The Whole Mind: The Definitive Guide to Complementary Treatments for Mind, Mood, and Emotion 1577310500, 9781577310501

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THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO

\n\P' COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENTS FOR

min

MIND, MOOD, AND EMOTIO

edited by

N

LYNETTE BASSMAN, PH.D.

the definitive guide to

The whole mind RC480.B15 .W4 8

25239

NEW COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA (SF)

RC

4 80.515

.

W 48 1998

The whole mi nd

JBC

480.515 W48 1998

#17446 the definitive guide to complementary treatments for mind t noodt and emotion / [edited by] Nova to * Calif* : Lynette Bassman* New World Library, cl998. xiiiy 552 p. : ill. ; 23 ci. Includes bibliographical references and index* 417446 Midwest $22*95* ISBN 1-57731-050-0 (pbk* : alk.

The whole mind

paper

:

)

—

1* Mental illness Alternative treatment* 2* Mind and body therapies* I* Bassman, Lynette, 1959—

19981216

£37595159

NEWCxc

97-31585

THE LIBRARY

NEK COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA SO F£LL STREET

BAN FRANCISCO. CAUFORN1 A 94 02 1

DATE DUE

the whole

mind

the

whole mind THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO

COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENTS FOR MIND, MOOD, AND EMOTION

LYNETTE BASSMAN, PH.D.

2 New World

Library

Novato, California

-c

0^

1& New World

Library

Way

14 Pamaron

Novato,

©

^X

1998 Lynette Bassman, Ph.D.

Cover design:

-^

Peri Poloni

Editorial:

All rights reserved. This

k) •

Knockout Design

Text layout and design: Margaret Copeland, Terragraphics

(*)

)s3^

/

Cover photograph: Tony Stone Images

C

*

CA 94949

Becky Benenate

book may not be reproduced

in

whole

or in part, or transmitted in any form, without written permission from the publisher, except

by a reviewer

who may

quote brief passages in a review; nor

any part of this book be reproduced, stored in

may

in a retrieval system, or transmitted

any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other, without written permission from the publisher.

l-£ |0\

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

The whole mind

:

the definitive guide to complementary treatments for mind,

mood, and emotion

/

p.

edited by Lynette Bassman.

cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 1-57731-050-0 1

.

Mental

illness

—

I.

Rc480.515.W48

(pbk.

:

Alternative treatment. 2.

alk.

paper)

Mind and body

therapies.

Bassman, Lynette, 1959-

97-31585

1998

CIP

616.89'1—dc21

First printing,

Printed in

June 1998

Canada on

ISBN

acid-free paper

1-57731-050-0

Distributed to the trade by Publishers

10

987654321

Group West

Dedication

This book

is

dedicated to

all

people

who

have suffered with untreated or inad-

equately treated mental illnesses, and to those health professionals find within themselves the ability to risk being

wisdom.

open

to

new (and

who

can

old) healing

Acknowledgments First, I all

like to

thank the authors

who

do

am

grateful to

this,

and

my husband,

come

My

son,

are

to light.

Larry Bassman, for understanding that

for being a source of so

years of preparing this book.

They

contributed to this book.

very busy yet gave their time so that their knowledge could I

to

would

I

had

many kinds of support through

the long

my

inspira-

Jonah Bassman, was often

tion.

Eugene Herman taught

me

about thinking and seeing things in uncon-

ventional ways, and about being bold and daring, sary in bringing this project to fruition. Betty steady, reliable,

all

taught

and organized, and about creating something

few resources. Merle Molofsky was instrumental in helping

do

this.

taught

me how to

contributors,

There

but

I

about being

useful with very

me

are

who

who

the secretaries, assistants,

pile.

many people to

and

office

sent faxes, answered telephones,

could

Sam

Faith

managers of many of the

and sometimes put

my mes-

None of us could do what we do without you. who helped me along the way by leading me to the

wrote the chapters of

want you

I

believe

to write.

all

on the top of the

people

me

Janee Albert served as a consultant and sounding board.

Thanks

sages

were neces-

qualities that

Herman

this

know how much

I

book.

I

can't

mention you

all

by name,

appreciate your help.

And finally, I owe sincere gratitude to my clients, who have taught me about the benefits and the limitations of psychotherapy and psychopharmacology.

VI

Table of Contents Acknowledgments

vi

Editor's Preface

ix

PART

1:

GETTING READY TO CHOOSE

Introduction

1

Chapter

1

Chapter

2

An

Chapter

3

A Parent's

Chapter

4 Rethinking Basic Assumptions about Psychology and

Understanding Alternative Healing Modalities: Basic Concepts by Lynette Bassman

14

Introduction to the Politics of Health Care

21

by J. Jamison Starbuck Perspective

Care by John

Psychiatry:

on the

Politics

of Mental Health

27

L. Stegmaier

The Role of Spirituality and Nonordinary

of Consciousness by Stanislav Grof

43

THE COMPLEMENTARY HEALING MODALITIES Chapter 5 The Alexander Technique by Joan Arnold

57

States

PART

2:

Chapter

6 Applied Kinesiology: Individualized Assessment Using

Chapter

7 Aromatherapy by Christa Obuchowski

Chapter

8 Ayurveda: Maharishi Ayurveda

Applied Kinesiology Procedures by Walter H. Schmitt,

Jr.

71

.

83

and Mental Health 98

by Jim Brooks

Chapter

9 Biofeedback by Frank Andrasik

108

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music by Carol Bush and Sara Jane Stokes

Chapter

1

Chapter

1 1

Chapter

1

Well Children by Glenn

Doman

132

2 Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture by Kevin V. Ergil and William Prensky

Chapter

1

119

Child Brain Development in Brain-Injured and

3 Creative Arts Therapies by Carol Lagstein,

146 et al.

1

64

Chapter 14 Ecopsychology and Holistic Health by Fran Segal

198

Chapter 15 Edgar Cayce on Mental Health by David McMillin

213

Chapter 16 Environmental Medicine by Doris Rapp

224

Vll

1

.

Chapter

1

7 Exercise Therapy: Working Out the Problem

Chapter

1

8 Flower Essence Therapy: Integrating

Soul Wellness by

Chapter

1

Patricia

9 Food and Mood:

The

by Wes Sime ...

Body and 257

Kaminski

Sugar- and Caffeine-free Diet

for Depression by Larry Christensen

Chapter 20 Herbal Therapy by Brent

I:

273

Medicinal Plants and the

Mind

W Davis

Chapter 21 Herbal Therapy

24

285 Herbal Self-Care by

II:

Brett D. Jacques

and Jacqueline Jacques

302

Chapter 22 Homeopathy by George

Vithoulkas

and

323

Vangelis Zafiriou

Chapter 23 Light Therapies by Alexander Neumeister and

Norman

339

E. Rosenthal

Chapter 24 Macrobiotic Diet: Whole Food for a Whole by

Mind

David Briscoe

352

Chapter 25 Martial Arts and Mental Wellness by William Kaplanidis Chapter 26 Massage and Mental Health: Touching the by

.

.

363

Mind

David DiDomenico

377

Chapter 27 Meditation and Prayer by Barry Friedman

389

Chapter 28 Naturopathy and Mental Health by J. Jamison Starbuck Chapter 29 Network Spinal Analysis:

A Chiropracter's

on the Body/Mind Connection

by

....

400

Perspective

410

Donald Epstein

Chapter 30 Orthomolecular Psychiatry by Abram Hoffer

423

Chapter 3 1 Past Life Therapy by Roger Woolger

433

Chapter 32 Polarity Therapy and Mental Health by John Beaulieu

445

Chapter 33 Rolfing: The Whole Body Approach to Well-being

453

by JeffMaitland

Chapter 34 Rubenfeld Synergy Method by Chapter 35 Shamanism and Healing:

New Light

on the Oldest

Profession by Stanley Krippner

Chapter 36 Sound Therapy: Healing with Sound and Music

An

interview with

464

liana Rubenfeld

Don Campbell

—

by Lynette Bassman

476 490

Chapter 37 Therapeutic Touch and Psychotherapy by Sally Blumenthal-McGannon

498

Chapter 38 The Trager Approach to Psychophysical Integration

507

by Deane Juhan

Chapter 39 Vision and Emotions by Gerald E. Wintrob

518

Chapter 40 Yoga by Richard Rosen

532

Index

543

About the Editor

553 vni

Lynette Bassman, Ph.D.

Editors Preface

About

fifteen years ago,

going to marry told

me

my

father died of cancer, the

he was

gay,

moved

I

to

New

man

York

I

thought

City,

and

I

was

started

graduate school to begin a career change (from the food business to counseling). It

was

a time

of enormous change in

my life and

I

became chronically

with a collection of symptoms that baffled the medical doctors

My

symptoms included

I

my symptoms,

however, was a worsening of the depression that

lacked confidence,

ble sleeping,

was

socially

felt I

As a child

I

I

I

and ado-

little

pleasure in anything

didn't like to play but did enjoy reading for

often wished that

I

had never been born.

from what may have been a form of bipolar disorder nates with periods of elated

my childhood

was different than other children, had trou-

withdrawn, and found very

other than reading and eating. hours.

ill

to see.

my joints, severe and frein my abdomen. The most

had struggled with from the age of eight. Throughout lescence,

went

fatigue, dizziness, pain in

quent migraines, and occasional stabbing pains troubling of

I

moods and extreme and

—

My father suffered

a depression that alter-

provocative behavior.

mother was quiet and somewhat unemotional. At the time, both

my

My

parents

were emotionally unavailable and overlooked what was going on with me.

A few years before moved to New York, suffered my first severe episode of depression. My first year of college was lonely and painful for me, and after I

I

a series of crushing rejections

I

became

IX

suicidal.

I

actually developed a plan to

TheWholeMind

x

and

myself,

kill

When

abutment.

my

and

home

stumbled

I

have been

was

time

—

about the few sessions

me with my

didn't help

As luck would have

cried

I

involved.

my car into

more loudly than I

and unhelpful

to

turned out,

it

may

me. (She

later.) I can't recall

do know

that the experience

I

had with

but

her,

I

emotional pain. it, I

made

friends with several students

Making

new

a few

friends

who had

seemed

my self-esteem and social skills were still very poor,

Although

usual

returned to college a

seek counseling. As

I

a concrete

she died of cancer a few years

ferred to the school that year. tide.

became

quiet, strained, unpleasant,

at the

ill

that night,

under the condition that

later

therapist

much

off only seconds before driving

it

parents took notice and

few weeks

my

called

trans-

to turn the I

was begin-

ning to have a good time in college, and even managed to learn a few things.

depression I

my junior year studying in

spent

I

would come and

go. Because

was often lonely and did not

Israel

with me.

cope with

I

feel a part

made some bad

and although

Israel, I

had

I

was

had troubled

tally,

town

and had pretty

dizzy,

me on and Negev

in the

especially

of the weight

off since

I

work.

I

I

Desert.

I

I

felt

had been gaining.

felt

I

developed the

I

who were

in

of my physi-

The headaches

was a young child became more

I

At midyear,

often

felt cold.

much

better there, physically I

my diet,

changed

and began

lost a lot

living

on the

and fresh-baked whole-grain breads that were

know

the culture

avail-

New York to attend graduate school

two years

city

my

and the language. The depression

didn't surface again until

something about the

to

and men-

very comfortable with the desert climate, and absorbed in

enjoyed getting to

fre-

moved

I

took up running and

and the physical pains subsided and

ly that

friends behind,

first

severe joint pains.

once the rainy season ended.

delicious fruits, vegetables,

able there.

my

decisions about relationships in an effort to

quent. Despite the moderate climate, a small

most of my

there,

it

my loneliness.

symptoms:

that

loved

of the group of students

After a few weeks of living in Jerusalem, cal

left

I

I

moved back

In retrospect,

later.

environment was the culprit for

it

seems

at least

to

like-

some

of my physical symptoms.

Back

in

New York, my daily life was a struggle.

of living, and again, the only pleasure ing novels.

