Unexplained physical problems can be excellent reasons to consider mind-body therapies like yoga, tai chi, qigong or acupuncture, all of which taking a holistic approach to self healing.
Often, an unexplained ache or pain can be minor enough not to warrant a doctor's visit, but major enough to be a constant bother. Such problems can be excellent reasons to consider mind-body therapies like yoga, tai chi, qigong or acupuncture, all of which taking a holistic approach to self healing.
Recent scientific inquiry, which appeared in the British Journal of General Practice, has found that the latter therapy may be effective in treating mild, medically ambiguous symptoms such as aches, fatigue and emotional problems.
Researchers at the British Institute of Health Services Research at the University of Exeter asked a number of middle-aged adults with chronic but medically unexplained medical issues to take a traditional five-element acupuncture sessions as part of their treatment course.
The team found that these participants tended to report improvements in symptoms and in mood, while those who took the most acupuncture often reported being the most excited about continuing the alternative therapy.
Such mind-body programs are increasingly being suggested by physicians as a way to augment traditional medical treatments. A study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine found that almost 3 percent of U.S. patients are encouraged to take the mind-body path.
