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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
integrative medicine	Claire	Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Question: Dear Brother Ignatius, My doctor has referred me to the UCLA Center for East-West medicine for treatment of several chronic health conditions. The Center utilizes some aspects of Western medicine (such as injection of Lidocaine into "trigger points" for treatment of chronic pain), but it also embraces traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, herbs, and therapeutic massage/myofascial release. How can I evaluate whether the treatment modalities being offered are licit to use? It seems to be a reputable organization, but it is difficult for me to determine whether the practitioners are also pushing any type of New Age philosophy. I don't want to open up the door to spiritual problems. That said, Western medicine doesn't seem to do the best job at treating chronic conditions, so I'm not sure where that leaves me. There are only so many pills one can take before one's liver and kidneys begin to give out... If you want to see how the Center describes its treatments, you can go here: http://cewm.med.ucla.edu/clinic/frequently-asked-questions/ Thank you for your advice. Claire
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC Dear Claire: I took a look at the medical center's information. It appears, as far as I can tell, that the medical center is properly assessing those aspects of Eastern medicine to which they use. Treatments such as acupuncture do have scientifically verifiable the effects for a limited number of ailments. The medical center appears to be restricting itself to those ailments to which acupuncture has scientifically veracity I saw no evidence from their material that they are using "energy" theories, such as chakras, Chi, or the flow of invisible liquid and what is called meridians. None of these things exist. Acupuncture, from its ancient Chinese origins, is based upon these nonexistent energy theories, but when acupuncture works in a scientifically verifiable way it is not because of these meridians. It is because the needles are stimulating the body's own painkilling or other healing mechanisms. The Chinese theory is that when these meridians become blocked people become ill. Thus, to unblock the meridians acupuncture or acupressure is used in specific "acupuncture points" corresponding to the part of the body that is in aliment . Where those "points" re at is determined by charts of the meridians throughout the body. Once the blockage is resolved then health is facilitated. All this is utter nonsense. As far as I can tell the medical center is not basing his treatment on these energy theories but rather on scientifically verifiable evidence. As long as your doctors remain within the realm of scientifically verifiable treatments I would have no problem. But, if you begin to hear about energy testing, meridians, chakras, or Chi, talked about in a serious way, or as a theoretical background to what they're doing, I would think twice. I am disabled and I am in constant and continual pain. There'll never be a time where I will attempt treatments which are not scientifically verifiable. In fact, I don't worry about it too much. As a Christian I know that suffering is redemptive and that pain and suffering is actually a privilege. It is a privilege to join my pain and suffering with Christ on the Cross. To lift up my pain and suffering to God and our Blessed Mother for the salvation of others is a great privilege. Specifically, I lift up my pain and suffering for the deliverance and healing of my clients. When we look at pain and suffering in this way we transform it from suffering to a ministry. This does not mean that we cannot ask God for healing, nor does it mean that we cannot seek relief from the medical community. But, it does mean that we need to keep things in perspective and understand that even in suffering there can be a silver lining, and even more so, a great opportunity to serve our Lord. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

integrative medicine

Claire

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Question:

Dear Brother Ignatius,

My doctor has referred me to the UCLA Center for East-West medicine for treatment of several chronic health conditions. The Center utilizes some aspects of Western medicine (such as injection of Lidocaine into "trigger points" for treatment of chronic pain), but it also embraces traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, herbs, and therapeutic massage/myofascial release. How can I evaluate whether the treatment modalities being offered are licit to use? It seems to be a reputable organization, but it is difficult for me to determine whether the practitioners are also pushing any type of New Age philosophy. I don't want to open up the door to spiritual problems. That said, Western medicine doesn't seem to do the best job at treating chronic conditions, so I'm not sure where that leaves me. There are only so many pills one can take before one's liver and kidneys begin to give out...

If you want to see how the Center describes its treatments, you can go here:
http://cewm.med.ucla.edu/clinic/frequently-asked-questions/

Thank you for your advice.

Claire

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC

Dear Claire:

I took a look at the medical center's information. It appears, as far as I can tell, that the medical center is properly assessing those aspects of Eastern medicine to which they use. Treatments such as acupuncture do have scientifically verifiable the effects for a limited number of ailments. The medical center appears to be restricting itself to those ailments to which acupuncture has scientifically veracity

I saw no evidence from their material that they are using "energy" theories, such as chakras, Chi, or the flow of invisible liquid and what is called meridians. None of these things exist. Acupuncture, from its ancient Chinese origins, is based upon these nonexistent energy theories, but when acupuncture works in a scientifically verifiable way it is not because of these meridians. It is because the needles are stimulating the body's own painkilling or other healing mechanisms.

The Chinese theory is that when these meridians become blocked people become ill. Thus, to unblock the meridians acupuncture or acupressure is used in specific "acupuncture points" corresponding to the part of the body that is in aliment . Where those "points" re at is determined by charts of the meridians throughout the body. Once the blockage is resolved then health is facilitated. All this is utter nonsense. As far as I can tell the medical center is not basing his treatment on these energy theories but rather on scientifically verifiable evidence.

As long as your doctors remain within the realm of scientifically verifiable treatments I would have no problem. But, if you begin to hear about energy testing, meridians, chakras, or Chi, talked about in a serious way, or as a theoretical background to what they're doing, I would think twice.

I am disabled and I am in constant and continual pain. There'll never be a time where I will attempt treatments which are not scientifically verifiable. In fact, I don't worry about it too much. As a Christian I know that suffering is redemptive and that pain and suffering is actually a privilege. It is a privilege to join my pain and suffering with Christ on the Cross. To lift up my pain and suffering to God and our Blessed Mother for the salvation of others is a great privilege. Specifically, I lift up my pain and suffering for the deliverance and healing of my clients. When we look at pain and suffering in this way we transform it from suffering to a ministry.

This does not mean that we cannot ask God for healing, nor does it mean that we cannot seek relief from the medical community. But, it does mean that we need to keep things in perspective and understand that even in suffering there can be a silver lining, and even more so, a great opportunity to serve our Lord.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.