Alternative health practitioners can help define the weak links in your body’s structure and function and then direct you toward optimal personal care. There are many different approaches, but some general guidelines are worth mentioning here.
A good alternative medical practitioner will perform at least these three basic types of analysis before prescribing any treatment plan: (a) Take a detailed medical history; (b) perform a physical examination that goes beyond conventional methodologies; and (c) study carefully the results of appropriate laboratory tests taken at the time of the history taking and the physical examination.
In addition, you have the right to expect that the practitioner will include in his or her repertory some or all of the following:
Your alternative health practitioner should expect you to be an active, committed participant in the process, not a passive, disinterested patient who accepts everything the doctor recommends.
One form of this active participation may be the questions you ask with a view to getting the important information you need to help in your contributions to the healing process. Some examples are:
Many people are living with symptoms that, because they are mild and do not constitute a full-blown disease state, are accepted, needlessly, as being an inevitable consequence of getting older. In fact, such people are often told by their conventional physicians, “Nothing is wrong with you. Everything is normal.” And yet, the symptoms may be early warnings that something is out of balance. Gas in the lower bowel (flatulence), belching, heaviness in the stomach, heartburn, and bloating, for example, may all be indicators of a malfunctioning digestive system, depending on their frequency and severity. These conditions are not normal in a healthy state, and they are often correctable.
Similarly, many of the symptoms that accompany delayed allergic reactions (the masked, cyclical allergies) are widely accepted as normal, and therefore to be tolerated for no better reason than “that’s the way it is.” The failure to recognize a connection between these symptoms and allergies may be due to the fact that they do not appear for upward of thirty hours after the ingestion of the offending food or chemical substance. Typical symptoms are headache, irritability, anxiety, sudden changes of mood, and excessive fatigue, as well as unexplained body aches and pains. These symptoms may not be severe enough to be labeled disease states, so the underlying cause is repeatedly overlooked or denied by traditional practitioners. Even when the disorders are recognized, their true significance may still be missed by those who try to reverse the symptoms without addressing the underlying causes for their appearance.
Thus frequent colds, recurring infections, and fatigue are all part of the warning mechanisms used by the body to signal a malfunctioning immune system. But they are rarely recognized as such. The phenomenal sales of cold remedies, for example, reflect how little attention is paid to strengthening the immune system—an approach that would far more effectively reduce the incidence of these and other disorders.
It has never been my policy to make specific recommendations, to suggest to a person that a specific practitioner is the best doctor to see. The quality of a doctor’s health care may depend on both the physician and the patient, as well as on their mutual compatibility. This is not something I, or anyone else, can predict in advance. But I still feel that people should be given some direction. So, what I have done here is supplied a directional guide. Below are descriptions of the therapies described in this book. Where applicable, I have listed organizations to contact for referrals or more information.
Acupressure, also known as shiatsu, is based on the principle that a vital energy, called qi (chi), flows through the body. The primary cause of pain is an imbalance in this energy. The goal of the healer is to balance the client’s energy so that pain and discomfort do not manifest or, if they do appear, will be relieved.
The practitioner concentrates on certain pressure points that have metaphoric names that tell us something of what they do or how they are to be worked with. He or she uses thumbs, fingers, palms, forearms, elbows, and even knees to apply pressure to specified points in the body to modulate the flow of energy. During a treatment, the client lies on the floor on a comfortable padded surface, such as a futon, fully clothed or undressed to her level of comfort. What the client feels is pressure, which can be gentle or deeper at the places where the practitioner is working. As the pressure continues, the patient will generally feel relaxed and energized at the same time.
Acupressure is good for treating a variety of different pains. It is especially beneficial in combating chronic pain in the back, neck, or shoulders, but it has also proved effective in treating whiplash, herniated disk, and nerve problems, such as Bell’s palsy.
AMERICAN ORGANIZATION FOR BODYWORK THERAPIES OF ASIA
(856) 809-2953
www.aobta.org
Acupuncture sees pain as derived from blocked energy or qi (chi). In treating this blockage, the practitioner has to determine whether it stems from an overabundance or a deficiency in energy, so the treatment can be adjusted depending on whether it is necessary to strengthen or decrease qi. To accomplish this, the acupuncturist will work to open blocked energy pathways, so that healing energy can go directly to the point in the body where it is needed, thereby stimulating the body’s natural healing capacities.
