Meridians are the bridge between the psyche and soma, the system that allows our life force to flow through our body. Each of the twelve main meridians stand for a fundamental life principle and by examining them, we can begin a journey towards better health- as well as freedom and contentment. In this inspirational, easy-to-read deep dive, Mike Mandl uses his own wit and humour to explore the life principles of the meridians and offers a toolbox for self-diagnostic purposes, demonstrating how to strengthen these principles, correct imbalances, and keep in harmony with yourself through daily observation and maintenance. Translating the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine into an engaging, accessible resource for practitioners and novices alike, this is the perfect first step in harnessing the meridians for your own self-actualisation.

For centuries, Chinese medicinal materials have been used for therapeutic purposes. Chinese medicinal materials are traditionally identified by their organoleptic characteristics, such as the texture or the odor. With the advancement of DNA technology, a molecular approach has become an important tool to complement organoleptic, morphological, anatomical and chemical techniques for the authentication and quality assurance of Chinese medicinal materials.In 2002, the authors published Authentication of Chinese Medicinal Materials by DNA Technology which is the first international reference in this field. After 20 years, this new edition updates the various useful techniques and describes the new techniques developed for molecular authentication. The procedures of each DNA technique are provided in detail for 'step-by-step' experiments.This book is divided into 5 parts with 18 chapters. Part I reviews the current status of molecular authentication and introduces a wide range of DNA techniques. Part II lists the experimental procedures for molecular authentication. Part III describes the DNA fingerprinting-based techniques. Part IV describes the DNA sequencing-based techniques. Finally, Part V provides an account on the recent advancement in molecular authentication, including guidelines for setting up a proper DNA laboratory and concluding remarks.

The ABC's of Chakra Therapy is a practical, user-friendly workbook that leads readers on a journey of self-healing and transformation through the exploration of the human energy field, specifically the seven main energy centers, or chakras. The unique approach of this book focuses not just on one method of energy clearing, but incorporates a variety of therapies to choose from. The forms of therapy in this healing "bag of tools" include: visualization, sound, color, aromatherapy, reflexology, crystals and gemstones, yoga and other physical exercise. Learn to combine powerful healing techniques to enable healing on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. You'll become more aware of your own energy, compared to energy that belongs to someone or something else. You'll be better able to take control of your life -- no longer being at the mercy of the unconscious effects of others. Where traditional psychotherapy leaves off, The ABC's of Chakra Therapy comes in -- expediting healing by providing a means of de-energizing and neutralizing negative patterns, beliefs, and behavior at the core level.

Plant extracts or their pure natural constituents have been used traditionally for thousands of years for treating diseases with considerable success in India and other Asian countries. In addition, they have also been used as complements or supplements with conventional medicine. This book discusses the latest research in the application of combination therapy, namely herbs and drugs, in the treatment of a range of communicable and non-communicable diseases to achieve a synergistic effect. This synergy may help in reducing the amount of drug, its toxicity, side effects, and development of resistance as well as improve its efficacy. The book also discusses the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic parameters, experimental tools to determine the impact of combination, computational approaches to identify synergy, statistical analysis of data, and clinical and regulatory issues. The book is useful for researchers in the fields of pharmacology, pharmacy and medicinal chemistry and those working in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. This book could open up new strategies to focus on multiple targets to combat complex diseases unlike the single targeted drugs that are being currently marketed by the pharmaceuticals industries.

The 27th volume of the Evidence-based Clinical Chinese Medicine series examines the management of people who are overweight and obese with Chinese medicine using a 'whole evidence' approach. Overweight and obesity are recognised as leading health concerns worldwide. They have significant impacts on quality of life and mortality and are associated with many complications and chronic illnesses, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke and some cancers. Conventional medicine understanding of weight gain, including common causes, diagnosis and treatment are included, along with the Chinese medicine conceptualisation of overweight and obesity.Evidence from clinical studies is reviewed using internationally accepted scientific methods. Systematic reviews describe the treatments used in clinical studies, and analyse the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicines, acupuncture and related therapies, other Chinese medicine therapies, and combinations of Chinese medicine therapies. Experimental studies that describe the potential mechanisms of action of key herbs are summarised. The final chapter synthesises the current evidence and offers suggestions for contemporary clinical practice and future research.This book is a handy desktop reference for both clinicians and students of Chinese and integrative medicine. It provides a comprehensive synthesis of both traditional and contemporary knowledge that can inform clinical decision-making.