It

took

a cursory way.

I

all

felt

I

I

went through the motions

experienced was from eating and read-

my effort to get to

class

drained and hopeless.

I

and complete

my assignments

underwent many medical

tests

in

and

examinations at the university's health service (considered to be an excellent

Editor's Preface

and

facility)

having a few very frightening diagnoses suggested that

after

seemed

didn't quite

that

xi

to

fit,

my

thinking,

ity.

My

hands and suggested

their

my

problems were

a psychotherapist for

my

depression,

my

"all in

"real."

was already seeing

I

— implying

that

see a psychotherapist

I

head" and not

up

the physicians threw

and what

therapist,

I

now

my emotions, relating to my spiritual-

understand to be issues

although cool and nonverbal, was helpful to me.

my symptoms

somewhat baffled, however, by

He was

and kept suggesting that

see a

I

physician.

my

Because

me

with easy

try

they had

I

help to

are

offer.

I

accustomed

was desperate and willing to

something new and different

so sick that let

little

when people you

on you.

did not

I

know

if I

began to

My life was

seemed the only way

trained in applied kinesiology.

I

Nor did he

feel a

figured

food

allergy, yeast

other imbalances.

With

it

began to

became

less

joint pain

that

I

feel better.

frequent,

By

that

I

up

had

this time,

my master's

I

to

felt

degree

so intolerable at this point

how

to actually achieve a lethal

I

see his chiropractor lose

He

symptoms.

instead as a

and

I

who was

went

did not think all

to see I

was

of what

complex interaction of chemical

overgrowth, stressed adrenal glands, and various

the combination of his treatment, the nutritional sup-

plements he recommended, and the dietary changes I

It isn't

toyed with a plan to gather

I

had nothing to

I

my

felt

need to come up with one simple name for

was wrong with me, but saw toxicity,

help.

sick.

one day a friend suggested that

him. This doctor was not baffled by crazy.

out.

I

living.

able to complete

dose rather than just making myself more Luckily,

go on

to

but lacked the knowledge about

pills,

was beyond

I

try anything. In fact,

would be

if I

feel

to respecting as authority figures give

wanted

alone go on for a doctoral degree.

that suicide, again,

enough

what was happening

health care providers didn't understand

had more energy,

my

I

made

at his suggestion,

headaches weren't

as severe

and

and the depression lessened and was more

bearable.

The

I

and abdominal pain were gone and the

was taking more responsibility

for

my

life,

suicidal ideas stopped.

and

this

helped

me

I felt

emotion-

ally as well.

A year

or two

my

vision

recting

worn

later, I

—

I

began a program of vision therapy to work on cor-

had always

since fourth grade. This

felt

uncomfortable with the

was a powerful experience

for

me.

glasses It

I

had

raised a lot

of emotional issues that had not been raised through traditional psychotherapy

PARTI Getting Ready to Choose

Lynette Bassman, Ph.D.

Introduction

INFORMED CONSENT? Before surgery can be performed in the United States, doctors are required to tell

the patient about the procedure,

affects,

able.

its

potential benefits, drawbacks,

and

side

the consequences of refusing the procedure, and other treatments avail-

A permission

formed. This

is

form must be signed by the patient before surgery

called

"informed consent." Informed consent

is

is

per-

also required

within the mental health field before psychotherapy can proceed and before psychotropic medication can be given. It is

my belief that psychotherapy and psychopharmacology patients are rou-

tinely cheated out

of their right to

truly

informed consent. Rarely,

if ever, are

mental health consumers given information about other treatments available.

Most mental

health clinicians

chotherapy (psychoanalytic, ications exist. This

is

do not

believe that alternatives to

gestalt, behavioral, cognitive,

not true. There are

that offer help for those

who

suffer

many alternative

from the

full

mainstream psy-

and so on), and medhealing approaches

range of emotional symptoms.

This book gives you access to information you need to be truly informed.

WHO Some

SAYS WHETHER TREATMENT IS EFFECTIVE? health care professionals

demand

that a

new

treatment be proven

effective

But many of the treatments

by these methods, or have not yet been studied financial support for research. This does not

some

is

made

book cannot be

tested

by certain standard kinds of research before that treatment

available to patients.

In

Whole Mind

Ihe

2

cases,

in this

in this

mean

thousands of years of experience

way due

to the lack of

that they are not effective.

attest to their usefulness.

of the approaches that were once viewed with distrust and ridicule,

shown

to be

ty that

had condemned them

effective,

and become advocated by the same earlier.

explains the problems with research

Chapter

on

2,

on the

I

you can make judgments about

its

art clearly

and help

to find creative

care,

some of the top

ways to verify

clinicians

summarize the treatment so

merits. Perhaps this

cy makers and practitioners to start talking es,

communi-

of health

consumers have a

believe that

right to learn about these treatments. In this book,

that

later are

alternative healing practices.

Despite the lack of double-blind studies,

and researchers of each major healing

scientific

politics

Many

book

more openly about

will get poli-

these approach-

their effectiveness.

THE ROLE OF PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

The

goal of psychotherapy

is

to reduce

symptoms of emotional

either changing the behaviors that lead to the

new social

skills

problem

(for

distress

by

example, learning

so that relationship difficulties are reduced), changing the trou-

blesome thoughts that precede unpleasant emotions (such

as learning to tell

yourself about your accomplishments instead of your failures, to increase

self-

symptom

(for

esteem), or by achieving insight into the underlying causes of a

example, what childhood experiences interfered with the acquisition of social skills).

Psychotropic medications aim to reduce or eliminate symptoms by

alter-

ing brain chemistry (for example, affecting brain chemicals that cause the brain to

produce delusional thinking). Inherent in these approaches are basic assumptions about the causes of emo-

tional problems.

Most psychotherapists assume

that emotional problems stem

from having learned maladaptive behaviors, from negative patterns of thought, or from having emotional blockages that prevent, distort, or delay normal devel-

opment. Psychopharmacologists believe that emotional symptoms

are caused

primarily by incorrect signals being sent within the brain due to improper

functioning of neuro-transmitters. Despite the different assumptions of these

Introduction

approaches, both appear to be effec-

with excellent In

some

cases,

however, neither

takes

There

too long, and the cost in

human

suffering

is

too high during

that time. Talking about problems

might not be the preferred approach for people with particular personali-

learning

ties,

or

styles,

cultural

backgrounds. Often psychotropic medications cause side-effects that

some people

feel

outweigh the bene-

Medications might not be right

for people with

some health prob-

lems or religious

beliefs.

In

is

a great

need

for innovative

is

Psychotherapy sometimes

effective.

And

Future Researchers

results.

psychotherapy nor medication

fits.

Special Note To Current

Often, both can be combined,

tive.

many of

research methods to evaluate the

effectiveness of the healing arts fea-

tured in this book. Our current meth-

ods for measuring the outcomes of medical and mental health treat-

ments simply are not adequate

for

evaluating the complexity of holistic

treatment techniques.

We need ways

of looking at the effects of the entire

complex treatment, since

it is

usually

impossible to isolate single compo-

nents of the therapeutic effect.

If

you are

a health professional or

these cases, holistic approaches can

a statistician, or are thinking of

provide solutions. Alternative thera-

becoming one, then consider

pies,

when used

at the

same time

as

direct-

ing your creativity toward this chal-

psychotherapy or medication, can

lenging and potentially rewarding

sometimes accelerate the

field.

results,

intensify the process, or otherwise assist in

overcoming the problems.

Many complementary treatments are based

on

different assumptions

Graduate program directors

and educators can be instrumental in helping

need

students realize that this

exists,

and preparing them to

take on the challenge.

I

would love

about the causes of psychological

to hear from people

problems. For example, mental illness-

involved in this kind of research.

es

who want

to be

might be caused by nutritional defi-

ciencies,

environmental

allergies,

blood sugar problems, fungal overgrowth, functional endocrine imbal-

ance,

sensitivities,

biorhythm disturbances, or blocked energy pathways. Treating these causes

with natural remedies, physical manipulations, detoxification, and other procedures sometimes provides a

more direct, and therefore more effective approach.

Whole Mino

The

4

Psychotherapy and holistic approaches can usually be combined with excel-

some of the ways

lent results. Following are

that psychotherapy

and additional

approaches can work together:

Once

Psychotherapy can help a person catch up on delayed development. a holistic therapy has resolved the physical

symptoms underlying an emo-

tional

problem psychotherapy can be used

social

development. If a person has experienced

sions for a

fear,

or she

drawn during adolescence might have missed learning person needs to learn treated

by

holistic

how

to interact socially

means such

up on

depression, or delu-

may have missed opportunities to a person who has been depressed and with-

number of years, he

develop normally. For instance,

to help a person catch

as

social skills.

This

once the depression has been

homeopathy or ayurveda

—

the tradi-

tional health care system in India.

Psychotherapy can help a person to unlearn maladaptive behaviors once a psychological problem has been resolved. for learning

can also offer opportunities

and experimenting with more adaptive behaviors. For exam-

ple, the learning-disabled child

a classroom setting

him

It

becomes the

who

finds

class

it

hard to maintain attention in

clown to gain acceptance. This serves

or her well under the circumstances, but as an adult,

the apparent disability

is

if

the cause of

removed (maybe through vision training or envi-

ronmental medicine), the behavior creates

its

own

social

problems and

may

not be helpful anymore.

Psychotherapy can be useful in reframing

been restored.

many

When

goals once

burdened with health problems

for a

good health has

number of years

people develop poor self images and pessimistic ideas about their

future. Psychotherapy can be a very

the

life

good place

to try out

new

ideas about

self.

Psychotherapy can help with processing traumas that might be uncovered

through techniques such

as

massage or Network Spinal Analysis. For

instance, during a massage therapy or

bodywork

session, a person

may sud-

denly remember an accident or some kind of abuse that occurred to that

body part

in the past.

Psychotherapy

is

a very

which these memories

These memories can be sudden and

good way of beginning

give

rise.

distressing.

to sort out the feelings to

Introduction

5

Psychotherapy can help people adopt healthy self-care behaviors. tenet of the holistic approach before

symptoms develop,

so that

good health can be maintained. Making

Food

these lifestyle changes can be difficult. feel

may force an

an exercise program

made

prevention. Lifestyle changes are

is

anism, and a change in diet can

A major

is

often used as a coping

mech-

emotionally threatening. Beginning

individual to confront a poor

body image

or to re-sort his or her priorities in ways that can be painful. Psychotherapy

can help resolve these issues and help make

lifestyle

changes before

illness

manifests.

Psychotropic medications can help overcome symptoms so severe that they disable the patient or threaten his or her safety. severe depression

may

most basic

activities

some of the

holistic

of daily

from

suffering

The treatment regimens required by may demand visits to the office of the prac-

living.

approaches

titioner, the regular

A person

not be able to get out of the house, or carry out the

consumption of nutritional supplements, meditation,

exercise, dietary changes, or

hands-on contact by the practitioner. These

may be impossible for the people who need Medication may serve as a means for restoring adequate

are activities that, ironically,

them the most.

functioning, so that people can take a

more

maintaining good health. There are times

active role in regaining

when

it is

advisable to have a

consultation with a psychiatrist to determine whether medication ed,

and

to take

it

if it is

recommended. Many of the

book can be used while taking medication. Be

this

and

is

need-

holistic healing arts in

sure to check with both

practitioners.

HOW TO The

first

USE THIS BOOK section of this

book provides background information

that can be

helpful in understanding the later chapters about holistic healing arts.

chapters in Part

One

retical perspective

The

teach you about the politics of health care from a theo-

and from the perspective of a parent of a mentally

chapter by Stanislav Grof raises

some

contains summaries of thirty-six different healing

which,

if any, is right for

you.

The

ill

child.

intriguing questions about the basic

assumptions on which our current mental health care system

Two

The

arts,

topics chosen give

you

is

based. Part

so

you can decide

a

comprehensive

sampling of the alternatives and additions to psychotherapy and medication

Whole Mino

The

6

that are currently available.

chotherapies or techniques

many

I

have included only healing

commonly used

arts that are

in psychotherapy today.

innovative systems of psychotherapy available, and one of

right for you, but

would take another book

it

to describe

them

not psy-

There

are

them may be

in detail.

