Health is, or should be, the most natural state of being. The origins of the word are linked with those of wholeness and healing and is that complete sense of harmony, of being whole, that brings true health. This is also the ultimate aim of the natural healing systems, those that adopt a holistic view rather than the reductionist perspective that is evident in much of conventional modern medicine.
In the last 10 years of so, there has been a great revival of interest in natural therapies, both as a recognition of their tremendous value and also as a move away from some of the side effects and impersonal approaches of allopathic medicine. Many traditions of natural medicine extend back over several centuries, with an impressive accumulation of practical knowledge.
So let us look at some of the alternatives. The use of pure essential oils from plants dates back may centuries, and the history of aromatherapy is in many ways part of the history of herbal medicine as a whole.
The Arabic countries are credited with first discovering the process of distillation of oils, around a thousand years ago, and since then their use has spread both eastwards through the Indian sub-continent and westwards into Europe. Much modern research has taken place, for example, in France, ranging from perfumery applications to medicinal uses as powerful anti-infectious agents.
Essential oils are highly concentrated substances. Pure oil of Rose, for instance, may require 5,000 roses to make just 5ml (one teaspoonful) of oil! For this reason they should be treated with respect and used sparingly. In large doses many essential oils can be somewhat irritating to the skin and a few are quite toxic if not used correctly.
Since a large part of the effect and emotional states occurs through our sense of smell, it is important not to use any individual oil for too long, as they become tolerated and less useful. As a general rule, do not use an oil on a daily basis for more than 10 days.
Similarly do not inhale or mix too many oils together at one time, the olfactory centre in the brain becomes confused and an excess of essences can cause headaches or even nausea.
It should not be forgotten that the power of aromatic plants extends beyond anti-septic or anti-inflammatory properties. It is well established that scent can evoke memories, change people's moods and make them feel good. Aromatherapy has developed in the United Kingdom, the United States and in many other countries in the the last 20 years into a holistic system that tries to heal and balance the whole person. There are more and more Aromatherapy practitioners than ever before offering aromatherapy treatments.
What is hypnotherapy? It is a state of deep relaxation, a state of heightened awareness, combined with a feeling of calm lethargy. It can be best described as similar to that state between sleep and wakefulness, when you are aware of your surroundings and unwilling to move.
It's characteristics are a heightened susceptibility to beneficial suggestion and a much improved memory with access to 'forgotten' or repressed memories stored in the unconscious mind.
In itself, the hypnotic state is very pleasant, but nothing more than that. It is very similar to the mental states achieved during meditation and yoga. It is what the therapist and the client do together that makes it therapy.
Self-hypnosis may not be suitable for anyone suffering from mental illness, or taking medication, or from a nervous condition. It is also potentially dangerous to use self-hypnosis to mask pain as this could lead to a serious illness going undetected.
The basic concept behind Reflexology is that the whole body, indeed the whole person, is inter-connected and that imbalances in one part of the body are reflected in changes elsewhere.
Reflexology has expanded in popularity greatly across the world in the last 30 years. This is partly due to it's relative simplicity as a non-invasive method of treatment, and partly from the plain fact that although nobody has successfully explained why it should work, it does.
Reflexology is of considerable benefit in stress-related ailments in reducing pain and in improving the functioning of the internal organs, it also has some usefulness as a diagnostic aid, as tender reflex points can help to locate areas of dysfunction.
Stretching and loosening the feet will in itself improve local circulation and help general relaxation. Using steady firm pressure you may locate tender spots on the feet. These should be treated with great gentleness and should not be pressed too hard or for too long as this can produce a strong reaction to the affected area of the body. The thumbs are normally used, although fingers may be more useful in some places. Any tenderness at the end of the massage can be eased by soothing or rubbing the feet afterwards.
Light and colour have a profound effect on emotions and some therapist believe, on our health too. Colour affects us all, it is part of our everyday life-but what exactly is it? The definition of colour is the sensation resulting from stimulation of the retina of the eye by light waves of particular wave-lengths. Light has an almost magical effect on both our mind and body and colour therapists maintain it can actually be absorbed not only through the eyes but also through the skin surface by way of our nerve ends.
Colour has a dramatic effect on our emotions. We are all familiar with the expressions 'seeing red', 'feeling blue', 'being green with envy', 'purple with rage'. Colour also affects our perceptions. Anyone who watches the decorating programmes television will notice how much colour can change the way we see a room. A whole industry has grown up and around the art of colour counselling, in which image consultants advise clients as to what colours best suit their individual personalities and circumstances.
If colour has such a dramatic effect on the way we live, it stands to reason it can have an equally powerful effect on our state of health.
Although there are seven colours in the rainbow, colour therapists work primarily with eight-adding Magenta-which are referred to as the 'super eight'. In addition to the super eight, some practitioners also include black, white, gold and silver in their treatments. Practitioners vary the shades of colour according to the conditions they are treating. For example red energy is great for dealing with a cold, put on a pair of red socks, gloves, vest, or scarf. Green soothes the emotions and is beneficial for the nervous system and cell regeneration. Chest complaints such as asthma, bronchitis and angina can be helped with a visit to the green countryside for, 'a breath of fresh air'.
