CRANIAL SACRAL THERAPY

Alternative Therapies with Life Changing Results

Can you imagine being free of pain? Free of the emotional scars of past trauma? When you’ve tried everything else, it’s time to try something new.
Cranial Sacral Therapy is a complementary therapy which enhances the central nervous system by encouraging the free flow of spinal fluid around the brain and down the spinal cord to the tailbone and back.The skull is made up of several bones which seem solid but actually have a natural rhythmic movement similar to a dock on a lake. If the bones cannot move at all, the entire body suffers out of sync as the bones grind and jar on each other.

Cranial Sacral Therapy complements the body’s natural healing process, bolsters the immune system and is helpful for headaches, stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, neck pain, TMJ, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia among many other ailments.

The treatment is painless and relaxing. As you lay fully dressed,the therapist softly touches pressure points on the skull, face and tailbone. The therapists’ intention is always to enhance the body’s natural state of health. CST enhances but does not replace medical treatment. Best results are found when several treatments are scheduled two weeks apart. Judy Fiddick is a Registered Massage Therapist in Nanton (403) 818-1514.

REIKI

Reiki is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), similar to the laying on of hands, which channels the universal life force or ki (chi) though the palms into a recipient. The healing energy is intended to open blockages in the body’s meridians and to restore energy to depleted areas of the body and aura. This holistic therapy can bring about healing on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels.

Developed in 1922 by Mikao Usi in Japan, reiki teachings claim that this “healing energy” is an inexhaustible, universal "life force". Anyone can tap into this spiritual energy which restores our perfect self, reminding each cell of its’ God given perfection and induces a healing effect.

A typical Reiki treatment lasts from 45 to 90 minutes with the recipient lying on a massage table wearing loose, comfortable clothing. The practitioner places her hands either on the recipient or a few inches above the body in various positions. The practitioner allows the energy to be drawn through them into the recipients body for the purpose of healing an injury or restoring vitality. Recipients often feel warmth or tingling in the area being treated, even when a non-touching approach is being used. The Reiki treatment is said to be stimulating our natural healing processes. A state of deep relaxation, combined with a general feeling of well-being, is usually the most noticeable immediate effect of the treatment, although emotional releases can occur.

The teaching of Reiki is commonly divided into three levels:

Level I teaches the basic theories and procedures. Four "attunements" are given to the student by the teacher. Students learn the hand placement positions on the recipient's body that are thought to be most conducive to the process in a whole body treatment. Participants finish ready to treat themselves and others with Reiki.

Level II teaches the student to use more Japanese symbols which are said to enhance the strength and distance over which the effect can be exerted. Another attunement is given, which is said to further increase the capacity for Reiki to flow through the student, as well as empowering the use of the symbols. Having completed the second level, the student can work without being physically present with the recipient

Level III further attunes the student and passes on a master-level symbol. Upon completion, the new Reiki Master can attune other people to Reiki and teach the three degrees of Reiki.

Reiki can be used to complement conventional medicine but should not replace clinically proven treatments for serious conditions.

霊 気

Reiki Principles:

"The secret method of inviting good fortune. The marvelous medicine for all sickness. Just for today:

Do not be angry

Do not worry

Be grateful

Work with integrity

Be kind to others.

Goal Categories

You need to have goals in all of the following categories. Ideally life is balanced and fulfilled in all areas.

1. Social
2. Mental
3. Physical
4. Family
5. Career
6. Spiritual
7. Financial

Fear

FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real

Seven Steps of Goal Setting

1. Write down clearly identify goals
2. Date those goals with a deadline for achievement
3. Obstacles, identify them and how to overcome them
4. Associations / Groups
• That you need to be around or work with to help achieve these goals
5. Identify what you need to know.
• skills and knowledge required to achieve goals
  
6. Write a plan of action
7. List benefits
   

• Why do I want these goals?
• What’s in it for me?

Complementary Alternative Medicine

Canada’s health care system is starting to integrate complementary alternative therapies with modern medicine. Although not covered by Alberta Health, people are finding relief with these ‘New Age’ therapies:

Types of Alternative Therapy:

• Naturopathy
• Massage therapy
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Reiki
• Qigong
• Reflexology
• Homeopathy
• Shamanism
• Rolfing
• Alexander Technique
• Craniosacral Therapy
• Mind body stress reduction
• Ayurveda

Different things work for different people. At the very least, it’ll be a new experience. Who knows what’ll work for you.