Well-established, comprehensive treatment systems are included, as are

new, experimental approaches that perhaps serve best

ments

modes of treatment. Space

to other

as

additions or comple-

limitations prevented the inclusion

of some approaches (particularly in the area of bodywork, where so

and

demonstrated effectiveness prevented other approaches from

a lack of

Some of them

appearing here. uate

them

able. It

are practiced

your

on

new that not enough data exist yet to evalmay eventually prove to be extremely valuapproaches are valuable but unknown to me, or are so

adequately, though they possible that other

is

many exist),

by so few

area. In a

few

a given healing

clinicians that

cases,

you would be unlikely

was unable to find a practitioner

I

strongly

art. It is

recommended

one

to find

in

to write a chapter

you keep an eye on the

that

periodical literature for up-to-date information about emerging approaches.

The es

decisions about

were not

Feldenkrais

clear.

This book

and

is

to include in the

book were

are techniques that

I

might have included

had unlim-

intended not as an endorsement of any particular approach,

health care. Taking responsibility for your

toward mental health. This book

is

also

to light, so that public policy

tic practitioners,

if I

resources.

but as a source of information that can be used to

methods

and the choic-

difficult,

For example, psychic healing, chelation therapy, and the

Method

ited time, space,

what

own

make

health

decisions about your is

an important step

intended to bring emerging treatment

makers can begin a dialogue with

holis-

and encourage further research and development of promis-

ing approaches. It is

important to make any health care decision with prudence and with

appropriate scrutiny of the approach and of the treatment provider. ly

It is

strong-

suggested that you get a thorough assessment, diagnosis, and recommenda-

tion

from

a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, or

mental health

counselor. Listen carefully to their assessment of the severity of your condition,

and consider pursuing conventional treatments before mental health problems are so painful, and

and some of the

holistic

may

alternative ones.

Some

involve destructive behavior,

approaches take so long to effect change, that you

decide that mainstream approaches

make

the most sense for

you

may

at this stage

Introduction

of your

7

If you are feeling suicidal or

life.

out of control, immediately seek psy-

chotherapy and/or psychotropic medication. The alternative treatments will be there for you

still

Keep

in

mind

when you

that in traditional "talk psychotherapy,"

uncomfortable feelings

As

life.

feelings can

you

you may encounter

learn unpleasant truths about yourself and your it is

natural to feel like running

therapist. Analyzing, understanding,

be a very valuable experience. But

from the

ther-

and working through these

this process takes patience.

Try

your dissatisfaction with psychotherapy

is

due

of resistance, or to the fact that psychotherapy

is

not right for you at

determine

feelings

as

information surfaces,

this

apy and/or the

to

are feeling stronger.

if

to these natural

this time.

If

you have decided

that psychotherapy or medication are not the right

treatment plan for you, or that you want to add a complementary therapy to

your current treatment, a decision

The

table at the

is

needed about which approach to pursue.

end of my introduction

is

a

good place

to start. It

lists all

of

the healing arts covered in this book, and the conditions for which each one

can be helpful. Before making a decision evaluate the treatment approaches,

and

it is

important to carefully read and

to take advantage of the resources,

Do

books, and articles referred to at the end of each chapter. initial

you

not rely on your

gut reaction to one approach. Instincts are important, and often guide

to the therapies that are right for you, but read several chapters,

and com-

pare them. Be sure to consider the time frame for results, the type of contact

with the healer, what you will be asked to do for yourself between

visits,

and

the costs of treatment. Try to avoid the temptation of seeing any of the treat-

ments

as a

quick

fix for

wellness takes time

This book

by

this,

is

symptoms

that probably took years to develop. Real

and your participation

in the process.

packed with information. Some people

and may want

to avoid

making any

is

decisions right now. This could be

fatigue, depression, anxiety, or

any kind

the case, ask a trusted friend, a family

member,

especially true if you are suffering

of confused thinking. If that

from

or your psychotherapist to help you sort out what helpful to take

it

slowly, reading only

in this

is

unfamiliar until you spend

book might

the one

you

are

is

right for you.

It

may be

one chapter per week, taking time

digest the information before proceeding.

information

may feel overwhelmed

Remember

that

some time with

it.

to

any new body of

The information

represent a fundamentally different view of the world than

accustomed

to.

Give yourself a chance to get familiar with the

TheWholeMind

8

new

ideas in this book,

and don't judge yourself harshly

while to

if it takes a

absorb them.

Once

a decision

is

made about what

next decide which practitioner to

ed specific information on

how

approach discussed. However,

match between you and the patient

more involved

is

you

feel

work with. Many of the authors have

it is

always important to achieve the correct

most of the

healer. In

is

more

titioner.

I

holistic healing arts, the

with allopathic medicine, and the

collaborative.

important, therefore,

It is

comfortable with the healer and that the healer be willing to

take the time to explain the procedures so that

own

about your

provid-

to locate various practitioners skilled in the

in treatment than

doctor/patient relationship that

healing approach to pursue, you must

care.

you can make good decisions

Following are some suggestions for finding the right prac-

recommend the book Five Steps to Selecting the Best Medicine by Mary and Michael Morton for a thoughtful and

also strongly

Alternative

detailed approach to this subject. The Encyclopedia ofAlternative Health Care

by Kristin Gottschalk Olsen

also offers a wealth

of helpful information about

forming a partnership with your health care providers.

Ask someone you know like,

for a referral.

Ask them what the

practitioner

is

and how he or she works.

Call the practitioner

and how

it is

done. Carefully observe

speaking to you, feel. If

and ask questions you have about what he or she does

how clearly

your gut reaction

is

how open

a negative one,

similar conversations with a

the practitioner

the practitioner communicates, and

few other

do not go

practitioners,

is

see this person.

and keep

while

how you Have

careful notes

about your reactions. This will help you pick the one that seems the best for feel

your needs and personality.

It

should be noted that some practitioners

strongly about the prospective patient's right to ask questions and give

special training to their office staff who handle these

with a

member of the

office staff

is

phone

calls.

Speaking

not necessarily a sign of the doctor's

lack of caring.

Ask the for

practitioner about his or her experience in treating the condition

which you

to speak

are seeking help.

with you. This

Ask

if any

may not be

between doctor and patient.

of his or her patients would agree

possible,

due

to the confidentiality

Introduction

Ask

9

the practitioner

phlets about his

shops. Follow

how

if

he or she has written any books,

up on

these, as they are excellent

ways

or

pam-

talks or

work-

articles,

or her work, and whether he or she gives any

to get a better feel for

the practitioner works.

Ask about any additional

Clarify financial issues at the outset.

nutritional supplements, or other expenses.

Ask about the

lab costs,

practitioner's

history of reimbursement by insurance companies.

After

all

the reading and talking

ing an appointment, unless your give

you

a chance to

make

a

done, wait at

is

symptoms

more

least

one week before mak-

are too severe to wait.

This will

rational decision, instead of reacting to

your desire to get well immediately. Before your

develop

first visit,

alternative approaches

years to develop your

During the

realistic

do not produce rapid

symptoms, and

first visit,

expectations about the results.

ask as

many

how the practitioner responds.

it

results. It

probably took

your concerns,

If you

do not

don't feel that

feel

questions as you want. Again, notice

If you

do not

like the

way he or she responds is

not responsive

leave.

good about the

practitioner after the

you can follow through with the

do not go back. You rizing

many

them.

will take a while to get over

to you, then discuss this with the practitioner. If he or she

to

Most

may choose

person's

first visit,

recommendations,

to send the practitioner a letter

your reasons, providing feedback that

may

and/or

summa-

be helpful to him or her

for the future.

It is

important that you carry out your part of the treatment (such

nutritional supplements as

recommended, performing exercises,

techniques, and dietary changes). If you

do not pursue the treatment

ommended, you will not have an opportunity to

Some of the approaches

as taking

relaxation

detailed in this

evaluate

its

as rec-

effectiveness.

book lend themselves

to use in

combination with other approaches, while some do not. For example, while getting treatment for environmental toxicities, massage therapy helpful in clearing out the system.

may be

While using applied kinesiology

very

to rebal-

ance the system, Alexander technique lessons can enhance the process. Vision

The

10

As clinicians living and practicing at this exciting time in history,

work method, or flower essence thera-

we have

py, or

become

proficient in the use of

the opportunity to prepare ourselves to

herbs, and so on. Each chapter offers

be more effective at what we do by

resources to find out about training

incorporating alternative healing

opportunities.

approaches into our work. This can be

clients well by being familiar with the

very satisfying, and also very frighten-

adjunctive therapies they are using, so

ing.

When

we can

of your training has

all

taught you one way of doing things,

may be It is

difficult to think of

my

belief that

clients better,

and

we

changing.

our

help

I

own

the other healing work they were

Some

doing.

involvement

a

that approach

the book.

plan

I

very appealing to

therapists saw a client's in holistic healing as a

sign of pathology.

homeopath, because is

them integrate that work

have treated have told me that their

professional careers by choosing to

in

can also serve our

previous therapist was not respectful of

seek training in one or more of the

on becoming

We

with their psychotherapy. Many clients

it

will serve our

will enliven

approaches detailed

to

me

I

believe

move beyond those kinds

it is

time

of judg-

ments. There are indications that a

and would combine well with the kind

substantial percentage of the popula

of psychological work I already do.

tion

Other clinicians might choose a body-

can't all be crazy.

training well.

fere

is

using these therapies. They

and some of the bodywork approaches might complement each other

However, combining Ayurveda and Chinese medicine might render both

techniques

less effective.

Some

nutritional supplements

with homeopathic treatment.

for their

It is

Finally,

to avoid

inter-

best to ask the practitioners themselves

combining.

keep in mind that

as

you discover and

of your emotional problems, there

your

might actually

recommendations about which approaches to use in conjunction, and

which ones

in

Whole Mind

lifestyle, self-concept,

may

resolve the physical causes

be adjustments that need to be

made

and coping mechanisms. Psychotherapy can help

you make these changes more quickly and

effectively. It

is

important that your

psychotherapist be well versed in the holistic approach, and that he or she be

open

to understanding the healing approach

you have chosen.

11

Introduction

By picking up

this

book, you have taken an important step toward achiev-

ing emotional well-being. In addition, you have taken a step toward changing

our health care system from the expensive, high-tech, authoritarian, mechanistic

one we now have to a new system that

ate use of technology

health back into your

will

be

holistic, will

and of ancient wisdom, and

own

hands.

I

make

appropri-

will place control

of your

wish you well in your search for emotional

well-being.

HOW

TO LEARN MORE

Gottschalk Olsen, K. The Encyclopedia ofAlternative Health Care.

New York:

Pocket

Books, 1989.

Morton, M. and M. Morton. Five Novato, CA:

Steps to Selecting the Best Alternative Medicine.

New World Library,

1996.

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Lynette Bassman, Ph.D.

Understanding Alternative

1

Healing Modalities: Basic Concepts

Following

is

an introduction to some of the basic concepts underlying

many of

the healing arts presented in this book. Reading this chapter can aid

making the you

transition to a

in creating the

new way of thinking about your

health,

you

and

in

assist

kind of health you want.

PSYCHOSOMATIC VS. SOMATOPSYCHIC There was a time when the body and mind were seen meaningful separation between them. affected every other part. In the past

away from

that

way of thinking. But

It

as

one

unit,

without any

was obvious that each part of that unit

one hundred years or lately,

we

are

so,

we have

gotten

beginning to return to that

view, called "holistic." Perhaps the biggest change taking place in health care

today shift

is

is

the recognition that

offered in the recent

body and mind

PBS

television series

Healing and the Mind, narrated by thoughts and emotions are

now

are connected. Evidence of this

Bill

and accompanying book,

Moyers. This

series

examines

how

seen to affect areas of physical health which

were formerly thought of as functioning independently. Healing and the looks at different survival rates for cancer patients

who were

Mind

involved in group

therapy and other forms of emotional expression and support.

