To
use Chinese medicine you don't have to understand its underlying
philosophy or principles. You can take the herbs, receive acupuncture
and try other therapies much as you would take a pill"Western style"and
you will still reap considerable benefits.
But a curious thing
happens when you use Chinese medicine: Its transforming power
insinuates itself into your unconscious as the treatments strengthen
your mind/body/spirit. You find, despite your lack of understanding of
how it works or what it can do, that repeated exposure to the basic
treatments"herbs, acupuncture, dietary therapy and Qi Gong
exercise and meditation"changes you in subtle but far-reaching ways.
You become more tuned into your physical and spiritual self. You become
aware of the profound impact of your breath on your physical and mental
well-being; you begin to sense the flow of Qi
"the life force"through your body; you tune into your own mental and
physical strengths and imbalances; you learn to rejoice in the
interconnectedness of all life experience.
This transformation
creates a sense of empowerment that's particularly important in dealing
with a chronic disorder such as HIV disease, which can erode your sense
of control over your own body and make you feel estranged from your
physical and spiritual self.
Putting yourself within the Eastern
frame of mind will help you maximize the effectiveness of Western
treatments (and lessen the negative side-effects). You'll also be
better able to manage HIV-associated disorders and diseases, such as
sinusitis and chronic diarrhea, which often resist Western treatments.
So I hope you'll take the time to explore a little bit about the inner
workings of Chinese medicine. It can bring a great deal of joy and
healing into your life.
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Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.
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article is protected by United States copyright law and may not be
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About the Author
Dr. Misha Ruth Cohen, OMD, L.Ac., has over 25 years experience in
the practice of Asian medicine--including acupuncture, herbal medicine,
nutrition and diet, and Asian bodywork.
Misha is the author of
three books: The Chinese Way to Healing: Many Paths to Wholeness; The
HIV Wellness Sourcebook: and The Hepatitis C Helpbook. She is
internationally known as a practitioner, teacher, and mentor to Chinese
medicine practitioners around the world.
Today, Cohen has developed great expertise in the area of gynecology
and is considered one of the pioneers of utilizing Chinese medicine to
help treat HIV and AIDS.
Website: http://docmisha.com