The acupuncturist first records the patient’s medical history in the manner of a conventional doctor. Then, with the patient lying down or seated, depending on the area to be treated, fine-gauge, stainless steel needles are inserted into significant points and meridians (channels through which qi flows) to exert different physiological effects on the body and induce both relaxation and energization. The patient will remain in this position from twenty to thirty minutes, though an appointment with an acupuncturist may last up to an hour, since part of the time will be spent consulting about the employment of other traditional and herbal treatments that might be recommended. Bodywork and massage might also be included in the session.
According to Abigail Rist-Podrecca, a registered nurse, acupuncture works by “dilating the blood vessels, so that the vessels can open. You get more circulation, more of the nutrients, more oxygen flowing through the meridians.”
Practitioners attend threeto four-year postgraduate-type programs. Schools are accredited for master’s degree programs through the National Accreditation Commission of Schools and Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. A certification examination is offered through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. A minimum of 1, 300 hours of training is required to sit for this exam. Medical doctors and dentists rarely require specialized training to perform acupuncture, although training is available through the American Academy of Medical Acupuncturists.
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE
(310) 379-8261
www.medicalacupuncture.org
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ACUPUNCTURE AND ORIENTAL MEDICINE
(866) 455-7999
www.aaaomonline.org
NATIONAL CERTIFICATION COMMISSION FOR ACUPUNCTURE AND ORIENTAL MEDICINE
(904) 598-1005
www.nccaom.org
Alexander technique is based on the concept that all of us know how to move comfortably as children but lose that natural flexibility over time. The teacher acts to help the student recapture this freedom and lightness of movement. Practitioners see themselves as teachers, and their sessions not as therapy but as teaching.
Each session is an experiential process in which the teacher guides the student with hands-on training to help her learn a new way of moving, by means of the teacher’s hands stimulating the student’s nervous system.
This technique can help mothers, for example, learn how to bend over and lift children in a new way that avoids stress on the back.
There are ten affiliated societies for teachers of Alexander technique worldwide. Teacher certification requires 1, 600 practical hours over a three-year period.
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE
(800) 473-0620
www.alexandertech.org
This discipline is related to Chinese acupuncture. Practitioners use it to determine which foods and herbs are best assimilated by the individual, in order to develop a healing diet and supplementation program that is finely calibrated to the person’s own biology.
The patient extends her arm at shoulder level while holding a food or supplement in the other hand, and the practitioner pushes down on the extended arm. If the substance is appropriate for her, the arm will be strong and harder to force down. If the substance is not good for her, the arm will be weak. This is because the body can feel the value of the substance. Using various techniques, kinesiologists can study these reactions more precisely to determine proper individual diet.
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF APPLIED KINESIOLOGY
(913) 384-5336
www.icakusa.com
Aromatherapy depends on the therapeutic powers of essential oils. These oils are commonly used in skin and body care products in the United States, but their medicinal properties have long been accepted in other countries, particularly France, where, in many instances, their antimicrobial properties make them acceptable replacements for drug therapy. Pure essential oils can be used to cure cold and canker sores, calm the emotions, diminish joint swelling, clear the nasal passages and lungs, balance hormones, and for many other applications.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HOLISTIC AROMATHERAPY
(919) 894-0298
www.naha.org
Ayurveda means “the science of life.” It is a system of medicine widely used in India for the past 4, 000 years. Ayurveda believes that balance is the key to perfect health. It basically determines which of three body-mind types a person belongs to and, based on that type, helps people choose the type of foods he or she should eat as well as the best type of exercise. For more information, read Perfect Health and Ageless Body, Timeless Mind by Deepak Chopra.
