Energy Medicine is a branch of alternative medicine that embodies the holistic phenomena that the mind and the body are deeply interconnected. The body’s energy anatomy is as complex and multi-layered as its physical anatomy in which electromagnetic energies form the dynamic infrastructure of the physical body. The health of those energies in terms of flow, balance, and harmony is reflected in the health of the body. Conversely, when the body is not healthy, corresponding disturbances in its energies can be identified and re-balanced. Emerging scientific research and technology continues to reveal how electricity, magnetism, and light affect molecules and cells, providing new insights into the efficacy of Energy Medicine as an alternative approach for bringing all aspects of our being into balance so that the we can embody a more gentle, loving and authentic expression of our self; free from pain and suffering. The following modalities operate within the field of Energy Medicine and will be offered by various practitioners working in, or associated with, our Healing Center consistent with BTI Therapy and HACVA’s mission and philosophy:
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) stems from osteopathy, which is an approach that emphasizes the role of the musculoskeletal system in health and disease. CST is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system. By complementing the body's natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction, including: Migraine Headaches, Chronic Neck and Back Pain, Motor-Coordination Impairments, Colic, Autism, Central Nervous System Disorders, Orthopedic Problems, Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries, Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, Spinal Cord Injuries, Scoliosis, Infantile Disorders, Learning Disabilities, Chronic Fatigue, Emotional Difficulties, Stress and Tension-Related Problems, Fibromyalgia and other Connective-Tissue Disorders, Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ), Neurovascular or Immune Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Post-Surgical Dysfunction.
Herbalism, referred to as phytotherapy or botanical medicine, is the art and science of using herbs for promoting health and preventing and treating illness. It has persisted as the world's primary form of medicine since the beginning of time, with a written history of more than 5000 years old.
Massage Therapy is an important healing modality because it is important to be touched. Over time, years of emotional, physical, and psychological imprinting from unsafe events, relationships, and environments will create the perception that it is unsafe to be in a body. Most people are unaware of how much time or to what degree they have dissociated from the body. This is an unconscious attempt by the individual to avoid feeling the pain associated with traumatic or stressful events. For those who experienced chronic stress throughout childhood made up of a stream of events that seemed to lack a definitive beginning and an end, learning how not to occupy the body was unconsciously developed as a means of survival. Psychotherapy should include helping the individual to ground in the physical realm more fully despite the emotional and physical pain that might initially be experienced. Massage Therapy can be a gentle and effective way to support this part of the healing process. For individuals with a history of physical and sexual abuse it is particularly helpful in assisting the individual to move through deeply held shame and guilt imprints relating to all matters of physical pleasure and pain.
NeuroKinetic Therapy is a sophisticated form of manual therapy that combines motor control theory and manual muscle testing. The science of motor control theory states that the motor control center in the cerebellum stores all the coordination patterns of the body. It is directed by the limbic system and the cerebral cortex to not only create movement patterns (such as when a baby learns to stand), but also to create substitute movement patterns when we are injured. When a muscle is inhibited for whatever reason, the motor control center will find a substitute muscle to perform the function. If this pattern is allowed to remain in the motor control center, dysfunction and pain will follow. By applying light pressure that the client then resists, the practitioner can evaluate the strength or weakness of each muscle, revealing the sources of injury and retraining the client’s body to remove the compensatory patterns; reprogramming the body at the neural level. NeuroKinetic Therapy is an excellent modality in rehabilitation and manual therapy because it not only identifies the cause of pain and dysfunction, but also corrects it very quickly and painlessly.
Homeopathy is an alternative medical system that was developed in Germany more than 200 years ago using natural substances from plants, minerals and animals It is a safe, gentle, and natural system of healing that works with the body to relieve symptoms, restore itself, and improve overall health. It is based on two rules of nature called the Law of Similars and The Law of Minimum Dose. The Law of Similars states that “like cures like," or that a medicine can cure a sick person if it can cause a similar sickness in a healthy person. The Law of Minimum Dose states that the lower the dose of the medication, the greater its effectiveness. The homeopath regards symptoms as the body’s healthy attempt to restore itself to balance. That is why a homeopath will choose a remedy that supports the symptoms rather than a remedy that opposes them or suppresses them as in conventional medicine. With the correct homeopathic remedy there are no side effects and a person is restored to health naturally.
Acupuncture is an ancient form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for balancing the flow of energy or life force known as qi or chi (chee) which flows through pathways (meridians) in your body. The acupuncturist identifies blockages to the energy flow and opens up the pathways to increase circulation. This is done by inserting small needles into the skin at specific energy points along the meridians.
