Complementary Therapies

There are now many complementary therapies available to the general public, but the ones available at The Centre will depend on which therapists are volunteering there at any specific time. Many therapies offer similar benefits so keeping an open mind, and being willing to try out the therapy available to you at the time you are able to attend The Centre, may introduce you to an effective treatment you have not experienced before.

In all cases you will need to provide what is known as a "case history" to your therapist before the first treatment takes place. This will help them to tailor their treatment to your particular requirements.

It is a good idea to keep in mind that, depending on your problem, you may only need a few sessions before you feel better or it may take several sessions to get to the root of your problem. You may find that a chronic condition takes longer to respond to treatment. In many cases you may find that your pain or your condition worsens a little before it improves. This is totally expected ,and is in fact showing that the treatment is having the desired effect. Because of this do not give up after only one or two sessions. The benefits of treatment have an accumulative effect.

Complementary therapies that are offered at The Centre at any one time may include:

Massage is the ancient art of touch. Therapeutic massage aims to promote well-being and physical and mental relaxation by use of techniques such as stroking, kneading and pressing the soft tissues of the body. There are many different types of western massage, from gentle manual lymphatic drainage to Swedish techniques and the deep-tissue work of sports massage. Massage techniques from the East include Chinese tuina, Japanese Shiatsu (see below) and Ayurvedic massage from India.

Gentle massage involves the stimulation of nerve endings in the skin which trigger the release of endorphins in the brain. These are the body's own natural "painkillers". Deeper massage acts on the circulation to supply more oxygen and nutrients to body tissues, improve skin tone and encourages the lymphatic system to carry away waste products that can cause pain and stiffness in muscles and joints.

Massage is recommended for pain relief, anxiety, stress-related conditions such as insomnia and headaches, muscle and joint disorders such as arthritis and back pain, high blood pressure, digestive disorders such as constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

This treatment does require the removal of most of the clothing so may not suit everybody. The massage therapist is trained to respect their clients' modesty and wide use is made of towel draping to expose only those parts of the body they are working on at any given time. A light vegetable oil, such as sweet almond oil, is generally used to facilitate the movement of the therapist's hands over the body. A full body massage lasts about an hour and takes place on a massage table. Therapists will use cushions and towels to ensure that you are comfortable. As with all complementary therapies the practitioner will ask questions about your current health problems, medical history and lifestyle at the initial session.

Lymphatic drainage is a form of massage which uses gentle, light, rhythmic strokes to expel toxins and drain excess fluid from the lymph ducts. It is used for cases of fluid retention, can help to strengthen the immune system, is deeply relaxing, minimises or reduces stretch marks and can help to improve many chronic conditions such as sinusitis, rheumatoid arthritis, acne and other skin conditions. Conditions such as tired puffy eyes, swollen ankles and swollen legs due to pregnancy can be helped with lymphatic drainage. As with all complementary therapies the practitioner will ask questions about your current health problems, medical history and lifestyle at the initial session.

Reflexology is based on the principle that certain points on the feet and hands, called reflexes, correspond to various parts of the body. By applying pressure to these in a systematic way a reflexologist can help to release tension, encourage energy flow and act as a catalyst for the body's natural healing processes.

A reflexologist does not diagnose or claim to cure specific diseases, but there are many conditions that can benefit from treatment including sinusitis, migraine, digestive problems (such as IBS), stress-related disorders, anxiety, PMS, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menopausal symptoms and many types of pain - back, neck, sciatica, etc . There has also been some recent research evidence to suggest that reflexology can be helpful for infertility and multiple sclerosis. New mothers also use it to help their bodies recover after childbirth. Any condition where there is a hormonal imbalance can also be treated with reflexology.

Reflexology does not require the removal of any clothing apart from footwear. Therapists will use cushions and towels to ensure that you are comfortable. This helps to create a relaxing space for the client who need not be disturbed or turned over once the treatment has begun. Many people like to listen to relaxing music during a reflexology treatment and some may even fall asleep! As with all complementary therapies the practitioner will ask questions about your current health problems, medical history and lifestyle at the initial session.

As with all complementary medicines and therapies the practitioner will ask questions about your current health problems, medical history and lifestyle at the initial session, but in homeopathy this questioning will go deeper. You will also be asked about your moods, likes and dislikes and other aspects of your personality. The initial consultation can take 60 - 90 minutes as it is important for the homeopath to find out as much as possible about you and the type of person you are.