It

also looks at

meditation, group therapy, and dietary change as integral to reversing heart disease. It

is

significant to note that this holistic

health, pioneered

approach to regaining cardiac

by Dean Ornish, M.D., has recently gained acceptance

to

Understanding Alternative Healing Modalities

the point that

mon

it is

now

15

reimbursable by

to recognize the role of "stress"

nesses, including asthma, diabetes,

many

insurance plans.

(meaning emotional

and

now comin many ill-

It is

stress)

People with chronic pain can

colitis.

attend clinics where they can learn to reduce their experience of pain through the use of imagery, hypnosis,

This recognition of the matic" medicine, and

a

is

health. Unfortunately there

and biofeedback.

effect

of the mind on the body

called "psychoso-

is

major step toward restoring the is less

view of

holistic

recognition about the other side of the coin:

"somatopsychic" medicine, the effect of the body on the mind. This book details

many

different healing modalities that purport to heal, reduce, or relieve

tal ills

by treating imbalances

mind

that the use of the terms

in the physical body. It

men-

important to bear in

is

"mind" and "body" and "somatopsychic" and

"psychosomatic" are misleading, because they do not accurately portray the fully integrated reciprocal nature

of the relationships involved. For example, in

may experience pain

the case of chronic headache pain, an individual

of an

allergic reaction or a sensitivity to frequently eaten foods.

sensitivities are closely related to

problems of digestion. Problems of digestion

by emotional

are often caused or exacerbated

This in turn

may

so,

might develop faulty

An

individual with

feel

motivated to be

distress.

may

chronic headaches and digestive disturbances

around people, and

as a result

However, food

not

social skills

and poor

cause the individual to develop physical

self-esteem.

symptoms

to aid in

the avoidance of awkward and emotionally risky social interactions. on. In

no

case does the causality go in

The

body or

vice versa).

will see

from reading the chapters that

your

own

causality

And

so

one direction only (mind influencing

and the influence process follow,

and from

is

mutual, as you

carefully

examining

life.

ALLOPATHIC VS. HOLISTIC People born and raised in the United States and Europe in this century are familiar with a

machine.

be

fixed.

model of health and

When we

are

ill,

we

illness that sees the

believe that the

We go to the doctor (the mechanic)

nostic tools such as blood tests

The doctor

and x-rays

treated separately, perhaps even

it.

is

bed

rest,

as similar to a

broken, and needs to

and he or she uses

to determine

prescribes medication, surgery,

expect a speedy recovery, and often get

machine

body

skills

which part

is

and

diag-

defective.

or a special diet, and

Frequently, each part of the

we

body

is

by different doctors (we bring our defective

Whole Mind

The

16

heart to a cardiologist, our reproductive system failures to a gynecologist or

and a problem

urologist, etc.),

one body part

in

is

often not seen as having any

connection to the other parts. Certainly the mind (believed to be located in the head) bears

and

relationship to any parts

little

below the neck. In

been the only

until quite recently, this has

officially

this century,

recognized health care

system practiced. According to Melvyn Werbach (1986), this system grew out

of the invention of the microscope, which

be traced to the etiology,"

cell.

which held

later

allowed the origin of disease to

This led to the formulation of the "doctrine of specific that illness can be categorized into different diseases,

that each disease has a unique

and primary

and

form of medicine

cause. This

is

called "allopathic."

In recent years, there are care

giving

is

body

way

to a

is

as far

not at

and

back

all

across

tries in

"new" view:

signs that this mechanistic view of health holistic health.

being a fully integrated system, with

as

to maintain health.

and

some

However,

most

view

sees the

of the parts working together

we look back to the time before this century, time, we realize that the holistic view of health

has been the dominant view throughout history,

fact, it

cultures,

holistic

if

as Hippocrates'

new. In

all

The

with the exception of the Western developed coun-

the last one hundred years or so. Even in the United States, folk cul-

tures (our grandmothers' remedies) have

maintained vestiges of the

holistic,

natural ways of healing.

THE BODY'S INNATE ABILITY TO HEAL People

who

believe in the holistic view of health believe that the

ability to heal itself and to

maintain health even

when

For instance, the body has systems for protecting fying our systems

when

body has

the

conditions are not ideal.

itself

from harm, and detoxi-

they are poisoned; vomiting and diarrhea are natural

responses for expelling offending toxins. Swelling of an injured limb and spasms

of its muscles immobilize it

to begin to

it

and protect

mend. The body

is

it

from further damage, thus allowing

able to fight invading organisms by raising

our body temperature to make an inhospitable environment for the organism.

When

faced with conflict that

defense mechanisms

come

is

into play to help us avoid

by the information. These systems cannot look parts,

at

too emotionally stressful to deal with, our

are

becoming overwhelmed

complex and subtly interconnected.

We

any one functioning part of the body in isolation from the other

because they don't work in isolation. If we do view

it

that way,

we

are

17

Understanding Alternative Healing Modalities

misunderstand and interfere with the healing process rather than

likely to facilitate

it.

keep us healthy.

If allowed to function naturally, these systems will usually

The symptoms

(swelling, fever, denial) are seen as the

our bodies and minds it

would be

as

they

work

normal functioning of According to

to maintain health.

this view,

would allow

a mistake to take aspirin to reduce fever, because that

the offending organism to proliferate. You would not want to suppress vomit-

ing

you have eaten food tainted with salmonella.

if

It

ways sometimes

want

lead to effects that

is

right for you.

However,

do not seem acceptable, and broken bone

to intervene. For example, a

also not

make

would not allow you

sense to take an antianxiety medication because that process distressing information at a rate that

would

will

that

to

nature's

make

us

mend, but perhaps the

we may choose to splint the limb. A high fever may kill a dangerous organism, but may also lead to brain damage, so we may choose to bring down the fever. Part of the skill of the holistic healer is knowing when and to what degree to intervene, and when to allow the body's own limb

will

not be straight, so

processes to take over.

In Chinese, there

"opportunity." This

is

is

one character that expresses the two ideas

indicative of a

that recognizes that physical

worldview that

symptoms

are part

than a problem to be removed. For instance,

major

loss

seen as one as

of some kind, will come

is

and

inherently holistic and

of a process of growth rather

many people,

down with

"crisis"

after experiencing a

a cold or the flu.

more misfortune heaped on top of the

initial loss,

the body's way of slowing you down and encouraging you

or

This can be

it

can be seen

to properly

mourn

the loss rather than continuing with your regular schedule and burying the feelings. If we fail to recognize the

ing,

and take

then

we have

more

a cold pill to reduce lost the

connections between the cold and the griev-

symptoms and

opportunity to process the

severe) physical

symptoms may

get back to usual activities,

loss,

and further (and perhaps

force us to deal with our emotions at a

later time.

CUMULATIVE STRESS THEORY "Stress" has

become

a very popular

to describe a feeling of being us, for

word

lately,

and

overwhelmed by demands

it

is

usually used

that are placed

example, being overwhelmed by the amount of work there

being upset about a relationship that

is

not

as

rewarding

as

is

on

to do, or

we would

like.

Whole Mind

The

16

heart to a cardiologist, our reproductive system failures to a gynecologist or urologist, etc.),

and a problem

in

one body part

is

often not seen as having any

connection to the other parts. Certainly the mind (believed to be located in the head) bears

and

below the neck. In

relationship to any parts

little

been the only

until quite recently, this has

officially

recognized health care

system practiced. According to Melvyn Werbach (1986),

of the invention of the microscope, which

be traced to the etiology,"

cell.

this century,

this

system grew out

allowed the origin of disease to

later

This led to the formulation of the "doctrine of specific

which held that

can be categorized into different diseases, and

illness

that each disease has a unique

and primary cause. This form of medicine

is

called "allopathic."

In recent years, there are care

giving

is

body

as

way

to a

is

as far

not

back

at all

holistic health.

However,

if

new. In

we

holistic

view

sees the

to the time before this century,

realize that the holistic

view of health

has been the dominant view throughout history,

fact, it

cultures, with the exception of the

the last one

The

of the parts working together

all

we look back

as Hippocrates' time,

and across most tries in

"new" view:

signs that this mechanistic view of health

being a fully integrated system, with

to maintain health.

and

some

hundred

years or so.

Even

Western developed counUnited

in the

States, folk cul-

tures (our grandmothers' remedies) have maintained vestiges of the holistic,

natural ways of healing.

THE BODY'S INNATE ABILITY TO HEAL People

who

believe in the holistic view of health believe that the

ability to heal itself

and

to maintain health even

when

For instance, the body has systems for protecting fying our systems

when

body has the

conditions are not ideal.

itself

from harm, and detoxi-

they are poisoned; vomiting and diarrhea are natural

responses for expelling offending toxins. Swelling of an injured limb and spasms

of its muscles immobilize it

to begin to

it

and protect

mend. The body

is

it

from further damage, thus allowing

able to fight invading organisms by raising

our body temperature to make an inhospitable environment for the organism.

When

faced with conflict that

defense mechanisms

come

is

into play to help us avoid

by the information. These systems cannot look parts,

too emotionally stressful to deal with, our

are

becoming overwhelmed

complex and subtly interconnected.

at any one functioning part of the

We

body in isolation from the other

because they don't work in isolation. If we do view

it

that way,

we

are

17

Understanding Alternative Healing Modalities

likely to facilitate

misunderstand and interfere with the healing process rather than it.

If allowed to function naturally, these systems will usually

The symptoms

(swelling, fever, denial) are seen as the

our bodies and minds it

would be

as

work

they

You would not want It

sense to take an antianxiety medication because that process distressing information at a rate that

ways sometimes lead to

want

effects that

to intervene. For example, a

is

to suppress vomit-

would

also

right for you.

will

not make

would not allow you

to

However, nature's

do not seem acceptable, and broken bone

this view,

would allow

a mistake to take aspirin to reduce fever, because that

you have eaten food tainted with salmonella.

if

normal functioning of According to

to maintain health.

the offending organism to proliferate.

ing

keep us healthy.

make

that

us

mend, but perhaps the

may choose to splint the limb. A but may also lead to brain damage,

limb will not be straight, so we

high fever

may

so

kill

a

dangerous organism,

choose to bring ing

when and

down

to

the fever. Part of the

what degree

to intervene,

skill

of the holistic healer

and when

we may

is

know-

to allow the body's

own

processes to take over.

In Chinese, there

"opportunity." This

is

is

one character that expresses the two ideas

indicative of a

that recognizes that physical

worldview that

symptoms

loss

seen as one

of some kind, will come

many people,

down with

growth rather

after experiencing a

a cold or the flu.

more misfortune heaped on top of the

as the body's

and

inherently holistic and

are part of a process of

than a problem to be removed. For instance,

major

is

"crisis"

initial loss,

way of slowing you down and encouraging you

or

This can be

it

can be seen

to properly

mourn

the loss rather than continuing with your regular schedule and burying the feelings. If we fail to recognize the

ing,

and take

then

we have

more

a cold pill to reduce lost the

connections between the cold and the griev-

symptoms and

opportunity to process the

severe) physical

symptoms may

get back to usual activities,

loss,

and further (and perhaps

force us to deal with our emotions at a

later time.

CUMULATIVE STRESS THEORY "Stress" has

become

a very

to describe a feeling of being us, for

popular word

lately,

and

it

is

overwhelmed by demands that

usually used are placed

example, being overwhelmed by the amount of work there

being upset about a relationship that

is

not as rewarding

as

is

on

to do, or

we would

like.

