More than 100 Health & Wellness Techniques, Healing Therapies, Medical Methodologies & Modalities — for Health & Wellness Coaches, Holistic Healthcare Providers, Yoga Therapists
In this curation, we bring together more than 100 health and wellness techniques, using verifiable sourcing and structuring the material in an organized way for efficient research.
Objective
Be familiar with the approach, terminology, techniques, rationale and uses for more than 100 health and wellness methodologies, techniques, modalities, and therapies.
Acupressure is a therapeutic technique from TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) that involves applying firm pressure to particular points along energy meridians of the body (called acupoints or pressure points).
Rationale
The oldest known medical methodologies on the planet — including TCM, Ayurveda and other indigenous wisdom traditions — are based on ancient wisdom that relies on an understanding of nature and the nature of the human body.
Among the keys to health and wellness that these systems understand is the necessity of a healthy flow of life force energy. If energy flow is blocked, the body will become imbalanced, compromising health and energy levels.
TCM draws on Taoism philosophy that is rooted in the laws and synergies of nature, and it applies these synergies to the human body. It recognizes that our organ systems are interconnected and our health is dependent on chi. Translated to modern-day language, chi is active energy — a metaphor for metabolic processes taking place in a living being. To be alive is to have vital chi flowing through the body. TCM theory states that when chi is in perfect balance, we enjoy good health. However, internal and external factors such as diet, weather, and pathogens can all create imbalances in chi, which eventually result in disease. In order to maintain balance, TCM further uses the concept of “Yin-Yang energetics” and “5-element theory” to classify disease patterns. – Snow Xia LAc, mbgHealth, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): History & Current Applications link
Working with pressure points is designed to free stuck energy and prompt it to flow unimpeded.
Acupressure is based on the same principles as acupuncture but without the use of needles and instead using pressure… From the traditional Chinese medicine perspective, dis-ease and disease stem from living life out of balance, and the best medicine is preventative use of multiple modalities of care. So, acupressure would not be used without other forms of wellbeing practices… By applying pressure and temporarily suppressing blood flow to specific regions of the body, acupressure stimulates the body’s natural immune response to counteract imbalance from pain and illness. – Four Directions Wellness, Acupressure: The Traditional Chines Medicine Practice link
Techniques
Using fingers, knuckles, fists or elbows, firm pressure is applied to acupressure points. Often, the practitioner will use a steady and penetrating pressure for some time and until a clear pulse is felt, or until soreness or stiffness diminishes. [source]
Acupuncture is an evidence based medicine that has been proven by literally thousands of studies. – Kerry Boyle DAc, Healthline, Is Acupuncture the Miracle Remedy for Everything? link
Rationale
The oldest known medical systems on the planet including TCM and Ayurveda among others are based on ancient wisdom based on an understanding of nature and the nature of the human body. Among the keys to health and wellness that these systems understand is the necessity of a healthy flow of life force energy. If energy flow is blocked, the body will become imbalanced, compromising health and energy levels.
TCM draws on Taoism philosophy that is rooted in the laws and synergies of nature, and it applies these synergies to the human body. It recognizes that our organ systems are interconnected and our health is dependent on chi. Translated to modern-day language, chi is active energy — a metaphor for metabolic processes taking place in a living being. To be alive is to have vital chi flowing through the body. TCM theory states that when chi is in perfect balance, we enjoy good health. However, internal and external factors such as diet, weather, and pathogens can all create imbalances in chi, which eventually result in disease. In order to maintain balance, TCM further uses the concept of “Yin-Yang energetics” and “5-element theory” to classify disease patterns…
Of all five branches of TCM, acupuncture is the one that has been the most progressively integrated into the conventional medical system. The WHO now recognizes it as an effective treatment for 28 conditions, including neck and back pain and some allergies. – Snow Xia LAc, mbgHealth, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): History & Current Applications link
Techniques
Fine needles are inserted into any of hundreds of particular points on the body.
The Alexander Technique is a form of somatics, using a “gentle educational method used worldwide for over 100 years… to change postural habits and develop better coordination of our musculoskeletal system.” (AlexanderTechniqueUSA.org)
Rationale
We move through life with many habitual patterns of tension, learned both consciously and unconsciously. These patterns can be unlearned, opening up new choices in our posture, our movement patterns and our reactions. During your study of the Alexander Technique, you’ll develop a greater awareness of habits that interfere with your natural coordination and that can negatively impact your quality of life. You’ll learn how to undo these patterns and gain a process that redirects your whole being into an optimal functional state. – American Society for the Alexander Technique, What is the Alexander Technique? link
Techniques
Group or private lessons that teach anatomy and physiology principles, and provide “gentle verbal and manual guidance” for recognizing habit patterns and changing those that lead to more optimal functioning.
Allopathic medicine is a system in which professionals are licensed to practice and treat using “medication [pharmaceutical drugs], surgery, radiation and other therapies and procedures.” [source]
Allopathic medicine relies extensively on pharmaceutical products and invasive procedures.
Pharmaceutical products often cause reactions that are unfavorable or harmful (side effects / adverse reactions). [source and source] In 2001, esteemed medical journalist Linda Marsa wrote in the LA Times, “Adverse drug reactions have reached epidemic proportions, killing more people each year than die on the nation’s highways, and doing serious damage to millions more.” [source]
Invasive procedures refer to accessing the body by incision, puncture or by an instrument inserted into a natural orifice. Instruments used include endoscopes, catheters, scalpels, scissors, devices and tubes. Medicinal products that are part of such procedures are also categorized as invasive.[source]
Allopathic medicine is also called conventional medicine, mainstream medicine, Western medicine, modern medicine, and orthodox medicine.
Prescription drugs are the third leading cause of death in the United States and Europe. – Peter C. Gotzsche, National Instituaties of Health (NIH), Our Prescription Drugs Kill Us in Large Numbers link
Worldwide, there are at least 230 million [invasive] procedures performed annually and numbers are likely to increase due to the widening application of minimally invasive and image guided techniques.1 Despite the volume of invasive procedures undertaken, the number and quality of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in this area has historically been poor. Papers examining the quality of surgical RCTs have repeatedly demonstrated limitations in study design and conduct, such as recruitment, quality assurance of interventions and the blinding of trial personnel.2–4 In the absence of evidence from well designed and conducted RCTs, clinical practice has been largely driven by personal preference, experience and anecdote. This results in variations and inequalities between surgeons, centres and regions with respect to the indications for, and types of, invasive procedures performed.5–7– Sian Cousins et al, National Institutes of Health (NIH), What is an Invasive Procedure? link
Most of the literature establishes that modern medicine is one of the major threats to world health… The side effects and risks associated with medical intervention are called iatrogenesis. These side effects are also called adverse drug reactions (ADRs). – Rafia Faroog Peer and Nadeem Shabir, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Iatrogenesis: A Review on Nature, Extent, and Distribution of Healthcare Hazards link
Severe Side Effects from Antipsychotic Drug Downplayed — “Johnson & Johnson Hit with $8 Billion Jury Verdict in Risperdal Suit… Johnson & Johnson’s antipsychotic drug Risperdal has been linked to severe side effects, including gynecomastia, a condition causing breast growth in males. The company was accused of promoting the drug for unapproved uses, downplaying the risks, and withholding information about its side effects… The company’s willingness to deceive patients and medical professionals about the risks of its drugs showcases the lengths Big Pharma will go to maximize profits.” (source)
“SSRI Antidepressants Have a Variety of Horrendous Side Effects” — “Once the SSRIs entered the market, there has been a wave of SSRI suicides and unspeakable acts of violence. Sadly, the idea that SSRIs could cause any of this has been viewed as a ‘conspiracy theory’ or ‘mistaking correlation with causation’ because very few are aware of the extensive evidence linking SSRIs to violent and psychotic behavior — despite it now being on the warning label of those drug.” See also: 18-min video on role of SSRIs in violent events
Despite Doctors Pushing Drugs on People with Mood Issues and Depression, “There Is No Such Thing As An Antidepressant” — UCLA Professor David Cohen PhD has conducted extensive research specifically on psychoactive drugs, and on the side effects of psychiatric medications, and on withdrawal. In a 3-minute clip from the documentary, Medicating Normal, Dr. Cohen explains that pharmaceuticals are not cures for depression and that any mood-altering effect they may have wears off within 8 weeks. He explains that studies on these drugs are limited to 6 to 8 weeks, while it’s “business as usual” in mainstream medicine to prescribe the drugs for long-term use. The “regulators” and congress are paid by pharmaceutical companies, and so studies are not published on the lack of long-term effectiveness nor on the addiction and withdrawal issues they cause.
Over-Prescription of Antibiotics Causes “Substantial Harm” — “We find substantial harm [caused by doctors, called “iatrogenic”] associated with prescribing antibiotics in [people with runny nose, cough, sore throat, known as “acute upper respiratory tract infection”].
Heartburn Drugs Increase Risk of Cancer — “Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a popular class of heartburn drugs, are linked to stomach cancer, a recent review found.”
Shingles Vaccine Increased Risk of Shingles Recurrence — “Researchers at the University of California San Francisco found that, compared to unvaccinated people with a history of ocular shingles, those who receive the RZV [shingles vaccine] have a 93 percent higher rate of developing ocular shingles again.”
Nearly One-Third of Diagnostic Tests Upon Hospital Admission are Wasteful & Unnecessary, Increasing Risk of Harm — “Excessive testing … comes with plenty of risks — and little reward… The study, published in The American Journal of Medicine, focused on unnecessary testing in the first 24 hours after hospital admission… The study found that, upon physician review, over 31 percent of day-of hospital admission tests were needless and did not change the course of the patient’s care. When patients have excessive diagnostic tests, the potential for errors exists. False positive or false negative test results can lead to a “diagnostic cascade” of more testing or unnecessary prescriptions and harmful side effects… In a fee-for-service system, providers make more money if they order more tests.”
Diagnostic Errors & Issues Occur in U.S. Hospitals Roughly One-Quarter of the Time — “It was found that 23 percent of patients either received incorrect diagnoses or experienced delays in diagnosis. Of these cases, 17 percent resulted in temporary or permanent harm to the patient. The study’s results are published in the January edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.”
Statins Commonly Prescribed While Not Providing Significant Benefit and Causing Harm — “Statins are the most commonly prescribed pharmaceutical drugs in the world. 98.2 out of 100 high-risk people will not see any heart health benefits from statin drugs. The 1.8 remaining individuals who do see benefits will only live about 6 months longer on average versus those who didn’t take statin drugs. Research demonstrates that statin drugs may damage your mitochondrial function. Side effects include headaches, sleep issues, skin issues, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, low platelet levels, and high blood sugar levels.”
AMA Corrupted, Promotes Products That Can Cause Harm — “The American Medical Association (AMA) urges physicians to promote Covid-19 vaccines and bivalent boosters. The AMA even supplies members with social media talking points and strategies to deal with vaccine detractors. It is not the first time that my profession has endorsed a product that may be hazardous to your health… In a 1948 editorial minimizing the ill effects of smoking and justifying tobacco advertising in its publications, JAMA noted that “cigarette business is a tremendous business,” as if the size of the bottom line can mitigate a conflict for an organization founded for the “betterment of public health.”
Medical Education Intertwined with Pharma Industry — Safe and effective health and wellness practices that get to the root cause of illness are not taught to western doctors. Instead, they are inundated with pharma bias.
Doctors Who Prescribe More Receive More — “As tens of thousands of Americans die from prescription opioid overdoses each year… researchers… found that opioid manufacturers are paying physicians huge sums of money.”
US Physicians Received Billions From Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industry, New Research Finds — “U.S. physicians received more than $12 billion in payments from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry over a 10-year period, according to a new analysis. A research letter published March 28, 2024 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the industry made over 85 million payments to more than 820,300 (57 percent) of eligible physicians from 2013 to 2022. Nearly 94 percent of the payments were related to one or more marketed medical products.
Techniques
In 2012, America has become the most overmedicated society in history. Indeed, there is a medication for every condition… We are even told that we don’t take enough medications as the list of made-up diseases grows longer and longer: restless leg syndrome, social anxiety disorder, overactive bladder, pre-diabetes, adult ADD… As a nation we have sunk so low as to allow our legislators to create laws based on what they are told by big business… laws that mandate the Gardasil vaccine for girls and now boys or they can’t go to school, and laws that require that health care workers get the flu vaccine or lose their jobs. All of this without the major media ever raising a single question: is this real science, or science for sale? – Gary Null PhD and Nancy Ashley, The Politics of Medicine Pt 1: Death by Medicine link
Uses
May be useful when experiencing:
Emergency
Injury
Applied Kinesiology / Muscle Testing / Touch for Health
Overview
Applied Kinesiology (also called muscle testing) is a diagnostic tool using muscle testing to evaluate neurological function, thus gaining information about the person and potential remedies. [source]
Touch for Health Kinesiology
Touch for Health has been safely used since 1973 in over 100 countries (and the Touch for Health manuals have been translated into many languages.)… Touch for Health is a system of kinesiology that uses muscle monitoring as a biofeedback system to determine what stimuli create stress in the body, and how that stress can be decreased to better balance the body’s energy. It is one of the most widely used systems of kinesiology in the world and has helped millions of people achieve greater comfort, vitality, and well-being in their lives. – TouchforHealth.us link
Rationale
The working unit of the nervous system is a cell called a neuron. Neurons communicate via electrical signals which are converted into chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. “The brain is made up of many networks of communicating neurons. In this way, different parts of the brain can ‘talk’ to each other as well as work together to send messages to the rest of the body.” [National Institutes of Health]
Muscle testing provides information based on the person’s neurological activity: how the brain and nervous system are communicating with the muscles.
In a detailed literature review of manual muscle testing, researchers point out that the careful observance of the principles of manual muscle testing (MMT) described above could be found in 10 studies which yielded statistics supporting the reliability of MMT. – Anthony L. Rosnery PhD and Scott C. Cuthbert DC, Science Direct, Applied Kinesiology: Distinctions in its Definition and Interpretation link
The practice of diagnostic muscle testing that looks superficially like either magic or a manipulative sleight of hand, depending on the observers’ perspective, or prejudice, actually has sound neurology as its’ foundation… Through applied kinesiology muscle testing it is possible to better understand the nervous and muscular systems, organic and biochemical functions and systems, and the interactions between the mind, emotions and body functions… Applied kinesiology manual muscle testing (AKMMT) appears to have comparable or greater reliability when compared to many other orthopedic and neurological diagnostics… Ingesting nutrition targeted to a particular organ has been found to more reliably improve muscle strength using AKMMT than placebo, supporting both the organ-muscle relationship model of applied kinesiology and the usefulness of nutrient testing in AK, especially when the information is incorporated with other clinical
observations. AKMMT appears to be a useful method of observing biochemistry in that it shows accuracy for determining food allergies (90.5%) and immunological status when compared to lab tests. – Mark Force DC, The Scientific Foundations of Applied Kinesiology link
Techniques
Some practitioners (who may refer to their work as Professional Applied Kinesiology) work with certain assumptions. Some practitioners (who may refer to their work as energy work or to involve the subconscious) may work with other assumptions. When choosing a practitioner, you may prefer one or the other background. It’s possible, however, that effectiveness in using muscle testing is more related to experience than to the scientific and philosophical foundations used to explain their work.
Muscle testing is essentially a way to ask our subconscious questions and to receive answers about what the body indicates. Muscle testing was derived from kinesiology, in which muscles are observed for a response to stimuli. It is used as a biofeedback mechanism and can identify stressors in and around the body. The main premise of the practice when used in energy healing is that the body will experience changes in energy associated with various ideas. We believe the body will express that energy in measurably different ways. – Dr. Bradley Nelson, Discover Healing, What is Muscle Testing and How Does it Work? link
Aromatherapy is the “inhalation or bodily application (as by massage) of fragrant essential oils for therapeutic purposes.”
Or, more broadly, it can refer to the use of aroma to enhance feelings of well-being. (dictionary)
Essential oils are “produced by steam or water distillation from the leaves, wood, petals, buds, needles, bark or roots of aromatic botanicals such as lavender, rosemary, cedarwood, rose, peppermint and cypress.” (source)
Rationale
A randomized preliminary study in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that an aromatherapy massage with diluted essential oils decreased self-reported menstrual pain more than acetaminophen in high school girls. (3) – GreenMedInfo, Essential Oils Massage Beats Tylenol for Menstrual Pain link
Techniques
Essential oils are “highly concentrated fluids used in aromatherapy as well as many generalized uses… Aromatic oils that are not specifically produced by either steam or hydro distillation (or cold pressed in the case of citrus rind oils) are not considered and should not be referred to as essential oils.” (source)
Art therapy is a mental health profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.
Art therapists are clinicians with master’s-level or higher degrees trained in art and therapy that serve diverse communities in different settings — from medical institutions and wellness centers, to schools and independent practices. Guided by ethical standards and scope of practice, their education and supervised training prepares them for culturally proficient work with diverse populations in a variety of settings.” – American Art Therapy Association, About Art Therapy link
Rationale
Through integrative methods, art therapy engages the mind, body, and spirit in ways that are distinct from verbal articulation alone. Kinesthetic, sensory, perceptual, and symbolic opportunities invite alternative modes of receptive and expressive communication, which can circumvent the limitations of language. Visual and symbolic expression gives voice to experience and empowers individual, communal, and societal transformation. – American Art Therapy Association link
Techniques
Art therapists work with individuals, couples, families, and groups in diverse settings. Some examples include: hospitals, schools, private practice, psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities, crisis centers, senior communities [and more are listed]. – American Art Therapy Association link
Ayurvedic medicine is one of the oldest forms of medicine in the world. It incorporates tools such as diet, exercise, breathing exercises, meditation (yoga), mental visualization, therapeutic massage, and herbs to treat illness and maintain health. This ancient healing method also uses color therapy, sound therapy, and aromatherapy to help create balance within the body. – Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Ed link
Meaning “the science of life,” Ayurveda is a system of healing for both body and mind based on the Vedas. Often called the “sister science” of yoga, Ayurveda teaches that health is the balanced and dynamic integration between environment, body, mind, and spirit. (Detailed lesson series here)
Ayurveda is one of the most renowned traditional systems of medicine that has survived and flourished… [It offers] enormous knowledge of nature-based medicine, the relationship of human body constitution and function to nature, and the elements of the universe that act in coordination and affect the living beings. – Jaiswal, Yogini S. & Leonard L. Williams, NIH, A Glimpse of Ayurveda: The Forgotten History and Principles of Indian Traditional Medicine link
The aim of Ayurveda is to reveal the true nature of oneself, not only in terms of our particular body type, but as interconnected with the overall divine consciousness of the universe. – Kam Thye Chow & Emily Moody, Thai Yoga Therapy for Your Body Type: An Ayurvedic Traditionlink
As the world’s first documented healthcare system, Ayurveda’s rich history reaches back more than 5,000 years, first passed down from one generation of healers to another via oral tradition, before it was at long last documented in now-ancient Sanskrit texts. Rooted in Vedic tradition, the principal tenets of Ayurveda assert that good health is dependent on achieving a harmony between the mental, physical, spiritual, subtle, and social aspects of one’s life. For this reason, successful practitioners regard Ayurveda as both a science and as a philosophy by which to live life. Ayurvedic philosophy teaches that there are three /doshas/ (or facets) of the human body that must be balanced — and a dominance of one or more causes illness. Through the delicate adjustment of these doshas, gifted Ayurvedic healers have successfully treated countless ailments — from allergies to cancers.
According to researchers, Ayurvedic medicine remains India’s primary healthcare system, with more than 90 percent of the country relying on one aspect or another of its principles. – Aakash Vaidya, Ayurved Sadhana, Truth about Ayurvedic History link
Rationale
While many in the Western hemisphere are only now discovering a spiritual connection to nature, plants, animals, the environment, and the earth, the classic Vedas of India have long held detailed descriptions of these connections. The Vedas teach that all of life is woven into the same fabric, and by this token, Ayurveda recognizes that human beings are inseparable from all other life forms and expressions….
In the late 1800s, when India struggled to preserve the integrity of its traditions under British imperialist rule, many Indian health practitioners began to pursue an education in Western, or allopathic, medicine — in addition to their culture’s traditional Ayurvedic methods… Dr. Popat Prabhuram Vaidya [was] Bombay’s leading healthcare practitioner at the time. If not for Dr. Popat’s strong stance against British oppression of Ayurveda, one of the most treasured healing systems may have dissolved into nothingness. Hailing from a long line of renowned Ayurvedic healers, Dr. Popat exhibited a mastery over traditional Indian medicine. But as a scholar, he also trained in the Western system of medicine, believing that a fusion of both healing doctrines better served the patient. Healthcare, he ardently believed, should not be practiced out of political necessity, but rather, as an altruistic pursuit. In 1896, Dr. Popat inherited the first Ayurvedic Institute that his father had founded, and turned it into the First Ayurvedic College in Bombay, India…
Under the British occupational government in India, the millennia-old Ayurvedic tradition struggled to survive the onslaught of the Western medical paradigm… Dean noted, “There was a clash of cultures where the East was seen as weak against the powerful knowledge of the West. Both groups tried to differentiate their own set of ideas from those of the other. In the East, medicine was largely pluralistic and there was awareness and acceptance of alternative traditions… Allopathic practitioners saw themselves as modernizers and often treated their indigenous counterparts with contempt for their “inferior knowledge.” Local knowledge was labeled unscientific or irrational. While Western medicine was accorded the status of official medicine, the state turned discriminatory and hostile toward the other systems… Texts recording the political events of India in the late 1800s explain that, in an attempt to eradicate indigenous culture and westernize the country, the British began closing Ayurvedic clinics and dispensaries in an attempt to replace the ancient practice with allopathic medicine.
In 1909, after decades of trying to marginalize and do away with native Indian healthcare practices, the British government, pressured by the Western medical system, made a move to disbar Ayurvedic doctors. British persistence resulted in the Bombay Medical Registration Act of 1912, which moved to disqualify any medical practitioners who were not exclusively trained in Western medicine, holding a license or degree from a government medical college or school. Thus, Dr. Popat’s academic institution, which operated on a foundation of convergence between the Ayurvedic and allopathic schools of thought, was rendered illegal. Dr. Bharat Vaidya, M.D., seventh generation Ayurvedic doctor and great great grandson of Dr. Popat, explained, “In 1912, Dr. Popat Prabhuram was sued for practicing Ayurveda, but he gave all of his money and put all of his effort into creating a defense for Ayurvedic medicine. He won this battle, saving Ayurveda.” Shortly after Dr. Popat’s victory, the Bombay Government passed the Medical Registration Act, which reinstated the Indian right to practice the healing methodologies according to tradition… Dr. Propat went bankrupt from legal fees and the disruption of his work but nevertheless continued with his duties at the university and, perhaps more importantly, kept alive his legacy as a traditional Ayurvedic doctor to be passed on to successive generations. – Aakash Vaidya, Ayurved Sadhana, Truth about Ayurvedic History link
Techniques
Ayurveda’s ancient teachings state that to live vibrantly, we must live consciously, and that imbalance results in illness of the body and mind.
Ayurveda offers daily and seasonal routines, diet guidelines, behavior observation, and proper use of the senses to help practitioners bring the body back into balance and cultivate perfect health.
When the three qualities of vata, pitta, and kapha are in their optimal balance, the result is optimal health, leading to an experience of vata as relaxation in the body, pitta as fire in the belly, and kapha as a warm and loving heart.
Uses
May be useful when experiencing:
Virtually any health issue
Can be supportive for:
Disease prevention
Biofeedback, Neurofeedback
Overview
“Biofeedback combines a variety of relaxation methods such as guided imagery and meditation with the use of instruments that monitor the individual’s response.” The person learns to regulate the body’s physiology including “a number of your own autonomic functions — heart rate, blood pressure, and other processes previously believed to be involuntary.” In this way, the person can “control a number of problems” including the reduction or elimination of pain and stress-related issues. [source]
Biofeedback encompasses a variety of therapies used to help patients leverage the mind-body connection to reach a deep state of relaxation. Once in this state, patients can learn to better control their body’s involuntary responses to stress, which in turn, can help alleviate symptoms associated with a wide variety of ailments and disorders, including stress/anxiety, depression, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, and more. – Drake Institute of Neurophysical Medicine link
Rationale
Physiological responses to stress are managed by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and are usually unconscious. However, people can learn how to become aware of, and influence, the typically involuntary activity, thus becoming empowered with self-regulation tools for symptom relief.
“By leveraging the mind-body connection, patients can better control their body’s involuntary reactions to stress, including blood flow to extremities, blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, pain perception, and sweat gland activity.” (source)
Techniques
Sensors are put on the body to record physiological measurements such as hand temperature, heart rate, muscle tension, or sweat.
The therapy may focus on various types of feedback such as brain waves (known as EEG biofeedback or neurofeedback), heart rate, muscle tension, sweat gland activity (know as galvanic skin response) or hand temperature.
Biofield tuning is a form of sound therapy and vibrational healing using tuning forks to scan and re-balance the body’s energy field and electrical system.
“The term biofield refers to our body’s electrical system in its entirety — both the electric current that runs through our bodies, and the magnetic field that surrounds it.” [source]
All physical, mental and emotional disorders can be perceived as “dissonance” in our electrical system. Biofield Tuning is able to locate, diminish and resolve this dissonance and in doing so, alleviate and even eradicate the corresponding physical, mental and/or emotional symptoms. – BiofieldTuning.com link
Rationale
“Research suggests the body’s organizing intelligence uses the steady coherent vibrational frequency of the tuning fork to ‘tune’ itself.” [source]
Techniques
A tuning fork is used to scan the biofield. The practitioner feels for resistance and listens for changes in the tones of the tuning fork.
“When the practitioner encounters a turbulent area he/she continues to activate the tuning fork and hold it in that specific spot. Research suggests the body’s organizing intelligence uses the steady coherent vibrational frequency of the tuning fork to ‘tune’ itself.” [source]
General well-being, feeling “lighter,” “getting unstuck” [source]
BodyTalk
Overview
The BodyTalk techniques provide insights to the areas of your body that need attention… BodyTalk respects the body’s own needs and determines your body’s priorities for healing. Then with the use of a variety of non-invasive techniques, BodyTalkers refocus your body’s natural healing response to establish better communication within the body. – IBA Global Healing, About BodyTalk link
The BodyTalk System was developed in the 1990s by Dr. John Veltheim, an Australian chiropractor, acupuncturist, and teacher. Contributing factors to the development of this treatment method include Veltheim’s postgraduate studies in kinesiology, bioenergetic psychology, sports medicine, and counseling, among others, and his search to meet his own healthcare needs while dealing with a life-threatening illness. He traveled the world to find answers, exploring alternative remedies in both Eastern and Western medicine, and an osteopath in New Zealand introduced him to techniques that eventually became the foundation for the BodyTalk System. In 1998, as his health began to improve, Veltheim moved to Sarasota, Florida to further establish his developing practice. In 2000, Dr. John Veltheim and his wife Esther Veltheim founded the International BodyTalk Association. Today, the BodyTalk System is practiced by over 200 instructors in over 50 countries around the world. – Good Therapy, BodyTalk System link
Rationale
Health challenges arise for a variety of reasons. When a practitioner is trained to look at the whole-person, emotional, physical and environmental influences – the true underlying causes of dis-ease can be revealed. Every choice, and every experience in your life, has contributed to your current state of health. Each scar, laugh line and injury has a unique story and a history. BodyTalk takes into consideration your whole-story. Your life-style, genetics and history are all drawn upon to establish a personalized approach to Healthcare that brings about lasting changes… BodyTalk is designed to integrate all fields of healthcare to create a complete approach to health and wellbeing. This includes referring a client onto another Healthcare practitioner or field of healthcare when necessary. – IBA Global Healing, About BodyTalk link
The approach is based on the following principles. The body can heal itself: BodyTalk utilizes what is known as the “innate wisdom” of the body to heal itself in order to recover from any and all types of injury. Stress impacts overall health: Every experience a person goes through contributes to that person’s state of health. Lifestyle, genetics, history, and environment all impact the body’s functioning. Stresses produced by external factors can interfere with the natural communication systems within the body. This interference prevents the body from functioning at its best and can lead to emotional and physical health issues. The body communicates via energetic circuitry: Every aspect of our being—cells, atoms, and neurons—are in communication with each other constantly. Each bodily system communicates via energetic circuitry for optimal functioning. Stress can compromise the circuitry systems (the nervous system, for example) and create chronic breakdown of communication within the “bodymind complex.” Practitioners of BodyTalk strive to connect these broken lines and facilitate open communication between all of the elements of the body in order to promote healing from within. – Good Therapy link
Techniques
You and your BodyTalk Practitioner often begin your session by discussing your health status and whatever other personal issues you may wish to address. Then, you will either relax in a chair or on a treatment table while the practitioner, positioned at your side, will gently use your arm in such a manner to establish Yes/No communication. This Yes/No communication is also called neuromuscular biofeedback, which is similar to applied kinesiology. By understanding that your body has an inherent knowledge of itself, the BodyTalk Practitioner is able to quickly and easily ask your body what communication circuits have become compromised and in which order these lines of communication need to be re-established for the fastest possible healing process to occur. IBA Global Healing, A BodyTalk Session link
The process of BodyTalk can be broken down into these three steps, the “ABCs” of BodyTalk: Ask: Practitioners pay attention to what the body is doing in order to decipher information. They “ask” the body questions and get answers by observing how various muscles tense and relax. This natural biofeedback loop is used to identify and prioritize the healing needs of the body. Questions are also asked verbally so the BodyTalker can gather information about a person’s experience and begin to tailor treatment to that person’s specific needs. Balance: After gathering information about the needs of the body, BodyTalkers chart and prioritize several ways to bring balance to the body and mind. Techniques such as tapping of the head and chest are used to signal the brain and heart to prepare to heal and restructure. Communication: The final phase of the process attempts to re-link the systems in the body and repair any lines of communication that have been compromised. Tapping focuses on various points throughout the body, including what are known as the “energy circuits.” More efficient and effective healing is believed to result when systems are restored and energy can flow between them. – Good Therapy link
Bowen Therapy is a type of bodywork that “addresses pain using muscle and connective tissue therapies” via a set of “moves” that are performed in a specific sequence with wait periods between each. [source]
Rationale
“The Bowen move is so different that the brain decides that it needs to investigate further. When the therapist leaves the room, the brain can then figure out what happened when the Bowen moves were made. The brain goes into an Alpha brainwave state and relaxes the body.” [source]
“Bowen’s effect on the nervous system is very subtle, and the body responds over time. For this reason, other manipulative therapies should be avoided for 5 – 7 days before and after a Bowen session so they do not interfere with the body’s response.” [source]
Techniques
“A Bowen session consists of a series of specific ‘moves’ over specific areas of the body with 2 – 3 minute pauses between each series of moves… The therapist will leave the room between each series of moves in order to enable the client’s body to fully respond to the moves. During the Bowen session, the therapist does not usually speak with the client. The client should, however, express what he or she feels during the course of the session.” [source]
Breathwork typically involves relaxation techniques, bringing awareness to the breath, identifying constricted breathing patterns, and engaging in basic practices such as simple breath awareness, diaphragmatic or belling breathing, mental inquiry, connecting breath with movement and/or gently deepening the breath.
Rationale
Breathing affects every system in the body [source], and research shows the direct connection between breathing patterns and emotions. [source] Unlike other functions within the autonomic nervous system, breathing can be consciously controlled. Our ability to consciously work with the breath gives us a way to impact the body’s physiology.
See full lesson series on teaching breath practices here.
Techniques
The most important fundamental for students learning breathing fundamentals is to be in a state of relaxation. Relaxation using yoga and other techniques triggers the parasympathetic nervous system and helps to release habitual tension patterns.
From a relaxed state, people can be guided to focus on the breath, helping them to have a felt-sense of healthy, natural breathing. Focusing on the breath is a fundamental tool for beginning to settle the mind and feel the body. Conscious breathing is known for its positive effects on stress reduction and pain management.
Basic breath training techniques may be used to safely strengthen and expand respiratory capacity. This may include simple breath awareness, diaphragmatic or belling breathing, mental inquiry, connecting breath with movement and/or gently deepening the breath.
More advanced yogic breathing and pranayama techniques may be used for specific purposes, but rely on first having practiced basic breath training for an extended period of time.
Your breath is part of a stress or pain response that is the easiest to consciously change. There is no way to… ask your adrenal glands to stop releasing stress hormones. You can, however, easily learn to slow down or deepen your breath… Small changes in your breathing can lead to big changes in how the mind and body function, including lowering stress hormones and reducing your sensitivity to pain. – Kelly McGonigal PhD, Yoga for Pain Relief 2009 p 23 link
CBT is “a solutions-oriented form of talk therapy” designed to identify thought patterns and maladaptive behaviors “by interrogating and uprooting negative or irrational beliefs” and practicing strategies to overcome them. [source]
Positive CBT is an adaptation of CBT that “shifts therapy towards focusing on what is right with a person and on what is working, instead of focusing on all the problems a person faces and what is not working.” [source]
Rationale
CBT rests on the idea that thoughts and perceptions influence behavior. Feeling distressed, in some cases, may distort one’s perception of reality. CBT aims to identify harmful thoughts, assess whether they are an accurate depiction of reality, and, if they are not, employ strategies to challenge and overcome them. – Psychology Today, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy link
Techniques
“A typical course of CBT is around 5 to 20 weekly sessions of about 45 minutes each. Treatment may continue for additional sessions that are spaced further apart, while the person keeps practicing skills on their own. The full course of treatment may last from 3 to 6 months.” [source]
People may work through a problem, set goals, and practice new skills. “For example, someone with a substance use disorder might practice new coping skills and rehearse ways to avoid or deal with social situations that could potentially trigger a relapse.” [source]
The person may track behaviors, symptoms, or experiences over time to share with their therapist. Additional techniques may include role-playing and practicing relaxation strategies. [source]
Chelation is the process of binding and removing unwanted metals and toxins from the body.
Many green herbs are natural chelators including chlorella, spirulina, cilantro and parsley.
Chelation therapy is a safe, nonsurgical treatment used to rid the body of excess toxins, particularly metals. Chelating agents are available in over-the-counter formulas that can be taken orally at home, and in intravenous solutions that must be administered under the supervision of a physician.– Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Ed link
Rationale
Chelation is a very effective way to treat heavy metal poisoning. Health Canada has approved prescription chelation therapy for the treatment of lead poisoning. Injected EDTA binds with the harmful metal and both are then eliminated from the body through the kidneys. Some health professionals have also used chelation therapy to treat atherosclerosis and/or coronary artery disease… Some people believe that EDTA binds with calcium deposits (the part of plaque that obstructs the flow of blood to the heart) in the arteries, and then EDTA “cleans out” the calcium deposits from the arteries, reducing the risk of heart problems… Many people report less pain from chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma after chelation therapy. The theory is that EDTA acts as an antioxidant, which protects the body from inflammation and protects blood vessels. Again, this idea has not been proved by scientific research. – HealthLink BC, Chelation Therapy link
Techniques
Many green herbs are natural chelators including chlorella, spirulina, cilantro and parsley.
