Lowe1

LaurencioLowe
May1st,2016
IndependentResearch
Mrs.JeanetteDixon
Period1

MedicalAlternatives:
TraditionalEasternMedicine

Manystudentsinhighschoolandcollegesufferfrommentalproblemsthat
manifestthroughdepression,mentalanxiety,andstress.Commonlyinwesternsociety,
themainwaytotreatthatproblemisthroughdrugssuchasantidepressants,and
throughtherapybothofwhichcanbequiteexpensivesolutions.Traditionaleastern
medicinemayposeanalternativetomodernwesternpractices.Thesepracticeswould
helpindividualscopewiththeireverydayproblemsandallowthemtofindaninner
senseofcontrolandpeace.FurtherresearchintoTraditionalEasternMedicinemay
bringnewalternativesthatmaybebeneficialtothemedicalworld.

Withmoreresearch,schoolsandothercommunitiescouldpickuppracticeslike
yoga,acupuncture,incenseburning,meditation.NeurologistsfromTokyosWomens
MedicalUniversityhasfoundevidenceprovingthatincensemaybeusedinawayto
benefitpatientswithdepression(Iijima).Whileotherjournalsshowthatthosewho
meditatemayhavehighermentalprocessingpower(Kozasa).Thiswouldbenefit
schoolsbyhelpingstudentswithmultitaskingandhelpingtrainapartoftheirbrainin
whichtheycouldjugglemultipletasksatonce.EvenQigonghasmanypossibilitiesin

Lowe2

whichitmaybeused,studieshavestartedtoshowthatQigongmaybeabletocreate
newneuronsandallowforanindividualtoincreasetheirneuroplasticity
(Longevitysage).

Qigongissaidtohavetheabilitytoslowandcurediseasesbutacommon
probleminthepastwasthelackofsufficientevidencetosupportthis.Duetothelackof
evidencetheideasofQigonghavebecomeskepticalintheeyesofwesterners.Qigong
mayevenhavetheabilitytotreatthosewhoaresufferingfromcancer.

WhatisQigong?QigongisaChinesehealthcaresystem,havingthe
origininDaoYinpractices,thatfocusesonanindividual'shealththroughthe
practiceofcertainexercisesthatpromotebreathingandstancecontrol.LaoZi,
grandfatherofChineseTaoistphilosophydescribesthatDaoYinexercisescancure
colds,fevers,helpthoseattaintranquility,andcultivatevitalenergy(Background).

InthesecondcenturyBCE,afoldedpieceofsilkknownastheDaoyinTuwas
foundillustratingwhatisconsiderednowtobethemajorcategoriesofmodernQigong
(Center).ThesecategoriesbeingBreathing,Stances,andMovements.DaoYin
practicesmainlyfocusedonstanceworkandbreathingandactedasabasisforthe
practicesofQigongintheformofTaiChiwherethemovementsarefocusedon
mobilizingthevitalenergyeveryonehaswithinthem.AlthoughQigongpromotesgood
healthithasalsogivenbirthtoTaiChi.AmajordifferencebetweenQigongandTaiChi

Lowe3

isthefactthatTaiChiisamartialartwhileQigongisusedexplicitlyforhealing.
AlthoughTaiChiismainlyusedasamartialartandisaseparatebranchofQigongit
stillhasalargeimpactwhenitcomestohealing,especiallysinceTaiChismajor
principleshavebeenpulledfromQigong.ThiscanbeseenthroughthefactthatTaiChi
hasaheavyfocusonbreathcontrolandkeepinginnerpeace.

InastudythatwasrunbytheUniversityofMedicineandDentistryofNewJersey
in2002,sufficientevidencewasbroughttosuggestthatQigongcanbeusedtoslowthe
progressionofcancercellgrowth.Similartothewaythatmedicalmarijuanahasbeen
usedtoslowdowncancercellgrowth.Thisstudyfocusesonhowapractitionerof
QigongcauseadelayinthegrowthoftheLymphomaCells(Chen).Theexperiment
focusedonthegrowthofLymphomacellsinthreegroupsofmice.Thefirstgroupof
micewasbeingtreatedbyaQigonghealer.Thesecondgroupwasbeingtreatedbyan
individualwhodidntknowQigongbutmimickedthehealerthroughmovements.The
finalgrouphadnotreatmentactingasacontrolgroup.Intheend,theslowestrateof
growthwasfoundinthegroupofmicethatwasbeingtreatedbytheQigonghealer.
AlthoughitmayseemthatsincethegroupwiththeQigongTreatmenthadthebest
effectwhenitcametotheeffectoftreatingthegrowthofLymphomatheresultsdidnt
reachastatisticalsignificance,thusshowingthattheeffectofQigongneedsfurther
investigation.ThisalonethoughshowsthatQigongmaybeanalternativefortreating
thosewhosufferfromcanceroratleastmayaidonthesideofanothertreatment.

