Energy Times - Health, Vitamins, Supplements and Nutrition

HEADLINES / TRENDS l STATS l RESEARCH l MEDIA l PEOPLE

January 2011

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Finding an Energy Healer

A core belief in traditional medicine for thousands of years, the idea that the body possesses a subtle energy which can be manipulated is an idea that has caught on in the US only within the past 30 years or so. The term “energy medicine” generally refers to “the therapeutic use of a practitioner’s or healer’s hands to assess and balance the human energy field and enable healing and wholeness,” says Linnie Thomas, trained healer and author of The Encyclopedia of Energy Medicine (Fairview Press), who adds that such practices are normally used with other forms of medicine. The following are some of the more commonly available types of energy work.

Technique	How It Works	Who Practices It
Acupuncture	Very thin needles are inserted into the body at specific points to influence qi, the body’s basic life energy, running through defined pathways called meridians	Licensed or Registered Acupuncturist (LAc/RAc), depending on locality
Craniosacral Therapy (CST)	Gentle touch is used to rebalance energy flowing through the craniosacral system, which consists of the skull, spine and sacrum (a bone at the spine’s base)	Registered Craniosacral Therapist (RCST)
Healing Touch (HT)	The patient’s energy field is cleared of blockages and congestion by placement of the healer’s hands lightly on or just above the body	Healing Touch Practitioner or Certified Practitioner (HTP/HTCP)
Polarity Therapy	Energy in three systems—north-to-south, east-to-west and spiral—is influenced using touch, rocking the client’s body and hand or foot manipulation	Associate or Registered Polarity Practitioner (APP/RPP)
Reflexology	Pressure is applied to reflex points on the hands, feet and ears to help alleviate illness in associated organs or areas of the body	Certification through several groups, including the American Reflexology Certification Board (ARCB)
Reiki	The practitioner places his or her hands above the client’s body to help healing energy flow where it will	No official certification; Reiki Master is the highest level of training

To Learn More

American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine: www.aaaomonline.org
866-455-7999

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America: www.craniosacraltherapy.org
734-904-0546

Healing Touch Program: www.healingtouchprogram.com
210-497-5529

American Polarity Therapy Association: www.polaritytherapy.org
336-574-1121

Reflexology Association of America: www.reflexology-usa.org
980-234-0159

The International Center for Reiki Training: www.reiki.org
800-332-8112

More Energy Modalities

Technique	How It Works	Who Practices It
Advanced Integrative Therapy (AIT)	This form of psychology uses energy work and spiritual development exercises, among other protocols, to help patients overcome trauma	Certified AIT Practitioner; requires graduate degree in a healing profession before study begins
Core Energetics	Uses breathing, movement and consciousness exercises to clear deeply held emotional blockages	Core Energetics Practitioner; certification also available for other healthcare professionals
Healing Sounds	Holds that each person vibrates at a specific frequency; sound is used to help all parts of the body resonate together	Certification available from the Sound Healers Association
Kairos Therapy	This hands-on modality bring deep qi blockages caused by trauma, shock, pain or tension to the surface, where they are released	Certification available from the International Association for Kairos Therapy
Qigong (Medical)	The practitioner passes qi on to the client via hand positioning, exercises and mediation to promote good heath	Ranges from Medical Qigong Practitioner to Doctor of Medical Qigong
Thought Field Therapy	Acupressure points are tapped in a specific sequence to help ease physical and psychological disorders	Certification required for instructors

To Learn More

Advanced Integrative Therapy: www.aitherapy.org

Core Energetics: www.coreenergetics.org
800-901-1770

Sound Healers Association: www.soundhealersassociation.org
800-246-9764

International Association for Kairos Therapy: www.kairostherapy.com
510-466-7751 (US association)

National Qigong Association: www.nqa.org
888-815-1893

Association for Thought Field Therapy: www.atft.org
866-396-1365

Source: The Encyclopedia of Energy Medicine by Linnie Thomas,
HTCP, HTCI, MLW (Fairview Press, www.fairviewpress.org)

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Fish Oil May Turn On
Anti-Diabetic Genes

A gene called PPARy plays a vital role in helping the body regulate glucose (blood sugar) and avoid diabetes. Now a Taiwanese study has shown that supplementation with the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are found in fish oil, can activate PPARy.

Researchers at National Taiwan University fed mice either fish oil or a drug called rosiglitazone designed to affect PPARy, which also regulates fat cell growth. Mice who received the
rosiglitazone did not lose body weight or fat pad weight. In contrast, the fish oil-supplemented mice lost both weight and fat, showing that EPA and DHA help “regulate glucose homeostasis through interaction with PPARy,” according to the study team’s report in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

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EDITOR'S CHOICE

Natural Water Transport

Plastic water bottles are as unhealthy for the environment as they are ubiquitous, to say nothing of how tacky they look. If you want to stay hydrated in eco-friendly high style, the Bamboo Bottle may be just what you’re looking for. Bamboo—strong, durable and readily renewable—forms a protective outer shell for the bottle’s dishwasher-safe inner core made from 60% recycled glass. This two-part system makes the Bamboo Bottle comfortable to carry whether you’re drinking ice water or hot coffee. To learn more, visit www.bamboobottleco.com.

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WORD

EGCG

The acronym for epigallocatechin gallate, the best-known healthful compound found in tea, in
particular green tea. This powerful antioxidant is being studied for its anti-cancer properties, among other effects.

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Step It Up, America

5,117
Average number of steps taken by Americans per day

7,168
Number of daily stepstaken by Japanese

34%
Americans who are obese

3%
Japanese who are obese

Source: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 10/10