Whole Mind

The

18

There

growing recognition that

a

is

number of physical

tion of a

ills.

stress

is

However,

a factor in the cause or exacerba-

this

popular use of the term robs

of the rich and complex meaning that was intended by Hans Selye

brought the term into use in the health care

meant

"the wear

cation

is

that

and

many

tear in the

at

any one time." The impli-

things, not just emotional factors, have the effect of chal-

lenging the body's balance or homeostasis. Thus, boss that causes

it

first

1956. By "stress" Selye

field in

body caused by life

who

stress,

not just a demanding

it is

but also extreme hot or cold, the impact of your

feet

on

when you walk, the effect of caffeine in your morning coffee, the excitement you feel when seeing your lover after a long separation, the microorthe ground

ganisms in the

when dramatic

air life

when somebody

sneezes,

and the bewilderment you

events fundamentally challenge your worldview. All of these

and many more, challenge the body

stressors,

feel

to

produce an appropriate

response so that balance can be maintained.

A

main tenet of

inevitable.

Without

Selye's

it,

theory

we would

that stress

is

is

essential to

life,

and

is

function inadequately, and eventually, die.

All living organisms respond to stimuli. For example, our bones respond to

down

weight-bearing exercise by laying result cise,

when

additional calcium. Osteoporosis

a person does not adequately

stress his

may

or her bones through exer-

leading to a lack of bone density. If a child lacks opportunities to experi-

ence the minor

trials

and

in the classroom, or at

tribulations of human interaction

home, he or she may be unprepared

emotional pain of more significant traumas Selye

went on

body help

to explain that

us respond to the challenges of everyday

we

Many reduce the

And

life.

sometimes there

cope with the

number of stressors

to the

body

in the

Sometimes these are so

deplete the body's ability to cope with them. Disease

of the holistic healing modalities presented in

abilities will

to

later in life.

hormone-mediated defensive processes

responses are inadequate or excessive. sors that

on the playground,

this

is

many

stres-

the result.

book aim

to

so that the body's innate healing

be adequate, while other modalities aim to

revitalize the defensive

processes that have been depleted.

SUBCLINICAL CONDITIONS AND FUNCTIONAL ILLNESS Another important aspect of the

holistic or

that sometimes conditions are best treated

perhaps even below the awareness

level

complementary health model

when

is

they are quite small or subtle,

of the patient. According to Werbach,

19

Understanding Alternative Healing Modalities

allopathic medicine defines disease as

"stemming from

a recognized etiologic

agent or agents, having an identifiable group of signs and symptoms, and result-

ing in consistent anatomical alterations." But sometimes people experience

symptoms a

for

which no

disease can be identified. For example, if a person has

marginal vitamin deficiency, such symptoms as fatigue, depression,

headaches, impaired concentration, and aches and pains can the deficiency

may not

examination or blood

result.

However,

be discovered by the allopathic physician upon physical

Moreover, the medical view of the

tests.

may

test result

not take into consideration the fact that individuals vary with respect to the stress

load under which their bodies are laboring.

They

individual's result to a standardized reference range based

the pathogen. For example, analysis of a stool sample els

of pathogenic organisms, such

instead

compare an

on "average"

may

reveal

levels

"normal"

of

lev-

as fungi, parasites, or bacteria, leading the

physician to rule out several possible causal agents. However, a given patient's

body,

if

may succumb

too busy coping with other stressors,

to the effects of

the "acceptable" level of pathogenic organism. Often, such a patient will then

be referred to a psychiatrist, based on the assumption that

found then the person must be suffering from

a

which psychotherapy or psychotropic medication

Many

if

no

disease can be

psychosomatic ailment for

is

the appropriate treatment.

of the holistic healing modalities include techniques for assessing

imbalances in the body that are too subtle to show up on standard blood x-rays, or biopsies.

rected before they

These techniques allow imbalances

become

disease states.

roid glands that function well

enough

to be detected

tests,

and

cor-

For example, some people have thy-

to yield

blood

test results in

the normal

range, yet the holistic practitioner can use a muscle test, pulse analysis,

body

temperature tracking, detailed constitutional history taking, or other methods to discover the presence of an otherwise insignificant imbalance in that gland.

Furthermore, he or she might become aware that this minor imbalance

is

due

not to any overt disease in that gland, but to functional disturbance of other endocrine components such

as the adrenal gland,

which can,

in turn, be traced

to certain aspects of the person's lifestyle, such as caffeine intake or lack of exercise.

Steps can then be taken to balance out the problem in the endocrine sys-

tem. So, using these and other highly sensitive assessment techniques, a holistic healer can detect dysfunction before

causes to restore cian

it

to

it

becomes

normal functioning,

would be aware of any

difficulty.

all

severe,

and understand

its

root

well before the allopathic physi-

The

20

With knowledge of these healing

you

arts,

deciding

how

to

are

now

basic concepts used

by practitioners of holistic

prepared to read on and to begin your process of

maximize your emotional wellness.

HOW TO LEARN MORE Selye,

H. The

Werbach,

M.

Stress

ofLife.

Whole Mind

New York:

Third Line Medicine.

McGraw-Hill, 1956.

New York: Arkana,

1986.

/.

Jamison Starbuck,

An

2

The

N.D.

Introduction to the Politics of

Health Care

politics

and money decisions

J.D.,

of medicine are in

many ways similar to

politics

of any

sort:

Power

are the motivating factors, the forces underlying a multiplicity

and governmental law-making. However, medical

politics in

of

America

have involved another factor during the past century, a component whose influence have been critical in shaping both the delivery of health care in the

United

and our

States,

collective

view of medical and

scientific reality.

deeply significant throughout the past 100 years, this third factor

is

While

currently

being challenged by a renaissance of contemplation about health care, and

might find

its

influence shrinking as

This third factor

is

tem of thought which icine of,

and

science.

and limited

to,

we proceed

medical dogma. Medical

declares that there

Medical dogma

is

one,

we

into the twenty-first century.

dogma

is

defined as that sys-

and only one, system of med-

says that the medical system

is

composed

medical doctors, their support staff and related institutions,

pharmaceutical drugs, surgical procedures, highly technical equipment, certain portions ical

of the insurance industry, and some Ph.D.'s. For decades, med-

dogma had convinced

the American public that

its

system and medicine

When people heard the word "doctor," they thought of medical doctors. When people thought about "medicines," they pictured phar-

were synonymous.

maceutical drugs. "Treatments" brought to

mind

surgery, radiation,

and

chemotherapy. "Medical research" meant work being done by medical doctors or Ph.D.'s at medical schools, universities, or government

21

facilities,

on

subjects

Whole Mind

The

22

related to pharmaceuticals, surgical techniques, or technological advances in

the understanding of pathology.

Medical dogma, and

many Americans,

fact that

impact on our consciousness,

its

until recently,

responsible for the

is

had never heard

of,

much

less seri-

ously considered, medical options other than those espoused by the dominant

medical system. Treatment options such icine,

as

Ayurvedic medicine, Chinese med-

naturopathic medicine, homeopathy, medicinal plant therapies, body-

work and

nutrition, if discussed at

"alternative,"

and dismissed

oil," "worthless,"

all,

were relegated to the category of

as "other than," "less than," "faith healing,"

and sometimes even

"criminal." Patients

who

chose to

"snake utilize

these different modalities were considered daring, foolish, or strange.

The

medical-political forces of money

awareness

of,

and

and power

also affected

access to, a variety of medical options. For

our lack of

of the nine-

all

teenth and most of the twentieth century, no government funds were available

which trained naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists, massage

for schools

and the

therapists,

like.

These

institutions

had

to survive

tuition fees. Their students were not able to obtain

on

private funds

and

government loans and were

not able to participate in government training, research, or employment pro-

grams

after graduation.

No

government research

dollars

were available to

explore "alternative" treatment modalities; no pharmaceutical companies offered research grants, nor endorsed academic chairs at institutions of "alternative" medicine.

During the

late

nineteenth through the late twentieth century, the politics

of medicine had established the dominance of a monochromatic, hierarchical,

and closed system of medicine. For

patients with mental health complaints, as

well as for patients with physical ailments, acceptable medical options were allopathic physicians, drugs,

Now,

as

we approach

and

surgery.

the year 2000, there are signs that

we

are in the midst

of an important intellectual, medical revolution. While for the past century unconventional individuals, perhaps the

among

us,

brilliant, the brave,

and the prescient

kept alive a wide variety of "alternative" medicines, they are

now

joined by a multitude of more conventional, middle-of-the-road Americans.

Medical dogma

is

under attack from a variety of sources, and there

is

ing schism in our collective definition of "medicine." This schism tain result of

our increasing awareness of the world around

us.

an emergis

the cer-

Mass media,

worldwide communication, and our inescapable movement toward

a global

An Introduction to the

23

Politics of Health Care

community has broadened our horizons and learned that medicine

is

from

We have

defined differently in other cultures. In the living

rooms of our homes, on our computer tures

excited our imaginations.

screens,

we

see color films

of yoga pos-

India, of psychic surgery in the Philippines, of acupuncture instead

of anesthesia, of the miracles of the mind-body connection.

Our understanding of reality has changed significantly in the past fifty years. As physicists now speak of particles smaller than the atom, and of waves and patterns of energy, intertwined, interdependent, and

infinite, the

concept

of homeopathic medicine healing through infinitesimal doses seems more plausible.

With our sharpened awareness of the dwindling

rain forests

and

fragile

ecosystems worldwide comes the knowledge that these environments contain plants with an ability to heal disease, that soil content influences food content,

which, in turn, omists,

with

affects

and

matter, the concepts of ecopsychology, self-generated healing,

and

make

sense even to the skeptical

are

one with

among

us.

aware that technology and modern medicine have not solved

are well

our health care problems. Concurrently, we understand that

advancements carry with them new health realities,

From

we become aware

not one system.

It is as

threats.

As we

we

multifaceted as

see that

medicine

life itself,

is

changed

as well.

and we, the consumers of

method which

us.

As we look

a

changing

not one method,

health care, have the right, and the obligation, to choose that

works best for

many new

face our

that the reality of medicine has

the holistic side of the schism,

human

econ-

all life

biofeedback begin to

all

scientists, religious teachers,

and health care practitioners suggest that we

all

We

our health. As we hear

to the future of medicine,

consciousness

is

world which was not

rarely swift; flat;

we must remember

Columbus was

that changing

ridiculed for his theory of

physicians resisted the notion of washing their

hands because no invading organism was

visible to

them. Medical doctors have

long dominated the medical scene, and they are not likely to easily relinquish

Many

med-

the

power and control they have so enjoyed.

ical

system are loathe to accept what their current science cannot prove, and

their scientific

in the conventional

methods, double-blind, randomized, single element, placebo-

controlled studies are not well-suited for exploring the effects of a holistic, individualized approach to healing. It is

up

to us, patients, practitioners,

and

interested participants, to involve

ourselves in the current revolution in medicine

and

in medical politics.

What

is

Whole Mino

The

24

required

is

not rhetoric, but action

—

positive personal

resulting in long-term changes to our medical system.

lenges facing the "alternative" health care

As we embrace

"alternative medicine." so, too,

movement

and

One

is

political action

of the major chal-

eliminating the words

diversity in ourselves

and

in

our world,

should we embrace diversity in medicine. If medicine was a broad spec-

trum of equally respected "better thans" piled

would not our

The

possibilities for healing, instead

on top of one another with

culture be healthier, wiser,

of a hierarchy of

allopathic medicine

on

top,

and more amply served?

revolution in medical politics also requires changes in legislation, at

Among

the local, state, and federal levels.

the needed legislative changes

is

the

recognition of a wider array of health care practitioners through state licensing

and insurance equity

laws.

These changes would allow consumers

choose the practitioner they want. Additionally,

to freely

legislative efforts are required

to ensure access to holistic practitioners for citizens

dependent on the public

health care system. King County, Washington (which encompasses Seattle),

made

recently

national headlines by being the

first

to have an on-staff naturo-

pathic physician and an acupuncturist in their county public health

More

facility.

public health options like this are needed across the United States

wish to preserve the health and integrity of all of our exist in

Medicare and Social Security,

as these

citizens.

if

we

Challenges also

programs currently do not pay

for the services of even licensed holistic health care providers.

