Care About Your Body and Health

Dance therapy, also called dance/movement therapy, employs movement instead of spoken communication to treat the mentally ill. It is also used to enrich the lives of sightless and deaf individuals, especially children, and can be an important aspect of rehabilitation following a stroke or an injury that hinders motion and coordination.

WHEN IT IS USED

Dance/movement therapists work with individuals who have social, emotional, cognitive, and/or physical problems. They practice in psychiatric hospitals, community day care and mental health centers, correctional facilities, rehabilitation centers, clinics, nursing homes, and geriatric centers. Their work in these last two places is especially important among patients with Alzheimer’s disease and others who may be incapable of ordinary social interaction. Some sports coaches also use dance therapy to improve their athletes’ agility.

HOW IT WORKS

Participants are encouraged to overcome muscular tensions and to become aware of the way in which their feelings can affect their muscles. With the development of this awareness, they become increasingly capable of the wordless expression of inner feelings in the form of movement, usually accompanied by music. As the therapy progresses, the movements can later be interpreted and discussed.

PRECAUTIONS

If you are seeking a dance/movement therapist for personal consultation, remember that only those who have met the requirements for an ADTR (Academy of Dance Therapists Registered) are qualified for private practice.

Chiropractic is a system of treatment based on the belief that the foundation of good health is the unhampered flow of nerve impulses that originate in the brain and spinal cord and then travel to all parts of the body. Therapy begins with analyzing the patient’s spinal column for abnormal alignments of the vertebrae. When such misalignments, called subluxations, are located, they are corrected by manipulation to restore the normal flow of nerve impulses. Many chiropractors also make recommendations about nutrition and exercise, but they do not prescribe drugs or do surgery.

WHEN IT IS USED

Most people consult a chiropractor because of pain that appears to originate in the musculoskeletal system, usually the neck and/or back. For some patients, the pain has come on suddenly, resulting from an injury on the job, in an automobile accident, or while participating in a sport. For others, the pain may be chronic, perhaps the cumulative effect of years of poor posture, a sedentary lifestyle, and increasing weight. Still others may be suffering from job-related muscle and skeletal problems, such as repetitive stress injuries. Individuals with vague, persistent symptoms such as fatigue and headaches also consult chiropractors for both spinal manipulation and counseling on nutrition and exercise.

HOW IT WORKS

The spinal cord gives rise to 31 pairs of spinal nerves, which carry massages to and from the brain and to all parts of the body. These spinal nerves pass through openings in the vertebrae, and when the progress of a nerve is impeded, it is said to be “pinched”. The problem may be the result of an injury, a muscle spasm, a slipped (ruptured) vertebral disk, spinal arthritis, or some other structural abnormality.

With X-rays plus a hands-on exploration of the spine, the chiropractor tries to locate the vertebrae that need realignment. The chiropractic method is most successful in cases in which it is possible to restore normal joint movement by improving anatomical relationships. The intimate hands-on approach may also have a positive effect on healing.

Many practitioners believe that chiropractic can be most effective in treating acute pain of recent onset, before it has reached a chronic stage. Some researchers theorize that when pain is allowed to become chronic, the body loses its ability to produce endorphins, body chemicals that act as natural painkillers. This theory is based on the notion that long-term overstimulation of nerves, which occurs in chronic pain, prevents them from triggering production of painkilling chemicals.

PRECAUTIONS

-          Be wary of chiropractors who describe themselves as holistic healers and make extravagant claims for their cures.

-          Do not substitute chiropractic for traditional medical treatment of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other organic disorders.

-          Before undergoing X-rays in a chiropractor’s office, make sure the equipment is up-to-date to minimize radiation exposure.

-          Chiropractic treatments are generally safe for everyone, but there are exceptions. Patients who has osteoporosis and other disorders characterized by weak or brittle bones should avoid it.

Biofeedback training allows a person to gain a measure of control over bodily functions that are usually automatic, or involuntary-for example, heartbeat, blood pressure, skin temperature, blood flow to the hands and feet, even brain-wave patterns. Some doctors believe that the results are similar to those of self-hypnosis.

Electronic monitors used measure these responses produce visible or audible signals. During the training, a person learns how to alter the electronic signals and, in the process, change an involuntary bodily reponse.