The basic principle of homeopathy is that of 'like cures like'. The symptoms of disease are thought to be signs that our body systems are trying to deal with some internal imbalance. Homeopathy aims to support this natural healing process. Homeopathic remedies are not prescribed to suppress the symptoms of the particular disease, but because they would, in normal quantities , produce similar effects to the disease or symptoms a person has. A 'normal quantity' is not what is prescribed however, but a 'minimum dose' which means that the remedy has been diluted many times (sometimes thousands of times) until there is no detectable trace of the original substance left. Homeopaths believe that the greater the dilution, the more 'potent' (or precise and active) the remedy.

As everybody is different the same remedy will not necessarily help everyone with the same ailment. Homeopathy treats the person, not the disease. This is why it is vital for the homeopath to match the remedy to the person, and why they need to find out so much about each person who comes to them for treatment. The questioning at the initial consultation is a 'constitutional diagnosis', and it is as a result of this close questioning that the homeopath can identify your constitutional remedy.

Conditions suitable for treatment with homeopathic remedies include hay fever, eczema, asthma, migraine, PMS, anxiety and many others.

NLP coaching uses the tools of both Life Coaching and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to help those who have become stuck in their thinking about problems. NLP coaching helps to find solutions to these problems by enabling people to think outside of the box and look at their problems in new ways. This can lead to increased motivation; dealing with confrontation; managing anger; challenging negative thinking; improving relationships; breaking compulsions and bad habits; overcoming panic and anxiety attacks; eliminating fears and phobias and reframing negative experiences.

NLP coaching can help with a variety of issues including handling stress; career changes; breaking compulsions and habits; developing confidence in all areas of your life; overcoming health issues and many more.

Kinesiology is a method of manual muscle testing to diagnose 'imbalances' in the body. It draws on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. according to kinesiologists muscles, organs and glands are connected by a network of pathways that include the nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems as well as the meridians used by acupuncturists. Disease is said to result when 'energy channels' are blocked or imbalanced. Injuries, illness or a 'toxic overload' (caused by environmental pollution, or a diet high in refined and processed foods) are thought to disrupt a particular pathway and 'turn off' or 'unlock' the associated muscle. There are about 50 forms of kinesiology but all use the basic muscle testing principle. As with all complementary therapies the practitioner will ask questions about your current health problems, medical history and lifestyle at the initial session.

Each meridian has related muscles and organs of the body. Using various techniques including acupressure, gentle massage and other forms of 'corrections' the whole network of meridians can be 're-balanced' facilitating the body's self-healing processes. Kinesiology is said to increase energy, prevent illness, improve posture, relieve physical pain and tension, release emotions and help people to manage stress, and to enhance brain function and coordination. Kinesiology can be used to treat low back pain, headaches, migraine, eczema, asthma, PMS, IBS, menopause problems, dyslexia, food intolerances, chronic fatigue and behavioural problems.

Indian head massage is based on the Ayurvedic system of healing which has been practiced in India for over a thousand years. The aim of Indian head massage is to release the stress that has accumulated in the tissues, muscles and joints of the head, face, neck and shoulders.

The client does not need to remove any clothing and sits in a massage chair for the treatment. The therapist uses a range of different movements including application of deep kneading and compression movements over the upper back, neck, shoulder, upper arms and scalp areas. In addition, the therapist will also gently stimulate and stroke pressure points on the face. Indian head massage helps increase joint mobility and flexibility in the neck and shoulders, improves blood circulation and lymphatic flow, frees knots of muscular tension, relaxes connective tissue, and aids in the elimination of accumulated toxins and waste products.

Indian head massage is especially good for relieving stress, tension, fatigue, insomnia, headaches, migraine and sinusitis. Clients report that the experience is deeply calming and relaxing, leaving them feeling energised and revitalised and better able to concentrate. Following a treatment some clients experience tiredness, dizziness, an increased desire to urinate or aching muscles. All of these side effects usually last for no more than a few hours, after which clients generally experience increased energy and alertness.

As with all complementary therapies the practitioner will ask questions about your current health problems, medical history and lifestyle at the initial session.