Lowe4

Neuroplasticityisthebrainsabilitytocreatenewneurons.Itwasastrongbelief
thattheneuronswewerebornwithweretheonlyneuronswedhaveifanyofthese
neuronsweretobedamagedorbrokenindividualscouldlosealltheirmemorieswhile
alsoseveringtheabilitiestopastskillsorthebasisofthem.Thisisthemainreasonfor
whyAlzheimer'sanddiseasescouldbequitedangeroustothelifestylesofindividuals.
QigongcanbeusedasawaytorewirethebrainandgainbackNeuronsfoundin
youngerindividuals.InadditiontocreatingnewNeurons,Qigongwillbeableto
strengthenNeurons.BystrengtheningtheconnectionsbetweenNeuronsanindividual
willbeabletoinfluenceyouremotionsandphysiologicalstates.Whenitcomesto
emotionstheNeuronsinthehippocampuscouldbestrengthenedallowingonetohave
bettercontrolovertheiremotions.Anindividualwillbeabletohaveamorelucid
perceptionofreality.TheindividualwhopracticesQigongwillbemoresharpand
focused,andhaveaheightenedsenseoftheirsurroundings,whilealsohavingthe
potentialtorestoreemotionalbalance.

BuddhataughtmeditationforasimilarpurposethatQigongwastaughtandthat
wastoremedythosewhoareill.(Goenka)MeditationwasrediscoveredbytheBuddha
andtaughtasawayforthosetohealthesoulthanthebodyandcreatebalance.This
formofmeditationthatBuddhafocuseduponwasknownasVipassanaBhavana.All
meditationcanbefocuseduponthesetwowordsVipassanaandBhavana,onestyleis
focusedoninnerthoughtandlookingfortruthfromwithinwhiletheotherisshortterm

Lowe5

concentrationinthesensethatonewouldholdblissandallfeelingswoulddisappear
temporarily.Thesearethebaseprinciplesofmeditation.

Meditationalsohasadirectimpactonthebrainandbrainwavesthatarecreated
fromit.Therearefourtypesofbrainwaves:Alpha,Beta,Theta,andDeltabutAlphais
consideredtobeoneofthebestplacesforyourbraintobemainlyduetothefactthat
yourbrainworksmostefficientlyhere.Asindividualsgrowupthoughthebrainhasa
hardertimeproducingAlphawaves.TheworldwithoutAlphawavesisaworldwhere
peopleareconstantlystressedandonedge.Alphawavesmakeindividualsmore
relaxedandincreaseproblemsolvingabilities.Whenanindividualmeditatesthebrain
createsmoreAlphawavesallowingforthemtorelax.ThisiswhyaccordingtoRoger
Thomson(privatepsychologist)"Ifyou'refeelingbetterattheend,youareprobably
doingitright."(Thomson).MeditationincreasestheamountofAlphawavesthatare
producedandalsoallowyourbraintoregainanoldpatternwhereanindividualmaybe
morelikelytostartbecomingcalmerandlowertheirheartrate.(Barbor&Feature)

Meditationcanrelievepainthathasbeenbroughtonbyanxiety.This
happensthroughtheabilityofthebodycoolingdownandyourbloodpressuredecrease
(Feature).HerbertBensonawellknowncardiologisthasstatedthatmeditationcanheal
anypaincausedbystressoranxiety.Therelaxationresponsethatcomesfrom
meditationhelpsindividualsdecreasetheirmetabolism.Thisfeelingofreliefis
describedbyBensonasTensionandtightnessseepfrommusclesasthebody

Lowe6

receivesaquietmassagetorelax.TheBuddhistMonkshavealsoshownthat
meditationcanchangehowthebrainfunctionsbyimprovingattention,memoryand
neuroplasticity.Inadditiontoitseffectsonthebrain,astudyfromtheAmericanJournal
ofHypertensionshowedthatthosewhomeditatedwouldhaveaboostedimmune
systemwhilealsohavinglowerbloodpressure(Feature).Aseparatestudyshowedthat
teenagerswhomeditatedtwiceadayforfourmonthshadsignificantlylowerblood
pressurethanthosewhodidn'tmeditate.Whenitcomestothefocusofimmunesystem
thosewhomeditatedhadtheirbloodtestedandwerebetterabletowardoffviruses
betterthanthosewhohadntmeditated.

