Sections:

Western medicine dictates that we respond to ailments with a quick fix. Feeling tired? Grab a cup of coffee. Have a headache? Take an Ibuprofen. Can't sleep? Ask your doctor about Lunestra. Taking "the easy way out" has become a way of life for many people who live in a fast-paced world geared around work and productivity. However, there has been increased interest in slowing down, taking some time to reflect, de-stress and recoup. Chinese energy medicine takes a holistic approach to wellness, aimed at uniting mind, body and spirit in harmony through various techniques.

These days, there's an increasing trend for Western doctors to look to ancient Chinese medicines to treat some of their patients who aren't responding to traditional medicines and treatments. Finding the scientific root of lethargy, for example, can be terribly tricky, but doctors from the school of Chinese medicine say that chronic fatigue is a symptom of the body being out of harmony in one way or another. By examining the patient's external environment, dietary habits, attitude and other symptoms, specialists in energy medicines are able to prescribe a healthier lifestyle, which many patients find more advantageous in the long run.

Energy medicine involves things like acupuncture, magnetic therapy, martial arts, yoga, Chinese massage, homeopathy and something called chromotherapy. Any American who has watched a show on interior design has undoubtedly heard the term "Feng Shui," which is a technique used to improve mood and energy levels through arranging one's own environment. Similarly, chromotherapy examines how the body processes light and color, translating it to happiness and positive energy - or the lack thereof.

According to the school of Chinese medicine, various "charkas" or locations store internal energy in the body. Chromotherapists say that lethargy may be attributed to an excess of the color green, while too much yellow can create a lack in concentration. Naturally, the more light a room has, the more awake and energized we feel. Like plants, we need sunlight to feel alive.

Think back to the last time you went on a nature walk. The sun was shining down on you, birds chirped in the vibrant green treetops, lazy white clouds drifted through the blue sky and it was one of those rare euphoric moments where you felt lucky to be alive. Transcendental experiences often occur in nature, leaving us feeling more energized and rejuvenated in an inexplicable, incalculable way. There is so much in the realm of biochemicals, mood and energy on a cellular level that Western medicine simply can't explain. Perhaps it's time we opened our hearts and minds to Chinese energy medicine and tap into a 5,000-year tradition.

Technorati Tags: Chinese Medicine, Energy Medicine Feels Nice