New HPER class introduces students to alternative health

The science and technology of Western-style medicine has long since silenced the voice of more obscure and less traditional Eastern-style medicine. \nBut over time there has been an influx in the collaboration of Eastern and Western medicines in our practices of personal well-being, and IU professor Alice Lindeman is bringing these combined medical concepts to students. H350, Complementary and Alternative Approaches to Heath, combines hands-on learning and traditional lecture styles to bring students an informed look at alternative health. Among the topics discussed are the various degrees of mind and body control, aromatherapy, the concept of bio-feedback, dance and music therapy and art therapy. \nLindeman said she decided to create the class in an effort to challenge students to look at more than just traditional medicine.\n"There's something lacking," she said. "We want to see if there's something else out there that we can use to achieve balance."\nLindeman said she was also struck by the absence of focus on the spirit in modern medicine.\n"It's amazing to me. There are all of these medicines in which the spiritual part is as important as the physical part - they call it 'chi' in China, and it's identifying your 'Gosha' in Ayurveda.\nAccording to the Ayurveda Holistic Center's Web site, the word ayurveda means the "science of life" and originated in India more than 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda is believed to be the oldest healing science in existence, from which all other systems emerged.\nOne method of healing Lindeman introduces to her classes is meditation, which she said is an important part of maintaining health and balance.\n"Meditation can be chanting a Gregorian chant, it could be focusing on something, it could be going out to a lake," she said. "But what's interesting is that is as critical to health as going to the doctor and getting a shot to prevent hepatitis." \nWhen the class was first offered during the first summer session, Lindeman brought in experts on the different types of alternative medicines such as yoga, acupuncture and massage therapy to speak with students and to demonstrate their specialty. \nStudents in the class said they also enjoyed the interactive atmosphere.\n"It was great because it was more of a group discussion-type class," George Martin, a senior, said. "Each student got a topic, and we would have team presentations and group learning."\nMartin said he wasn't entirely aware of all of the alternatives to traditional medicine before taking the class.\n"It was a very informative class," he said. "It let us know that there was more out there than just traditional medicine. All of the topics we studied were legitimately beneficial, and the whole class was based around caring for people."\nMartin said he was also impressed by the dedication that people in alternative medicine have.\n"People don't go into this type of medicine for money; they go into it because they want to help people out."\nGraduate student Keena Cooper said she had been interested in alternative medicine for awhile, and jumped at the opportunity to learn more when Lindeman decided to start the class. \n"I wanted to get a degree in alternative medicine, and this was the closest you could get without going into independent study," she said.\nCooper said she liked the class and thinks that it will become even more popular in the future as people start to learn more about alternative approaches to medicine.\n"It's up and rising and becoming more mainstream and if (people) don't know about it now they will in the near future," she said.\nLindeman said she hopes her students leave the class with a better knowledge of their choices when it comes to medicine and basic health and wellness.\n"One of the things I want people who walk out of this class to understand (is) that when it comes to chronic conditions or a way of life, there are other things that you can do and that you can innovate into your life"