Mankindhasusedincensesincethebeginningofhumanhistory.There'san
abundanceofevidencesuggestingthatourancestorsusedincenseforreligiousor
healingpurposes.Oneofthefirstreasonfortheuseofincenseistochangethemood
ofaroom.Itwasalsoacommonbeliefthatthearomawouldcarrytheprayersupto
heaven,butoverallthefocuswasprayersforhealing.Incensewasalsotheforefather
formodernAromatherapy,inthebeliefsthatIncenseheld.

Differingkindsofincensehavedifferentabilities.Theincenseknownas
frankincensehastheabilitytostartandactivateanotwellknownionchannelinthe
brainthatwouldallowandindividualalleviationofstressanddepression.Incensehas
beensuggestedtohavetheabilitytoconnectwithaproteinthatcreatesawarmfeeling
andallowsthebodytorelax.Overallthissuggeststhatincensemaybeastrong

Lowe7

weaponagainstdepressionandanxiety,andmayevenbeusedasaform
aromatherapy.Certainincensestickswillbeabletoburnandcreatereliefforexample
burningtheincensefrankincenseactivatesnotwellknownionchannelsinthebrainthat
dealwithalleviatinganxiety,anddepression.Toinvestigatethepsychoactiveeffectsof
incenseresearchersadministeredincensoleacetatetomice.Incensoleacetateactivates
theTRPV3protein,whichisthekeyplayerinallowingmammals.Thosemammalswho
don'thavetheTRPV3proteinhavenoeffectfromtheincensole.Incensehastheability
tomakeeveryonefeelmorewarmandrelaxed.Thissuggestsanewwaytocombat
anxietyanddepression.

InastudydonebytheDepartmentofNeurologyinTokyosWomensMedical
UniversityEEGscansshowedthatwhenincenseisburnedthebrain'sOlfactoryCortex
lightsupwhichhasastrongconnectiontomemoryandemotion.Thissuggeststhat
incensecanbeusedtomanipulatesanindividual'semotionandcanbeusedtocombat
depressionthroughthemeansofAromatherapy(Iijima).Withthisinformation,therapists
couldpaircertainsmellswithcertainmemories.Thiswouldallowpeopletheopportunity
tostrengthenmemoriesandallowanindividualwhoisdepressedachancetoreminisce
onpastevents.Incenseburninghasthepotentialtobeagreatalternativetomodern
drugswhenitcomestodealingwithdepression.Incenseisanaturalantidepressant.

Incenseisatreatmentthatisusedcommonlypairedwithothertreatments.
Sinceincenseiscommonlyusedtocreateacalmingatmosphere.Thearomaofthe

Lowe8

burningincensepairedwiththecommoncandleinthedarkhasbeenseenasagreat
waytocreateaveryrelaxingatmosphere.Thepositiveeffectthatincenseimbuesthe
individualwithwhenpairedwiththelowlightofthecandlesallowswhatisreferredtoas
amentalpullback(Wildmind).Thearomafromtheincensebringsbackcalming
memoriesandthelowlightallowsfortheindividualtoreminisce.Thesameprincipleis
appliedtootherpracticesjustfromdifferentangles.

Whenitcomestoapplyingincensetomeditationtraditionallythereissome
preparationthatgoesintoit.IntraditionalChineseculture,youburnthetipofthe
incenseandletitsitintheflameforafewseconds(approximately3seconds)thenlift
theincenseandwaveittilltheflameisblownout.Afterthat,thereisastreamofsmoke
comingfromtheember.Thisstreamissaidtocreateabetteraromaratherthanjust
burningandblowingtheflameoutmainlyduetothefactthatthesmokefillsthearea
fasteranddispersesmuchbetter(Wildmind).Whenitcomestomeditatingintheroom
withincense,theroomshouldbewellventilated.Sincemeditationhasaheavy
emphasisonbreathandcontrollingone'sownbreathingpatternsbeinginaroomfilled
tothebrimwithsmokemaybecounterproductiveandoveralldangeroustoan
individual'shealth(Grant).