Shiatsu means "finger pressure" in Japanese, and working on the same principles as acupuncture, practitioners apply pressure to key points on the surface of the body. These points are known as "tsubos" and lie along invisible channels beneath the skin known as meridians. In working the tsubos with their fingers, thumbs, elbows, knees and feet, Shiatsu practitioners are stimulating the flow of energy (ki in Japanese or "chi" in Chinese) along these channels, removing energy blockages and restoring the body to a balanced state. A shiatsu session also involves gentle stretching, squeezing and twisting of various parts of the body to release energy flow before working directly on the tsubos.

Shiatsu can be used for a wide range of health problems including headaches, depression, fatigue, anxiety or any stress-related conditions, digestive disorders, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, catarrh, back pain, painful menstruation, sports injuries and circulatory problems.

The treatment is carried out through the clothes (preferably loose cotton clothing) with the client being treated on a mat or futon on the floor. The whole session usually lasts about an hour. As with all complementary therapies the practitioner will ask questions about your current health problems, medical history and lifestyle before the initial session, but will also use traditional methods of diagnosis: observing your appearance, posture and movements and listening to your voice and other diagnostic procedures.

Hypnosis happens when you are in a relaxed state much like daydreaming. In this state your mind is more open to suggestion. Hypnosis bypasses the conscious mind, allowing direct communication with the unconscious. Hynotherapists induce a hypnotic trance by using techniques to help you relax such as talking you through tensing and releasing different muscles as you lie on a couch. They may take this relaxation further by helping you to visualise walking down a flight of stairs, or going down in a lift. Once you are in a light to medium trance state, the hypnotherapist will talk to your unconscious mind.

Hypnotherapy is said to be useful for habit problems like smoking, compulsive eating, bedwetting in children and nail-biting or other problems such as skin problems, IBS, migraine, phobias, panic attacks, fear of flying, lack of confidence and pain relief (e.g. migraine, arthritis). It can also help with stress contributing to illnesses such as asthma. As with all complementary therapies the practitioner will ask questions about your current health problems, medical history and lifestyle at the initial session.

A trained craniosacral therapist is aware of subtle rhythms or waves within a person's body by gently using their hands to sense them. We are not normally aware of these tiny movements ourselves, but illness or pain (perhaps from an injury or chronic condition such as arthritis) can interrupt the normal flow of these rhythms. By using a very light touch the craniosacral therapist encourage the body to re-balance and heal itself.

Craniosacral Therapy can be used to treat many of the conditions that might normally be treated by massage - such as back or neck pain, injuries, sciatica - or conditions such as arthritis, digestive problems, depression and stress-related illnesses, where a light touch may be especially welcome. Other chronic conditions such as Fibromyalgia or M E may also be suitable for treatment because the widespread pain that often is part of these syndromes will respond well to a gentle approach. Although gentle, craniosacral therapy is a highly effective treatment, and profoundly relaxing to experience.

The treatment is carried out through the clothes with the client lying comfortably on a treatment couch. A guided body awareness relaxation exercise is often used at the beginning of the treatment to help relax and settle the client. The whole session usually lasts about an hour. As with all complementary therapies the practitioner will ask questions about your current health problems, medical history and lifestyle at the initial session .

Zero Balancing is a therapy that uses touch to focus on the relationship between energy and structure within the body. It works with the interface between the structure of the bones, joints and soft tissues and the energy flowing through our skeletal system. Specific finger pressures and held stretches, known as 'fulcrums' are used on particular joints which have more to do with the transmission of energy rather than movement. These joints are themselves limited in their range of motion. The holds and finger pressures used on the bones and joints create repeated points of stillness around which the body can relax and reorganise. These points of stillness enable the release of tension, and offer the client the opportunity to let go of pain.

As with craniosacral therapy zero balancing is a gentle, but deeply relaxing treatment. It is effective in improving body functioning of all kinds, relieving pain and releasing held tensions. Zero balancing is often acceptable to people who find other forms of bodywork too intrusive or robust.

Zero balancing can help with stress or periods of change as well as help to resolve past trauma, whether physical or emotional. As with all complementary therapies the practitioner will ask questions about your current health problems, medical history and lifestyle at the initial session.

Send mail to lizf@mirasol.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2006 The Quiet Mind Centre Last modified: 09/05/07

Send mail to lizf@mirasol.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2006 The Quiet Mind Centre
Last modified: 09/05/07