Intravenous chelation therapy “can be a safe alternative to vascular surgery… Most serious illnesses require repeated injections of the chelating agents. The most common chelating agent now used in IV therapy is EDTA [a synthetic solution]… Although there is controversy, it has not been found to be toxic when used correctly… When undergoing EDTA chelation therapy, be sure to take supplemental vitamins and minerals, particularly zinc, chromium, and the B-complex vitamins. This is important, as chelation agents are know to bind with and remove certain vitamins and minerals from the body.” [source]
Chiropractic is “a health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and the effects of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health. There is an emphasis on manual treatments including spinal adjustment and other joint and soft-tissue manipulation.” [source]
Rationale
Chiropractic care reduces opioid prescriptions for lower back pain by 68 percent. Recent research highlights how spinal adjustments can significantly reduce dependency on pain medication such as the often prescribed Tramadol. – Sheramy Tsai, The Epoch Times, Chiropractic Care Reduces Opioid Prescriptions for Lower Back Pain by 68 Percent: Study link
NASA proclaimed Chlorine Dioxide a universal antidote in 1987. Since then, thousands have recovered from illness using this substance, and now many physicians and scientists are saying it is powerfully effective for many applications. This documentary explores the history, safety, and efficacy of the universal antidote and provides interviews with physicians and people who have used it. The Universal Antidote Documentary was released free to the public on February 1, 2021. – The Science and Story of Chlorine Dioxide link
Chlorine dioxide is produced in different forms and the result is not the same. CDS is the name Jim Humble gave to the gas dissolved in water. Unlike MMS, which is a mixture of sodium chlorite (NaClO₂) and an acid and can cause stomach upset and side effects, CDS does not contain sodium chlorite and therefore does not produce any by-products when used dissolved in water. The main advantage of chlorine dioxide in the form of CDS over chlorine is its neutral pH and its safety for human health and the environment. Unlike chlorine, chlorine dioxide does not form toxic trihalomethanes (THM). – Dr. Andreas Kalcker, How CDS Works link
CDS
CDS is an anti-toxin. When toxins meet CDS, electrons are exchanged neutralizing the toxin (poison) CDS is widely used in industries for sanitizing foods and water, killing bad bacteria etc. CDS is not Chlorox or other harsh disinfectants. Hydrogen Peroxide, Chlorox and similar products kill all cells and bacteria they contact. But CDS has the miraculous benefit of only killing the bad guys—bad bacteria and toxic chemicals, and leaving the good guys alone. This is great for preserving your gut and skin bacteria which are so critical to a healthy immune system. CDS has a perfect redox potential with the ability to steal electrons at a perfect voltage of 0.94 so it is non- corrosive and does not create harmful byproducts. – Chlorine Dioxide – the Universal Antidote link
Chlorine dioxide is like a universal antidote. It steals electrons from parasites and bad germs, and it donates electrons to good things. It is like God’s gift to us, and we use it in water’s purification. We use it in sanitation of food all over the world, and yet they don’t want us to use it personally because if you use it personally every day, it keeps you detoxified. Now, I don’t tell people to use it ‘cause I don’t wanna go to jail. But I do use it myself every day. – Dr. Lee Merritt, Cancer Epidemic link
CDS is a concentrated 0.3% (3000ppm) aqueous solution of chlorine dioxide, with no sodium chlorite (NaClO2) content in solution and has a neutral pH… CDS is not chlorine (Cl2), bleach, hypochlorite (NaClO) or sodium chlorite (NaClO2), nor does it contain them. Nor is it MMS, CD or a mixture of 2 components; it is just pure chlorine dioxide gas dissolved in water. In fact, chlorine dioxide technically does not contain a single molecule of chlorine! It is finally converted after intermediate reactions into a chloride ion and oxygen. Sodium chloride is common salt and oxygen and both are essential for our body. Chlorine dioxide has different forms of being produced and the outcome is not the same… The main advantage of chlorine dioxide in the form of CDS is its neutral pH and its safety for human and animal health. Unlike other chlorine products (Cl2), chlorine dioxide does not produce toxic and carcinogenic trihalomethanes (THMs). – Dr. Andreas Kalcker, What is CDS? link
ClO₂ is a yellowish-greenish gas that has a similar odor to swimming pool water. Unlike chlorine (Cl2), however, it does not contain chlorine molecules and is stable in water if it does not come into contact with sunlight (UV) or evaporate. This gas has been known since 1833, but only recently have researchers discovered its therapeutic efficacy. Chlorine dioxide is primarily an oxidizing agent and has been used for 100 years to treat drinking water and for various industrial and domestic purposes. Chlorine dioxide is a gas that is produced when sodium chlorite (NaClO₂) reacts with an acid and is used for water treatment. It is used to eliminate pathogens in water and wastewater. It is safe and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in drinking water. It has the ability to kill viruses, bacteria, fungi and prions by attacking proteins through oxidative charge. In addition, it has an oxidative effect on virus spike proteins cysteine and tyrosine bonds, giving it excellent antiviral properties… ClO2 has a unique mechanism of action compared to other disinfectants. When it is bubbled through water, it is absorbed as an ion. Chlorine dioxide creates a negative charge around the water molecule, especially in the presence of salts. This negative charge effectively neutralizes the positively charged proteins of the viruses, thereby deactivating them. – Dr. Andreas Kalcker, How CDS Works link
MMS
In 2019, the the FDA (what I call the Fraud and Deception Agency) published an article warning people not to drink chlorine dioxide, also known as MMS. The article says that chlorine dioxide is a strong chemical “that is used as bleach,” and is “the active ingredients in disinfectants and have additional industrial uses. They are not meant to be swallowed by people.” Given that lemon juice, vinegar, and even sunlight can be used as bleach and disinfectants, in industrial uses, this warning is meaningless… MMS is a term coined by Jim Humble, which stands for Master Mineral Solution. MMS is chlorine dioxide, a chemical compound that deactivates poisons and pathogens in the body. Chlorine dioxide results from combining a solution of sodium chlorite and food grade acid. The two components are kept separate and combined just before use, which activates the chlorine dioxide. MMS has been used for decades as a safe water purification solution, and a disinfectant solution. In 1996, Jim discovered that MMS could be safely used internally to treat malaria, with seemingly miraculous results… A list of testimonials and additional MMS resources can be found at The Universal Antidote Telegram channel. – Lauren Geertsen, My Experience with Chlorine Dioxide (MMS) link
Rationale
The effectiveness of chlorine dioxide in treating a wide variety of diseases and conditions “is largely attributed to its impact on metabolic acidosis, a condition that is present in an estimated 85 to 90% of illnesses. Metabolic acidosis involves an imbalance in the body’s pH levels, leading to excessive acidity in the bloodstream.” [Dr. Andreas Kalcker]
Chlorine Dioxide is a very simple and tiny molecule made up of one chlorine atom and two oxygen molecules. It is extremely soluble in water and does not create chemical bonds. This means that the gas can be dissolved entirely in water and maintain its structure. Because of this property it can be used to safely and effectively purify the water in the body while completely deactivating viruses, bacteria, fungi, and some types of small parasites. It even neutralizes many toxins, pesticides, herbicides, and pharmaceuticals that contaminate drinking water… It can do all of that without producing any harmful organic compounds as occurs with nearly all other disinfectants. Chlorine Dioxide functions in the body as a reactive oxygen species, much like oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, or hypochlorous acid with the exception that it does not produce chlorinating compounds. It acts through processes of oxidation and mitochondrial hormesis. – Documentary author interviewed here
As a Biophysicist, Dr. Kalcker recognises the limitations of the biochemical view of physiology and medicine, which ignores the electrical nature of energy production in our cells. More fundamental than molecules are sub-atomic particles – protons and electrons – and it is this perspective that makes what Dr Kalcker calls ‘electro-molecular medicine’, not just an ‘alternative’ to allopathic medicine but a truly novel and innovative approach. – World Council for Health Chlorine Dioxide & Electro-Molecular Medicine: A New & Hopeful Paradigm link
CDS eliminates bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions and also virus spike by oxidation, just as it happens in our body with macrophages and not by intoxication like antibiotics. Simply put, pathogens are incinerated. CDS, according to more than 5000 physicians, is the greatest discovery in medicine in the last hundred years. Chlorine dioxide is a chemical commonly used in water treatment. It is used to kill pathogens found in water. The FDA, WHO and other agencies worldwide have approved its use in drinking water because of its safety and efficacy. It is widely used around the world to remove bacteria, viruses and other pathogens through oxidation, leaving no harmful residues… Unfortunately it has been falsely discredited in some media by publishing scientifically incorrect information. – Dr. Andreas Kalcker link
When ingested as a liquid, the gaseous form of ClO2 is released in the stomach. This gas evaporates at a relatively low temperature of 11 degrees Celsius and diffuses through the stomach walls. This process follows Fick’s law of diffusion5, allowing ClO2 to enter the bloodstream and interstitial tissues. Once in the body, ClO2 selectively targets more acidic areas… typically associated with diseased or inflamed tissues. Diseased organs often exhibit higher acidity compared to healthy ones. In these acidic conditions, ClO2 undergoes a series of reactions, eventually dissociating into harmless substances like salt and oxygen, leaving no harmful residues. This aspect is significant as the amount of salt produced is minimal…. Importantly, the oxygen is released precisely at the site of the problem, where acidity and, consequently, inflammation or infection (caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or cancer) are present. This targeted delivery of oxygen to areas with oxygen deficiency is what makes ClO2’s mechanism of action beneficial… We are a group of over 20 researchers, and one of our significant contributions includes the trilogy of studies by Dr. Aparicio, encompassing over 3,000 patients. These studies focus on three distinct stages: pre-Covid-19, active Covid-19 with severe symptoms, and long-term effects of Covid-19, each involving well over 1,000 patients. Notably, Dr. Aparicio’s research demonstrated a remarkable 99.3% effectiveness in treating symptomatic Covid-19 patients, with an average recovery time of just four days. Additionally, we’ve conducted extensive research on the efficacy of this treatment against MRSA and Borrelia infections. These studies contribute significantly to our understanding of the treatment’s potential and versatility. – Dr. Andreas Kalcker interview link
Our observations and collected data, spanning 17 years, and amounting to approximately nine terabytes of data collected on recoveries, indicate recoveries from a spectrum of illnesses ranging from allergies to cancer. – Dr. Andreas Kalcker interview link
Techniques
It’s crucial to understand the distinction between Chlorine Dioxide gas and Chlorine Dioxide dissolved in water, as they have markedly different properties. Inhaling the gas form of Chlorine Dioxide is not recommended and can be harmful. However, when Chlorine Dioxide is dissolved in water, especially in low concentrations, its characteristics change significantly, making it safe for certain applications. – Dr. Andreas Kalcker interview link
Cold water therapy is short exposure to extremely cold water (40 to 59 Fahrenheit, 4 to 15 Celsius) for a few minutes, up to 15 minutes. It may be a cold shower or immersion into a body of water or tub of ice cold water. [source]
Colonics (also called colon irrigation or colon hydrotherapy) infuses water into the colon (the large intestine) through the rectum in order to flush out waste matter.
Rationale
Your colon is 5 feet, or 1.5m long. When you use an enema to flush out the colon, it only reaches the last foot, leaving 4 feet of your colon with fecal matter and toxic waste material. Colonics are a long session in which water is constantly moving in and out of the colon, getting into every crevice and fold, and cleansing out the impacted fecal matter. – Facty Health, 10 FAQs about Colonics link
Cranio-sacral treatment, also called cranial osteopathy, “involves a very gentle touch of the practitioner’s hands… on the cranium (head), the sacrum (tail-bone), the feet, the trunk, or other part of the body as appropriate. It is generally experienced as a profound relaxation and reintegration which may pervade the whole person, physically, mentally and emotionally, often accompanied by a feeling of lightness and ease.” [source]
Rationale
Cranio-sacral therapists attune to the pulsing of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) that bathes and protects the brain and spinal cord.
The forces of nature, both within and outside the body, have a natural tendency to reintegrate and restore healthy function. Quantum science demonstrates that this potential arises from the electromagnetic and other forces which pervade the whole universe, which are the basis of physics, chemistry and biology, which permeate all living beings, our environment and the whole matrix within which we exist, and which are responsible for generating life, growth, health and healing. These forces are expressed in the body as rhythmic motion. CST engages with these forces in order to enhance the body’s natural healing ability and to restore health and integration of body, mind and spirit…
The cranio-sacral system and its motion are subtle. In order to engage with them, the therapist needs to use an extremely light touch – barely a touch at all, simply being there with their calm quiet presence. It is through this unimposing gentleness that the body is able to open up (secure in the knowledge that it is not being threatened)… reaching levels which are not generally accessed by other more physical or more invasive means (which might induce the body’s protective mechanisms). – College of Cranio-Sacral Therapy (CCST), What is Cranio-Sacral Therapy? link
Techniques
Cranio-sacral therapy involves very gentle touch, with particular focus on the head and feet.
In a cupping session, small round cups are heated with fire or manually pumped to create a suction and then placed on the skin for several minutes, thereby increasing the flow of blood and lymph through the area being treated. [source]
Cupping aims to “speed up circulation, break up adhesion, promote lymphatic drainage and anti-inflammatory responses, and release toxins from the body.” [source]
Cupping traces its roots to ancient Chinese and Egyptian medicine. Cupping was documented in one of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, Ebers Papyrus, which was written in 1550 BC. – Katie Rosenblum, Cedars Sinai, What Is Cupping? Does It Work? link
Rationale
It is believed that the suction created by the cup encourages blood flow—and this increased circulation may promote healing and reduce pain. “Many of my patients report immediate benefits when we’re done,” says Anna Brantman, licensed acupuncturist at Cedars-Sinai Integrative Health. “I often hear them say that on a scale of 10, their pain went from an 8 to a 3.” – Katie Rosenblum, Cedars Sinai, What Is Cupping? Does It Work? link
Suction is the core mechanism of cupping therapy. Once a cup has been placed on the skin, the air inside it is vacuumed out through various means, pulling skin and fascia upward into the cup. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the upward suction of the skin can help rebalance the energy within your meridians, facilitating healing. Published research suggests cupping therapy can be used to treat conditions such as muscle pain, knee osteoarthritis, lower back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. – Dr. Joseph Mercola, Exploring the Benefits of Cupping Therapy link
The goal is to keep your body’s qi (internal energy) flowing freely by removing stagnant areas where tension and toxins build up. In fact, those purplish marks on your skin after a cupping session is part of this natural detox process. – Amy Rogers, Simply Massage, What is Cupping Therapy (and Why Should I Try It)? link
Techniques
Cups are placed on your back or other parts of your body. Then, the air is vacuumed out from the cups, sucking your skin and fascia upward into the cup. This leaves the iconic circular marks behind, but they aren’t as painful as they look.3 In fact, it’s the suction that facilitates healing. – Dr. Joseph Mercola, Exploring the Benefits of Cupping Therapy link
A dark retreat refers to experiencing darkness and sensory withdrawal.
A dark retreat will have you delving into the depths of your consciousness, experiencing transformation through sensory deprivation, and discovering inner peace. – Hannah Saunders, What is a Darkness Retreat? link
Rationale
Dark retreats have a rich history rooted in various spiritual traditions. Originating in Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhist monks and lamas were known to retreat into darkness as part of their spiritual practice and meditation. Dark retreats have also been documented amongst ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians and the Kogi people of Colombia. Viewing the darkness experience and sensory withdrawal as a sacred ritual for spiritual enlightenment and inner purification. Today, the practice of dark retreats continues to be embraced by spiritual seekers worldwide, drawing from ancient wisdom while incorporating modern techniques and teachings. – Hannah Saunders, What is a Darkness Retreat? link
Detoxification is the removal of toxins from the body to promote optimal organ function. It is one of many natural processes of the human body as exemplified by perspiration, urination and the lymphatic system among other organs and systems. Additionally, there are techniques for supporting the body in detoxifying, such as walking, lymphatic massage and saunas [Dr. Isaac Eliaz MD]
DMSO
Overview
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), as the name implies, is comprised of two methyl groups and an oxygen atom bonded to sulfur. This simple chemical and its breakdown products exist in nature… The salty smell of the ocean is, in part, due to microalgae near the surface creating dimethyl sulfoxide. In the body, DMSO is then oxidized or reduced, with the oxidized form (more commonly known by the name MSM — a common joint healing supplement) being the primary fate of it, while the reduced form DMS (which naturally exists in trace amounts in the body) is the more notorious metabolite because it is responsible for DMSO’s characteristic “side effect,” a distinctive garlic or clam-like odor (or taste) that is excreted through the mouth and skin… This effect typically lasts a few hours, but in certain cases can last up to 72 hours, and appears to be reflective of the overall health of the body (since as people detox, their DMSO odor decreases)… DMSO is a remarkably safe chemical that protects cells from otherwise fatal stressors (e.g., freezing, burning, shockwaves, ischemia). Since the heart, brain, and spinal cord are particularly vulnerable to injury, DMSO can produce miraculous results for those conditions. The usage of DMSO completely transforms the management of strokes (including brain bleeds), heart attacks, and spinal cord injuries… DMSO has many other remarkable properties. For example, it stabilizes proteins, and thus treats many challenging protein disorders (e.g., amyloidosis and numerous genetic disorders). Many conditions DMSO treats are typically considered to be incurable. – A Midwestern Doctor, DMSO Could Save Millions From Brain and Spinal Injury link
Rationale
Rationale, in Summary Form
It treats a wide range of severe illnesses which are often otherwise incurable and frequently fatal or lead to a lifetime of permanent disability.
It effectively treats acute injuries and rehabilitates chronic musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., arthritis). Because of this, it’s one of the best “pain medicines” out there and has allowed many to get their lives back.
It has a variety of unique properties that open up a completely different dimension to how medicine can be practiced.
It is one of the safest medically active substances in existence.
One of the curious facets of Western Medicine is that while money is always spent on “research,” whenever the occasional miracle drug comes out that works too well with a wide range of applications, it is inevitably consigned to the dustbin of history regardless of the data put forward for it. In the first part of this series (which provides important context for this article), I listed the decades of evidence that demonstrates the simple (naturally occurring) chemical Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) is a remarkably safe drug that completely transforms the care of many challenging and insurmountable illnesses (e.g., strokes, severe head trauma, spinal cord injuries, amyloidosis, Down’s Syndrome and dementia). Note: after publishing the first article, I received many correspondences from readers who said DMSO was life saving when they had a stroke, many more testimonials on Twitter, and a few stories where it was used to treat a pet’s stroke (e.g., this reader’s dog). However… none of that accounts for why DMSO took America by storm and campaigns were launched (that members of Congress eventually joined) to overturn the FDA’s embargo on DMSO. It was because DMSO solved three of the most common problems in medicine:
It quickly heals a wide variety of musculoskeletal injuries (e.g., those routinely experienced by professional athletes or a chronic back injury leading to partial disability).
It effectively treats a variety of joint disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis).
It’s an extremely effective and very safe painkiller.
Because of this, it was miraculous for many with chronic pain and disability (e.g., from osteoarthritis or a failed spinal surgery), particularly since all other pain-killing medications have significant (and frequently lethal) side effects and worse still — often don’t even work. – A Midwestern Doctor, DMSO is a Miraculous Therapy for Chronic Pain and Musculoskeletal Injuries link
Techniques
Injection
Intravenous (IV)
Oral
Topical spray
When trying to attain DMSO, the primary goal is to obtain the highest purity possible and for it to be stored in a container that DMSO will not absorb the contents of. Because of this, I generally advise people to get the highest purity product possible. For years, I used the brand on the left, but more recently, a newer one came out that also works well… Prior to using DMSO, it is ideal to verify you are not one of the 1/2000 people who is allergic to it… The easiest way to test for an allergy is to apply it to the skin and see if anything more than temporary itching or redness (common reactions to DMSO) occur (e.g., do you get hives or a rash somewhere else)… One of the challenging aspects of DMSO is that different people respond to different doses. Fortunately, DMSO is very safe, so you are unlikely to run into serious issues from choosing the wrong dose. Nonetheless (at least until you have more experience with it), outside of emergencies, it is generally advisable to start with a low dose and work upwards. – A Midwestern Doctor link
DMSO is a remarkably effective pain-killing agent, in many cases allowing individuals who’d been disabled for years by their pain (e.g., a failed spine surgery or severe arthritis—DMSO’s most popular use) to get their lives back. Furthermore, it can treat many types of pain other therapies do not work on (e.g., complex regional pain syndrome). DMSO is a highly effective therapy for healing wounds and creating healthy scars, making it particularly helpful for recovering from surgery. DMSO is incredibly effective for healing a wide range of acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries (e.g., arthritis, headaches, neck and back strains, restless leg syndrome, sprained ankles, trigeminal neuralgia and numerous traumatic injuries). It typically has an 80-90% success rate and often has an instant and dramatic effect. This use was particularly popular with professional athletes, as it allowed many of them to quickly return to the field rather than be out for the rest of the season.
Ear Candling
Overview
Ear candling uses a cone-shaped candle to draw ear wax out of the ear.
Earthing refers to direct skin contact with the earth.
“Any part of the body needs to touch soil, sand, water, or a conductive surface that is in contact with the earth.” (Ram Rao PhD)
Learn more about the The Earthing Movie here and see the hour-long film free on YouTube here. This powerful, fascinating and uplifting documentary “reveals the scientific phenomenon of how we can heal our bodies by doing the simplest thing that a person can do… standing barefoot on the earth.”
Rationale
Do you recall walking barefoot along wet sand at the beach or on a field of dew-moistened grass? Do you recall feeling some tingling in your feet or legs, or a sense of warmth or well-being rising up into your body? That sensation is the result of direct barefoot contact with the surface of the Earth, which brims with natural, subtle energy. The Earth, you see, is an electrical planet, and you are a bioelectrical being living on an electrical planet. Your body functions electrically. Your heart and nervous system are prime examples. Emerging science reveals that direct contact with the ground allows you to receive an energy infusion, compliments of Mother Earth… This energy infusion is powerful stuff. It can restore and stabilize the bioelectrical circuitry that governs your physiology and organs, harmonize your basic biological rhythms, boost self-healing mechanisms, reduce inflammation and pain, and improve your sleep and feeling of calmness. – Dr. Stephen Sinatra, HeartMD Institute, What is Earthing or Grounding? link
This therapeutic touch of mother earth is laden with remarkable health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, boosting antioxidants in our body, improving sleep, and perhaps most importantly, promoting healthy blood flow. The primordial practice of walking barefoot is only just beginning to be studied by modern science. So far, one of the most groundbreaking findings is the powerful heart health effect of direct skin contact with the earth. According to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Alternative And Complimentary Medicine, walking barefoot “reduces blood viscosity, which is a major factor in cardiovascular disease.” – Nick Polizzi, The Sacred Science Can Walking Barefoot Heal Your Heart? link
Grounding an organism produces measurable differences in the concentrations of white blood cells, cytokines, and other molecules involved in the inflammatory response. We present several hypotheses to explain observed effects, based on current research results and our understanding of the electronic aspects of cell and tissue physiology, cell biology, biophysics, and biochemistry. An experimental injury to muscles, known as delayed onset muscle soreness, has been used to monitor the immune response under grounded versus ungrounded conditions. Grounding reduces pain and alters the numbers of circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes, and also affects various circulating chemical factors related to inflammation. – James L. Oschman et al, PubMed, The Effects of Grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the Immune Response, Wound Healing, and Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases link
EFT, or Emotional Freedom Technique, is a form of psychological acupressure that combines tapping on meridian points with modern psychology. It was developed by Gary Craig, based on the work of Dr. Roger Callahan, who discovered that tapping on specific acupuncture points could relieve his patient Mary’s water phobia. Craig simplified Callahan’s techniques and made EFT more accessible to the public. – Unbekoming, The Tapping Solution link
EFT tapping is a self-help method that uses gentle touch (fingertip tapping) on a series of acupuncture points combined with “mindful and vocal attention… upon an issue we wish to resolve.” [source]
EFT has been called a psychological version of acupuncture, as the simple process of tapping certain acupoints while focusing on an emotional upset has the effect of releasing the intense charge of troubling emotions. – EFT International, Free Tapping Manual link
Rationale
EFT works with the body’s subtle energy system – a network of energy pathways, called meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Some people are very skeptical of the existence of pathways that previously could not be detected. However, with the development of more sophisticated medical technologies, the existence of the primo vascular system has been established. These documented pathways are accessible via specific locations on the body called acupoints…
What is remarkable is that it works so well. EFT allows us to release and transform the way uncomfortable feelings like hurt, guilt, fear, or anger may be affecting our experience. EFT can also be used to help transform the thoughts and beliefs behind our emotional experiences. After just a few rounds of tapping, people often report feeling lighter and calmer and able to breathe more easily – almost as if they now have more space inside… As we begin to notice, acknowledge, and transform how we carry our emotions, we begin to see just how this may be contributing to pain, illness, or other personal challenges. By using EFT, we can reconnect with our innate sense of unshakeable wellbeing…
We can think of EFT as helping reboot our personal energy system in relation to the issue at hand, similar to the way we reboot a computer, which has gotten stuck or has crashed. EFT can help us reset our personal energy system little by little at a pace that is right for us. Once our system begins “rebalancing” as we tap, we usually start feeling better – more relaxed, peaceful and serene – in relation to our specific problem or issue. Our body, mind, and emotions are intricately connected. – EFT International, Free Tapping Manual link
Techniques
The process “requires finding a phrase to repeat that acknowledges the issue you’re addressing and encourages you to accept yourself. It’s called a setup statement and is the foundation of your experience… Start the phrase by stating the issue and then finish it with an affirmation of acceptance. It should focus on how your problem makes you feel so the tapping relieves your distress… For example, you may say “Even though I have this [problem], I deeply accept myself and my feelings.” [source]
The tapping cycles through a sequence of nine acupoints:
On top of the head
Eyebrow
At the side of the eye
Under the eye
Beneath the nose
On the chin, at the crease
Beginning of the collarbone
Under the arm
On the side of the hand, where you would karate chop
One study comparing EFT tapping for anxiety showed positive results over standard treatment options… A 2023 study indicates that healthcare professionals who practiced EFT experienced less anxiety and stress during the Covid-19 pandemic. A promising 2020 study details how those who practice EFT tapping experience decreased cortisol levels. The results indicate it can be effective in lowering stress and anxiety. – Nicole Washington DO, PsychCentral, Understanding EFT Tapping link
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)
Overview
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — is a powerful therapeutic treatment that helps dissolve the stress associated with traumatic memories. Unlike traditional talk therapy, repeated studies have shown that EMDR can be as effective as years of traditional psychotherapy. – Healing Pathways of Houston, What is EMDR Therapy and How Does it Work? link
During EMDR, a person “attends to emotionally disturbing material in brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus. Therapist-directed lateral eye movements are the most commonly used external stimulus but a variety of other stimuli including hand-tapping and audio stimulation are often used.” [source]
Rationale
For reasons believed by a Harvard researcher to be connected with the biological mechanisms involved in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, internal associations arise and the clients begin to process the memory and disturbing feelings… In successful EMDR therapy, the meaning of painful events is transformed on an emotional level. For instance, a rape victim shifts from feeling horror and self-disgust to holding the firm belief that, “I survived it and I am strong.” Unlike talk therapy, the insights clients gain in EMDR therapy result not so much from clinician interpretation, but from the client’s own accelerated intellectual and emotional processes. – EMDR Institute Inc, What is EMDR Therapy link
If your system is imbalanced or distressed due to a traumatic event, the emotional wound can cause a blockage and lead to intense suffering and mental decline. It can prevent our minds and body’s from their inborn process of returning to balance and wholeness. Once the blockage is removed, healing can resume. EMDR-trained therapists help their clients activate their natural healing response and signal to the mind and body that it is safe to release and process the blockage and move into greater healing… You might be wondering: “why does moving my eyes back and forth (or another form of bilateral stimulation such as tapping) help dissolve traumatic memories?” Let’s dive into that: REM (Rapid Eye Movement) is a stage of sleeping connected with dreaming and memory consolidation… REM is an important stage of sleep when it comes to helping us process our emotions and memories. Bilateral stimulation used in EMDR helps activate our body’s natural healing so the meaning of traumatic events can be processed and transformed on a deep emotional level… Just like how your body knows what to do when you get a cut on your arm, EMDR helps your mind naturally heal from psychological wounds. – Healing Pathways of Houston link
Techniques
Eye movements (or other bilateral stimulation) are used during one part of the session. After the clinician has determined which memory to target first, he asks the client to hold different aspects of that event or thought in mind and to use his eyes to track the therapist’s hand as it moves back and forth across the client’s field of vision. – EMDR Institute Inc link
EMDR does not require that all memories be consciously talked about and analyzed for hours on end. Instead, it prompts our brain’s natural healing abilities to work through blocks and move towards healing. – Healing Pathways of Houston link
More than 30 positive controlled outcome studies have been done on EMDR therapy. Some of the studies show that 84%-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have post-traumatic stress disorder after only three 90-minute sessions. Another study, funded by the HMO Kaiser Permanente, found that 100% of the single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims no longer were diagnosed with PTSD after only six 50-minute sessions. In another study, 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD in 12 sessions. There has been so much research on EMDR therapy that it is now recognized as an effective form of treatment for trauma and other disturbing experiences by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization and the Department of Defense. – EMDR Institute Inc link
The EESystem leverages scalar energy to enhance holistic health, showing positive effects on cellular regeneration, immune function, and psychological well-being. Plus, it doesn’t involve any surgery or medicine, making it a gentle way to support your overall health. – The Truth About Cancer, Interview w/ Jason Shurka on the Power of the “Energy Enhancement System” link
Rationale
One study led by Dr. V. Marcial-Vega highlights significant improvements in patients’ health metrics after exposure to scalar energy fields. Similarly, Dr. L. Marconi’s research points to enhanced psychological well-being among participants. Ty had an amazing experience at the Music City Energy Spa when he experienced the EESystem. Here is a 1-minute video of him sharing his perspective. – The Truth About Cancer link
1.75 hrs, From Tesla to DNA: The Science of Scalar Waves with Dr. Sandra Rose Michael, founder of EESystem
Energy psychology is defined differently by different sources:
Energy psychology “addresses the relationship of energy systems to emotion, cognition, behavior and health.” [source]
Energy psychology is “a family of mind-body methods that rapidly reduce stress and trauma…. Methods combine cognitive interventions with somatic techniques that influence the human bio-energy systems such as meridians, chakras and the biofield to elevate physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.” [source]
Energy psychology is “an approach to psychotherapy that involves coaching and healthcare treatment to work on the important mind-body connection.” [source]
Energy psychology provides simple methods for shifting brain patterns that lead to unwanted thoughts, feelings, and actions. Drawing from both ancient healing traditions and contemporary psychological science, it has been called “psychological acupuncture without the needles.” The approach combines established psychological methods with tapping on acupuncture points that send signals to the brain which change dysfunctional responses. – David Feinstein PhD, Energy Psychology, What is Energy Psychology? link
Energy psychotherapy is “the assessment and treatment of psychological problems via bioenergy systems.” [source]
Rationale
Epigenetics argues that the choices we make in our lives actually influence our genes and our cells more than our DNA… Energy psychology works on that principle, helping to improve the lives of individuals, as well as their mind and bodies. In his best-selling book, the Biology of Belief, Dr. Bruce Lipton looks at epigenetics and how genes are controlled by signals that don’t come from the cell, but come from outside of it. This is no quick idea he came up with, but one that is grounded in his decades of experience as a cell biologist, as well as with quantum physics and his deep understanding of the processing system of cells. – Dr. Bruce H. Lipton PhD, Energy Psychology Changes How You Think link
Enzyme therapy refers to the use of enzyme-based “industrial” (pharmaceutical) drugs therapeutically. [source] “Replacement enzymes are derived from human, animal, and plant cells that are then genetically modified and processed.” [source]
Enzymes are essential in biochemical processes. They catalyze hundreds of stepwise metabolism reactions, preserving and transforming chemical energy and generating biological macromolecules from precursors. Their catalytic activity depends on the integrity of their native protein conformation. The activity of one or more enzymes is impaired in many diseases due to mutations [4]… [One] approach is to use enzymes directly as therapeutic drugs. They were used firstly at the end of the 19th century, when enzymes such as pepsin were used to treat dyspepsia [6]… However, the short functional in vivo half-lives of therapeutic enzymes due to their exposure to endogenous degrading mechanisms, unwanted adverse effects and toxicity, poor tissue specificity, as well as the activation of immune responses, must be improved to develop its therapeutic potential. – Miguel de la Fuente et al, NIH, Enzyme Therapy: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives link
While in many cases ERT is the only effective treatment for a given lysosomal storage disorder, there are also some limitations and side effects to consider, such as:
High cost of treatment. ERT treatments are expensive, with yearly costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. For most people this requires hefty assistance from insurance.
Immunological response against the infused enzyme. ERT can trigger immune responses based on how the body reacts to the infused enzyme. These effects will vary from person to person.
Development of resistance to enzymes. The effectiveness of some ERTs can decrease over time if the body develops a resistance to the replacement enzymes.
Not a cure. Lifelong treatments are necessary with any ERT, sometimes even when adverse effects occur. While ERT can replace deficient enzymes, it does not produce in the body an ability to make them, so treatments must be given for the entire duration of a patient’s life in order to mitigate the effects of having a lysosomal storage disorder.
Uneven biodistribution. This means that the replacement enzyme is not distributed the same across the entire body and its organs. Therefore, the effectiveness of the therapy may be limited in certain areas of the body, and some symptoms of the LSDs may persist despite therapy.
– Infusion Associates, What is Enzyme Replacement Therapy and How Does it Work? link
Techniques
The most common method of ERT is through IV infusions, in which the replacement enzyme is administered directly into the bloodstream through a controlled drip of fluids. Replacement enzymes for ERT are derived from human, animal, and plant cells that are then genetically modified and processed before being given to the patient. – Infusion Associates link
Family Constellation Therapy
Overview
In family constellation therapy, people unrelated to the client take on the roles of various family members and act out dynamics related to the client’s concerns. It’s a form of expressive therapy intended to help the client work through a concern or develop insight into a conflict. – Amy Marschall PsyD and Steven Gans MD, Verywell Mind, What is Family Constellation Therapy? link
Rationale
Clients sometimes experience catharsis following this intervention because it allows them to work through conflict, trauma, and difficult experiences in a safe environment. Focusing on patterns and dynamics they had not previously considered helps clients develop greater insight into their behaviors. This can lead to healthier communication and more fulfilling relationships. Family constellations also create a powerful space for processing traumatic events from the client’s past. – Amy Marschall PsyD and Steven Gans MD link
Techniques
Family Constellation Therapy may be conducted in a group setting or with an individual.
Family constellation therapy helps clients clarify and work on many types of issues. For example:
The client wants to break dysfunctional or harmful patterns in their relationships that might be related to dynamics that they learned from their family of origin.
A couple wants to understand each other’s history and how their families of origin affect what they each bring to the relationship.
The client wants to confront an abuser from childhood who is deceased, unreachable, or unsafe to contact.
The client wants insight into patterns from childhood that continue to affect their mental health.
Family constellations are not limited to specific diagnoses. However, they can be particularly beneficial for those working through childhood trauma, the death of a relative, or various mental health diagnoses, including depression and anxiety. – Amy Marschall PsyD and Steven Gans MD link
Fasting is the practice of abstaining from eating for a period of time. Intermittent fasting is a particular type of fast that involves alternating periods of eating and abstention.
