A traditional Chinese medicinal technique that consists of the insertion of extremely fine needles in specific points on the body. The various acupuncture points in the body correspond to different organs, tissues, symptoms, and are based on the body’s inner energy called Qi (pronounced chee). Qi is an active, flowing energy and becomes imbalanced with illness and disease. Therefore the insertion of needles into specific points is to restore balance to the flow of energy, or Qi.
Also called herbal medicine, botanicals have been used for thousands of years. In fact, when pharmaceuticals began more than 60% were derived from natural substances. Now, 40% of drugs are derived or synthesized from plants. Plants have natural antibacterial, antiviral, and anti fungal properties in their most bioavailable form. Botanical medicine can include anything from tinctures to teas to supplements.
The treatment of disease by minute doses of natural substances, that in a healthy person would produce symptoms of disease. A simple example is that of the onion. An onion is a substance which makes your eyes water and your nose burn. If you are having an attack of hay fever with watering eyes and a burning nose, a homeopathic remedy made from onion can relieve it. Homeopathic remedies can be made with much more deadly plants like belladonna, used in the minimum dose can cure ailments that a large dose of belladonna would likely cause. The medicinal technique was founded by Dr. Hahnemann in Germany based of the Law of Similars, meaning like cures like.
The nutrients we get from food supply our bodies intracellular pathways with the components they need, so it is essential to be giving our bodies high quality nutrients. It's no secret that diet is linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, and many more. What we put into our bodies matters. Thankfully, society is becoming more and more aware of the fact that highly processed and unnatural foods make us ill as well as that whole, fresh, healthy, organic, unaltered food make us feel better. Thousands of years ago Hippocrates knew it, "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food."
An overwhelming majority of people who visit the doctor have a chief complaint of pain. Physical medicine aims to relieve pain via osseous and soft tissue manipulation. If you have ever been to a chiropractor to get adjusted, you have experienced physical medicine. Because of the profound effect that physical medicine has had on pain, it has played a major role in reducing the dependence on opioid pain medications.
Can also be classified under physical medicine, is as the name suggests, using water (hot, cold, steam, ice, etc.) in the treatment of pain and disease. Have you ever been in a sauna or done cryotherapy? These are both examples of instruments used in this modality.
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