WHEN IT USED

Common uses are to control pain, relieve asthma attacks, rehabilitate muscle damaged by stroke or accident, and treat insomnia, migraine headaches, and other stress-related conditions. Biofeedback training is often combined with visualization and breathing exercises. Researchers in a Duke University heart attack prevention program have used the training to modify Type A personality traits, especially persistent feelings of anger and hostility, which are thought to increase the risk of heart attack.

In some cases, biofeedback can help eliminate the need for medications such as tranquilizers or prescription painkillers. In other instances, such as the control high blood pressure, it may be combined with medication.

HOW IT WORKS

The goal of biofeedback training is to teach individuals how to become active participants in their own treatment, even though they may be unaware of actually controlling a bodily function. A classic example of how the process works is the experiment, conducted in 1970 at Harvard Medical School, in which male subjects were taught to modify their blood pressure. Success in decreasing their blood pressure and maintaining it at a lower level was indicated by a flashing light; after 20 such flashes, the reward was a glimpse of a nude pinup. Most of the subjects indicated that they had no awareness of actually controlling the flashing light, nor were they conscious of what response was being measured. However, they were aware of the nude picture.

Some researchers believe that biofeedback contributes to improved physical and mental health because it fosters a feeling of power over bodily functions that were assumed to be beyond one’s conscious control. Thus, even if a cure is not achieved, biofeedback training adds an important sense of well-being that may increase the efficacy of medical therapy.

PRECAUTIONS

-          Be wary of mail-order or other sources of biofeedback equipment to use at home because such devices vary in quality. Also, a trained therapist can teach you the most effective technique, something you do not get with a do-it-yourself approach.

-          Check with your doctor before undergoing biofeedback training, especially if you have a chronic disorder such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Biofeedback training can alter the need for some medications, and dosages may need to be adjusted.

This ancient healing system from India stresses the mind/body relationship in the maintenance of good health. As in other Asian medical practices, a balance of vital energy, in this case, prana, is considered the key. The system is based on balancing three basic life forces, or doshas- vata, responsible for all movement in the body; pitta, which controls digestion and energy production; and kapha; responsible for the body’s structure and stability. Illness occurs when any of the doshas is out of sync; individuals must know their dominant dosha and follow a diet and lifestyle that keeps it balanced with others.

WHEN IT USED

Unlike Western medicine, which comes into play when illness strikes, Ayurveda is incorporated into a person lifestyle. It governs all aspects of life, such as diet, exercise, and sexual practices. An ayurvedic practitioner is consulted only to identify and correct and imbalance among the three life forces. At ayurvedic clinics in the United States, patients are usually treated by both a Western and an ayurvedic physician.

HOW IT WORKS

Ayurvedic philosophy holds that each person is born with particular ratio of doshas, with one dominating. This dominant doshas determines personality type and also influences one’s susceptibility to certain illnesses. For example, pitta people tend to have fiery dispositions and are prone to developing high blood pressure and digestive disorder, so a pitta-related disease may be treated with a bland diet and numerous herbal remedies. Because the mind is seen as an integral force in maintaining health and overcoming illness, meditation or yoga may also be employed.

PRECAUTIONS

Before agreeing to ayurvedic treatments, ask about costs and cancellation policies. Some clinics ask for advance payment and require two week’s notice of cancellation to qualify for a refund.

The Alexander technique is a training process in which a person learns to identify and change faulty posture and movements. The goal is to free the body of muscular tensions that cause stress and fatigue by eliminating common postural problems resulting from such habits as slouching, holding the head in an awkward position when talking on the telephone, or carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder.

A number of poor posture patterns are the result well-intentioned reminders by parents or teachers to stand or sit up straight. Many people respond by holding their spinal muscles in a constant state of tension instead of aiming for a relaxed balance of head, neck, and torso. Tight or restrictive clothing and high heeled shoes are other common culprits that contribute to incorrect posture and muscle tension.

WHEN IT IS USED

The technique is most frequently recommended as a way of dealing with back and neck pain. It is also used to counteract some of the effects of scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and arthritis, to improve respiratory function, and as an adjunct to breathing exercises for asthma patients.