The Association of Doctors Integrating Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) has three principles:

1. All healing therapies have validity
2. Prevention has equal weight as therapy.
3. Patient participation, empowerment, self-management

How to be a bad patient:

• Get many opinions
• Research the disease
• Try lots of therapies
• Get better

Where you put your mind, there goes your experience. Remember that the locust of control is inside you and around you.

URGENT: Never alter prescribed medication without the supervision of your family doctor. Never take herbal medication if on prescribed medication without consulting your physician.

The traditional view of the ‘doctor as expert’ can breed dependency, helplessness, blame and apathy on the part of the patient as well as resentment and burnout for the doctor. Therefore, share responsibility for your health with the Medical doctor.

An ideal complementary and integrative approach occurs when the patient's doctors know about the complementary care, agree that it will not be harmful, and continue to monitor the patient's progress while keeping an eye on the effects of both the complementary and the conventional therapies.

For example, someone with cancer who has acupuncture to help with the side effects of chemotherapy would be taking a complementary approach.

Physicians who practice integrative medicine focus on the whole person. And, just as they must keep abreast of current research in conventional medicine, they also review the latest research results for complementary therapies. This ensures that the treatments don't conflict with each other and don't cause any harm to the patient.

For any proposed CAM therapy, it is important to consider:

• Safety (appropriateness for particular conditions, producers' quality control for items such as herbal medicines, etc.)
• Effectiveness
• Cost in time and money in relation to potential benefit
  
• Credentials of the practitioner

DEPRESSION

Depression is a troublesome and sometimes incapacitating condition that affects more than one million Canadians a year. Sadness is a normal occurrence. Depression often has no identifiable trigger and can last anywhere from a week to two years. If unrecognized and untreated, it may look like a prolonged bad mood, stealing your energy and joy. Not knowing why you’re in a ‘bad mood’ spirals the symptoms with self degradation and deepens the depression. Many people coping with undiagnosed depression, are relieved to realize that they’re not bad people, they’re just depressed and there is help.

Signs and Symptoms of depression:

• Irritability & anger
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Weight gain
• Indifference to favorite activities
• Chronic Pain
• Hopelessness & pointlessness
  

Some types of depression:

• Seasonal Affected disorder
• Bipolar
• Postpartum
• Perimenopausal
  

Depression is not just in your head. It’s in your organs and glands which control the level of over 40 hormones in your body plus your immune system. Hormones impact our stress response, our happiness, healthiness, even sleepiness. Too much or too little of any particular hormone will change our mood and clarity. That’s why it’s important to discuss medical treatment with your doctor if depression is affecting your daily life.

Medical therapy:

• Psychiatry or counseling
• Medication
  

Complementary Alternative Therapy:

• Acupuncture to regulate hormones and reduce stress
• Massage to reduce stress and increase well being
• Tai Chi for exercise and meditation
• Light Therapy
  

Give high priority to learning to unwind and to let go after a stressful encounter. Holding onto resentments and negative feelings is proven to reduce our immune system, which is trying to keep us healthy. Perceiving a situation differently will actually cause a different hormonal response in the body. When you feel depressed, make an extra effort to do things that make you feel good even if it’s difficult to get yourself motivated. Socializing with friends and positive people will actually improve your immune response.

Activities to Increase Good Feelings:

• Exercise
• Volunteer
• Games
• Music / Funny movies
• Socialization
  

Research has recently identified inflammation (redness and swelling) as a precursor to depression. In fact, many anti-depressant medications actually include an anti-inflammatory agent. This is a major break through in understanding what triggers depression. Inflammation diseases include: Asthma, Allergies, gingivitis, Crohns & Ulcerative colitis. Inflammation also rises during the third trimester of pregnancy which commonly leads to postpartum depression.

You can reduce Inflammation by:

• Eating an anti-inflammatory diet rich in colourful vegetables and healthy fats found in olives, avocados, cold water fish.
• Supplementing with ultra-refined fish oil.
• Reducing sugar and preservatives especially MSG.
• Daily multi-vitamin rich in B vitamins.
• Following prescribed treatment, if applicable.

Depression can be healed with the help of your doctor and self care. There are many on-line sources of information and support.

References:

“Proinflammatory cytokines and negative emotions”

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, May, 2007 by Robert A. Anderson