Betsie Rood was a well-known researcher-writer and an expert in culinary matters and natural medicine. This book is a national treasure, not only because it collects centuries’ worth of knowledge, remedies and tips, but also because the various uses to which different local cultures put the same plants are listed in full.

This book makes Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) intelligible to those who are not familiar with the tradition, many of whom may choose to dismiss it off-hand or to assess it negatively) . Keekok Lee uses two related strategies: arguing that all science and therefore medicine cannot be understood without excavating its philosophical presuppositions and showing what those presuppositions are in the case of CCM compared with those of biomedicine. Such excavations enable Lee in turn to demonstrate the following theses: (1) the metaphysical/ontological core of a medical system entails its own methodology, how to understand, diagnose and treat an illness/disease; (2) CCM rests on process-ontology, is Wholist, its general mode of thinking is Contextual-dyadic, its implicit logic is multi-valent, its model of causality is non-linear and multi-factorial; (3) Biomedicine (in the main) rests on thing-ontology and dualism, is Reductionist, its logic is classical bi-valent, its model of causality is linear and monofactorial; (4) hence to condemn CCM as "unscientific"/"pseudo-scientific"/plain "mumbo-jumbo" while privileging Biomedicine as the Gold Standard of scientificity is as absurd as to judge a cat to be inferior to a dog, using the criteria of "goodness" embodied in a dog-show.

'It was August 1, a time when New York children are generally wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts. My first patient was 18 months old and dressed more appropriately for late fall. When we took off his clothes I saw why. He was covered head-to-toe with oozing, staph-infected lesions, which he promptly began to scratch. That explained the overdressing - it was the only deterrent to scratching ... I had expected quick resolution using oral medication-teas - based on my experience in China. I wasn't prepared for this level of severity.'Dr Xiu-Min LiThus began Dr Li's journey into the treatment of eczema in the United States, which afflicts some 15-20% of children and 10% of adults. This book represents years of collaboration with patients, parents, pediatricians, allergists and dermatologists to treat disorders that resist standard intervention, and in some cases are caused by conventional treatment in the form of topical corticosteroids. Chronic use of steroids by patients desperate for relief from itching, oozing and scaling, and subsequent withdrawal can result in severe physical and psychological symptoms.'It wasn't just the extent of the disease. It was also the toll it took on family quality of life. Kids were crying. Mothers were crying. They were all sleeping badly. Most of these families also had bad food allergies, but food allergy is a silent disease. People worry about it, but with eczema they suffer every day.'Dr LiThis is a book of scholarship. Dr Li, explores the literature of traditional Chinese medicine, which has a long history of describing and treating skin disorders, to find therapies that might benefit current patients. It is a book of science as Dr Li and her team use state-of-the-art technology to explore the mechanisms of disease, the therapeutic effects of the herbs, and ways to make them more effective. But it is also a book of compassion as patients and their families recount their experience of illness and the road back, after working with Dr Li's private practice.Dr Li has dual professorships in Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, and Otolaryngology at New York Medical College. Dr Li and her team have long devoted to themselves to developing novel therapies for food allergy, asthma, eczema, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, and Crohn's disease, among other inflammatory conditions.

Apart from diet and exercise, the strategic use of different classes of prescribed or non-prescribed xenobiotic compounds for the restoration of euglycemic levels in the body is well known. The ongoing rivalry between the recommended usage of allopathic medicines versus ayurvedic remedies has encouraged many researchers to focus their studies on thoroughly isolating and characterizing the extracts from different parts of plants and then evaluating their relative activities via in vitro, in vivo and in some cases clinical studies. Alternative Medicines for Diabetes Management: Advances in Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Chemistry provides a holistic view of all oral therapies for diabetes mellitus that are available to the public by removing the silos and stigmas that are associated with both allopathic and ayurvedic medicines. Additional Features Include: Highlights the potential role of dietary and medicinal plant materials in the prevention, treatment, and control of diabetes and its complications. Educates readers on the benefits and shortcomings of the various present and potential oral therapies for diabetes mellitus. Allows quick identification and retrieval of material by researchers learning the efficacy, associated dosage and toxicity of each of the classes of compounds. Presents the history, nomenclature, mechanisms of action and shortcomings for each of the various sub-classes of allopathic therapeutants for diabetes mellitus and then introduces ayurvedic medicines. Section C discusses various metallopharmaceuticals and provides a holistic view of all available and potential therapies for the disease.

