Jill Blakeway is an award-winning Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, licensed acupuncturist, clinical herbalist and founder of Yinova Center in NYC renowned for her intuitive approach to Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has written three books including Make Babies Sex Again as well as Energy Medicine: The Science and Mystery of Healing.
What is Energy Medicine?
Energy healing is a form of complementary and alternative medicine based on the belief that vital energy flows throughout our bodies, used to reduce stress and anxiety, boost overall wellness, or lessen side effects from cancer treatment. Its purpose may range from relieving anxiety to strengthening immune systems or relieving side effects from cancer treatments.
Energy therapies believe that imbalances in the invisible biofield purported to exist within and around the body cause illness and disease. The biofield contains the electromagnetic radiation emitted by cells, and can be altered or enhanced using specific techniques.
Energy healing modalities have become an integral part of healthcare today, often targeting specific conditions or symptoms. Some popular examples are acupuncture, Reiki and acupressure.
Reiki involves placing their hands gently over or above a fully clothed patient while invoking healing intentions. Reiki is a spiritual, vibrational healing practice based on Eastern belief in an energy source which assists the body’s innate healing capabilities.
Acupuncture involves inserting needles at specific meridians or energy channels throughout the body. With acupressure, however, needles aren’t used – instead the technique entails pressing finger tips against various meridien points to release emotional energy and promote relaxation.
Energie Therapies such as Reiki, Acupressure and other energy modalities may help treat specific health conditions; however they should never replace conventional medical treatments. It is always wise to consult a healthcare provider prior to adding energy therapies into one’s treatment regimen, especially if a condition is serious or life-threatening. Energy healing also supports daily routines and self-care practices that help strengthen oneself – as an added bonus!
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that has been practiced for over two millennia to treat illness and increase overall well-being. A core therapy in integrative, whole-person health, it forms part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
According to acupuncture theory, the life force energy known as “qi” flows throughout channels known as meridians that connect all major organs of the body. If this qi becomes blocked due to stress, lifestyle behaviors or genetics then people experience disease; an acupuncturist uses stimulation along the meridians with needles at specific acupuncture points (called acupoints) to unblock it and make it flow normally again, restoring balance both physically and psychologically – patients may feel sensations such as numbness tingling or heavyness on any particular meridian which indicates that their acupoints are working correctly.
Modern scientific research indicates that needling acupoints triggers the nervous system to release chemicals into muscles, spinal cord and brain that change how you feel, increasing natural endorphins (the body’s painkillers) and altering how the brain processes pain which may reduce medication needs. Needling also has involuntary central nervous functions such as regulating blood pressure and body temperature.
Many of my patients ask, “Will acupuncture hurt?” Although acupuncture uses needles, they differ significantly from the hypodermic needles commonly used for shots or medication administration. Acupuncture needles are as thin as human hair and only cause minimal sensation akin to mosquito bites or pinches when placed by an experienced acupuncturist in certain spots on your body depending on your ailment. You lie on a padded table during treatment as your practitioner carefully places needles where necessary depending on the best course of treatment plan for optimal healing results.
What is Herbalism?
Herbalism is an age-old practice utilizing plants to maintain and restore balance within the body, dating back millennia. As one of the oldest healing traditions with unbroken practices that date back thousands of years, herbalism forms the basis for other modalities like homeopathy, naturopathy and flower essences; homeopaths, naturopaths and flower essence specialists all owe their roots in herbalism – including doctors, nurses, acupuncturists, dentists and surgeons all who owe their training as practitioners of herbalism.
Pharmaceutical drugs differ from herbal medicines by isolating single active ingredients from plants while herbalists utilize whole plants, creating synergy. This ensures safe and effective herbs for your particular body type while giving us insight into what each plant does for us individually.
Herbs may work quickly or slowly depending on your circumstances; sometimes days or even weeks. That is due to being a holistic approach which addresses both symptoms and root causes for imbalance, unlike just treating symptoms alone. A good herbalist will understand the best treatments tailored specifically for each person they treat and can prescribe remedies specifically tailored to fit.
Herbalists can include native healers, naturopaths, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, holistic medical doctors, researchers, writers and herb farmers. Herbalists may cultivate their own medicinal plants or work with herb growers and wild crafters to harvest them from nature. Herbalists can be part of your healthcare team as they help you make more informed choices regarding food, beverages and supplements you consume.
Herbalism can be an effective complement to other healing modalities, and you can perform the practice on your own through self-care and herbal recipes available online or in books. Herbalists can teach you this practice as well as recommend specific herbs that support acupuncture treatments.
What is Qigong?
Qigong is an ancient Chinese form of self-healing, meditation, and physical exercise rooted in Chinese philosophy and medicine that incorporates coordinated body posture and movement, deep rhythmic breathing, mental focus, deep rhythmic breathing patterns, and focused mental concentration. Dating back thousands of years, its practice can be found everywhere from martial arts training or spirituality programs to health practices such as qigong. While research on its effects is limited at present, studies suggest it could potentially reduce blood pressure while improving balance, strength and flexibility.
Prior to beginning any intentional movement practice – including qigong or yoga – it’s wise to consult your healthcare team. “It’s essential to recognize when enough is enough and your individual limitations,” according to integrative medicine specialist Yufang Lin, MD. For instance, those suffering from arthritis, injuries or illness that limit mobility may benefit from chair-based qigong exercises as alternatives with reduced impact levels.
Some forms of qigong focus on providing relief for specific issues, like chronic pain or anxiety. Practices can help soothe your mind, boost mood and bolster immunity; in addition to this they may improve proprioception – or body awareness in space – for smoother movements.
There are hundreds of qigong practices, from simple relaxation exercises to more intricate martial art forms. Qigong practices can be divided into two general categories: medical and spiritual. Medical qigong uses energy pathways called meridians to carry Qi through your body and can treat conditions like back pain, fibromyalgia, depression anxiety high blood pressure insomnia among many others. Furthermore it offers great stress relief while rejuvenating both mind and body and can be practiced by people of all ages and fitness levels alike.
What is Meditation?
Meditation encompasses an expansive set of practices from numerous traditions and cultures worldwide. According to modern psychological research, meditation can be defined as an attempt to detach from reflexive, discursive thinking and nonjudgmental reflection in order to reach a deeper or more devout state. Three main criteria are often listed as essential ingredients of successful meditation: using a defined technique; logic relaxation techniques; and self-induced states/modes.
Jill Blakeway is an established practitioner of Chinese medicine, acupuncture and energy healing who founded Yinova clinics in New York City. Additionally, she’s written Energy Medicine: The Science and Mystery of Healing which uses cutting edge research to explain this fast-growing modality.
She shared an incredible anecdote about a patient undergoing spinal surgery for infection who ended up curing themselves just by making sound. Jill used this example as evidence that energy healing works by transmitting information through frequencies which then have profound healing properties on our bodies.
She goes into detail regarding meditation’s research-backed benefits as well as some effective home techniques you can try at home. Furthermore, she details how she created her own meditation practice and why incorporating this practice into daily life is vital for overall wellness. Furthermore, she shows how she uses energy healing practices to assist her clients overcome challenges such as anxiety, insomnia and depression – this episode should not be missed!
