Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68008
NEWS NOTES CHINESE THERAPY FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS A study in Clinical Rheumatology found qigong may be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis. Qigong, an ancient Chinese therapy that suggests illness stems from imbalances in the body's energy circulation, was tested with the assistance of two Chinese- trained practitioners of external qigong therapy (EQT). EQT, one of many types of qigong practice, uses gentle hand touches to redirect imbalanced energy to the afflicted area of the body. The patients who participated reported significant pain reduction and improvements in functionality following their EQT sessions. Researchers found that qigong may be a more beneficial complement to regular osteoarthritis treatments than drug interventions that have limited and potentially adverse side effects. CAM and Cancer Patients Results from a recent survey in the journal Cancer suggest that approximately half of cancer patients in the United States seek some form of CAM as part of their treatment. The study, conducted by the American Cancer Society, examined 4,139 patients over the course of 10–24 months. The patients all had one of 10 types of cancer. The survey found 19 prevalent CAM options used among the half who sought alternative treatment, with massage, spiritual healing, and nutritional supplements being most common. Podcast Dedicated to CAM Therapies Practitioners of complementary and alternative medicines should take note of a new podcast series dedicated to CAM therapies at www.unbreakyourhealth.com. The website, a sister site to the popular CAM book Unbreak Your Health: The Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Therapies from Alan E. Smith, began hosting podcasts in July 2008. Topics have included laughter therapy, osteopathy, reiki, and yoga. visit massageandbodywork.com to access your digital magazine 19