Life Medicine

Recently I received further conformation of the effectiveness of a breathing/visualisation technique that I give to clients experiencing acid reflux.  These clients have found the technique to be completely effective.

The technique uses abdominal breathing (breathing with the diaphragm rather than intercostal muscles) and visualisation:

• While breathing in, visualise the diaphragm pushing the stomach down and away from the chest.
• Then while breathing out visualise the diaphragm relaxing, releasing its hold on the oesophagus, and rising back up into the chest leaving the stomach behind.  Visualising space between the stomach and diaphragm.
• Repeat exercise, taking deep but relaxed abdominal breaths for as long as feels appropriate

The breathing coupled with the visualisation should reduce the upwards pressure upon the stomach created by abdominal pressure because of poor posture, over weight, over eating, stress and tension, etc.

Clients have found that the technique gives them almost immediate relief and when repeated on occasion find no re-occurrence of discomfort.  They also report the exercise is best done lying down.

I’ve just finished my course in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy and I now have to prepare for my final exam in a couple of weeks. Now that I’ve finished I can reflect on just how much I’ve learnt over the last 8 months.

The course was both theoretical and practical. We developed a solid understanding of the theory and process of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This involved lectures, demonstrations and experiential work. A lot of the course involved therapeutic work outside the trance state.

As the course developed we learnt how to integrate our hypnotherapeutic techniques effectively and apply them specifically in hypnosis within a cognitive and behavioural framework.

Even now it sounds a lot more complex than it really is, which is ultimatley a means to overcome the past by focussing on the present. It helps uncover individual sets of beliefs that often lead to emotional distress and then through a number of techniques to help people reformulate unhealthy beliefs into more sensible, realistic and healthy ones. This leads to people adopting a phiplosophy and approach to living that can increase effectiveness and happiness in all areas of life.

Some of it’s applications include addictions, ADHD, anger, assertiveness training, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, insomnia, OCD, pain management, panic attacks, psychosomatic problems (e.g. IBS, skin disorders, migraines), post traumatic stress disorder, social phobia, stammering and weight control. These are just some examples of the many psycholoigical and physiological conditions that are affected by our emotions and so can be helped with Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy.

So as you can see I have a little bit of preparation to get on with, if you are interested in any of the topics discussed here then please email me at petetaylor@life-medicine.co.uk. I better get back to work, I’ll let you know how I get on soon.

We are happy to announce the addition of Pete Taylor to the Life Medicine therapist team.  Pete adds Hypnotherapy to the list of treatments available at the Life Medicine practice.

The European Shiatsu Federation, of which the Shiatsu Society is a member, has in recent years undertaken the increasingly necessary steps of commissioning research into shiatsu, of which at present there is very little.

The lack of research into shiatsu was made evident by The Systematic Evidence Review for Shiatsu which was commissioned and funded by Shiatsu Society and undertaken by the Centre for Complementary Healthcare & Integrated Medicine at the Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, Thames Valley University. However the review also looked at research relating to acupressure, which is an aspect of shiatsu. It found a lot more research into acupressure and concluded that there was generally consistent evidence to demonstrate that acupressure can control pain. Other areas of research were found to be either inconsistent and needed further research or demonstrated week evidence due to study design.

The Effects and Experience of Shiatsu: A Cross-European Study was commissioned and funded by the European Shiatsu Federation and undertaken by the School of Healthcare at University of Leeds. The research took place in three countries, Austria, Spain and the UK. The study’s findings confirm the safety of shiatsu. Benefits to general well-being, health maintenance, health promotion and awareness. It was noted that there was a reduction in the use of conventional medicine, medication and working days lost due to ill-health. As well as a statistically significant reduction in symptom severity for all symptom groups.

• The Systematic Evidence Review for Shiatsu - Full Version
• The Systematic Evidence Review for Shiatsu - Short Version
• The Effects and Experience of Shiatsu: A Cross-European Study - Full Version
• The Effects and Experience of Shiatsu: A Cross-European Study - Summary
• ESF Research Project Phase 2 Practitioner Report Final December 2007

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE IS AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR BOTH THE PREVENTION AND RELIEF OF SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE CONDITIONS:

HAY FEVER
SINUSITUS
ALLERGIES

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ACUPUNCTURE CAN PROVIDE RELIEF FROM SYMPTOMS OF HAYFEVER, SINUSITUS AND ALLERGIES. TREATMENT CAN CLEAR A BLOCKED NOSE, REDUCE SNEEZING, RELIEVE STREAMING, ITCHING OR RED EYES, RESOLVE HEADACHES AND THE DISCOMFORT FROM THESE CONDITIONS.

The treatment will consist of taking a detailed consultation to establish the history and your own experience of the condition. Fine, sterile needles will then be inserted into various acupuncture points on the body. Most people find the treatment relaxing and pain-free and experience relief from symptoms. The aim of the treatment is to relieve immediate symptoms and also to strengthen the immune system. Lifestyle and nutritional advice are also available which can help towards the long term rebalancing of the body’s energy ‘Qi’ and reduce further episodes. Herbs may also be recommended which can be taken alongside the Acupuncture treatment and will increase the benefits. Four to six treatments are recommended for the treatment to be successful. It is also useful to have treatment before the symptoms begin to help build up your immune system and help to prevent or lessen symptoms in the future.

The benefits of Acupuncture can be felt not only in relation to the condition but can also help with any underlying symptoms such as tiredness or stress.

