A skilled acupuncturist and herbalist, Dr. Walter Campbell Recently Earned a PhD in Integrated Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine at Zhejiang Medical University in Hangzhou, China. Acknowledged as an accomplished researcher of oriental and homeopathic treatments, he has developed several unique products and formulations for use in his clinical practice.
Dr. Campbell attained his Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) at Five Branches University, California through a cooperative program between Five Branches University and Stanford College of Medicine in San Jose, California, and Zhejiang Medical University in China. He specialized in Gynecology and Oncology while studying in China, and for his PhD he is currently engaged in research targeted to treating fibrocystic breasts through the integration of Chinese Medicine with the work of Dr. David Brownstein, MD. Later this year he will conduct a clinical study of this treatment in Florida in collaboration with Dr. Emmanuela Wolloch, MD. His experience with integrating Western Nutritional Theory and Traditional Chinese Medicine in the treatment of Diabetes is discussed on his website,
http://www.healthforflightcrews.com/
In his diverse clinical practice, Dr. Campbell uses both Western and Eastern diagnostic tools to make his medical evaluations and diagnoses, giving his patients the benefits of both worlds.He uses Eastern methods of diagnosis such as pulse reading and tongue observation, and incorporates Western diagnostic tools such as laboratory tests and imaging reports into his assessments. Dr. Campbell employs both conventional and alternative lab tests for evaluating gastrointestinal health, hormone levels, food and environmental allergies, and adrenal and liver functions.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. From earliest times, Chinese medicine has been associated with the forces of nature -- the earth and sea, the seasons and climate, plants and animals. There is a strongly held Chinese belief that the human body is a microcosm of the grand cosmic order and that the forces at work in man are the same as those of the universe. All the elements of the earth are significant in traditional Chinese healing. Unity with nature is actually a common belief held throughout many civilizations in the history of the world.The basic premise of Chinese herbal medicine revolves around the belief in an essential life force called qi. Qi (pronounced "chee") is an ineffable, but vital energy in all things, including man. The food and drink we consume and the air we breathe are the most important factors for human qi.
Digestion and breathing extract qi from food and air and transfer it to the body. When these two forms of qi meet in the bloodstream, they make human-qi, which circulates through the body as vital energy. The quality, quantity and harmonious balance of your qi determine your state of health and span of life. Conditions which can upset the balance of qi are climatic factors, emotions, phlegm congestion and stagnant blood. Because one cannot control variables that affect qi, like the weather and seasonal changes, paramount importance is placed on diet and breathing exercises.
Qi is further affected by the condition of the organs that absorb it. If the stomach and lungs are not functioning properly, they cannot extract and absorb the qi's vital energy in sufficient quantity, so the entire body suffers. When a person becomes ill, Chinese herbal doctors first look to the patient's lifestyle and habits for things that might affect qi. Many qi-deficient conditions can be corrected with the powerful tools of lifestyle, breathing and hygiene changes.
Demystifying Chinese herbs by learning and understanding how the herbs are used gives us a new opportunity to obtain more healing tools. Chinese herbal healers learn largely from observation. They look to observation (sight, hearing, smell and touch) and questioning the patient for confirmation of their diagnosis. Disease is viewed as an imbalance of two opposing energies, yin and yang, in the major body systems.
Chinese herbal medicine also recognizes qi as an important part of medicinal plants. Herbs are thought to possess specific parallel characteristics with humans. The qi energy of certain herbs has a natural affinity for certain parts of the human body and the ability to work effectively with them to restore vital energy. Body balance is the goal as natural functions are steered back toward the direction of harmony. Chinese herbal treatment always works with the opposite herb characteristic to the human problem. For example, a fever is treated with cooling herbs; a cold is treated with heating herbs.
Although the bio-chemical constituents of Chinese herbs have long been known, the real healing ability of an herbal medicine depends on the integration of complexity of its components. A prescription for a Chinese remedy may contain four to twelve herbs or more. There may be many different solutions for the same symptom, depending on the underlying imbalance. Traditional Chinese herbal formulas aim for broader spectrum healing and normalizing results - to balance hormones, regulate blood components, enhance immune function, reduce inflammation and improve digestion.
ACCUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture has been practiced in China for over 3,000 years, and today it is still relied upon as a valuable healing tool. For thousands of years, the Chinese and other Eastern peoples have used acupuncture to restore, promote and maintain good health. The mechanism of acupuncture treatment lies in the regulation of Yin and Yang, strengthening the body's resistance and eliminating pathogenic factors.
In Chinese medicine, no symptom or complaint is viewed in isolation. Rather, the body, mind and soul are evaluated together. The goal of acupuncture is to create harmony within the body by restoring the flow of Qi (pronounced "chee"), the life force involved in all of the body's functions - breathing, heartbeat, metabolism and even emotions.
Qi collects in the organs and travels through energy channels in the body called meridians. The Chinese believe that diseases occur when the circulation of Qi is halted, whether by injuries, heat, cold or other influences. By redirecting the flow of Qi, acupuncture can help cure disease, prevent illness and restore harmony.
How acupuncture works is the subject of many scientific studies, and several theories exist. One suggestion is that the needle insertion may stimulate the production of endorphins - natural protein substances with a pain-killing effect manufactured by the brain. Another theory proposes that the stimulation of the acupuncture points prevents pain impulses from reaching the brain.
Patients visiting an acupuncturist or doctor of traditional Chinese medicine can expect to be asked questions about their health, have their tongues examined, their pulses taken at the wrist and sometimes, after due consideration from the doctor, to be treated by the insertion of fine needles at specific points of the body.
The practice of acupuncture is a large and complex subject rooted in the Daoist philosophy of change and growth, balance and harmony. Without this unique perspective, acupuncture cannot be readily understood or effectively used for treatment. Some familiarity with these concepts is therefore essential for understanding the role of acupuncture in promoting wellness.