THE AYURVEDIC INSTITUTE
(505) 291-9698
www.ayurveda.com
The Bach flower remedies were developed by Dr. Edward Bach during the 1930s. They consist of thirty-eight plant extracts that are used to treat physical and emotional problems. The extracts used in each case are selected according to the individual patient’s personality. For instance, for a person who is critical and intolerant of others, the suggested remedy derives from the beech tree. For some with an unhealthy fear of the unknown, a remedy derived from the aspen would be prescribed. Bach flower remedies are said to have positive effects on the psychological and emotional stresses that underlie many illnesses.
FLOWER ESSENCE SOCIETY
(800) 736-9222
www.flowersociety.org
BACH CENTRE
www.bachcentre.com
BACH FLOWER EDUCATION
(800) 928-1270
www.bachflowereducation.com
Biofeedback is a technique that teaches a person to consciously regulate normally involuntary bodily processes, such as heartbeats, brain waves, blood pressure, and muscle tension. The bodily process, such as heart rate, may be monitored by electronic equipment or by natural observation, such as holding a finger against an artery. With practice, the patient learns to slow down the heart rate, relax tension, and so on. Biofeedback is helpful for conditions such as migraine, tension headache, digestive upset, and other disorders that are aggravated by stress.
Practitioner certification is recommended but not required. Practitioners are certified through the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America.
ASSOCIATION FOR APPLIED PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY AND BIOFEEDBACK
(800) 477-8892
www.aapb.org
BIOFEEDBACK CERTIFICATION INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE
(720) 502-5829
www.bcia.org
Body rolling, a form of bodywork developed by Yamuna Zake, uses a sixto teninch ball in a series of routines designed to elongate muscles and increase blood flow in all parts of the body. As the body weight presses into the ball, the ball applies pressure onto bone and creates traction that allows the entire length of a muscle to release. Body rolling is useful for relieving pain and tension in many parts of the body.
YAMUNA BODY ROLLING
(212) 367-9570
www.yamunabodyrolling.com
Chelation therapy flushes toxins out of the blood. A synthetic amino acid, EDTA, is administered to the patient through an intravenous drip. The EDTA moves through the blood vessels and attaches itself to heavy metals in the blood such as mercury and lead, holding on to these substances until they are washed out of the body in the urine. Chelation therapy is being used increasingly to treat heart dis-ease as well as other illnesses. Protocols for the intravenous administration of EDTA are set by the American College for the Advancement of Medicine (ACAM) and require a prior medical examination. Certification is provided to MDs and DOs who satisfy requirements from the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology.
AMERICAN COLLEGE FOR ADVANCEMENT IN MEDICINE
(800) 532-3688
www.acamnet.org
AMERICAN BOARD OF CLINICAL METAL TOXICOLOGY
(419) 358-0273
www.abcmt.org
Chiropractic treatment involves the manual manipulation of vertebrae that have become misaligned, exerting pressure on nerves and blocking the flow of energy to various organs. The manipulation is called an adjustment. It involves the chiropractor’s gentle and painless application of direct pressure to the spine and joints. The chiropractor may squeeze or twist the torso, pull or twist the limbs, or wrench the head or back. In this manner she or he is readjusting the spinal column to restore the normal relationship of one vertebra to another. This eliminates the body’s energy blocks.
Chiropractic is effective in dealing with pain and as a preventive measure because it relieves nerve pressure as the spine is properly adjusted.
While chiropractic is still far from being accepted as a part of standard health care, it attracts more patients now than ever before and is more accepted than ever before by the mainstream medical community. There are now about twenty chiropractic colleges nationwide, and chiropractors can get licensed in all fifty states. Some liberal arts colleges offer undergraduate degrees in chiropractic, and some facilities at member hospitals of the American Hospital Association have been opened to chiropractors.
AMERICAN CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION
(703) 276-8800
www.acatoday.com
INTERNATIONAL CHIROPRACTORS ASSOCIATION
(800) 423-4690
www.chiropractic.org
Colon cleansing refers to washing out the colon in order to remove toxic buildups. First the colon is irrigated with warm water, washing out encrustations and old fecal matter. Next, healing substances to reduce inflammation and strengthen the colon wall are infused.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS
(866) 538-2267
www.naturopathic.org
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COLON HYDROTHERAPY
(210) 366-2888
www.i-act.org
CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
The sacral region is at the bottom of the spine. Between that region and the head there should be maintained a balanced relation for the health of the organism. If a restriction is experienced at that point, pain will be felt and other problems may arise.
