10 ARTICLES
EXPLORING HOLISTIC HEALTH PRACTICES
FOREVER YOUNG
BY NATALIE SHORT
T
oo often, patients think that physician-prescribed treatments or medications are all that can be done to combat chronic pain. Perhaps you’ve seen your primary care practitioner and every specialist in the directory, but you’re still experiencing some discomfort. There are several supplemental therapies you could turn to that have been shown to relieve pain—yoga, massage therapy, nutrition counseling, and meditation, to name a few.
While some people may be skeptical of tai chi and acupuncture, both practices that originated in ancient China, many doctors recommend them for pain relief and prevention. And removing foods that contribute to inflammation like sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, alcohol, and processed meats and carbs, can significantly reduce pain and swelling. We recommend consulting a professional to get a health assessment and to see if any alternative therapies may help you. Here are a few local resources:
Tai Chi Tai chi is a form of exercise that originated as a martial art. As you move through a series of gentle, low-
impact poses, you are encouraged to practice deep breathing and focus on how your body feels in each movement. For this reason, tai chi is often described as “meditation in motion.” A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that tai chi practice reduced the risk of falls in its subjects by about 47%, and the Arthritis Foundation says it has been shown to reduce joint pain and improve range of motion. Other benefits of tai chi are improved balance, flexibility, and strength, and the incorporation of meditation and deep breathing into the practice has been said to improve focus, cognitive capacity, and mental health.
Many senior centers host tai chi classes as part of their monthly activity schedules, such as the Orchard Park (70 Linwood Avenue; 662-6452) and Amherst (370 John James Audubon Parkway; 6363050) senior centers. So, look out for tai chi classes at your local senior center or gym, ask your doctor to recommend instructors, or check out these locations: Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA taoisttaichi.org/locations/buffalocenter Taoist Tai Chi is an international organization with locations in nineteen different countries. It was founded by Master Moy Lin Shin, who was trained in Taoist