Weight loss is something fasting and calorie restriction have in common but… chronic calorie restriction and fasting are not the same things…. The key to intermittent fasting is when you eat — not how much. Intermittent fasting actually has nothing to do with counting calories, chronically restricting food, or eating less overall. – Dr. Will Cole, Intuitive Fasting 2021 p 18 link
Rationale
It makes perfect sense to support our bodies by recreating as much of an evolutionary feeding and fasting norm as our hunter gather ancestors. They may have faced very different challenges, but they required an equally high level of resilience in order to survive and the fact we are here, is a testament to their success. … Our bodies are perfectly adapted to periods of starvation and have developed a number of systems for maintaining sufficient energy for the brain, immune system and performance. In order to feed the brain during periods of starvation, the liver produces glucose from protein building blocks, amino acids, (gluconeogenesis) and ketones from fatty acids (ketogenesis). Fat cells (adipocytes) have to release the fatty acids they’re holding to fuel the ketogenesis, and, at the same time, as we’ve covered, secretion of insulin by the pancreas is decreased to enable the liver to carry out these specific functions. This is why the key noticeable metabolic changes that arise from calorie restriction and intermittent fasting are gluconeogenesis (producing glucose from protein), ketogenesis (producing ketones from fatty acids), low insulin levels and increased fat-burning (lipolysis). The latter even happens in your sleep without you needing to do anything when your body has fully keto-adapted. – Alliance for Natural Health, Fasting is the Fastest Way to a Disease-Free, Long Life link
Techniques
Some types of fasting are:
Cultural, Religious & Spiritual Observations — Participants may restrict eating to between dawn and dusk during Ramadan or give up certain foods during Lent, for example.
Intermittent Fasting (IF) — Various protocols are used such as the 16/8 method, which involves eating within an eight-hour window in order to fast for 16 hours per day. Other versions shorten the eating window such as to 4 hours. OMAD refers to the practice of eating one meal per day.
Liquid Fasts — In this version, participants consume only vegetable broth or juices during the fasting period
Water Fasts — In this version, participants consume only water during the fasting period
Dry Fasts — In this version, participants consume nothing during the fasting period
Most people will benefit greatly from consulting guidelines to prepare physically, mentally and spiritually to fast, and for ways of easing back into eating that optimize results from fasting.
Research supports intermittent fasting as a way to manage weight and some forms of disease. – Ayla Roberts, The Epoch Times, Intermittent Fasting Protects Against Liver Inflammation, Cancer, Study Finds link
There is evidence that fasting-induced autophagy may be protective against allergies, autoimmune diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, and diseases of the nervous system. Osteopath Christof Plothe has personally seen clients recover from food sensitivities after fasting. – World Council for Health, What the Science Says About Fasting: A Low-Cost Approach to Health link
The Feldenkrais Method is a form of somatics, using gentle movement and directed attention to become more sensitive to the body’s tensions and habits, and to learn more effective movement patterns.
Rationale
Mindfulness stimulates the brain to create new neural pathways, making it possible to identify dysfunctional patterns (in muscular holding, breathing or movement, for example) and to create new, more harmonious ones.
Your own body awareness and attention stimulates the brain to create new neural pathways that enable optimal movement patterns and function. This brain activity is called “neuroplasticity.” Neuroplasticity is what allows all learning to take place. As you learn better ways to move, you experience improvements in balance, breathing, coordination, flexibility, cognition, and outlook. – Feldenkrais.com, FAQ link
Techniques
In group classes or private sessions, verbal instructions guide students through gentle movements and points of awareness.
Since how you move is how you move through life, these improvements will often enhance your thinking, emotional regulation, and problem-solving capabilities. – Feldenkrais.com link
Improved interoceptive awareness in chronic low back pain: a comparison of Back school versus Feldenkrais method (randomized control trial) – Both groups experienced significant changes in pain (p < 0.001) and disability (p < 0.001) along the investigated period. – Teresa Paolucci et al, PubMed link
Flotation Therapy
Overview
You lie on your back and float without the sensation of gravity, temperature, sound (if you opt for no music), or visual stimuli while focusing on breathing. Generally, the experience is described as pleasant and relaxing. – Mark Gurarie, VeryWell Health, Everything You Need to Know About Sensory Deprivation Tank Therapy link
In flotation therapy, you float in a dark, soundproof tank of salt water. [source]
The tank used for flotation therapy may be called a sensory deprivation tank, isolation tank or flotation tank.
Flotation therapy may also be called sensory deprivation therapy or restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST).
The sensory deprivation tank was first developed by John C. Lilly, a neuroscientist interested in studying human consciousness, in the 1950s. He believed he could get better insight into how the brain works by cutting the mind off from external stimuli. He also wanted to counter existing theories that the brain “needed” outside stimulation to function. Realizing that being submerged in water can effectively cut a person off from other stimulation, Lilly developed a tank filled with salt water that allowed a person to float, keeping their face above the water. – Mark Gurarie link
Rationale
A randomized controlled trial of individuals using sensory deprivation tank therapy found that it may help prevent certain conditions. Primarily linked to reductions in stress levels, these include:5
Depression: Scores for depression were significantly lower among those who had sensory deprivation tank therapy. As such, treatment may help reduce the chances of developing these issues.
Anxiety: As with depression, there were also significant reductions in anxiety levels. Float therapy may help protect against anxiety disorder and associated panic attacks.
Sleep problems: Insufficient or poor sleep is associated with an increased risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, and obesity, among other conditions. Sensory deprivation tank therapy improved sleep, thus helping prevent these conditions.
Pain: Among the noted effects of sensory deprivation therapy is pain reduction. The study confirmed that treatment reduced the perception of joint and muscular aches. – Mark Gurarie link
Flotation therapy is on the front line of many different recovery and regenerative medicine protocols, because it has the opportunity to reset so many different systems… When somebody drops into a float tank experience, it’s essentially the first time since they were conceived that they’re without environmental stimuli … You’re floating in about a foot of water. There’s about 1,000 to 1,200 pounds of Epsom salts [in it]. It’s very buoyant, kind of like the Dead Sea. There’s no gravity; there’s no appropriate [sensory] reception. There’s no skin temperature differentiation, because the water is the same temperature as the skin, not core temperature. It’s hard to tell where you end and the rest of the universe begins. There’s no sight and there’s no sound. Everything is offline, so to speak. Eighty percent of what the brain is consistently bringing in is environmental stimuli. Now, there’s more energy toward the recuperative mechanisms.
It’s both a brain technology and a consciousness technology, because … [the] flotation tank [experience] is like meditation on steroids. If somebody’s using it [for] recuperative and regenerative [purposes], they may well find more peace in their lives outside of the tank as well … because it starts to reset the neuroendocrine system. Cortisol levels normalize. Global inflammatory markers normalize. Blood pressure normalizes. The relationship between the brain and the endocrine or the hormonal systems starts to optimize.– Dr. Dan Engle, Mercola.com, Concussion Repair Manual: A Guide to Traumatic Brain Injury link
Techniques
Initially, these tanks were closed, cutting a person off from any external light or sound. Now they can be adjusted to allow in some light, be left open, or even play relaxing music, depending on your preference. They are filled with 10 inches of body-temperature water mixed with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate). Typical sensory deprivation tank therapy sessions last about 60 minutes, though they can be shorter or longer.
The various effects of sensory deprivation tank therapy on athletic performance are well documented. It has been found effective in speeding up recovery after strenuous physical training by decreasing blood lactate in a study of 24 college students. A 2016 study of 60 elite athletes also found it improved psychological recovery following intense training and competition. – Timothy J. Legg, PhD, Healthline, Everything You Need to Know about Sensory Deprivation Tank Therapy link
Flower Essence Therapy / Bach Flower Remedies
Overview
Flower essences are the vibrational energy of plants charged into liquid. This process was created by Dr. Edward Bach, a medical physician in England in the 1930s. Flower Essence therapy is a gentle, holistic healing modality using the energetic power of plants. When taken over time, flower essences help clear the emotional body and bring healing to both long held wounds and acute changes in mood… Clients have described essences as “like taking a deep breath” and “feeling both lighter and more grounded at the same time.”
Techniques
A flower essence practitioner works with you to pair specific essences to help with your unique circumstance and emotional self.
Forest Bathing / Shinrin-Yoku / Being in Nature
Overview
To be in nature refers to time spent in natural environments, such as parks, meadows, forests, or gardens.
In Japanese, shinrin-yoku means “absorbing the forest atmosphere.” [source] Known also as Forest Bathing, it means to “allow nature to envelop you and rediscover the peace and well-being that lies within.[source] Dr. Rangan Chaterjee speaks of being in nature as “spending time in an environment that nourishes rather than drains us.”
Shinrin-yoku insinuates a spiritual and literal absorption of nature. The airborne chemicals plants give off … help humans by increasing white blood cell counts, providing the benefits that keep forest bathers returning. – Steve Russell, Environment, Shinrin-Yoku: the Art of Japanese Forest Bathing link
Step into a sun-dappled forest, inhale the crisp air scented with pine needles, and soak in the tranquility. This isn’t just a walk in the park; it’s an immersion in the ancient Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. Research reveals that spending time amidst nature significantly reduces stress, boosts immunity, and enhances overall well-being. – Rob Herring, Earth Conscious Life, Connect with Nature: 5 Forest Bathing Techniques for Rejuvenation link
See also: Horticulture Therapy
Rationale
We often forget that we are nature. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to nature, we’ve lost our connection to ourselves. – Andy Goldsworthy link
Spending time in an environment that nourishes rather than drains us, can set us up for the day… If you work in a city and there’s a green space nearby, try going there every lunchtime. Even if you don’t have access to a park, bring a bit of nature into your home with window boxes or plants. Even putting up pictures of natural terrain or changing your screensaver to outdoor scenes will go some way towards it. The key is to make sure you get your dose of nature daily – it’s an easy habit to form, and the benefits make it worth finding time for. – Dr. Rangan Chaterjee, Newsletter Apr 5, 2024 link
Research indicates that being in nature can significantly improve mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. This connection is thought to be due to nature’s ability to promote relaxation and offer a break from the overstimulation of urban life. Additionally, exposure to nature has been linked to physical health benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved immune function, and increased physical activity. – Vladmimir Hedrih, PsyPost Nature Exposure Might Help Restore Cognitive Capacities of Children and Adolescents link
Techniques
Forest bathing is a personal journey, so tailor your experience to what resonates with you. Whether it’s a silent meditation amongst the trees or a mindful walk with loved ones, allow nature to envelop you and rediscover the peace and well-being that lies within. – Rob Herring, Earth Conscious Life, Connect with Nature: 5 Forest Bathing Techniques for Rejuvenation link
Rob Herring describes these five suggestions “to unlock the rejuvenating power of forest bathing.” Slow down, breathe mindfully, engage your senses, embrace the sounds and silence of nature, and practice gratitude and connection. He also recommends the book, Your Guide To Forest Bathing by M. Amos Clifford, founder of the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.
While conventional healthcare tends to focus solely on the physical body, the functional medicine matrix places mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being at its core. This holistic approach has long resonated with Dr. Patrick Hanaway, whose profound relationship with nature is built on the wisdom of indigenous cultures and his own lived experiences. He serves as a role model for anyone seeking to deepen their relationship with nature as part of an integrated approach to health and well-being. Health coaches can tap into this wisdom as they help their clients bring more balance to their lives. Coaches make the connection between a provider’s plan of care for the physical body and the deeper healing potential that a relationship with the natural world has to offer. Dr. Patrick highlights how health coaches can guide their clients to connect with nature, channel its healing power, and achieve harmony in mind, body, and spirit. Listen to the episode here. – Functional Medicine Coaching Academy link
A new study found that birdwatching can reduce stress and improve the mental health of college students, especially those most likely to suffer from mental health issues. – Amie Dahnke, The Epoch Times, Birdwatching Improves Student Mental Health: Study link
Whatever peace I know rests in the natural world, in feeling myself a part of it, even in a small way. – May Sarton link
Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. – Frank Lloyd Wright link
Functional Medicine
Overview
Functional medicine is a systems biology–based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease… The scope and cost of chronic disease continue to rise. Functional medicine has proven to reverse this trend by providing better outcomes and cost savings for both patients and the healthcare system in the long term. – The Institute for Functional Medicine link and link
See “One Condition, Many Causes; One Cause, Many Conditions” — a two-min video here by Dr. Mark Hyman MD.
Rationale
A diagnosis can be the result of more than one cause. For example, depression can be caused by many different factors, including inflammation. Likewise, a cause such as inflammation may lead to a number of different diagnoses, including depression. The precise manifestation of each cause depends on the individual’s genes, environment, and lifestyle, and only treatments that address the right cause will have lasting benefit beyond symptom suppression. – The Institute for Functional Medicine link
Techniques
The IFM approach to applying functional medicine is mainly practiced through a set of tools that formalizes both history-taking and mapping symptoms to the categories of root processes that underlie illness. – The Institute for Functional Medicine link
Uses
May be useful when experiencing:
Virtually any health issue
Can be supportive for:
Disease prevention
German New Medicine (GNM)
Overview
GNM is based on the groundbreaking medical discoveries of Dr. Ryke Geerd Hamer, M.D. … Standing up for the truth of The Five Biological Laws is a matter of social responsibility and about care for humankind. This does not require special permission! Attempts to monopolize the teaching of Dr. Hamer’s discoveries are far beyond the true spirit of GNM and the movement that is flourishing across the globe. We welcome people from all walks of life to LearningGNM and share this new understanding of health and healing with family and friends, so that more of us can enjoy freedom and empowerment. – Caroline Markolin PhD, Learning GNM link
Rationale
German New Medicine is the awareness that our organism possesses an inexhaustible creativity and remarkable self-healing capabilities. It is the recognition that each cell of our body is endowed with a biological wisdom we share with all living beings. – Caroline Markolin PhD link
The Foundation
Click on the image hereto watch the video of Introduction to the Five Biological Laws. All medical theories, whether conventional or “alternative”, past or current, are based on the concept that diseases are “malfunctions” of the organism. Dr. Hamer’s discoveries show, however, that nothing in Nature is “diseased” but always biologically meaningful. According to the Five Biological Laws, diseases are not malignancies, as claimed by conventional medicine, but are instead age-old “Biological Special Programs of Nature” created for our survival. The Five Biological Laws are in perfect harmony with spiritual laws. Because of this truth, the Spanish call the New Medicine “La Medicina Sagrada”, the Sacred Medicine. Based on strict scientific criteria, the Five Biological Laws of the New Medicine are applicable to practically all diseases known in medicine and are verifiable in each patient’s case. Since 1981, Dr. Hamer’s findings have been tested more than 30 times by several physicians and professional associations supported by signed documents (see Verifications). All documents attest to the 100% accuracy of his discoveries. – Learning GNM, The Five Biological Laws Introduction link
The 1st Biological Law of Nature describes the causes of diseases that arise by themselves, such as cancer, chronic diseases, allergies, and psychoses. It does not apply to poisoning, injury, and extreme malnutrition.
The 2nd Biological Law of Nature states that every SBS (Sensible Biological Special Program) has a healing phase, provided that a conflict resolution occurs. This healing phase usually lasts as long as the conflict is active.
The 3rd Biological Law of Nature states that an SBS controlled by the old brain (brainstem + midbrain + cerebellum) makes cell proliferation in the active phase. An SBS that is controlled by the new-brain (cerebral medulla + cerebral cortex) causes cell loss (necrosis, ulcers) in the active phase.
The 4th Biological Law of Nature describes how microbes, without exception, act as nature’s surgeons by breaking down the old-brain-controlled tumors tuberculously during the healing phase while microbes replenish the new-brain-controlled necroses through swelling. At the end of the healing phase, the microbes withdraw again.
The 5th Biological Law of Nature describes the biological purpose of every special program. Mother Nature does nothing evil, but only makes sensible things!
On August 18, 1978, Dr. Ryke Geerd Hamer, M.D., at the time head internist in the oncology clinic at the University of Munich, Germany, received the shocking news that his son Dirk had been shot. Dirk died in December 1978. A few months later, Dr. Hamer was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Since he had never been seriously ill, he immediately surmised that his cancer development might be directly related to the tragic loss of his son. Dirk’s death and his own experience with cancer prompted Dr. Hamer to investigate the personal history of his cancer patients. He quickly learned that, like him, they all had gone through some exceptionally stressful episode prior to developing cancer. The observation of a mind-body connection was not really surprising. Numerous studies had already shown that cancer and other diseases are often preceded by a traumatic event. But Dr. Hamer took his research a momentous step further. Pursuing the hypothesis that all bodily events are controlled from the brain, he analyzed his patients’ brain scans and compared them with their medical records. Dr. Hamer discovered that every disease — not only cancer — is controlled from its own specific area in the brain and linked to a very particular, identifiable, “conflict shock”.
Dr. Hamer came to call his findings “The Five Biological Laws of the New Medicine”, because these biological laws, which are applicable to any patient’s case, offer an entirely new understanding of the cause, the development, and the natural healing process of diseases. – Caroline Markolin PhD, German New Medicine (GNM): The New Medical Paradigm link
Techniques
The very first step in GNM therapy is to provide an understanding of the biological nature of a symptom, e.g., a certain cancer, in relation to its psychical cause. A brain scan and a thorough medical history are vital to determine whether the patient is still conflict-active or is already healing. – Caroline Markolin PhD link
Grounding
Overview
Often, the terms “grounding” and “earthing” are used interchangeably. See Earthing for detail on that vital practice.
When differentiated, to be grounded, embodied or “in the body” refers to being aware of bodily sensations and the inner experience. Another name for this inner sensing is interoception.
EARTHING — Direct skin contact with the earth or a conductive surface that is in contact with the earth; Your body functions electrically… science reveals that direct contact with the ground allows you to receive an energy infusion” See earthing
EMBODIMENT — To be connected to the sensate experience [source]; to be aware of bodily sensations and the inner experience
GROUNDED / GROUNDING — Experiencing mind, body and breath in the same place at the same time [Jillian Pransky]; as a practice, usually involves paying attention to the sensation of the body in contact with a surface in order to experience a sense of embodiment
INTEROCEPTION — The “ability to sense the inner workings of the body” [source]; another word for embodiment [source]
KINESTHESIA — “The brain’s interpretation of proprioceptive information (related to movement)” [source]
PROPRIOCEPTION — Knowing where the physical body and its parts are in space [based on sensation related to skin, muscles and bones]; when the body is moving, it also encompasses awareness of the strength and speed of the body’s movement [source]
VISCEROCEPTION — Sensation related to inner organs (as opposed to the skin, muscles and bones which is called proprioception [source]
Rationale
The knowledge available from turning inward has always been directly available to the seekers and students of meditation, yoga, consciousness exploration, relaxed contemplation and other inner journeys. Modern research attempts to explain reality via simplified models and experiences it can replicate; therefore it must always lag behind the complex and factual realities of existence. In the case of inner sensing, research is beginning to understand in such ways as these:
“Research has demonstrated that [embodiment] can guide us to more attuned self-care and even help to address challenging conditions such as autoimmune and eating disorders.” But modern pressures of consumerism, perfectionism and workaholism “have led us away from embodiment.” [source]
“Neuroscientists are beginning to study the effects of interoceptive awareness on our brain, in our immune system, and our emotional lives. The results are astonishing: Embodiment, as it turns out, is vital to our health and wellbeing. It may also be a doorway into higher consciousness.” [source]
Gua Sha
Overview
Gua Sha, also known as skin scraping, scraping therapy, or coin rubbing, has long been a traditional healing that is widely practiced in China and South East Asia… Gua Sha involves scraping the body surface with a tool (e.g. a buffalo horn scrape) with or without a skin lubricant to intentionally create petechiae, which is traditionally called Sha and can be loosely translated as stagnant blood. Gua Sha roughly translates into English as “dredging meridian stagnation.” – Eric Chun Pu Chu et al, PubMed, Exploring Scraping Therapy: Contemporary Views on an Ancient Healing – A Review link
Hanging refers to gripping a secure overhead bar such as a pull-up bar and moving feet off of support so that you’re hanging on the bar. It “utilizes your bodyweight to decompress, strengthen, and lengthen your spine.” [source]
A dead hang is an exercise that requires you to simply hang from an overhead/pull up bar like a dead weight. No repetitions, no pushes or pulls, just a plain, old, simple hang… Its simplicity does not mean it is only for beginners. There are benefits to be had by everyone, at all fitness levels, from doing this exercise. – Brian Ward, Workout Digest, 7 Unexpected Benefits of The Dead Hang (& How to Do It Effectively) link
The dead hang is a good exercise to practice if you’re training to do pullups from an overhead bar or just want to improve your upper body strength. Dead hangs also help stretch out and decompress the spine. – Dennis Bubnis, Healthline, Dead Hangs: A Simple Move with Big Benefits link
Techniques
See written instructions and variations here from The Workout Digest.
See video instructions including many versions from the most accessible to greater challenge in this 8-min video by Strength Side, How Hanging Heals the Body.
Uses
May be useful when experiencing:
Shoulder pain and injury, and rotator cuff strengthening [source and source]
Hanging is one of the easiest ways to affect your whole body’s mobility, spine health, shoulder mechanics, and posture. Hanging increases grip strength which is a predictor of mortality. The benefits of a dead hang are immense but one arm hanging takes us even further. Here’s how. – Strength Side (YouTube), How Hanging Heals the Body 8-min video
Heimlich Maneuver / Abdominal Thrusts
Overview
The Heimlich maneuver is a simple procedure of abdominal thrusting to relieve choking, pushing on the diaphragm to expel air from the lungs and throat, and forcing the trapped object out. [source]
Until 1972, before the Heimlich maneuver was developed, the sixth leading cause of accidental death was choking, usually on a bite of food, and for young children, a small toy or other object… Heimlich wanted his procedure to be so simple anyone could use it, including a child… It also had to be quick, because when a child is choking, for example, rescuers have less than four minutes to dislodge the object to avoid the very real possibility of either permanent brain injury or death. The simple procedure is… now followed by men, women and children all over the world. – Dr. Joseph Mercola, How to Do the Heimlich Maneuver link
Rationale
One of the most common misconceptions in first aid is that slapping someone on the back when they’re choking will help bring the foreign object out, but instead, it often drives it further down, lodging it more firmly in their airway… Pushing on the diaphragm forces air from the lungs and throat, forcing a trapped object out. – Dr. Joseph Mercola, How to Do the Heimlich Maneuver link
Technique
Stand behind the person and reach around their waist with both arms.
Make a fist with one hand, placing the thumb side below the victim’s rib cage, just above their navel.
Grasp your fist with your other hand, then firmly and smoothly, press your fist inward and upward until the choking object is dislodged from the airway.
Repeat as many times as necessary, but in many cases, the dislodged object flies from the victim’s mouth so fast that it hits the wall or ceiling. – Dr. Joseph Mercola link
Uses
Choking
Herbal Medicine / Herbology / Traditional Medicine / Nutritional Supplementation
Overview
Herbal medicine refers to preparations made from plants, used to prevent and treat diseases and ailments, or to promote health and healing. [source] Remedies may come from the leaf, flower, stem, seed, root, fruit or bark of the plant.
May also be called traditional medicine or be a part of various indigenous traditions.
Also known as botanical medicine, phytotherapy and phytomedicine.
Traditional medicine is “the knowledge, skills and practices indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health and in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness… a common philosophy is a holistic approach to life, equilibrium of the mind, body, and the environment, and an emphasis on health rather than on disease. Generally, the focus is on the overall condition of the individual, rather than on the particular ailment or disease, and the use of herbs is a core part of all systems of traditional medicine. – Sissi Watchtel-Galor and Iris F. Benzie, NIH, Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects Chapter 1 link
Rationale
Many “folk medicine” remedies once brushed off as superstitious have gained clinical credibility, as modern research uncovers biological mechanisms supporting certain natural therapies. Cabbage leaves for joint pain relief exemplify this pattern — what seemed like an old wives’ tale now displays real promise treating knee osteoarthritis. Cabbage leaves contain compounds that may reduce inflammation and swelling when applied topically.4 Two recent studies have rigorously tested cabbage leaves for osteoarthritic knees. Lauche et al. (2016) conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing 4 weeks of cabbage leaf treatment to usual care without intervention and a topical diclofenac gel. Patients who used cabbage leaf wraps for at least 2 hours daily reported significantly reduced pain and better physical functioning than no treatment after 4 weeks. Cabbage leaves performed comparably to the NSAID diclofenac gel. (5) – GreenMedInfo, Hidden In Your Fridge: Cabbage Leaves Offer NSAID-Level Knee Arthritis Help link
A randomized study published in Phytomedicine found that an ointment made from bee propolis extract heals genital herpes outbreaks faster, more completely, and with fewer side effects than the standard antiviral acyclovir. (1) – GreenMedInfo, Bee Propolis Beats Acyclovir for Treating Genital Herpes link
Techniques
From a TCM perspective, herbs are classified by flavors, natures, actions and associated meridians, “combined into a complex herbal formula tailored to a person’s needs.” [source]
Uses
May be useful when experiencing:
Virtually any health issue
Can be supportive for:
Disease prevention
High Altitude Training
Overview
High altitude training is the practice of training at high elevations. In sports, high altitude typically means at least 7,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. At this elevation, there’s less oxygen in the air. Your workout will feel more difficult, and you’ll get tired more quickly. – Gregory Minnis, Healthline, All About High Altitude Fitness Training link
Though different definitions exist of what constitutes altitude training, we will, for the sake of clarity, consider altitudes in the region of 1500m to 3000m above sea level. – World Athletics, The Basics, Benefits and Limits of Altitude Training link
High altitude training is one of the effective strategies for improving aerobic exercise performance at sea level via altitude acclimatization, thereby improving oxygen transport and/or utilization. – Ying Zhang and Ning Chen, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, Autophagy Is a Promoter for Aerobic Exercise Performance during High Altitude Training link
Rationale
In simple terms, the oxygen inhaled from the air people breathe affects the energy their muscles receive to perform physical activities. Oxygen is carried around the body within red blood cells and helps the molecules in muscles perform their functions. The higher the altitude, the lower the atmospheric pressure, which makes it harder for the body to transfer the oxygen into the blood. This is why people can often feel lethargic at altitude. In response to this situation, the brain triggers the increased production of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), encouraging the body to make more red blood cells to better transport the oxygen available. This means, over time, the body begins to transport the limited oxygen better than when it first arrived at altitude. When an athlete then returns to sea level this increased level of red blood cells, coupled with the higher atmospheric pressure, means the body is better able to transport oxygen than it was before and an athlete’s aerobic capacity is increased. – World Athletics link
Recent evidence suggests that the recycling of cellular components by autophagy is an important process of the body involved in the adaptive responses to exercise… High altitude training can result in the increase of VO2max, but the exercise performance is not completely associated with VO2max. High altitude training can also result in other changes of nonblood factors [10], such as energy saving, lactic acid threshold, and oxygen utilization of muscle. Upon the stimuli from hypoxia and exercise, the body can produce a variety of adaptive responses such as increased muscle mass and capillary number in skeletal muscle and increased ratio of capillary and fibers. Previous study has demonstrated that high intensity training under hypoxic environment can promote the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in skeletal muscle, thus improving oxygen transportation and intake in muscle tissues [55, 56]. In addition, hypoxic training can also enlarge the cross-sectional area of skeletal muscle [57]. The body compositions after a 3-week high altitude exposure have shown that training in high altitude presents increased muscle mass and decreased body mass at the same time [58]. – Ying Zhang and Ning Chen link
Techniques
It takes time for the body to adapt to higher altitude and many of the effects do not occur until after a prolonged period of time. Various studies suggest there is no increase in red blood cell count within the first seven to 10 days, meaning usually athletes choose to spend a minimum of three to four weeks at altitude. Some athletes choose to be based at high altitude throughout the year (e.g. Boulder in Colorado, Iten in Kenya and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia), coming down to sea level for shorter periods around a racing season… The body will, over time, return to normal levels of red blood cell production if the process is not repeated and the time taken for this to happen will vary from one athlete to the next. – World Athletics link
One popular method of high altitude training is the “live high, train low” (LHTL) approach. It involves living at high elevations, which allows your body to get used to low oxygen levels. You can also lightly train at this altitude. You do more intense training at low altitudes, however. The goal is to gain the benefits of high altitude adaptations while maintaining a high-intensity training routine. – Gregory Minnis link
A 2016 study comparing effectiveness of altitude training versus sea level training, found that altitude training can help muscle fatigue by increasing erythropoietin (EPO) production. – Gregory Minnis link
Homeopathy
Overview
Developed between 1790 and 1843 by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, homeopathy is a holistic system of medicine which understands that when you are ill, you will display a unique set of symptoms through your mind and body together. The totality of your mental, emotional and physical symptoms reflects the whole of your health. It is precisely this totality of symptoms that homeopathy treats. Treating you as a whole person, rather than simply treating one condition, symptom, organ, or vital system, is what makes homeopathy a truly holistic system. – Hahnemann Labs, Homeopathy link
Rationale
If you get headaches, your headaches may feel dull, splitting, pounding, pressing, or like a nail in the side of your head. The pain may be aggravated by light, noise, moving about, eating, being outdoors, or at night; or it may be better from lying down, sleeping, eating, being outdoors, or applying pressure or cold to your head. Your headaches may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, a raised body temperature, perspiration, a need to lie down or to be alone, sparks in your vision, or anger. Your headaches may be brought on by perfume, sunlight, heat, certain kinds of food, or from not eating when hungry. You can see that a simple headache actually has a whole host of characteristics to it. The homeopathic remedy best suited for you and your headaches has to match these characteristics, along with all the other symptoms you experience. There are many remedies that help for headaches, but there is only one that suits your headaches and your totality of symptoms…
When the body is vulnerable to illness, it is “susceptible” to becoming ill. For example, not everyone gets the flu during flu season – only those who are susceptible to the flu will get it. And of those who do get the flu, there will always be some symptomatic difference from person to person, as each has their own unique way of becoming sick and therefore has their own unique symptom totality. This is true for both acute and chronic illnesses. No matter what the condition, everyone has their own unique manner of being susceptible to illness and therefore has their own unique symptom totality. The most suitable remedy for your unique totality of symptoms lessens your susceptibility to becoming sick, and health prevails…
The underlying cause of illness is your susceptibility to becoming ill. Homeopathy works by changing your susceptibility so that your tendency to become sick is decreased, which results in the disappearance of your symptoms. To do this, you as a whole person must be treated. Health exists when your whole body is functioning properly. Conversely, illness with its totality of symptoms is the consequence of your body’s inability to function properly. To change this inability to function properly, your body as a whole (that is, your susceptibility) must be therapeutically affected. This is the basis of true holistic medicine: treating the whole of your body, the whole state of your health as expressed by your totality of symptoms. Therefore, we give a single remedy that addresses your totality of symptoms. If multiple remedies were given, each one for treating a specific symptom or aspect of your symptom picture, rather than a single remedy for your totality of symptoms, we would not actually be treating your state of illness in its entirety. Because all symptoms arise from the general condition of your body, treating those symptoms independently would only be removing them in a relatively surface way. In other words, symptoms would be made to disappear, but the underlying cause of the disease-state – your susceptibility to becoming sick – would not be treated, and therefore the tendency to become ill would not have been subdued. Only by using the one homeopathic remedy that is most suitable for your totality of symptoms will complete health be achieved. – Hahnemann Labs, Homeopathy link
Techniques
Treatment consists of giving the one remedy that best matches, and therefore is most suitable for, your unique symptom totality. Giving the remedy that is most suitable for your symptom totality, and therefore for your whole state of health, stimulates your body’s inherent ability to heal itself. This way, you receive the best treatment for your unique health needs. – Hahnemann Labs, Homeopathy link
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the use of hormones to to help resolve symptoms of hormonal imbalance or a decline in hormone production.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is a type of HRT. “Certain hormone treatments are called ‘bioidentical’ or sometimes ‘natural’ because the types of hormones used are chemically identical (according to molecular studies) to those produced by the human body.” [source]
Rationale
Specific hormones that BHRT aims to increase or balance include those tied to reproduction and youth, such as estrogen (in the form of estrone or estradiol), progesterone, and sometimes testosterone, DHEA and adrenal hormones. (2) During the years leading up to menopause, and then through this transition, a woman’s body produces less of these hormones (especially estrogen), which may lead to symptoms like fatigue, hot flashes/night sweats, vaginal dryness and thinning bones. Various hormone therapy products are used to overcome these symptoms… Here’s my opinion: While hormone therapy might be better than some other standard medical options, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is not the ideal treatment approach. – Jillian Levy, Dr. Axe, Benefits & Risks of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy link
Oestrogen is a critical element of immune function -— for men as well as women. It’s not new information that to be healthy, with an optimal immune system, we need to have our full suite of hormones working as nature intended. But what is less well understood is that oestradiol (estradiol) is essential for the function of the immune system… Progesterone too is important for immune function and exerts an anti-inflammatory effect, which is why post-menopause when these hormones are in short supply, a woman’s health can take such a downturn. Dr Gersh is a huge proponent of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) and described menopause as a “hormone deficiency state”. She feels that every post-menopausal woman should be on E2/oestradiol BHRT at the very least. – Melenie Aldridge, Alliance for Natural Health, Oestrogens — Not Just for Women link
The following is by “world expert on BHRT, Dr Nyjon Eccles, who is both a doctor who prescribes BHRT and a researcher.” He has a doctorate in Medicine and in Pharmacology and “has worked as a general and natural medicine physician with special interest in supportive nutritional treatments that promote well-being, recovery and anti-ageing.”
