Centuries-old cures found in Oriental medicine

With debate raging around the nation over how to pay for the often-costly miracles of modern Western medicine, many people seeking relief from pain and suffering are turning to ancient medical cures from China that are thousands of years old.

Medical specialties such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicines and special nutritional supplements are only untraditional as they relate to Western culture and are definitely not New Age, says Dawn Balusik, a board-certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Chinese herbology and acupuncture.

Oriental medicine is a system of natural health care about 3,500 years old that many are turning to for alternative methods of relief.

Balusik, a primary-care physician and massage therapist, said many more people are turning to Chinese medical practices to treat a variety of illnesses. They include inflammation of the lining of the uterus; allergies and sinus problems; back, joint and neck pain; infertility; digestive disorders; and sleep problems and headaches.

"Some patients turn to Oriental medicine after they failed to find relief in conventional Western methods," she said.

Balusik, who lives in Tarpon Springs and has her practice on U.S. 19, in the Countryside area, said few people realize Oriental medicine is "the oldest continually practiced form of medicine in the world. It consists of a complex system of theory, diagnoses and treatment strategies."

Individualized treatments include the use of specialized acupuncture techniques, pressure-point massage, gentle exercise and relaxation, nutritional counseling and nonpharmaceutical herbal medicines to balance a patient's energy.

People have found that by massaging pressure points and redirecting energy through acupuncture, they feel relief from pain and discomfort.

A big misconception many people hold, Balusik said, is that acupuncture is done with large needles. In fact, a thin strand of sterile stainless-steel filament is placed under the skin. Each filament is used only once and then discarded to avoid transmitting blood-borne diseases.

"Oriental medicine is based on the idea that humans are not just a collection of physical molecules, Balusik said. Instead, people are a complex and interrelated system of energies known as Qi, which is pronounced chee, she said.

Acupuncturists use a complex chart that defines pressure points in the body and how they interconnect to regulate the flow of Qi. Acupressure massage of pressure points is used on children rather than acupuncture.

Acupuncture is also successfully used in treating the effects of modern cancer treatments, alleviating pain and restoring appetite, she said.

Each treatment is used in conjunction with prescribing Chinese herbal medicines.

Many people, trying to stay away from chemicals found in modern drugs, are turning to cures found in the natural ingredients of Chinese herbal medicine.

Herbal medicines can be prescribed in tablet and liquid form, sometimes as teas, or items that can be cooked up in a soup, she said.

More than 5,000 different ingredients made from plants, animals, and minerals are used.

Chinese herbs are a good alternative to some of the drug-based anxiety remedies many doctors prescribe, she said.

A Chinese herbal formula may include up to 20 different items carefully balanced to work in unison when taken by the patient.

A special formula is created for each patient, so there can be no sharing of Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions, she noted.

Balusik said it is important that an expert in herbal medicines insure the right dose is taken, so there is no interaction between any modern drugs that might be prescribed by a doctor or over-the-counter remedies that a patient may take.

Many patients want to be able to sleep better at night or not consume so many anti-anxiety or pain-relieving medicines that they know are not good for their liver and other organs, she said.

As holistic medical practitioners, acupuncturists consider lifestyle and environmental factors when deciding the best course of treatment that includes lifestyle and nutritional recommendations along with acupuncture and herbal formulas, she said.

For more information on Oriental medicine visit www.acupuncturebydawn.com or call 727-475-4710. Her office is in the office park at 28469 U.S. 19, north of Republic Drive.