In craniosacral therapy, the practitioner places her or his hands on the patient’s body in such a way as to bring the cranium and sacrum back into alignment and to reestablish a natural rhythm between them. Treatment usually centers on the head or lower back, although it may be done on many different parts of the body.
BIODYNAMIC CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA
(734) 904-0546
www.craniosacraltherapy.org
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS
(800) 311-9204
www.iahp.com
A person whose health is compromised, or on a diet that is too high in fats, processed proteins, and refined foods, has a reduced capacity to rid the body of toxins. When this happens, the toxins accumulate.
Frances Taylor, coauthor of The Whole Way to Natural Detoxification, explains: “As we journey through life the way most people do, we become overloaded with the toxins that absorb in the body. Unless we do something to get rid of these things, our bodies become overloaded and our health suffers. We develop symptoms such as headaches, digestive problems, sluggishness, after-meals fatigue. Many health benefits can be obtained by simply detoxifying the body.”
Among the methods of detoxification are diet, nutritional supplementation, chelation therapy, colon cleansing, detox baths, exercise, deep breathing, and bodywork.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS
(866) 538-2267
www.naturopathic.org
AMERICAN COLLEGE FOR ADVANCEMENT IN MEDICINE
(800) 532-3688
www.acam.org
Enzyme therapy uses enzymes to cure illness and enhance life. South American Indians used papaya as a healing agent, and medieval Europeans used the milky juice of plants of the spurge family for medical reasons. Today, many practitioners advocate enzyme supplementation to enable vitamins and other supplements, as well as food, to be properly absorbed.
There are many different types of enzyme therapy. One example is that which relies on the Wolfe and Benitez formulas, which combine animal and vegetable enzymes. The preparations are said to be powerful weapons against bacteria and other invasive microorganisms. Many naturopaths and chiropractors use enzyme therapy.
LOOMIS INSTITUTE OF ENZYME NUTRITION
(800) 662-2630
www.loomisinstitute.com
ENZYME TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION
(202) 739-5612
www.enzymeassociation.org
Feldenkrais is a practice that helps eliminate poor movement habits and relieve chronic tensions. It uses very gentle movements that the student does herself, guided by the instructor, while lying on the floor. Alternatively the student lies on a massage table and the teacher uses a hands-on approach, taking the student through gentle movements to enable the student to let go of a chronic holding pattern.
The goal is to learn to differentiate between parts of the body that are relaxed and parts that are still tense. Thus the nervous system learns a new way of functioning.
FELDENKRAIS METHOD OF SOMATIC EDUCATION
(781) 876-8935
www.feldenkrais.com
Guided imagery can be practiced either by an individual with a therapist or in a group setting. In the individual setting, the practitioner helps the client elicit her own mental images, which she then interacts with, perhaps in dialogue. For example, if the client is ill, she may call up images of the distressed part of her body and encourage it to heal through an imagistic interaction.
In a group, a facilitator helps the participants concentrate on building certain images whose healing power they can tap into. In this setting, the participant has the added benefit of being able to discuss the process with another participant afterward so as to further affirm and enrich the healing process.
ACADEMY FOR GUIDED IMAGERY
(424) 242-6369
www.acadgi.com
ACADEMY OF INTEGRATIVE HEALTH AND MEDICINE
(218) 525-5651
www.aihm.org
AMERICAN HOLISTIC NURSES ASSOCIATION
(800) 278-2462
www.ahna.org
Hellerwork is a bodywork technique derived from Rolfing (see below). Both modalities work to improve body structure with deep tissue work, but Hellerwork, unlike Rolfing, is not painful. The practice has three components. In the first, hands-on part, the practitioner finds a misalignment in the body and works with the client to release it.
The second part is movement education. The practitioner analyzes the patient’s posture and movements, then offers more relaxed and stressless ways to move. The third component is body-mind dialogue, whose purpose is to identify emotional patterns that underlie dysfunctional movement patterns.