It is estimated that as many as 80% of women will suffer one or more symptoms at some point during their journey through menopause, including peri-menopause, and these can be majorly intrusive to physical and/or emotional well-being… Initially it was thought that oestrogen replacement alone would suffice to alleviate symptoms so the initial oestrogen-only forms of HRT led to increased incidence in uterine cancers. Doctors then realised that progesterone, the other major female hormone, needed to be given to prevent the hormone-sensitive uterus from being adversely affected. With this awakening came the knowledge that perhaps these hormones worked together to protect human tissues especially those, like the uterus, that are hormone sensitive. The next major awakening emerged in 2002 when the Women’s Health Initiative study showed that oestrogen combined with synthetic progestogens led to an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and deep vein thromboses… Studies indicate that the combination of oestrogen with natural unadulterated progesterone does not increase risk of breast cancer or DVT. This suggested that progesterone in its natural bio-identical form was protective whereas synthetic progestins were quite the opposite. The lessons that should have been learned by all doctors is that progesterone is not the same as progestins and that the physiological effects of both are very different. A fuller referenced explanation of these differences is well covered in my recent article…
This of course, has placed the pharmaceutical makers of HRT in a sticky predicament. Since they cannot patent natural progesterone (the same for all molecules that exist in nature) while they can patent synthetic progestins; their profits from HRT are very much threatened by increased recognition of the differences in biological effect between natural progesterone and synthetic progestins. It is fair to say that the majority of doctors are still unaware of these important differences… We conclude from all the evidence taken together, that not all oestrogens are created equal and that estriol may play a greater role than is currently thought particularly as a more protective oestrogen and as a regulator of its more potent sisters (estradiol and estrone). Furthermore, when combined with progesterone rather than with synthetic progestins, the risks associated with conventional HRT seem to be minimised or even negated. The role and actions of different oestrogens are summarised in a companion article to the progesterone article cited above, namely “Not All Estrogens are Created Equal.” – Dr Nyjon Eccles, Alliance for Natural Health, Bio-Identical Hormones vs HRT – Read this Before You Decide link
Techniques
BHRT treatments include creams, lotions, injections, gels, sprats or tablets that have the goal of raising hormone levels back up to a more youthful state. Examples of popular bioidentical hormone replacement therapy products now on the market include Estrace, Premphase, Prempro, Activara and Vivelle-Dot, just to name a few (there are dozens and even more that are not “bioidentical”). [Jillian Levy]
“DHEA comes both in nonprescription-strength pills and capsules, and in higher-dosage prescription-strength pills and capsules. Most of the DHEA that you can buy is made in laboratories from substances extracted from wild yams… Also available are extracts of the wild yams that have not been processed into DHEA, but that the body may convert into DHEA.” [Phyllis A. Balch]
DHEA therapy should be undertaken with caution. Some physicians believe that high doses of DHEA suppress the body’s natural ability to synthesize the hormone. Women should take no more than 10 milligrams daily. Sometimes changing estrogen levels and making them higher will stimulate the growth of breast and prostate cancers… While undergoing DHEA replacement therapy, it is important to take supplements of of the antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium to prevent oxidative damage to the liver. A better source of DHEA might be 7-Ketoo DHEA. This substance plays the same role as DHEA in the body… but, unlike ordinary DHEA, it is not converted into estrogens or testosterone. – Phyllis A. Balch, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Ed link
In this enlightening episode, I sit down with Esther Blum, a trailblazing Integrative Dietitian and Menopause Expert. We delve into the intricate world of perimenopause, hormonal balance, and the importance of self-care, drawing from Esther’s impressive 27-year career. We explore essential tests for understanding hormonal balance, the phases of the menstrual cycle, and the optimal duration for a healthy cycle. I ask her thoughts on hormone replacement therapy, its benefits, and when to consider it. We uncover the secrets to combating the “menopot” through diet, the role of intermittent fasting in hormone health, and recommended supplements for hormone balance and overall well-being. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the journey of menopause or seeking to support hormonal health. – Dr. Will Cole Esther Blum: Menstrual Cycle, Menopause & Hormone Replacement Therapy Myths & Truths link
Horticulture Therapy
Overview
Horticultural Therapy (HT) is an ancient practice, but a rather new profession. HT has been defined as the use of plants and plant-based activity for the purpose of human healing and rehabilitation.” The “roots” of horticultural therapy were established in the early 19th century by Dr. Benjamin Rush, a physician considered to be the first psychiatrist, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Dr. Rush observed and documented the benefits of working with plants for his patients at his Philadelphia clinic… An increasingly large body of research attests to the unique values of horticulture as a therapeutic modality for people with physical, mental, emotional, and social disabilities… [and] individuals recovering from health conditions or adjusting to disability. – Rutgers, What is Horticultural Therapy? link
The therapeutic benefits of garden environments have been documented since ancient times. In the 19th century, Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and recognized as the “Father of American Psychiatry,” was first to document the positive effect working in the garden had on individuals with mental illness. In the 1940s and 1950s, rehabilitative care of hospitalized war veterans significantly expanded acceptance of the practice. No longer limited to treating mental illness, horticultural therapy practice gained in credibility and was embraced for a much wider range of diagnoses and therapeutic options. Today, horticultural therapy is accepted as a beneficial and effective therapeutic modality in a broad range of… settings. – American Horticultural Therapy Association link
Rationale
A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology compared people’s reaction to two types of work: one with plants, one with a computer. It found that “active interaction with indoor plants can reduce physiological and psychological stress compared with mental work. This is accomplished through suppression of sympathetic nervous system activity and diastolic blood pressure and promotion of comfortable, soothed, and natural feelings.” … Plants have even been shown to help improve PTSD. The Journal of Environmental Horticulture has composed a four-part series on the many benefits of plants, stating, “When victims of natural disasters, who are at a high risk of PTSD, participated in horticulture therapy (HT) programs, they showed an increase in regional gray matter volume (rGMV) of the left subgenual anterior cingulate cortex and left superior frontal gyrus compared with the stress education (SE) group.” – Dr. Tatiana Denning DO, The Epoch Times, The Health Benefits of Plants link
Techniques
Horticultural therapy techniques are employed to assist participants to learn new skills or regain those that are lost. Horticultural therapy helps improve memory, cognitive abilities, task initiation, language skills, and socialization. In physical rehabilitation, horticultural therapy can help strengthen muscles and improve coordination, balance, and endurance. In vocational horticultural therapy settings, people learn to work independently, problem solve, and follow directions. Horticultural therapists are professionals with specific education, training, and credentials in the use of horticulture for therapy and rehabilitation…
In recent years we have seen a significant upswing of interest in therapeutic gardens. These gardens are specifically designed to address a variety of applications within healthcare, rehabilitative and other therapeutic settings… A therapeutic garden is a plant-dominated environment purposefully designed to facilitate interaction with the healing elements of nature. Interactions can be passive or active depending on the garden design and users’ needs. There are many sub-types of therapeutic gardens including healing gardens, enabling gardens, rehabilitation gardens, and restorative gardens… The basic features of a therapeutic garden can include wide and gently graded accessible entrances and paths, raised planting beds and containers, and a sensory-oriented plant selection focused on color, texture, and fragrance. Learn more by reading AHTA’s characteristics of therapeutic gardens. – American Horticultural Therapy Association link
People with physical, mental, emotional, and social disabilities [source]
Hydrogen Peroxide
Overview
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an antimicrobial agent that is made up of two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms.
It’s used as a disinfectant and mouth rinse to kill pathogens plus research shows nebulized hydrogen peroxide is effective against respiratory infections.
Rationale
Hydrogen peroxide releases oxygen when applied to affected areas, which causes foaming action. This is because the blood and most living cells contain the enzyme catalase, which attacks hydrogen peroxide and converts it into water (H20) and oxygen (O2). The oxygen free radicals have a negative charge that interacts with pathogens and damages their cell walls. This helps to destroy bacteria, clean areas, and remove dead skin cells. Your white blood cells make and use hydrogen peroxide to fight bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens… It turns out that the friendly bacteria in the mucous membranes of your lungs, sinuses, nose, mouth, digestive system, and urinary tract thrive in environments that are rich in oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide is very high in oxygen which may help these friendly bacteria thrive but harmful pathogens to die…
A 2016 study published in Food and Environmental Virology found that nebulizing hydrogen peroxide may be beneficial for various respiratory infections (11). A 2020 review published in Medical Hypothesis found that hydrogen peroxide may be helpful for viral infections (6). According to a 2020 article published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology said that using nebulized hydrogen peroxide may help to reduce the hospitalization rate related to respiratory infections (12). A 2021 case series published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that nebulizing with hydrogen peroxide may be a beneficial option for respiratory infections (13). – Dr. David Jockers, Nebulizing Hydrogen Peroxide for Respiratory Health link
1-min, “Dr. Duane Keller discusses why hydrogen peroxide is a better antimicrobial agent for treating periodontal disease than antibiotics. When it comes to bacteria, it’s not all about the kill, but the change in the environment.”
Techniques
Use as disinfectant for cuts, scrapes, burns, etc.
Use as mouth rinse for canker sores, gingivitis, and other minor mouth irritations.
Nebulize for respiratory health. (Nebulizing changes a liquid to a mist. Nebulizers
Dr. Mercola recommends starting nebulizing with hydrogen peroxide the same day as you notice a respiratory infection coming on… adding vitamin D, zinc, and quercetin may be highly beneficial. Nebulizing H202 loses its effectiveness as the respiratory infection gets worse so it is important to focus early on and do it for 5–15 minutes at a time every waking hour. After you feel better, you can do it every 4–6 hours until you feel close to 100%. The goal is to stop the virus before it gets deep in the lungs… Dr. Levy recommends daily treatments several times a day until a few days after you feel completely normal. He believes that nebulizing hydrogen peroxide may also be a great preventative strategy. – Dr. David Jockers, Nebulizing Hydrogen Peroxide for Respiratory Health link
Uses
May be useful when experiencing:
Mouth irritations or pathogens (canker sores, plaque, gingivitis, etc) [source]
Hydrotherapy, Balneotherapy, Mineral Baths, Carbon Dioxide Therapies
Overview
Hydrotherapy is the use of water, steam, and ice to treat injuries and illnesses. Techniques include baths, compresses, showers, sitz baths, steam baths and whirlpools. It may be called water therapy, aquatic therapy, pool therapy, balneotherapy, or hydropathy. [source and source]
Balneotherapy is the practice of immersing in mineral-rich waters, often from natural hot springs, for therapeutic purposes. The Latin word “balneum,” means bath.
Carbon Dioxide Therapies are made with baking soda and citric acid which, when added to water, create carbon dioxide gas.
In Poland, the father of balneotherapy was Dr. Wojciech Oczko, a royal physician who wrote the first papers on the subject in the 16th century. To this day, balneotherapy exerts a strong influence over the medical field in Poland. Doctors are taught courses on balneotherapy during their medical education, and balneotherapy is commonly used as a supplement to pharmacotherapy. – Mark Sloan, Bath Bombs & Balneotherapy
Both hot and cold mineral springs are found throughout nature and have existed for millennia.2 Hot springs are also referred to as thermal springs. Tens of thousands of mineral springs exist throughout the world.3 Mineral springs often contain trace amounts of minerals, including calcium, sodium, magnesium, chloride, iron, and sulfate, as well as gases, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen. Some mineral springs also contain trace amounts of radioactive elements. In addition to being classified by their mineral contents, spring types are also determined by their temperature, pH levels, and flow rates. – The Human Condition, Balneotherapy, Therapeutic Waters, and Healing Springs
Rationale
Dr. Maynard Murray, an American biochemist and medical doctor, dedicated a significant portion of his life to studying the role of minerals in plant and animal health. One of his most notable discoveries was the unique composition of ocean water and its potential implications for human health. Dr. Murray found that ocean water contains a wide array of minerals and trace elements, totaling over 90 different substances. What was particularly remarkable about his findings was that these minerals were present in the ocean water in the exact proportions required by human blood serum and other biological fluids. This led him to believe that the mineral balance in ocean water could be crucial for maintaining optimal health in humans and other living organisms. To further investigate his hypothesis, Dr. Murray analyzed the health of various marine animals. He found that sea creatures rarely, if ever, developed chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, or other degenerative conditions. Moreover, he observed that biological aging seemed to be absent in marine life. These findings suggested that the mineral-rich environment of the ocean could be a key factor in promoting health and longevity. Dr. Murray’s work laid the foundation for further research into the potential health benefits of consuming foods grown in mineral-rich soils or water and the use of sea minerals in human nutrition and therapy. – Lies are Unbekoming, Balneotherapy link
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a versatile substance that has many therapeutic applications. One of its primary uses is for detoxification… In medical settings, sodium bicarbonate is often used as an antidote for chemical poisonings and drug overdoses, as it can help to mitigate the harmful effects of these substances. Another therapeutic use of baking soda is in the treatment of certain cancers. Research has shown that sodium bicarbonate can help to alkalize the body, creating an environment that is less hospitable to cancer cells… Baking soda can also be used to enhance exercise performance and recovery… Consuming baking soda before exercise has been shown to reduce lactic acid buildup, allowing for improved endurance and reduced post-exercise discomfort. – Lies are Unbekoming, Balneotherapy link
Carbon dioxide plays a critical role in cellular metabolism and oxygen utilization in the body. At the most basic level, carbon dioxide is a byproduct of cellular respiration… However, carbon dioxide’s role in metabolism goes beyond being a mere byproduct. It is essential for the proper functioning of the Bohr effect, which describes how oxygen is released from hemoglobin in red blood cells. Hemoglobin is the protein responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues. When carbon dioxide levels in the blood are high, it causes a conformational change in the hemoglobin molecule, reducing its affinity for oxygen and allowing it to release oxygen more readily to the tissues that need it. This process is crucial for ensuring that cells receive an adequate supply of oxygen to carry out their metabolic functions. Furthermore, carbon dioxide is involved in the regulation of blood pH, which is essential for maintaining the proper functioning of cellular enzymes and metabolic processes… Therefore, maintaining adequate levels of carbon dioxide in the body is crucial for ensuring that cells can utilize oxygen effectively and carry out their metabolic processes optimally…
Dr. Konstantin Buteyko, a Ukrainian physician and researcher, made significant discoveries about the relationship between carbon dioxide levels and chronic diseases. Through his extensive research and clinical observations, Dr. Buteyko found that individuals suffering from chronic conditions consistently had lower levels of carbon dioxide in their bodies compared to healthy individuals. – Lies are Unbekoming, Balneotherapy link
Techniques
“Bath bombs” or “carbon dioxide baths” are made with baking soda and citric acid which, when added to water, create carbon dioxide gas.
Carbon dioxide-infused bath / bath bomb — “When dissolved in bathwater, carbon dioxide can be absorbed through the skin, potentially providing systemic benefits such as improved circulation and increased oxygenation of tissues.” [source]
Dry carbon dioxide bath — “Allows for the localized application of carbon dioxide to specific areas of the body, such as the limbs or torso… they have been shown to be effective for treating a variety of conditions, including skin disorders, circulation problems, and cellulite.” [source]
Carboxytherapy — Injection of carbon dioxide gas into the skin or subcutaneous tissues, carboxytherapy is commonly used for wrinkles, scars, cellulite and other skin imperfections, and for wound healing and circulation. [source and source]
Drinking carbonated water — “Has been shown to have potential benefits for digestion and hydration.” [source]
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the administration of oxygen at high atmospheric pressure. [source] Treatment involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber for one to two hours per session. It’s designed to “improve healing at all levels since oxygen is required for all metabolic action.” [source]
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy boosts mitochondrial function, decreases systemic inflammation and helps cells generate the required amounts of energy for optimal function. It also stimulates stem cell responses, growth factors, collagen responses and angiogenic responses. – Dr. Joseph Mercola, Hyperbaric Therapy — A Vastly Underused Treatment Modality link
Rationale
It “works by dissolving high amounts of oxygen into the plasma, enough to sustain life even without red blood cells.” [source]
Every cell in your body, with the exception of your red blood cells (which have no mitochondria that require oxygen), requires oxygen to create energy. Many chronic diseases of the modern world involve decreased mitochondrial function, increased systemic inflammation, and an inability of cells to generate the required amounts of energy for optimal function… The main benefits are achieved through the cumulative effect and the… wave of hyper-oxygenation back to normal oxygen levels, creating a hyperoxia-hypoxia type paradox. – Dr. Joseph Mercola, Hyperbaric Therapy – A Vastly Underused Treatment Modality link
The air we typically breathe is about 21% oxygen. If the level of oxygen is raised above normal — here 5x — stem cells react and replicate, likely to avoid a form of poisoning (9). It is consistent with the need for repair when exercising and hyperventilating, and likely explains why short, high intensity exercises are so positive for one’s health: hyper-oxygenation of the blood induces stem cell multiplication, but no body damage, so extra stem cells are available and circulating for repair. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy consists generally of breathing 100% oxygen for an hour. – Larry Cook, Lies are Unbekoming, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy link
In one study, Pollack modeled a hyperbaric oxygen chamber and found that it significantly increased the volume of liquid crystalline water, likely because it shifts the equilibrium towards forming liquid crystalline water. I suspect this also improves the zeta potential of the recipients. One of the most important things about this effect is that it is temporary. I believe this explains why individuals who benefit from hyperbaric oxygen (e.g., Lyme patients, migraine patients, and Covid-19 vaccine-injured patients) often find they need to get a home hyperbaric system so they can receive it on a regular basis. I have also wondered if this explains part of the benefit people experience with approaches like the Wim Hof method which both significantly increases tissue oxygenation and to some extent alkalizes it. Conversely, many people with complex illnesses I associate with an impaired zeta potential often find they cannot tolerate being above 5000-6500 feet (which is a critical concept to consider when setting up a healing retreat—I have seen a few cases where failing to follow this was a massive problem for the retreat’s founders). Similarly, individuals with these types of conditions often are much more vulnerable to blood clots at high altitudes—which I believe accounts for the concerning incidents we have seen on airplanes since the vaccines rolled out (both in pilots and passengers). Note: not moving for prolonged periods can also cause blood clots, but I do not believe that is the primary issue with flying. An airplane’s cabin pressure typically matches what is experienced at 6-8,000 feet, and I have met many individuals with these types of disorders (especially Covid vaccine injuries) who are fine with road trips but cannot tolerate flying. – A Midwestern Doctor, How to Improve Zeta Potential and Liquid Crystalline Water Inside the Body link
Techniques
A soft chamber mild hyperbaric oxygen treatment pressurizes 1.3 to 1.5 times normal atmospheric pressure (ATA).
A hard chamber hyperbaric treatment pressurizes up to 3 times more atmospheric pressure than normal atmospheric pressure.
Kerri Rivera emphasizes that autism and other toxic syndromes usually have several causes and that combination treatments work faster. She says, “There is no one-hit wonder.” Therapies that Rivera has used to treat autism include: Hyperbaric oxygen, gluten-free diets, mebendazole, a nontoxic drug that goes mouth to anus in twelve hours and kills parasites, humic and black seed (old treatments that seal “leaky” guts). – Unbekoming, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy link
Many patients with long-Covid syndrome have seen countless doctors and have taken a multitude of vitamins, supplements, and prescription drugs. Those fortunate enough to have been referred to and completed a course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in my practice seemed to have fared better than most. Hadanny et al, have reported the long-term results (one year) from their original small randomized trial… This is good news for those suffering with long-Covid and with vaccine injury syndromes. Improvements in a range of objectively measured outcomes are sustained over time. – Dr. Peter A. McCullough MD, MPH, Positive Outcomes of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Durable in Long-Covid link
Mitochondrial functioning and energy generation [source]
Hypnotherapy / Clinical Hypnosis / Self-Hypnosis
1.75 hrs, The Surprising Neuroscience of Hypnosis: Myths, Truths & Use Cases w/ Dr. David Spiegel MD. “This is a conversation about the neurobiology of and use cases for clinical hypnosis with the world’s leading researcher and clinician in the field: Dr. David Spiegel. The associate chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, Dr. Spiegel is also the director of the Stanford Center on Stress and Health and has published 13 books, over 480 journal articles, and170 book chapters on the subject of hypnosis.
Overview
Hypnotherapy, or clinical hypnosis, refers to techniques that subdue the analytical mind and provide access to the subconscious in order to program it with suggestions.
A theta brain state refers to one of the multiple natural brain states. A theta state refers to brainwaves ranging from 3 to 8 Hz. It may also be called a state of deep focus, or a trance state. It’s associated with healing and super-learning during light (REM) sleep or being extremely relaxed. Hypnotherapy or self-hypnosis means to intentionally use a theta brain state to implant positive and empowering thoughts in the subconscious.
Hypnosis is a mental state of highly focused concentration, diminished peripheral awareness, and heightened suggestibility. – Psychology Today, Hypnosis link
Long before the 18th century, ancient civilisations were using forms of hypnosis in their religious practices. These rituals, aimed at healing or divine communication, often induced states resembling hypnotic trance. The understanding and application of these practices varied widely across cultures, but they all shared the belief in an altered state of consciousness as a means of accessing deeper knowledge or healing. Although these early practices were not hypnosis as understood today, they laid the foundational belief in the mind’s power to influence the body. This ancient knowledge, passed down through generations, set the stage for a more structured exploration of the mind’s potential in later centuries… By the 19th century, the term hypnosis was coined by an English physician, James Braid, who shifted the focus from mystical explanations to a more scientific understanding. Meanwhile, German physician Franz Anton Mesmer and French physician Ambroise-Auguste Liébeault were instrumental in advocating hypnosis in the treatment of various ailments. This period marked a significant transition, as hypnotic trance and its therapeutic potential gained recognition in the medical community. – National Council for Hypnotherapy, History of Hypnosis link
Hypnotherapy — practiced in one form or another for thousands of years — is used successfully today to treat pain, PTSD, anxiety, IBS, smoking cessation, eating disorders and much more. Proper hypnosis isn’t what you see on television or stage — it isn’t a parlor game — and it shouldn’t be used to make people act silly. It is a therapeutic tool that can help facilitate healing in many areas when lead by a licensed hypnotherapist. Hypnosis can provide both physical and emotional benefits. Research into this long-practiced technique continues to divulge benefits for a wide range of physical and mental conditions. (1) The experience of hypnosis is similar to when you daydream or even meditate. You experience a heightened state of concentration where your mind eliminates distractions allowing you to become more open to suggestions. (2) Today, oncologists, psychotherapists, psychologists, endocrinologists and gastroenterologists, just to name a few, are finding ways to incorporate hypnosis into their treatment plans. – Kathleen McCoy, Dr. Axe link
Rationale
We identified three brain regions whose activity and functional connectivity change during hypnosis… Disengagement between frontal attentional regions and striatum-based procedural regions under hypnosis has been showed to improve procedural learning (Nemeth et al. 2013). Thus, effects of hypnosis may be due to separation of certain brain functions (ECN from DMN) as well as integration of others (ECN and SN)… In sum, the naturally occurring and clinically useful hypnotic state appears to be a product of reduced contextual vigilance (dACC activity) and disconnection from default mode resting activity, as well as enhanced coordination of networks engaged in task management and somatic surveillance. – Heidi Jiang et al, Cerebral Cortex, Brain Activity and Functional Connectivity Associated with Hypnosis link
In the first seven years of life, the brain learns via a form of hypnosis, downloading what it observes. After seven years of age, the subconscious mind is programmed via, for example, input while in alpha and theta brain wave states; visualization; hypnosis, hypnotherapy, self-hypnosis; and, repetition and habituation among other techniques.
Dr. Max Shapiro with Massachusetts General Hospital, one of the leading voices and researchers today for hypnosis, believes that the body and thoughts become more focused while physically the heart rate and blood pressure lowers. In this relaxed state, the conscious mind becomes less alert, and the subconscious mind becomes more focused. (7) “A hypnotic trance empowers people to activate neural circuits that are otherwise hidden. This circuitry can activate greater comfort for pain relief, greater mental focus for certain activities, and greater self-esteem” says Dr. Shapiro. – Kathleen McCoy link
Techniques
Therapists bring about hypnosis (also referred to as hypnotherapy or hypnotic suggestion) with the help of mental imagery and soothing verbal repetition that ease the patient into a trance-like state. Once relaxed, patients’ minds are more open to transformative messages. – Psychology Today, Hypnosis link
While sessions can take a variety of different forms, they generally follow a pattern:
Therapist and patient identify the goals of the session
Patient is urged to relax through a variety of techniques
Patient is engaged with words or guided imagery
Patient lets go of critical thoughts
Patient complies with suggestions
Patient returns to awareness
Patient and therapist reflect on the experience
Most patients in a hypnotic state have the ability to come out of the trance at any time. Their minds are aware of their surroundings, while their subconscious is focusing on an issue. – Kathleen McCoy link
Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a skilled myofascial intervention used for the detection and treatment of soft tissue disorders. It is based on the principles of James Cyriax cross-friction massage. It is applied using instruments that… conform to different body locations and allow for deeper penetration… There are many companies for IASTM such as RockTape, HawkGrips, Graston, Técnica Gavilán, Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab (FAKTR), Adhesion Breakers, augmented soft-tissue mobilization or ASTYM, and Fascial Abrasion Technique. Each company has its own treatment approach with different instruments designs. –Physiopedia, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization link
The Graston Technique is one of a number of manual therapy approaches that uses instruments with a specialized form of massage/scraping the skin gently. The therapy is designed to help the practitioner identify areas of restriction and attempt to break up scar tissue. The Graston Technique is often practiced by chiropractors, osteopathic physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and some licensed massage therapists and athletic trainers. – Thomas Hyde DC, The Graston Technique: An Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manual Therapy for Back Pain link
Rationale
The general goals of the therapy are to reduce the patient’s pain and increase function through a combination of:
Breaking down the scar tissue and fascia restrictions that are usually associated with some form of trauma to the soft tissue (e.g., a strained muscle or a pulled ligament, tendon, or fascia).
Reducing restrictions by stretching connective tissue in an attempt to rearrange the structure of the soft tissue being treated (e.g., muscle, fascia, tendons, ligaments).
Promoting a better healing environment for the injured soft tissue.
There also appears to be a neurologic benefit… This response is similar to that involved with other manual therapies. The literature suggests that when a patient is given manual or instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) therapy, certain nerve fibers are activated. Additionally, the body’s position sense organs, such as mechanoreceptors and proprioceptors, seem to respond to these forms of treatment.
Techniques
Adhesion Breakers
Augmented soft-tissue mobilization (ASTYM)
Fascial Abrasion Technique
Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab (FAKTR)
Morning Pages — Daily, stream-of-consciousness journaling described by Julia Cameron in the book, The Artist’s Way. Resources: link and 7-min video and link
Dialog with Body — Record what comes to mind after asking for the body’s messages link and link
Non-Dominant Handwriting — Resources: link and link
Art therapist Lucia Capacchione confirms that writing with your non-dominant hand helps stress and anxiety. It is also a great way to access the voice of your inner child. You can even use the process to gain insight into relationship dynamics and can go as far as alleviating some physical pain. – Psychologies, Non-Dominant Hand Writing Therapy link
Non-dominant handwriting uses a simple method of putting a pen in the non-dominant hand and free-writing for several minutes. This can connect and make contact with our Parts. The theory and practice suggests it increases our brain’s capacity to access, connect with, and integrate the Parts of us that are typically out of reach. These Parts contain powerful solutions for the person ready and willing to thus communicate. It’s as simple as putting the pen in the non-dominant hand, asking pertinent questions, and then exploring answers! And answers will come. Often they can be surprisingly frank. – Rivka Edery PhD, Parts & Self link
Laughter therapy induces laughter for long enough periods of time to experience the beneficial hormonal effects of laughter, which includes normalizing blood pressure, reducing the production of stress hormones, relieving pain, and supporting immune system health.
Rationale
In one study, even after adjusting for confounding factors, the prevalence of heart diseases among those who rarely or never laughed was 21% higher, and the ratio of stroke 60% higher, than among those who laughed every day. Benefits of laughter have been reported in geriatrics, critical and general patient care, rehabilitation, home care, hospice care, oncology, psychiatry, rheumatology, palliative care and terminal care. In a 2015 randomized controlled trial13 looking at laughter therapy for general health… positive effects were seen in general health, somatic symptoms, insomnia and anxiety. – Dr. Joseph Mercola, Laughter is Good Medicine link
With laughter therapy, blood flow is increased by approximately 50% which is why you see some people turning red from laughing so hard. In addition to increasing blood flow, it normalizes blood pressure. Our heart rate and pressure significantly increase when one laughs, then proceeds to significantly decrease to below average after the laugh… Laughter also boosts the production of gamma interferon, T cells and B cells, blood platelets in general, which are antibodies made to fight diseases, including cancer… The mechanism happening when one laughs prevents immune system shut down from occurring. Laughing makes the flight or fight response non-present, which in turn switches off various stress hormones…
University of California San Francisco suggests that even a fake smile has the power to elicit an electrical impulse to the brain that is then translated into a feeling of joy. Laughter takes this to an even higher level. Fake laughter is just as effective as real laughter. The body cannot discern between the two. The neurotransmitters still send the same signals, the same hormones are still activated, and the same processes are still at work. And, almost always, fake laughter will turn into real laughter, which does really benefit us, affecting the emotions we hold deep. Within 45-90 seconds of laughing (fake or not), the body releases that flood of neurotransmitters and hormones. And after two minutes, fake laughter becomes real… Real laughter has the power to change depressive behaviors into positive ones — which then lead to an increased hopefulness, say researchers at Texas A&M University… There is no stark line dividing emotional and physical pain and laughter’s treatment for them; instead, it treats both. Norman Cousins laughter healed his physical pains. Cousins is famously known for having extremely painful spine arthritis, or what is called ankylosing spondylitis. Every night before bed, Cousins would watch the Marx Brothers for 10 minutes and would be ‘belly laughing’ because of it. He discovered that in doing so, he was able to sleep for two hours, completely pain-free. When the pain would start to come back, he’d repeat the process. – Caroline Zemsky, Your Brain Health, Laughter Therapy: What is It and How is it Beneficial? link
Laughter therapy has a positive effect on the mental health and the immune system. In addition, laughter therapy does not require specialized preparations, such as suitable facilities and equipment, and it is easily accessible and acceptable Decreasing stress-making hormones found in the blood, laughter can mitigate the effects of stress. Laughter decreases serum levels of cortisol, epinephrine, growth hormone, and 3,4-dihydrophenylacetic acid (a major dopamine catabolite), indicating a reversal of the stress response … Laughter can alter dopamine and serotonin activity. Furthermore, endorphins secreted by laughter can help when people are uncomfortable or in a depressed mood … In conclusion, laughter therapy is effective and scientifically supported as a single or adjuvant therapy. – JongEun Yim, PubMed, Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter in Mental Health: A Theoretical Review link
Limbic system therapy may encompass a number of techniques designed to improve the brain’s limbic system functioning, and is particularly called for when healing trauma. [source and source and source]
When your limbic system is out of balance, you have an over-reactive stress response which impacts your mood, your relationships and your physical and emotional health. Follow these key strategies to improve your limbic response. Follow an anti-inflammatory diet, manage stress levels, address chronic infections, address mold toxicity, reduce EMF exposure, increase Omega 3 intake, reduce toxin exposure, prioritize restorative sleep, get daily movement, use a limbic retraining program. – Melissa Nohr, DrJockers.com, Limbic Retraining: 10 Strategies to Improve Limbic System Function link
Rationale
The limbic system is a complex set of structures located in our midbrain. It is called the “feeling or reactive brain” and is responsible for the formation of memories… It assigns emotional significance to everything we encounter and reacts to this information as safe or unsafe. There are many things that can alter or inhibit the normal functioning of the limbic system including infections, trauma, chemical or mold exposure, inflammation, chronic stress, and immune system dysfunction. When the limbic system is not functioning properly, it can become overactive or hypersensitive. This causes an inappropriate activation of the immune, endocrine, and autonomic nervous systems. As a result of limbic system dysfunction, a person is more vulnerable to developing chronic conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities, mold sensitivities, pain syndromes, anxiety, panic attacks, adrenal fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, POTS, and other conditions…. Limbic system abnormalities, dysfunction, and/or damage have been associated with epilepsy, limbic encephalitis, dementia/alzheimer’s, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, affective disorders, ADHD, autism,Kluver-Bucy syndrome, and Korsakoff’s psychosis. – Melissa Nohr, DrJockers.com, Limbic Retraining: 10 Strategies to Improve Limbic System Function link
Techniques
There are many strategies that can help to improve limbic system function. See links in this section for more detail.
According to Linda Graham, MFT, “Simply by making eye contact with someone who is calm, we can regulate our own body and nervous system to be calm.” That’s just one example of how therapies which target the limbic system can work from the bottom up. The entire brain is connected, so by reorganizing the lower parts of the brain, we can actually reorganize the entire system. One of the key insights the limbic system provides is the importance of working with the body in the treatment of trauma… Bessel van der Kolk, MD suggests that we need to create “experiences which directly contradict how the body is disposed.” Here are three examples of how we can use the body to treat trauma. – National Institute for the Clincial Application of Behavioral Medicine, Limbic System Therapy link
Lymphatic drainage massage is intended to help move fluids out of your lymph nodes, thereby reducing discomfort and facilitating the body’s natural healing and detoxification processes. – Jillian Levy, Dr. Axe, Lymphatic Drainage Massage Benefits + How to Do It link
Lymphatic drainage massage is a specific form of specialized massage therapy designed to help your cells release toxic buildup, reduce lymph congestion, and help flush excess fluid within your tissues. It can lower your pain intensity as well. (4 23, 24). – Dr. David Jockers, Lymphatic Cleansing: 8 Ways to Clear Lymph Congestion link
Manual Lymph drainage (MLD), is a technique developed by Dr. Emil Vodder and his wife, Estrid in 1936 in Paris for treatment of swollen lymph nodes… MLD is a light, skin-stretching massage that helps promote the movement of lymphatic fluid out of the swollen limb… MLD is specifically focused on the lymph vessels to help the flow of lymphatic fluid. Therapy is applied to your unaffected areas first, making it possible for the fluid to move out of the affected area, or “decongest” the region. MLD helps open the remaining functioning lymph collectors and move protein and fluid into them, as well as to help speed up lymph fluid flow through the lymphatics. Diaphragmatic breathing techniques are usually done at the beginning and end of a therapy session to help open the deep lymphatic pathways… MLD is comprised of four main strokes: stationary circles, scoop technique, pump technique, and rotary technique.
Rationale
The intention behind MLD is to augment the rhythmic contractions and stimulate the lymph nodes to improve their activity in order to reroute stagnant lymphatic fluid[2]. – Physiopedia, Manual Lymphatic Drainage link
If your lymphatic system is congested, it cannot protect you effectively and makes you prone to infections and disease. Keeping your lymphatic flow smooth and free from lymph congestion is absolutely critical to your health and well-being… While your lymphatic system is similar to your circulatory system, unlike blood, lymph does not have a pump, therefore has to rely on the contraction and relaxation of muscles to move it around. It’s no wonder that an unhealthy lifestyle that doesn’t stimulate the healthy lymph circulation can easily overwhelm and congest the entire lymph system. The good news is that there are a variety of techniques you can use to clean your lymph system. – Dr. David Jockers link
Your lymphatic system is crucial for immune function, fluid balance and detoxification. It removes cellular waste, fights infections and aids in nutrient absorption. Proper lymphatic function is essential for overall health. In our interview, Dr. Perry Nickelston recommends a “Big Six” lymphatic drainage technique, focusing on six primary areas in a specific order: collarbone, jaw, shoulder/armpit, abdomen, groin and behind your knee. Lymph nodes cluster around major joints to facilitate movement-based drainage. Lack of movement and poor breathing lead to lymphatic stagnation, causing various health issues like inflammation and recurring infections. Regular movement, including walking, rebounding and hanging exercises, is vital for lymphatic health. Combining lymphatic massage with other detox strategies like sauna use enhances overall effectiveness. Lymphatic health is closely tied to cardiovascular and brain function. Addressing lymphatic stagnation helps with heart health, neurodegenerative diseases and chronic pain management by reducing inflammation and improving fluid dynamics. – Dr. Joseph Mercola, Unlocking Your Body’s Detox Potential: The Crucial Role of Lymphatics link and 59-min video
Techniques
Usually performed with the patient in the lying position
Starts and ends with deep diaphragmatic breathing
The unaffected lymph nodes and region of the body are treated first
Moves proximal to distal to drain the affected areas
Magnetic Field Therapy / Electromagnetic Field Therapy / Magnetotherapy / PEMF
Overview
Magnetic field therapy uses magnetic fields on or near the body to treat pain and inflammation, and to promote wound and bone healing among other uses.
This treatment may be called electromagnetic field therapy, magnetic field therapy (MF), pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) rehab, or magnetotherapy.
