The Effects of Yoga, Meditation, and Acupuncture on Physical Health - Research Paper Example

? The effects of Yoga, Meditation, and Acupuncture on Physical Health The effects of Yoga, Meditation, and Acupuncture onPhysical Health Though modern medicine has proven to be a big stride in the health sector over the past century, there are still a number of people who prefer the use of alternative methods when dealing with various problems. This is not to say that these alternative methods are better than the manufactured cures that scientists have developed but they can be seen to provide a variety of choices for those who may prefer not to opt for these modern remedies offered by medicine and in some cases they have been seen to be effective in their use. It should be noted however that these alternative methods do not serve as a replacement for all illnesses and should one be suffering from a serious medical condition, it is always safer to opt for modern elements of medicine that have been assured to work in such cases (MCall, 2007). The main use of practices such as yoga, acupuncture and meditation is to improve one’s health and not exactly cure them of the various ailments they may be suffering from. These practices have grown in popularity over the years and thus make for an interesting topic in the study of their effects on one’s physical health. Though the practices have been around for centuries and have been taught in various cultures and religions, they have been combined with a number of scientific studies to prove their worth in the improvement of an individual’s physical health (Syman, 2010). New methods related to these practices have also been developed to enhance their effect over the past years by individuals who have taken a professional interest in them and their contribution to physical health. YOGA Yoga can be described as a range of physical exercises designed to improve one’s health both mentally and physically. They consist of a set of positions that an individual takes during this practice that are meant to have a positive on the various muscles present in the body. Yoga also has a meditative aspect to it as well whereby6 an individual clears their mind in an attempt to find inner peace (MCall, 2007). Though Yoga has been around for a long time and has been practiced by various cultures over the years, there are a number of recent discoveries that have led one to reconsider their position on the practice and whether it truly does have a positive effect on one’s physical health. However, despite these discoveries there are a number of positives as well that can be taken from it thus leaving the question whether it can be considered a safe practice for those involved. This can be answered by taking into account the pros and cons available. Pros There are a number of physical benefits that can be found in Yoga which are derived from a release of various endorphins within the body and a shift caused in neurotransmitter levels (Ross & Thomas, 2010). This is mainly achieved from high intensity yoga while the low intensity variety ignites a relaxation response that allows tensions in the muscles to ease away. These types of yoga are connected to the asanas that exert an individual’s body resulting in these reactions. The mental effect of Yoga can also be said to have an effect on one’s physical health as it has been discovered that certain emotional such as stress can be detrimental to a person’s health. The practice of Yoga serves as a means of releasing any stress that may be building up in an individual thus elevating any negative effects that this state of mind would have had on the practitioner’s physical state. Yoga also increases the blood flow within an individuals system allowing for the provision of more oxygen within an individual’s body cells thus enhancing functionality as a result. Cons There are a number of Cons that can be found in the practice of Yoga as well. These are recent discoveries that have been identified through scientific studies that have been carried out on individuals that are involved in this practice (Lo, Huang & Chang, 2003). These studies have shown that the practice of Yoga has the potential of causing harm to various parts of the body if not checked/handled properly. There are a number of poses that may end injuring the individual if not done properly or if the person has an underlying physical weakness that makes the susceptible to body damage as a result (McAll, 2007). Studies show that Yoga is meant for individuals in good physical condition and thus those who are not can have a tendency of hurting themselves in positions that their body cannot handle. Some of these positions include the cross legged postures that can damage the hips and sockets in the process. Various nerves can also be affected as well as the vertebral arteries from certain sudden head and neck movements. Development of clots as well as swelling and constriction may occur from the practice of popularly taught poses. ACUPUNCTURE Acupuncture can be described as the process of using solid needles injected into various pressure points of the skin for medicinal purposes. The theory behind acupuncture is that by injecting this pressure point, various imbalances in the bodies qi are corrected as a result leaving the individual in better physical health (Mayo Clinic, 2007). Acupuncture was first designed by the Chinese and has been practiced for centuries as a means of alternative medicine. Like its fellow alternative compatriots, acupuncture also has its pros and cons and a study of the two can help one decide whether it is the best way to go. Pros In the pros section of acupuncture, the practice can be said to have various positive effects on the individual as shown by the presenters which can also said to have a medicinal effect (Mayo Clinic, 2007). One positive effect is its role as a Placebo effect for the pain that an individual may be experiencing. The use of acupuncture can help in elevating the pain that an individual may be suffering from in various joints through the manipulation of these pressure points (Mayo Clinic, 2007). Acupuncture also serves to loosen up the muscles leaving the individual in a more physically relaxed state in the end which can help in dealing with physical stress. The practice also has a mental effect on the individual as it leaves in a relaxed state of mind as well which as mentioned earlier serves as good means of evading any negative effects that mental stress may have on the immune system. Cons The presenters also outlaid a number of cons that can be derived from acupuncture. These include negative physical effects on older adults whereby this practice may cause stiffness in body parts instead of relaxation of the muscles. This can be a problem especially with individuals whose daily routine include a number of physical activities that may make it hard for them to endure. There is also the factor of burns on the body that are gotten from the process through the items used as it involves submitting areas of the body to sources of heat. The use of non-sterilized needles may also result in an infection in the body which may lead to serious illnesses (Ross & Thomas, 2010). Acupuncture may also end up having no effective results whatsoever on an individual, meaning that they would have gone through the entire process and submitted themselves to the potential pain for no reason. Meditation Meditation can be described as the practice of training one’s mind to enter a sort of consciousness or trance that allows them to release the stress from their thoughts. Meditation does not involve any physical aspects as it is meant to help an individual achieve a state of tranquility that allows them to attain peace of mind (Ross & Thomas, 2010). As shown by the presenters there are also a number of pros and cons that are found with this practice. Pros The main pro of meditation is the effect that it has on the individual in terms of their mental state. The practice helps one achieve a peace of mind that enables them to deal with the everyday troubles that life may have thrown their way and allows one to decrease the level of stress that they may be suffering from. Cons One of the main cons of meditation is that there is no certified process for teaching its practice, thus one cannot be assured beyond all doubt of the right way to do it. It is also mainly beneficial with ongoing practice but it is also difficult to maintain by one’s self thus proving expensive to maintain as a result (Bausell, 2007).The practice may also bring up suppressed memories from the past as the mind is allowed to wander and one does not know what may pop up as a result. CONTEMPORARY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE In conclusion, contemporary alternative medicine in comparison to modern medicine can be said to have its uses but should not completely replace the modern methods that are offered by current medical professionals (Syman, 2010). Modern medicine gives one the option of a professional (Doctor) who has studied medicine and thus is sure of how treat the various ailments one suffers from. CAM on the other hand supports natural treatment of the body and focuses on treating the whole person and not just their physical health. Cam also focuses on the root cause of a disease and not just the symptoms that occur. References Bausell, R. Barker (2007). Snake Oil Science: The Truth About Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Oxford University Press. Lo PC, Huang ML, Chang KM. (2003). EEG alpha blocking correlated with perception of inner light during zen meditation. Am. J. Chin. Med. 31(4). Mayo Clinic. (2007). Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine: The New Approach to Using the Best of Natural Therapies and Conventional Medicine. Parsippany McCall, Timothy (2007). Yoga as Medicine: the yogic prescription for health and healing: a yoga journal book, p. xvii. New York : Bantam. Ross, A & Thomas, S. (2010). "The Health Benefits of Yoga and Exercise: A Review of Comparison Studies." The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Syman, Stefanie (2010). The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America. New York : Macmillan. Read More