| First do no harm - Complementary Therapies in the NHS? |
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By Stan Giles RGN KFRP BTAA What is Health? ” Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity ” “ The cure of the part should not be attempted without treatment of the whole. No attempt should be made to cure the body without the soul and therefore, if the head and the body are to be healthy you must begin by curing the mind……for this is the greatest error of our day in the treatment of the human body, that physicians first separate the soul from the body.” To examine the nature of Health we must first think about what we are. What is a human being? What is the nature of Man? Is there a soul? What is consciousness? What is the body? And the answer is – we do not know the answer. Or rather we each have our own answer. We can speculate, argue and debate and arrive at many different conclusions – the mind and body are separate, the mind creates the body, the body is a lump of tissue and cells that is coordinated by the brain, the body is a physical space that the soul inhabits while on this earthly plane (Buddhist teaching), and so on. Western medicine generally applies the principle that the body is solid and a mass of cells and tissues that we can change with drugs and surgery. And this is true. Other cultures regard the body as an electromagnetic field – a matrix of energy which forms a human being. And this is true also. So what IS the body? Lets do some simple science. A body is made up of tissues and organs. Look a bit closer and we see that the organs are made up of cells. Closer still and we see that cells are made up of atoms. And what are atoms made of? Protons and electrons whizzing around – true. But – 99.999% of an atom is space. And if this is true – and it is – then we too are made up of space. We appear solid because of the vibrational frequency of the electrons and protons ie how they shake rattle and roll. The faster they vibrate the less solid we appear. Bone and muscle are slower vibration than blood, which in turn vibrates more slowly than our (invisible) electro magnetic field. The same principle applies in the kitchen. We take a lump of ice –H2O with slow vibration – heat it (thus increasing the molecular movement) and it becomes water. Heat it some more, the molecules become more agitated and the water becomes (invisible) steam. The electro magnetic field may be invisible but has been well demonstrated with the use of Kirlian photography. In Chinese medicine the electro magnetic pathways may be referred to as the (acupuncture) meridian system, and they have been mapped electrically and thermographically. Kirlian photography also shows how illness changes our energy field. In many cases our energy field changes before any physical manifestation of illness. So if we maintain a coherent and balanced energy field we are more likely to stay healthy and strong. On the other hand if we become unwell then restoring a strong and balanced energy field will promote healing. And this is where complementary therapies can help. When we talk about complementary therapy most people think of Reiki, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Acupuncture and so on. I am suggesting here that complementary therapy is ANYTHING YOU DO to maintain a strong and balanced energy field. This includes everything from taking the dog for a walk (fresh air, exercise and companionship), to getting an early night to let your body recover from the day’s exertions. It includes having healthy relationships, and a healthy diet. It includes having a job which you find fulfilling and having FUN. So we are all complementary therapists. But there are some techniques you can learn which, when skilfully applied, help us recover faster from illness. They work by restoring balance to our energy field and by releasing emotions which block the flow of energy in our bodies. These techniques also help us to achieve a higher level of functioning – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, so that not only do we avoid illness but we also can lead more fulfilling lives All illness is caused by stress – physical, mental, emotional, nutritional, social, spiritual and environmental. Stress depletes your life force. In China life force is called Chi, in Japan Ki, in India Prana. To stay healthy you must reduce your stress and increase your life force. Here are some suggestions. You are as healthy as your cells and the health of your cells depends upon good nutrition. Food today is less nutrient-dense than 50 years ago because the soil is depleted of minerals. At the same time we are stressing our bodies by introducing pesticide cocktails. The average person has more than 400 chemical pesticides, colourings, flavourings etc in her body. Thus we have a poorer quality of food yet have a greater toxic load. You can help to restore the balance by eating a varied organic fresh-food diet. Leave the fat-rich and sugar-rich chill-cook foods on the supermarket shelf. Go for fresh food and cook vegetables lightly (if at all). And drink plenty of clean water. Adding a supplement and avoiding aspartame (in diet drinks), sugar, and excess coffee or alcohol will also be of benefit. This is not rocket science, nor some whacky alternative lifestyle, but plain common sense. Reiki was discovered last century by Dr Mikao Usui. He discovered that there is a “universal energy” or life force –nowadays scientists call it the “zero point field” – which the practitioner learns to channel and use to assist healing of both physical and emotional issues. A session lasts about one hour and the client usually lies down fully clothed on a treatment couch. The Reiki practitioner channels healing through his/her hands sometimes in contact with the clients body and sometimes working in the energy field. Anyone who has enjoyed a Reiki healing will know how calming and relaxing it is. There are physical and emotional benefits to Reiki healing. Reiki is widely used in palliative care units, and now some more enlightened units have brought it into their medical and surgical wards. Therapeutic Touch is a similar technique and is now taught on some Nursing courses. For an account of my own experience with Reiki you can look at http://www.positivehealth.com/permit/Articles/Reiki/giles54.htm Reflexology has been used for thousands of years. Interestingly, modern reflexology practice follows research done in Europe and Britain by a physician, Dr William Fitzgerald. Again the treatment works by harmonising and balancing your body’s energy. Zones in the feet or the hands correspond to different areas of the body. In this holographic model of Man any one part represents the whole. By pressing on reflex points in the feet a practitioner can identify energy blocks and trouble spots and help to restore a