HELLERWORK INTERNATIONAL
(714) 873-6131
www.hellerwork.com
American interest in herbal medicine has exploded in recent years. Not long ago, we had to seek out an herbalist or visit a health food store to obtain herbal formulas. Today supplements are being manufactured by mainstream drug and vitamin companies, and can be found on store shelves everywhere. The National Institutes of Health has even established an office to maintain a database and fund research into herbals. It may seem as if herbal medicine is a new field. In actuality, herbs have been used for healing for as far back as we can trace the existence of humans.
Herbs can play a vital role in our day-to-day lives by stimulating our immune systems. Many people find that their health seems to be sapped by recurring or chronic colds and viruses. Synthetic drugs, far from being a solution, seem merely to encourage new, more resistant strains of bacteria and viruses. People with more serious immune problems, such as AIDS and cancer, can help their systems to fight back as much as possible by using herbs to stimulate a healthy immune system.
In addition to fresh herbs and dried herbs, there are several other forms in which herbal medicines can be taken. Infusions and decoctions, two of the simpler forms, are both made with boiling water. Tinctures are made by macerating herbs in a mixture of water and alcohol for at least two weeks. Ointments, which are useful for treating some skin conditions, can be made with herbs and oils.
AMERICAN HERBALISTS GUILD
(617) 520-4372
www.americanherbalistsguild.com
HERB RESEARCH FOUNDATION
(303) 449-2265
www.herbs.org
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS
(866) 538-2267
www.naturopathic.org
Homeopathy is based on the Law of Similars, the principle that what causes illness can also cure it. If a person has a head cold, you would give the person a substance that would cause cold symptoms in a healthy person, but in a sick person it helps to cure them. Homeopathy is limited in scope at this time in the United States, although 100 years ago it was the prevailing form of medicine— until allopathic medicine, and the American Medical Association in particular, launched an intensive drive against it, which culminated in its being virtually banned in this country.
Recently, there has been a renewed interest in homeopathy, and growing numbers of physicians are using its principles. Homeopathy is particularly effective in the treatment of fevers, bacterial infections, toxicity, and the cumulative effects of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, caffeine, or sugar. It is not recommended for cancer, AIDS, or heart disease.
HOMEOPATHIC ACADEMY OF NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS
(541) 708-1827
www.hanp.net
NATIONAL CENTER FOR HOMEOPATHY
(703) 506-7667
www.homepathic.org
COUNCIL FOR HOMEOPATHIC CERTIFICATION
(866) 242-3399
www.homeopathicdirectory.com
Hydrotherapy is a traditional naturopathic method that uses hot and/or cold water to treat a range of ailments, including urinary tract inflammations, fibrocystic breast disease, migraine headaches, and infertility. For urinary tract inflam-mations, for example, sitz baths or hot compresses can be used to stimulate blood circulation and remove toxins from the pelvic area. For migraines, there are many inventive forms of hydrotherapy that involve applying cold to the head and heat to the feet.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS
(866) 538-2267
www.naturopathic.org
Massage therapy is used to treat a variety of ailments, including muscle spasm and pain, soreness, swelling and inflammation, temporomandibular joint syndrome, whiplash, headaches, and stress. It helps to release tension and enhance relaxation. It can help in detoxification. Some states require massage therapists to be licensed, others do not. Many massage therapists perform a variety of bodywork techniques.
AMERICAN MASSAGE THERAPY ASSOCIATION
(877) 905-0577
www.amtamassage.org
Midwives help women give birth, providing care and advice during pregnancy and after a baby is born. They may also provide general gynecological care. Midwives work in homes, clinics, birthing centers, and hospitals. Midwifery views pregnancy as a natural, normal, and individual process in which medical intervention should be as minimal as possible. Most midwives only accept women who are likely to have a normal delivery and are not considered at high risk for complications.
Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are registered nurses who have been trained in midwifery and certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Some states require nurse-midwives to have a special license. Other states allow them to practice under their nursing license. Most CNMs have back-up doctors at hospitals.
Lay midwives have no formal training in midwifery. A few states license lay midwives.