Magnetic therapy has been used for centuries to heal wounds and treat different types of pain and inflammatory conditions… Results of a preliminary study published in Scientific Reports suggest that therapy involving the rotation of a magnetic field can reduce oxidative stress, which occurs when free radicals exceed antioxidant defenses. When this imbalance occurs, organs and tissues are at risk of damage, and a person becomes more susceptible to various diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. – Amie Dahnke, The Epoch Times, Magnetic Field Therapy Helps Reduce Oxidative Stress: Study link
Both static and time varying magnetic fields (MF) have been successfully applied to treat therapeutically resistant problems in the musculoskeletal system. MF have been proven to be clinically safe, and it is well accepted that MF provide a practical, non invasive method for inducing cell and tissue modifications which can correct selected pathological states. Numerous publications suggest that exogenous magnetic and electromagnetic fields can have profound effects on a large number of biological processes. – Marko S. Markov, Research International, Magnetic Field Therapy: A Review link
Rationale
Magnetic and electromagnetic fields are real physical entities existing in the environment… Biochemical and physiological processes are based on the flow of electrical charges (ions, electrons) or charge redistribution in case of conformational changes. Therefore, when an injury disturbs tissue integrity, a net flow of ionic current through the low resistance pathway of the injured cells occurs. Ionic currents between normal and injured tissue play an important role in the repair processes that are essential for restoration of the normal functional state of the tissue. Due to its ability to penetrate deeply, exogenous MF can effectively influence normal and injury currents, thus contributing to the healing process. Basic science and clinical data indicate that the interactions of MF with any structure in the human could initiate biophysical and biochemical changes, which in turn modify the physiological pathways and could contribute to the healing process. – Marko S. Markov link
A magnetic field is produced whenever a charged particle, such as an electron, moves. Both living and nonliving things create magnetic fields that can significantly affect the human body. Magnetic fields can regulate biological functions, specifically the body’s inflammatory processes. They can also affect cell differentiation and gene expression, which can be helpful in cancer treatment… Some theories suggest the therapy supports cancer treatment by improving ion flow, enabling the body to heal better, and altering protein and enzyme structures that interact with free radicals. – Amie Dahnke link
Techniques
Static or permanent magnets / magnetic therapy involves placing magnets on or near the body to relieve pain. They are typically incorporated into wearable items such as wristbands or used in mats or pillows. [source and source]
Electromagnets / electromagnetic field therapy uses devices with wire coil which generate an electric current that can vary in intensity. Included in this category are pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF).
Based on the results, the research team said that “magnetotherapy has great potential to become a stand-alone treatment or an adjunctive therapy for patients with musculoskeletal disorders.” – Amie Dahnke, The Epoch Times, Magnet Therapy Study Reveals Promising Results for Arthritis Patients link
This systematic review suggests that electromagnetic field therapy relieves pain and improves function in patients with various painful musculoskeletal diseases. Electromagnetic field therapy is well tolerated with no reported negative side effects in the analyzed studies. – Teresa Paolucci et al, PubMed, Electromagnetic Field Therapy: A Rehabilitative Perspective in the Management of Musculoskeletal Pain – A Systematic Review link
More than a million patients have been treated worldwide in practically all areas of fracture management including: non unions, pseudo-arthroses, osteonecrosis, and chronic refractory tendinitis. The treatment success rate for these patients approaches 80%, with virtually no reported complications after nearly three decades of use (Bassett,1989; Markov, 1994; Pilla, 1993)… It has been shown that MF stimulation can trigger most of the processes
involved in bone and soft tissue healing. – Marko S. Markov link
In 1997, a group of physicians at BaylorCollege of Medicine in Houston,Texasstudiedtheuse of magnetictherapy in 50 patientswhohad… muscleandjointpainthatstandardtreatmentsfailed to manage. In thisstudy, 29 of thepatientswore a magnettapedover a troublespot,and 21 otherswore a nonmagneticdevice.Neithertheresearchersnorthepatientsweretoldwhichtreatmenttheywerereceiving(magnetic or nonmagnetic). As is thecasewithmoststudiesinvolving a placebo,some of thepatientsresponded to thenonmagnetictherapy,but75% of thoseusingthemagnetictherapyreportedfeelingmuchbetter. – Medical Dictionary, Magnetic Field Therapy link
Massage Therapy
Overview
Massage therapists use their hands, fingers, forearms and elbows to manipulate muscles, connective tissues, ligaments and skin.
Massage has been practiced in most cultures, both Eastern and Western, throughout human history, and was one of the earliest tools that people used to try to relieve pain. – National Institute of Health, Massage Therapy: What You Need to Know link
Rationale
Relaxing massages trigger the Relaxation Response, and the cascade of benefits that come from activating the parasympathetic nervous system.
Massage releases tension in the musculoskeletal system, decreasing pain, increasing comfort, and removing inhibitions to blood flow and nerve conductivity.
The overwhelming majority of people view massage therapy as a form of healthcare, according to a survey conducted in 2020 by the AMTA… According to various reviews and studies, researchers have also hypothesized about and studied other mechanisms for the effects of massage, such as its impact on the following bodily systems: immune, central nervous, physiologic, neurologic, biomechanical, and psychological. – Jessica Migala, Everyday Health, Massage Therapy: A Beginner’s Guide to This Type of Healing Bodywork
There are many forms of meditation, most of which are variations of maintaining attention on an object of focus (such as the breath, counting, or a mantra).
Attention may be drawn progressively inward. Sometimes, there may be moments of continuous concentration or attention where perception is undisturbed by typical mental fluctuations, or there may be a sense of pure beingness without thought. Insight and mystical experiences may occur while meditating. Whether or not there are such experiences during a meditation session, practitioners who meditate consistently tend to experience benefits in the rest of their life, such as increasing emotional balance and stress resilience.
A few descriptions of meditation:
Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet; it is a way of entering into the quiet that is already there — buried under the 50,000 thoughts the average person thinks every day. – Deepak Chopra link
Meditation is a means of developing progressively subtler, more deeply internalized levels of perception. – Gary Kraftsow, Yoga for Transformation link
Meditation is a dynamic balance of intellectual and intuitive consciousness. – B.K.S. Iyengar, Tree of Yoga link
Mindfulness is bringing attention to the present moment, becoming fully present.
Mindfulness is called by many names: attentiveness, nowness, and presence are just a few. Essentially, mindfulness means wakefulness — fully present wakefulness. – Pema Chodron, Living Beautifully 2012 p 52 link
Ellen Langer is a social psychologist who some have dubbed “the mother of mindfulness.” But she defines mindfulness with counterintuitive simplicity — “the simple act of actively noticing things,” with the result of increased health, competence, and happiness. – Krista Tippett, On Being, Interview with Ellen Langer: Science of Mindlessness and Mindfulness link
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was founded in 1979 as a “public health project” by Jon Kabat-Zinn, designed to bring “mindfulness (in its most universal articulations as both a formal meditative discipline and as a way of being) into the mainstream of medicine, health care, science, and beyond… The aim was, over time, to move the bell-curve of society in the direction of greater health and wellbeing on every level.” MBSR uses mindfulness meditation, body awareness, yoga and inner exploration.
MBSR training uses a combination of mindfulness meditation, body awareness, yoga, and exploration of patterns of behavior, thinking, feeling, and action. Mindfulness can be understood as the non-judgemental acceptance and “open-hearted” investigation of present moment experiences. MBSR training includes awareness of body sensations, internal mental states, thoughts, emotions, impulses, and memories. This reduces stress and anxiety and increases well-being. – What is MBSR Training? link
Rationale
Research: Meditation causes widespread changes in brain. (2015)
Researchers compared 50 people with long-term meditation experience and 50 non-meditators.
“Among those who meditated, the volume of gray matter did not decline as much as it did among those who didn’t… We expected rather small and distinct effects located in some of the regions that had previously been associated with meditating. Instead, what we actually observed was a widespread effect of meditation that encompassed regions throughout the entire brain.”
“Starting when people are in their mid-to-late-20s, the brain… can begin to lose some of its functional abilities… [And aging shows] increased risks for mental illness and neurodegenerative disease. Fortunately, a new study shows meditation could be one way to minimize those risks.”
Research (RCT): Meditation altered brain and immune function. (2003)
Randomized, controlled study on the effects on brain and immune function from 8-week clinical training program in mindfulness meditation in a work environment with healthy employees.
Researchers found significant increases in left-sided anterior activation, a pattern associated with positive affect, in the meditators compared with the non-meditators.
They also found significant increases in antibody titers among subjects compared with the control group.
MRI scans documented for the very first time in medical history the fact that meditation produced massive changes inside the brain’s gray matter.
Study senior author Sara Lazar of the MGH Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program and a Harvard Medical School instructor in psychology says, “This study demonstrates that changes in brain structure may underlie some of these reported improvements and that people are not just feeling better because they are spending time relaxing.”
Research: Brains experience different structural changes based on different meditation techniques. (2017)
“The researchers gathered over 300 people to take part in three different training modules—each focusing on a different type of meditation—and collected longitudinal MRI data throughout a nine-month mental training intervention.”
Practicing different forms of meditation resulted in different parts of the brain undergoing structural changes, providing impressive evidence for neuroplasticity in adults through brief and concentrated meditation practice.
“The take home message from the study: all forms of meditation have variable positive benefits for the mental well-being and pave the way for a peaceful and harmonious living! But if you wish you can use the results of this study when you are choosing a meditation technique that’s right for you.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn, the developer and founder of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been an exponent of bringing the ancient Buddhist meditation practice known as mindfulness (in its most universal articulations as both a formal meditative discipline and as a way of being) into the mainstream of medicine, health care, science, and beyond — not merely for individuals, but as an effective way to heal and transform the world. From its beginning in 1979, MBSR was envisaged as a public health project rather than a therapy. The aim was, over time, to move the bell-curve of society in the direction of greater health and wellbeing on every level, from the individual medical patient or person trying to optimize their health, to society more broadly, and to the health of the planet as a whole — since one cannot be fully healthy in an unhealthy and toxic world. Mindfulness, in all its guises, is essentially a universal approach toward suffering, especially suffering caused by our all-too-human tendency to be caught up in unhealthy mindsets as well as, often, circumstances much larger than we are which sometimes make it difficult to be fully at home in our own bodies and our own lives. Whatever it is for each of us that prevents us from recognizing and embodying our own beauty and belonging in the face of “the full catastrophe” of the human condition, mindfulness as both a formal meditation practice and as a way of being rapidly makes it evident that awareness itself is already free, both liberated and liberating from such automatic and usually unrecognized habits of mind. If you want to, you can call it “your” awareness. But in reality, awareness is more a signature of being human than something any of us can lay claim to as being “mine.” … Happily, in the past two decades, interest in mindfulness and its cultivation has blossomed in many different domains, and there are now many diverse approaches available for learning how to cultivate it in your own life. These include the need for more widespread recognition and honoring of various forms of trauma that we may be carrying as well as its downstream effects, both subtle and overt, on how we see ourselves and how we relate to others and the worlds we inhabit. As has always been the case but is now becoming increasingly well-understood, these domains of past harms carried into the present need to be approached with care and sensitivity, kindness and understanding. So if one mindfulness approach or teacher does not appeal to you, it is important to trust your intuition and keep looking for the doorway that is instinctively right for you. Click here for a range of resources and mindfulness teachers that might help you locate, begin, or further your own trajectory toward realizing and embodying your own wholeness and beauty. – About Jon Kabat-Zinn link
To incorporate mindfulness into your teaching or work, see:
Developing compassion, patience, generosity or forgiveness [source]
Self-realization, connecting with your True Nature [source]
Metabolic Conditioning, HIIT
Overview
HIIT features 30 to 90 seconds of high-intensity effort followed by an equal or longer period of lower-intensity activity or rest. High-intensity is often defined as reaching 85% of your maximum heart rate… Aim for an “8” on your personal perceived exertion scale (where 1 is very easy and 10 is as hard as you can possibly go)… When you’re first starting out, alternate a few short intervals of high-intensity exercise with longer periods of moderate or easy exercise. Say you usually walk for 30 minutes at a stretch. Start by walking for five minutes. Then walk as fast as you can, or jog, for one minute. Go back to your usual pace, or even a bit slower, for three minutes. Repeat the fast walking–slower walking cycle five more times. Once you become more fit (or if you are in fairly good shape), you can spend more time walking faster or jogging and less time ambling or resting. – Julie Corliss, Harvard Medical School, Interval Training: A Shorter, More Enjoyable Workout? link
Rationale
High Intensity Interval training (HIIT) not only increases mitochondrial capacity, it also improves heart rate variability (an important emerging assessment marker for cardiovascular disease risk) and enhances brain functions such as memory and learning. Plus, you only need 2 sessions a week of 15-20 mins of HIIT to reap these and many other rewards. How do you feel now about freeing up 40 mins a week to engage in some free health insurance? For these and many other health benefits from less than 40 mins of exercise a week, watch our newest release in our Health Hacks video series. – Alliance for Natural Health, Harnessing Health with HIIT link
2-min, Alliance for Natural Health, 6 Reasons to Get into HIIT
Techniques
Interval Training — “You can turn any cardio workout — cycling, swimming, elliptical, stationary bike, treadmill, stair climber, rowing machine, and even dancing — into an interval session. The easiest way is to simply speed up and slow down. Outdoors, add hills to a running or cycling route to create greater intensity. Indoors, you might add some stair climbing or jumping.” [source]
Fartlek — “Swedish for ‘speed play,’ fartlek is a more relaxed, fun way of doing intervals. You don’t have to worry about distance, time, or heart rate. Instead, you push yourself as long as you can based on how you’re feeling or until you reach a target like a tree, light pole, house, or someone ahead of you. Then you recover for as long you need. Your intervals don’t have to be identical. When you feel ready, pick another target and go. While the intervals are informal, they can still be challenging.” [source]
Tabata — “Named after the Japanese researcher who created it, Tabata workouts feature 20-second work intervals and 10-second recovery intervals that are done eight times in a four-minute series. Try it with any type of aerobic exercise, like walking, running, or cycling. Tabata classes often include multiple rounds of different exercises, such as jumping jacks, knee pulls, or mountain climbers, designed to work all the major muscle groups. Instructors combine different variations of the four-minute series to create workouts that last a half-hour to an hour.” [source]
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts aren’t just a time-efficient way to boost your fitness. Research shows that HIIT can improve key measures of cardiovascular health for all sorts of people, including those recovering from heart attacks or heart surgery. Another advantage: high-intensity effort, even for just brief bursts, may trigger the release of mood-boosting brain chemicals… During the bursts of vigorous exercise, your heart rate rises higher, and then it remains higher than it would normally be in between those high-intensity bouts. Compared to 20 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, a 20-minute HIIT session will burn more calories, strengthen your heart more, and help your body use oxygen more efficiently. – Julie Corliss link
Mexican Traditional Medicine (MTM)
Overview
Traditional Mexican Medicine, also known as Mexican Traditional Medicine, MTM, Curanderismo, or Mexican folk medicine, encompasses Mexico’s many traditional healing practices… MTM is a holistic system that greatly emphasizes the mind/emotion-body-spirit connection and its role in healing… Curanderos employ various healing methodologies, including herbalism and plant medicine, bodywork, rituals, spiritual healing, bone-setting, and more… It is estimated that up to 75% of Mexican-Americans have utilized MTM… This traditional wisdom serves as a grounding point for immigrants by helping them maintain essential elements of their culture, beliefs, and identities while providing cultural connection. It’s also easily accessible and affordable with or without insurance or access to public healthcare.
Mexican Traditional Medicine systems share various principles, herbs, and practices with other traditional healing practices in Central and Latin America. This system of healing was established over 5,000 years ago and has been influenced by many people, cultures, and civilizations, including:
The ancient Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs,
Various indigenous tribes,
Africans, via Afro-Cuban influences,
Spanish-Catholics,
Islamic medicine,
And Greek medicine.
– Kristen Boye, Gaia Herbs, A Beginner’s Guide to Traditional Mexican Medicine (Curanderismo) and Herbalism link
Rationale
Although the practice of Curanderismo varies throughout Mexico, these eight philosophical premises make up the general perspective regarding the roots of disease, healing, care, and the patient/healer relationship: 4
Disease or illness may be caused by:
Strong emotional states or transitions of life (such as feeling rage, fear, envy, helplessness, or grief)
Being out of balance or harmony with one’s environment
A patient is often an innocent victim of evil or harmful forces
Loss of soul (the soul separating from the body)
Other philosophical principles include:
The cure or return to health requires that the entire family participates
The natural world is not always separate from the supernatural
Sickness often serves a social function, such as re-establishing a sense of belonging (resocialization) or increasing family bonding
Latino patients respond better to an open interaction with their healer
Many of these principles are consistent with indigenous healing systems worldwide, where the mind, body, family, ancestors, and spirit world are all encompassed within holistic healing. – Kristen Boye link
Techniques
MTM techniques includes herbalism and nutrition, rituals, bone-setting, psychedelics and bodywork. [source and source]
Uses
May be useful when experiencing:
Virtually any health issue
Can be supportive for:
Disease prevention
Movement, Exercise
About
If a great white shark stops swimming, it will die. Its body doesn’t pump water through its gills. It relies on water flowing through its open mouth and gills as it swims. No movement, no water flow, no oxygen. Dead shark. People also need to move. If we stay still, we may not die as soon as a shark, but we will die sooner than otherwise, and typically with more disease and pain. Movement is life. Movement can take any form. Walking is the most essential, but all activity is life-giving. It doesn’t matter if you are pushing a lawnmower, carrying groceries, or walking the dog, you can call it “exercise.” And exercise can save both your body and your brain… Sitting around, meanwhile, is linked with significantly higher rates of dementia [and] virtually all forms of chronic disease, from cancer to diabetes, heart disease, liver failure, and more. At a basic biological level, movement activates all of our bodily systems. It gets the heart pumping more blood, which feeds every cell in the body, and pumps lymph through the lymphatic system, to clear out cellular debris and other toxins. Movement also gets synovial fluid into your joints to maintain mobility. Movement lets your muscles flex and your bones bear weight, making your entire skeletal muscle system stronger and denser. Movement delivers a major mood boost and is one of the most powerful “treatments” for depression. It can also reduce anxiety, and improve cognitive function… Unfortunately, modern technology is seducing us into a sedentary solitude. We are retreating from the physical world into digital landscapes that nullify the brain, body, and spirit. To avoid these diminishing effects, we can seek activities we enjoy, like gardening, hiking, or participating in sports. We can also contribute to our communities through volunteer service or go out of our way to help friends with big jobs like cleaning up the yard or tidying an overloaded garage. – Matthew Little, The Epoch Times, Epoch Wellness email Jun 21, 2024 link
Rationale
Movement & Exercise, Generally
A Body in Motion Stays Healthier Longer — Dr. Joseph Mercola link
‘Gentle Movement’ Is on the Rise—Because Exercising Is About More Than Just Streaks, Steps, and Calories — Kristin Jenny, Well+Good link
Sedentary Behavior Linked to Dementia and Shortened Lifespan: 4 Exercises Can Help — Kuo-Pin Wu, The Epoch Times link
Take a Stand: The Dangers of Prolonged Sitting — Dr. Joseph Mercola link
Sitting Less May Help Lower Blood Pressure — Julie Corliss & Dr. Christopher P. Cannon MD, Harvard Medical School link
Even 2-Minutes of Activity Lowers Cardiovascular, Cancer Mortality Risk: Study — George Citroner, The Epoch Times link
Physical Activity and Mental Health: Exercise’s Therapeutic Potential for Depression Highlighted in New Meta-Analysis — Eric W. Dolan, PsyPost link
Meta-Analysis Confirms the Therapeutic Potential of Exercise for Depression — Dr. Joseph Mercola link
Exercise Significantly Improves ADHD Symptoms in Children; In addition to improving overall health and well-being, physical exercise can help reduce anxiety and depression in children with ADHD — Zrinkia Press, The Epoch Times link
Poor Sleep Causes Toxic Brain Buildup, Exercise May Help Detoxify and Reduce Sleep Debt;Clear your brain’s ’metabolic trash’ with exercise for restorative sleep — George Citroner, The Epoch Times link
New Neuroscience Research Reveals the Remarkable Impact of Exercise on Brain Cells — Eric W. Dolan, PsyPost link
Neuronal Innervation Regulates the Secretion of Neurotrophic Myokines and Exosomes from Skeletal Muscle [The study highlights the role of exercise in triggering the release of molecules that improve brain function.] — Kai-Yu Huang, et al, PNAS link
Study Reveals Impact 10 Minutes of Exercise Can Have on Adults Over 40 — Madeline Holcombe, CNN link
How Exercise Promotes Longevity — Conan Milner, The Epoch Times link
Exercise Protects Against Heart Disease by Lowering Stress — Dr. Joseph Mercola link
Active in Middle Age, Healthy in Old Age: New Study; Staying or becoming active in middle age significantly affects quality of life in old age, a large study of women in Australia has found — Susan C. Olmstead, The Epoch Times link
Why is Exercise Good for You? Scientists are Finding Answers in Our Cells — Gemma Conroy, Nature link
Bed Rest: A Potentially Harmful Treatment Needing More Careful Evaluation — Chris Allen et al, The Lancet (Science Direct) link
30-sec — Never Stop Moving, Dr. Gladys McGarey MD, 102-years old
1-hr, Interview with Joan Vernikos PhD
Walking
Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Good Walk — Dr. Joseph Mercola link
Walk Your Way to Better Health — Lynn Jaffee, The Epoch Times link
Is Walking Enough Exercise? How Many Steps Is Enough to Reduce Dementia? — Camille Su, The Epoch Times link
The Benefits of Walking – How to Get More Steps in This Summer — Dr. Joseph Mercola link
Why Walking Beats Running for Your Health, With Mark Sisson — Functional Medicine Coaching Academy link
Study Links Walking Habit to Decreased Back Pain Incidence — Dr. Joseph Mercola link
Walking Reduces Low Back Pain Flare-Ups by Almost 50 Percent, Study Finds — Henry Jom, The Epoch Times link
Does Walking Build Muscle?; “Walking is a cardiovascular activity that also helps maintain and develop muscles” — Dr. Patricia Varacallo, The Healthy link
Whether You Count Steps or Time Your Walk, What Matters Is Getting Outdoors — Dr. Joseph Mercola link
Step Backward to Move Forward: 5 Health Benefits of Retro Walking — Sheramy Tsai, The Epoch Times link
Hiking, Rucking, Stair Climbing
Why Hiking Is Uniquely Beneficial for Your Body and Brain — Dr. Joseph Mercola link
Elevate Your Walk: 7 Surprising Benefits of Rucking; Transform a simple walk into a powerful full-body workout with rucking — Sheramy Tsai, The Epoch Times link
Climb Stairs for a Longer Life; Climbing stairs in short bursts can promote heart health and may cut the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by nearly 40 percent — Mary West, The Epoch Times link
Step Up to Better Health: The Case for Taking the Stairs — Sean Hyson, WebMD link
Climb Stairs to Live Longer, say Cardiologists — European Society of Cardiology, Medical Xpress link
Techniques
Dancing
Exercise, any sort
High intensity interval training (HIIT) — See metabolic conditioning, HIIT
Hiking
Jogging, running
Metabolic conditioning (METCON) — See metabolic conditioning, HIIT
Rucking (walking with a backpack)
Stair climbing
Tai chi
Walking
Yoga poses
See Also
6 Easy Exercises for When You’re Too Tired to Exercise — Kevin Shelley, Epoch Health link
Moxibustion is a technique from TCM using moxa rolls (made from mugwort) to apply heat on acupuncture points.
Rationale
Moxibustion is designed to balance the body’s physiology through such effects as the following. [source]
Promotes circulation of Qi (energy) and Xue (blood)
Tonifies Yang Qi
Warms meridians, channels energy
Eliminates body coldness and warms the blood
Targets pain (analgesic effect)
Increases production of red blood cells, white cells and hemoglobin
Techniques
The moxa roll or stick is made of dried leaves from the Artemisia Vulgaris plant.
Moxibustion may be used alone or “it may be combined with other therapeutic techniques such as Acupuncture, Chinese Phytotherapy (herbal medicine) or Chinese Massage in order to attain a stronger effect.” [source]
Music Therapy uses music to improve health. [source] It may involve making music, listening to music, and/or a psychotherapeutic approach to working through fear and trauma, for example. [source]
See also: Sound Healing
While many ancient cultures considered music a form of medicine, modern music therapy has only been around for about 65 years. Yet it has since proven to be a remarkable evidenced-based modality. Most notably with neurological dysfunction such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, and autism, studies have shown that music therapy can lead to breakthroughs in recovery that other therapies can’t match… When applied appropriately, Abrams says his clients are able to work in ways not always possible in verbal therapies, because music experiences often allow people to access and work more directly with aspects of their psyche. “There’s often verbal communication involved in music therapy processes, but the primary ‘action’ occurs in the music,” he said. – Conan Milner, The Epoch Times, Music Therapy, More Powerful Than You Might Expect link
Rationale
Sounds Have a Powerful Effect on Us
Beautiful music can move an audience to tears while a high-pitched sound can shatter glass. The vibrations and frequencies that make up the sounds have a powerful effect on the human mind — and body, say some scientists. The right kind of music has been proven to alleviate stress and scientists have used it to heal a young girl’s brain, help Alzheimer’s patients, aid recovery from surgery, and raise people’s IQs. Ancients used music as a fertility treatment and to target ailments in specific organs. – Maria Han, The Epoch Times, Studies Explore the Healing Power of Music link
Research: Music Heals & Protects the Brain
Music helps heal and protect the brain… Researchers found a stunning 64% decreased risk for developing cognitive impairment or dementia in those who played an instrument… a meta-analysis suggests that listening to binaural beats may significantly improve memory, as well as attention… researchers concluded that music therapywas linked to better brain function. – Dr. Austin Perlmutter MD, 3 Ways Music Helps Heal and Protect the Brain link
Music Heals Mind and Body
Mind and body are inseparable. That’s why physical exercise is among the most potent treatments for depression and chronic stress contributes to so many diseases… One review found music therapy was linked to improved verbal fluency and substantial relief from depression and anxiety. Another review found improved overall behavior in dementia patients and another review found music therapy may improve cognitive function, though the evidence was mixed. Music has even been found to restore the loss of expressive language in patients suffering aphasia after brain injury from stroke… According to the American Psychological Association, music can soothe the heart rates and stress levels of premature babies, reduce stress, and help treat pain. That latter point can be particularly helpful for those suffering from chronic conditions like cancer. Several studieshave found sound therapy can help soothe cancer patients, reduce inflammation, and ease the side effects of cancer treatment. Sometimes rather than music, researchers have tested specific sound frequencies. One study found using low-frequency sound stimulation helped 26 percent of the fibromyalgia patients involved discontinue their medication after the treatment. Another study found that acoustic-based interventions could help people facing Parkinson’s counteract the loss of motor function and improve their ability to walk. – Matthew Little, The Epoch Times, Why Can Music Heal Us? link
Music Decreases the Time Premature Infants are Hospitalized
“Treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) involves premature infants who often experience significant distress with all the procedures they endure. The treatment involves live music… [and the therapist] also coaxes the mother to do the singing because hers is the voice that baby knows best. The protocol is called mutli-modal stimulation, where the music therapist provides the lullaby, and others contribute massage and gentle rocking to give the baby a comforting experience that preemies often lack in the sterile hospital environment. “Research shows that this actually decreases the time that the infant stays in the hospital which is a huge cost saving. It helps the infant mature faste
More Wildly Powerful Results
One of the most famous Nordoff-Robbins cases involves a client with whom they worked during the early development of their model: Audrey, a child with severe behavioral and learning difficulties. At seven years old, Audrey seemed destined for a life locked inside a psychiatric institution, but when Nordoff and Robbins began engaging with her through music, her developmental obstacles began to melt away. Through singing, drumming, and piano accompaniment, Audrey left the institution and later went on to college—an outcome that doctors would have never imagined before she received music therapy… With developments in imaging technology fueling new understandings in neuroscience, fresh insights into music’s healing abilities are emerging all the time. Recent research has shown that certain regions of the brain can change in response to musical intervention. For example, post stroke victims who can’t speak the words to ‘Happy Birthday,’ can often sing it, offering therapists a bridge that can eventually recover speech… At a March 2015 seminar on music and medicine at Harvard Medical School, Schlaug said that music making is a remarkable rehabilitation tool, because it not only connects sound to the motor system, it also has an “added advantage that it is an emotional stimulus and triggers pleasure and reward systems in the brain.” Further research from Dr. Nadine Gaab, professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and head researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital’s laboratories of cognitive neuroscience, suggests that musicians have better executive function, cognitive flexibility, working memory, and verbal fluency than non-musicians. At the Harvard seminar, Gaab said it was important to consider that the trend toward replacing music programs with more reading or math instruction in order to boost standardized test scores may actually lead to deficiencies in other cognitive areas. – Conan Milner link
Techniques
Making music — “Music therapy comes in a variety of forms, but often it involves getting patients to make music on their own. While it can take decades for a musician to master an instrument, music therapists have lots of tricks so that even those without training can start playing right away. Usually it starts with singing or drumming, but Abrams keeps a wide variety of musical instruments available to his clients so they can express a full range of emotion.” [source]
Listening to music — For example, with premature infants, “the music therapist provides the lullaby, and others contribute massage and gentle rocking to give the baby a comforting experience that preemies often lack in the sterile hospital environment.” Research shows this decreases the time that the infant stays in the hospital.
Psychotherapeutic approach — “Abrams uses music as a form of psychotherapy, where his patients can express and work through fear, trauma, emotional impasses, and any other obstacles to their human potential through music listening, improvisation, and composition.” [source]
Binaural beats — Binaural beats refer to listening to two slightly different low-frequency tones played in separate ears simultaneously (usually through headphones) causing the brain to register a third frequency, leading to the brain entering a meditative state. (The sound levels may be low enough that we can’t consciously hear them.) May also be called brainwave entrainment. (Michael Chary)
Note regarding working therapeutically, particularly with trauma:
Abrams says that inadequate training when engaging in music, even with the best intentions, carries the risk of doing damage, such as re-traumatizing a person with a musical experience linked to an adverse event in their life. He says that unless the practitioner understands a person’s context and knows how to manage the issues that can emerge in treatment they are vulnerable to a variety of traumatic triggers. – Conan Milner link
“Music is a uniquely effective tool for treating neurological impairment because it recruits nearly every region of the brain,” wrote William Forde Thompson, a distinguished professor of psychology at Macquarie University, and Gottfried Schlaug, associate professor of neurology at Harvard University, in an article published by Scientific American. – Maria Han link
Naturopathic doctors are educated and trained in accredited naturopathic medical colleges. They diagnose, prevent, and treat acute and chronic illness to restore and establish optimal health by supporting the person’s inherent self-healing process. Rather than just suppressing symptoms, naturopathic doctors work to identify underlying causes of illness, and develop personalized treatment plans to address them. – American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, What is a Naturopathic Doctor link
Rationale
Their Therapeutic Order identifies the natural order in which all therapies should be applied to provide the greatest benefit with the least potential for damage.
Remove Obstacles to Health. The first step in returning to health is to remove the entities that disturb health such as: poor diet, digestive disturbances, inappropriate and chronic stress levels, and individual disharmony. Naturopathic doctors construct a healthy regimen to change and improve the terrain in which the disease developed. This allows additional therapeutics to have the most beneficial effects possible.
Stimulate the Self-Healing Mechanisms. NDs use therapies to stimulate and strengthen the body’s innate self-healing and curative abilities. These therapies include modalities such as clinical nutrition, botanical medicines, constitutional hydrotherapy, homeopathy, and acupuncture.
Strengthen Weakened Systems. Systems that need repair are addressed at this level of healing. Naturopathic doctors have an arsenal of therapeutics available to enhance specific tissues, organs or systems including: lifestyle interventions, dietary modifications, botanical medicine, orthomolecular therapy (use of substances that occur naturally in the body such as vitamins, amino acids, minerals), and homeopathy.
Correct Structural Integrity. Physical modalities such as spinal manipulation, massage therapy, and craniosacral therapy are used to improve and maintain skeletal and musculature integrity.
Use Natural Substances to Restore and Regenerate. Naturopathic medicine’s primary objective is to restore health, not to treat pathology. However, when a specific pathology must be addressed, NDs employ safe, effective, natural substances that do not add toxicity or additionally burden the already distressed body.
Use Pharmacologic Substances to Halt Progressive Pathology. NDs are trained in pharmacology and how to use pharmaceutical drugs when necessary.
Use High Force, Invasive Modalities: Surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy. When life, limb, or function must be preserved, NDs refer patients to providers who are expertly trained in these arenas.
– American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, What is a Naturopathic Doctor link
Techniques
Using the process described in Rationale above, Naturopathic Doctors may utilize and recommend any number of modalities including: nutritional supplementation, diet and lifestyle interventions, botanical medicines, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, craniosacral therapy, pharmacology or other.
Uses
May be useful when experiencing:
Virtually any health issue
Can be supportive for:
Disease prevention
Neural Manipulation (NM)
Oil Pulling / Gandusha Kriya
Overview
Oil pulling refers to swishing a particular type of oil around teeth and gums for two to three minutes, up to 20 minutes, and then spitting it out. Called gandusha kriya in ancient Ayurvedic texts, the practice is designed to enhance detoxification and improve oral health.
Rationale
The oil binds to toxins, which is then spit out.
Oil pulling is a time-tested remedy, scientifically researched to be as effective as Chlorhexidine mouthwash, but without adverse effects. – Alexandra Roach, The Epoch Times, Oil Pulling -An Ancient Practice With Modern Health Benefits link
The basic idea is that swishing oil in the mouth for a short time each day helps pull out the bad stuff and improve oral health. It’s similar to oil cleansing for the skin in that the principle of “like dissolves like” applies. The oil cuts through plaque buildup and removes toxins without damaging the teeth or gums. – Katie Wells, Wellness Mama, Oil Pulling Benefits for a Healthier Mouth link
The concept behind Gandusha in Ayurveda is that the oil when swished in the mouth pulls toxins from the mouth into the oil. – Ayurveda Gram, Gandusha Kriya in Ayurveda: Everything You Need to Know link
Techniques
Most often, the oil used is sesame, olive or coconut.
Other practitioners may recommend honey, milk, ghee or other. (source)
A 2022 review article published in Periodontology 2000 suggests that the oral microbiome is connected to the brain and relates to mental health disorders via four direct causal mechanisms, “microbial and metabolite escape, neuroinflammation, central nervous system signaling, and response to neurohormones.” … Oral pathogens enter the brain via the bloodstream and an impaired blood-brain barrier, causing stress and mental health disorders to the extent of Alzheimer’s, further confirming the oral-brain axis. – Alexandra Roach, The Epoch Times, Oil Pulling -An Ancient Practice With Modern Health Benefits link
Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is based on the neuromuscular re-patterning of the oral and facial muscles. It includes facial exercises and behavior modification techniques to promote proper tongue position, improved breathing, chewing and swallowing. Proper functional head and neck postures are also addressed… OMT is a profound technique that may be may be effective in managing symptoms and providing solutions associated with mild to moderate sleep apnea, poor digestion, headaches, TMJD (Temporal Mandibular Joint Dysfunction), periodontal disease and many other common ailments – Dr. Joseph Mercola, Oral Myofacial Therapy link
Techniques
Myofunctional therapy is like physical therapy for your face… A wide variety of myofunctional exercises are available. One 2020 study even had participants play the didgeridoo, an Australian musical instrument, for 4 months to treat snoring and sleep apnea. Examples of exercises… include:
Tongue touches. Push the tip of your tongue against your hard palate and slide your tongue backward 20 times.
