Treatments That Helped Me Heal
Below are treatments and techniques that have proven beneficial to my healing.
ACUPUNCTURE
I am including acupuncture not because it provided great results for me, but rather for the healing benefits I know it has brought to others. I tried acupuncture a couple of times and my body did not respond well...I think it was just too difficult for my body to comfortably move the energy that needed to be moved due to toxic overload. I am thinking of giving it another try now that I have been eating detox foods for quite a while.
Here's what I know about acupuncture: it is a technique of inserting tiny thread-like needles along the meridian lines/pressure points of the body. These points are grouped along specific pathways or meridians that cross the body. As long as the energy flows freely through these pathways, health is maintained. When the flow of energy is either absent, deficient, interrupted, excessive or blocked in an area, health is disrupted, resulting in illness or pain. By stimulating appropriate acupuncture points along these meridians, the energy is released and regulated, and health can be restored. There are alternative methods that do not require use of needles, including low-level laser, low electrical frequency instrument and finger pressure, all which stimulate acu-points.
If you have "tried it all" with no success this is certainly an option to consider. The World Health Organization has approved acupuncture for treatment of headaches, migraines, pain, PMS, depression, anxiety, insomnia, allergy, muscle strains and sprains, constipation, I.B.S., Crohn’s disease to name a few.
To find a qualified practitioner in your area :
www.nccaom.org (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine)
HEALTHY BREATHING
"The simplest and most powerful technique for protecting your health
is absolutely free, and literally right under your nose."
- Andrew Weil, MD
One of the greatest gifts bestowed upon us by the Creator is breath. Not only does it sustain life, but our breath can enhance our life experience by helping to calm the body and mind, release negative energy, as well as energize us. Pretty amazing!
Though most of us spend very little time thinking about breathing...it is just something we do automatically and doesn't require much thought...you might be surprised to learn that many of us don’t breathe correctly! Improper breathing can lead to, or exasperate, illness.
Take a moment and pay attention to how you are breathing right now – are your breaths short and shallow, or deep and slow? When you breathe in is your chest expanding outward, or does your breath fill your abdomen? Many of us take short, shallow breaths which can lead to over-breathing, creating a disturbance of the oxygen/carbon dioxide ratio in the lungs, ultimately leading to a variety of metabolic and chemical imbalances in the body. Proper breathing involves deep, slow breaths in which the abdominal area expands, enabling the lungs to fill to greater capacity. When we breathe correctly our bodies are properly oxygenated creating an environment conducive to a better state of energy, and at the same time relaxation.
When combined with visualization breath work can help to release negative thoughts, emotions, and blocks. See the exercise below for how I use this combination to bring balance and harmony to my body and mind.
PS: Before the advent of the internet and Your Tube (yes, life actually existed before these things! lol) I came across a CD by Ken Cohen, A Beginners Guide to Healthy Breathing, which was very helpful in guiding me to more healthful breathing. www.amazon.com/Healthy-Breathing-Ken-Cohen/.
CRANIO SACRAL THERAPY
Like most treatments and techniques, finding the right practitioner is the key to a successful experience. I have been blessed to work with a wonderful practitioner (see below) who has used Cranio Sacral to help move blocked energy in my body...and this work has been a key piece of the puzzle for me.
What is CranioSacral Therapy? It is a gentle, hands-on method of enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the cranio-sacral system. This system consists of the membranes and cerebro-spinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, extending from the bones of the skull, face and mouth down to the tailbone area. The role of this system in the development and performance of the brain and spinal cord is so vital that an imbalance or dysfunction in it can cause sensory, motor and/or neurological disabilities. Using a soft touch, practitioners release restrictions in the cranio-sacral system to improve functioning of the central nervous system.
Benefits to the body can include enhanced overall health and resistance to disease as well as alleviating a wide range of specific medical conditions. It can be particularly beneficial to those suffering chronic symptoms as well as head, neck and back injuries, insomnia, fatigue, headaches, poor digestion, anxiety, TMJ, vertigo, autism, dyslexia and many more.
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) was developed by Dr. John E. Upledger, who in 1985 founded the Upledger Institute in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. For more information and/or to find a practitioner in your area: www.upledger.com.
PERSONAL NOTE: I have had the blessing of working with an amazing Cranio Sacral therapist, Charlene McLachlan, who I thank for sharing this photo. You can reach Charlene at
407-415-0482.
EFT/TAPPING TECHNIQUE
Today it is most often called tapping, but the original technique was known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and is based on the principles of Chinese acupuncture. This has been an extremely useful tool, especially when I am coping with difficult symptoms as well as the emotional repercussions of living with a chronic illness.
