We have all seen a hypnotist at some time or other on the TV usually they are making people do a series of things that they would normally never do but it is entertainment as least for those watching. There is however a more serious and useful side to hypnotism and one we could all benefit from.

The most common of course that come to mind are helping with stopping smoking or losing weight and perhaps helping in dealing with phobias. Most hypnotists are of course not Doctors and as such have no medical training but help can be given for several conditions such as insomnia, allergies, irritable bowel syndrome and tinnitus.

Massage is perhaps one of the alternative treatments that we have all heard of, we all realise and have probably felt the benefits that can be gained from a massage; probably most of us had used it for simply easing the everyday strains and stresses in our life but massage can also play a significant part in easing many other more significant illnesses.

Research over the years has come to show that massage can help greatly in reliving pain in cancer patients, aiding recovery in heart and lung transplantation patients, is beneficial for people with chronic insomnia and has proven helpful in people suffering from respiratory infections.

Qigong pronounced “cheegung” is a total health care system practised by the Chinese for maintaining health, vitality and healing. It incorporates breathing techniques and a series of postural exercises and is based on the body’s natural flow of energy called “chi”.

Qigong is an art which can be classed as medical, spiritual or martial there are various styles to Qigong but all are based on posture stances.

Kung fu is one style that many will have heard of this is qigong in a vigorous form, another for is Tai-chi. Qigong alone is not a cure for illness but rather it works alongside traditional medicine as a form of alternative complimentary medicine.

Shiatsu is a form of massage therapy that originated from Japan, it is very much like acupuncture but without the needles instead shiatsu massage is based on finger pressure. The treatment is based on the energy flow throughout the body, called “Chi” this energy is said to course throughout the body in “meridian” channels and at times it may get depleted or blocked.

What are Meridian Channels?

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The Japanese believe there to be twelve meridian channels throughout the entire body each one of these relates to a particular organ of the body these channels allow energy to course through these organs, when people become ill it is thought there has been a disruption of this energy or a blockage of this energy.

The purpose of these channels is to control movement in the body, join the arms, head and legs to the rest of the body and regulate the organs to the body. These channels are not only connected to the organs but also conform to the eastern way of thinking of function of the organs.