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF NURSE-MIDWIVES
(240) 485-1800
www.acnm.org
Natural hygiene is the practice of creating optimal conditions for the body and its constituent cells, tissues, and organs to pursue and sustain health. This means environmental purity of air, food, and water; a balanced primordial diet based on natural foods; and stress reduction and management. It precludes the use of most drugs, since they are antithetical to a modality that perceives illness to be due to inappropriate nutrition and toxic accumulations (drugs are usually toxic substances). Finally, it means a symbiotic relationship of all humankind and harmony with God and nature.
INTERNATIONAL NATURAL HYGIENE SOCIETY
www.naturalhygienesociety.org
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS
(866) 538-2267
www.naturopathic.org
Naturopathic physicians can treat most conditions. They are not, however, allowed to perform major surgery (although they can perform minor surgery). Their very extensive background is centered in the botanical sciences, including the use of herbs and tinctures with a wide variety of natural immune-stimulating properties. Becoming a doctor of naturopathic medicine requires four years of graduate-level study in the medical sciences. The accrediting agency is the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME).
The naturopath practices a natural form of health care whose traditions precede the advent of modern medicine. In this the naturopath resembles the traditional Tibetan physician, who must be able to identify nearly one thousand different healing herbs, mineral sources, and animal sources. The naturopath has years of extensive study in the healing potential of such substances. He or she is also able to understand muscular and skeletal bodily adjustment. Naturopaths use a much broader basis for diagnosis than do conventional allopathic physicians.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS
(866) 538-2267
www.naturopathic.org
AMERICAN NATUROPATHIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(888) 202-4440
www.anma.com
Orthomolecular medicine is an alternative approach to mental and physical health whose goal is to identify and treat the root cause of disease. The objective is to balance and rebuild the whole body, not merely to mask or suppress symptoms. To do this, orthomolecular physicians try to establish equilibrium among the essential nutrients that may be lacking, present in excess, or are being poorly absorbed. Orthomolecular physicians are conventionally trained medical doctors who feel that such an imbalance is often responsible for psychiatric as well as physical disorders.
The physician looks at diet, glandular function, glucose metabolism, and a host of other biochemical factors that may play a role in the patient’s mental health. Imbalances in the body are corrected through judicious use of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other naturally occurring nutrients. Orthomolecular physicians frequently use a very high-dose vitamin regimen.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR ORTHOMOLECULAR MEDICINE
(416) 733-2117
www.orthomed.org
ORTHOMOLECULAR DEVELOPMENT
(316) 682-3100
www.orthomolecular.org
Polarity therapy is based on the belief that any stagnation or stopping of the natural flow of energy in the human body is the underlying cause of disease. The naturally occurring positive and negative energy fields of the body are in a polarity relationship with each other. However, when the energy is blocked, it turns neutral, and the surrounding tissues stagnate and become painful.
Practitioners use light forms of touch, gentle manipulation, and techniques such as rocking to restore the flow of energy, relieving stress and pain and encouraging healing.
Polarity therapy is particularly useful for depression, anxiety, fatigue, headaches, fibromyalgia, and other conditions involving emotional blockages. Standards of practice and a code of ethics are established by the American Polarity Therapy Association.
AMERICAN POLARITY THERAPY ASSOCIATION
(336) 574-1121
www.polaritytherapy.org
The Chinese phrase qi gong means “air” (considered the vital essence) and “work.” This traditional Asian practice utilizes aerobic exercise, meditation, relaxation techniques, and isometrics to control the vital energy of the body in the most efficient way. Like many Chinese practices, it emphasizes the unity of mind, spirit, and world.
The central practice is a combination of breathing, movement, and shallow meditation, in which the person is aware of what is going on but in a tranquil state in which positive images flow quietly through a relaxed mind. Once the person is in this state, the flow of the qi through the body is stimulated. This unobstructed flow will heal sickness or increase an existing sense of wellness.
QI GONG ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
(888) 9-QIGONG
www.qi.org
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ACUPUNCTURE AND ORIENTAL MEDICINE
(866) 455-7999
www.aaaomonline.org
Reflexology is based on the principle that people have reflex areas in their feet that correspond to every part of the body. The locations of the reflex points on the foot correspond to the way the organs and glands are distributed within the body. Massaging these specific areas on the feet thus helps to improve the functioning of particular organs and glands.
