The Noble Pagan Forums - What is Holistic Healing-- Skye Alexander

What Is Holistic Healing?


By Skye Alexander

During the last quarter-century, holistic healing concepts and complementary therapies have begun to gain acceptance in the West. In 1992, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that about one-third of all Americans use alternative medical therapies. A study done by Harvard University found that in 1997 Americans spent $27 billion on alternative treatments and made more than 600 million visits to complementary health practitioners (compared to 368 million visits to their primary care physicians)--an increase of almost 50 percent since 1990.

Generally speaking, holistic healing modalities take the entire system into consideration and treat all levels of being, not just the physical body. Some practitioners prefer the spelling "wholistic" because healing involves the whole person. Body, mind, emotions, and spirit are viewed as inseparable--all affect your health, and all must be considered in the course of treating an ailment. For example, many holistic practitioners believe that the reason cancer "comes back" after chemotherapy or surgery--sometimes in another part of the body--is because the underlying psychological problems that initially led to the formation of cancerous tumors have not been cleared up.

Holistic healing also targets the subtle bodies and the life force or chi. Some types of "vibrational medicine" such as homeopathy and flower essences don't even contain any measurable amounts of the substance used in the remedy--they work at the level of the subtle energy bodies, which in turn produces physical results. (Allopathic Western medicine argues that the doses are so small they couldn't possibly have an impact, so if healing occurs it must be due to placebo effect.)

Although "new" to Westerners, many complementary healing practices have ancient roots. Acupuncture, for instance, has been performed in the East for thousands of years. Massage and aromatherapy were popular in ancient Egypt. Herbalism, which is still the primary form of medicine used in many parts of the world today, predates written records.

As is true of conventional, allopathic medical techniques, proficiency in holistic healing requires study and experience. Acupuncture and chiropractic, for example, demand extensive knowledge of anatomy and great skill. Some therapies, such as herbalism, can be dangerous if practiced incorrectly. Others, such as flower remedies and aromatherapy, can generally be used without risk, and homeopathy is rarely harmful--just ineffective if you choose the wrong remedy. To be safe, it is always a good idea to consult a competent professional rather than attempting to diagnose and treat illnesses yourself.

Western holistic healers agree that positive emotions support and encourage good health, whereas negative ones can lead to illness. Homeopathy, for instance, addresses emotional and psychological conditions in order to rectify physical complaints. I was once treated homeopathically for asthma and diagnosed as suffering from perfectionism. After being given a homeopathic remedy called arum, which is derived from gold, the asthma improved. (Someone else's asthma might be rooted in anger or another emotion, however, and be treated with a different remedy.)

Best-selling author Louise Hay is one of many to write about the body-mind link in health. Hay explains that our bodies continually "talk" to us, telling us how our emotions are influencing us physically. We even use sayings that graphically describe this connection. Is someone giving you a "pain in the neck"? Does your upper back ache from "carrying the world on your shoulders"?

An Overview of Holistic Healing Modalities

Each of the following healing modalities is a field in itself, and scores of wonderful books have been written about them. To lay the groundwork, however, here are brief descriptions of some of the most popular complementary healing techniques to help you decide which ones you might want to investigate further.

Acupuncture uses fine needles and sometimes heat to activate and balance chi. A practitioner inserts needles at certain points along the body's meridians to remove blockages and harmonize the flow of energy through the body. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in alleviating a variety of ailments, both physical and emotional. It is particularly successful in reducing pain.

Acupressure activates the flow of chi by applying gentle pressure to the sensitive points along the meridians, instead of inserting needles into them. This less invasive therapy is good for people who are squeamish about needles and can be used as a self-help procedure alone or in conjunction with acupuncture. Shiatsu is a popular form of acupressure. Reflexology uses acupressure points in the hands and feet to harmonize the flow of chi and to heal energy imbalances in the body.

