What is Reiki?
Why have Reiki therapy?
It is my belief that people come for Reiki therapy because they need to feel nurtured. They are attracted to Reiki, perhaps unconsciously, because imbalances or blockages in their energy field are manifesting themselves physically or mentally, and they need to be healed. There is something about the word ‘healing’ that is comforting and non-judgemental. Reiki provides a safe haven away from the world, a place where calm and stillness can once again be felt.
Many physical conditions arise as a result of long-term stress or poor attention to diet. And many of us take medication for a variety of illnesses because we don’t give ourselves time to reflect on the alternatives. While prescribed drugs can provide a quick fix solution, they cannot solve the long-term problem of unhappiness. We see many clients who take antidepressants instead of taking time out to relax and be healed from the inside. Over time Reiki treatment can create profound positive changes in body, mind and spirit. Similar treatments to these include The Lightning Process.
What conditions can Reiki treat?
Reiki can treat most illnesses and conditions under the majority of circumstances as it is non-invasive. It is safe to use on anyone of any age, including babies, children and the elderly. Reiki can also be used on animals, and even for distance healing.
Specific problems that Reiki can treat include heart conditions, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, M.E., ulcers, migraines and neck and back pain, as well as more general symptoms, such as tiredness and depression. It can aid the healing of injuries and broken bones and it can help top rebalance hormones and lessen the discomforts of pregnancy.
Reiki works on all levels can be useful in the treatment of predominately mental conditions, such as anxiety, phobias and insomnia. It can also help emotional conditions such as unhappiness, grief, loneliness and low self-esteem.
And finally, Reiki can also help us to find clarity of direction in terms of our spirituality, our vocation in life and our relationships.
What is massage?
Massage involves the therapeutic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body – the muscles and ligaments. The manual techniques involved also have an effect on the circulatory, lymphatic and nervous systems.
Therapists use massage to ease tensions and knotted tissue, to increase the circulation of the blood and to stimulate the lymphatic system. After an injury, massage is used to break down adhesions and rebuild strength and mobility. And as anyone who has experienced massage will attest, it is wonderfully relaxing.
What better way to treat yourself after a hard day coping with the stresses and strains of modern life than to ease them away through a relaxing, invigorating, or sensuous massage?
We do know that touch is generally beneficial and there is research that shows that massage can affect blood and lymph flow, reduce muscle tension and increase musculo-skeletal flexibility. There is also research that indicates massage can reduce anxiety. For premature babies and babies that have a low birth weight, a gentle form of massage can be of great benefit.
Massage can help with:
- Stress and stress related conditions such as insomnia, headaches, and backache due to muscle spasm
- High blood pressure
- Arthritic and rheumatic pain
- Mild symptoms of asthma
- Colds
- Constipation
- Mild depression
- Muscular strain and other sports injuries
- Sciatic pain
- Oedema
- Cramps
Massage is also a health promoting therapy, improving muscle tone, reducing muscular atrophy, helping people recuperate after illness. Some therapists claim regular massage will improve eyesight and hearing, and lessen signs of ageing. Massaging babies helps them to relax and can alleviate problems such as colic, constipation and colds.
Massage in health care
Here are a few examples of how massage is regularly used successfully within your health service:
- Patients with anorexia are offered massage to encourage a more positive body image
- Clinically depressed adolescents receiving a daily back massage feel less depressed and sleep better than those who relax watching videos
- Stressed-out city office workers who receive an ‘on-site’ 10-minute massage feel invigorated and relaxed afterwards
- People with cerebral palsy find abdominal massage an effective treatment for constipation
- Patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment who receive a 10-minute massage have less symptom distress, tension and tiredness and a greater sense of vitality and tranquillity than patients who rest for 10 minutes
Massage as therapy
Stress
Know strong link between stress and illness. Depresses immune system. Can reduce need for tranquillisers/alcohol.
Insomnia
Promotes deep, natural sleep.
Headaches/Migraine
Changes in BP in blood vessels leading to and from the brain. Muscle spasm puts pressure on vessels throughout neck and head. Massage helps relieve these problem areas.
Bereavement
Direct and powerful form of communication (where words are often inadequate). Safety valve for emotions.
Heart disease – with medical advice
Angina /post surgery. Peter Nixon, consultant cardiologist – ‘’The good masseur can create a relationship which shows the patient how to get well’’.
Varicosed veins – with care
Massage around veins relieves aching – legs feel lighter.
Rheumatism/Arthritis
Cancer – with medical advice
Massage can overcome isolation, express concern and sympathy, assist with pain relief.
Drug rehabilitation (also Anorexia Nervosa)
Often poor circulation with cold extremities. Massage can reinforce self esteem/respect for own bodies – promotes desire to get well. Antidepressant effect.
Slimming
Promotes positive body image, improves posture, pride in body, improves energy levels so an ‘upward spiral’.
Adjunct to exercise
Maintains muscles at peak of flexibility and strength.
Pre-exercise/ performance: clears/ relaxes mind, tense muscles using more oxygen and releasing more waste products, concentrate on tense areas, using fast kneading/pummelling techniques to increase circulation.
Post-exercise/performance: Build up of waste products causing stiffness and pain. Lymph system takes several days to clear, massage speeds their elimination.
What is reflexology?
Reflexologists consider that all parts of the body are connected by subtle energy, which flows down the body from the head to the feet through 10 zones (sometimes called channels or vessels). When there is illness or discomfort the channels become blocked and the flow of energy is disturbed. Working on the hands and/or feet unblocks the channels, allows energy to flow and restores the balance all of which relaxes the body, enhances the circulation and relieves the uncomfortable symptoms.
Relief can be almost immediate, but long standing conditions may take some time to heal, since healing begins on a deeper level. Reflexologists believe the body heals itself from the inside to the outside. If symptoms have been suppressed by medical treatment they may return briefly in the order in which they were suppressed, which is why symptoms sometimes become worse for a while after the first few treatments.
How reflexology works
Reflexology is a holistic complementary therapy. Its purpose is to treat the whole person rather than a symptom, on the grounds that a symptom such as pain or a skin rash is usually a sign of an internal problem. Eliminating the symptom without solving the problem that caused it would be like trying to cure muscles by painting over the spots. In addition, working exclusively on one part of the body may get the energy moving in that area, only to have it stagnate somewhere else. The patient may end up feeling worse rather than better. So a reflexologist normally starts by working on the entire foot in order to treat the entire person, before homing in on an area that requires extra help.
Anyone who has had a reflexology treatment should drink plenty of water afterwards. Reflexology enhances circulation and the nerve supply to all organs so there is a balancing affect – which reflexologists call restoration of ‘homeostatis’, the bodies equilibrium. Treatment may stimulate the body to release any stored toxins, which could cause headaches or nausea. Drinking plenty of water helps the kidneys work efficiently and flushes any waste products through and out of the body.
Benefits of reflexology
Reflexology has been used to treat a number of common ailments including back pain, digestive problems, migraine, menstrual problems, sinus problems and general stress and tension. It has also been used for more serious ailments such as heart disorders and multiple sclerosis. It is also thought that a reflexologist can sometime detect an impending illness and give preventative treatment, if appropriate, or advise the patient to see a specialist. By having regular treatment, perhaps every month or so, good health may be maintained and early warning signs spotted.
