| Though National Senior Health and Fitness Day is May 28, most
seniors don't know about the benefits Oriental medicine can have for
many of the ailments endured by the elderly community.
According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
survey, there were 34.5 million people over the age of 65 in 1999,
representing about 12.7 percent of the U.S. population. By 2030,
that number will grow to 20 percent, or about 70 million people. Yet
as large as it is, the elderly population experiences an alarming
number of health problems that are often inadequately treated, such
as arthritis, depression, pain, constipation, stress and loneliness.
The suicide rate among people over 65 is higher than any other
group, and is considered a major public health problem by the
National Institute of Mental Health. Yet a case study conducted by a
nurse consultant for Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Services, Inc.
in 1997 found that seniors who received massage therapy experienced a
tremendous improvement in mood and anxiety levels.
Chinese massage and acupuncture can help with all of these
ailments and more. Massage and acupuncture increase the circulation
of blood and lymphatic fluids, reduce muscular tension, relieve pain,
and release endorphins. Improved circulation brings fresh oxygen to
body tissues, which eliminates waste products from inside the body
and enhances recovery from diseases. And the bond that can be forged
between practitioner and patient can serve to relieve loneliness and
depression.
For more information on how Oriental medicine can help the
elderly, please call (800) 729-0941.
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Pacific College of Oriental Medicine believes that the energetic and physiological
principles of Oriental medicine are grounded in the laws of nature. While
they may seem mysterious at times, they are not mystical. 
