Holistic is a term derived from the Greek word ‘holos’ which means ‘whole’. To me Holistic and Complementary therapies look at prevention rather than cure, by looking the whole picture. In Eastern medicine the concept of health is prevention.
In Eastern medicine the concept of diagnosis implies a moment to moment monitoring of the interactions between ‘health’ and ‘disease’ in the body. Your environment, diet, personality and genetics have a huge effect on why certain factors manifest physically. Why one person gets a back pain, can be very different to why another person gets back pain. By adjusting Diet, lifestyle and habits, many illnesses can be prevented or cured.
In Western medicine the concept of health care is cure.
In Western medicine the term ‘diagnosis’ generally refers to the identification of a disease after it has manifested. There are no tools to measure emotional and mental factors, therefore it is the treatment of symptoms instead of getting to the root of why the ailment has manifested in the first place.
Holistic Healing and Complementary therapies, offer a natural way to restore Optimum Health, through Self Awareness, leading to Self Confidence.
Some popular Holistic therapies and Complementary therapies are;
Reflexology – Addressing the effects of stress on the body
You may have seen this holistic therapy listed in your local beauty salon and thought it just a relaxing foot massage, but the difference between a foot massage and a holistic reflexology session is huge. One hour with an ITEC accredited Reflexologist will convince you of this. I like to look at Reflexology Massage as a preventative medicine. Regular treatments can deal with underlying niggling issues before they lead to the kind of serious health complaints that require hospitalisation. Both feet will tell you a lot about the person’s health as they correspond to different parts of the body.
Stress is the main area where Reflexology comes into its own. When a person is much stressed, it tends to be identified in the Adrenal glands of the foot, the Adrenal glands will feel indented, swollen or tender. The Adrenal glands are where the body produces and regulates the stress hormone cortisol. By working this area, this allows for release of the ‘build up’ of stress. Many of my clients have mentioned feeling a sense of warmth and an increase in their heart rate temporarily, as I have re-worked this area.
Expect to Feel:
Relaxed and aware of some changes in your body. Feelings of warmth, tingling and twitching are usually common. Make sure to relax after each treatment to maximise on the benefits of Reflexology.
Celebrity Fans Kate Moss and Elle Macpherson.
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Reiki – Best for Dealing with grief, anxiety or depression
If you have hit what Reiki Masters term an ‘emotional brick wall’ then you’ll understand the feelings of panic, anxiety and hopelessness that come as part of it. People visit me when they can’t seem to move past an emotion or trauma. Be it a breakup, loss of close family member or friend, stress in work, or lack of self-esteem.
These feelings come hand in hand with a physical ailment such as panic attacks or recurring pain. I have many people visiting me of all ages and circumstances, wanting to understand why they feel the way they do and how to let go of it.
Reiki works on an energetic and psychological level to help clear what is known as a ‘blockage. Using their own personal energy, the Reiki healer moves their hands up and down your body to release these energetic blockages and allow you to heal emotionally and often physically too.
It is important for the Reiki Healer to be experienced and aware of their own personal energy.
Expect to Feel:
Deeply relaxed. You may feel a variation of warmth and coolness, in different areas as the treatment progresses. Many people drift into a semi-conscious sleep state know as REM, (Rapid Eye Movement.) Afterwards you will feel rested, relaxed and energised.
Celebrity Fans: Angelina Jolie, Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow.
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Acupuncture – best for getting to the root of issues, such as skin issues.
There is a strong relationship with Stress and Troublesome Skin. Which is acknowledged by most Accredited Acupuncturists. They tend to feed each other, so dealing with one simply isn’t possible without dealing with another. Stress can manifest as in Chinese Medicine terms as heat, Liver Blood Deficiency or Wind in the body. These factors can accumulate due to mental or emotional stress, stimulants such as tea, coffee or alcohol, hot spicy foods and your constitution. The skin can appear to have redness, swelling or dry scaly patches such as that of Eczema and Psoriasis.
Acupuncture has been practised for centuries and involves restoring the flow of Qi (or life force) to avoid disease and illness. Like most people who’ve struggled with skin problems, you have probably tried most dermatological options, or visited specialists and doctors prescribing tablets and creams, with various potential side effects, it is probably only then, that you will try Acupuncture. The beauty of TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine, is that if the right diagnosis is made, the effects can be immediate. You don’t have to believe in the treatment for it to work and often we see amazing results when people have completely given up.
Celebrity Fans: J-Lo, Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani and Kim Kardashian (anti-aging benefits).