While healing the body may mean taking the correct dosage of prescribed medication for many people, it does not always have to be this way. In traditional Chinese societies, healing also comes in the form of sticking needles into many parts of one’s body or even burning dried herbs close to one’s skin.
“The use of traditional Chinese healing dates back to over 5,000 years ago and is still being used widely around the world today. It involves several different treatments which take a unique outlook on the world and the human body,” says Michelle Levy, a Chinese medicine practitioner at Sung Healing.
Traditional Chinese healing methods view the body as a microcosm of the greater universe. As such, many of the practices are based on the belief that what happens in our bodies is closely related to and can be affected by what is happening in the greater universe and the environment around us.
At the core of these practices are the concepts of yin and yang. The two opposite yet complementary forces are believed to shape life as we know it. According to Levy, the concept of Qi life force energy also plays a pivotal role as far as healing is concerned, as it moves along energy pathways in the human body.
Different bodily ailments can be healed through the variety of healing treatments that exist to improve energy and create bodily harmony. Here are just three:
Moxibustion
During moxibustion, a dried Chinese herb known as mugwort is burnt on particular parts of the body. Through the burning mugwort being held very close to the skin, heat is transferred to the body’s acupuncture points. This improves the flow of energy in one’s body, thus providing healing.
According to practitioner Levy, this method can help cure colds and flu, alleviate pain and stress while also providing the needed general healing to an individual’s body. Moxibustion has also proven to be a trusted way of addressing arthritis and digestive problems.
Like other traditional Chinese healing methods, moxibustion is focused on achieving holistic health and holistic living without the use of Western medication. Through the burning of dried mugwort, the body can heal itself from within.
DORN method
The ancient DORN method uses non-manipulative techniques and body movements to safely correct misalignments in the body. These are the areas of the body that are commonly associated with neck pain, headaches, hip, knee, and shoulder discomfort.
“Unlike other ancient traditional Chinese methods, this process was developed in the 1970s. It provides gentle yet highly effective realignment of the spine and joints,” says Levy.
The practice does not treat the symptoms but aims to correct structural imbalance and release blocked energies in the body. Unlike a body massage where the masseuse does all the work, you as the recipient of the treatment are encouraged to take part in your own healing process by engaging with the therapist to structure a healing programme that is unique to you. During the treatment, you can assist the therapist with the exercises to gently move your spine back into its natural alignment.
The treatment also serves as a self-therapy tutorial were you are shown simple exercises on how to adjust uneven movements and bad postural patterns. Incorporating the exercises into your life can reap long-lasting effects from the initial therapy. When done correctly, the DORN method coaches and trains you to take care of yourself and begin an individualised healing programme with long-term results.
Acupuncture
The practice of acupuncture improves the body’s energies and promotes its natural self-healing process through the insertion of sterile needles into the skin. The needles cause deliberate tiny injuries that signal the body to respond through the stimulation of the immune system, promoting circulation to that area.
“The needles change the directions of energy in the body and help to relieve blockages. This allows for a therapeutic effect in the body,” Levy adds.
The practice has been proven to help resolve pain, improve sleep and migraine, improve digestive health and a sense of overall well-being.
Should you not have access to an acupuncturist you can still reap the benefits of an acupuncture treatment by focusing on the acupressure points on the body. If you suffer from menstrual cramps, massage the hollow parts of your inner ankle with a little pressure.
For insomnia, rub the space in between your eyebrows in clockwise motion for 30 seconds, then counter-clockwise circles in the spot between your eyebrows. To ease lower back pain, press the space between the middle of your nose and upper lip and for relief from headaches add a little pressure on the muscle between your thumb and index finger.
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