September 2004 [Volume 3, Issue 9]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• The ABCs of ABT (Asian Bodywork Therapy)
• Herb of the Month: Walnut
• Acupuncture Q & A: This Month's Highlights from the "Ask an Acupuncturist" Forum

The ABCs of ABT (Asian Bodywork Therapy)

Asian bodywork therapy, or ABT, is term used to collectively describe a wide range of manual therapies that treat the human body. As with most forms of Asian healing, ABT treats not just a person’s body, but also the mind and spirit, helping a person achieve optimal health on a variety of levels.

All forms of ABT involve touching to some degree. Some therapies involve only light touching on specific points or regions, while others involve particular motions along certain body parts at certain times. Some forms of ABT incorporate herbs, applications of cold and/or heat, stretching, oils, or a combination of items.

In the vast majority of cases, ABT is virtually painless. In the course of treatment, some Asian bodywork therapists may include therapies such as cupping and moxibustion, which may cause bruising and slight discomfort in especially sensitive individuals. Because it is an external application that does not involve puncturing the skin or any otherwise invasive procedure, it is also considered extremely safe.

In the United States, there are more than a dozen recognized forms of Asian bodywork, including acupressure; amma therapy; chi nei tsang; Five-Element shiatsu; integrative eclectic shiatsu; Japanese shiatsu; jin shin do; macrobiotic shiatsu; nuad bo rarn; tuina; and zen shiatsu. There is also a national organization, the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA), which provides details on various forms of ABT, and a listing of certified Asian bodywork therapists. For more information on ABT, visit the AOBTA’s website (www.aobta.org), or www.acupuncturetoday.com/ask/abt.html.

Herb of the Month: Walnut

While walnuts are technically not herbs, they nevertheless play an important role in traditional Chinese medicine. There are approximately 15 edible walnuts worldwide, most of which are almost identical in appearance. The typical walnut consists of a hard outer shell (ranging in color from light brown to black), which contains a woody nut enclosed in a thick, fibrous husk. In traditional Chinese medicine, walnuts are used to treat pain and weakness in the knees and back, aid in digestion, and relieve asthma. Recent evidence suggests walnuts may play a role in lowering blood cholesterol levels, thus reducing the incidence of some forms of heart disease.

The typical dose of walnut ranges from 9 to 50 grams, depending on the condition being treated. They can be consumed raw or cooked. Walnuts are available in an overwhelming number of forms, from raw and uncooked whole nuts to powders.

To learn more about the benefits of herbal medicine, visit www.acupuncturetoday.com/herbcentral.

Acupuncture Q & A: This Month's Highlights from the "Ask an Acupuncturist" Forum

The "Ask an Acupuncturist" forum provides a place for interested parties to ask questions about acupuncture and Oriental medicine and have them answered by a licensed acupuncturist. This month's questions:

Question #1: My grandmother was recently diagnosed with lymphoma. She had cancer previously (ovarian cancer) and was able to beat it, but now the cancer has come back in a lymph node. She’ll need to be on radiation therapy for the rest of her life, or so the doctors say. Is there anything traditional Chinese medicine can do for her? Herbs? Acupuncture? Moxibustion? All of the above?

Answer #1A: A lot will depend on your grandmother’s constitution/health, as understood from a TCM standpoint. Only a practitioner can determine that. If it can, the methods you mentioned can be brought into use as the practitioner sees fit.

Answer #1B: Both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help her with the symptoms related to lymphoma. Some cases do go into remission. She needs to have an evaluation, and begin treatment as appropriate, to find out what her response will be.

Question #2: Which acupuncture points do you recommend for help with sleeping?

Answer: There are some points that are generally used, but Chinese medicine is adapted to the individual and his or her symptoms. You need an evaluation to know the proper points for you.

Have a question about acupuncture and Oriental medicine? Visit AcupunctureToday.com's "Ask an Acupuncturist" forum at www.acupuncturetoday.com/ask.

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