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Other Healing Modalities

In this chapter, I’ll briefly outline healing modalities that I haven’t written about elsewhere in this book.  The majority of the content in this book is aimed at teaching you self-healing tools that you can use on your own.  There is, however, a profound benefit from receiving healing services from another person.  We are meant to have relationships with each other and to help each other grow.  To give and receive is just part of the cycle of energetic exchange during our human lives. 

It is important that you open yourself up to receiving as part of your healing journey.  For some people, receiving isn’t an issue, but giving is.  If your life has been “all about you”, it may be time to actively seek out a way to give your gifts more to others who need them.  On the other hand, if you’re a perpetual giver and a poor receiver, you may need to actively exercise your receiving muscles.

  What follows is a brief list of other healing modalities that may be helpful in your healing.  Note that this list is not comprehensive and mostly includes therapies I’m more familiar with.  I’m sure there are plenty of other wonderful healing modalities that I have not included.  If you find one that works for you that isn’t on this list, please feel free to share your experiences via my Facebook page. 

When finding a healer to work with, the most important thing is the relationship between you and your healer.  You could consult with the most famous healer in the world, but if you don’t resonate with him, you won’t benefit from what he offers.  It is the healer, not the modality, who channels the healing.  Finding a compassionate healer is as important as finding a competent one.  You and your healer’s intention, in combination with the rest of the Universe, co-create your reality.  Take your time to choose who you want to work with and let your intuition guide you.

Many energy healing modalities are effective and yet few studies are available that prove their effectiveness.  Out of all of them, acupuncture may be the best researched.  Just because a modality hasn’t been researched doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.  Acupuncture is thousands of years old.  If it weren’t effective, it wouldn’t still be used as a primary source of health care for one billion people worldwide. 

Healing is a personalized experience.  It is challenging to even conduct scientific studies on healing because we now know that intention can change the results of a study.  Furthermore, the placebo-controlled double blinded studies (that Western doctors consider to be the gold standard when it comes to drug therapies) are impossible to conduct with practitioner-based energy healing modalities.  Although I always prefer scientific data to support my therapeutic recommendations, sometimes it just isn’t available.  The best “science” comes from trying things yourself and deciding whether a therapy works for your body and particular situation.  As you read through the following descriptions, check in with your intuition.  You’ll probably be able to feel what modalities attract you.  Let your intuition and experience become your best guide.

 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese healing method of inserting thin, sterile needles into acupuncture points on the body and thus increasing the flow of energy along channels called acupuncture meridians.  Acupuncture is probably one of the oldest natural healing methods used to treat chronic pain and has enjoyed thousands of years of success.  Acupuncture can be performed by licensed acupuncturists, qualified physicians and other healing professionals (depending on a country’s licensing laws). 

Although I use many other modalities including acupuncture without needles for pain relief, I still enjoy the feeling I get from receiving a treatment from someone else.  Acupuncture can be used not only for pain relief but for rebalancing other issues in the body, be it hormonal, emotional or energetic. 

As an acupuncturist myself, I have noticed that people have more blockages these days than ever before.  These blockages prevent them from healing and may include toxins and energetic pollution to name a few.  As with all the healing modalities I’ll present in this chapter, brain balancing (Chapter 6) before or during your treatments should improve its success rate.

To find a acupuncturist near you, you can go to www.MedicalAcupuncture.org an association of physician acupuncturists, or www.acufinder.com to find a licensed acupuncturist through national and international associations.

 

Alexander Technique

The Alexander technique aims to undo bad, ingrained habits of movement by reversing them back to the correct, natural movements of early childhood.  Adults have often misused their bodies to the extent that they now have habitual body misalignments.  F.M. Alexander, the developer of this technique, felt that the relationship of the head to the neck and back governs the way the rest of the body functions and he called this relationship primary control

Teachers of the Alexander technique aim to restore the length, flexibility and coordination of the spine and head, and to re-establish the correct relative position of the two, at rest and in motion.   By “unlearning” poor posture bad habits, you should gain more freedom of movement without associated aches and pains.   You should also benefit from improved co-ordination and balance and improved relaxation.  For more information, go to www.amsatonline.org.