Thereareactuallymanycasessuggestingthatincenseburningmayactually
beworseforyouthancigarettesmoke.Astudywasshownshowingthatthosewhoare
inbadlyventilatedbuildingwhileincenseisburninghaveahigherriskofgainingCOPD

Lowe9

(ChronicObstructiveRespiratoryDisease).Inthestudythesubjectswhowereinthe
buildinghadinflamedlungs,similartotheeffectthatCigaretteSmoke(Kemsley).
IncensegivesoffCarbonDioxideandothergassesandothersubstances.Itseffects
varyandhasbeenseentopossessnegativeeffects.Oneshouldnotsacrificetheir
healthforthebettercalmofmind.Oneofthebeststrategiestocombatthisistouse
morenaturalincense,andincensethatdoesnotusecharcoaltoburn.Anyincensethat
burnsCharcoalmayhavemorenegativeeffects.Anotherstrategyistohaveverygood
ventilation,thatwaythesmokedoesn'tbuildup(Kemsley).

Individualsmaybeaffecteddifferentlydependingonwhat'sintheincense.
Sandalwoodanitemusedinthecreationofbeadsbutwhenusedinincense,itmaybe
usedtocombatdepressionandanxiety(Grant).Aloeswoodisanotherpopularincense
thatiscommonlymixedwithSandalwood.Thistypeofincenseisveryrefinedandit
takesalotofworktoperfect.

IncenseisusedcanbeappliedtobothstylesofmeditationVipassanaand
Bhavana.Vipassanawouldfocusonreflectingononeselfthroughthehelpofthe
incense.Sinceincensereactswiththebrainallowingforanindividualtoreflecton
certainmomentsfromtheirpast.ThosewhosearchwithinthemselvesusingVipassana
mayfindthatmemoriesmaycomeeasierwiththeintroductionofincense.Ablurry
memorymaybeeasilybroughtforthwithlesswork(Grant).Bhavanaemphasizesbliss
throughcompletefocus.Thosewhousethisstylemayfocusontheseveraldifferent

Lowe10

aromasfoundwithintheincense.Thiswouldgivetheindividualtemporaryblissanduse
theincenseasacleartargetmaybeusedasafocalpointforanindividualtocollect
theirfocusandcalmtheiremotionsforatemporarytime.Whenincenseburningis
pairedwithBhavanameditationanindividualmayfindthataftermultiplesessionsmay
becomeatriggerfortheindividualtofallintoacalmerstate(Grant).

WhenitcomestoapplyingincensetoKungFu,it'simportanttobecarefulofthe
atmosphere.Similartomeditation,manyKungFustudioshavethemajorityoftheir
classesindoors.TheuseofIncensebringsupmanybenefitsandhindrancestothe
practiceofKungFu(Braxton).Manystylesthatuseincenseintheirschoolshaveto
dealwiththeproblemofstudentslosingbreathmidform.Thisproblemstemsfromthe
factthatmanyolderschoolshadsmallcrampedbuildings.Myschoolprioritizesthe
individual'shealth.Normallyweprioritizetheuseofincenseformemoriesofourpast
teachers,onoccasion,astudentwillbowandplaceincenseintheshrine.Thisisin
respectofthegenerationsofteachersthatbuiltourschool.Thebeliefcarriedfromour
motherschoolinchinawasthattheincensewouldbringusclosertoouroldteachers.I
wouldntsaytheincensecalmsmeormystudentsbutbeingclosertothoseIloveisjust
anendearingthought.(Braxton).Althoughtheincensewasnotdirectlycreatingan
atmosphereitdidremindhimofhispastteachersandthoseclosetohim.Ifonewereto
applyasimilarmethodinatherapeuticsessionanindividualmaybeabletoreflectupon
theirpastandmoveonwithease.

Lowe11

Withtheeffectsoftheseeasternpracticesonamodernsociety,anindividual
withalimitedamountofmoneymaybeabletofindanewwaytodealwiththeir
problems.Thosewhosufferfrommentalstress,depressionandanxietymaybeableto
findclosurefromwithinandlearnanalternativewaytodealwiththeireveryday
stresses.Whetheritcomesfromlearninghowtomeditatetolearningstanceworkand
properbreathcontrolthroughQigong,individualswouldhaveabeneficialalternativeto
aharmfulproblem.