Meditation and Prayer through guided visualization, deep breathing, and focused intention include health benefits such as lowered blood pressure, stimulation of the body's immune system, stress release, and enhanced emotional well-being including increased self-esteem, relaxation, and optimism.
Floatation Therapy or Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) uses floatation tanks which are filled with a salt/water mixture warmed to ambient body temperature. The salinity of the water enables an effortless suspension, resulting in sensations of hovering in a gravity-free environment. This magnesium-rich water gets into the body’s musculature system through transdermal infusion which releases tension by allowing the body to drain itself of lactic acid and cortisol. As the body relaxes, the floater’s nervous system and mind relax as well. After thirty minutes of relaxation, the floater’s brain realizes that there is no sensory input for it to process, and becomes quiet and still. The serenity and peace achieved through floating is the same sensation that meditators often have after training for months. Floatation therapy has been studied in great length by the academic and scientific communities. To date, there have been over 250 studies done that support the effectiveness of the floatation tank’s ability to induce deep relaxation. Studies have shown that floating in mineral-infused warm salt water, free from the stimulations of sensory input, decreases the floater’s production of the cortisol while increasing endorphins. Floating offers a peaceful and protected environment that supports the restitution of your body and mind’s innate healing powers.
Reiki is a Japanese practice that trains practitioners to access universal healing energy. This ancient modality is passed on from teacher to student and is an easily accessible form of energy healing to people of all walks of life. In the early 1980s, Dolores Krieger, R.N., created an American version called Therapeutic Touch. She introduced this concept of healing energy to thousands of nurses.
Qigong/Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese health care system that integrates physical postures, breathing techniques and focused intention. The word Qigong (Chee Gung) is made up of two Chinese words. is translated to mean the life force or vital-energy that flows through all things in the universe. Gong (gung) means skill that is cultivated through steady practice. Together, Qigong (Chee Gung) means cultivating energy. It is a system practiced for health maintenance, healing and increasing vitality. Practices vary from the soft internal styles such as Tai Chi; to the external, vigorous styles such as Kung Fu. However, the slow gentle movements of most Qigong forms can be easily adapted by all age groups, including the physically challenged.
Flower Essences are an extremely subtle and effective form of energy medicine based on homeopathic principles which helps the individual ‘peel’ through the layers of imprinting, patterns, and belief systems created by chronic stress and trauma that are no longer useful for continuing development. Blends for my clients are custom made on an ongoing basis in order best meet their needs at any given time in their healing process as they continue to ‘peel’ away the layers.
Watsu is the principle form of Aquatic Therapy for rehabilitation. It promotes deep relaxation quieting the sympathetic and enhancing the parasympathetic nervous systems. It has profound beneficial effects for trauma; physical, psychological and emotional with therapeutic applications for neuromuscular injuries, stress, chronic pain. Warm water, unconditional holding and treating the body as a whole, creates a space that is safe enough for the client to access every level of their being.
Sound/Vibration Therapy is grounded in ancient traditions which recognized vibration and sound as an important method for healing and returning to balance. Some of the ways these traditions have used sound and vibration include: music, chanting, prayer, toning, and the use of instruments such as drums, bells, singing bowls, gongs, and wind instruments. It is known that sound waves move through water at least 5 times more efficiently than through the air and that the water in the human body accounts for at least 50-65% of its makeup. This makes the human body a receptive vessel for vibro-tactile input. The earliest known use of a vibro-tactile method for healing comes from the Aboriginal people of Australia, who have used the didgeridoo, a wind instrument made from hollowed limbs from eucalyptus trees, for at least 40,000 years. The sound frequencies that are produced by this fascinating instrument are low and both the person playing the instrument and the person hearing it feel the vibration produced. Healers in Australia have historically used this instrument to heal illness, muscle tears and even broken bones. Auditory rhythm has also been used to affect healing going back tens of thousands of years on every continent. Many indigenous shamans around the world continue to use vibro-tactile methods for healing and balancing dis-ease in the body.
Network Chiropractic/Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) is a lesser known method of chiropractic care that does not rely on ‘cracking’ or manipulating the spine. It is extremely gentle by focusing on connecting with the nervous system using gentle touch in order to free the tension around the spine that is causing misalignment. NSA differs from traditional chiropractic treatments because it focuses on the tension that is being caused by a malfunctioning nervous system. The tension is typically in the root of the problem, so NSA is effective at working on a cure, not just masking pain. The body’s nervous system is what sends signals from your brain to all the different parts of the body. It is what sends pain signals from the spine back to the brain, which has a major effect on how we experience pain levels. Those who practice the Network Chiropractic technique believe that nerve interference is what causes many of the health problems we experience today.