 

The Body Code

The Body Code was created by holistic chiropractor Bradley Nelson, who also created the Emotion Code mentioned earlier in this book.  According to Nelson, there are only six major areas of imbalance that cause practically 100% of all illnesses and disease in our bodies.  Using his Body Code computer database along with muscle testing you can assess and treat these imbalances quickly and easily.  The technique unlocks the hidden healing power of the subconscious mind.  It is one of the most sophisticated, yet simple, self-healing systems ever created for non-practitioners.  To learn more, go to www.bodycodehealingsystem.com

 

Bowen Technique

The Bowen technique, pioneered by Thomas A. Bowen, helps to restore and harmonize the innate energy in the human body so that self-healing can occur.  Another form of energy work, Bowen technique can be applied through light clothing or directly onto bare skin.  The practitioner uses her fingers and thumbs to roll your muscles and other connective tissues with light pressure at specific points that may be trigger points or acupuncture points.  Very few movements are used to achieve the desired results and the intent is to harmonize the body’s vibration.  For more information go to www.BowTech.com

 

Craniosacral Therapy

Pioneered by Dr. John E. Upledger, craniosacral therapy involves the cranium and spinal cord soft tissues which may become inflexible because of trauma or exposure to stress.  Craniosacral therapists believe that there is a flow of energy or healthy cranial rhythm which can restore the healing capabilities of the body.  It is a very gentle therapy that focuses on the psychological as well as the physical.  The touch is so slight that you hardly feel anything.  Whenever I receive this type of therapy, I invariably get sleepy, which is a sign of detoxification (healing).  Most people find this therapy incredibly relaxing.  It is particularly wonderful for children.  For more information, go to www.Upledger.com

 

Chiropractic & Applied Kinesiology

Chiropractors use manipulation of the spine to restore the energy flow of the body.  It is felt that subluxations or misalignments of joints can put pressure on spinal nerves and thus affect parts of the body supplied by these nerves.  Some chiropractors focus solely on the spine whereas others also treat misalignments of peripheral joints such as knees, hips, and ankles.  Some chiropractors practice applied kinesiology and can determine whether internal organs are referring pain to parts of the skeleton.  By treating the true source of the pain, applied kinesiology chiropractors can get results where traditional chiropractors may not.  For more information, go to: www.icak.com

 

Dynamic Neural Retraining Program

Annie Hopper, founder of the Dynamic Neural Retraining System, is a Limbic System Retraining and Rehabilitation Specialist who is an expert in the field of acquired limbic system brain injuries and neuroplasticity.  People with diagnoses of fibromyalgia, chronic pain, chronic fatigue and multiple chemical sensitivity syndromes often have limbic system brain dysfunction. 

The Limbic System is a complex set of brain structures that are largely responsible for how we code, interpret, and remember sensory input.  The limbic system includes the hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and cingulate cortex.  This system is also thought to be responsible for emotional reactions and desires.  People with severe chronic pain, such as those with fibromyalgia, almost always have limbic system imbalance.  You can be relatively brain balanced (see Chapter 6) but still have limbic system dysfunction. 

The Dynamic Neural Retraining Program consists of a combination of various Mind-Body re-programming therapies and exercises.  You can learn it through a self-study course or at a live seminar.  As with all exercise-based programs, consistent daily practice for at least six consecutive months is important to get the best results.  For more information, go to: www.DNRsystem.com

 

Feldenkrais Method

The Feldenkrais Method is a form of therapy that teaches body awareness and control and can benefit people suffering from neurological or musculoskeletal problems.  Movement skills, posture, self-awareness and balance are all part of the training.  The emphasis is on re-educating the neuromuscular pathways.  This method can be a valuable tool in maintaining freedom from pain, especially in combination with the other methods in this book.  With a Feldenkrais therapist, you will learn how to replace inefficient movement with movements that cause neither tension nor strain in your muscles and joints.  For more information, go to: www.feldenkraisinstitute.com

 

Healing Touch

Healing touch is an energy therapy whereby practitioners use their hands in delivering intention and healing from a heart-centered place though your biofield (magnetic field around your body).  Healing touch can help support physical, emotional, and mental health.  The goal is to restore and harmonize the body’s energy field so that the client can return to a self-healing state. 