Tongue presses. Suck your tongue upward against your palate, pressing your entire tongue against your palate 20 times.
Teeth touches. Force the back of your tongue against the roof of your mouth while keeping the tip in contact with your bottom front teeth 20 times.
Uvula raises. Elevate your soft palate and uvula while saying the vowel “A” 20 times.
Balloon inflation. Blow up a balloon by taking 5 large breaths through your nose and exhaling into the balloon as much as you can.
Yogurt suction. Your therapist may have you suck yogurt through a narrow straw.
Party horn. Your therapist could have you exercise by blowing through a party horn.
– Daniel Yetman & Gregory Minnis DPT, Healthline, What is Myofunctional Therapy link
Ortho-Bionomy is a wholistic approach to healing that works with the proprioceptic aspects of the nervous system to cue the self-corrective reflexes inherent in everyone. It uses gentle positioning and movements which can allow tension patterns which are creating pain to relax, reset and reorganize from within. Ortho-Bionomy is a principle based approach which means that we work with the conditions present in each individual body in any given moment. Because the principles of Ortho-Bionomy are to work with positions of ease rather than force, most people find an Ortho-Bionomy session to be comfortable and relaxing. Each session is different as self correction is as individual as each person. Ortho-Bionomy allows for a sophisticated analysis of the different dimensions and levels of body, mind and spirit, and uses a natural approach to invite balance and easeful function. – Society of Ortho-Bionomy, How Ortho-Bionomy Can Help link
Orthomolecular Medicine
Overview
Two-time Nobel Prize winner, and molecular biologist, Linus Pauling PhD coined the term “orthomolecular” in 1968… The term comes from ortho, which is Greek for “correct” or “right,” and “molecule,” which is the simplest structure that displays the characteristics of a compound. So it literally means the “right molecule.” Orthomolecular medicine describes the practice of preventing and treating disease by providing the body with optimal amounts of substances which are natural to the body. – Orthomolecular.org link
Orthomolecular medicine is essentially about maintaining the “right molecules” in the body… focusing on the optimum nutrition levels in the body to promote health and vitality… It’s somewhat rooted in our ancestral practices. Our forefathers didn’t have the luxury of popping pills for every ailment. Instead, they relied on natural resources, mainly food, to keep diseases at bay—a philosophy that’s at the heart of orthomolecular medicine. … Orthomolecular medicine has been highly impactful. It is one of the 7 disciplines taught to aspiring Integrative Health Practitioners (IHP) at the Integrative Health Practitioner Institute… It’s about going back to basics, to nature’s “farmacy”, and using vitamins and minerals as medicine. So next time you reach for that vitamin C supplement, remember—you’re partaking in a practice rooted in centuries of human wisdom, refined by modern science. – Integrative Health Practioner Institute, Discovering Orthomolecular Medicine: Unveiling The Science of Vitamins and Minerals as Medicine link
Osteopathic Medicine / Osteopathy
Overview
A doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) is a licensed physician who aims to improve people’s overall health and wellness by treating the whole person, not just a condition or disease they may have. This includes osteopathic manipulative medicine, which involves stretching, massaging, and moving the musculoskeletal system. In all 50 states, DOs, also called osteopaths or osteopathic physicians, are licensed to prescribe medications, perform surgery, and use technological imaging to diagnose and treat illness and injury. Many use hands-on, manual treatments to reduce pain, increase physical mobility, and improve the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluids. – Mimi Arquilla DO, Healthline, What is an Osteopath link
Oxidation Therapies
Overview
Oxidation therapies are not new, they long antedate the modern antibiotic era, but are largely ignored or forgotten. The therapies include ozone therapy (OT), ultraviolet blood irradiation therapy (UBI), IV hydrogen peroxide therapy, and high dose intravenous ascorbate. These therapies are not patentable. It is unlikely that we will ever see industry funded studies for therapies relatively inexpensive to do, and which will not generate commercial profit. Corporate Medicine and Pharma are naturally profit driven. And, oxidation suffers further (tomato effect), because many of its achievements are regarded as impossible to believe. (6) – Dr. Robert Jay Rowen MD, PubMed, Ozone and Oxidation Therapies as a Solution to the Emerging Crisis in Infectious Disease Management: A Review of Current Knowledge and Experience link
Rationale
Medicine desperately needs alternatives to antibiotics, which are failing and carry significant adverse effects. Ozone Therapy (OT) has the necessary biochemical requisites to offer a powerful stand alone or adjunctive therapy to assist an infected patient… Published case reports strongly support ozone utility for infectious disease management. Ozone (and other oxidation) therapy carries virtually no known adverse or toxic effects when performed properly (other than sporadic vein issues, as can other intravenous therapies). OT can easily be carried out in medical offices, from general practice to infectious diseases. Progress in this field is hampered by unwillingness of physicians to look/consider “outside the box” of conventional drug-based medicine, along with possible unjustifiable medicolegal concerns. Far from being a “tomato,” ozone is widely used around the world with well researched and defined benefits. Office physicians, hospitals and field clinics may do well to consider revisiting oxidation therapy on behalf of infected patients. This will require a shift in the current paradigm of use of “approved” therapies only, to include a “Right to Try.” – Dr. Robert Jay Rowen MD, PubMed link
You know that fresh, clean smell in the air after it rains? That’s ozone, a powerful molecule that gets pulled from the atmosphere by electricity during a thunderstorm. Ozone is oxygen, but it differs from the oxygen molecules you breathe. Its unique structure makes it a potent signalling molecule in your body… Ozone therapy has been used and extensively studied for more than a century. Its effects are proven, consistent, safe and with minimal and preventable side effects. – Oreme, Ozone therapy: What is it and how it works link
Ozone therapy involves administering small amounts of ozone gas, a highly reactive form of oxygen, into the body for therapeutic purposes. While we normally breathe oxygen (O2), ozone is composed of three oxygen atoms (O3)… Ozone has direct antimicrobial effects. When pathogens are exposed to ozone, the oxidative stress damages their cell membranes, DNA, and proteins, effectively killing bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. This makes ozone a powerful tool for treating infections, including those that are resistant to conventional antibiotics… It’s important to note that ozone should never be inhaled directly into the lungs, as this can cause irritation and damage. Instead, ozone therapy is administered through other routes such as rectally, vaginally, or topically, or by using an ozone sauna that avoids inhalation. – Unbekoming, Ozone Therapy link
One of the therapies that uses oxidizing agents, ozone therapy is the administration of O3. Ozone therapy is designed to create a beneficial level of stress (hormesis) that supports the body’s natural healing mechanisms, improves cellular function, and promotes overall health. It is known to optimize mitochondrial health and help the body to fight infection.
Ozone in this use does not refer to the ozone in the atmosphere.
A variety of therapies share the common mechanism of being oxidizing agents and creating a wide range of benefits, which those who studied them have struggled to explain. These therapies include Hydrogen Peroxide, IV Vitamin C (which produces hydrogen peroxide), Chlorine Dioxide. Ozone, Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation (which produces ozone) and Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (it is debatable if this one is classified as an oxidative therapy). All of these (except for hyperbaric oxygen), in turn, are administered in many, many different ways to patients. – A Midwestern Doctor quoted by Unbekoming, Ozone Therapy link
Rationale
When ozone is introduced into the body, it interacts with tissues and fluids to create beneficial compounds called ozonides and peroxides. These molecules stimulate various physiological responses that can improve oxygen delivery, modulate the immune system, and promote healing. In contrast, breathing regular oxygen does not generate these therapeutic compounds or elicit the same biological effects. – Unbekoming, Ozone Therapy link
What makes that molecule so unique is that it is very electron deficient. So as soon as you put that into the human body, or into any tissue, it’s going to start grabbing electrons. And as it grabs the electrons, it’s going to form molecules called peroxides [a reactive oxygen species, ROS]. So, after ozone treatment, you’re loaded with peroxides… for a good seven, maybe as much as 14 days… Ozone therapy does indeed cause a certain level of oxidative stress in the body. However, this is a controlled and beneficial form of stress, known as hormesis. Hormesis is the idea that small doses of a stressor, like ozone, can actually trigger positive adaptations in the body. When ozone is administered, it creates peroxides in the body. These peroxides are a type of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can be thought of as mild oxidants. Ordinarily, we think of oxidative stress as harmful, and it can be when it’s chronic or uncontrolled. However, the oxidative stress caused by ozone therapy is short-lived and controlled. It’s like giving your body a small, manageable challenge. In response to this challenge, your body up-regulates its own antioxidant systems. It’s like a workout for your body’s defense mechanisms. After the ozone treatment, your body is better equipped to handle oxidative stress in general. So while ozone therapy does cause a brief period of oxidative stress, the end result is a stronger, more resilient body that is better at dealing with oxidative stress from other sources. It’s all about the dose and the context. The controlled, short-term oxidative stress from ozone therapy is beneficial, while chronic, uncontrolled oxidative stress from other sources (like pollution or poor diet) can be harmful. Think of it like exercise – a controlled amount of physical stress can make you stronger and healthier, even though it’s technically a form of stress on the body. – Dr. Frank Shallenberger & Dr. Joseph Mercola, How to Measure and Optimize Your Mitochondrial Health link
With each significant viral pandemic, oxidative therapies have shown promise. With the 1918 influenza, a team of British M.D.s in India saved half of the patients otherwise expected to die with intravenous hydrogen peroxide. During the early days of AIDS, I had direct knowledge that the same thing happened in underground ozone clinics. Finally, during the most recent ebola outbreak in Africa, Robert Rowen went there on a medical mission trip and successfully treated patients with ozone… Eventually, it dawned on me that the ozone and its secondary metabolites (what ozone produces when it reacts with blood) were oxidizing (neutralizing) the positive charge from the spike protein in the blood, thereby restoring the patient’s zeta potential. Once this happened, the blood no longer clumped together, tissue perfusion and oxygenation were restored (hence why the dangerously low oxygen saturation and reported blue lips resolved), the heart no longer had a reflex to beat quickly from insufficient oxygenation, and the lungs likewise lost the reflex to breathe quickly. The critical thing to understand about oxidative therapies is that when the source of a positive charge comes from a pathogenic organism, unlike a metal, it can be oxidized and completely neutralized. So in instances where repeatedly administering zeta potential restoring electrolytes only provides a temporary benefit, it suggests that the issue is an excess of positive charges, and the specific source of them must be evaluated. – A Midwestern Doctor, How to Improve Zeta Potential and Liquid Crystalline Water Inside the Body link
Techniques
Ozone therapy requires a low dose of O3 for proper hormetic (adaptive) effect; larger doses create unhealthy stress… “It is important that the ozone used intravenously be free of contaminants, so you need to use a machine that converts pure medical grade oxygen to generate pure ozone. Ozone generators that convert air from an oxygen concentrator are only good for certain topical applications, not for intravenous injection.” [source]
Ozone therapy requires avoiding antioxidants beforehand and instead taking them after. “The basic thinking with ozone therapy is, you really never want to give any kind of substance that’s going to donate electrons, like vitamin C or glutathione prior to the treatment… Now, after the treatment, you want to [take antioxidants]” but not before. [source]
See also: Oxidation Therapies (which include Hydrogen Peroxide, intravenous Vitamin C, Chlorine Dioxide. and Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation). [source]
It t is crucial to use a high-quality, medical-grade ozone generator that meets strict safety standards. The generator should be equipped with a built-in destructor unit to neutralize any excess ozone and prevent it from escaping into the room. It should also feature a reliable ozone concentration control and a timer to ensure accurate dosing… Always use pure, medical-grade oxygen as the input gas for the ozone generator. Never use room air, as this can lead to the production of toxic nitrogen oxides. The oxygen should be supplied from a medical-grade oxygen tank or an oxygen concentrator designed for ozone therapy use… Always perform ozone treatments in a well-ventilated area, and avoid inhaling the gas. When using an ozone sauna, ensure that your head remains outside the sauna cabinet and that any gaps are sealed to prevent ozone leakage. If you experience coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath during a treatment, stop the session immediately and seek fresh air… Start with low ozone concentrations and gradually increase as tolerated… Stay well-hydrated before and after… If you have a pre-existing medical condition, particularly lung diseases such as asthma or COPD, consult with a healthcare professional experienced in ozone therapy before starting any at-home treatments. They can provide guidance on appropriate protocols and monitor your response to the therapy. – Lies are Unbekoming, On Hormesis and the book “The Ozone Miracle” by Dr Frank Shallenberger link
Ozone therapy promotes the body’s own antioxidant defenses. While ozone is an oxidant, controlled oxidative stress triggers the up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. This process, known as hormesis, strengthens the body’s ability to counteract harmful free radicals and oxidative damage associated with aging and disease. – Unbekoming, Ozone Therapy link
Parts Work, IFS, Gestalt Therapy
Overview
Parts work is a therapeutic lens that assumes that each of us has many different parts to our minds and psyches; each of these parts (or subpersonalities) has unique needs, wants, and beliefs and may be consciously or unconsciously helping or harming us… by bringing our awareness to these many different parts within us… we are then more able to lovingly integrate (but not eliminate) the many aspects within us to create more choice, expand our capacity to creatively problem-solve, and to give us a greater sense of wholeness and aliveness in our daily lives. – Annie Wright, Psychology Today, How Parts Work Helps Us Get to Know Ourselves link
IFS was developed by psychologist Richard Schwartz. In his work as a family therapist, Schwartz began to observe patterns in how people described their inner lives: “What I heard repeatedly were descriptions of what they often called their “parts”—the conflicted subpersonalities that resided within them,” Schwartz says. He began to conceive of the mind as a family, and the parts as family members interacting with one another. Exploring how these components functioned with one another was the foundation for IFS and the idea of the core Self. – Psychology Today, Internal Family System Therapy link
Past Life Regression Therapy
Overview
Past Life Regression Therapy is “a type of hypnotherapy that takes you through your previous lives or incarnations, allowing access to memories and experiences often suppressed or concealed in the subconscious mind.” [source]
Rationale
For the last sixty years, doctors at the University of Virginia Division of Perceptual Studies have investigated cases of young children who report memories of previous lives. Dr. Ian Stevenson, the founder of this work, published numerous scholarly articles and books about cases from all over the world. After working with Dr. Stevenson for several years, Dr. Jim Tucker took over the project when Dr. Stevenson retired. – Dr. Jim B. Tucker, Child Psychiatrist & Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia link
Phage / Bacteriophage Therapy
Overview
Phage therapy uses “bacterial viruses”, also called “phages” or “bacteriophages” to treat bacterial infections.
Bacteriophages are the natural enemies of bacteria. The word bacteriophage means “bacteria eater.” They’re found in soil, sewage, water, and other places bacteria live. These viruses help keep bacteria growth in check in nature. – Noreen Iftikhar MD & Jill Seladi-Schulman PhD, Healthline, What is Phage Therapy? link
Phages “only attack bacteria; they are harmless to people, animals, and plants.” [source]
Phage therapy is one of the alternatives to treat infections caused by both antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with no or low toxicity to patients. It was started a century ago, although rapidly growing bacterial antimicrobial resistance, resulting in high levels of morbidity, mortality, and financial cost, has initiated the revival of phage therapy. It involves the use of live lytic, bioengineered, phage-encoded biological products, in combination with chemical antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. Importantly, phages will be removed from the body within seven days of clearing an infection. They target specific bacterial strains and cause minimal disruption to the microbial balance in humans. – Zigale Hibstu et al, NIH, Phage Therapy: A Different Approach to Fight Bacterial Infections link
7-min video, Upworthy Science, How a Long-Forgotten Treatment is Curing People of Superbug Infections link
Rationale
Bacteriophages kill bacteria by making them burst or lyse. This happens when the virus binds to the bacteria. A virus infects the bacteria by injecting its genes (DNA or RNA). The phage virus copies itself (reproduces) inside the bacteria. This can make up to 1,000 new viruses in each bacterium. Finally, the virus breaks open the bacteria, releasing the new bacteriophages. Bacteriophages can only multiply and grow inside a bacterium. Once all the bacteria are lysed (dead), they’ll stop multiplying. Like other viruses, phages can lay dormant (in hibernation) until more bacteria show up… A phage can be used to directly target disease-causing bacteria. For example, a strep bacteriophage will only kill bacteria that cause strep throat infections. A 2011 research review listed some pros of bacteriophages:
Phages work against both treatable and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
They may be used alone or with antibiotics and other drugs.
Phages multiply and increase in number by themselves during treatment (only one dose may be needed).
They only slightly disturb normal “good” bacteria in the body.
They are not toxic to animals, plants, and the environment.
– Noreen Iftikhar MD & Jill Seladi-Schulman PhD link
The practice of phage therapy, which uses bacterial viruses (phages) to treat bacterial infections, has been around for almost a century. The universal decline in the effectiveness of antibiotics has generated renewed interest in revisiting this practice. Conventionally, phage therapy relies on the use of naturally-occurring phages to infect and lyse bacteria at the site of infection. Biotechnological advances have further expanded the repertoire of potential phage therapeutics to include novel strategies using bioengineered phages and purified phage lytic proteins. Current research on the use of phages and their lytic proteins, specifically against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, suggests phage therapy has the potential to be used as either an alternative or a supplement to antibiotic treatments. – Derek M. Lin, NIH, Phage Therapy: An alternative to antibiotics in the age of multi-drug resistance link
Superbugs / antibiotic-resistant bacteria including staph and MRSA [source and source and source]
Pharmaceutical Drugs
Overview
Pharmaceutical drugs are “industrial products” containing synthetic substances, patented by pharmaceutical companies for the purposes of changing physiology. “Traditionally, drugs were obtained through extraction from medicinal plants, but more recently also by [synthetic methods]” [source]
“Researchers are adapting existing synthetic methods and techniques to create entirely automated synthetic processes.” [source]
Enzyme therapy, for example, sounds like a natural process but is based on an “industrial market for enzyme-based drugs.” [source]
US Physicians Received Billions From Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industry, New Research Finds — “U.S. physicians received more than $12 billion in payments from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry over a 10-year period, according to a new analysis. A research letter published March 28, 2024 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the industry made over 85 million payments to more than 820,300 (57 percent) of eligible physicians from 2013 to 2022. Nearly 94 percent of the payments were related to one or more marketed medical products.”
Medical Treatments Not Evidence-Based, Study Finds — This study found only one in ten treatments supported by reliable sufficient evidence. A BMJ study (summarized in readings below) reported that only 13% of common medical treatments were found to be beneficial and an additional 23% “likely to be beneficial.”
The Whistleblower: Confessions of a Healthcare Hitman — This book, written by Peter Rost MD, a senior executive of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, is “an unmasking of how corporations take care of malcontents and… details the illegal, even criminal business practices the author witnessed at his corporation… A story of a battle that continues today, one which any American who takes or will take prescription drugs has a stake in.”
There is No Official Medical Protocol for Taking Clients Off Antidepressants — “I could taper someone off of an opiate in days, but sometimes, with these meds, you need years to come down sometimes by a milligram.” See also: 1-min video by Peter Gotzsche MD (“It’s easier to get off heroin than psych drugs.”) and 4-min video by psychiatrist Stuart Shipko MD on antidepressant withdrawal and drug toxicity and 5-min video of Dr. Andrew Weil, MD who speaks to the over-prescription of — and rebound affect of — pharmaceuticals, including antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds and anti-psychotics while noting what works for the long-term for anxiety and depression (including breathing techniques, exercise, CBD, etc). He also notes the fact that Xanax addiction is harder to kick than opioids.
Opioids Prescribed by Medical Doctors Led to Severe Addiction & An Epidemic That Killed 600,000 Americans. OxyContin Corporate Owners Made More than $10 Billion” — “The legal system has effectively allowed one of the country’s richest families to buy its way out of accountability for what a White House commission called “America’s national nightmare” of mass opioid addiction. On Wednesday, the court approved a deal for the dissolution of the opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma, which kicked off the opioid epidemic two decades ago with its illegal drive to sell a high-strength painkiller, OxyContin. Purdue’s owners, members of two branches of the now-notorious Sackler family, are estimated to have made more than $10bn from the drug – even as the opioid crisis claimed more than 600,000 lives, with the toll climbing higher by the year.”
Medical Education Intertwined with Pharma Industry — Safe and effective health and wellness practices that get to the root cause of illness are not taught to western doctors. Instead, they are inundated with pharma bias.
Doctors Who Prescribe More Receive More — “As tens of thousands of Americans die from prescription opioid overdoses each year… researchers… found that opioid manufacturers are paying physicians huge sums of money.”
[Drug-driven] medicine no longer bears any resemblance to the art and science of healing. The doctor no longer facilitates the body’s innate self-healing capabilities with time, care, good nutrition and special help from our plant allies. To the contrary, medicine has transmogrified into a business enterprise founded on… pure, unbridled capitalism, with an estimated 786,000 Americans dying annually from medically-caused (iatrogenic) deaths. – Sayer Ji, author of Regenerate and founder of GreenMedInfo.com, an index of thousands of research studies link
Physical Therapy, Physiotherapy
Overview
The terms physical therapy and physiotherapy are, for the most part, interchangeable, referring to “professions that use exercise, hands-on therapies, and devices to treat conditions that limit a person’s ability to move and perform daily tasks.” Typically, the term physical therapy is used in the U.S. while physiotherapy is the term used in most other countries. [source and source]
Practitioners provide in-depth personal evaluation and measurement to assess the person’s state and to identify techniques and practices that lead to progress toward objectives. They assess strength, range of motion, flexibility, balance, joint mobility, neurological function, pain and more, and offer strategies for treatment or rehab. [source]
Some practitioners specialize in particular conditions or populations.
Techniques
Physical therapists use many different techniques to help you decrease pain and stiffness, improve motion and strength, and improve mobility. Physical agents such as heat, ice, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation may be used. Manual techniques are often used to help improve mobility. Therapeutic exercise is often used by physical therapists to help people gain range of motion, increase strength, and improve function. Patient education about a condition or illness is paramount to the practice of physical therapy, and therapists may use charts, models, and diagrams to help you understand your diagnosis and prognosis. – Brett Sears PT, VeryWell Health, An Overview of Physical Therapy link
Plasmalogens are a type of phospholipid that are found in high concentrations in cell membranes, particularly in the brain and heart. They play an important role in maintaining the structure and function of these organs, as well as in regulating various cellular processes. However, deficiencies in plasmalogens have been linked to a number of health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cardiovascular disease. Plasmalogen therapy involves the use of plasmalogen supplements or other therapies to restore plasmalogen levels in the body. – Blair Wirkkala, Palmalogens and Therapy link
A replacement therapy is a pharmacological intervention aimed at restoring the levels of a biological molecule that is deficient in some pathophysiological conditions. This strategy has attracted increased interest as potentially useful in a variety of pathological conditions including cancer, neurological, and metabolic disorders [89]. Plasmalogen replacement therapy (PRT) is a type of membrane lipid replacement where the strategy relies on the use of small molecules to increase plasmalogen levels with the final goal of improving health outcomes. One of the main advantages of PRT is the possibility to use oral administration. Another one is that the compounds used in PRT usually exhibit no toxicity even at high doses and have been reported to be safe for use in humans [90]. – Jose Carlos Bozelli Jr. and Richard M. Epand, Membranes (PubMed), Plasmalogen Replacement Therapy link
Rationale
Plasmalogens are a distinct class of phospholipids, essential components for constructing cell membranes throughout the body… Plasmalogens are notably abundant in critical organs such as the brain (comprising 20% of its content), heart, lungs, eyes, and kidneys, signifying their importance in these areas.These molecules play a significant role as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, contributing to cellular health and protection. Their presence and function are crucial for overall health and longevity, indicating their importance in the human body’s biological processes. Plasmalogens are particularly vital for the proper functioning of the nervous system, underscoring their role in nerve function and signaling. Plasmalogens play multifaceted roles in the human body, contributing to a variety of essential functions. They are crucial in powering nerve functions, facilitating our ability to move and think, driving the heartbeat, and enabling lung respiration…. Plasmalogens help prevent neurodegenerative diseases and are involved in reverse cholesterol transport, which is essential for cardiovascular health… They also aid in improving cognitive abilities, enhancing mobility, and reducing lipid peroxidation, thus protecting against various degenerative conditions. – Dr. Goodenowe, Plasmalogens link
It has been shown that in inflammatory processes, plasmalogens could trigger either an anti- or pro-inflammation response. While the anti-inflammatory response seems to be linked to the entire plasmalogen molecule, its pro-inflammatory response seems to be associated with plasmalogen hydrolysis… Plasmalogens comprise a large fraction of the total lipids in humans, [and] changes in their levels have been shown to change membrane properties and, therefore, signaling pathways involved in the inflammatory cascade. Restoring plasmalogen levels by use of plasmalogen replacement therapy has been shown to be a successful anti-inflammatory strategy as well as ameliorating several pathological hallmarks of these diseases. – Jose Carlos Bozelli Jr et al link
Techniques
The goal of plasmalogen therapy is to improve cellular function and reduce the risk of developing or progressing certain diseases. This may involve oral supplements, intravenous infusions, or other methods of delivery. – Blair Wirkkala link
Uses
PRT or other replacement therapies be useful when experiencing:
Many studies have shown that there is a link between [plasmalogen] deficiency and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), although it is not clear whether the decrease of [plasmalogens] in the patients with AD is the cause or the consequence of the disease… More intervention studies with PlsEtns replacement therapy in AD patients are warranted given the promising outcomes in animal studies. – Xiao Q. Su et al, Lipids in Health and Disease, Plasmalogens and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review link
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
Overview
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is the isolation and concentration of plasma from blood which is then injected to help heal injuries. [source]
Although orthopedic stem cell therapy and platelet rich plasma (PRP) both involve the use of a patient’s own blood, they are very different. Stem cells derived from bone marrow can differentiate into other types of cells in order to help stimulate healing at an orthopedic injury site. PRP uses a person’s own growth factors to help stimulate healing. However, PRP does not contain any stem cells. – Santa Barbara Sports Medicine link
Rationale
Plasma contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (or thrombocytes) that contribute to essential growth functions and healing processes, including blood clotting and wound healing. When these platelets are isolated and injected into a treatment area, they stimulate your body’s reparative cell production. “The human body possesses an amazing ability to heal and repair itself, and now PRP allows us to harness this powerful process to achieve aesthetic outcomes in unique ways,” notes Dr. Ho. – Mari Malcom & Vu Ho MD, Real Self, PRP Injections: What You Need to Know link
PRP is a promising conservative treatment modality for a variety of conditions with healing and regenerative capabilities and clear evidence of safety. The heterogeneity of PRP preparations, outcome measures and study designs has made interpreting current literature difficult and limits our ability to make treatment recommendations… There is level I evidence available supporting its efficacy in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), epicondylitis, bursitis, compressive neuropathy, plantar fasciitis, muscular injuries and osteochondral lesions. Most published research with regards to PRP has been focused on knee OA (limited research in shoulder, elbow, and foot and ankle OA), lateral epicondylitis and carpal tunnel syndrome, whereas spinal and hand conditions have limited research available. – Jacques Pretorius et al, Cureus, Current Status and Advancements in Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy link
Techniques
The patient’s blood is extracted and run through a centrifuge, which concentrates the platelets. The platelet-rich plasma is then injected directly into the injured area or tissue that’s in need of rejuvenation. – Mari Malcom & Vu Ho MD link
Prolotherapy is an injection procedure that helps resolve tiny tears or injuries to connective tissue located throughout the musculoskeletal system… Prolotherapy is a cutting-edge form of regenerative medicine that is leading the way in helping to treat both acute and chronic injuries, as well as difficult-to-resolve joint pain. – Jillian Levy, Dr. Axe, Prolotherapy: the Answer to Healing the Injuries that Won’t Go Away? link
Techniques
Similar techniques include:
Proliferation injection therapy
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
Regenerative injection therapy
Sclerosant therapy or sclerotherapy
And sometimes nonsurgical ligament reconstruction
Uses
Studies suggest that you can benefit from prolotherapy if you have TMJ (temporomandibular dysfunction of the jaw), arthritis, a torn ligament, tendonitis, a bulging disc, or pain in any susceptible area such as your neck, lower back, knee or shoulder. Personally, having suffered a herniated disc lifting weights as well an injured shoulder, prolotherapy has done wonders for my recovery, and now I recommend to anyone whose injuries cannot be solved by a chiropractor. – Jillian Levy, Dr. Axe, Prolotherapy: the Answer to Healing the Injuries that Won’t Go Away? link
PSYCH-K
Overview
PSYCH-K is a profound set of processes which assist the subconscious mind to re-write self-limiting subconscious programs (beliefs) into life-enhancing subconscious programs (beliefs)… This program is a synergistic combination of divinely inspired ideas merged with a few elements derived from Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Psycho-spiritual processes, Milton Erickson Style Hypnotherapy, Educational Kinesiology, and Acupressure healing modalities. The result is a highly dynamic and successful means of changing sabotaging beliefs. – Karen Mcky’s Subconscious Change, What is PSYCH K? link
Originated in 1988… its overall goal is to accelerate individual and global spiritual evolution by aligning subconscious beliefs with conscious wisdom from the world’s great spiritual and intellectual traditions. The practical application of this wisdom in our personal and professional lives brings a greater sense of purpose and satisfaction, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. PSYCH-K is taught world-wide by Certified PSYCH-K Instructors. – PSYCH-K Centre International, Originator of PSYCH-K link
Rationale
Many people find self-limiting beliefs create self-sabotaging behaviors. Such behaviors covertly affect one’s ability to be successful in business and personal relationships. These invisible issues are often the ruling programs that silently lead people to despair, frustration and exasperation in their lives. – Karen Mcky’s Subconscious Change link
PSYCH-K is a simple and direct way to change self-limiting beliefs at the subconscious level of the mind, where nearly all human behavior originates, both constructive and destructive. – PSYCH-K Centre International, Originator of PSYCH-K link
Psych-K utilizes the brain’s neuroplasticity. Limiting beliefs can be identified and transformed, leading to significant personal growth and well-being. Psych-K is based on the principle of the Whole-Brain State, which facilitates communication between the conscious and subconscious mind. Neuroscience supports the concept of belief change, as the brain is capable of rewiring itself through new experiences and thoughts. – Zenful Habits, Psych-K Technique: Neuroscience of Rapid Belief Transformation Explained link
Neuroscientist, Dr. Jeffrey Fannin, of the Center for Cognitive Enhancement in Glendale, Arizona worked with Rob Williams and PSYCH-K beginning in January 2009. Together, they published a paper in the peer reviewed journal, “Neuro Connections” in September 2011 which documents the findings of 125 participants utilizing PSYCH-K and Brain Mapping technology. – Karen Mcky’s Subconscious Change link
Techniques
In a PSYCH-K session, you will describe your current limitation or circumstance, and then identify the subconsciously programmed belief attached to it that keeps you from moving forward. Next, we will move through a series of processes, using several different resources (as described in FAQ) to support you to actually create the change for yourself… It is likely that you will be able to address more than one issue within the same session. – Sacred Self Evolution, What is a PSYCH-K Session? link
We connect with your subconscious and muscle test* to determine if reprogramming is needed. For a “strong/true” response (the subconscious believes it), we celebrate and continue. For a “weak/false” response (the subconscious does NOT believe it), we get permission to reprogram and proceed. – Cate Ritter Wellness, PSYCH-K Method & Techniques link
Many people experience shifts immediately after a Psych-K balance, while for others, it may take days or weeks to notice changes. It’s a personal journey, and the timing can vary widely from one person to another… The key to success with Psych-K is consistency and practice. Change might not happen overnight, but with dedication, you’ll start to see profound shifts in your life. – Zenful Habits link
“Psychedelic” drugs include a range of substances with varying pharmacological profiles that all have strong effects on conscious experience. We will focus on two classes of psychedelics: classic psychedelics and “entactogens. The classic psychedelics exert primary activity as agonists at the 5-HT2A receptor (e.g., lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD], psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine [DMT] and mescaline)… The second class of psychedelic substances, the entactogens, includes methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), which acts primarily as a serotonin-releasing agent and has effects that somewhat overlap but are substantially distinct from classic psychedelics. – Kenneth W. Tupper PhD et al, PubMed, Psychedelic Medicine: A Re-Emerging Therapeutic Paradigm link
Rationale
Controlled clinical studies have recently been conducted to assess the basic psychopharmacological properties and therapeutic efficacy of these drugs as adjuncts to existing psychotherapeutic approaches. Central to this revival is the re-emergence of a paradigm that acknowledges the importance of set (i.e., psychological expectations), setting (i.e., physical environment) and the therapeutic clinician–patient relationship as critical elements for facilitating healing experiences and realizing positive outcomes… Many [classic psychedelics] are found — or are close analogues of chemicals found — in plants or fungi used traditionally for millennia in spiritual or folk healing rituals, such as the ergot fungus (Claviceps purpurea) from Eurasia, morning glory (Turbina corymbosa) and peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii) from Central and North America, and the ayahuasca brew (Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis) from the Amazon. – Kenneth W. Tupper PhD et al link
Qigong can be best described as the skill of cultivating, maintaining, and promoting the free flow of “vital energy” (what is known as “Qi’”) within the body which in turn can provide immediate and lasting improvement to your physical and mental well-being. Qigong has a long rich history spanning thousands to years, that is deeply rooted in the practice and theory of Chinese Medicine. Varied in form and applications (there are hundreds, if not thousands, of different styles) all Qigong integrates movement, coordinated breathing techniques, and focused intention…
A holistic mind-body practice that can improve your physical and mental well-being, Qigong can enrich your life regardless of age, ability, or belief system… All Qigong integrates movement, coordinated breathing techniques, and focused intention… A deep and embodied Qigong practice can be transformational in body, mind, and spirit. It’s the basis for Daoist internal alchemical training (Nèidān practices). And with diligence and skilled guidance, practices can produce authentic catharsis, renewal, and longevity of life.
Qigong is two characters denoting a singular concept and therefore written as one “word.” Individually, the characters are:
氣 Qì: Breath, spirit, or the vital energy that animates life.
功 Gōng: Achievement or skill that is earned with effort.
Therefore, Qigong is usually translated as the achieved skill of cultivating and maintaining “vital energy,” or “Qi.”
In reality, the character 气 (氣 in traditional mandarin) is multilayered in meaning and a singular translation is incredibly inadequate. In the West, Qi usually just gets simplified to mean “energy.” This is not incorrect, but it is a very limited understanding. So too, is the above definition of “Qigong.” An education from a truly skilled teacher, and some direct experience will quickly reveal why!