If you would like more information about the treatment of Hayfever with Acupuncture contact:

francescahowell@life-medicine.co.uk

Exam time is here and Aromatherapy can help! Here are our recommended oils for dealing with exam stress:

Rosemary - it increases flow of blood to the brain; it is refreshing, invigorating and clears the head. It combats mental fatigue, nervous exhaustion and depression.

Basil - another natural anti-depressant, basil improves concentration and awareness and has a head-clearing effect. It works well to combat mental fatigue and anxiety too.

Citrus oils in general, such as bergamot, lime, lemon, grapefruit, orange and mandarin have a gently uplifting effect and are great to keep you going throughout the day.

Any of these oils can be used in an oil burner as a study aid. Since smells trigger memory, we suggest you take into the exam a handkerchief containing a few drops of the oil you used when studying. This should be a useful aid to remembering all that revision!

To prevent any sleepless nights in the lead-up to your exams, we’d recommend adding Lavender and/or Chamomile to a bedtime bath (5-10 drops in total). Mixing the essential oils into a dash of milk or soya milk before adding to the bath ensures they dissolve properly into the water.

Please take care when using essential oils, remembering they are extremely concentrated and you’ll only need a small amount (2 or 3 drops) on a handkerchief or in a burner (4 or 5 drops diluted with water).

Good luck with your exams, folks!

Essential oils are concentrated extracts of plants such as woods, herbs, spices, flowers and fruits. These are used in many ways in order to treat certain ailments and affect emotions.

Because they are concentrated essences, they are very powerful and must be diluted with a base oil or alcohol before use.

Base oils act as a carrier for essential oils in order to dilute them for use in massage. Base oils are usually made from seeds or nuts. Here at Life Medicine, we generally use sweet almond, grapeseed or apricot kernel for body massage, depending on the clients’ needs.

Shiatsu in it’s most basic form is simply pressure. In fact “shiatsu” translates as “finger pressure”. The application of pressure to the body via thumb, finger, elbow, knee or foot. Each tool in the Shiatsu practitioner’s “Swiss Army knife” of extremities, provides a different means of applying pressure. From pin point accuracy to wide distributed weight. From light, almost non existent pressure to the application of full body weight.

Pressure can be applied in various ways and for the Shiatsu practitioner not all are advantageous. Observed from a far, Shiatsu can mistakenly be seen as the action of pressing or pushing. It is however the opposite. Passive pressure is achieved by relinquishing body weight to gravity, rather than applying power via muscles. Pushing usually meets with resistance, were as relaxation meets with relaxation and allows the pressure to penetrate.

Shiatsu is predominantly done at floor level for the purpose of allowing the practitioner to get their body weight over the area they are working. Shifting the balance of their weight by moving their centre of gravity from between their contact with the floor and their contact with the client. One of the first exercises a student experiences is crawling around the floor. Feeling the shift in weight between the hands and knees as they crawl about.

Another means of applying pressure is the relinquishing of portions of body weight. By releasing the joints the practitioner can allow their weight to drop portion at a time into the area they are working. This can be as follows: releasing the joints of the thumb, next the wrist, then the elbow, then the shoulder. Each joint released drops the weight of the appendage it is attached to. This means that pressure can be applied without creating compression at the joints where it would create tension and resistance therefore blocking the flow of pressure.

Now, that is all very well for downward vertical pressure, often circumstances arise where pressure needs to be applied horizontally. Like walking, the trick is to transform the act of falling down into falling forward. By shifting our body weight to fall forward of our centre of gravity we can lean into the area we are working on, transforming the downward force of gravity into forward pressure.

John

I am happy to say that I have finally arranged a venue for a Do-In exercise class. Starting from April 3rd, Thursday nights from 7.30 in the Shrine Room at Rokpa House, 7 Ashley St, Glasgow, G3 6DR. (map)

So what is Do-In?

Well, I suppose the easiest way to describe Do-in is as exercises for health or self shiatsu. Shizuto Masunaga, author of Meridian Exercises, explains “Do of Do-In means to open up channels and facilitate the movement of energy along specific routes. In of Do-In means to move and stretch one’s limbs to achieve this purpose.”

The basis of the exercises I will be doing are to encourage mind and body integration. This has the effect of allowing Ki to flow free throughout the body and in particular along meridians. The exercises will be performed with an emphasis on imagery, breathing and relaxation.

Most of the exercises are taught to Shiatsu practitioners during their training, others are Ki development exercises from Ki-Aikido.

I hope to see you there.

John

I regularly attend a local university to do On-site massage with three other colleagues. My three colleagues all practice On-site massage and use On-site massage chairs. Where as I practice seated Shiatsu and use a kneeling chair. On my last visit I was asked what the difference was.

Both practices are a mixture of acupressure and massage. Acupressure being the application of pressure into the body at “tsubo” or “acu points”. The same points into which Acupuncturists insert needles.

Seated Shiatsu is a mode of Shiatsu that is particularly suited to short sessions in working environments.

At first sight, the kneeling chair often used by shiatsu practitioners, appears to be at a disadvantage to the On-site chair. The On-site chair providing far more support for the client, enabling them to relax. However, this apparent weakness is actually the kneeling chairs strength.

Some days, however, people just want to abdicate all to their practitioner for a little while. The On-site chair excels at this. The On-site chair also enables the practitioner to get more body weight behind their acupressure.

In conclusion the kneeling chair creates far more interaction and as a practitioner I find this a big advantage, however this is not always what the client wants.

John