By Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND(T), MD(AM), DPHC(h.c.), PhD, DOM, RAC, SMOKH Academic Dean SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine and Thai Yoga Center (SCNM).
(Clinically researched i.e. validated in clinical trials and traditional anecdotal and benefits)
Continue reading Thai Yoga Therapy Role in Cancer Palliative Care Part 3
By Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND(T), MD(AM), DPHC(h.c.), DOM, RAAP, SMOKH Academic Dean SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine and Thai Yoga Center (SCNM).
1) Sophisticated and refined Manual/ Physio/ Body-centric Hands-on interventions:
Thai Yoga Therapy incorporates elements of energetic (unseen energy: magnetic, electric, sonic etc.) and prana assessment, mindfulness, gentle rocking, asana (positional/ postural), structural release, deep stretching, focused deep breathing or prana yama, chakra balancing (Pyscho-emotional, Somatic and proprioceptive emphasis), Prana Nadi or Sen line balancing (Lines of stress, trans-subcutaneous muscle channels, fascia and connective tissue planes and or lymphatic pathways) and rhythmic compression with either broad, deep, non specific tools such as palm, foot, elbow and knee to emphasize with either specific point ( area of high neurologic potential) or broad trans- subcutaneous muscular or fascial plane to create a singular healing experience.
Continue reading Thai Yoga Therapy Role in Cancer Palliative Care Part 2
By Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND(T), MD(AM), DPHC(h.c.), PhD, DOM, RAC, SMOKH Academic Dean SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine and Thai Yoga Center (SCNM).
‘Cachexia; from Greek κακός kakos “bad” and ἕξις hexis “condition”)[1] or wasting syndrome is loss of weight, muscle atrophy, fatigue, weakness, and significant loss of appetite in someone who is not actively trying to lose weight. Cachexia is also known or seen in patients with cancer, AIDS,[2] chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, multiple sclerosis, congestive heart failure, tuberculosis, familial amyloid polyneuropathy, malaria, mercury poisoning (acrodynia) and hormonal deficiency. It is a positive risk factor for death, meaning if the patient has cachexia, the chance of death from the underlying condition is increased dramatically. About 50% of all cancer patients suffer from cachexia.
The exact mechanism in which these diseases cause cachexia is poorly understood and may vary from one individual to another, but there is probably a role for inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (which is also nicknamed ‘cachexin’ or ‘cachectin’), interferon gamma and interleukin 6, as well as the tumor-secreted proteolysis-inducing factor. Side effects of chemotherapy drug regimen and or radiation therapy may be causes. Categories of physical/ biological adverse and or side effects of conventional Cancer therapies: include Edema, Inflammation, Neuropathies and Neuralgias, Immune suppression. Severe, possibly long term chronic malnutrition may be a factor.
1) Can Indigenous and traditional, native medicine practices and or evolving therapies derived from Indigenous culture traditions make a positive contribution towards Cancer complication remediation and palliative care?
Press Release:
On January 29, 30, 31st, 2016 Students and Faculty of the SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine and the Thai Yoga Center of Brooksville Florida participated in the Third Annual World Congress on Natural Medicine and Tampa Physician’s Round Table at the Tampa Convention Center in downtown Tampa.
Saturday the 30th. Dr. Anthony B. James, Director of Education and founder of SCNM: Thai Yoga Center gave a presentation on integration for Traditional Thai Massage, Thai Yoga, Thai Yoga Therapy, Classical Ayurveda as a practical palliative therapy in Cancer treatment to the more than one hundred physicians from over 20 countries in attendance.
The title of the Monograph and Power point presented was “Indigenous, Traditional Medicinal Therapies as Cancer Complication Remediation and Palliative Support for Cachexia”.
The focus of Thai Yoga at The World Congress Natural Medicines was whether Indigenous and traditional, native medicine practices (Thai Yoga Therapy/ Ayurveda) and or evolving therapies derived from indigenous culture traditions make a positive contribution towards Cancer complication remediation and palliative care. Dr. James cited international standards which Traditional Thai Massage and Thai Yoga Therapy clearly meet in respect to the practice guidelines on palliative therapies, procedures and positive outcomes. The scientific research support the clinical efficacy of Traditional Thai Massage (TTM) and Traditional Thai Physical Therapy (TTPT) also known as “Thai Yoga Therapy” in treating Cancer, Cancer symptoms, Cancer Palliation therapies for Cachexia and Pain are substantial. Over 40 published scientific clinical trials, research projects as well as anecdotal and traditional indications were cited in support.
Participants from over 20 countries presented on various topics relating to Cancer, Palliative Care, evolving strategies for prevention and treatment as well as the role of spirit and counseling in healing.
For resources on how to learn SomaVeda® Thai Yoga visit ThaiYogaCenter.Com
By Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND(T), MD(AM), DPHC(h.c.), DOM, RAC, SMOKH Academic Dean SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine and Thai Yoga Center (SCNM).
Thai Yoga Promiiwihan Sii refers to the four divine states of mind. Our Thai teachers taught us that if you do not have all four of these things, you are sick and in need of therapy. If all four divine states are not apparent in your life, there’s something that is imbalanced within you.
By Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND(T), MD(AM), DPHC(h.c.), DOM, RAC, SMOKH Academic Dean SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine and Thai Yoga Center (SCNM).
Thai Yoga Vipassana is not passive and introspective. Thai Yoga Vipassana is active and extraverted. It is the idea of meditation in a dynamic form. In other words, Vipassana almost always has an element of movement of some kind. Some examples are slow walking or meditating while practicing Thai Yoga we work on someone on the mat or doing a traditional Vinyasa. Working on another person in a thoughtful, deliberate, and conscious way while following the breath is a form of Vipassana.
By Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND(T), MD(AM), DPHC(h.c.), DOM, RAC, SMOKH Academic Dean SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine and Thai Yoga Center (SCNM).
Thai Yoga Samatha is the same or Dharana. It means calm, abiding meditation. When I go into savasana and corpse pose and do my extension and go into my breathing and calmly abide, I am doing Samatha meditation. I’m using the Asana to facilitate it.
By Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND(T), MD(AM), DPHC(h.c.), DOM, RAC, SMOKH Academic Dean SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine and Thai Yoga Center (SCNM).
Thai Yoga Wai Khruu or paying respect to the teachers (Pratyahara) means to give credit where credit is due. Make acknowledgment a way of life. We also look at Thai Yoga Wai Khruu as the practice of spiritual copyright, of emotional, mental copyright. It’s the idea to give credit where it’s due.
By Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND(T), MD(AM), DPHC(h.c.), DOM, RAC, SMOKH Academic Dean SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine and Thai Yoga Center (SCNM).
Breath science is the facilitation of the five Pranas. We will learn a little later that prana is a word, but there are many kinds – Udana, Samana, Pranaprana, Vyanaprana, Apana etc. When we use the word Prana, in general, it is considered generic. There are different things we can do to bring emphasis and explore these different kinds of Prana. It is very valuable to do so. Learning how to breathe may be one of the most important things a person can learn.
By Anthony B. James DNM(P), ND(T), MD(AM), DPHC(h.c.), DOM, RAC, SMOKH Academic Dean SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine and Thai Yoga Center (SCNM).
Asana is practical exercise for yourself and others. When I say exercise, I mean literally to exercise. We have moving centers. We have different centers inside of us like emotional, intellectual, moving and instinctive centers. There are four different kinds of centers. Each of these different centers requires different kinds of input, stimulation, food and efforts to balance them.