AlternativeTherapies- Medicine or Magic?

It is surprising in the age of science and technological advance that people in western society are turning more and more to alternative therapies, which have no rational or scientific explanation. These fringe therapies are even being recommended by doctors and hospitals, which would have seemed unthinkable ten years ago. Age Concern are putting on Ta’i Ch’I classes and New Age health shops, offering a whole range of questionable techniques, are opening in every town and city.Many of these practices would have been the preserve of the witch doctor or shaman in rural cultures or part of eastern religions.

In western culture doctors and medical practitioners have until recent times aspired strictly to scientific principles and practices with research, controls and toxicity testing considered as of paramount importance. There has been an increasing interest in holistic approaches. Quite rightly it is important to consider the whole person in any health treatment: mind, emotions and spirit, not just the body. It is well known that a person’s psychological state has a bearing on their physical well-being and as Christians we know that healing ultimately comes from Jesus: ‘By His stripes we have been healed.’

(I Peter2:24). What is worrying is that people receiving alternative therapies, most of which are based on balancing internal cosmic energy or the ‘life force,’ the essence of eastern religions such as Taoism or Buddhism,are opening themselves up to occult influences.

There are also concerns about safety, since there are no proper clinical trials or toxicity tests and no scientific evaluation of whether the correct dosage has been used in homoeopathic treatments. Some remedies are based on substances such as aconite, belladonna and strychnine, which are highly toxic, but for the fact that they are used in minute quantities. The practice of iridology (examination of the iris in the eye) is used to diagnose past complaints, present illness and to predict future health. Bizarre ‘radionic’ tests on blood and hair may also be used as well as pendulumswinging and dowsing, which are totally unscientific. Practitioners of alternative therapies are not usually medically qualified and may not have access to X-rays and other laboratory tests. Palmer,who founded chiropractic and Still, who was the originator of osteopathy were openly reported to have association with spiritualists and mediums, although practitioners in these fields today would disassociate themselves from these connections.

Meditation used in yoga and other New Age relaxation techniques are very different to Christian meditation, which is based on God’s Word, not emptying the mind with the possibility of allowing demonic spirits to invade. There is also the danger of becoming hypnotised by repeating mantras.

The Bible gives warnings about occult activity:

‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritualists for you will be defiled by them. Iam the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:31)

‘Let no-one be found among you who practises divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or is a medium or spiritist or consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

‘Get rid of foreign godsyou have with you and purify yourselves..’ (Genesis 35:2)

The Bible also condemns body piercing and tattooing, which have now become very fashionable: ‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.’

Some Christians, who have been involved in alternative therapies, experience ill effects, such as fear, anxiety, depression, interference when they try to read the Bible and pray, lack of assurance of salvation and even demonic oppression. It is important that Christians consider alternative therapies with integrity using the discernment of the Holy Spirit. They must recognise that these practices based on occult, mystical ideas or foreign religions are at variance with biblical teaching and that they are a)opening themselves up to occult influences and b) defiling themselves by engaging in them.

