According to AP writer Marilynn Marchione, the “alternative medicine scam” (my quotes, not hers–she never used the word scam) is a waste of money. She says that taxpayer money is being spent foolishly to investigate the veracity of many treatments from acupuncture and Reiki to herbal supplements. A quick quote:

Echinacea for colds. Ginkgo biloba for memory. Glucosamine and chondroitin for arthritis. Black cohosh for menopausal hot flashes. Saw palmetto for prostate problems. Shark cartilage for cancer. All proved no better than dummy pills in studies funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The lone exception: ginger capsules might help chemotherapy nausea.

The article talks about how powerful members of Congress created the center because they were using alternative treatment methods, and  therefore it was necessary to “research unconventional therapies and nostrums that Americans were using to see which ones had merit.”

The only admission that the writer makes was that “acupuncture has been shown to help some conditions, and yoga, massage, meditation and other relaxation methods might relieve symptoms like pain, anxiety, and fatigue.”

So even though those benefits are said to be valid, she lamented the fact that Reiki, distance healing, and other energy work are all without scientific basis.  You can read the article here.

$2.5 billion yields no alternative cures

I found an interesting article about Reiki and Christianity that might be of interest to some of my readers.  It was written by Marcia Backos at ChristianReiki.org.

Should Christians Practice Reiki?

If you are a Christian and you are wondering if Reiki is something that you should investigate, Backos’ article (see above link) provides a very helpful look at why Christians are increasingly drawn to this healing modality.

The problem that most believers find with Reiki is that it has Eastern origins, and the majority of Reiki healers would call themselves “spiritual” rather than Christian. A large number of Reiki masters are Buddhists (although many Buddhists will insist that it is a philosophy, and not a religion–therfore it is possible in their eye for Christianity and Buddhism to co-exist). Further reasons a lot of Christians are hesitant to want to learn about Reiki are that it has a certain “New Age” connotation; many Reiki healers are of the camp that believes in a Christ-consciousness instead of a personal, living Christ that died on the cross and is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

It is understandable that Reiki has a questionable nature, given the above, but for those people who are curious about Reiki, Backos several examples from scriptures that might provide a hopeful chance to change popular Christian opinion.

She writes, “Thoughtful, committed Christians seek accurate information and pray for guidance as part of deciding whether to adopt the practice of Reiki into their lives….By reading, seeking those who have given or experienced Reiki, and praying for insight and guidance, Christians can make decisions about how Reiki and other alternative healing methods might play a role in their lives. It’s important to keep in mind that while many Christians have found Reiki to be a spiritually fulfilling practice, it is not necessarily for everyone….Christians who have a solid foundation in their faith know that God will always protect and guide them. Those Christians who practice Reiki do so within the guidance and protection of God secure in the belief that they have been guided to follow Jesus’ example to be a healer.”

Reiki practitioners have long cited Jesus’ healing ability, and also the Christian tradition of laying on hands as evidence that it is not only a legitimate and REAL phenomenon, but also that it is not an immoral idea.  However, sometimes Christians are afraid that scriptures can be taken out of context and the meanings twisted into something that does not mesh well with a fundamentalist’s world view.

If you are interested in researching this matter further, check out the site above, and be sure to look at John 14:12, I Corinthians 12:4-31, Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:40-42, Luke 4:38-39, as well as the other passages mentioned in the article.

Whether or not you decide Reiki is right for you, it is important that you examine the Gospels and pray for wisdom in your decision.  If you are called to be a healer, Reiki might be one way for you to develop your gift. Comments are welcome.

I thought this post might come in handy for some of our readers who are fighting losing battles with the sun.  I have a bad case of sunburn myself as I type this, so I thought I would share with everyone else.  Hope this helps!

How To Relieve Sunburn

Tea Tree Oil can be added to your bathwater to relieve the pain caused by sunburn. Do not apply it directly to the skin, but instead just add some to the water and soak in it for fifteen to twenty minutes.  Tea Tree is good for healing minor wounds, and acts as an antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-fungal agent.

Lavender is good for stings and heat exhaustion.  It also has antiseptic properties, and well as enhancing one’s mood and facilitating cell regeneration. You do not have to apply lavender essential oil directly to the skin; if it is too painful, try rubbing some on the feet before bed, and it will soak through your tissues while you sleep.

Epsom salt is also a great treatment for sunburn. You can either add a cup of it to your bathwater, or mix it with equal parts water to make a compress and apply it directly to the skin. You can find this at any Walgreens or drugstore. Be careful if bathing in Epsom salt solutions, that you do not make the water too hot, because this can dry out the skin and make your sunburn worse.

Chamomile Tea is good for external inflammation, sunburns, strains, sprains, and fever.  Do not drink it if in the first trimester of your pregnancy. Can have a sedative effect, so be careful if driving.

Aloe Vera lotions and creams are great for cooling the affected areas on the skin.  This is a cheap solution, and can also be used in conjunction with the other three treatments above.

The summer season corresponds with the fire element.  It makes sense then, that to ease the pain from sunburn, you will want to keep the areas moist. If the sunburnt skin becomes too dry, it will result in peeling.  If you have serious sunburn, peeling WILL occur regardless of how you treat the skin, but for milder cases, an aloe lotion will make a big difference.

As many as 2000 years ago, the Chinese were using acupuncture to bolster fertility in both men and women.  These days, the trend is become more and more popular.

Although many Western doctors attempt to discourage the belief that acupuncture has any effect on fertility, we believe it IS effective because it can increase circulation to the reproductive organs, boost the production of neurotransmitters, and reduce stress by stabilizing the nervous system.

Another interesting fact is that a lot of people are using Reiki in conjunction with the acupuncture treatments in order to further increase the chances of not only conception, but also a healthy pregnancy.

Skeptics assert that the only true benefit gained from Reiki are the relaxation that it causes in the recipient.  But many doctors will tell you that increased relaxation and the reduction of stress are two very important factors of a healthy pregnancy.

The better shape the woman’s body is in, and the more balanced her energy, the happier and healthier her baby will be, both in the womb, and after being born.

If your loved ones are considering hormone therapy or fertility pills to help induce a pregnancy, you might want to mention that a combination of acupuncture and Reiki would be cheaper, faster, and healthier for the body.