Sunday, October 14, 2007

Acupuncture - Organ Clock Theory


Organ Clock Theory

Energy(Qi) flow in the 12 major meridians of our body is not the same throughout the day. At a given time one meridian/organ is very active than others and the meridian/organ exactly opposite in the organ clock is least active. Each meridian is very active for two hours every day. Any problem in the internal organs will be noticed as disturbances during the two hour period of the corresponding meridian.

Organ clock
or biological clock is the graphical interpretation of period when energy flow is excessive in an organ or meridian during the day.

Flow of energy(Qi) is continuous in a definite path in our body. Qi flow is very active in Lungs during 3-5 am. From 3-4 am the flow increases in the Lung meridian and at 4 am it reaches the peak. From 4-5 am it decreases and reaches normal level at 5 am. Similarly energy flow in Lung meridian will be very less from 3-5 pm. Energy flow in Lungs is normal during the rest of the day.

The following organ clock shows the time when a particular organ or meridian is most active.


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Organ clock is used in acupuncture to diagnose the organ affected by knowing the time of the day when the problem arises and to treat the affected organs during their period of energy flow. For example Asthma attacks are more common during the early hours of the day viz. 3-5 am. Usually sedation of the affected meridian is done during the energy flow period while tonification is done after the energy flow.






Saturday, September 29, 2007

Su Jok Therapy

Su means hand and Jok means foot in Korean language. Prof. Park Jae Woo, Korean philosopher discovered this therapy based on the structural similarity of hands and feet to various parts of the body. He teaches Correspondence systems in Guide to Su Jok Therapy, Seed Therapy, etc. He also developed Su Jok Acupuncture based on Byol Meridians, Six Ki Constitutions, Ten Celestial Stem Constitutions, Ten Emotional Constitutions and Ten Reason Constitutions. He explains Auricular therapy in detail in Onnuri Auricular Therapy Vol 1-3. He later went on to develop new systems of treatment like Twist Therapy, Towel Twist, Smile Meditation, Smile Yoga, etc.

You can learn this simple but very effective method of alternative therapy from the following books:








  • Lectures on Su Jok Acupuncture
  • Onnuri Auricular Therapy Vol.1
  • Onnuri Auricular Therapy Vol.2
  • Onnuri Auricular Therapy Vol.3
  • Su Jok Therapy
  • Su Jok Therapy Vol. 2
  • Thumb is Head
  • Towel Twist
  • Twist Therapy
  • Guide to Smile Yoga
Let us see some instruments used in Su Jok therapy





Thursday, February 22, 2007

Reflexology

Reflexology is a branch of Alternative Medicine. It is a method of treatment where reflex points on certain areas of the body like hands, feet and face are pressed to cure diseases. This is a holistic system in which ‘the body is treated as a whole’. Generally a Reflexologist aims to achieve homeostasis or balance in the body and not treat a particular disease or system of the body.

Reflexology is a safe method without any side effects as no medicines are prescribed. This is very simple and even a layman can learn and practice on people of all ages from infants to very elderly. The main principle of this treatment is “If it hurts press it out”. It is very cheap as there is no need for any special equipment but only one’s own thumb or fingers. Reflexology can be done almost anywhere and is therefore a very important First Aid measure to save lives when no immediate medical help is available. The cure is long lasting as it removes the root cause of the disease and not the symptoms. Reflexology can be used even by healthy persons to maintain good health and prevent diseases as it activates the immune system of our body.


TYPES

Reflexology is generally classified into two types namely:

1. Hand Reflexology

2. Foot Reflexology

There is also one more type of reflexology which is least used and is called “Face Reflexology”.


INDICATIONS

Reflexology has been proved to be very useful in reducing stress and tension. All systems of our body function very efficiently after taking reflexology treatment especially Nervous system, Circulatory system and Endocrine system. Almost 90% of the Medical cases including Hypertension, Diabetes, etc. can be treated very effectively in Reflexology.


CONTRA INDICATIONS

Even though this is a very safe method it is to be generally avoided during initial stages of pregnancy, in serious medical emergencies, or thrombosis (as it may move the blood clots).


HISTORY

Foot reflexology is an ancestral art and has been practised in various forms for a long time.

Around 5000 BC, Chinese practised a form of pressure therapy and foot massage which is similar to reflexology.

Egyptian inscriptions dated around 2300 BC found in Ankhmahor's tomb at Saqqara show foot and hand massage.

William Fitzgerald, an ENT specialist published a book in 1917 illustrating the reflex areas and their corresponding organs. At the time, he showed that applying pressure had an anesthetic effect on another area. This is the birth of Zone Therapy.

Reflexology was further developed by Eunice D. Ingham (1899-1974). Her books titled "Stories The Feet Can Tell" and "Stories The Feet have Told" became standard textbooks for students. Ingham found that the feet and hands were especially sensitive, and then mapped the entire body into "reflexes" on the feet. It was at this time that "zone therapy" was renamed reflexology, and found to be effective for more than just pain reduction.

The late Doreen Bayly was the pioneer of reflexology in Great Britain since 1960 and her teachings are still continued today through the Bayly School of Reflexology.

Today a reflexologist can help you fight stress and achieve deep relaxation.