Some performing artists claim that it has helped them to overcome stage fright; many athletes have found that it not only enhances their skills but also helps reduce the likelihood of sports injuries. A growing number of people who work at computers are investigating the Alexander technique as a way of avoiding stress injuries from repetitive movements, which have become a disabling occupational hazard.

HOW IT WORKS

The Alexander technique is based on the assumption that the body can move freely and naturally only when the head, neck, and torso are properly aligned. This requires awareness of faulty muscular movements and correction of them.

PRECAUTIONS

-          Ascertain that a teacher of the Alexander technique has the proper training and certification.

-          Find out about payment arrangements before committing yourself to a series of lessons.

The body contains three types of muscle: cardiac, found only in the heart; involuntary smooth muscles, which are part of various organs; and the skeletal muscles, which are attached to bones and make voluntary movement possible.

Skeletal muscles-the body’s most abundant tissue-are made up of bundles of long fibers bound together by connective tissue. Each fiber is surrounded by tiny capillaries, which deliver a steady supply of oxygen needed for the muscles to function. The fibers in a particular muscle remain constant in number throughout life, but they enlarge when exercised frequently and shrink, or atrophy, with disuse and age.

Every set of muscles is served by one or more nerves. Movement occurs when nerve signals set off specific chemical reactions that cause certain muscles to contract. Most muscle disorders are actually due to nerve problems. The muscle weakness of multiple sclerosis is one example.

Although males and females have the same number-about 600-of skeletal muscles, men are much more muscular than women; 40 percent of a man’s weight is muscle tissue, compared to 23 percent in women. Muscles are attached to tendons, which in turn are attached to bones. Compared to muscles, tendons are relatively inelastic, providing needed stability. Many muscles are arranged in groups, in which one serves as prime mover, or agonist, another as assistant mover, and a third as antagonist to stabilize movement. When bending the knee, for example, the hamstrings are the prime mover, the Sartorius is the assistant mover, and the quadriceps are the antagonist.

The length and placement of the Achilles tendon make it especially vulnerable to injury. The skin not only serves as the body’s protective armor, but it also helps control body temperature, is instrumental in making vitamin D, and is essential to the sense of touch.

Acupuncture is a form of healing based on the concept that all body organs are interconnected by channels, known as meridians, and that illness occurs when the vital energy, or qi (pronounced chee), flowing through these channels is partially blocked. A practitioner of acupuncture attempts to correct this imbalance by inserting thin needles along the meridians at designated points, called acupoints, and in certain cases twirling them, either manually or with an electrical device. He or she may combine the treatment with other traditional practices, such as herbal medicine, diet therapy, and massage.

The most effective acupuncturists are said to contribute their own qi during the procedure. Transmission of energy occurs when the needles are inserted and rotated.

WHEN IT USED

While many of the claims by acupuncturists are viewed with skepticism by mainstream doctors, there is increasing recognition of their success in alleviating pain, thereby providing an alternative to painkillers, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills. The use of acupuncture for anesthesia in dentistry, childbirth, and some forms of surgery is under study by a number of Western medical practitioners. Researchers are also looking into its usefulness as a way of easing the pain and increasing the range of motion for people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Other possible uses of acupuncture include the treatment of allergies, migraine headaches, circulatory disorder, and addictions to nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs.

Interest in acupuncture and other traditional Chinese remedies is increasing in the United States, but their acceptance in Europe is greater. For example, acupuncture is taught in French medical schools and is covered by government health insurance in France and several other European countries.

HOW IT WORKS

There is no parallel in Western medicine for the meridians and acupoints indicated on the traditional acupuncture chart. Within the frame of reference for Western science, it has not been possible to validate the claims of acupuncture as a healing system, nor is there a complete understanding of exactly how it works as an analgesic. Some researchers think its positive effects might result from the release of endorphins, the body’s naturally produced analgesics, triggered by the action of the needles. Although the trigger points for pain and for acupuncture have been labeled differently and were discovered independently, recent research into pain has revealed that they represent the same phenomenon and can be explained in terms of how the nervous system functions.

PRECAUTIONS

-          Anyone contemplating acupuncture should be medically assessed before beginning treatment.

