Complementary treatments

Reflexology and chromatherapy

Light is responsible for turning on the brain and the body. Light enters the body through the eyes and skin. When even a single photon of light enters the eye, it lights up the entire brain. This light triggers the hypothalamus, which regulates all life-sustaining bodily functions, the autonomic nervous system, endocrine system, and the pituitary (the body's master gland). The hypothalamus is also responsible for our body's biological clock. It also sends a message, by way of light, to the pineal organ, which is responsible for releasing one of our most important hormones, melatonin. The release of melatonin is directly related to light, darkness, colors, and the Earth's electromagnetic field. This necessary hormone affects every cell in the body. It turns on each cell's internal activities, allowing them to harmonize with each other and nature. The pineal gland is believed to be responsible for our feeling of oneness with the universe and sets the stage for the relationship between our inner being and the environment. If that relationship is harmonious, we are healthy, happy, and feel a sense of well-being. An imbalance in this relationship makes itself known in the form of disorders or disease in our physical, mental or emotional states. (from "A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution" by Samina T. Yousuf Azeemi* and S. Mohsin Raza, Oxford University Press, 2005)

Bio-magnetic therapy

In a recent study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston found magnets to be more effective than sham magnets at blocking pain caused by post-polio syndrome. (This syndrome, marked by leg pain, affects up to 20% of polio sufferers later in life.)

In the controlled study, 76% of patients treated with a magnet got pain relief. Only 18% treated with a sham magnet got relief.

Fibromyalgia - Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston showed that magnets help relieve muscle pain caused by this mysterious condition.

In the study, patients who slept on magnetic mattresses experienced greater pain relief than patients who slept on ordinary mattresses.

Diabetic neuropathy - In research conducted at New Your Medical College of Valhalla, magnetic foot pads were more effective than nonmagnetic foot pads at relieving numbness, tingling and pain associated with this diabetes-related problem. Evidence suggests that roughly 80% of chronic pain sufferers could benefit form magnetic therapy. That is true for virtually any form of pain.

(by Ron Lawrence, MD., the President of the North American Academy of Magnetic Therapy and co-author of Magnet Therapy)

Reflexology TENS and other similar tratments

In several health centers they are lately experimenting the use of reflexology and TENS stimulations, soas of reflexology and acupressure. In spite some data are considered scientifically weak, positive results are increasing and new studies try to understand -and to mesure- the real efficacy.

About words

"Traditional medicine covers a wide variety of therapies and practices which vary from country to country and region to region." - from the World Health Organization website.
But in several Countries it is legally forbidden to talk about "therapies" related to traditional medicine.

Cupping

Cupping practice is not yet definite in its modalities of action. But it is interesting to experiment, in a controlled way, its effects and possibilities. The scientific research recognizes actually only limited effects in cupping but what we know today may be "outdated" tomorrow.

Reflexology at hospitals

At the University Hospitals (Center Women’s Health), they offer reflexology and aromatherapy, specifying that "Reflexology--used to enhance the body’s ability to adjust and find balance during times of stress; skillful application of pressure to specific points in the feet and hands can improve circulation, boost oxygen and nutrients to muscles and other tissues and speed the elimination of waste products."

Some thoughts
Are we sure that all the "errors" and the "useless procedures"
belong to complementary medicine?

Often, backward medical scholars and operators underline that complementary medicine has no effetcs, that nothing has been "scientifically" proved, and so on. Surely complementary medicine has not the solution for every health problem, several problems need surgery or drugs or different kinds of medical action. But it would be dangerous to stop the research in complementary medicine, the true scientific research may not have this kind of mental limits, it has to be experimented if, how and when the different medicines produce more health.      About rfelexology, the new frontiers of neurosciences open further possibilities to understand what can be true and what is not at the present level of knowledge.    Medicine has helped millions of persons to survive, during years, life expectancy is better than years ago, BUT not all the "scientific medicine" (as someone name it) is really useful or safe or have good effects. Here are some data about it..
Some data about official medical treatment effetcs (from: Starfield, B. (2000, July 26). Is US health really the best in the world? Journal of the American Medical Association, 284(4), 483-485.).
"According to several research studies in the last decade, a total of 225,000 Americans per year have died as a result of their medical treatments (having "scientific basis"):

• 12,000 deaths per year due to unnecessary surgery
• 7000 deaths per year due to medication errors in hospitals
• 20,000 deaths per year due to other errors in hospitals
• 80,000 deaths per year due to infections in hospitals
• 106,000 deaths per year due to negative effects of drugs

   A five-country survey published in the Journal of Health Affairs found that 18-28% of people who were recently ill had suffered from a medical or drug error in the previous two years. The study surveyed 750 recently ill adults. The breakdown by country showed the percentages of those suffering a medical or drug error were 18% in Britain, 23% in Australia and in New Zealand, 25% in Canada, and 28% in the US.      (Blendon R, Schoen C, et al. Five nation survey exposes flaws in the U.S. health care system. Health Affairs . May/June 2002)

               Estimated Annual Mortality and Economic Cost of Medical Intervention in the USA

Condition                 Deaths                    Cost
ADR/med error   420,000          $200 billion
Bedsores            115,000          $55 billion
Infection              88,000          $5 billion
Unnecessary Procedures    37,136         $122 billion

   A balanced point of view about some of the traditional complementary medicine seems the World Health Organizations one (from the WHO website):
"Scientific evidence from tests done to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of traditional medicine products and practices is limited. While evidence shows that acupuncture, some herbal medicines and some manual therapies (e.g. massage) are effective for specific conditions, further study of products and practices is needed. Requirements and methods for research and evaluation are complex."
WHO and its Member States cooperate to promote the use of traditional medicine for health care. The collaboration aims to:
- support and integrate traditional medicine into national health systems in combination with national policy and regulation
   for products, practices and providers to ensure safety and quality;
- ensure the use of safe, effective and quality products and practices, based on available evidence;
- acknowledge traditional medicine as part of primary health care, to increase access to care and preserve knowledge and
    resources; and
- ensure patient safety by upgrading the skills and knowledge of traditional medicine providers.