ssemble my team of health practitioners or “Team Healing.” I knew that whatever option of healing path I chose I needed to be in the best state of health mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Just as any good athlete trains for their particular sport I was preparing to train for wellness.The Role of Acupuncture in Treating Cancer
Benefits for Breast Cancer Survivors from Traditional Chinese Medicine have been well documented through modern Evidence Based Research. This includes Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, and Qigong. These are excellent healing modalities for every aspect of cancer for body, mind, and spirit. Acupuncture, Herbal Medicinal formulas, and Diet threrapy can specifically address the reduction of cancer, as well as side effects if one has chosen surgery, chemo, and radiation. Emei Qigong’s movement, meditation, and finding the “root cause” of one’s perspective on life’s challenges is another powerful tool. Acupuncture The Chinese were fundamental in documenting Meridians on the body, similar to rivers on the earth. Utilizing hair thin needles on specific points on the body are like a dam on the river. These are used to improve the body’s energy, reduce pain and inflammation, enhance blood flow, as well as improve mood and other psychosocial aspects. In 1971 New York Times journalist, James Reston, was visiting China with President Nixon. After witnessing surgery with no anesthesia, his work introduced acupuncture to the west and gained respect and interest in the United States. In 1997, the National Institute for Health (NIH) began evaluating the effectiveness of acupuncture as an Integrative Medicine. In one study, most of the patients treated with acupuncture were able to stop taking drugs for pain relief or to take smaller amounts.[2] Catherine Burns, L. Ac. Has worked as a senior research Acupuncturist with Stanford University on several studies. One included Acupuncture for Insomnia in Breast Cancer Survivors.[3] She has also worked on studies for Hot Flashes in Post Menopausal Women.[4] Diet and Herbal Medicine Breast cancer rates among Japanese and Chinese women are approximately one-tenth of those of American women. The typical Asian diet is lower in fat and dairy products, and much higher in soy products, green vegetables, and whole grains compared to Western societies. Asians also tend to eat fresher foods, which have less preservatives. Farming in Asia tends to use less chemical fertilizers and pesticides [5] Specific herbs and their combinations have been used for thousands of years. For example, Ginseng root contains more than 30 active compounds, some of which have been found to have anti-tumor effects (in cell and animal studies). [6] Qigong Qigong is said to be one of the most powerful healing modalities known to humankind. This places healthcare back in the hands of the individual. Emei Qigong is the knowledge and practice, based on over 800 years of energy science, that through cultivating a compassionate heart, physical exercises and movements, helps create clarity and understanding of the Universe so that we can attain optimum health and gradual or sudden Enlightenment. Catherine Burns, L. Ac, owns and operates Real Health, an integrative health care practice, located in Los Altos, California. She has been practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Qigong) sinced 1992 and Qigong since 1984.
she works with individuals suffering from acute illnesses (colds, flu, virus), Woman’s health, dermatology, musculoskeletal disorders, and oncology to recalcitrant illnesses. She regularly helps Western practitioners understand Traditional Chinese Medicine through forum presentations and panel discussions
Real Health, Catherine Burns, L. Ac.
phone: 650 949 3637
4546 El Camino Real Suite B6
Los Altos, CA 94022