-          Unless your acupuncturists is a licensed M.D. or D.O., or has been recommended by your primary-care doctor, check credentials and training.

Art therapy is the use of visual arts materials to identify and treat emotional trauma and mental disorders. By creating images in drawings, paintings, sculptures, and photographs, patients provide information about suppressed feelings and buried memories that they cannot express with words.
This approach is also an important aspect of rehabilitation programs for people who are recovering from a stroke or an injury affecting hand function. It can help disable people to improve their self-image and depressed or elderly patients to expend their range of expression.
WHEN IT USED
Art therapy is used with patients who cannot or will not employ words to achieve the personal insight that is a corner-stone of traditional psychotherapy. By surmounting language barriers, this therapy can be especially effective with disturbed children and patients who speak a different language from the therapist. It is also helpful in rehabilitating hand/motor skills following a stroke or injury and assessing the progress of a patient by comparing an early attempt at a self-portrait with a similar attempt after physical therapy.

HOW IT WORKS
By providing a patient with a nonverbal means of expressing repressed thoughts and feelings, art therapy can help ease guilt and anger. Sexually abused children often render images whose meaning can eventually be discussed. Through drawings and paintings, a schizophrenic patient may offer the therapist a view into a disordered mind, thus providing some clues for how treatment might proceed.
Art therapy can also enable mentally ill deaf adults to describe early conflicts with family members and to alleviate symptoms of aggression, hostility, and depression. Physically handicapped children, neglected elderly persons, alcoholics, and prison inmates all can be helped to build self-esteem through sculpture, painting, or photography, especially when they see their work exhibited for other people’s appreciation.
PRECAUTIONS
- All art materials used in a therapeutic setting, especially by children, should be nontoxic.
- People with allergies should be especially careful about the contents of paints and solvents.

Aromatherapy is the use of oils from herbs and other aromatic plants to achieve relaxation or relief from a disorder. Depending upon the plant, the aromatic, or essential, oil is extracted from the leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, fruit, bark, or resin and then diluted with water or an unscented oil such as jojoba. These solutions may be massaged into skin, inhaled from steam, added to bath water, or used in a compress.

WHEN IT IS USED

Practitioners treat a range of medical and emotional problems, including headaches, premenstrual tension, muscle pain, skin disorders, fatigue, insomnia, and stress.

HOW IT WORKS

There are two basic mechanism involved – the sense of smell and the absorptive quality of skin. Practitioners contend that inhalation of a certain scent prompts the brain to release neurochemicals that counter stress and fatigue. They also believe that some oils exert a medicinal effect when absorbed by the skin. Medical benefits of aromatherapy have not been proven, however, and doctors generally discount any therapeutic benefits other than a placebo effect and relaxation.

PRECAUTIONS

-          Avoid ingesting aromatic oils used for aromatherapy. Many, such as camphor and yellow jasmine, are highly toxic. Make sure that the oils are stored in a safe place out of children’s reach.

-          Many aromatic oils are highly irritating, especially when used in concentrated amounts or on the delicate membranes of the vagina, rectum, or nasal cavities. Follow directions for diluting the oils, and then test the diluted solution on a small patch of skin on the forearm or thigh. Avoid further use if the oil produces redness, itching, or swelling.

Philosophers and scientists alike have observed that human beings and other forms of animal life are made up of the same elements found in ordinary soil and water. But when these 20 or so basic elements combine in thousands of different ways to form a human body, the result is one of the most complex organisms on the planet and a never-ending source of both wonderment and mystery.

About 75 to 80 percent of an adult’s body consists of slightly salty water; the rest is made up of chemical compounds, many of them unique to human beings. These various compounds are arranged to form hundreds of different kinds of cells, the body’s smallest, most basic units.

All human life begins with the fusing of two cells and the subsequent division and multiplication of cells to form a complete body follows the same general blueprint even though no two people are exactly alike.

The average body contains 80 to 100 trillion cells, each programmed to grow, carry out a specific function, and even replicate itself. But, with the exception of blood cells, none function independently; instead, similar cells join together to form specific types of tissues-muscle, nerve, bone, and so forth. Each body organs is made up of a collection of related tissues.