– Red Thread Institute, So, What Exactly is this “Qugong” (Chi Kung) Thing? link
Rationale
Qi 气 (sometimes written as Ch’i, or Chi Energy) is considered to be the vital force of life. When properly practiced, Qigong enables people to increase energy and balance, reduce pain, and calm the mind—and ultimately, feel better… As a health practice, Qigong is considered both preventive and curative in application. – Red Thread Institute link
Techniques
With a long rich history spanning thousands of years, the principles of Qigong originated in China from Daoist Practices. However, you do not need to be a Daoist to practice Qigong! Today, Qigong practice is incredibly varied in its use and applications…
All Qigong practices can be classified within three basic categories:
Perspective, deeper understanding of life [source]
Red Light Therapy
Overview
A type of phototherapy, red light therapy involves standing or sitting near a device that emits light wave frequencies in the red light portion of the visible light spectrum and/or the near-infrared spectrum.
Red light therapy promotes cellular health (and does not create sunburn or UV damage). It is used for inflammation, pain, and skin rejuvenation among other uses. [source]
Red light therapy is also called photomodulation (PBM).
Red light therapy (RLT) was originally developed back in the 1990s to help photosynthesis and plant growth in space… Red light is different from ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. It doesn’t burn your skin. You don’t have to worry about sunburn and UV damage. It also won’t get you tanned like the sun or tanning beds do. RLT is completely safe. Instead of sunburn and skin damage, you will receive benefits on a cellular level when standing or sitting several inches from a red light therapy device. – Dr. David Jockers, Red Light Therapy for Skin Rejuvenation and Anti-Aging link
Rationale
Red and near infrared light therapy has been widely researched and is a proven anti-aging, skin improvement tool that brings numerous positive effects to skin all over the body. Repairing damage from UV rays requires that skin be able to repair cellular and DNA damage, much as it does when healing from wounds. Red light does this extremely well through stimulating collagen synthesis and fibroblast formation, anti-inflammatory action, stimulation of energy production in mitochondria, and even stimulating DNA repair. [See book for research and 382 references.] – Ari Whitten, The Ultimate Guide To Red Light Therapy 2018 link
Our bodies need the various types of light that come from the sun. These different frequencies of light are “essential” from a nutritional point of view. Different types of light do various types of things in our body. And most humans are deficient in light. Red light therapy can help to offset the deficiencies experienced from not receiving enough sunlight, and to enhance certain cellular processes.
Light is an essential nutrient for humans; our health depends on getting the right dose. – Ari Whitten, The Ultimate Guide To Red Light Therapy 2018 link
*Nutrients are present in living tissues, fueling life and making the body’s functioning possible. Essential nutrients are those not produced by the body; they must be obtained from food and light.
While we may sometimes forget, the human body is part of an ecosystem, connected to the Earth and Sun. So, of course, our cells respond to our environment, including light.
Light is measured using a wave frequency scale called the electromagnetic spectrum. See vibrational medicine for details.
There are five types of “bioactive” light in humans. (Bioactive means to affect the function of our cells.)
Blue light
UV light
Far-infrared light
Red light
Near-infrared (NIR) light
Techniques
Red light does not to be from a laser. Ari Whitten explains (in FAQ p 225 here),”It is a myth that only lasers have these effects… it has been proven that non-laser light (like from LED devices of the appropriate wavelengths) essentially have the same effects.” Whitten refers to many studies and quotes Harvard researcher Michael Hamblin PhD who is “widely regarded as the world’s top authority on red and near-infrared light therapy.”
Most of the early work in this field was carried out with various kinds of lasers, and it was thought that laser light had some special characteristics not possessed by light from other sources such as sunlight, fluorescent or incandescent lamps and now LEDS. However, all the studies that have been done comparing lasers to equivalent light sources with similar wavelengths and power density of their emission, have found essentially no difference between them. – Harvard researcher Michael Hamblin PhD
There are many devices and providers offering red light therapy. Ari Whitten explains that the most important things when choosing a device or provider is the wavelength, power density, size of the treatment area, and your purpose for the therapy.
Wavelength and intensity make all the difference between incredible benefits and no benefits… Look for the wavelengths in the proven therapeutic ranges. Based on the bulk of the research, you want 630-680 nm (the optimal healing spectrum of red light), 800 to 880 nm (the optimal healing spectrum of near-infrared), or a combination of both… If you see a device offering wavelengths in the 700-770 nm range, be aware that far fewer studies support health benefits at these wavelengths. – Ari Whitten, The Ultimate Guide To Red Light Therapy 2018 pgs 179-180 link
Reflexology is a therapeutic technique from TCM that involves applying pressure to the feet, hands, and ears.
Rationale
Chinese Medicine teaches how different body parts correspond with different pressure points on the body. Reflexologists use maps of these points in the feet, hands and ears to determine where to apply pressure for various needs. [source]
[According to Chinese Medicine,] when a person feels stressed, their body blocks qi (vital energy). This can cause an imbalance in the body that leads to illness. Reflexology aims to keep qi flowing through the body, keeping it balanced and disease free. – Debra Rose Wilson PhD, Healthline, Vital Energy link
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy. The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei which means “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “life force energy”. So Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.” – The International Center for Reiki Training link
Relaxation, Alert Rest, Restorative Yoga
Overview
True relaxation or deep rest is different from distraction when brains are active. Instead, this is a purposeful and alert state, closer to meditation than to sleep. “Many of us think of relaxing as watching TV, reading a book, cooking, or spending time with friends. However, in these activities, our brains are still highly active, and we don’t always find the rest and recharge we actually need.” [source]
Relaxation techniques could include breathing exercises or guided imagery. Another way to practice purposeful, alert relaxation is with Restorative Yoga which uses long-held, passive postures supported by props, so that no muscular effort is required. Restorative poses are intended to release ever-deeper layers of tension. “The goal is to provide your body with as much support as possible. Your job in restorative is to do nothing.” [source]
Restorative Yoga is designed to support an increasing ability to experience “Beingness” — a quality of awareness not related to “doing” or external circumstances. While “yin” in nature, Restorative Yoga is different from the style called Yin Yoga, which is designed to stress connective tissue and bones. Restorative Yoga is more akin to meditation than to an active asana practice. “It’s a way of practicing ‘meditation’ as a somatic, embodied experience.” [source]
Rationale
Purposeful relaxation is “an opportunity for the brain to make sense of what it has recently learned, to surface fundamental unresolved tensions in our lives and to swivel its powers of reflection away from the external world toward itself,” according to research quoted in Scientific American. The goal of relaxation is not to distract ourselves, but rather to set a deliberate intention to release stress while completely inhabiting the moment. When you make the conscious choice to let go in your body, your mind follows, and vice versa. – Ingrid Yang MD, Yoga Journal, 6 Savasana Modifications for Deeper Relaxation link
Techniques
Restorative poses are passive postures supported by props, such as blankets, bolsters, blocks, and straps, so that you do not need to use any muscular effort. There’s no goal of stretching or strengthening. With the support of the props and the ground, we practice releasing the grip of muscular and mental tension. The props are there to support you, to hold you up and help you rest in an alignment that takes the strain and stress of the body and mind and allows the bones to relate to each other in a way that conveys safety. – Jillian Pransky, Yoga Journal, 4 Must-Try Restorative Poses link
Named after its founder, Dr. Ida P. Rolf, Rolfing Structural Integration is a form of bodywork that reorganizes the connective tissues, called fascia, that permeate the entire body. – Dr. Ida Rolf Institute, What is Rolfing link
Rationale
Research has demonstrated that Rolfing SI creates a more efficient use of the muscles, allows the body to conserve energy, and creates more economical and refined patterns of movement. Research also shows that Rolfing SI significantly reduces chronic stress and changes in the body structure. For example, a study showed that Rolfing SI significantly reduced the spinal curvature of subjects with lordosis (sway back); it also showed that Rolfing SI enhances neurological functioning. – Dr. Ida Rolf Institute link
Rosen Method is both a bodywork and a movement modality that is about presence, breath, body awareness, releasing tension, reaching the unconscious, and creating new, more regulated pathways in nervous system. Unlike cookie cutter methods, both Rosen Method Bodywork and Rosen Method Movement are about allowing an individual’s experience and who they truly are (as opposed to who they were taught they ought to be) to flow through them and into how they move through their lives. This work is born out of the pioneering work of Marion Rosen, a physical therapist for 70 years. Her broader background prior to becoming a physical therapist meant that she approached her work with patients with more of a whole person approach. – Rosen Method The Berkeley Center, About the Rosen Method link
Rationale
This process naturally activates the body’s innate restorative abilities, leading to greater ease and more expanded capacity in daily life. In research conducted at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, clients who received regular Rosen Method sessions reported that they experienced the following benefits:
Enhanced psychological health through increased positive and decreased negative emotions
Enhanced physical health through reduced pain and muscle tension, improved breathing and digestive function
Awareness of the mind-body connection, through increased awareness of the link between body tension, emotion and prior symptoms
Support for personal growth and life changes, gaining a sense of control and autonomy
Rosen Method bodywork uses touch and talking to enhance self-awareness in clients. Rosen Method touch is non-manipulative, non-demanding, and listening. A Rosen Method practitioner watches for changes in the tension and relaxation of a client’s muscles and pattern of breathing. Through this unique Rosen touch, clients can learn to feel themselves more fully and directly. The skillful use of words enhances the journey inward to support the client’s awareness of his or her inner process. – Rosen Institute link
Also called halotherapy, salt therapy is the breathing of salty air to “absorb irritants, including allergens and toxins, from the respiratory system… [and to] break up mucus and reduce inflammation, resulting in clear airways.” [source]
Salt has also been utilized in various therapeutic, healing and medicinal ways including saline solutions, nebulizers, skin scrubs, salt baths, Nettie pots, etc…mostly known as “wet” salt therapy… Another aspect of salt therapy has emerged where the main health benefit comes from the salt’s quality to absorb moisture. It is called Dry Salt Therapy and is also known as Halotherapy. Today, Halotherapy is being provided… as a natural alternative and complimentary way of improving general wellness, respiratory issues, skin conditions, detoxification, athletic performance and more. – Salt Therapy Association, About Salt Therapy link
Rationale
There are three primary characteristics of pure sodium chloride, NaCl, known as salt:
Salt is super absorbent (especially when it is completely dry)
Salt is anti-bacterial
Salt is anti-inflammatory
… The dry salt naturally starts absorbing allergens, toxins and foreign substances into your lungs and throughout your respiratory tract. Dry salt may help to reduce inflammation and open airway passages. The micro-sized crystal structure of pure NaCl particles breaks loose and clears out all of the ‘bad stuff’. This is the basis for how dry salt therapy can impact people suffering from respiratory conditions like allergies, asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, COPD and others. The properties of dry salt also absorb impurities and provide anti-bacterial properties that benefit the skin such as acne, psoriasis and eczema as well as regulates the skin’s micro-circulation. The smaller particles can reach beneath the skin’s surface and absorb moisture towards the skin. The larger salt particles land on the skin and absorb any bacterial and foreign substances. The dry salt accelerates cell rejuvenation and improves skin rigidity. – Salt Therapy Association, Salt Therapy – How and Why it Works link
Techniques
Halotherapy is usually done in a man-made “salt cave” that’s free of humidity. The temperature is cool, set to 68°F (20°C) or lower. Sessions usually last for about 30 to 45 minutes. – Annette McDermott & Debra Rose Wilson PhD, RN, Healthline, Does Halotherapy Really Work? link
Dry salt is placed into a halogenerator that then precisely grinds the salt into specific micro-sized particles and then disperses the salt aerosol into the air in a closed environment such as a room or chamber. As the salt travels in the salt room, these salt particles of dry sodium chloride are inhaled into the respiratory system… The climate conditions in a dry salt room must maintain certain temperature and humidity levels and proper ventilation to ensure the efficacy of the salt therapy and provide a ‘clean-air’ environment for the consumer. – Salt Therapy Association, Salt Therapy – How and Why it Works link
Sauna bathing is a form of whole-body thermotherapy that has been used in various forms (radiant heat, sweat lodges, etc.) for thousands of years in many parts of the world for hygiene, health, social, and spiritual purposes. – Joy Hussain and Marc Cohen, PubMed, Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review link
Saunas and other heat treatments use heat to produce sweating and detoxification, helping to relieve stress, increase relaxation and heal the body.
Research shows that sauna bathing at an adequate temperature and frequency “effectively detoxifies the body of any number of toxins, including heavy metals and various chemicals.” [source]
Infrared saunas are a form of heat treatment that use light waves from the near-infrared and mid-infrared frequencies to create heat in the body. Infrared light is part of the light spectrum that is invisible to humans. Near-infrared is closest to visible light while far infrared waves are lower frequency waves closer to the microwave region of the spectrum. [source] See vibrational medicine and red light therapy for more detail.
Heat treatments have been used to help heal the body for thousands of years. “Hot air baths” and sweat lodges were used for relieving stress, increasing relaxation and detoxification among Native Americans, Eastern Europeans and in ancient Chinese medicine. – Jillian Levy, Dr. Axe, Infrared Sauna Benefits: Are the Claims Backed Up? link
Rationale
Sauna therapy prompts detoxification, heat shock protein amplification and photobiomodulation (PBM). “The key to achieving efficient detox and heat shock protein amplification is making sure the sauna is hot enough.” [source]
While there’s a well-known aspect of meditation to sauna bathing, it actually mimics moderate cardiovascular exercise, triggering many of the same physiological responses — and benefits. Physiological responses that mimic those of exercise include sweating, increased blood flow to the skin and muscles, increased plasma volume and elevated heart rate, lowered blood pressure, endorphin release and increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF, which acts as an antiaging agent for the brain). These help account for many of the cardiovascular benefits of sauna, as well as some of the neurological benefits. Sauna is also an excellent adjunct to exercise, as the two augments each other’s benefits. – Dr. Joseph Mercola, The Stunning Health Benefits of Sauna Therapy link
There have been studies looking at sweating from sauna use where there’s a 122-fold increase in sweating out cadmium. Another one is aluminum. Aluminum is also excreted quite well from sweat, and you do excrete things like BPA, [even though] the major pathway that BPA is eliminated through is through urine. – Rhonda Patrick PhD link
Men who used a sauna four to seven times a week had a 66% lower risk for dementia, and a 65% lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease, compared to men who used the sauna once a week. Sauna use may boost brain health by lowering inflammation and blood pressure, improving vascular function and enhancing relaxation and well-being. – Dr. Joseph Mercola, Are Saunas Good for Your Brain?link
Regular infrared and/or Finnish sauna bathing has the potential to provide many beneficial health effects, especially for those with cardiovascular-related and rheumatological disease, as well as athletes seeking improved exercise performance. – Joy Hussain and Marc Cohen, PubMed, Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review link
For an even deeper dive into the science and benefits of heating, be sure to listen to this Huberman Lab Podcast. For example, heat stress, such as sauna bathing, but also locally applied heat, will convert white fat, which is not very metabolically active and acts as a fuel reserve (basically what we think of as body fat), into beige and brown fat, which are rich in mitochondria… Huberman also discusses a sauna protocol involving repetitive hot and cold exposure that can increase the amount of growth hormone 16-fold, and other recent science findings. – Dr. Joseph Mercola, The Stunning Health Benefits of Sauna Therapy link
Techniques
Modern day sauna use includes traditional Finnish-style sauna, along with Turkish-style Hammam, Russian Banya, and other cultural variations, which can be distinguished by the style of construction, source of heating, and level of humidity. Traditional Finnish saunas are the most studied to date and generally involve short exposures (5−20 minutes) at temperatures of 80°C–100°C with dry air (relative humidity of 10% to 20%) interspersed with periods of increased humidity created by the throwing of water over heated rocks [1]. In the past decade, infrared sauna cabins have become increasingly popular. These saunas use infrared emitters at different wavelengths without water or additional humidity and generally run at lower temperatures (45–60°C) than Finnish saunas with similar exposure times [2]. Both traditional Finnish and infrared sauna bathing can involve rituals of cooling-off periods and rehydration with oral fluids before, during, and/or after sauna bathing. – Joy Hussain and Marc Cohen link
Most of the research documenting sauna benefits use a temperature range from 160 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The duration of each session, and the frequency of use are also important. The sweet spot appears to be about 20 minutes, four to seven times a week, in a 174-degree F. traditional sauna… An ideal infrared sauna will heat up above 160 degrees F., and include not just far-infrared but also red, near- and mid-infrared frequencies for PBM benefits. – Dr. Joseph Mercola link
In shamanic healing, the practitioner engages in ceremony, invoking a meditative state and conscious spiritual support. The shaman uses traditional indigenous tools such as sound (e.g. singing, drums, rattle), honoring the four directions, and energy techniques to achieve improved emotional balance, energy flow, healing and well-being [source and source]
Shamanism is an ancient collection of traditions based on the act of voluntarily accessing and connecting to non-ordinary states — or spirit realms — for wisdom and healing. It organically arose all over the world, throughout history… Generally, there is one shaman per community… One becomes a shaman by: birth… shamanic initiation… or a near-death experience. – Irina Yugay, MindValley.com, Shamanic Healing Is the Hottest Trend You Need to Try—Here’s Why link
A shaman is a healer who has learned to work with specific types of spiritual connections that help facilitate profound levels of healing and well-being. Some shamans have learned these skills from traditional tribal shamans, from elders in their own families, or from non-traditional shamans. Some are born with these skills. Shamans work with all types of health and life issues including physical and mental illnesses, emotional challenges, and self-defeating ways of being. Shamanic healing is compatible with all other forms of healthcare support you’re receiving. From the shaman’s point of view, everything you’re doing is working with everything else for your highest good.
The shamanic perspective is that illness, disease, and struggle originate in your soul before they appear in your physical body or behavior. This perspective isn’t saying that you did something wrong or bad and caused your own illness, nor is it saying that if you do everything exactly right your life will be trouble free. It’s a fundamental understanding that our physical body is the slowest part of our beings to respond to internal or external influences. By the time an imbalance appears in your body, mind, or emotions you’ve already been dealing with it for quite awhile. In addition to addressing physical imbalances, shamans work to restore balance in the unseen or subconscious layers of your being that are supporting the health issues you’re focused on healing. This helps you reshape your life to release the health issues and support the other experiences you want to have. – Laughing Womyn Ashonosheni, American Holistic Health Association, Working with a Shaman link
Rationale
Shamans perform multidisciplinary healing under shamanic traditions. You can think of them as doctors, mediums, mystics, and spiritual teachers all in one (like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) who:
Restore and remove energetic pathways
Find answers to life’s challenges
Retrieve soul parts
Discover the spiritual aspects of ailments and imbalances for healing
Mediate between the worlds to bring the higher wisdom, articulate it, and teach it to the collective
A shamanic healing session has three main parts: preparation, the shamanic journey, and the after-journey (return). A typical healing session can take place inside or outdoors in a quiet, safe, and relaxing environment. It’s a ‘sacred space’ dedicated to opening, releasing, and healing. The centerpiece of the sacred space is an altar. – Irina Yugay link
SHIP® (‘Spontaneous Healing Intra-systemic Process’) is an experiential approach based on research spanning a period of more than 30 years. It was developed in the course of over 100 000 psychotherapy sessions with clients, by identifying their internal spontaneous healing processes and creating the most accommodating psychotherapeutic space wherein these processes could unfold and release. Spontaneous integration of disconnected material forms part of internal autonomic regulation with reciprocal disappearance of chronic dis-eases. The SHIP® Facilitator defines presenting chronic dis-eases as activated healing and precursors to growth. – The SHIP Foundation, About Us link
Techniques
The SHIP Foundation is a training school for registered Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychologists. The mission of the Foundation is to train psychotherapists to identify, accommodate and facilitate the spontaneous healing processes in clients… SHIP may only be practiced by Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychologists registered with the HPCSA and whose names are listed on the SHIPWebsite. – The SHIP Foundation link
6-min video featuring Peter Levine PhD, founder of Somatic Experiencing. Here he is using Somatic Experiencing tools with a young war veteran severely debilitated and experiencing PTSD from experiencing a horrific explosion. We can see an aspect of Ray’s trauma displaying, as, essentially, an incomplete process which is causing involuntary movements as his body tries time and again to complete the trauma loop. Despite taking “six or seven” prescription drugs for pain, PTSD, TBI, Tourette’s and depression, here he is, clearly in great distress and experiencing symptoms of all of those conditions. In this short session with Levine, Ray shows immediate and powerful improvements.
Overview
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-oriented modality that helps heal trauma and other stress disorders. Developed by Peter Levine, PhD, it is the result of the multidisciplinary study of stress physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics, with more than 45 years of successful application. – Somatic Experiencing International link
Somatics
Overview
As a general philosophy, somatics is an approach of embodiment attuning to the wisdom of the body. [source]
Thomas Hanna, an educator in the field, coined the term “somatics” in 1970 to describe a number of techniques that share one important similarity: They help people increase bodily awareness through a combination of movement and relaxation. While somatic practices have become increasingly popular in the Western world over the last 50 years, many of them draw from ancient Eastern philosophy and healing practices, including tai chi and qi gong. – Crystal Raypole & Courtney Sullivan, Healthline, A Brief Intro to the World of Somatics link
Techniques
There are many modalities and techniques that fall under the umbrella term of somatics including, for example:
Alexander Technique
Feldenkrais Method
Rosen Method
Somatic Experiencing
SomatoEmotional Release (SER)
“Other exercises can also be considered somatic such as yoga, Pilates and aikido… stem[ming] from the same idea that the mind and body are inherently connected.” [source]
Somatic Experiencing for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Outcome Study — On the clinical level, as measured by the CAPS, the diagnosis of PTSD was reversed for 44% of the sample through treatment, and this was maintained at follow‐up. – Danny Brom et al, Wiley Open Access (PubMed) link
Better or Worse: a Study of Day-to-Day Changes over Five Months of Rosen Method Bodywork Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain (2013) — All clients reported reductions in pain and/or disability in post- compared to pretreatment. In spite of a high level of day-to-day variability in the daily assessments, there were significant reductions in pain and fatigue, and significant increases in positive emotional state and sense of control across the treatment period. – Alan Fogel, PubMed link
SomatoEmotional Release
Overview
SomatoEmotional Release™ (SER) is a therapeutic process that uses and expands on the principles of CranioSacral Therapy to help a person rid their body of the residual effects of past injuries and negative experiences… SER is a holistic mind-body somatic approach that may also assist a person in gaining insight as to how that held trauma is influencing their physical and emotional health. SER can support the person in transitioning from dysfunction and unresolved issues towards wellness and optimal function. – Upledger Institute International, Discover CranioSacral Therapy and SomatoEmotional Release link
Rationale
SER is based on university research conducted by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger and biophysicist Zvi Karni. Physical forces enter a person’s body at the time of an accident or injury. The injured body may immediately begin dissipating these forces and the natural healing process will follow, or the physical forces imposed upon the person’s body may be retained rather than dissipated. Drs. Upledger and Karni came to realize that very often the body retained the emotional energy along with the physical force, and called this localized and concentrated area that formed, an “energy cyst.” Initially the body accommodates to the presence of the energy cyst, but over time the body weakens or tires of this accommodation, and can develop symptoms of pain, dysfunction, or emotional stress. SER facilitates a gentle process for releasing tissue memory, thereby helping the person to decrease the adverse effects of past traumas. – Upledger Institute International, Discover CranioSacral Therapy and SomatoEmotional Release link
Techniques
“Subtle body work is combined with dialogue to assist the process of release and to increase an awareness of your ‘inner self.’ … Sometimes, an awareness or association of past trauma may arise.” [source]
Sound healing harnesses the power of sound frequencies to promote physical, emotional and spiritual health and well-being.
Using frequency for healing may involve listening to specific tones or sounds, utilizing the frequencies in your own voice through special exercises, undergoing treatments with tools like tuning forks, or using advanced technological devices designed to emit desired frequencies. [source]
“There are various instruments like tuning forks, Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls, the human voice and even advanced electronic equipment that generate specific sound frequencies for healing purposes.” [source]
A note on terms:
Sound healing, frequency healing, and music therapy are typically referring to a body of techniques that use the same underlying process.
Music therapy may be referring to a particular healing technique carried out by trained therapists. The other terms may also occasionally be used to mean specific techniques.
Sound baths are so named as participants are invited to “bathe” in the sounds, allowing them to wash over and through.
Vibrational healing or vibrational therapy encompasses sound healing, but refers to the greater set of techniques that use sound or light to restore discordant frequencies into harmony, thus fostering healing from within. [source and source]Seevibrational healing.
Sound refers to vibrations that we can hear. The vibrations, or sound waves, are formed by an oscillation of energy as it travels through a medium such as air, water or a solid object. [source]See vibrational healing.
Rationale
“Sounds have vibrations that affect us on a neurological, physiological, and biochemical level.” [source]
“Frequency healing harnesses the natural power of sound waves. It’s non-invasive and works by aligning the body’s energies and frequencies to a harmonious state.” [source]
Different frequencies have different effects and therefore serve different purposes.
Techniques
Sound healing involves listening to sounds or producing sounds.
“There are various instruments like tuning forks, Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls, the human voice and even advanced electronic equipment that generate specific sound frequencies for healing purposes.” [source]
Sounding or singing — When producing sound from the mouth, the vocal cords vibrate, creating a desirable healing and calming effect in the body and mind. Vocalizing also slows the breath rate and deepens the exhalation. It focuses attention and tends to balance the emotions.
Making music — “Abrams keeps a wide variety of musical instruments available to his clients so they can express a full range of emotion.” [source]
Listening to music — With premature infants, for example, “the music therapist provides the lullaby, and others contribute massage and gentle rocking to give the baby a comforting experience that preemies often lack in the sterile hospital environment.” Research shows this decreases the time that the infant stays in the hospital.
Binaural beats — Listening to two slightly different low-frequency tones played in separate ears simultaneously (usually through headphones) causes the brain to register a third frequency, leading to a meditative state. May also be called brainwave entrainment or neural entrainment. The sound levels may be low enough that they cannot be consciously heard. This is perhaps explained by the fact that binaural beats are not processed like typical sounds, but instead are an auditory phenomenon created by the brain. Learn more about binaural beats here.
Psychotherapeutic approach — In addition to listening or producing sound, specialized forms of music therapy involve a psychotherapeutic approach for working through fear and trauma. “Abrams uses music as a form of psychotherapy, where his patients can express and work through fear, trauma, emotional impasses, and any other obstacles to their human potential through music listening, improvisation, and composition.” [source]
Note of caution — Regarding work working therapeutically, particularly with trauma: “Abrams says that inadequate training when engaging in music, even with the best intentions, carries the risk of doing damage, such as re-traumatizing a person with a musical experience linked to an adverse event in their life. He says that unless the practitioner understands a person’s context and knows how to manage the issues that can emerge in treatment they are vulnerable to a variety of traumatic triggers.” [source]
Stem Cell Therapy
Overview
Stem cell therapy uses a patient’s own stem cells to help repair damaged tissue and repair injuries. It’s usually performed relatively quickly through injections, and is a simple outpatient or in office procedure. – Dr. Josh Axe, 5 Stem Cell Therapy Benefits — for Joint Pain, Heart Disease & Even Alzheimer’s link
Although orthopedic stem cell therapy and platelet rich plasma (PRP) both involve the use of a patient’s own blood, they are very different. Stem cells derived from bone marrow can differentiate into other types of cells in order to help stimulate healing at an orthopedic injury site. PRP uses a person’s own growth factors to help stimulate healing. However, PRP does not contain any stem cells. – Santa Barbara Sports Medicine link
Sunlight is one of the most important things for our health (e.g., it halves our risk of dying or getting cancer), yet all we ever hear is how important it is to avoid it. While the importance of vitamin D is generally recognized, many of the other critical functions of light within plants, animals and human beings remain almost completely unknown… One of the defining characteristics of modern life is the continual exposure to unnatural light. While this is viewed as being relatively benign, in reality, forgotten research demonstrated that it is a root cause of a myriad of inexplicable modern physical and behavioral illnesses. In contrast, a 20-year study of 29,518 Swedish women found that those who avoided sunlight were 130% more likely to die than those who received regular sunlight and were also more likely to develop significant medical conditions, including cancer.1 … Unfortunately (outside of very specific patentable applications), since no one has a financial interest in promoting sunlight, almost everything we hear about instead focuses on why it’s terrible for us. – A Midwestern Doctor, Natural Light is an Essential Nutrient link
Rationale
Prior to dermatology’s disastrous war on the sun, the value of sunlight was widely recognized in medicine. For example, in the early 1900s, heliotherapy (sunbathing) was used with great success for treating many (otherwise incurable) conditions, such as the 1918 influenza, tuberculosis, and many other diseases… One of the defining characteristics of modern life is the continual exposure to unnatural light. While this is viewed as being relatively benign, in reality, forgotten research demonstrated that it is a root cause of a myriad of inexplicable modern physical and behavioral illnesses. One of the keys functions of blood is to conduct light throughout the body. In turn, when this process is disrupted (e.g., by wearing glasses with lenses which eliminate critical parts of the electromagnetic spectrum) a variety of significant illnesses can develop… Normal sunlight is critical for facilitating the circadian rhythm our body’s depend upon to rest and repair themselves. In turn, a major cause of the modern insomnia epidemic (and the profound health consequences it entails—which are discussed further here) are artificial light exposures, while one of the most useful treatments for it is to simply start your day with a full sunlight exposure. – A Midwestern Doctor link
Many believe that sunlight, especially its ultraviolet (UV) component, is dangerous. This view emerged from an abhorrent 1980s PR campaign by dermatologists to promote highly lucrative skin cancer treatments. – A Midwestern Doctor, Mercola.com, The Century of Evidence Putting Light Inside the Body Is a Miraculous Therapy link
Uses
Sunlight is critical for mental health. – A Midwestern Doctor link
Virtually any health issue, and disease prevention
Surgery
Overview
Surgical operations require a surgical team that typically consists of the surgeon, the surgical assistant, an anaesthetist (often also complemented by an anaesthetic nurse), a scrub nurse (who handles sterile equipment), a circulating nurse and a surgical technologist, while procedures that mandate cardiopulmonary bypass will also have a perfusionist. All surgical procedures are considered invasive and often require a period of postoperative care (sometimes intensive care) for the patient to recover from the iatrogenic trauma inflicted by the procedure. – Wikipedia, Surgery link
Rationale
Surgery is [used] to diagnose or treat… trauma, disease, injury or malignancy, to alter bodily functions, to reconstruct or improve aesthetics and appearance (cosmetic surgery), or to remove unwanted tissues (body fat, glands, scars or skin tags) or foreign bodies. – Wikipedia, Surgery link
Techniques
Surgeries are classified as elective, semi-elective or emergency.
According to invasiveness, they are classified as “conventional open surgery, minimally-invasive surgery or hybrid — a combination of open and minimally-invasive techniques.” [source]
Anesthesia is administered to prevent pain from the trauma of cutting, tissue manipulation, application of thermal energy, and suturing. Depending on the type of operation, anesthesia may be provided locally, regionally, or as general anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia may be used when the surgical site is too large or deep for a local block, but general anesthesia may not be desirable. With local and spinal anesthesia, the surgical site is anesthetized, but the person can remain conscious or minimally sedated. In contrast, general anesthesia may render the person unconscious and paralyzed during surgery. The person is typically intubated to protect their airway and placed on a mechanical ventilator, and anesthesia is produced by a combination of injected and inhaled agents. – Wikipedia, Surgery link
Uses
May be useful when experiencing:
Injury
Sweat Lodge
Overview
A Sweat Lodge is considered to be a sacred place by Native Americans. It is a dome-shaped structure made of natural materials such as branches, leaves, and blankets. It is used to conduct traditional sweating ceremonies that have been practiced for thousands of years in Native American culture…
[This] powerful and symbolic ceremony promotes physical and spiritual healing… The extreme heat and physical discomfort can trigger emotions and bring up painful memories — an essential part of the process. The sweat lodge is a physical representation of the challenges and struggles that we all face in life. Through enduring these challenges, participants can gain strength and resilience. – Native Tribe Info, The Sacred Sweat Lodge: A Vital Native American Tradition link
Rationale
Native American culture is full of rich traditions and practices that have been passed down from generation to generation. One such tradition is the sweat lodge, a powerful and symbolic ceremony that has been used for centuries to promote physical and spiritual healing… For many people, the sweat lodge experience can be intense and challenging. The extreme heat and physical discomfort can trigger emotions and bring up painful memories. However, these pain points are an essential part of the process. The sweat lodge is a physical representation of the challenges and struggles that we all face in life. Through enduring these challenges, participants can gain strength and resilience.
The sweat lodge is a symbolic representation of the womb of Mother Earth. It is believed that when you enter the sweat lodge and sit within the darkness, you are returning to the safety and comfort of the womb. This makes it a deeply spiritual experience that connects us with our ancestors and the earth itself. The sweat lodge is often used in prayer ceremonies, as it is believed that the heat and intensity of the experience amplifies the power of the prayers being offered.
In summary, the sweat lodge holds tremendous significance in Native American culture. It is a powerful tool for promoting physical and spiritual healing, and it connects us with our ancestors and the earth. While it can be intimidating and challenging, the sweat lodge offers a unique opportunity to connect with oneself and the wider world in a profound way. – Native Tribe Info link
Uses
Can be supportive for:
Disease prevention
Health, wellness and vitality
Tai Chi / Tai Chi Chuan
Overview
Tai Chi, also called Tai Chi Chuan, is a mind-body exercise that originated in China over 1,000 years ago. When Tai Chi is being practiced, three components are working together: movements, meditation and deep breathing. Th movements are a series of gentle postures flowing slowing and smoothly from one to another. – American Tai Chi and Qigong Association link
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners rely on the “laws and synergies of nature and apply these synergies to the human body,” using an understanding of yin-yang energetics and the 5-element theory to examine each individual’s unique constitution and disease patterns, and to select therapies to restore balance. Evaluation will typically include examining the tongue and taking the pulse. Remedies may include such techniques as acupuncture, herbs, moxibustion, gua sha, cupping, Tui na, and diet changes. [source]
Rationale
TCM is based on ancient wisdom that has withstood the test of time, relying on an understanding of the functioning of energy — and therefore physiology and metabolic processes — in the body.
TCM derives from The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic, thought to have been written 2,500 to 5,000 years ago. See here for information on the findings of a well-preserved 5,000 year old body with specific acu-points tattooed on the body that aligned with the body’s health condition.
TCM draws on Taoism philosophy that is rooted in the laws and synergies of nature, and it applies these synergies to the human body. It recognizes that our organ systems are interconnected and our health is dependent on chi. Translated to modern-day language, chi is active energy — a metaphor for metabolic processes taking place in a living being. To be alive is to have vital chi flowing through the body. TCM theory states that when chi is in perfect balance, we enjoy good health. However, internal and external factors such as diet, weather, and pathogens can all create imbalances in chi, which eventually result in disease. In order to maintain balance, TCM further uses the concept of “Yin-Yang energetics” and “5-element theory” to classify disease patterns. – Snow Xia LAc, mbgHealth, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): History & Current Applications link
We believe that each individual’s body constitution is unique and place great importance on making personalized diagnoses and treatment plans. To get a comprehensive picture of the patient’s health, we use five pillars of examination (look, listen, touch, smell, ask), often examining the tongue and reading the pulse during a health intake. These two metrics give us a snapshot of the status of internal organs and meridians. Modalities such as acupuncture, herbs, moxibustion, gua sha, cupping, Tui na, and diet changes can then be prescribed, depending on the patient’s needs.