The treatment is typically administered while the client lies on a massage table with her clothes on.  The practitioner then uses her hands to assess the biofield and proceeds to clear and balance it, as needed, using either gentle (still) touch over various areas of the body or off-body touch (near body but no direct contact).  Most people feel a sense of deep calm and relaxation during a treatment.  For more information or to find a practitioner near you, go to www.HealingTouchProgram.com

 

Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT)

IMT was developed by Sharon Giammatteo, Ph.D, L.M.T.C within the last thirty years.  It uses a comprehensive and holistic approach to identify and address the underlying causes of dysfunction causing pain.  IMT is based on the premise that the body has the ability to heal itself.  IMT treatment techniques are hands-on and generally involve gentle tissue manipulative techniques that promote tissue repair, restore function and normalize structure. 

IMT is unique in that it integrates manual therapy techniques for all systems in the body including bone, nerve, muscle fascia, organ, lymph and circulatory.  It was an IMT practitioner who revealed that my right hip pain was due to leaky gut affecting the joint capsule.  By identifying the true cause of the pain, I was able to heal internally to prevent further damage to my hip joint.  For more information, go to www.instituteofimt.com

 

Therapeutic Massage

There are many different massage techniques.  Some massage therapists work in a spa and prefer to see clients who are just looking for a relaxing massage.  Other therapists perform therapeutic massage where their focus is on releasing tension causing chronic pain in various areas of the body.  Massage can help to release stuck fascial tissue as well as increase circulation in the skin and muscles. 

Bodywork that is given by a knowledgeable and experienced therapist specializing in chronic pain is likely going to be beneficial.  Some work deeply in the tissues and this can be uncomfortable but very therapeutic.  On the other hand, not everyone can tolerate deep tissue work and for some people, a lighter touch is better.  For example, I have found that my patients with fibromyalgia feel worse after a deep tissue massage.  This could be because toxins are released during the massage, leaving them feeling as if they have the flu. 

For people with fibromyalgia pain, I have found that they do much better with light pressure massage such as lymphatic massage or craniosacral therapy.  Nevertheless, I encourage you to try massage to determine whether it is helpful.  I believe that receiving human touch is extremely beneficial for everyone.  If you do not regularly get touched because you’re single, don’t have children or pets, massage may be an opportunity to receive those benefits.  For more information, go to: www.AMTA.org

 

Osteopathy

Pioneered by Taylor Still, an American doctor, osteopathy has been popular in North America for quite some time.  Osteopathy can mend the musculoskeletal system by manipulations and pressure in order to restore proper functioning of the body.  Originally osteopathy was an alternative to drugs, but in the United States, osteopaths can function as medical doctors, treating all medical problems and prescribing drugs.  There are some osteopaths that do visceral (internal organ) manipulations, as well as musculoskeletal manipulations.  These osteopaths are thought by some to be more “holistic” in their approach to the body because pain may be referred from a dysfunctional organ.  For more information: www.academyofosteopathy.org

 

Reconnective Healing

Reconnective Healing is a unique form of energy healing that is taught by chiropractor Eric Pearl, D.C., who discovered years ago that he had somehow been “downloaded” with unique healing frequencies different from all other known forms of energy healing.  He was able to attune other healers to this frequency and now has an international network of healers doing Reconnective Healing. 

Dr. Pearl’s healing powers have been studied by top doctors and medical researchers at hospitals, colleges and universities worldwide.  These include Jackson Memorial Hospital, UCLA, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the VA Hospital, Tel HaShomer (Tel Aviv), Suburban Hospital, University of Miami Medical School, Kent College of Osteopathy (UK), RMIT University (Melbourne), the University of Oslo, and the University of Arizona to name a few.  Reconnective Healing can help you heal your life, not just your body, and many seek it for its spiritual nature.  To learn more about Reconnective Healing, go to: www.thereconnection.com

 

Reflexology

Reflexology is a form of foot massage that was formalized in the West but has its basis in ancient healing practices in many civilizations.  Various parts of each foot represent different zones of the body and different organs.  By stimulating these zones, you can treat other parts of the body, including painful ones.  Common contraindications to getting reflexology include early pregnancy, circulation problems, acute infections or foot infections.  Reflexology can be relaxing or painful depending on which points are massaged and what areas are in need of attention.  For more information, go to: www.reflexology-usa.org  in the United States or www.reflexology-uk.net/site internationally.