For example, the toes reflect the head area, the ball of the foot represents the chest area, and so on. The practitioner presses his or her fingers into the foot, using a variety of techniques, to massage and relax ill or stressed parts of the body.
REFLEXOLOGY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
(980) 234-0159
www.reflexology-usa.org
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF REFLEXOLOGISTS
www.icr-reflexology.org
Reiki is a type of massage therapy or bodywork in which pressure-point techniques are used to move energy through the body in order to create balance and harmony. The practice, Japanese in origin, teaches the student to attain an attunement with the universal energy.
Whereas many Asian techniques involve learning a discipline to guide the flow of energy, in Reiki the student attains attunement from a Reiki Master, who transmits it during a ritual process. This single attunement can never be lost, although with further attunements one can move to a higher spiritual level. There are schools of Reiki with three levels or “degrees” of proficiency.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REIKI PROFESSIONALS
www.iarp.org
According to practitioners of Rolfing, pain is caused by chronic shortenings in the tissue. Correction of the pain can be accomplished by soft-tissue manipulation. This manipulation creates order in the body so that the client stands tall and free of restriction.
Rolfing is generally performed in a series of ten sessions, designed to address all the shortenings in the structure systematically. Each session works in a different area. The basic goal of Rolfing is not pain relief per se; still it has been found useful for TMJ, frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, chronic hip problems, sciatica, cervical neuropathies, and knee, foot, and ankle problems.
The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration certifies Rolfers.
ROLF INSTITUTE OF STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION
(303) 449-5903
www.rolf.org
Therapeutic Touch represents a reinvigoration of the old process of the laying on of hands, whereby the subtle touch of a healer on the patient’s body will infuse her with positive energy. This therapy was originally developed by nurses and emphasizes the nurturing aspect of the practitioner.
A key ingredient of the practice is compassion for the patient being touched. Unlike most of the therapies reviewed here, this technique requires minimal training, which is why it is widely practiced by both professional medical practitioners and laypeople.
The Therapeutic Touch International Association is responsible for guidelines and curricula for teaching practitioners. There is no certification program.Therapeutic Touch can be practiced by nurses after a twelve-hour or minimum six-hour program.
THERAPEUTIC TOUCH INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(518) 325-1185
www.therapeutic-touch.org
Traditional Chinese medicine is based on ancient Taoist philosophy, which treats the whole person. The philosophy is that body and mind are one; there is no separation between the two. When qi, or universal energy, flows freely through the meridians, a person is healthy, but when qi is blocked or disrupted, the person develops pain or illness.
Practitioners begin by examining the patient to identify patterns of disharmony. They then prescribe herbal remedies based on these patterns.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ACUPUNCTURE AND ORIENTAL MEDICINE
(866) 455-7999
www.aaaomonline.org
According to the theory behind Trager technique, pain is caused when someone frequently tightens her muscles in movement and posture. To correct this, the practitioner uses gentle motions to increase the patient’s pleasure in the quality of her tissues and decrease the restriction and sense of holding. Gentleness is important, so that no message is sent to the body telling it that pain is on the way or that causes the patient to tighten up.
The movement reaches into the central nervous system to convey the sensations of pleasure, lengthening, softening, and opening to the tissues and joints. This practice is used to relieve lower back, neck, and upper back pain; sciatica; migraines; TMJ disorders; carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress disorders.
The Trager Institute offers information, training, and certification in the Trager approach.
UNITED STATES TRAGER ASSOCIATION
(440) 834-0308
www.tragerus.org
TRAGER INTERNATIONAL
www.trager.com
Yoga is a system of mental and physical exercise. It combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation. Studies have shown that yoga can help improve overall health and prevent and/or manage many conditions and diseases. Among other things, it has been proven to reduce stress, improve metabolism, enhance blood flow, aid digestion, and manage menstrual problems. Various forms of yoga have become popular in the United States and Europe.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF YOGA THERAPISTS
(928) 541-0004
www.iayt.org