Tapping, pricking and pressuring your way to good health

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Tapping, pricking and pressuring your way to good health

BY Sibylle Preuschat

http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-03-10/goods_health.php

NOW | MAR 10 - 16, 2005 | VOL. 24 NO. 28

 

Although developed thousands of years ago, maps of the body charted by

healers in ancient India and China continue to inspire.

 

Any therapy involving touch, pressure, heat, needles or magnets on

specific bodily points most likely originated in these traditions. Think

acupuncture, shiatsu, acupressure, polarity therapy, etc. The point

(pardon the pun) is always to encourage proper flow of life energy (also

called " qi " or " prana " ) in the body. If the energy flows well, say

practitioners, good health follows.

 

Science doesn't know how these therapies work, but respects their

effectiveness – both the World Health Organization and the National

Institutes of Health in the U.S. have released lists of illnesses

treatable by acupuncture. Proponents of the Eastern way say that as we

increasingly come to understand our bodyminds as complex bioelectric

systems, qi will begin to make sense to Westerners.

 

If you're new to these practices, how to decide amongst all the

offerings out there? Here are some pointers, so to speak.

 

What the experts say

 

" I believe it's the practitioner you choose, not so much the therapy. If

you're deeply scared of needles, though, don't come for acupuncture.

Whatever therapy you choose should be comfortably uncomfortable. We

should work at a speed that pushes our envelope a little, but not so

much that we revert to our original position. The body's reaction to

pain is to get tense, and that's counterproductive. Everyone's

relationship to pain is different. If you can't relax and breathe during

treatment, you're pushing yourself too far. "

 

KALEB MONTGOMERY , doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, Toronto

 

" Jin Shin Do uniquely integrates Japanese acupressure technique with

Chinese medical theory and Western bodymind focusing techniques. One of

the big differences between us and other therapists who work with the

Oriental energy systems is that we are trained to work with the

psychoemotional healing process. In addition, we focus on the first

energetic pathways that get formed at conception. When we help people

get back in touch with these deeper parts of themselves, they're able to

make new choices based on that deeply centered place. "

 

ALEXANDER TOWNSEND , authorized Jin Shin Do bodymind acupressure teacher

and practitioner, Guelph, Burlington and Toronto

 

" In Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) people tap on points themselves.

There's a prescribed sequence. You use those while concentrating on

whatever the issue is. There's a website, www.emofree.com, where a

manual can be downloaded for free. EFT works very well because it's

targeted (through mental focus), but if you've mistargeted you may not

see results. For example, to clear a headache, you may need to tap on

the emotional issue underlying it. In cases like that, it can be helpful

to work with a practitioner. "

 

NINA BREGMAN , Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner, Toronto

 

" In terms of keeping well, shiatsu and acupressure are excellent. I have

some exquisitely sensitive clients. The fear of the needles was causing

anxiety and was counterproductive. With acupressure, they're able to

relax and get great results. Some people crave a needle in particular

places. It's a personal thing. For deep and internal issues, such as

problems with body systems, e.g., gynecological or pulmonary problems,

acupuncture is more appropriate. "

 

MIRIAM ERLICHMAN , traditional Chinese medicine practitioner

 

" Polarity therapy captures more of an Ayurvedic understanding, from

India. It works with chakras and the various energy currents that link

them (rather than the energy channels emphasized in Chinese traditions).

For there to be movement, there must be a positive push and a negative

pull through a neutral space. We make bipolar contacts (working with two

points simultaneously) with our hands or fingers to encourage energy

movement. It can be a very deep touch to disperse energy, a second type

that stimulates to encourage energy flow, then there's a very light

touch which encourages a gentle calm, balancing effect.''

 

TOM RUSSELL , polarity therapist, director, Ontario Polarity Therapy

Association, kundalini yoga instructor, Toronto

 

" By touching the body (vs using needles), we're working at the emotional

level in shiatsu. People with emotional problems are helped by touch.

Acupuncture does very well with recent and acute conditions, but shiatsu

is better for chronic conditions. Shiatsu is good in those cases where

the person isn't feeling right but doesn't know what's wrong. Shiatsu is

also good for any problems related to stress or tension. "

 

CARLOS PRANIAUSKAS , shiatsu therapist, director, shiatsu program,

Shiatsu School of Canada, Toronto