Contractibility is one of the natural functions of muscle tissue. Individual muscle fibres are designed to contract, causing the entire muscle to tense. Without this tension there could be no activity, no movement of the joints and limbs. The problem arises when the muscle fibres fail to relax again, resulting in a pattern of excess tension. This tension pattern may have either an emotional origin or a mechanical one or a combination of both. Also it may be acute or chronic. Acute, mechanical tension can usually be dealt with immediately by direct application of massage. If there is an emotional…

As the body is designed to heal itself and has this full potential within, it logically follows that nothing external can heal the body. However, at times the body needs “help” or assistance to accomplish this innate desire. Chi or energy is one of the major methods of understanding the messages of the body.

WHAT IS CHI-REFLEXOLOGY?

Chi-Reflexology is a philosophical approach which combines the Chinese philosophy (including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Theory), and Acupressure theory and practice to the science and art of Reflexology. Chi-Reflexology came about for me……. It was the rejection of standard Reflexology theory and practice…

The recent publication of a study suggesting that the new generation of anti-depressant medication has its effect by way of a psychological mechanism supports the view of many that depression is not about chemical imbalances. The study, headed by Professor Irving Kirsch of the University of Hull in the UK was published in February 2008, looked at the results of thirty-five trials involving five thousand patients taking SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors).

It was shown that there was virtually no difference in the improvement scores for drug and placebo (an inactive substitute pill) in patients with moderate depression. Those…

Once a woman’s IVF procedure is unsuccessful it is all too common for the IVF specialist to say that they do not know why the eggs did not take and the patient should try again. This is really not good medicine. An explanation needs to be sought after as to why IVF attempts are failing. In this situation I recommend Oriental Medicine Diagnosis & Treatment (Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine as it is commonly known).

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have been studied in controlled trials and are confirmed to give remarkable results in increasing chances of conception. Acupuncture studies have concluded…

Addiction is a nasty word. When we hear it we get flashes of sad, cliched images and we think -no, not me. I’m not addicted. I’m not an addict. I’ve got my life together.-

According to the dictionary, addiction is “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, to such an extent that it’s cessation causes severe trauma”. Perhaps we can be better served by redefining it as simply “if we don’t have it or if we don’t do it, we miss it”. We’ve got cigarettes, drugs and alcohol…

Anne, a 33 year old woman, presented after ten months of attempts to become pregnant via natural methods. Her general symptoms included insomnia, dizziness, poor memory, excessive tiredness, bloating and indigestion. Most of her menstrual periods involved heavy bleeding. Anne received four acupuncture treatments and a course of herbal medicine. She was sleeping much better after the first treatment and her dizziness and tiredness were gone after the second. After the third treatment Anne reported an increased vitality, describing herself as becoming unusually outspoken, engaging in intense emotional dialogues and experiencing empowering dreams. The four treatments took place over two…

Diagnosed with SLE at the age of 13, I understand the daily battles that lupus sufferers can go through. Extreme fatigue, joint pains and sore throats, were among the myriad of symptoms interfering with my schooling and previously active life. In my struggle to regain good health, I discovered natural therapies and have never looked back. Now, more than 15 years on since my diagnosis, I am a qualified naturopath and nutritionist, have been medication-free for over ten years, managing my condition with a combination of natural therapies.

Using natural therapies to treat lupus can be highly successful for…

James was a man of ample girth, a big bloke with a headache and neck pain to match. One look at his tongue (very red with a thick phlegmy coat) was enough to tell me he was subject to large doses of anger and irritability. His headaches were pretty well constant and a heavy smoking habit wasn’t exactly making a positive contribution to his health. The first treatment I gave him was straight acupuncture. He walked out free of pain (and with a dumbfounded look on his face). Ten weeks later he came back, saying he’d had no headaches or…