Reiki Treatment Classified As Complementary or Energy Medicine

Reiki treatment is considered a type of complementary medicine. The national Center for Complementary and Alternative medicine (NCCAM) is currently sponsoring Reiki research in the areas of fibromyalgia, advanced aids, anxiety, prostate cancer and diabetes.

Conducting Reiki research can be difficult. Normally when scientists are conducting clinical research, they use two groups; one to receive active treatment and one to receive an inactive treatment or placebo. They use methods to insure that neither the patient nor the practitioner knows which group is receiving the active substance and which is receiving the placebo.

The reasoning behind this is simple. The power of suggestion is strong in people. about 35% of patients will respond to any form of treatment, whether active or inactive. This is known as the placebo effect.

In order to scientifically study Reiki treatment, all of the practitioners would need to believe that they were using Reiki. Some practitioners would somehow need to be taught to use Reiki incorrectly.

Some of us believe that simply teaching someone about the existence of Reiki, which is the universal life force or energy that lies within us all, allows them to use the energy positively in their own lives and the lives of others. In other words, no matter how the practitioners were taught to use Reiki, the treatment could still be effective. And also, a Reiki therapist can feel the flow of energy in their hands. Keeping practitioners blinded seems somewhat impossible to me.

But, despite the problems, NCCAM sponsored Reiki research is going forward. Researchers are investigating how Reiki treatment might work. This may be difficult, because it might require proving that the life force energy exists and our current technology does not allow us to see it or detect it in other ways.

Other Reiki research may be easier to conduct. Blood sugar levels, heart function and disease progression can be easily measured, so the research concerning diabetes and prostate cancer should be reasonably conclusive. But, there will still be the placebo effect to consider.

Reiki research regarding aids, fibromyalgia and anxiety will require more patient input and the results may not be considered scientifically conclusive. Reiki treatment should be very effective for anxiety, because one of the most commonly reported effects is a sense of relaxation. In addition, if patients with anxiety and those who are dealing with advanced aids are taught the Reiki way, they should experience a greater sense of well-being, a deep feeling of comfort and relaxation.

In fact, anyone can benefit from Reiki treatment or learning the Reiki way.

To learn more about bringing the power of Reiki into your own life please visit http://understanding-reiki.com.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a health writer. Currently she is writing a series of articles about Reiki. Read more at http://understanding-reiki.com

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What to Expect From a Copeland Weight Loss Clinic

America is in the throes of having an outbreak of diseases related to obesity. Don't believe it? Check out the following statistics:

66% of U.S. adults were overweight or obese from 2003 to 2004.
80% of black women aged 40 years or over are overweight; 50% are obese.
16% of children and adolescents are overweight and 34% were at risk of becoming overweight from 2003 to 2004.

If left untreated, obesity can lead to premature death caused by heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and other health conditions. This is a serious national problem that requires immediate attention. Thankfully, Copeland weight loss clinics are ready to help people fight this serious health problem.

How do I know whether I'm overweight or not?

Health professionals use the body Mass Index (BMI) to determine whether a person is considered overweight, obese, underweight, or just right for their height and weight. The formula for measuring one's BMI is shown below:

BMI = ( Weight in Pounds / ( Height in inches ) x ( Height in inches ) ) x 703
BMI = ( Weight in Kilograms / ( Height in Meters ) x ( Height in Meters ) )

This chart shows you what your BMI results mean:

Below 18.5 - Underweight
18.5 24.9 - Normal
25.0 29.9 - Overweight
30.0 and above - obese

Overweight individuals are the best candidates for programs offered by Copeland weight loss clinics. On the other hand, weight loss surgery is seriously recommended for people who are considered obese.

Weight-loss programs offered by Copeland Weight Loss clinics

1. Medical assessment and counseling Before starting any weight loss program, a professional will examine you and study your case to help them in designing the perfect program just for you.

2. Lifestyle education A doctor, nurse or nutritionist will help you make some lifestyle changes to help you lose weight and keep it off. This will require some behavioral modifications on your part.

3. Personalized and group consultations - most weight loss programs focus on one-on-one consultations between the client and the health professional. Others will rely on group therapy and sharing sessions for treatment.

4. Maintenance support - To keep their clients on track, most weight loss programs will give continuous support even after their clients have already reached their target weight goals. This will ensure that the patient keep up with the program designed for him or her.

These are just some of the programs offered by Copeland weight loss clinics to help their patients in their battle against obesity. A few may differ in their approach but all of them share the same goal, that is to help you lose weight safely and effectively.

Weight Loss surgery at Copeland Weight Loss Clinics

For some, the strategies enumerated above are still not effective especially for those who are already considered obese. Weight loss surgery is the answer to the problems of obese patients. The following are overviews of the most preferred weight loss surgeries today:

Gastric Bypass surgery

In this procedure, the surgeon would create a smaller pouch in your stomach that can only accommodate a small amount of food. The food that leaves this new pouch will pass through a new opening and skip the rest of the stomach, as well as much of the small intestine. The effect is that the patient will feel full easily, even with small amounts of food.

Lap band Surgery

In this procedure, the surgeon will place an adjustable band around the top section of the stomach to create a small pouch. Like the gastric bypass surgery, this will make the patient feel fuller with smaller amounts of food. The operation is minimally invasive, so there is less risk of infection.

Both procedures can effectively help a patient lose weight because it will help them limit their food intake. In fact, it is so successful that many people who have undergone them report losing a tremendous amount of body weight.

Get in touch with Copeland Weight Loss Clinics immediately to know more about their offerings and packages. To avail of the services of a Copeland weight loss clinic, you may scan the city's yellow pages or browse around the internet to see their contact details.

Phillip England is a weight loss expert and Author of the popular report "The ultimate Weight Loss Secret". To receive your free information on the secret that doctors, and health companies either don't know, or don't want you to know, please see http://www.theultimateweightlosssecret.com/secret

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