In TCM theory, a healthy life is a balanced life, and more emphasis is placed on prevention than treatment. To enjoy perfectly balanced long-term health, TCM recommends putting five branches into practice: acupuncture, herbal medicine, diet, movement (also called energetics), and manual therapy (passive movement including Tui na, gua sha, etc). – Snow Xia LAc, mbgHealth, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): History & Current Applications link
The five branches of TCM are acupuncture, herbal medicine, food therapy, movement and manual therapy. [source]
Uses
May be useful when experiencing:
Virtually any health issue
Can be supportive for:
Disease prevention
Health, wellness and vitality
Thai Massage
Overview
Thai Massage involves pressure and compression, assisted stretching, and acupressure to relieve tension, promote relaxation, improve range of motion, and enhance circulation and the flow of energy.
Thai massage includes influences from both Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine…. You lie fully clothed on a mat on the ground while a practitioner uses stretching, pulling, and rocking techniques… Sometimes referred to as assisted yoga, Thai massage is focused on improving the flow of energy throughout your body. – Lauren Jarmusz PT, Healthline, 6 Science-Supported Benefits of Thai Massage link
Also called Traditional Thai Massage, Thai Yoga Massage, Nuad Thai and Nuad Boran.
Therapeutic Touch (TT) was developed by Dolores Krieger, PhD, RN (1921 – 2019) and Dora Kunz (1904 – 1999). From their observations and insights into the healing process, they felt that the ability to heal could be taught to anyone who has compassion and a desire to help. They were very interested in supporting a scientific approach to the healing process. In the early 1970’s they began teaching Therapeutic Touch to Krieger’s graduate nursing students at New York University. Now TT is taught to many who are interested in healing in many countries around the world. – Therapeutic Touch International Association, What is Therapeutic Touch link
Rationale
Therapeutic Touch (TT) is based on the idea that human beings are energy in the form of a field. When you are healthy, that energy is freely flowing and balanced. In contrast, disease is a condition of energy imbalance or disorder. The human energy field extends beyond the level of the skin, and the Therapeutic Touch practitioner connects with that energy using the hands as sensors…
Therapeutic Touch has been a part of research-based practice since its development. Dr. Krieger’s initial research demonstrated that Therapeutic Touch interaction could increase hemoglobin levels in recipients as previous studies had indicated that chlorophyll content could be increased in healer treated plants. This finding was one of the first that allowed quantitative biochemical measurements in humans to detect healing energy effects. – Therapeutic Touch International Association link
Techniques
A Therapeutic Touch session is a process that is always individualized and usually does not exceed 20 minutes. Your practitioner may ask you to sit in a chair or lie down. It is not necessary to disrobe. Exact methods vary between practitioners, but generally, they will pass their hands over your body from head to toe, front and back, holding them between 2-6 inches from the skin. They may use rhythmical, sweeping motions with the hands, as if they are smoothing or rebalancing your energy field. The practitioner may or may not touch you physically. TT Practitioners are conduits of energy – the Healing Partner actually does the work. – Therapeutic Touch International Association, What is Therapeutic Touch link
Thermography
Overview
Long used in TCM, thermography is a “noninvasive, non-radiographic” diagnostic tool. It uses infrared technology to detect heat patterns and blood flow in body tissues; it can “measure heat from inflammation long before it manifests as a disease. “Since thermography is a non-invasive technique, there are no risks to the body.” [source]
As numerous studies and research papers indicate, thermography has its place in the early detection of yet undiagnosed disorders and diseases. It is also valuable for monitoring disease development and treatment results. It is important to remember that early detection is the key and that thermography is not meant to determine or diagnose causes of increased body heat patterns. – Sandra Cesca, The Epoch Times, New Thermography Applications for Disease Detection link
Rationale
Human metabolism constantly releases varying levels of energy in the form of heat. This heat is one of the key vital signs for determining the possible presence of disease… The great Greek physician Hippocrates stated “In whatever part of the body excess of heat or cold is felt, the disease is there to be discovered.” This early concept expanded and developed over the centuries, first in 1800 due to Sir William Hershel’s discovery of a new spectrum of invisible light, which he called infrared or “below the red.” Modern thermometry began soon after, in 1835, with the invention of a thermo-electrical device that measured the temperature in various body areas to detect inflammation… A literature review of seventy-two research articles on the potential of thermography evaluated 17,314 participants with 38 different health conditions across 13 therapeutic areas. The conclusion: “Thermography offers promising diagnostic capabilities, alone or in addition to conventional methods.” – Sandra Cesca link
Techniques
Thermography uses an infrared camera to detect and record temperature changes on the skin’s surface. It converts this heat into electrical impulses visualized in color, displayed as a heat map or thermogram. The spectrum of colors on the thermogram indicates an increase or decrease in the amount of infrared heat emitted from the body’s surface. … These heat patterns are a tool for detecting early stages of physiological changes long before any structural changes, such as tumor formation, appear. – Sandra Cesca link
Sports injuries, sprains, inflamed tendons, and pain syndromes [source]
ThetaHealing
Overview
ThetaHealing is a meditation technique and spiritual philosophy that uses focused thought and prayer. We believe our training method offers physical, emotional, and spiritual healing by tapping into the Theta brain wave and connecting with the Creator Of All That Is. When we experience this connection, we can reprogram our minds to clear limiting beliefs and think positively. – ThetaHealing, What is ThetaHealing link
Theta Healing was developed by Vianna Stibal, an intuitive healer and naturopath, in 1995. Stibal claims she discovered the technique after being diagnosed with cancer and experiencing a spontaneous healing during a meditation session. She began teaching the method to others and published her first book, ‘Go Up and Seek God,’ in 1997. Since then, Theta Healing has gained popularity worldwide, with practitioners offering sessions and workshops in various countries. – Wellmeright, Theta Healing link
Rationale
ThetaHealing is not a religion. We believe every religion is beautiful and teach people of all faiths to connect with their higher spiritual power. We believe we’re all sparks of God, the spirit that intertwines and binds all things in existence. Our philosophy is to live, train, and coach others to achieve a better life through the pure essence of love within the 7 Planes of Existence. – ThetaHealing link
Techniques
A typical session includes an intuitive scan, belief work, and a healing. The practitioner may teach you to use a muscle test to see what beliefs trigger the area you’re seeking to change. Nothing is changed without your permission. – ThetaHealing link
Trager Approach Practitioners work in a calm, cultivated, meditative state, what Dr. Trager called “hook-up.” Using the language of touch and movement they promote sensory awareness and ease of movement. Trager sessions include gentle bouncing, stroking, elongations and a variety of playful body movements received in a calming, pleasurable atmosphere. Cumulative in nature, this work promotes ease, physical mobility, and a renewed lasting awareness of agelessness. A mental, emotional and physical education, Trager sends clients into the world with the physical efficiency and coordination that leads to effortless movement. Milton Trager called this feeling a place beyond relaxation, a place of peace. – TraegerApproach.us link
Rationale
I am convinced that for every physical non-yielding condition there is a psychic counterpart in the unconscious mind to the degree of the physical manifestations. – Dr. Milton Trager link
The Trager Approach can be described in many different ways. Instructor Roger Tolle offers a view on its impact on the fascial structure here. – TraegerApproach.us link
Techniques
Trager sessions are designed to be both extremely pleasant and effective. The effects are both cumulative and accelerate with each visit. Sessions are generally 60-90 minutes long. Time and frequency of sessions are tailored according to clients’ particular needs. Sessions usually include an interview, assessment, and movement. Clients wear loose clothing or can be unclothed down to their underwear. After sessions, practitioners offer individualized movement suggestions to expand upon the positive effects of the work. The second aspect of The Trager Approach, called Mentastics, involves instruction in the use of self-care movements. Mentastics is taught both in private sessions and in group classes. Dr. Trager developed these simple, effortless movements to encourage playful exploration of “what could be freer” for your body. Integrating Mentastics into your daily life will allow you to enhance and recall feelings of ease, freedom, flexibility and joy. Mentastics can become part of the way you take care of yourself and relieve stress and tension. – TraegerApproach.us link
TRE is an innovative series of exercises that assist the body in releasing deep muscular patterns of stress, tension and trauma. The exercises safely activate a natural reflex mechanism of shaking or vibrating that releases muscular tension, calming down the nervous system. When this muscular shaking/vibrating mechanism is activated in a safe and controlled environment, the body is encouraged to return back to a state of balance… TRE is designed to be a self-help tool that, once learned, can be used independently as needed throughout one’s life, thereby continuously supporting and promoting personal health and wellness. – TRE for All Inc, Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises link
Rationale
TRE is based on the fundamental idea, backed by research, that stress, tension and trauma is both psychological and physical. TRE’s reflexive muscle vibrations generally feel pleasant and soothing. After doing TRE, many people report feelings of peace and well-being. TRE has helped many thousands of people globally… Since this shaking mechanism in the muscles is part of our natural behavior as humans, everyone can benefit from TRE. This shaking of the muscles increases the resiliency of the body because it causes deep relaxation that naturally reduces stress levels. It can release emotions ranging from mild upset to severe anxiety whether it is caused by work stress, excessive worry, conflict in relationships, physical stresses or traumas from accidents. – TRE for All Inc, Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises link
Tui na is “one of the most commonly used massage treatment modalities in TCM… It includes pushing (tui) and grasping (na) of soft body tissue.” [source]
“The therapist applies pressure along the meridians using various twisting, pulling, turning, pushing, and kneading techniques to unblock those pathways, facilitate lymphatic flow or drainage, improve circulation, and stimulate the nervous system. Traditionally, the practice is combined with muscular manipulation and joint mobilization to achieve osteopathic functions. ” [source]
Rationale
“The goal is to unblock [energetic] pathways, facilitate lymphatic flow or drainage, improve circulation, and stimulate the nervous system.” [source]
Techniques
“Usually, Tuina treatments are given clothed on a mat on the floor, on a massage table, or chair. The receiver wears loose and comfortable clothes.” [source]
Tui Na has always had a close relationship with the Chinese martial arts, because traumatic injuries (such as dislocations, sprains, fractures, etc.) are commonplace in any combative environment. In modern China, Tuina Massage is widely popular, and many hospitals include it as a standard modality of treatment, with several specializations for infants, adults, orthopedics, traumatology, sports medicine, among others… Tui Na has become increasingly popular, and it’s frequently taught as part of the general curriculum at many Western acupuncture schools. Therapists are known as Tuina practitioners, Tuina therapists or Tuina doctors. In the West, Tuina Massage is sometimes also called Meridian Massage. – Marce Ferreira, TraditionalBodyywork.com, What is Tuina Massage? link
Uses
Tuina is generally not used for relaxation, but rather as a deep tissue treatment for a variety of internal diseases and external injuries. – Marce Ferreira link
Ultraviolet blood irradiation is a technique where blood is extracted, exposed to ultraviolet light, and then returned to the body. UV light has been shown to have a sterilizing effect, killing bacteria and inactivating toxins and viruses. When blood is treated with UV light and re-perfused, it can increase oxygen absorption, stimulate the immune system, and cause other physiological changes. – Unbekoming, Interview with Dr. Robert Rowen; Plus a detailed Q&A on Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation Therapy link
Rationale
Natural light is a crucial nutrient many of us lack. When ultraviolet (“UV”) light enters the bloodstream, it can unlock phenomenal health benefits. In the 1930s, ultraviolet blood irradiation (“UVBI”) emerged as a revolutionary treatment. Hospitals across America adopted it, and it produced miraculous results for patients, demonstrating remarkable efficacy against a wide range of conditions (e.g., infections, autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease and pregnancy issues). Unable to monopolise the therapy, the American Medical Association (AM”) published a flawed study that discredited UVBI, leading to its decline in the US. However, Russia and Germany continued to recognise its value, conducting decades of research proving UVBI’s utility for various challenging medical conditions. In America, UVBI is primarily used by integrative practitioners to treat complex illnesses that do not respond to other therapies such as Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, spike protein injuries and chronic migraines. – A Midwestern Doctor, The Century of Evidence Putting Light Inside the Body Is a Miraculous Therapy link and link
In the 1940s, a multitude of articles appeared in the American literature detailing a novel treatment for infection. This treatment had a cure rate of 98 to 100% in early and moderately advanced infections, and approximately 50% in terminally moribund patients. Healing was not limited to just bacterial infections, but also viral (acute polio), wounds, asthma, and arthritis. Recent German literature has demonstrated profound improvements in a number of biochemical and hematologic markers. There has never been reported any toxicity, side effects or injury except for occasional Herxheimer type reactions. As infections are failing to improve with the use of chemical treatment, this safe and effective treatment should be revisited.– Dr. Robert Jay Rowen MD, International Journal of Biological and Medical Research 1996, Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation Therapy (Photo-Oxidation); The Cure That Time Forgot link
Techniques
Blood is extracted, exposed to ultraviolet light, and then returned to the body.
Urotherapy (also called urine therapy) is the use of one’s own urine as medicine.
“Urotherapy is a traditional therapy of using one’s urine to massage into skin, gums or drinking the urine,” explains Terry Wahls, M.D., a functional medicine practitioner… It seems to have originated in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. “Urine therapy has been used in ancient times as a healing tonic for infections and an antidote to poison,” says Amy Shah, M.D., a functional medicine doctor trained in Ayurvedic medicine. “It has also been described as a spiritual practice in Ayurveda.” – Liz Moody and Abby Cannon JD, MindBodyGreen, Drinking Urine Is the New Health Trend – But is it Good for You? link
Rationale
Functional medicine practitioner Will Cole, D.C., IFMCP, isn’t too shocked about urotherapy’s (albeit, hushed) popularity. “Urine is comprised of 95 percent water, 2.5 percent urea and 2.5 percent a mix of salt, enzymes, hormones, and minerals,” he says. “Because of these properties found in urine, it makes sense why one would assume there would be benefits to reusing these nutrients and chemicals in the body for antiviral and antibacterial purposes as well as helping to balance hormones.” – Liz Moody and Abby Cannon JD link
Urine consists of 95% of water, 2.5% of urea and the remaining 2.5% is a mixture of minerals , salts, hormones and enzymes. Only urea, the substance after which urine is named, can be poisonous when present in the blood.
However, this is irrelevant in the practice of drinking urine, as urine is not immediately put back in the bloodstream. In small amounts urea gets back into the body, it is purifying, and clears up excess mucus. Urine is entirely sterile after secretion and has an antiseptis effect… The kidney’s most important function consists of balancing out all elements in the blood. They remove all superfluous vital substances from the blood, and filter out a surplus of water. This water and the vital substances consequently form urine. In order to save energy and bring the blood into balance, the kidneys remove unused enzymes from the blood. The same goes for hormones, minerals and other substances. It is clear that urine is full of vital elements, which can hardly be called waste products. Human urine has strengthening and curative characteristics concerning many deficiencies… One’s own urine is a specific medicine for anyone who is ill. It is made for him or her personally and is just right for what he or she needs at the present moment, because it changes its composition all the time.” – Coen Van Der Krron, Complete Guide to Urine Therapy link
Techniques
Techniques include drinking urine, using it for massage and using it in eye drops. [source]
Vibrational Healing
Overview
Vibrational healing (also called vibrational medicine) refers to techniques that use sound, light or electromagnetic frequencies to restore discordant frequencies into harmony, thus fostering healing from within. [source and source]
Vibrational Medicine is a holistic healing modality that employs various forms of energy, such as sound, light, and electromagnetic frequencies, to restore balance and harmony within the body, mind, and spirit. This approach is based on the principle that all matter vibrates at different frequencies, and imbalances or dissonance in these vibrations can lead to physical, emotional, and spiritual ailments. Practitioners of vibrational medicine use techniques like sound therapy, color therapy, and energy healing to address these imbalances and promote overall well-being. – Wellmeright, Vibrational Medicine link
The three fundamental kinds of energies are light, sound and electromagnetics. It turns out that all three heal the body. – Dr. Glenn Rein link
Background & Terminology
The universe is made up of patterns of perpetual motion — also called energy or vibration. The vibrations occur in wave patterns which scientists measure on a frequency scale.
The frequency scale is called the electromagnetic spectrum. When the distance between wavelengths (frequency) is longer, the energy is said to be slower. When the distance between wavelengths is shorter, the energy is said to be faster.
The slower speeds produce sound (only a tiny fraction of which is perceived by the human ear).
The faster speeds produce light (only a tiny fraction of which is perceived by the human eye).
Vibrations of different frequencies are given different names such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, the color spectrum, ultraviolet light, X-rays and gamma rays.
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION — Another name for “electromagnetic spectrum” (which includes visible light); the word “radiation” in this use simply means “putting off light” (which could be healing, neutral or harmful)
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM — A wave frequency scale describing oscillations (also called “radiant energy”) that produce light and sound (only a tiny fraction of which is perceived by human senses); on one end are shorter wavelength, higher frequency waves measured in nanometers (including gamma and x-rays); in the middle is a narrow band of visible light; on the other end are longer wavelength, lower frequency waves measured in centimeters and meters (including radar and sound waves)
FREQUENCY (OF VIBRATION) — In physics, the number of waves that pass a fixed point in time
IRRADIATION — In research on light therapy (as here), means to cast rays of light upon, to treat by light frequencies (called “radiant energy”) (dictionary); does not mean harmful
LIGHT — “Electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by the human eye” [dictionary]; comes from the sun and from fire; an “essential nutrient for humans; our health depends on getting the right dose” [source]; measured using a wave frequency scale called the electromagnetic spectrum; there are five “bioactive” types (meaning that they affect the function of human cells)
LIGHT THERAPY — A type of vibration healing, exposing the skin to particular light frequencies for health and healing; “controlled administration of non-ionizing radiation to the skin” [source]; also called phototherapy and heliotherapy; see also: red light therapy
RADIANT ENERGY — Another name for the energy of electromagnetic waves, measured using the electromagnetic spectrum; includes UV rays, visible light, radio waves, etc. [source]
SOUND — Sound waves that we can hear; “mathematical ratios you listen to” [source]
SOUND HEALING — Harnesses the power of sound frequencies to promote physical, emotional and spiritual health and well-being see also: music therapy
SOUND WAVE — Formed by an oscillation of energy (vibration) within a particular frequency range as it travels through a medium such as air, water or an object [source]; may or may not be audible to humans [source]
Rationale
Ancient Hindu texts describe the universe as being “vibratory in nature with sound being the very basis of all creation.” Modern science demonstrates that the entire universe is made up of vibrations of energy. (Learning Mind)
Everything in the universe, including our bodies, is in a state of constant vibration. Vibrational healing suggests that health and harmony are a product of these vibrations resonating in a balanced manner. When these frequencies fall out of sync, it can lead to physical or emotional dissonance. Vibrational healing techniques… aim to realign these discordant frequencies, thus restoring balance and fostering healing from within… Across different cultures and epochs, the concept of a life force or energy field — known as ‘Qi’ in Chinese medicine, ‘Prana’ in Ayurveda, and ‘Spirit’ in indigenous traditions — is a recurring theme. This life force is believed to be manipulable through various practices, including the use of sound and vibration. In traditional Chinese medicine, for example, the use of acupuncture is aimed at balancing the flow of Qi. Similarly, the Ayurvedic tradition uses mantras and chants to align and balance the chakras, or energy centers, in the body. These cultural practices and traditions, though diverse in their approach, underline the universal recognition of an intrinsic energy that can be harnessed for healing and well-being. – Very Big Brain, Biofield Tuning; Understanding the Science of Vibrational Healing link
Many of us recognize the power that music has in our lives. It has the ability to deepen our journey, evoking both emotional and spiritual states of awareness. However if we look a little deeper at the power of vibration and sound itself, we see that there are forces at play that can greatly enhance the power of one’s practice. Such is the underlying philosophy of sound healing, or vibrational therapy. – Yoganonymous, 3 Ways to Introduce Sound Healing into Your Yoga Class link
When we encounter indigenous tribes who’ve had little contact with modern civilization, they all have sacred chants that their oral history traces back to their earliest origins. And if you look into creation myths from different cultures, in almost every case the world is said to come into being through sound, through chant. It’s in Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, and Native American religions. And you can look at young children: Almost all young children make up repetitive songs — they lose themselves in the rapture of singing. – Robert Gass, Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound link
Techniques
Examples of vibrational healing techniques include:
Biofield tuning
Light therapy — also called phototherapy / heliotherapy
Visualization is a component of many meditation practices, including loving-kindness meditation (or metta)… In visualization meditation, the primary focus is a positive image or guided imagery visualized in the mind’s eye to cultivate certain psychological states… The foundations of meditation remain the same as for non-visual forms, such as ensuring the posture supports a straight spine… Other components of visualization meditation may include attending to the breath, mentally reciting mantras, and mindfulness. – Jo Nash PhD, Positive Psychology, How to Practice Visualization Meditation: 3 Best Scripts link
The medical literature has clear documentation that high enough doses of injectable vitamin C are almost always effective in curing any of a number of viral infections still considered today to be incurable. Klenner (1949) completely cured 60 out of 60 cases of infantile polio in North Carolina in the middle of a polio epidemic. Several infants already had neurological involvement, but nevertheless recovered completely… Cathcart (1981) reported incredible success in the treatment of many viral diseases for which no specific anti-viral agents exist today. Of particular interest, he reported that he never had a case of viral hepatitis fail to respond to intravenous vitamin C… Vitamin C has also been documented to rapidly resolve a number of non-viral infectious diseases that do not readily resolve in the absence of vitamin C therapy. Diptheria (Klenner, 1949 and 1971), whooping cough (Otani, 1936 and 1939; Ormerod et al., 1937), and tetanus (Klenner, 1954) all have responded very well to vitamin C. Of great interest as well is that all three of these infections are associated with very significant microbe-generated toxins, much like anthrax. – Dr. Thomas E. Levy, Health E-Bytes October 2001 link
Doctors who successfully treat infectious diseases with Vitamin C use doses 10,000 to 20,000 times the trace amounts… There are some studies claiming to demonstrate Vitamin C’s ineffectiveness in treating various diseases, but they are based on the false premise that using extremely small doses is valid. – Jed Stuber, Book Review: “Curing the Incurable: Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases, and Toxins” by Dr. Thomas Levy link
Rationale
Vitamin C has always been vital to immune function, but research data also show that it plays an important role in the treatment of several health conditions, including cancer. Research suggests that IV vitamin C could extend survival,4 even in people with pancreatic5 and ovarian cancers,6 which are among the deadliest types of tumor growth... From a historical perspective, vitamin C benefits associated with cancer, polio, multiple sclerosis and other damaging diseases have been suppressed, likely since it is effective, cheap and can’t be patented, which means you can’t make money prescribing or manufacturing it. Humans cannot make vitamin C, so it must be consumed. Large dose vitamin C is the foundation of Dr. Frederick Klenner’s cure for polio and Dr. Paul Marik’s treatment for sepsis. It’s also integral to the successful treatment protocols developed by the FLCCC Alliance for Covi of which Marik is a founding member. – Dr. Joseph Mercola, Rediscovered – Vitamin C Benefits Concealed for 70 Years link
Many decades ago during an epidemic of polio, Dr. Frederick Klenner was asked to care for 60 polio patients. He decided to treat all patients with tens of thousands of milligrams of vitamin C, administered both orally and by injection, in divided doses over several days. [source] All of his patients walked out of the hospital without any paralysis. Klenner reported this monumental discovery at a medical meeting. But he may as well been talking to a group of well-trained chimpanzees. It is hard to comprehend why this this huge medical finding did not trigger headlines around the world. But it’s not the first time that doctors have ignored a great discovery… The Orthomolecular Medical News Service has been publicizing such work for 18 years. Its international medical review board consists of physicians, university professors and researchers who provide a wealth of knowledge on viral diseases. – Orthomolecular News, GreenMedInfo, No Cure for Polio? link
Oxidation of biomolecules directly causes disease. Oxidized biomolecules lose function, causing downstream effects. He proposes that all diseases at root involve oxidation of biomolecules and that all effective therapies involve reduction and repair of these oxidized molecules. Toxins, pathogens (mainly oral) are major drivers of oxidation. Antioxidants counter the effects of pro-oxidants. – Unbekoming, Vitamin C: On Oxidative Stress, Electrons, and the “Dosage Lie” link
Techniques
The key to Vitamin C Therapy is using high doses.
Sometimes an IV is used.
Called an “ascorbic acid flush” in Phyllis A. Balch instructs using “either esterified vitamin C or a buffered product, such as calcium ascorbate. Take every half hour until diarrhea results. Count the number of teaspoons needed to produce diarrhea. Subtract 1 tsp from this amount, and take the resulting ascorbic acid drink every four hours for one to two days. During therapy, make sure the stool retains a tapioca-like consistency. If it again becomes watery, decrease dosage as necessary. Repeat therapy once a month.” [Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Ed]
A 2020 double-blinded randomized controlled trial of 137 patients gave one sepsis group the standard treatment and another the standard treatment plus intravenous vitamins C and B1 and hydrocortisone. The combination group resolved sepsis shock significantly faster than the group that received the standard therapeutic protocol. Dr. Marik and his colleagues utilized this combination therapy for “countless patients.” – Vance Voetberg, The Epoch Times, Vitamin C Potentially Lifesaving for Sepsis link
Dr. Levy argues that there is plenty of evidence to conclude Vitamin C cures, prevents, and reverses a host of infectious diseases. The book cites more than 1,200 scientific references… There are several entrenched misconceptions about Vitamin C therapy, starting with basic terminology. “Vitamin” is a term scientists use in a precise way to describe substances measured in very small trace amounts, but doctors who successfully treat infectious diseases with Vitamin C use doses 10,000 to 20,000 times the trace amounts… Trace amounts of Vitamin C do prevent scurvy, but much larger amounts are necessary for the body to maintain healthy and optimum metabolic functions. Furthermore, there is much evidence that Vitamin C depletion is often the reason that many common infectious diseases develop in the first place… If the three rules of real estate are “location, location, location,” the three rules of optimum Vitamin C are “dose, dose, dose,” Dr. Levy says… If the patient develops loose stools, the Vitamin C is not being used by the body and it is going into the excretory system. Then the dosage is backed down a bit, and the optimal dose has been determined. Depending on the disease, how far it has advanced (or how much it has been reversed), and the individual patient, the Vitamin C is used up at varying rates. When dealing with major health problems, patients sometimes are able to use 100 to 200 times as much Vitamin C as a healthy person would before reaching the bowel tolerance… Doctors have also learned that administering Vitamin C through injections or IVs avoids the bowel problems and requires less Vitamin C, because it is more easily absorbed and used by the body. Another technological innovation called Liposomes began to be developed in the 1960s. It allows patients to take Vitamin C orally, but without bowel problems. – Jed Stuber link
Sepsis claims more than 350,000 lives each year, making it a leading cause of death among U.S. hospital patients. Standard intravenous antibiotic therapies often prove futile against sepsis’s complex nature… Millions of people in the United States are affected, and it’s present in 30 percent to 50 percent of hospitalizations that result in death… The likelihood of a positive outcome from treatment is highly dependent on two factors: the type of sepsis and the time between onset and treatment, Dr. Marik said. “Medical sepsis” stems from an illness such as pneumonia or a urinary tract infection. “Surgical sepsis” refers to sepsis that requires emergent surgical intervention and results most frequently from the rupture of an abdominal organ. Medical sepsis, however, responds to early intravenous vitamin C. – Vance Voetberg link
14-min video — ‘Miracle man’ Anton Kuraia’s Highly Controversial Treatment
15-min video — NZ Farmer Beats Swine Flu With Vitamin C
Wim Hof Method
Overview
Through decades of self-exploration and groundbreaking scientific studies, Wim has created a simple, effective way to stimulate these deep physiological processes and realise our full potential. The Wim Hof Method is about reconnecting us – to ourselves, to others and to nature. The Method is based on three powerful pillars: Breathing… Cold therapy… Commitment.– Wim Hof Method link
Breathing – “We’re always breathing, yet we’re mostly unaware of its tremendous potential. Heightened oxygen levels hold a treasure trove of benefits, and the specialized breathing technique of the Wim Hof Method® unearths them all: more energy, reduced stress levels, and an augmented immune response that swiftly deals with pathogens.“
Cold therapy – “Proper exposure to the cold starts a cascade of health benefits, including the buildup of brown adipose tissue and resultant fat loss, reduced inflammation that facilitates a fortified immune system, balanced hormone levels, improved sleep quality, and the production of endorphins— the feel-good chemicals in the brain that naturally elevate your mood.”
Commitment– “The third pillar of the Wim Hof Method® is the foundation of the other two: both cold exposure and conscious breathing require patience and dedication in order to be fully mastered. Armed with focus and determination you are ready to explore and eventually master your own body and mind.”
Rationale
Over time, our relationship with the world we live in has changed. Our lifestyles have disconnected us from the natural environment. Because of this disconnection, our age-old survival mechanisms are no longer triggered and we’ve lost touch with our inner power. – Wim Hof Method link
In 2014, Radboud University in The Netherlands conducted a study with 12 Wim Hof Method practitioners, injecting them with an endotoxin. “Results showed that, like Wim, they were able to control their sympathetic nervous system and immune response. Anti-inflammatory mediators were 200% higher, while pro-inflammatory mediators were 50% lower. [source]
Frequent exposure to cold is linked to a number of different health benefits. For example, scientists have found evidence that exposure to cold speeds up metabolism. Another benefit of exposing your body to cold is that it reduces inflammation, swelling, and sore muscles. Therefore, many athletes use ice baths and other types of exposure to cold as a means to speed up recovery after physical exercise. Furthermore, cold body therapy is also linked to improved quality of sleep, more focus, and even an improved immune response. Cold is an important component of the Wim Hof Method, which is applied in the form of cold showers and ice baths. Participants of the WHM report health benefits that range from higher energy levels to relief of symptoms caused by autoimmune diseases. – Wim Hof Method link
Techniques
We recommend practicing Wim Hof Method breathing right after waking, and/or before a meal, when your stomach is still empty. Step 1: Get Comfortable – Get into a position that you can maintain comfortably, either sitting or lying down. Ideally wear loose clothing, and make sure that your belly can expand freely. Step 2: 30 Deep Breaths – Close your eyes and clear your mind. Inhale deeply through your nose or mouth, while pushing your belly outward. When your lungs are full, let your breath go through the mouth without force. Take 30 such breaths, one right after the other. Step 3: The Retention Phase – After the final exhalation, hold your breath until you feel the urge to breathe again. Step 4: Recovery Breath – Draw one giant breath, once again letting your belly expand fully. Hold that breath for 15 seconds, then let go. This completes one round. Feel free to repeat the full cycle 3 to 4 times. Stay focused on your breathing and try not to let your mind wander. Note that with every round, you feel more relaxed. Doing more rounds also has a longer lasting effect throughout the day. You may also notice that you can hold your breath for longer on consecutive rounds, but keep in mind that longer retention times are not the point of the exercise. Play around with the number of breaths, the tempo at which you breathe, and the number of cycles, until you find a routine that works best for you. High on your own supply – You may experience light-headedness, and tingling sensations in your fingers and feet. These side effects are completely harmless, and will pass as you resume regular breathing. – Wim Hof Method, Breathing Exercises link
Yoga
Overview
Yoga is defined in the Yoga Sutras as the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind, and as meditation.
Yoga is also described as the union of body, mind and spirit.
The Sanskrit word “yoga” means “yoking” or “union” and yoga may refer to many methods of discipline that serve to connect or unify.
Major branches of yoga include Bhakti, Jnana, Raja, Tantra and Hatha Yoga.
Rationale
Chronic stress is known to both cause and exacerbate disease, and can lead to other problems such as anxiety or depression. A balanced nervous system is key to positively managing stress. Eliciting the relaxation response balances the nervous system and brings a cascade of positive health effects.
The Benson-Henry research (described by Harvard Medical School here) shows that the relaxation response is also impacting the body in another, even deeper way. The relaxation response affects us at the deepest level of physical life, the cellular level, impacting which genes are turned on and off (called epigenetics). This sets off a series of powerful activities that relate to health including the health of telomeres and mitochondria.
Chronic inflammation overwhelms the immune system and causes additional symptoms. Chronic inflammation is on a short list of underlying causes of imbalance and disease. The Benson-Henry research shows that the relaxation response switches off genes associated with chronic inflammatory responses.
In a closely related point, some yoga practices indirectly stimulate the vagus nerve and help to sustain vagal tone, encouraging a healthy shift from the Fight or Flight Response to the Relaxation Response. Examples include:
A momentous event in the world of verifiable evidence came in 2010, when researchers published findings from a randomized controlled study showing that yoga increases GABA levels. GABA is a neurotransmitter that sends messages through the nervous system, and is involved in regulating communication between brain cells. It plays an important role in behavior, cognition, and the body’s response to stress.
Research suggests that GABA helps to control fear and anxiety.
Anti-anxiety medications work by encouraging the release of GABA.
And GABA is what alcohol mimics, by temporarily binding to the same chemical receptors. (Psychology Today)
Yoga Nidra, iRest
Overview
The Sanskrit term “yoga nidra” means “yogic sleep” and is also called “sleepless sleep, “psychic sleep” or “conscious sleep.” Yoga Nidra is a systematic method of turning the senses inward, away from outer experiences, leading to:
Some describe yoga nidra as a state “between waking and sleeping” which matches the definition of “hypnagogic state.”
“Hypnagogia” comes from the Greek words for “sleep” and “guide.”
The hypnagogic state is described as a state when the mind is “fluid and hyperassociative,” giving rise to images and “making free and often distant associations between diverse concepts.” (source) Most people are familiar with experiencing this state just before falling asleep and just upon waking.
The typical western definition of sleep is that it is NOT a conscious state and therefore to make sense to the western mind, yoganidra must be a state “between.” In yoga philosophy, however, there is not the same assumption that sleep must be without consciousness. Thus the name yoga nidra — conscious sleep.
Richard Miller speaks to this when he points out that the average person is asleep to her True Nature even when in a conscious waking brain state while the yogi (or awakened one) is aware in all states, even sleep.
Techniques
iRest (Integrative Restoration) is an adaptation of yoga nidra created by Richard Miller, PhD, to accommodate particular needs that require a secular, more Westernized approach.
Yoga Therapy
Overview
Yoga therapy involves a therapeutic relationship whereby the therapist conducts a personalized assessment and creates a plan with the client for using lifestyle management and yoga practices to meet objectives.
Yoga therapy is the professional application of the principles and practices of yoga to promote health and well-being within a therapeutic relationship that includes personalized assessment, goal setting, lifestyle management, and yoga practices for individuals or small groups. – International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) link
Yoga therapy is a type of therapy that uses yoga postures, breathing exercises, meditation, and guided imagery to improve mental and physical health. The holistic focus of yoga therapy encourages the integration of mind, body, and spirit. Modern yoga therapy covers a broad range of therapeutic modalities, incorporating elements from both physical therapy and psychotherapy. – GoodTherapy, Yoga Therapy link
Rationale
See Yoga above.
In addition, in Yoga Therapy, a qualified therapist provides a personal assessment, thus enabling a more holistic look at contributing factors such as postural and movement patterns and to identify potential lifestyle improvements, plus making it possible to efficiently select optimum practices for the individual need.
Techniques
Yoga therapy sessions are typically conducted in one-on-one or small group settings.
Techniques are adapted to the need, and accessible for every person.