Aromatherapy primarily refers to healing through olfaction. Some aromatic essential oils can also be ingested or rubbed directly on the skin and absorbed, providing therapeutic benefits in much the same way as other herbal medicines do. (Some essences are skin irritants or toxic when taken internally, however, so be sure to use with care.) When inhaled, scents affect the limbic system of the brain, the portion associated with memory, emotions, and sexuality--which is why certain smells have the ability to reawaken long-ago memories or stimulate the libido. The brain responds instantly to odors--shifts in brain wave function can be measured immediately after a person sniffs certain scents.

Because aromatic substances interact with the body both physiologically and psychologically, they have a wide variety of beneficial applications. Essential oils have been shown to be effective as antiseptics, deodorants, anti-inflammatory agents, fungicides, hypertensives, digestive aids, aphrodisiacs, and more.

Ayurveda, which means "Science of Life," dates back to 3,000 B.C.E. and is rooted in Indian and Hindu philosophy. Ayurvedic medicine involves balancing a life force called prana. It considers the forces of the wind, the tides and water, heat and the sun as significant factors in human health and well-being. Balancing the body, mind, and spirit and adapting to external forces are viewed as the keys to good health. Massaging the body's vital energy points, diet, yoga, meditation, and purification procedures all play roles in ayurvedic healing.

Bioenergetics evolved out of the work of the Austrian biologist and psychotherapist Wilhelm Reich in the 1930s and 40s. Reich theorized that traumas, painful emotions, and fears caused chronic tension in the muscles, which he called "armoring." This tension interferes with the movement of chi and can lead to myriad health problems. Bioenergetics combines movement, massage, breathing, and various physical exercises to break down this muscle armoring and release repressed emotions.

Chi kung (also spelled qigong) is an ancient Chinese system of promoting health and longevity by harnessing and balancing the vital life force (chi). Literally translated, it means "breath work" or "energy work." Chi kung combines proper diet, breathing techniques, rhythmic movement and exercise, and mental awareness to cultivate balance between the human body, cosmic forces, and nature's energies.

Chiropractic was founded in the late 19th century by B.J. Palmer, and is probably the most widely accepted "alternative" medical therapy used in the West. It involves manually adjusting the spine--and in some cases other parts of the skeletal system--to alleviate pain and other physical and emotional problems as well as to maintain overall good health. Chiropractic has been shown to be effective in relieving ailments ranging from headaches to arthritis--indeed, the spine's integral role in virtually all body functioning suggests that the health of the entire body depends upon the condition of the spine. When the spine is properly aligned, chi can move freely through the body.

Chromotherapy also known as color healing, generally focuses colored light on the body to promote healing, although sometimes treatment involves looking at a particular color, visualizing it mentally, or "breathing" it. Studies have shown that being in the presence of certain colors can cause emotional and physical responses, for instance, sitting in a red room can increase respiration and body temperature whereas sitting in a blue room has the opposite effect. Colors are used to stimulate, calm, balance, and otherwise induce physical and emotional healing.

Crystal/gemstone therapy is an ancient practice that taps the energetic vibrations of particular gems and quartz crystal for therapeutic purposes. Long before gems were prized for their monetary worth, people valued them for their healing powers. Today, healers may place crystals and gemstones on specific parts of the body or in a patient's energy field to strengthen, calm, balance, cleanse, or otherwise rectify disturbances. Crystals and gemstones are also used to "charge" water, herbs, and other remedies as well as in conjunction with other forms of treatment.

Flower remedies were initially developed by the English physician Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930s. The plant's essence or chi is distilled by placing flowers in bowls of water and setting them in sunlight, which allows their life forces and healing vibrations to infuse into the water. The liquid is then diluted and potentized--no physical plant substance exists, only the life force. Each flower possesses specific characteristics that, when the liquid is ingested, interact with a person's subtle energy bodies to promote emotional, mental, and physical healing. Bleeding Heart, for instance, helps to soothe the pain of a broken heart; impatiens calms restlessness and irritability connected with impatience.

Herbalism is one of the oldest forms of medicine and it's still the most frequently used in many parts of the world. The healing properties contained in plants may be extracted and utilized in various ways--drunk in tea, applied directly to the skin in poultices or compresses, and ingested in pill form (like vitamins) or in tinctures (concentrated liquid herbal mixtures). Although many herbs, such as chamomile and lemongrass, may be taken by most people safely, others can be harmful if used incorrectly and should be administered by a trained professional.