We and an

also face challenges in

private. In

article

our education and research arenas, both public

January 1993, the

(Eisenberg et

al.,

New England Journal of Medicine published

1993) stating that approximately one-third of the

American people used some form of "alternative" medicine each thereafter, the

National Institutes of Health (NIH) established the Office of

Alternative Medicine interest to the

year. Shortly

(OAM),

American

ostensibly to objectively study this area of great

public.

While philosophically an

exciting step, so far

OAM has been disappointing, receiving a tiny, tiny fraction of the overall NIH budget. The OAM has had impact on the delivery of health care in the

little

America, and labeling

The

sadly,

homeopathy

some of the OAM's own

have been quoted

as

which asks each of us

to

scientists

as "silly."

final challenge

is

a personal one, a challenge

explore options other than those offered by mainstream medicine, and to educate ourselves about the

Such

wide variety of health care options we indeed have.

a challenge should be undertaken safely

and

wisely,

but

it is

a journey

An Introduction to the

which

much and

offers

25

Politics of Health Care

well

is

worth pursuing.

The Whole Mind: The Definitive Guide

Mind, Mood, and Emotion

is

to

Complementary Treatments for

a great source to use

when

facing the challenges

of exploring medical options. The Whole Mind represents a fine step in the necessary process of freeing individuals

and shining

on other

clear light

mental health problems often

more vulnerable

will

from the limitations of medical dogma

effective health care options. Individuals

to the medical system,

books on mental health and

with

be especially grateful for this book, as they are

holistic

and because few

medicine

exist today. It

reliable resource is

exciting to see

the abundant possibilities for care and treatment of mental health disorders.

May each reader take something from, and give something back to, this delightful process

HOW

of redefining medicine.

TO LEARN MORE

Coulter,

H.

L.

Divided Legacy: A History ofthe Schism in Medical Thought. The Patterns to Paracelsus. Vol. I. Washington, DC: Center for Empirical

Emerge: Hippocrates Medicine, 1994.

H. L. Divided Legacy: A History ofthe Schism in Medical Thought. The Origins of Modern Western Medicine: J. B. Van Helmont to Claude Bernard. Vol. II. Washington, DC: Wehawken Book Company and Berkeley, CA: North Adantic

Coulter,

Books, 1988.

H. L. Divided Legacy: A History of the Schism in Medical Thought. Volume III. The Conflict Between Homeopathy and the American Medical Association, Second

Coulter,

Edition. Berkeley,

CA: North

Atlantic Books and

Homeopathic Education

Services, 1982.

Coulter,

H.

L.

Divided Legacy: A History ofthe Schism in Medical Thought. Volume PV. CA: North Adantic

Twentieth-Century Medicine: The Bacteriological Era. Berkeley,

Books, 1994. Eisenberg, D. M.; R. C. Kessler; C. Foster;

F.

E. Norlock;

Delbanco, "Unconventional Medicine in the United

and Patterns of Use."

Kuhn, T.

S.

D. R. Calkins; andT.

L.

States: Prevalence, Costs,

New England Journal of'Medicine (1993):

328, 246-52.

The Structure ofScientific Revolutions, Second Edition. Chicago: University

of Chicago

Press,

1970.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR J.

Jamison Starbuck, J.D., N.D., has a practice in family medicine in Missoula,

Montana. At

least

30 percent of her practice

is

devoted to the treatment of

The

26

mental health

issues,

including Attention Deficit Disorder

anxiety,

and eating

icine,

a consulting editor for

is

disorders.

She

also teaches

is

is

a

depression,

homeopathy and botanical med-

1989 graduate of National College of

also a graduate of

Willamette University College of Law, and

Montana and Oregon.

(ADD),

Mind

Time-Life Books, and writes and consults for

various publications nationwide. She

Naturopathic Medicine. She

Whole

is

a

Middlebury College and

member of the

state bars

of

John

L. Stegmaier

A Parent's Perspective on the Politics of

3

When

Mental Health Care

Dr. Bassman invited

long and hard about

it

me

because

to write this chapter,

we knew

personally about our daughter.

We

would tend

inevitably the chapter

that

I

my wife

would have

and

we decided

to

this has

and

were concerned, particularly because

to stress the bizarre, out of control aspects

many

experiences have already benefited

lems like hers and

thought

to talk frankly

of psychosis. In a variety of ways, however, the insights brought by ter's

I

people

who

been a source of satisfaction to

are beset her.

go ahead with the chapter and we hope very

prove useful to patients and parents

my daugh-

On

much

by prob-

that basis,

that

it

will

alike.

JAPAN AND HAWAII Twenty-five years ago, an abrupt personality shift in our youngest daughter

plunged

my wife

that has

dominated our

me

and

ing in Japan, where

I

into a search for solutions to a severe mental illness

lives

ever since.

had long worked

When

in

the problem arose,

government and business. After

thought, and despite a high regard for Japanese medicine,

ful

to take

we were

liv-

care-

we finally decided

our daughter back to the U.S., confident that "a good American psy-

chiatrist"

could

make

her well in no time. Looking back,

we

are

amazed

at the

simple-mindedness of that assumption.

Our daughter was at

14 years old

when

she

first

displayed behaviors sharply

odds with her normally confident, outgoing, achieving ways. Within barely

Whole Mind

The

28

a year, she

her

many

dropped out of two schools, stopped communicating with us and

and retreated into

friends,

a sullen, hostile withdrawal.

interpreted this as just a difficult adjustment to adolescence. to suspect that

we and

that the situation

others were plotting to

demanded

harm

her,

At

When

however,

first

we

she began

we

realized

professional help.

We took our daughter directly from Japan

to Hawaii,

hoping that the mild

climate and relaxed social environment might prove therapeutic. (Before going there,

we had

what was start

ascertained that the psychiatric talent

available

on the mainland.) She did do

— was admitted

to a leading

Nonetheless, she was unable to the

girls'

make

compared favorably with

fairly well in

Hawaii

school and got reasonably good grades.

friends and, instead, repeatedly rebuffed

many schoolmates who tried to make contact with her. She was also

ingly unfriendly toward us

and her

at the

siblings,

increas-

and her angry outbursts often

dis-

turbed the peace and quiet of our home.

One

unforgettable night, she went out of control so badly that

daughter's muscular boyfriend

and

I

were unable to

a bottle into a large wall mirror across the living

to see that this kind of aberrant behavior iological

room. Six years

stemmed from

problems of which we had not been aware —

olism, food

and chemical

malabsorption, ly,

restrain her,

etc.

a

my middle

and she hurled later,

we began

wide variety of phys-

disordered sugar metab-

sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies

and imbalances,

At the time, we simply thought she was acting outrageous-

although our attitude was tempered by nagging doubts, nurtured by the

comments of her counselors and by books on the fault

somehow was

psychiatric subjects, that really

ours for having been "bad parents."

We learned a lot about the horrors of mental in Hawaii,

how devastating it is

for the sick person

ening, and fraught with helplessness

it is

busy highway not

the side of the road.

far

and how bewildering,

at night

More and more

much

At one point, our

and making

delusional, she

to the fascination of the

day, she

neighborhood. About

church for instruction by a young

flirtation

priest.

that she

was up on the roof

I

This brief

this

drove her to a Catholic

with the

ended when she stalked out of a session shouting curses

opposing abortion.

a beeline

became convinced

time she decided to become a nun, and several times

tual life

fright-

from our home, where she would dance wildly along

was the Virgin Mary, and when we came home one acting out the role,

during our three years

for the parents.

daughter took to stealing away from the house to a

illness

at

spiri-

him

for

A

Parent's Perspective on the Politics of Mental Health Care

In the meantime, she

came

to be regarded as hopelessly antisocial at school,

and her grades plummeted even instance, she

had been

so

29

good

in subjects in

which she used

to shine. For

at reading that a previous school

had chosen

her to read aloud before a meeting of the PTA. However, in Hawaii, her ability fell

so drastically that the school

phoned

us

and suggested that she

receive

instruction in remedial reading. Conscious that "problems" were at the root of

our daughter's weird behavior, one young teacher suggested that they have lunch together to discuss

how she might improve

her grades. She accepted the

invitation but specified that she could tolerate only "health foods."

came laden with various goodies of unimpeachable daughter arrived

late,

purity.

gathered had long been her standard fare for lunch at school.

we

learned that milk, sugar, and chocolate were high on the

whenever she

teacher

bearing several chocolate-covered icecream bars, which

we

which she was

The

True to form, our

severely allergic

and

list

(Much

later

of foods to

that could precipitate psychotic

symptoms

ate them.)

Hazards of Life in Paradise Despite

its

impressive charms, Hawaii proved to hold

young lady struggling with

beautiful

many

serious mental problems.

dangers for a

Although she

could not bring herself to reciprocate the overtures of her schoolmates, our daughter

felt

comfortable with

of society in the

noon when side of

drifters,

fiftieth state.

the three of us

One

of our scariest

went swimming

Oahu. Before we could find

away and was immediately

beachcombers, and others on the fringe

at a

a place to settle

lost in the

crowd.

moments came one

after-

crowded beach on the north down, our daughter raced

We went searching for her at top

speed and spotted her in a parked car talking eagerly to the owner, a swarthy

gentleman attractive,

who

spoke English poorly but

who was

radiating delight that this

amiable young lady had popped into his front

We squelched that budding friendship

seat.

on the spot but were

less successful

with the "forever young" smalltime drug dealer and all-around I'll

call

Ronald.

A member

bum whom

of Hawaii's large contingent of ne'er-do-well

Californians, Ronald noticed our daughter one day as she was waiting for a

bus and within minutes asked her for a date that night. She came

home

terri-

bly excited and begged us to drive her to the shopping mall where they had

agreed to meet.

Both of us were strongly opposed

to letting

our daughter go out with a

Whole Mino

The

30

man whom

knew and we had

she barely

we were

never met. At the same time,

we were constantly trying to bring Perplexed, we phoned her counselor and

keenly aware of her profound loneliness; her into contact with other people.

asked

him what he thought we should

things stand,

Without

do.

you overprotect your daughter and

You have

ings of independence

and

order to adjust to

life.

By all means,

be unfair to her."

That friendship flourished

Our

daughter's

self-worth.

let

hesitation,

this

is

very bad for her

to let her 'hurt

her go out on this date.

most perilous pass

he replied, "As

until, mercifully,

and be

To do

much

her counselor kept stressing that she was

independently.

start living

arranged for her to

move

into the

Still

we

and, again at the counselor's urging,

mainland.

When we

returned,

we

1

8 and

too dependent on us (under

awed by

YWCA,

would

they parted.

prevailing psychiatric doctrine, parents are always basically suspect)

she must

hurt' in

less

Hawaii came when she was

in

feel-

and that

psychiatric "experts,"

we

an easy bus ride from her school

left for

a short business trip to the

pieced together a chilling story from our

daughter's disjointed account of what

happened during our absence.

In conscientious assertion of her independence, she set off one day on a

hike up one of the

Asian

man

wooded

hills

overlooking Honolulu. Suddenly, a young

pulled her into the bushes, raped her, and then threatened to

kill

Something, perhaps a subtle compatibility born of our long years in Japan,

her.

enabled her to dissuade him from this and she escaped.

same man raped and murdered another watched with horror tion near the

of mind, she

as the police

YWCA. felt

that

girl in

The

the same area.

Our daughter

brought him in handcuffs to the police

She was doubly troubled because

somehow

very next day, the

in her

sta-

confused state

she had helped to bring about the

young man's

arrest.

A PREEMINENT MENTAL INSTITUTION

When she was just

19,

our daughter suddenly begged us to take her some place

where there were "other people of attitude (previously she had

like

me." Delighted

resisted

at this

unexpected change

any idea of hospitalization), we imme-

diately arranged for her admission to a

Midwestern mental institution with

outstanding credentials, feeling that surely here she would stand the best possible chance

of putting her mental problems behind

As part of the ness

registration process,

manager who was

her.

we had an appointment with

visibly elated to find that

the busi-

our insurance would provide

A

Parent's Perspective on the Politics of Mental Health Care

full

31

coverage for our daughter for an almost unlimited period to come. Because

we were new ignorance,

to the

we

game, the significance of his reaction was importance to the

also attached little

on

lost

us.

