Energy Medicine

Integrative Medicine

Energy Medicine

This is the second part of an article I have written addressing Integrative Medicine.  In part one, I provided an overview of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and identified Energy Medicine as one of the five categories. In this part, I will focus primarily on Energy Medicine and energy therapies, (also referred to as biofield therapies or modalities) a term used to identify any alternative or complementary treatment based on the use of modification and or manipulation of energy fields. Most energy therapies are based on the belief that matter and energy are not opposites, but that matter is just a denser from of energy itself.

In order to understand how energy therapies work, you must accept that subtle energies exist everywhere. What you can see, smell, touch, hear and taste is also built entirely upon these subtle energies.  Each cell within our bodies pulse electrically and the body emanates electromagnetic fields.  In essence, the human body is a complex energetic system!

Now that you are aware of the existence of subtle energies within all things, you can better appreciate that energy therapies work in the field located and utilized in or surrounding, affecting and emanating from the human body.

Energy therapies are one of the oldest forms of healing around the world and they involve the transfer of energy from the facilitator/healer to patient or client. It is important to note that the physical body is not the only body in the energy field.  

The National Institute of Health Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), classifies Reiki, for example, as a biofield modality. Many but not all biofield modalities (therapies) derive from eastern concepts of health and disease.

Some of the more popular energy therapies in the USA currently include:

Reiki (Dr. Usui)

·      Acupuncture/Acupressure

·      Qigong (pronounced: chi gong)

·      Polarity therapy (by Dr. Randolph Stone)

·      EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)

·      Donna Eden’s Energy Medicine

·      Craniosacral therapy

There are many energy therapies to choose from.  I personally believe the facilitator, the person who will be working with you, is more important than the modality. It is not absolutely essential that a good facilitator to be certified, however,  one should consider asking some important questions of their prospective facilitator, such as what influenced the facilitator to engage in energy therapy, and what is the facilitators experience with energy itself? Do they have a credible reputation and can they provide positive testimonials?

Integrative Therapies: Part 1

Integrative Medicine: Part 1

What is CAM?

CAM is an acronym for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Complementary usually refers to using a non-mainstream approach together with conventional medicine. And, alternative usually refers to using non-mainstream approach in place of conventional medicine.

Today in the USA, more healthcare practitioners and healthcare systems are offering integrative health care (another term to mean CAM) to patients in treatment and to help the patient manage their symptoms of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

I recognize there is a plethora of CAM therapies, but I find The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health definition useful because they organize many of alternative therapies into five categories.

·      Whole Medical systems: Homeopathy and Osteopathic medicine

·      Manipulative and Body-based practices: Acupuncture, acupressure, Alexander technique, aroma therapy, chiropractic, cranial-sacral therapy, Feldenkrais Method, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Massage, lymphatic therapy and dance therapy, physical therapy, Qi Gong, Shiatsu, trigger point therapy, neuromuscular therapy.

·      Mind Body Medicine: Art and color therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Hypnotherapy, guided imagery, meditation, music therapy, Neuro-linguistic therapy (NLP), stress management, psychotherapy, Yoga therapy.

·      Energy Medicine: Chi Kung Healing touch, Reiki, therapeutic touch, magnetic therapy and prayer, Touch for Health.

·      Biologically- Based Practices: Biofeedback, herbal therapy, hydrotherapy, nutritional counseling.

It’s good to keep in mind that some individual aforementioned practices can and do fit into one or more of the other categories detailed above.  You do not need to be ill or have a “dis-ease” to seek out one or more integrative therapies because some of these therapies are sought out to help promote wellness and personal development. I find that all integrative and alternative modalities can be highly effective, but I always inform my clients that all modalities heavily depend on the facilitator.

I come from a medical lineage on both sides of my family that practice both traditional and alternative medicine and I was no exception to following in one way or the other. I took an interest early on with working with cancer and elderly infirmed people. In the early 1990’s when I began working with Alzheimer patients, we obviously had little information about the disease and how to cope better with the sometimes reactive states Alzheimer's patients live. Reiki (hands-on technique), for example, was one modality that seemed to calm the patients when they had negative outburst or experienced disorientation. The same positive effects of a technique such as Reiki or other hands-on therapies occurred with cancer patients.

