qi, herbs, and acupuncture, Qi Gong etc. However, Chinese herbs alone have been used for centuries for the treatment of springtime allergies. There are many herbs to be used. There are specific herbs that are known to dry phlegm, others to relieve coughs, and still others that can alleviate red and itchy eyes. Therefore, TCM practitioners will often create their own combination of herbal medications, some held in strict confidence, depending on the symptoms of the patient.

By Michelle Fletchern

More and more seniors are becoming physically active-reaping the countless health benefits associated with regular exercise. If power walking and your run-of-the-mill strength building exercises are uninteresting, the no-impact Chinese exercise Tai Chi is an excellent way to tone muscle, increase endurance, and gain balance.

In a recent study in Annals of Behavioral Medicine, researchers concluded that the movements associated with Tai Ji helped seniors improve their physical functioning.¹ Study participants who took Tai Ji twice a week for a six-month period noticed a significant improvement in their ability to accomplish daily tasks such as carrying groceries, walking up stairs, or moving medium-sized objects.

"It was concluded that the 6-month Tai Ji exercise program was effective for improving functional status in healthy, physically inactive older adults. A self-paced and self-controlled activity such as Tai Ji has the potential to be an effective, low-cost means of improving functional status in older persons."² Most notably, those who took Tai Ji were less likely to fall-one of the largest causes of serious injury for seniors.

Tai Ji practice can reduce the inconsistency of arm movement force output by older adults. In a study performed at the University of Houston, scientists concluded that "Tai Ji practice may serve as a better real world exercise for reducing force variability in older adults' manual performance." ³

The movements of Tai Ji combine the elements of balance, toning, and aerobic exercises with slow, graceful actions. When practiced regularly, Tai Ji positively affects overall health and wellbeing. Flexibility enables seniors to reach the top shelf, while balance aids in preventing serious falls. Practitioners will also develop stronger lungs-to walk without becoming winded-and improved leg strength-to easily rise from a seated position. Because it is a no-impact exercise, Tai Ji is especially well-suited for older adults.

Tai Ji has three major components: movement, meditation, and deep breathing. All major muscle groups are utilized to articulate the gentle, slow movements of Tai Ji. Further, its movements improve strength, flexibility, coordination, and muscle tone. The exercise may help slow bone loss, and prevent osteoporosis. The meditative aspect of Tai Ji soothes the mind, reduces anxiety, enhances concentration, and lowers blood pressure. The deep breathing releases tension, enhances blood circulation to the brain, and supplies the body with fresh oxygen.

For older adults seeking an effective, no-impact exercise with a multitude of benefits, Tai Chi is an excellent choice to free the mind and energize the body.