In our

fact that the patients, all

of

whom were fed in the cafeteria, were under absolutely no restrictions as to their choice of foods and could eat nothing but apple pie and ice cream to

do

fee,

so. Similarly,

they could smoke cigarettes to their hearts' delight, and cof-

we

cream, and sugar were available to them 24 hours a day. (Later

and tobacco

that caffeine diet

is

they chose

if

are treacherous "no-no's" in

mental

illness

Looking back, we find

critically related to psychosis.)

believe that the organization's top people were

it

learned

and

that

difficult to

unaware of these elementary

facts.

Despite staff,

its

manicured lawns, luxurious buildings, and

beautifully

large

the hospital proved totally incapable of helping our daughter. After nine

months she was chiatrist that

when

sicker than

we were

five years."

first

her group psy-

many of our

patients don't begin to respond to

We didn't doubt the accuracy of his statement, hav-

ing observed several patients

This

we informed

taking her out. Discomfited by our decision, he said,

"But Mr. and Mrs. Stegmaier, our therapy for

she entered, and

who

appeared extremely

ill

after protracted stays.

major hospitalization proved to be only the

start

of a quest that

involved five major hospitals and individual treatment by well over twenty different psychiatrists

and other

Columbia over the next few

specialists in thirteen states

years. In time,

we stopped

and the

District of

expecting them to solve

our daughter's mental problems but continued to hope that someone, some-

why

where, could explain persuasively

of a hospital spokesman

whom we

she was

ill.

(Typical was the

comment

"We

think that

encountered along the way:

psychosis stems from disorders of brain chemistry but that's it.") It

was monstrous that

very well

known mental

momentous Pfeiffer,

this

we know about

purported psychiatric expert, speaking for a

institution, could

discoveries of pioneers

and others were

all

make such

a statement

when

the

likeTheron Randolph, Abram Hoffer, Carl

common knowledge to anyone truly interested in find-

ing answers to serious mental

illness.

THE COLORADO INTERLUDE

To be near our as she

daughter,

was ensconced

enough

extra

money

my wife

and

I

in that high-status

decided to

move

to

Colorado

mental hospital. (In those days

as

soon

we had

to afford adjustments of this kind; eventually, inevitably,

The

32

the illness ate

it all

up,

and more.)

Whole Mind

We settled in the town of Georgetown, popand 45 miles west of Denver.

ulation about 800, at 8,500 feet above sea level

We chose it partly because we felt that it might prove hospitable to our daughter. My wife had roots in the town: her grandfather had owned mines in the and her mother was brought up

area

We were right. Thanks

to a

there.

wonderful principal, our daughter was admit-

ted to the junior class of the high school very late in the year, finished with passing grades, and graduated the next year. She went on school outings, sang in the

church choir, and even had a few friends for the

first

time in years. In

was functioning better in that environment than she had

short, she

time. In light of what

we know now,

it's

clear that the beautiful

for a long

mountain

air,

cleaner than any that she had breathed for a long time, had a lot to do with this.

Even

her condition remained constantly vulnerable to the slightest

so,

provocation.

For instance, despite doing well derailed

and behave atrociously

often stayed indoors

major reason for in

our

this

all

day.

particularly

later learned

information that suggested a

off-gassing formaldehyde

she did well at school in the

the maintenance crew turned

on the

oil

fall

burner.

and other

though she would have

There were other

Berkeley,

first

allergenic

until cold weather

it

chem-

came and

Almost immediately, she

ed so strongly to the minuscule leaks of spent gas that

After that

on weekends when she

was that the building materials and wall-to-wall carpeting

new house were still

icals. Similarly,

school a lot of the time, she would get

home,

at

We

at

react-

looked for a while

as

to drop out.

signs that our daughter's condition

remained precarious.

major hospitalization, we had taken her to a psychotherapist in

CA, where she was

hospitalized for several weeks while receiving his

treatments. (At one point, he had us fly in two of our other three children to participate with the rest of us in his conflicts that his specialty,

was forced

to

he

felt

were

group

at the root

sessions, in

of her mental problems.)

He was good

at

but in the end his "talk therapy" alone proved inadequate and he put her on a low dosage of Haldol (haldoperidol, the widely used

antipsychotic medication).

When we left

home she was on five mg per day, and we did so very gradually. (For

for

but she kept pressing us to reduce the dose

most

hope of resolving family

patients, antipsychotic medications have extremely negative connota-

down

mg per day and

tions.) Eventually,

we

stable at this level.

(Accustomed to prescribing massive dosages of antipsychotic

got

it

to

one

she remained quite

A

Parent's Perspective on the Politics of Mental Health Care

medications, psychiatrists believe try this.

whom we

later told

She then insisted that we drop

it.)

Within one

day, she

it

33

about

entirely

simply refused to

this

and we

finally agreed to

remarked on the plant growing out of her moth-

head and we knew she must go back on the Haldol. Miraculously, she

er's

agreed without a major blowup.

During the two

years that

we

spent in Colorado, our daughter was treated

who

by a variety of practitioners, including an offbeat psychiatrist

prescribed a

moderate dosage of Mellaril (another major antipsychotic). Probably because she was chemically sensitive, as after taking replied,

him

it.

We

we

discovered

much

later,

she collapsed soon

immediately phoned to ask him what to do next and he

"Double the dose."

We

ignored this outrageous advice and never saw

again.

She was

also treated

by a chiropractor

disorders of sugar metabolism.

At the

who

first

claimed to

know

a lot about

appointment, he administered a

glucose tolerance test to her and informed us that the results showed that she

was suffering from chronic, "functional" low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This

was new to us but we soon learned that the problem associated with psychiatric

and even,

in

ommended

some

cases,

that she go

symptoms including

is

common and is often mood changes,

severe fatigue,

mental confusion. To deal with the condition, he

on

rec-

a low-sugar, high-protein diet featuring items like

beefsteak for breakfast. (Later testing showed that she could not eat beef with-

out risking psychotic reactions.) Until

we

learned better,

regimen while struggling to deal with the upsets that

it

we

held her to this

constantly provoked.

OTHER SETTINGS, OTHER HORRORS After two years in Colorado,

we decided

world with our daughter, then 21, cally psychosocial

to

still

audaciously to take a trip around the

assuming that her problems were

and that the stimulations of travel

Japan — might help

to cure her

through the U.K., France, Spain,

mental problems.

Italy,

could cut

it

fest suicidal

no doubt, because the

We

air

visit

proceeded wildly still

on

Athens turned out to be the end of

was so heavy with pollution that you

with a knife. After a couple of days, our daughter began to maniimpulses, and a local psychiatrist

urged that we immediately return to the U.S. for

including a return

and Greece with our daughter

that terribly provocative high-protein diet.

the line partly,

—

basi-

New York.

whom we contacted by phone We were on the morning plane

Whole Mind

The

34

Upon

arrival,

admit her

our daughter was in such a disturbed state that we had to

on Long

to a hospital

Island,

where she remained

for

two months

we stayed in a Manhattan apartment so that we could go out to see her often. To our great surprise, we found her virtually normal one day, better than she had been for years. Not only was she cheerful and sociable, she invit-

while

ed us to play Ping- Pong with her and beat both of us

decisively.

Her

doctor's

personality was basically unfathomable to us, but her dramatic recovery con-

when he instructed that we not come weeks, we agreed without a whimper.

vinced us that he must be a genius, so to see

The

our daughter again for three

next time

so desperately

we went ill

to visit her, however, she

that she was actually banging her head against the wall.

Deeply concerned, we queried the nursing

commented, ther,

we

"It's

was "exquisitely psychotic,"

funny —

staff

about

this

and one of them

she did so well on the water fast." Inquiring fur-

learned that her doctor had quietly taken her off everything but spring

water for a few days and that an unexpected interval of great clarity had

fol-

lowed. Inexplicably, he had then decreed that she could eat anything she wanted,

whereupon she devoured

five or six

lamb chops and rapidly become

extremely psychotic again.

Next we flew our daughter

where she spent nine months and where we detected few

Florida,

progress during several

found her to

visits.

(On one

occasion

in Intensive Care, literally in rags.)

phone the

psychiatrist

Only

slurred.

a day or

to receive a

arrived

signs of

unannounced and

stay

we were allowed

once weekly to discuss her condition, but he proved

two

phone

we

During her

poor communicator. For some reason,

to be a

mayed

to an ostensibly "orthomolecular" hospital in

after returning

call

asking that

his speech

was often noticeably

from one of our

we come down

visits,

we were

dis-

again to discuss what

our daughter would be doing following her discharge. The psychiatrist and

two to

assistants sat us

down and informed

us gravely that she had decided to go

New York to "make it on her own." (She was barely mg of Valium per day at the time.) We suspected

on 40

had cooked up

this appalling

managing

to function

that the three of

scheme and were immensely

relieved

them

when

she

joined the meeting and breezily announced that she would be accompanying us to our

her

stay.

new home just outside Washington, where we had moved during (We decided to do this partly because, still incredibly naive, we

assumed that the National her

illness.)

Institutes

of Health surely would have answers to

A

Parent's Perspective

on the

Mental Health Care

Politics of

35

A REMARKABLE PSYCHIATRIST

When our daughter was 23, we heard about Thomas L. psychiatrist reputed to have patients

by addressing

marked

Stone,

M.D., an

success treating chronically

their physiological disorders. Ever-hopeful,

mental hospital not

talked with a enter the

man and

wife

program a few days

This doctor

is

really

on the

far

from Chicago. While waiting

who had brought before.

their

They beamed,

mental

we immedi-

one of the wards

ately arranged for her admission to his special nine-bed unit in at a large

ill

Illinois

in the lobby,

we

daughter from Florida to

"You're going to be amazed.

right track." It didn't take us long to agree; the

day-to-day occurrences in that unit gave us our

first clear

evidence that psy-

chotic illness results primarily from myriad disorders of the body.

Dr. Stone had originally been a psychoanalyst but turned

when he began

many

cases, his patients' psychotic

from physical ailments, or from exposure

resulted to

to notice that in

which they reacted

allergically.

ably led to a reduction in mental

to foods

symptoms and

in

Exploring further, he perceived that psychosis

and other substances

and

that full success in dealing with

it

demands

many is

it

symptoms

Treatment of such conditions almost

ery.

iological disorders at the root

away from

invari-

cases, to full recov-

multifactorial in nature

aggressive treatment of all phys-

of the condition.

Upon

admission to his pro-

gram, patients went through a battery of tests involving every major organ system and physiological function of the body so that the doctor could devel-

op treatments targeted were done

later as

at their individual needs. In

many cases,

additional tests

he learned more about the strengths and weaknesses of each

patient's physical being.

An food

important aspect of Dr. Stone's diagnostic approach was to identify any

sensitivities that

problems.

might be causing or exacerbating the individual's mental

He began by putting each new patient on

eral days, a

a spring water fast for sev-

procedure that provoked withdrawal symptoms in a few patients,

although most of them recovered rapidly in response to countermeasures such as

intravenous infusions of vitamin C. (Fasting experts report that in most

patients, food deprivation does not begin to least

25

The

produce actual starvation for

at

days.)

majority of patients did well on the spring water

had caused them pain gradually

left their

bodies.

Many

fast as

the toxins that

of them were in better

shape by the third or fourth day than they had been for years. However, some

of them, including our daughter, never fully cleared because,

as

we

discovered

Whole Mind

The

36

they were chemically sensitive and were constantly reacting to the pollut-

later,

ed hospital

air.

As soon

had cleared

as patients

began testing them one food

much

as

at a time,

Stone and his staff

as possible, Dr.

while constantly monitoring them for

pulse rate, skin temperature, blood sugar

level,

and other indicators of physio-

of course, behavior. Whenever patients proved not to be

logical function plus,

allergic to a particular food,

nothing would happen

behavior, remained steady. In contrast, a patient

—

all

indicators, including

would often be

a horrendous psychotic episode within minutes after eating a food to

or she was intolerant. patients to

two

would have

full

Not

which he

infrequently, these reactions were so serious that

and kept

to be clapped into restraints

in isolation for

up

days while they were being detoxified to the offending substance.

