In Pa., alternative medicine goes mainstream

Some studies have shown the practices work and not only for rehabilitation or simple aches and pains.

HAZLETON, Pa. (AP) — Andrea McCloskey suffers from fibromyalgia and used to take countless medications, including a high daily dose of the painkiller Oxycodone. Now McCloskey takes no medications at all and is even working again.

She credits alternative health care practices offered at the Hazleton Health and Wellness Center.

“I feel so much better. It’s a fantastic exercise,” she said after a recent session.

While “alternative” is the accepted term, instructor Mark R. Reinhart prefers to use “complementary” to describe his brand of health care, specifically the Qigong (chee-gong) and Taiji (tai-chee) classes he teaches at the center.

Qigong and Taiji are similar practices consisting of fluid body movement, controlled breathing, balance and absolute concentration. “They have the same core principles: alignment and flow,” Reinhart said. “It pulls your focus in so you can’t think about anything else.”

Reinhart finds nothing wrong with traditional medicinal practices if used reasonably, but believes exercises such as Qigong and Taiji should also be incorporated to develop an entire healing of the mind, body and spirit.

“I’ve always been drawn to the culture; it always made sense,” said Reinhart, who has studied martial arts since 1975 and has been practicing Chinese internal arts for the past 15 years.

Reinhart received his Qigong therapist certification in 2005 and earned his Master of Medical Qigong degree in 2007. He now studies Chinese herbology one weekend a month in New York, the final requirement for full certification in Chinese herbal medicine.

Taiji is a trademark program at the Health and Wellness Center used to target specific conditions such as arthritis and diabetes, but according to Reinhart, the class is beneficial for just about any condition.

“There’s no question it works. It’s guaranteed to change you,” he said.

The arts of Qigong and Taiji have raised questions from the traditional medical field regarding their true value, but some studies have shown the practices work and not only for rehabilitation or simple aches and pains.

Research conducted by the University of Miami School of Medicine has shown that after 10 Taiji classes over five weeks, adolescents diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder displayed a decrease in anxiety, daydreaming behaviors, inappropriate emotions and hyperactivity, along with a greatly improved conduct.