When faced with the news that you have been diagnosed with not only a rare eye disease but one where the prognosis is not good for the future, it is easy to see how you can feel as if your world has been turned upside down.   In some ways it can be looked upon as losing control of what is going on in it.

After being given details of the various medications (and their side effects) which may or may not work, it is almost certain that your emotions and thoughts are going to change – positive one minute and negative the next.  This in turn will have an affect on the physical body especially if one begins to feel helpless in this situation.

Over the years as a therapist, I have seen many people with various ailments and diseases.  I have noticed that a great aid to the healing process occurs when clients feel that there is something that they can do for themselves instead of handing over control to someone else.

Complementary medicine or therapies are exactly as the name states – to complement and not replace orthodox medicine.  It is important that advice from a Doctor or Consultant is sought first in any instance rather than relying just on complementary treatments.

If we look at how Holistic Therapies work it can give a greater understanding to those seeking help in this way.  Holistic (meaning looking at the whole), focuses on not just the symptoms as with traditional medicine, but the whole body in a mental, emotional, physical and spiritual way.  This way it is possible to find one or more areas that may be out of balance that could be contributing to the physical symptom.

From a personal perspective, I know that the way we think and feel will most definitely create a physical reaction or symptom.  Over time ignoring these signs can lead to major diseases.  As an example you will be aware that just the thought of taking an exam – whether that is a driving test or written exam – the body produces physical reactions such as a feeling of nausea, butterflies in the stomach and ultimately several trips to the toilet.  All this from just a single thought.

Anger as an emotion can increase the heart rate, raise the blood pressure, tense the muscles and give a feeling of stress.  Again, all this from a single emotion.

We are constantly reacting to situations around us, and energetically this will influence how energy moves around the body.  It has been shown scientifically that energy is in all living things and Kirlian photography and electromagnetic readings have shown this.

If energy is blocked in a part of the body then physical signs will start to appear.  Many therapies involve the use of moving or clearing energy via meridians (pathways) to start to bring about the healing process. Ultimately Therapists are the catalysts and the person is healing themselves.

So how can Complementary Therapies help you in the situation you find yourself in?  Any therapy that assists in relaxing the body not only in a physical way but one which uplifts the spirit and gives you a part to play inevitably will help the healing process.

Massage, Reiki, Reflexology, Acupuncture, Acupressure and Meditation to name a few, all bring about a state of relaxation.  I have given a brief description of how some of these therapies work.

Massage

Gives the physical touch (which we all need), relaxes the body, is stimulating, relieves muscle tension, works on removing any swelling (maybe due to side effects of drugs) and gives a sense of wellbeing.

Reiki

This therapy works energetically by raising the vibrations of the body as a whole, on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level to bring about healing.  The recipient remains fully clothed and it is a relaxing and uplifting experience.  This is now available in some NHS Centres.

Reflexology

This therapy works on the feet or hands by using massage techniques that stimulate energy movement via meridians and zones that map the entire body.  In doing so the therapist can work on specific areas that are out of balance and has been shown to be effective with hormonal problems, IBS, lowering blood pressure, relaxing and relieving stress symptoms and many more.  This therapy is now available in some NHS Centres.

Facial Reflexology

This is a relatively new therapy that combines ancient healing methods from the Malpuche Indians, Vietnamese face mapping, acupressure points, neuroanatomy and Oriental meridians.  This therapy works as the name suggests over the face and head and has brought about some very quick results.  It is a relaxing treatment which also works on cranial lines and points.

Acupuncture

This therapy works by using needles that are inserted into the skin over meridian lines.  By stimulating these needles energy can be moved and blockages freed to assist the energy to move as it should around the body.  This treatment is now available at some NHS Centres.

Acupressure

This treatment works in a similar way to acupuncture but without the use of needles.

Meditation

There are many different forms of meditation that can take you to an altered state of awareness.  By stilling the mind and relaxing the body you are allowing the body to unwind from the stress and tension that is carried and continues to be present whilst in the alpha or active state of mind.  Simply by changing our breathing, or focusing on an object, the mind can become still and the change in brainwave patterns will lead to a more relaxed physical state allowing the body to be taken to a place of homeostasis or balance.

By using one or more of these therapies you are gaining self help and when including positive thinking you can be on the way to assisting your own wellbeing.

Ask yourself ‘What can I do to alleviate this situation?’ and feel the power.

Sue Rogers CThA, VTCT, ITEC