Homeopathy was founded by the German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann during the late 1700s and early 1800s. Hahnemann based his theory on the law of similars or "like cures like," a concept that has been with us since the time of Hippocrates. A patient is treated with a minute amount of a substance whose effects on the human body are similar to the symptoms the patient is experiencing--or a substance that would cause such symptoms if administered in a full-strength dose. The objective is to enhance the body's natural ability to heal itself by stimulating the defense system so that the patient can throw off whatever is causing disease in the body. According to Nigel and Susan Garion-Hutchings, authors of The New Concise Guide to Homeopathy, "A symptom is the outward sign of the inner disease of the vital force, which is struggling to throw out those harmful forces or patterns of behavior which threaten to harm the whole being."

Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis to encourage emotional or physical healing. For most people, the hypnotic trance is similar to a deeply relaxed, meditative, alpha state and it can be measured clinically with an encephalograph. It becomes hypnosis when in that relaxed state you institute a thought process to affect a change.

During this altered state, a post-hypnotic suggestion may be given that will remain in effect after the person comes out of the trance. Many people have experienced good results using hypnosis to overcome habits such as smoking or overeating, fears such as stage fright, and to manage pain. In these instances, the hypnotist's suggestions strengthen the patient's own resolve, rather than overriding it. The idea that a hypnotized patient is unconscious is a fallacy--most people actually experience a heightened sense of awareness while under hypnosis.

Massage has been practiced for 5,000 years and was a favorite treatment of Hippocrates. Many different types of massage are popular today for relieving discomforts ranging from childbirth to sports injuries to arthritis. So-called "Swedish" massage generally involves rubbing the muscles and stroking the skin to promote relaxation and circulation. "Shiatsu" massage incorporates acupuncture principles, applying gentle pressure instead of needles to activate the energy points along the body's meridians.

Osteopathy was devised by an American army surgeon named Andrew Taylor Still in 1874. It treats the body's structure: the skeleton, muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue. Osteopaths believe that when one part of your system is out of balance, other parts of your body as well as your mental and emotional states will be impaired. The reverse is also true: mental and emotional disturbances reveal themselves in the body's structure, and can be remedied by manipulating the physical body. For example, stretching and loosening the muscles allows chi to flow more freely; adjusting improper posture or joints increases a patient's mobility and chi's movement as well. Cranial osteopathy gently manipulates the bones of the skull to heal problems in the head, such as sinus trouble, headaches, and tinnitus. Osteopathy can be used to treat injuries or as part of an ongoing program of well-being.

Polarity was developed by an Australian chiropractor and osteopath named Randolph Stone who studied Asian medicine and spirituality. This form of bodywork involves balancing the flow of energy through the chakras (see below). According to Polarity theory, the life force circulates through the body in a double helix pattern, crossing at each of the chakras. Polarity therapy may include cleansing, diet, exercise, and counseling as well as touch to promote overall wellness.

Reflexology involves massaging the feet and hands to stimulate and balance the flow of chi. According to this form of massage therapy, which dates back to ancient Egypt and Greece, each part of the body corresponds to a spot on your feet and hands. By rubbing and pressing these points, you activate the flow of chi to the related organs, tissues, or cells. For instance, the toes are linked with the head--the eyes, ears, sinuses, teeth, brain, etc. The heel contains points that connect with the pelvis and sciatic nerve.

Reiki actually means Universal Life Force Energy (or chi), although the term is used interchangeably with the practice of focusing chi for emotional and physical healing. More accurately, the techniques involved are called the Usui System of Natural Healing, after the founder Dr. Mikao Usui. A Reiki healer places his or her hands on a patient and, by focusing intention, channels chi and directs it to flow into the patient in a way that is balancing and enlivening.

Sound healing proposes that each note of the musical scale corresponds in vibration to a particular part of the body. Sound waves are directed to the area where healing is needed in order to restore proper functioning. Chanting or intoning certain notes or chords is an ancient form of sound healing, practiced by the Druids as well as the Tibetan monks. Musical instruments can also be played to encourage healing. Drumming can break up energetic blockages in the body and allow chi to flow more smoothly. Crystal or metal "singing" bowls, tuned to specific frequencies, are often used to harmonize the chakras and send healing vibrations to the body's organs, tissues, etc.