Animal Assisted Therapy Use Application by Condition provides the most updated and comprehensive data knowledge on animal-assisted therapy. The book synthesizes historical information, theory, clinical practice, and data from recent clinical studies on animal-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other diseases. Written by international experts drawn from the fields of medicine, clinical psychology and therapy, speech therapy, clinical research, and animal training and welfare, this book employs a hypothesis driven, data rich approach to inform readers on current research and serve as a reference for clinical practice and use of animal-assisted therapy. This is an important resource for clinicians, researchers, animal trainers and handlers and students who want to understand and utilize animal-assisted therapy in theory and practice.

Trust this approachable, all-in-one text to help you master the essential principles of massage therapy! Covering massage fundamentals, techniques, and anatomy and physiology, Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice, 7th Edition prepares you for success in class, on exams, and in practice settings. This user-friendly text includes more than 700 images, expanded information on the latest protocols, critical thinking questions at the end of each chapter, and updated pathologies which reflect what you will encounter in the field. Simple, straightforward coverage is written in a clear, approachable manner to strengthen student comprehension. UNIQUE! Combined anatomy and physiology and fundamentals material make this a streamlined solution - one book to buy, one book to carry, one complete resource to reference. Certification Practice Exam mimics the major certification exams and provides excellent practice for board review. Critical thinking questions at the end of the chapters help students develop clinical reasoning skills. Robust art program enhances understanding and comprehension of each topic presented through a mixture of high-quality illustrations and clinical photographs. NEW! Updated Hydrotherapy and Spa chapter features the latest procedures. NEW! Expanded sports massage section in the Clinical Massage chapter offers additional information on this growing practice area. NEW! Revised artwork in the Kinesiology chapter clearly illustrates key concepts.

Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) has become big business internationally, in particular with regards to a range of women's health issues. With this context in mind, Women's Health and Complementary and Integrative Medicine constitutes a valuable and timely resource for those looking to understand, initiate and expand CIM research and evidence-based debate with regards to a wide range of women's health care issues. The collection brings together leading international CIM researchers from Australia, the USA, the UK, Germany and Canada, with backgrounds and expertise in health social science, statistics, qualitative methodology, clinial trial design, clinical pharmacology, health services research and public health. Contributors draw upon their own CIM research work and experience to explain and review core research and practice issues pertinent to the contemporary field of CIM and its future development with regards to women's health. The book outlines the core issues, challenges and opportunities facing the CIM-women's health field and its study and will provide insight and inspiration for those practising, studying and/or researching the contemporary relations between CIM and women's health and health care.

Comprehensive, practical and reflective of the current Australian and New Zealand legislative framework and regulations, this unique textbook addresses legal and ethical issues across a broad range of traditional and complementary practices. The sixth edition of Michael Weir's classic textbook: * explores legal and ethical issues in clinical relationships, and the role of codes of ethics; * provides practical guidelines for setting up and running a professional practice; * systematically outlines the various aspects of the law which impact on clinical practice, including legal obligations to clients, consumer legislation, complaints processes, and professional boundaries; * explains how to navigate professional indemnity insurance; * outlines the steps you need to take in setting up a professional practice from establishing a business name to dealing with employees; * discusses and provides examples of how to deal with tricky ethical issues in daily practice. This edition includes updated legislation, a review of relevant case law, recent developments in the Unregistered Practitioners' Code of Conduct and evidence about misconduct and regulatory action, and more in-depth discussion of ethical concepts. This is an essential read for students and practitioners of complementary medicine.

The twelve volume in the Evidence-based Clinical Chinese Medicine series is a must read for Chinese medicine practitioners interested in neurology or rehabilitation. Using a 'whole evidence' approach, this book aims to provide an analysis of the management of post-stroke shoulder complications with Chinese and integrative medicine.This book describes the understanding and management of post-stroke shoulder complications with conventional medicine and Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine treatments used in past eras are analysed through data mining of classical Chinese medicine books. Several treatments are identified that are still used in contemporary clinical practice.Attention is then turned to evaluating the current state of evidence from clinical studies using an evidence-based medicine approach. Scientific techniques are employed to evaluate the results from studies of Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and other Chinese medicine therapies. The findings from these reviews are discussed in terms of the implications for clinical practice and research.Chinese medicine practitioners and students can use this book as a desktop reference to support clinical decision making. Having ready access to the current state of evidence for herbal formulas and acupuncture treatments allows practitioners to be confident in providing evidence-based health care. This book is an easy to use reference, thus allowing practitioners to focus on providing high quality care supported by the best available evidence.This book links formulas, herbs and acupuncture points with treatment efficacy, providing the reader with potential for creating new formulas. Several of the most frequently used herbs from randomized controlled trials were investigated to identify their pharmacological actions in animal and cell-line studies. This gives the reader insight into the potential actions of herbs and their chemical constituents that are relevant to the pathogenesis of post-stroke shoulder complications, and may provide leads for drug discovery.The editors of this series are internationally recognized, well-respected leaders in the field of Chinese medicine and evidence-based medicine with strong track records in research.