Yoga is an extremely old discipline originating from India that is both spiritual and physical. It includes breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures which help to improve physical, emotional and mental health and well-being by increasing strength, flexibility, and mind-body awareness.
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) stems from osteopathy, which is an approach that emphasizes the role of the musculoskeletal system in health and disease. CST is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system. By complementing the body's natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction, including: Migraine Headaches, Chronic Neck and Back Pain, Motor-Coordination Impairments, Colic, Autism, Central Nervous System Disorders, Orthopedic Problems, Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries, Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, Spinal Cord Injuries, Scoliosis, Infantile Disorders, Learning Disabilities, Chronic Fatigue, Emotional Difficulties, Stress and Tension-Related Problems, Fibromyalgia and other Connective-Tissue Disorders, Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ), Neurovascular or Immune Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Post-Surgical Dysfunction.
Herbalism, referred to as phytotherapy or botanical medicine, is the art and science of using herbs for promoting health and preventing and treating illness. It has persisted as the world's primary form of medicine since the beginning of time, with a written history of more than 5000 years old.
Massage Therapy is an important healing modality because it is important to be touched. Over time, years of emotional, physical, and psychological imprinting from unsafe events, relationships, and environments will create the perception that it is unsafe to be in a body. Most people are unaware of how much time or to what degree they have dissociated from the body. This is an unconscious attempt by the individual to avoid feeling the pain associated with traumatic or stressful events. For those who experienced chronic stress throughout childhood made up of a stream of events that seemed to lack a definitive beginning and an end, learning how not to occupy the body was unconsciously developed as a means of survival. Psychotherapy should include helping the individual to ground in the physical realm more fully despite the emotional and physical pain that might initially be experienced. Massage Therapy can be a gentle and effective way to support this part of the healing process. For individuals with a history of physical and sexual abuse it is particularly helpful in assisting the individual to move through deeply held shame and guilt imprints relating to all matters of physical pleasure and pain.
NeuroKinetic Therapy is a sophisticated form of manual therapy that combines motor control theory and manual muscle testing. The science of motor control theory states that the motor control center in the cerebellum stores all the coordination patterns of the body. It is directed by the limbic system and the cerebral cortex to not only create movement patterns (such as when a baby learns to stand), but also to create substitute movement patterns when we are injured. When a muscle is inhibited for whatever reason, the motor control center will find a substitute muscle to perform the function. If this pattern is allowed to remain in the motor control center, dysfunction and pain will follow. By applying light pressure that the client then resists, the practitioner can evaluate the strength or weakness of each muscle, revealing the sources of injury and retraining the client’s body to remove the compensatory patterns; reprogramming the body at the neural level. NeuroKinetic Therapy is an excellent modality in rehabilitation and manual therapy because it not only identifies the cause of pain and dysfunction, but also corrects it very quickly and painlessly.
Homeopathy is an alternative medical system that was developed in Germany more than 200 years ago using natural substances from plants, minerals and animals It is a safe, gentle, and natural system of healing that works with the body to relieve symptoms, restore itself, and improve overall health. It is based on two rules of nature called the Law of Similars and The Law of Minimum Dose. The Law of Similars states that “like cures like," or that a medicine can cure a sick person if it can cause a similar sickness in a healthy person. The Law of Minimum Dose states that the lower the dose of the medication, the greater its effectiveness. The homeopath regards symptoms as the body’s healthy attempt to restore itself to balance. That is why a homeopath will choose a remedy that supports the symptoms rather than a remedy that opposes them or suppresses them as in conventional medicine. With the correct homeopathic remedy there are no side effects and a person is restored to health naturally.
Acupuncture is an ancient form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for balancing the flow of energy or life force known as qi or chi (chee) which flows through pathways (meridians) in your body. The acupuncturist identifies blockages to the energy flow and opens up the pathways to increase circulation. This is done by inserting small needles into the skin at specific energy points along the meridians.
Meditation and Prayer through guided visualization, deep breathing, and focused intention include health benefits such as lowered blood pressure, stimulation of the body's immune system, stress release, and enhanced emotional well-being including increased self-esteem, relaxation, and optimism.