Visualization has been popularized by writer Shakti Gawain and others as a way to heal physical and emotional problems. Usually combined with meditation, it involves creating a mental image of a condition you desire in order to facilitate mind-body healing. Visualization's operating principle suggests that before something can manifest in the physical world it must exist in the mind. When you imagine yourself well, your mind directs the body to carry out your objective.

Yoga is thousands of years old--no one really knows how long it has been practiced in the East--although it didn't gain a strong following in the West until the 1960s. Yoga combines physical movement with mental relaxation and deep, rhythmic breathing to produce overall health. The most popular form of yoga in the U.S. is "Hatha," which involves holding various postures or asanas to strengthen the body, increase balance, and improve flexibility. However, there are many different types of yoga, both gentle and strenuous, that can be performed by people of all ages and physical conditions. Athletes, pregnant women, people recovering from injuries, the elderly, even toddlers can benefit from yoga.

The Chakras

Healing and balancing the chakras is an objective of many holistic healing therapies. Chakra is a Sanskrit term meaning wheel. To psychics and others who can see them, these nonphysical energy centers resemble spinning wheels located roughly along the spine. Even if you can't see them, you may be able to sense their presence in your own body. For instance, if you were to play a singing bowl that's attuned to a particular chakra, you might feel a slight tingling, warmth, or rush of energy in the corresponding chakra.

The life force travels up the spinal column and energizes these vortices. When the chakras become blocked or don't operate properly, illness occurs. Health and happiness result when the life force flows freely and harmoniously through the chakras.

Emotions and attitudes affect the chakras, as well as the subtle bodies and chi. If we look at both the emotional and the physical areas associated with a particular chakra, we may be able to discover an ailment's cause and its cure. For instance, the sacral chakra is located in the region of the lower back and governs sexuality. It's no surprise, then, that couples who are experiencing relationship troubles often suffer from lower back pain, too. In her book Awakening Intuition, Dr. Mona Lisa Schulz notes that "when someone with lower back pain and marital problems undertakes marriage counseling with his or her partner, the lower back pain often improves significantly, without benefit of surgery or medication, as the relationship improves."

Each chakra corresponds to a color of the visible spectrum and a note of the musical scale, consequently, chromotherapy and sound healing can be particularly effective in chakra work. Astrologers also link the chakras with the planets. Eastern healing and spiritual traditions consider these seven main chakras to be most important.

Root chakra--located at the base of the spine, this energy center is associated with the survival instinct and your sense of security. It controls the bones, teeth, spine, rectum, and colon. The root chakra's color is red and its musical note is C.

Sacral chakra--found near the abdomen in the vicinity of the lower back, about a hand's width below the belly button, this chakra is related to creativity and sexuality. The reproductive organs, kidneys, and bladder are influenced by the sacral chakra. Its color is orange and its musical note is D.

Solar plexus chakra--located at the solar plexus, about halfway between your belly button and heart, this chakra is connected with the will and personal power. It controls the stomach, liver, digestive system, spleen, gall bladder, the autonomic nervous system, and the muscles. Its color is yellow and its musical note is E.

Heart chakra--situated near the heart, this chakra regulates the heart, blood circulation, skin, chest, and upper back. The center of love and emotions, its color is green and its musical note is F.

Throat chakra--found at the base of the neck, between the collarbones, this chakra is associated with self-expression and communication. The jaw, neck, voice, upper lungs, and arms are controlled by the throat chakra. Its color is blue and its musical note is G.

Brow chakra--located on the forehead between the eyebrows, at the site of the "third eye," this chakra is the center of intuition. It controls the endocrine system, nose, left brain, and left eye. Its color is indigo and its musical note is A.

Crown chakra--situated at the top of the head, the crown chakra is associated with the soul and your connection to the Divine. The central nervous system, cerebrum, right brain, and right eye are controlled by this chakra. Its color is violet and its musical note is B.

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