This essential handbook is used by aromatherapists all over the world and is one of the most successful titles in this area. It includes an A–Z listing of an enormous range of internationally relevant aromatic plants. Comprehensive information is provided for each entry, for example:• Common name, Latin name, botanical plant family • General Description – what it looks like • Distribution – where it’s found • Herbal Folk Tradition – traditional uses • Actions – what it’s good for • Extraction – How the oil is extracted • Characteristics – what the oil looks like, and which other oils it blends well with • Safety Information.The Encyclopedia also covers:• History of aromatherapy and herbalism• How aromatic plants work on your body & mind,• How to make your own blends• Uses for oils in the home.This is a classic guide to essential oils and will remain a vital source of information for generations to come.

Biotherapy is defined as the use of living organisms in the treatment and diagnosis of human and animal diseases. This volume is an evocative exploration of the history, scientific basis and practical use of the major biotherapy modalities. The authors provide researchers and practitioners interested in this field, with cutting-edge material on the latest key advances in the following fields of biotherapy: Maggot Therapy, Hirudotherapy, Bee Venom Therapy, Apitherapy, Ichthyotherapy, Helminth Therapy, Phage Therapy, Animal Assisted Therapy, Canine Olfactory Detection. In addition, the authors provide with their chapters an extensive bibliography that represents a state-of-the-art survey of the literature. Comprehensive and current, this fresh volume of reviews is an essential resource for professionals who need to stay ahead of the game in the exciting field of biotherapy.

This book covers the principles and issues of safety relating to herbal medicine, and examines the relevant safety data for over 70 commonly used or contentious herbs. With contributions from leading international experts, the book covers issues of quality, interactions, adverse reactions, toxicity, allergy, contact sensitivity and idiosyncratic reactions. Provides the most current information on safety issues in herbal medicine. Presents authoritative and credible safety information from two experienced herbal practitioners. Combines theoretical chapters with 125 well-researched monographs, making it the most thorough and comprehensive text on the market for herbal safety in practice. Provides clear information using the most current evidence-based reviews, covering factors that influence herb safety, including the negative placebo effects (nocebo), various types of unpredictable effects, the basis for interactions between herbs and drugs, and quality issues. Uses an established grading system for assessing safety in pregnancy and lactation that is realistic and appropriate to herb use. Thoroughly critiques the dominant misinformation in the media and medical journals on herb safety issues. Contains 83 documented case studies on hepatoxicity and the effects in relation to kava. Kava safety is a hot topic. Includes two useful appendices detailing herbal references for pregnancy and lactation considerations.

Discover the wisdom and magic of Appalachia through Mountain Magic, an illustrated guide to the occult power of the hills and hollows. The people of Appalachia and the American backwoods have a long and deep magical tradition, one rooted in the power of place, land, and nature. With a creativity and ingenuity born of necessity, Appalachian witches built and sustained a wealth of magical knowledge drawn from European, Native American, and African American folk magic. Guided by expert witch and forager Rebecca Beyer, you can explore the wisdom of this powerful place: Learn medical and magical uses for common plants and herbs Meet the traditional magical practitioners of Appalachia, from Blood Stoppers to Water Witches Delve into a wealth of charms and curses, from witchballs to love workings Follow the lore of the stars and seasons to grow and thrive Some of the magic and culture you will encounter in this enchanted guide include: Magical lore surrounding the weather, seasons, and the movements of the moon and stars Recipes for a tonic salad to move the blood in springtime and a cleansing spicebush tea Profiles of the medicinal and magical properties of some essential mountain plants, including ginseng, blackberry, poke, sassafras, and mullein Charms to protect from evil, including witch bottles, a holly twig charm, and the SATOR ROTAS square With this beautifully illustrated guide, you can bring the wisdom and magic of the backwoods to meet the challenges of modern life, building a magical practice that's fueled by ancestral traditions and the nourishing power of the natural world. The Modern Folk Magic series offers accessible and engaging introductions to folk magical traditions from a fresh, modern perspective. Linking the current enthusiasm for magical practice back to the deeply rooted magical traditions in the United States and elsewhere, the titles in this series give depth and cultural meaning to the practice of witchcraft. These beautiful books serve as hands-on guides for learning and practicing folk magic, from authors who are experts in these traditions. Check out the other books in the series including Hoodoo Magic.