While tapping on acupressure points and verbally addressing the symptoms/emotions one can help to clear energy blocks that develop from painful experiences, stress, physical pain and get stuck in the body. This energy can cause disruption or blockage in the body's energy system and manifest in physical disease or emotional stress so having a tool to release these blocks can be a great healing tool. Tapping can have long lasting effects in releasing fear, anger, phobias, grief, trauma, anxiety, and other restricting and unhealthy emotions. When you clear the disruption/block, you can have physical and "emotional freedom."
The great thing about tapping is it's something you can learn to do yourself, though for deeper and potentially more effective results you can work with an experienced practitioner.
Click here to learn more about Tapping, Tapping Points and Video Instructions
DETOXIFICATION
Whether your goal is to maintain good health, or as part of a program to improve your health, detoxification can be an important component in keeping your body strong and balanced. While it is impossible to avoid all toxins as they are everywhere, from the food we eat to our environment...limiting exposure will help to support the liver, the body's detoxification system. The challenge is harmful pesticides and toxins are everywhere, and the body can easily become overwhelmed - creating an environment where disease and illness can set in. This is in part because once in the body toxins can remain stored in fat and tissues indefinitely. When the body is overwhelmed this can create "toxic overload" and the body is no longer able to move and pass toxins. Symptoms of toxic overload can be varied, but include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, digestive disorders, as well as an increased sensitivity to foods, fragrances, chemicals, etc.
Chemical Sensitivity, also known as MCO (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity), has been a serious challenge for me, but detoxing with foods has had a profound impact on my healing. It doesn't happen overnight, and requires dedication and commitment, but the improvements I've experienced make it worth it.
There are many ways to detoxify, health food store shelves are filled with a variety of products. And many people can use these products successfully. But for other sensitive beings, like me, detoxing can be a real challenge. Below you will find a link to an article about detoxification and foods that can help the body to detox, along with are a few other tips.
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MEDITATION
Meditation was not easy for me. Before my illness I was very high energy and sitting still was never my thing. So one would think when I was struck with a fatiguing illness it would be natural for me to do so. But exhaustion can make even sitting quietly and being present a chore...so learning to "meditate" was quite a challenge. But through the years I have practiced and worked at it, and have been able to benefit from the power of meditation. I almost hesitate to use this word though because for many it can conjure up a specific practice, like sitting cross-legged on the floor, wearing certain types of clothing, etc. To me meditation is learning to be fully in the present moment (which means you have to shoo away all those pesky thoughts that want to run through your mind), to relax the body and mind, and just be. You don't have to do this for hours...just a few minutes a day of connecting with your inner self can produce amazing result.s Connecting with your inner voice is a very powerful experience, there is not better guide for your life journey than accessing your true self.
In addition calming the mind provides numerous health benefits including reduced anxiety, pain, depression and insomnia. Studies indicate that meditation, along with diet and exercise, can offer health benefits such as:
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Heart: Can reduce buildup of plaque in coronary arteries.
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Pain: Has been shown to reduce the brain’s reaction to pain.
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Blood Pressure: Can improve vascular function and lower blood pressure.
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Breast Cancer: Can produce higher levels of immune cells that combat tumors
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in the breast.
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Immune System: Helps produce higher levels of antibodies against viruses.
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Premenstrual Syndrome: Can cause symptoms to subside.
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Menopause: Reduces intensity of flashes.
To Learn More About Medication & for Meditation Techniques, CLICK HERE: MEDITATION
MUSCLE TESTING
Everything is composed of energy: biological, chemical, and spiritual. Although you may not be able to see or feel it, even inanimate object emit energy. Some energy fields are compatible with one another, some have a neutral response, and yet others may be incompatible.
Exposure to incompatible energy fields can have a weakening impact on the body. For example, a food or substance you are allergic or sensitive to may actually be rooted in energy incompatibility. Continued exposure to incompatible energies can create imbalance in the body, leading to illness and disease. This is why it is so important to be aware of the impact everything you eat and are exposed to has on you. This includes the environment, food, and even other people! Avoiding weakening energies creates an environment for good health and healing.
Muscle testing, also known as Applied Kinesiology, is a useful technique that taps into your body's innate wisdom to help identify things that strengthen, and also weaken you. By tapping into to these energy signals you can make choices that will enhance your well being. I have personally used this form of testing for many years and find it to be an effective guide.
Dr. Darren Weissman, author of The Power of Infinite Love & Gratitude, describes muscle testing this way: "The body has an innate intelligence that can be assessed with this method to determine whether it's maintaining balance. Just like the autonomic nervous system, muscle testing is a polarity-dependent mechanism where a muscle will maintain its strength as long as there's a concurrency with the function, adaptability, and the survival of the entire organism. When there's incongruity, an indicator muscle will test weak. When a muscle locks out, it's an indication that whatever is being evaluated is congruent with the overall balance of the body. When the muscle gives way, it's a sign that what's being tested is in-congruent with this balance."
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Learn More About MUSCLE TESTING TECHNIQUES
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