Floatation Therapy or Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) uses floatation tanks which are filled with a salt/water mixture warmed to ambient body temperature. The salinity of the water enables an effortless suspension, resulting in sensations of hovering in a gravity-free environment. This magnesium-rich water gets into the body’s musculature system through transdermal infusion which releases tension by allowing the body to drain itself of lactic acid and cortisol. As the body relaxes, the floater’s nervous system and mind relax as well. After thirty minutes of relaxation, the floater’s brain realizes that there is no sensory input for it to process, and becomes quiet and still. The serenity and peace achieved through floating is the same sensation that meditators often have after training for months. Floatation therapy has been studied in great length by the academic and scientific communities. To date, there have been over 250 studies done that support the effectiveness of the floatation tank’s ability to induce deep relaxation. Studies have shown that floating in mineral-infused warm salt water, free from the stimulations of sensory input, decreases the floater’s production of the cortisol while increasing endorphins. Floating offers a peaceful and protected environment that supports the restitution of your body and mind’s innate healing powers.
Reiki is a Japanese practice that trains practitioners to access universal healing energy. This ancient modality is passed on from teacher to student and is an easily accessible form of energy healing to people of all walks of life. In the early 1980s, Dolores Krieger, R.N., created an American version called Therapeutic Touch. She introduced this concept of healing energy to thousands of nurses.
Qigong/Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese health care system that integrates physical postures, breathing techniques and focused intention. The word Qigong (Chee Gung) is made up of two Chinese words. is translated to mean the life force or vital-energy that flows through all things in the universe. Gong (gung) means skill that is cultivated through steady practice. Together, Qigong (Chee Gung) means cultivating energy. It is a system practiced for health maintenance, healing and increasing vitality. Practices vary from the soft internal styles such as Tai Chi; to the external, vigorous styles such as Kung Fu. However, the slow gentle movements of most Qigong forms can be easily adapted by all age groups, including the physically challenged.
Flower Essences are an extremely subtle and effective form of energy medicine based on homeopathic principles which helps the individual ‘peel’ through the layers of imprinting, patterns, and belief systems created by chronic stress and trauma that are no longer useful for continuing development. Blends for my clients are custom made on an ongoing basis in order best meet their needs at any given time in their healing process as they continue to ‘peel’ away the layers.
Watsu is the principle form of Aquatic Therapy for rehabilitation. It promotes deep relaxation quieting the sympathetic and enhancing the parasympathetic nervous systems. It has profound beneficial effects for trauma; physical, psychological and emotional with therapeutic applications for neuromuscular injuries, stress, chronic pain. Warm water, unconditional holding and treating the body as a whole, creates a space that is safe enough for the client to access every level of their being.
Sound/Vibration Therapy is grounded in ancient traditions which recognized vibration and sound as an important method for healing and returning to balance. Some of the ways these traditions have used sound and vibration include: music, chanting, prayer, toning, and the use of instruments such as drums, bells, singing bowls, gongs, and wind instruments. It is known that sound waves move through water at least 5 times more efficiently than through the air and that the water in the human body accounts for at least 50-65% of its makeup. This makes the human body a receptive vessel for vibro-tactile input. The earliest known use of a vibro-tactile method for healing comes from the Aboriginal people of Australia, who have used the didgeridoo, a wind instrument made from hollowed limbs from eucalyptus trees, for at least 40,000 years. The sound frequencies that are produced by this fascinating instrument are low and both the person playing the instrument and the person hearing it feel the vibration produced. Healers in Australia have historically used this instrument to heal illness, muscle tears and even broken bones. Auditory rhythm has also been used to affect healing going back tens of thousands of years on every continent. Many indigenous shamans around the world continue to use vibro-tactile methods for healing and balancing dis-ease in the body.
Network Chiropractic/Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) is a lesser known method of chiropractic care that does not rely on ‘cracking’ or manipulating the spine. It is extremely gentle by focusing on connecting with the nervous system using gentle touch in order to free the tension around the spine that is causing misalignment. NSA differs from traditional chiropractic treatments because it focuses on the tension that is being caused by a malfunctioning nervous system. The tension is typically in the root of the problem, so NSA is effective at working on a cure, not just masking pain. The body’s nervous system is what sends signals from your brain to all the different parts of the body. It is what sends pain signals from the spine back to the brain, which has a major effect on how we experience pain levels. Those who practice the Network Chiropractic technique believe that nerve interference is what causes many of the health problems we experience today.
Yoga is an extremely old discipline originating from India that is both spiritual and physical. It includes breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures which help to improve physical, emotional and mental health and well-being by increasing strength, flexibility, and mind-body awareness.