Despite tremendous gains in medical knowledge, most conditions are managed, rather than cured, by medications. As a result, countless patients seek supplemental modes of care to better control their symptoms and conditions to improve their overall wellbeing. This reality spotlights the need for adjuvant medical procedures. Adjuvant medical care refers to any supportive therapy that enhances the outcome of medical measures already in place. Adjuvant care does not replace primary or traditional treatments, but instead serves as add-on care to the initial medical treatment plan prescribed by a health care provider. The addition of one or more non-prescription therapies (e.g., nutritional support, over-the-counter remedies, home care, dietary measures, supplements, etc.) to the primary medical management regimen has become increasingly popular and mainstream thanks to scientific studies that have documented favorable outcomes for many patients. The verifiable scientific merit of these additional medical options demonstrates their usefulness in the treatment of many medical conditions. The purpose of this handbook is to provide support to doctors and patients who are interested in safe and effective non-prescription and non-pharmacological medical therapies for specific conditions to minimize symptoms and optimize recovery and quality of life. * Helps doctors and patients discover additional therapies that can reduce pain, advance health outcomes, minimize complications and disability, and extend life. * Presents safe, reliable, and practical options that are available to reduce symptoms, maximize recovery, and positively augment the management of a variety of conditions. * Provides medical insight into less traditional, yet often effective, supportive options for enhancing and optimizing patient response to care. This book is a valuable resource for both doctors and patients who are committed to achieving the best possible medical outcomes through a variety of coordinated approaches.

This is a unique presentation of systems of traditional healing from around the world. It provides information about the concept of healing from many different cultural perspectives and explores the application of these cultural perspectives to modern psychotherapeutic and health care settings. The last decade has seen a literal explosion of data that support the idea that states of mind have consistent and demonstrable effects on physical health. With examples that examine traditional and modern healing systems in many different cultures around the world, this work demonstrates that most cultures perceive illness as a dislocation of the individual from his or her communal context. The healing process is effected through contextualizing the individual in community by ritual, ceremony, trance, pilgrimage, and family practices. Traditional healing systems are shown to have particular importance relating to modern medical responses to mental illness.

Herbal Treatment of Anxiety: Clinical Studies in Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic Traditions explains the nature and types of anxiety, its neurobiology, the pathophysiology that exacerbates and perpetuates it, and the psychopharmacology of the chemical agents that relieve its manifestations. Throughout the text are discussions of Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbal treatments that have been clinically shown to be effective in relieving anxiety. The book also features a scientific discussion of the use of herbs and essential oils in aromatherapy and the mechanisms by which they may work. The book concludes by providing bases upon which herbs can be chosen to treat the anxiety of patients according to their individual needs. Additional features include: Examines the increasingly popular subject of the use of herbs as a natural alternative treatment and provides a much-needed scientific basis for treatments often considered as merely "folk medicine." Discusses the psychoactive phytochemicals contained in herbs. Includes a chapter discussing the nature and mechanisms of action of adaptogens. Adds to the armamentarium of anxiolytics for providers who have become reluctant to prescribe benzodiazepines as treatment of anxiety, particularly in the context of the opiate crisis. Gives an introduction to herbal treatments of traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Offers practical advice on initiating and managing herbal treatments. Herbal Treatment of Anxiety is a valuable reference for psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, primary care providers, naturopathic doctors and therapists interested in the most current scientific information on the effects of herbal treatments of anxiety disorders.

This book brings together a cutting-edge selection of the most current applications of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), giving clinicians as well as researchers a concise guide to current and future directions. Each chapter begins with in illustrative case study to give readers an example of how MBCT would be used in the clinical setting, followed by an overview of the condition, the theoretical rationale for using MBCT, modifications of MBCT for that disorder, evidence for MBCT use. Chapters also discuss practical considerations of MBCT, including patient selection, home practice, group size, format, and facilitator training. Written by some of the world's leading physicians using MBCT, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Innovative Applications is of great value to psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and therapists.