While hypnotherapy has been praised by some to be effective in dealing with addictions and unexplained phobias, there are potential downside to such treatments as well. In this article, I would share the associated dangers including media reported stories.

I thought of addressing a reader’s comment who say that anyone who believe in bekam (blood acucupping) is a sucker as there could be many others who also shared his thoughts on this. In the Western world, this concept may be totally alien to many of you who are reading this. Perhaps it is the first time you have ever heard about it. But in Asia, notably in countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and China, this is a form of traditional treatment that most older folks are aware about. I have seen it working for folks who have to suffer years of chronic pain.

When I was travelling (spending hours in the airport, plane or car/van/bus), doing housework or sitting too much on my working desk doing work on my computer, I tend to develop muscle aches and stiffness. Rather than spending money each time going to massage, visiting my chiropractor or going for bekam treatments, I would use tools like this to help with pain relief. It does provide relief and reduce the number of trips that I need to pay to go for treatments

In most parts of the world, it is almost unheard off to set up a complimentary treatment section. I wish conventional hospitals would consider adopting the same approach as many government hospitals in Thailand. Here, the health authorities know that alternative treatments such as acupuncture, acucupping and traditional massage are effective in treating various health conditions and ailments. This is especially so with pain management, arthritis and rheumatism. Effective, non intrusive and little or no side effects.

It would probably not come as a surprise that if you have rheumatoid arthritis, some of your favourite food may be part of the triggers for your inflammation and joint pain. It is tough but is necessary for you to give up food that would harm you. If you speak to a doctor who is practicing conventional medicine, the doctor would tell you that you can eat anything but perhaps you may need to avoid seafood and duck meat. Things like eggs and poultry are not in the list but in traditional Chinese medicine, these are food known to trigger inflammation.

It is dangerous to assume that everything is alright when there is an apparent 100% recovery (patient did not lose mobility). Few people including my late dad did not had any complication from their first stroke. However the second stroke took my dad’s life and I know of few who suffered permanent paralysis. From Chinese healing systems, when the first stroke happens, blockages in certain meridian points would occur. After being discharged, it is important to go for follow up treatment to heal internally and prevent serious complication should the second stroke happen.

A person I know have both the condition of bow legs AND knocked knees. My mom herself have bow legs and I have knocked knees. Acupuncture can help in pain management for both bow legs and knocked knees.

With falls, the older person or elderly could experience moderate to severe pain that eventually ends up limiting the mobility. Eventually it would get too painful to move or walk and thus the person would avoid movement and walking. This would cause muscle dystrophy and stiffness. Gradually, the person would eventually require a walker, then a wheelchair and later bed bound as lack of movement would also result in other complication.

My friend, a cancer survivor of more than 10 years introduced the benefits of a herb called the Black Face General to be used to detox. It is good for detox for the liver and digestive system. Sometimes darker skin pigmentation appears on the upper cheek below the eyes which may indicate an overworked liver. My friend have this too and after a few times of taking the herb, the discoloration went off. Much cheaper than expensive skin treatments.