Health and Fitness

Biofeedback is a form of treatment wherein patients are trained to enrich their health by the use of their own bodies signals. Both physical therapists and psychologists use this technique, the first to treat stroke victims and the second to help anxious and tense people to relax. Other specialists also use Biofeedback to help patients manage pain. It was in the late 1960s that the word “biofeedback” was coined.

Most of us have used biofeedback without knowing that we are doing so. For example when a thermometer or a scale tells you that you have fever or that you have gained weight, you take action accordingly to reduce the fever and your weight. These two devices “feed back” information for you to act upon. In the same way, practitioners of biofeedback use sophisticated instruments to detect a person’s bodily functions and use the information so gained to gauge and direct a line of treatment.

The biofeedback instrument is something like a sixth sense for a person. It allows them to “hear” or “see” an activity, for example, the electrical signals generated by muscle activity. These electrical signals are transformed into a form that the patient can either see or hear like a flashing bulb or a beeping sound when the muscle grows tense. The patient then tries to slow down the flashing or the beeping. The patient is taught to adjust himself so that the muscles relax. The therapist acts as a trainer and guides the patient as to how to improve his performance.

Today biofeedback is used to treat a long list of conditions that include

- A variety of pain conditions that include tension headaches, headaches and migraine,

- Digestive system disorders,

- High and low blood pressure,

- Raynaud’s ‘s disease (a blood circulation abnormality that causes extremely cold hands)

- Paralysis and such other disorders and

- Epilepsy.

- Specialists who provide training in this field include psychiatrists, psychologists, physical therapists, internists, dentists and nurses. Some form of relaxation exercise is taught to the patients and to identify those triggers that set off their symptoms. Guidance as to how to cope or avoid stressful events, changing their habits, gaining self-control are also taught. They are made to understand that feelings, thoughts and behavior deeply influence physical health.

If you feel that a biofeedback training might be of benefit to you, you should discuss it with your healthcare professional or your physician. They may conduct tests to determine whether your condition can be cured using conventional therapy. Some neurological tests may also be carried out. No responsible practitioner of biofeedback will treat you for hypertension, headaches or other conditions without doing a complete set of tests.

Unusual demands are placed on the shoulders of the patient by biofeedback. They have to self-introvert to find out if their day-to-day activities are the causes of their own distress. They must also understand that it is only by their own efforts that some aliments can be alleviated. And of the utmost importance is the fact that they must recognize the fact that they are responsible for their own well being.

In Chinese medicine, asthma is seen as a disruption of energy by too much phlegm production, which can be brought about by a variety of factors, but is often due to a weakness of the kidneys, lungs and spleen. Phlegm in traditional Chinese medicine refers to disharmony in the body fluids which can block both physical and emotional functions. It is not the same as phlegm in the western sense.

The practitioner may prescribe a kidney, lung or spleen tonic. Ephedrine and bitter almond seed help stop wheezing. Too much phlegm can also be caused by a poor diet with too many sticky foods, such as chocolate, cheese, milk and other dairy products. Eating irregularly also increases phlegm production. Having a big meal before you go to bed, for instance, prevents your digestive system from working properly and skipping meals will weaken your stomach.

The eczema condition is associated with the lungs, stomach, heart and blood. According the Chinese medicine practitioners there are various types of eczema. One is where the skin is itchy, hot and weeping; another is caused by heat in the blood, and your skin is dry, red and itchy. A third kind is caused by wind, and the skin erupts into blisters. The treatment is tailored according to which kind of eczema you have.

Oriental wormwood or Chinese gentian and peony root are used for the type caused by wind. In this type of medicine, anxiety is often seen as an imbalance of the spleen and liver. Chinese angelica and ginseng may be used to strengthen the spleen and move energy through the liver. Chinese herbal remedies are made up to formulas prescribed by practitioners to suit the individual needs of each patient.

Ginseng, the king of tonic herbs comes in two types, red or Korean, ginseng and white ginseng. The latter is used as a general tonic for fatigue and weakness and can help insomnia. Red ginseng is a powerful tonic. It is good for colds, poor circulation and breathlessness. It can also be used in emergencies to treat shock. Scientific studies suggest ginseng stimulates the natural killer cells in the immune system and may also boost brain function.

Although ginseng is widely available, you are recommended to consult a qualified practitioner. You should not take ginseng if you suffer from palpitations, high blood pressure or frequent headaches. Ginger affects the stomach, spleen and lung meridians and is used to treat nausea and vomiting, the common cold and to detoxify the body. It may also be used as a medium in maxi, when maxi is placed on a slice of ginger laid on the skin, and burned down to the ginger slice.

It is important to visit a reputable practitioner, who is fully qualified to prescribe and supply herbs. It is also advisable to make sure that the practitioner you visit belongs to a bona fide organization. This will ensure that the herbal products that are used are authentic and uncontaminated. Chinese herbs have been known to contain poisonous metals, such as lead, and conventional drugs, such as caramel.

The herbs are not adulterated with animal products from endangered species, such as rhino horn, tiger bone and bile from bears. This practice is low illegal and reputable practitioners do not stock the products of endangered species. Never buy herbal remedies by mail order and only buy the herbal remedy if the package clearly states what it contains.