Yogi Times, November 2003
By Alexander Berks L. Ac.
And Denise Wiesner L. Ac
Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist
Practitioners of Chinese Medicine

.....Like yoga philosophy, the ancient Chinese texts teach one to live in
harmony so that the natural order of health, peace and joy can be maintained.
The Tao Te Ching says, "The superior man knows what should be known by
him. The sick one does not know what should be known by him. The one who is
sick of being sick, therefore can be free from being sick". There are many paths
to wholeness.

.....Chinese Medicine is an ancient system of obtaining optimum health
and curing disease. It treats the mind/body/spirit as a whole with the goal
of restoring harmony and balance. Like the concept of Prana to the yogi,
qi("chee") is the Chinese word that describes the life force. Qi circulates
through the body along meridians or channels of energy. To understand how
to cultivate and unblock qi and how it changes based on such factors as
illness, stress and the cycles of life, is to begin to understand the root
of health. A practitioner can use a variety of modalities including acupuncture,
massage techniques, nutrition and herbal medicine to enhance or redirect
qi in order to maintain and restore health.

.....Chinese Medicine can treat many kinds of acute and chronic pain. As a
method of rehabilitation and restoration of the musculo-skeletal system, it
promotes healing of tight or injured muscles, joint pain and connective
tissue injuries. Because people are more complex than their symptoms,
Chinese Medicine theory links patterns of imbalance based upon physical
signs and symptoms with mental and emotional dynamics to treat the
whole person.

.....A practitioner can also treat many internal conditions such as gynecological problems, infertility, functional digestive problems, colds/flus, cough allergies
and asthma, low energy/stress, anxiety/depression, chronic illness, autoimmune disorders, acne and other skin problems. It also provides adjunctive support
for cancer treatment.

.....In ancient China doctors were paid only when their patients were healthy.
So they had incentive to rebalance small disturbances of qi so they don't
go on to become deeper health concerns. We can learn from this perspective.
Yoga makes the body supple, balances the organs and glands, and calms
the mind.

.....However, sometimes we need extra help. When it comes to improving
one's health and well-being, Chinese Medicine offers treatments and insights
to benefit one's yoga practice and self-cultivation.

.....Like a boat on the ocean going up and down with the swell, life is ever
changing and unpredictable. We must balance our mind, body and spirit to
accommodate the changes and keep our boat pointed in the right direction.

Alex Berks L. Ac and Denise Wiesner L.Ac. are husband and wife practicing
Chinese Medicine. They are the owners of the Natural Medicine Clinic, a
full service facility offering personalized care for many acute and chronic
ailments.