At the time I was living in Colorado Springs - Colorado, I was surprised to discover that Penrose, one of the major cancer centers and hospitals did not offer cancer patients (or any patients) integrative therapies. The same was for hospice care.  I encouraged a social worker at Penrose and together we created the first integrative therapies for Penrose Cancer Center. We offered Reiki, chair yoga, drumming, and already active, was a support group for cancer patients.  I personally offered Reiki and frequent presentations educating both patients and staff about Reiki and other hands-on techniques.

Since a modality like Reiki was new to most of the staff, nurses and doctors, it was not only educational for them to learn about different hands-on techniques, but to experience it for themselves. And clearly the patients gained great benefits from the integrative therapies offered.  Reiki, like many other therapies relieved the cancer patients from the negative side effects of chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries. It relieved physical nausea, pain and fatigue. It also helped them emotionally by alleviating stress, helped them cope with their fears and doubts, to name a few.

In the following weeks I will provide more information about Reiki and other integrative techniques. I will share some personal experiences that may help you understand more how to select criteria for choosing the right facilitator and modality for you. 

I welcome any questions or dialogue that you may have.

Be well,

Sandra

Business Wellness

If you are a business owner, your business is your lifeline to your quality of life and you need to consider every realistic and ethical advantage you can use to raise your quality of life inside and outside your business. 

At Front Range Support Services, Inc., we have learned that in order for individuals and companies to achieve and sustain peak performance, consideration must be given to the overall health and wellness of individuals and the company.  In working with clients nationwide, our experience has shown that the biggest single impediment to smart growth is the neglect of the health and wellness of principles and key staff. Creating and maintaining an environment conducive to the feeling of well-being contributes measurably to human flourishing and increased individual and smart company growth.

If your company is struggling to achieve sustained smart growth, we suggest you consider assessing the health and wellness of your company and how investing in wellness leadership can contribute observably and measurably to new business and increased sales.

 


Contribution from Stan Miller. For more information on business services from Front Range Support Services, Inc., please contact livingeudaimonia@gmail.com 

Q&A on Some Personal Characteristics of A Professional Coach

My clients periodically ask me questions. The following questions and answers regard some of the many personal characteristics that a professional coach possesses.

 

Client: What are some of the personal characteristics that are essential for the professional coach to have and how do they influence the coaching relationship? 

 

Coach Sandra: I find there are numerous personal characteristics that are essential for the professional coach. One characteristic I feel that is essential for a coach to have and is not mentioned often, unconditional acceptance independent of the client’s performance. One noted author and coach Mr. Stoltzfus refers to this characteristic as agape’.  Agape’ is Greek word meaning a love for humankind.  According to Mr. Stoltzfus, unconditional acceptance or agape’ is a shift in one’s attitude, piercing directly into the heart center so that we may imitate God/Spirit/higher self.  In other words the characteristic of agape’ is essential for the coach because agape is not merely hearing the client and jotting down notes while they talk, but listening with intuitive curiosity and for the love of knowing that person.

 

I remember reading about the psychologist Erich Fromm and his view on different types of love.  Fromm indicated that some of the essential elements to loving others are to have knowledge of them, meaning to see them from their point of view.  I always thought Fromm’s opinion about this particular aspect of love to be very insightful.  Although this concept may appear simple to some people, truly desiring to know another person can be a significant challenge because most people are typically disinterested.  Therefore, the characteristic of agape’ supports the coaching relationship because listening and withholding judgment is a compelling way to love people.  Coaching relationships have special boundaries that free the coach to offer this kind of unconditional belief and support.  How does all of this influence the coaching relationship? The client feels and knows they are the main focus while the coach is their support system.  The power of agape, as Stoltzfus (2005) states, transforms people’s lives.

 

Another essential characteristic for the professional coach is authenticity. I think this quality is important because if the coach is not authentic, the client will definitely detect this falsehood and it will jeopardize the coaching relationship.

 

It is a powerful thing when the coach, or any person, can bring their true self to the forefront and not be afraid to be imperfect.  Clients need to know that coaches are relating to them, and to their stories. The authentic support that a coach can provide his or her client influences the client to trust and bond.

What is your Definition of Wellness?

There are many dimensions to wellness and most people associate it with pampering oneself (manicure, spa day or massage). However, wellness has many dimensions that go beyond a day at the spa. 

Wellness is an attitude; a way of being regardless of a bad day at work or challenging situations one is enduring. Wellness is a constant companion that reminds us to love ourselves. This is one way to view wellness. What is your definition of wellness?