healthy balance. Not only is this wonderfully relaxing, it also helps normalise all bodily functions and helps bring about homeostasis. You don’t need a qualification to give a patient a foot massage. One elderly lady I nursed was quite distressed at her inability to get a good night’s sleep. With her permission I massaged her feet for about 20 minutes. When I next looked in her room she was sound asleep – and was still sleeping at 7.30am when I went off duty despite the fact that all the other patients in the room were up and about and noisily washing themselves. Massage has been a part of Chinese health management for more than 4000 years. It is an integral part of the Ayurvedic approach in India, and was used in ancient Greece and Rome. There is extensive research on the benefit of massage in illness including cancer. Physiologically massage works on muscles ligaments and tendons, and improves the circulation of blood and lymph, thus promoting detoxification and elimination of waste. The skin also releases hormones and endorphins thus promoting a feeling of well-being. Babies who receive massage are healthier physically and emotionally, whilst touch deprivation creates withdrawn unhealthy children. Massage releases somatic emotion (emotion held in the body) thus promoting healthier emotional functioning. Could there be a connection between our diffident non-touching mentality and the large number of dysfunctional families? Traumatic and unresolved emotion blocks energy flow (see The Holotropic Mind). This manifests in impaired emotional and/or physical functioning. As we accumulate stresses and blocks we become unwell – some people physically others emotionally. By tapping on specific acupuncture points the blocked energy can be released quickly and easily. Sounds simple? It is. It is so easy you can learn it on the internet; for a free download visit www.emofree.com For a fuller understanding of EFT and a profoundly healing experience it is a good idea to do a course or workshop (you can contact me for details). Developed over the last 20 years EFT is one of the most potent techniques available for releasing emotional stress. It is commonly called the Fast Phobia Cure, but is effective in a wide range of emotional issues – fears, phobias, addictions, stress, anxiety, emotional trauma. I use it regularly on myself to deal with daily stresses as they arise, as well as with clients. I have used it to stunning effect for severe phobias – one lady with a debilitating spider phobia who was due to attend a psychiatrist for a desensitisation programme cleared her phobia in 15 minutes using EFT. It also helps to resolve many physical problems, and can be effective alone or as an adjunct in pain control. I have used the technique for pain control with a number of cancer patients who have reported benefit (one of whom who showed his wife how to do it and so cleared her headache). I have also used EFT in hospital with a patient admitted with self poisoning - or overdose. Using EFT he dispelled the trauma of the precipitating event in a few minutes. You can access hundreds of case histories from the website www.emofree.com Kinesiology is perhaps best known as a technique to identify food intolerances. It is so much more than that. Kinesiology looks at health from a totally holistic perspective. Illness is caused by stress - physical, electromagnetic, nutritional, emotional mental environmental and spiritual. A Kinesiologist helps identify stressors - eg past emotional trauma, or food sensitivity - and restore balance using appropriate techniques or education. In my own 3 year training we learned more than 300 health promoting healing Kinesiology techniques. They range from emotional release to acupressure, from energy balancing to muscle strengthening. We work extensively with people’s limiting beliefs which create low self esteem and an inability to create happy successful lives. Stresses are determined by muscle testing. Muscle tone changes under any kind of stress, physical or emotional and is widely used in America by many professionals including doctors dentists and chiropractors. Thus a Kinesiologist can determine the major stressors for a client and apply the appropriate remedy or technique. My own experience is eloquent testimony to the effectiveness of complementary therapies. In 1991 after 2 years of (largely ineffective) orthodox treatment for depression I recovered completely after just 2 sessions of Kinesiology. I wondered then, as I wonder now, why are people not informed of the effectiveness of these therapies? The NHS does a wonderful job in many cases. When I broke my leg I received excellent treatment including bone grafting pinning and plating of my tibia and fibula. But I also used complementary techniques to help my recovery (including taking the homeopathic remedy Arnica – a must for pre and post op patients). In the Book of Health there are many chapters. Orthodox western medical practice is only one of those chapters. If we really want to do the best for our patients, and especially if we want to empower them, we must inform them of the other chapters in the book and let them decide how they wish to be treated. Why not combine the best of all effective modalities and create a truly integrated approach to health care? Complementary Therapies are effective, they are cost-effective - - and they do no harm. Stan Giles is a Kinesiologist and a registered Touch for Health Instructor. He is a Reiki and Sekhem Practitioner, a Bowen Therapist and an NLP Practitioner. Stan has qualified as a Firewalk Instructor with Peggy Dylan, founder of the Sundoor Foundation for Transpersonal Education. He has certificates in Counselling and Nutrition. Stan also teaches Ananda Yoga and Meditation. Stan qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1976 and his nursing experience ranges from Intensive Care to Nursing Homes. He is a founder member of the Scottish Holistic Health Association, which promotes an integrated approach to Health. Stan has worked with clients in North and South America and in Europe. He has also worked with victims of war in Bosnia for Healing Hands Network. He sees clients privately as well as teaching various workshops in complementary therapy. He has instructed on the BSc (Nursing) Complementary Therapy module at Paisley University as well as providing staff support and presenting seminars and workshops for companies like BT, Debenhams and British Energy. With his partner Louise he runs Optimum Health, an information, treatment and training centre in East Kilbride, near Glasgow.His pursuit of excellence in healing, teaching, and spiritual development have taken him to places as diverse as America, Crete and Nepal, Italy, Cyprus and Peru, and even Brig o'Turk, Pittenweem and Stroud.
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