 

Reiki

Reiki is a form of energy healing whereby a practitioner places her hands on various areas of the body to rebalance the body’s energy field in order to support self-healing.  Thought to have originally been created in 1922 by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usu, Reiki has now been adapted into various forms by modern teachers.  Often, Reiki healers will “read” the energy centers of the body, the chakras, in order to determine whether they are excessive, deficient or blocked.  They then can rebalance the chakras by channeling energy through their hands. 

During my own personal healing journey, I found that being trained in Reiki opened up my energetic senses.  When I first learned it, I was terrified to use it because I was afraid of doing something wrong.  But through the gentle and compassionate tutelage of my Reiki healer and spiritual counselor, Patricia Lee Jones of Healing Adventures, the process of learning this healing modality catalyzed a fantastic journey of self-discovery.

Reiki practitioners may be first degree, second degree and Master levels.  At the Master level, the best Reiki practitioners I’ve known are ones that do energy healing on a regular basis and who are also dedicated to their own ongoing personal transformation.  For more information on Reiki, go to: www.reiki.org

 

Rolfing

A form of bodywork, Rolfing involves releasing the myofascial system – the system that includes both muscles and connective tissue called fascia.  Pioneered by Ida Rolf, Rolfing is a technique that stretches and loosens the fascia so that the muscles beneath can fully relax.  Doing so not only helps the physical body, but the emotional and mental bodies as well-according to Rolfing practitioners. 

Ida Rolf felt that the connective tissue stored memories of traumas which can be released during a Rolfing session.  The Rolfer will knead, massage and pummel your flesh using his or her hands, knuckles, fingers and elbows.  It can be incredibly deep and any tender spots or knots can be eased.  Compared with other forms of body work, Rolfing may be the most painful, but many people “enjoy” the feeling of having their knots released.  The idea is that at the end of your Rolfing sessions, your myofascial system becomes balanced and your posture is corrected.  For more information on Rolfing, go to: www.Rolf.org

 

Trager Work

Trager Work was devised by Milton Trager, who was an acrobat and boxer who suffered chronic back problems and eventually became a physical therapist and then a medical doctor.  His somatic re-education program stems from the belief that Trager Workers can link up the energy force that surrounds us all and reprogram the subconscious in order to release muscular tension.  Small movements are taught to replace harmful learned habits. 

Trager work is a system of re-wiring the body’s musculoskeletal responses, not a treatment method, per se, so don’t expect to receive a diagnosis.  There are two parts to Trager Work.  The first one is table-work and involves small gentle rocking, vibrating and kneading motions that are not painful (as opposed to Rolfing).  Once the table work has been completed, your practitioner will move on to teaching you Mentastics which are simple exercises that you can do at home.  These exercises will reinforce the work done during the office visit.  For more information, go to: www.Trager.com

 

Zero Balancing

Zero balancing is an energy healing technique developed by Fritz Smith, MD in the early 1970s.  It is a powerful body-mind therapy that uses skilled touch to address the relationship between energy and structures of the body.  During the 30 to 45 minute protocol, the certified Zero Balancing practitioner uses finger pressure and gentle traction on areas of tension in the bones, joints and soft tissue to create fulcrums, or points of balance, around which the body can relax and reorganize.

Energy blockages can be cleared, thus amplifying vital energy in the body, by addressing the deepest and densest tissues of the body along with soft tissue and energy fields.  Zero Balancing can help relieve physical pain, release movement restrictions and provide relief from emotional distress.  A Zero Balancing session leaves you with a wonderful feeling of inner harmony and balance.  I have really enjoyed receiving Zero Balancing because it is very relaxing.  For more information, go to www.ZeroBalancing.com.