Once the colour therapist has diagnosed the client's needs there are various ways in which colour and light can be used. Coloured lights, colour puncture, solarised water, colour visualisation, diet, clothes/interior design, colour breathing, Aura-Soma oils.
Crystals have captured the imagination of humans for thousands of years. Crystals were used in ancient rituals to cure disease by placing certain stones on the body or pulverising them and mixing the powder in liquid-an early version of mineral water! Linked to particular 'subtle energy centres' of the body called chakras, according to an ancient Hindu system of healing-crystals are used by therapists who believe they can help help a person physically, mentally and emotionally.
Ever since scientists determined that atoms- of which everything, including our bodies, is made-aren't solid but 99.9% empty space filled with energy in the form of vibrations, that alternative practices, including crystal healing, have been easier to understand. The fact is, everything we think of as hard matter is actually made up of energy vibrating at different frequencies. What we think of as colour, for example, is simply this energy vibrating at different rates.
When Quartz crystal comes into contact with even a small amount of power it vibrates. In watches and clocks these vibrations become the pulse that causes the second hand to move accurately. When placed on or near a body crystals can stimulate, balance or reduce the flow of life energy that, according to the eastern view of health must circulate freely for good health. In the same way that you tune in a radio, crystals are said to help ensure your body's cells are tuned to the right frequency.
Therapists use crystals in a variety of ways. Many practitioners keep a large piece of amethyst or clear Quartz crystal on their tables to cleanse and balance the energies in the room. Some use small pieces of differently coloured crystals on various chakra points depending on what emotional issues or illness needs to be healed. This is known as body lay out work and generally involves the client laying flat whilst the therapist arranges the crystals on your body according to what they intuitively feel is required.
Rock crystal is the ideal 'all purpose' crystal, used for physical ailments, emotional balance, meditation and spiritual awareness, boosting the effects of other crystals when used with them.
Amethyst is good for meditation to absorb emotional negativity. Rose Quartz boosts feelings of self-love promoting peacefulness and calm. Hematite is grounding and balancing.
People generally love the look of crystals, they come in many different shapes and sizes. It is interesting that you can instinctively feel drawn to a crystal without knowing why, it could be, say crystal healers that you are drawn to the crystal you need for healing purposes.
Indian Head Massage is an extremely effective treatment that has evolved from traditional techniques practiced in India as part of a family ritual, for over a thousand years. The treatment is non-invasive. The massage is applied through the clothes, and thus, can be performed anywhere. Indian Head Massage is an holistic treatment. It works on both a physical and psychological level and the treatment which is applied to the upper back, shoulders, upper arms, neck, face and scalp represents a de-stressing programme for the whole body.
Although an extremely popular treatment, conventional massage still harbours a number of barriers for some clients. They may be too embarrassed to remove their clothing or there may be certain constraints in their daily life, such as time.
Indian Head Massage is starting to bridge this gap in the massage market. It's strengths lie in the fact that it is quick to apply, it can be carried out anywhere, and the client remains fully clothed. In addition, no special equipment is required to perform it.
The techniques practiced today have evolved from traditional rituals of Indian family grooming. Indian women have been taught by their mothers to use different oils, such as coconut, sesame, olive, almond, mustard oil, herbals oils, buttermilk and henna on their scalps in order to maintain their hair in beautiful condition.
Indian barbers developed a head massage which was incorporated into their service. This differed from the women's treatment in that it was more invigorating and stimulating rather than being part of a beautifying ritual. This has also been passed down through the generations from barber father to barber son.
In India head massage is not just performed at home with families but is available on street corners, at the beach and in barbers shops. Today Indian Head Massage has become a stress management programme.
The original techniques in India have been developed to become westernised and include massage to areas that are most vulnerable to stress and tension, such as the neck and shoulders.
It has been said that drug and alcohol counselling plays an important role in helping people come off drugs and alcohol.
A study in South Wales where I live has found that drug counselling has a very important role to play in helping those that have problems relating to drugs and alcohol.
The Authors assessed 65 clients admitted over a 6 month period to the Cefn Coed Unit in Swansea, where I worked. They looked at the amount of time each client has spent on the waiting list, the referring agency, whether they were on probation and whether they had had preliminary counselling.
Six months later local specialist counselling services were contacted to see which clients had engaged with follow-up, and what their current drug/alcohol status was.
The researchers found that preliminary counselling was signficantly associated with controlled substance use after de-toxification but not with abstinence. Those clients engaged with services after de-tox tended to be either abstinent or using in a controlled way.
Improvement was not linked to time spent on the waiting list, the referring agency or whether the clients were on probation.
The Authors recommend that future service development should be aimed at strengthening liaison between the Cefn Coed Unit and drug and alcohol counselling agencies.
Counselling with drugs and alcohol problems is effective, listening, providing contingency plans and empowering the client all have value to those with addictive personalities.
In today's society it is a growing problem as stresses create heavier burdens on our already stressful fast pace lives. Everyone needs to be kinder to themselves, to take time out, to see the danger signals of living too much in the 'fast lane of life'.
Holistic /complementary treatments and therapies fit the bill in helping us all to cope as we try and manage our very busy lifestyles.
I cannot emphasise enough the importance we need to place in looking after ourselves, and in a truly holistic way, treating our minds, bodies and spirits. |