Therapy / Theory / Techniques / Origin / Founder / Danger
Reflexology / Reflexes of the foot are reflections of or correspond to body parts. / Massage of feet. Pressure applied to nerve endings disperses crystalline deposits. / Chinese/
Indian/
Egyptians / In 1913 Dr William Fitzgerald introduced to practice to the West.
Mrs Eunice Ingham 1930’s.
In UK Doreen Bayly 1960’s. / Draws on spiritual forces,
whilst apparently bring
healing, may affect the
person spiritually.
Acupuncture
Uses:
1. anaesthetic
2.healing disease / 14 major meridians which link internal organs, stimulated on the skin at 365 major and 350 minor points. / Insertion of needles or pressure on the skin at meridian points. Diagnosis through skin sensitivity, pulse, tongue examination,
astrology. / Chinese
Taoism
‘life energy’ ch’i / Confucius 400 BC
Present system fixed 400AD. In 1683 Willem Ten Rhyne, Dutch physician, introduced practice into Europe. / Exposes people to occult
influences.
Ta’I ch’i / Yin-Yang balance.
Channelling hidden energies. Emptying, stress management, detachment/ trance. / Slow movement, rhythmical breathing, ‘spiritual dance’. Soft form of martial art/ self defence exercise. / Chinese
Taoism / Chang San-feng 11th century. / Leads to bondage.
Reiki
‘healing touch’ / Channelling. Detecting auras fields of energy around person indicating moods/
emotional state. Degrees of atunement. / Laying on of hands (have to ask permission) Meditation, visualisation techniques using sacred symbols. / Japanese
Buddhism
New Age / Devised by Dr. Mikao Usui in the 1990’s. / Opens person up to evil
spirits which can take
control.Transference of
spirits.
Yoga / Aim to free the soul from transmigration (rebirths), to come into ‘oneness with god.’
Self realisation through meditation, postures, breathing exercises and stilling the mind. / Bhakti- way of devotion through a guru -detachment from the material world
Karma- way of service-pilgrimages and good works.
Jhana-way of knowledge-concentration on Hindu scriptures.
Raja-way of contemplation/
meditation. Hatha form used in the West. / Hinduism / Emphasis on self-realisation
rather than God. Encourages
worship of a guru. Can open
person up to occult influences.
People think it is just a form
of exercise or relaxation,
but the system is based on
the occult.
Shiatsu= touch between two human beings / Yin and Yang. Balance of Qi.
Supposed to strengthen immune system. Combination of Japanese massage technique and traditional Chinese medicine. / Pressing, shaking, patting, pinching, plucking skin. Pressing on knees, elbows and standing on back of legs. Smelling breath.
Deep breathing. / Japanese / Japanese monks studying Buddhism in China in 10th century took it back to Japan. Introduced into the West in the 1970’s. / Clearing the mind.
Aromatherapy / Goes beyond the therapeutic properties of herbs and smells. Astrological connection.
Yin Yang life force.
Anti-septic properties of certain oils. / Inhalations, massage, bath oils. Enquire about lifestyle, star sign, beliefs. Pendulum swinging, aura detection. / Egyptian use of aromatic substances 4,500 BC in mummification, religious rituals and exorcism ceremonies. / Professor Gattefosse, cosmetic chemist, France 20th Century.
Dr Jean Valnet used it to treat psychiatric patients and Pierre Franchomme claimed that electrical charges in oils brought healing. Marguerite Maury, wife of a homoeopath developed it further. / If aromatherapist uses
starsigns, aura detection
etc, can open person up
to occult influences and
transfer spirits through
massage.
Homoeopathy / Belief in the psychic element in healing or vital force.
1. Principle of similarity: ‘Like cures like’
2 .Principle of dilution. Choice of substance which when neat produces same symptoms as the disease.
3. potentisation: after dilution shaking to transfer vital force. Use of pendulum and dowsing. / Use of substances which produce effects like the symptoms of the disease in high concentration, but when diluted are supposed to cure it. / Eastern, occult. / Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) a Freemason who idolised Confucius and other eastern writers. Believed illness were ‘spiritual, dynamic disturbances to life.’ Contemptuous of Jesus. / No scientific explanation.
Could poison!
Could open person to occult.
Bach Flowers / Healing properties of plants related to attitudes. Used for ‘soul cleansing.’ Link emotions and moods with physical health. / 12 healers or remedies
Vibrations, mystical and
Astrological elements. / Dr Edward Bach (1886-1936), Harley Street physician. Influenced by homoeopathy. / Go beyond natural healing
properties of herbs, open
up to occult influences.
Hypnosis / Trance induced, level of consciousness between wake/sleep / Use of pendulum and making suggestions. / Egypt, Greece, Persia, American Indians. Occult and pantheism. / Franz Anton Mesmer, Austrian doctor, experimented with magnets. James Braid, Scottish surgeon, used it around 1843. / Emptying the mind and
control. Suggestion
may cause person to do
things they may regret.
Alexander Technique / Use of muscles/bones affects functioning principle. / Muscle tension/stress correction of posture. / Frederick Alexander, Australian actor with a voice problem. / Danger of putting
Confidencein a guru
or teacher.
Feng Shui / Yin and yang. Chi electromagnetic energy flow.
4 different schools using the same principles.
1.Eight Directions or Compass Method
2. Eight House Method
3. FlyingStarSchool
4. FormSchool.
Aim to improve health, love/sexlife, , increase motivation, wealth, assertiveness. / Alignment of house, furniture, doors, windows, surroundings. Use of magic squares, astrology. / Chinese medicine and philosophy. / Very dangerous as
Person can get into
Bondage.

Reference: ‘True or Force’ –an investigation into the world of alternative medicines. Reachout Trust, Richmond.UK.