Avoidance and neutralization with food and chemical

allergies,

tion or elimination of physical

offer the best

and

in

many

immediate means of dealing

cases,

they bring a rapid reduc-

and mental dysfunction.

entered the program, she tested allergic to

first

of

in the grips

all

When

our daughter

but seven foods. She was

then compelled to eat only those foods and do so rotationally

— once every

four days.

Our and

pital

daughter was under Dr. Stone's care for 13 months, eight in the hosfive in his out-patient clinic, after

mainline psychiatric interests com-

pelled the administration to close his unit.

many nights. One sensitive to

such

cardinal lesson that

sensitivities

run a gamut that includes the stomach and

eat a variety of foods

sensitivities are

on

and

nervous system.

and experience chemical exposures, our

day shortly

may become

after

our

far

daughter received her

the line, joined

arrival,

test serving

some other

become "unmasked"

our daughter was scheduled to

same

room,

cafeteria style.

of Brussels sprouts

as she

went through

patients at one of the tables,

to another part of the dining

test

large

and began

Expecting no problems with such an innocuous-seeming food,

went

allergic

more extreme.

Brussels sprouts at lunch. All patients ate in the

Our

intestines, cardio-

"masked" and are often imperceptible. Once a person has been

his or her reactions

One

is

"target organs" for

joints, and, notably, the central

a spring water fast for a few days, however, the allergies

and

her every day and

learned was that virtually everyone

one or more foods and/or chemicals. However,

vascular system, muscles

As we

we

We were with

room

my wife

to have lunch. After a

our daughter emitted a blood-curdling shriek,

let

to eat.

and

I

few minutes,

go a string of profanity, and

A

Parent's Perspective on the Politics of Mental Health Care

had

just

male

37

time enough to slam her tray against the wall

staff seized her

two days before she

and

led her,

stabilized

still

when two

or three burly

screaming, to the "quiet room."

enough

to

come out and resume

proved totally insensitive to pears, which went on the

list

It

testing.

took

She

of items that she

could eat rotationally without reacting. Incidentally, after several months during which she ate no Brussels sprouts, her sensitivity to so that she

was able

to eat

them

During our 13 months that mental illness

is

them dropped enough

rotationally without reacting.

in Illinois,

we saw

massive, overwhelming proof

rooted in physiological problems: disorders of sugar

metabolism, weakened pancreatic function, nutritional deficiencies, impaired gastrointestinal

liver,

breakdown, hormonal

and dozens of other

insufficiencies,

purely medical conditions.

GETTING THE COLD SHOULDER AT NIMH After returning

home from

Illinois,

my wife

and

I

could hardly wait to report

our eye-opening observations to the National Institute of Mental Health

(NIMH).

We

men who we them

for

1

later learned

like

two bumpkins, buttonholed

were high in the

scientific hierarchy,

a couple of

and regaled

minutes or so about the wondrous things we had seen and learned.

We

fully

our

story. Far

we were

rushed over there

expected them to

from

this,

call

an impromptu meeting of colleagues to hear

they registered complete boredom,

interfering with matters of high importance,

and

made

it

clear that

politely but firmly

showed us the door. It

vast

took us a long time to understand that the

number of others

whom

it

NIMH,

its scientists,

and the

funds in laboratories across the country spend

little

or no time devising solutions to complex pathologies. Instead, the scien-

tists

pursue a severely reductionist, basic science approach under which they

examine small, individual parts of the whole by means of double-blind crossover studies,

This means that ally,

are poorly

illness

and

and

rarely look at the big picture or feel

NIMH and

equipped to

scientific family, individually

its

holistically

to develop realistic, effective

be beyond them, partly because

compelled to do

this

and

examine a phenomenon ways of dealing with

it.

so.

institution-

like

To do

psychotic so

would

would involve myriad components, many

of them not susceptible to double-blind techniques, but also because the main focus of their interest and effort in

mind) rather than

is

to "do science" (with a

to cure disease.

Nobel

Prize always

The

38

Someday

NIMH

may

come

begin to

Whole Mind

to grips with multifactorial illnesses

by stressing "outcomes studies," an alternative technique in medical research downplays double-blind crossover investigations and concentrates on

that

ther-

apeutic results. In the meantime, the laborious, time-consuming double-blind

approach holds up medical progress outrageously, because most practicing physicians do not dare to deviate from "the medical mainline" until

(and the

FDA)

have given the green

light.

Thus, U.S. research

of them without the slightest knowledge of or interest in

immense power

determine

to

if

NIMH many

scientists,

clinical activities,

have

and when the American public can have the

benefit of medical advances, including alternative techniques that have been tested exhaustively

and proven

safe

and sound

in other

advanced nations.

PLAYING GAMES WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES In our peregrinations, chiatrists

my wife

and

I

have encountered more than a few psy-

and other professionals who viewed patients with undisguised

ference, even disdain, particularly those with parents

make and

clinical suggestions.

his

team

daughter 23 it)

at a

One

who

did not hesitate to

of the worst examples was the top psychiatrist

high-powered hospital in the Washington area

mg of Haldol,

who

more than

talk,

five

We arrived shortly after and

mg.

could barely breathe, had great difficulty swal-

When we

lowing, and kept writhing uncontrollably and falling off the bed.

demanded

to see the psychiatrist

answered, "Catatonia."

and asked what he thought was wrong, he

And when we

asked what he thought was the source of

the catatonia, he said, "Anxiety." (Based

we

believed this to

mean

gave our

despite our urgent warning (or perhaps because of

that she could not tolerate

found that she could not

indif-

on our experience with

"anxiety reflecting tensions in the

psychiatrists,

home

caused by

bad parenting.")

Another consequence of the Haldol overdose was that unknown daughter became ultrasensitive to

appointment

for her at the Pfeiffer

it.

Several

months

later

scientist

our

we arranged an

Treatment Center in Naperville,

by former U.S. government research

to us,

IL,

headed

William Walsh, Ph.D., where

she was scheduled to receive highly sophisticated testing and clinical recom-

mendations.

Our

doctor came to the house and gave her a five

mg

had always made her cooperative and compliant later

Our

family

injection of Haldol,

which

plan was to go by car but she balked at leaving.

we were well up

the highway at rush hour

in the past.

when

Twenty minutes

she went into an extremely

39

Parent's Perspective on the Politics of Mental Health Care

A

know where

psychotic state, didn't

open the back door of the

down

Somehow I managed

to reach

and keep her from jumping

I

went

to

Fortunately, a

was able

my wife could

When we

reached a

the police for help,

whereupon she broke away, raced

and headed

rim of a deep abandoned quarry.

phone

across a busy highway,

out.

kept trying to

back and hold

the door lock while easing the car over to the shoulder so

get into the back seat

motel,

car.

who we were, and

she was or

for the

young man saw what was happening, caught up with

to hold her until the police arrived.

(We have

called

on the

her,

and

police for

help countless times and they have never failed us.)

PROBABLE ROOT CAUSE AND TANTALIZING POSSIBILITIES It

took years of study and thought before

our daughter's mental problems

we occupied while

that

was consul general

I

Our daughter was fond of the

for the

in the

and

me

that

garden of the house

Kobe-Osaka

area of Japan.

gardener and often

followed him around, con-

A key item

of his stock-in-trade was a

by the American Embassy. One day termites invaded

variety of pesticides sent

my wife

my wife

dawned on

may have begun

versing in Japanese while he worked.

the house and

it

asked him what could be done about

it.

With

great

aplomb, he replied that he would spray the affected areas with an American termite killer called Chlordane. (Years later

it

was revealed that Chlordane

extremely toxic to humans.) Only a few days afterward, our daughter,

down with

mally enjoyed robust health, came

who

why

nor-

a raging fever. She was rushed to

the hospital, where she was diagnosed with pneumonia. treated her was baffled as to

who

is

she had fallen

ill

The American doctor

and

told

my wife

there

was something mysteriously wrong with her immune system. That bout with

pneumonia proved physical

to be the starting point for a long decline in our daughter's

and mental health that culminated

in the psychosis that has bedeviled

her for a quarter century. If we

had known then what we know now, we would have declared the

house off-limits to Chlordane and to

human

beings.

It's

all

other pesticides not certified as harmless

staggering that simple preventive measures like these

might well have spared our daughter the endure because of psychotic

The most

terrible suffering that she has

had

to

illness.

painful aspect of our daughter's illness has been to watch the

years inexorably slip

by while the

extremely decent young lady goes

life

of this beautiful, intelligent, talented,

down

the drain.

(Now 39,

her greatest desire

The

40

is

marry and have

to

children.)

It

has been

her situation, and those of other patients

we have come

all

more

the

whom we

Whole Mind

difficult for us to bear

have followed over the

to realize that already existing modalities, expertly

com-

bined, could greatly improve patients' prospects of recovery and cure

some

years, as

completely.

HOW

IS

SHE DOING NOW?

For several years our daughter did quite well on Clozaril, one of the antipsychotic medications developed in Europe and

got ahead of the parade by ordering

approved

it.)

At

first

Clozaril

it

seemed

now widely

used in the U.S. (We

from Switzerland long before the

ideal because

it

FDA

dramatically diminished

the extreme paranoia that had severely reduced the scope of our daughter's activities for several years

anyone did or

that

my

wife and

I

of social

Everything

paralysis.

said triggered deep-seated fears as to his or her intentions;

began to show pronounced signs of obsessive-compul-

(OCD). Upon

was one of the side

this

in a state

were constant objects of her suspicion. After a few years on

Clozaril, however, she sive disorder

by keeping her

consulting the latest clinical data,

effects

now mentioned by

we found

the manufacturer.

that

When

a

severe psychotic episode sent our daughter into a brief hospitalization, a coop-

on

erative psychiatrist put her

extremely hazardous to

a different antipsychotic medication. (It

make such

a shift except

because the outcomes are unpredictable.) fairly serious

We

is

under controlled conditions

The change helped somewhat, but

a

OCD persisted.

read that scientists in Israel were treating

amounts of inositol,

a

member of the B-vitamin

OCD effectively with large

family available in any good

health food store. After checking with Dr. William Walsh, mentioned previously,

we began

levels

reported from

giving inositol to our daughter, gradually building Israel.

The

it

up

to the

OCD visibly began to abate and her overall

mental health improved.

We

are not so naive as to expect a single natural substance

to prove the solution to

great

hope now

is

as inositol

our daughter's psychosis. In dealing with such a vexing

problem, however, one has no choice but to keep exploring

Our

such

that inositol,

all possibilities.

combined with other remedies,

will

keep

her manageable until a program becomes available that addresses the clinical, social, vocational,

a

normal

life.

and other

deficits that

now make

it

impossible for her to

live

A

41

Parent's Perspective on the Politics of Mental Health Care

LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS Everything that

by

love dearly,

sionals

and

I

know about mental

and by studying and listening

sionals,

but

we

years.

concerned profes-

experts have written

One

whom we

we would

on the

this

urge readers to check

chapter by consulting what highly qualified

subject.

of the most authoritative, informative books available

Sanity by Sydney Walker psychiatrist

who

III,

M.D.

is

A

Dose of

(1997), a highly experienced practicing

heads the Southern California Psychiatric Institute. Dr.

Walker sternly rebukes

his colleagues for deserting their

ly following the dictates chiatrist's

have

nonprofes-

are just that: deeply interested lay persons lacking in profes-

out the basic points raised in

of the

medical roots and

DSM {Diagnostic and Statistical Manual)

lazi-

a psy-

operating bible, instead of using their professional knowledge to dig

and find out what that basis.

nosed

carefully to

We are fairly well-informed

sional credentials. In the interest of credibility,

on

has been learned

and nonprofessionals, including countless parents with

exchanged information over the

in

illness

under the same roof for a quarter century with a psychotic child whom

living

we

my wife

is

wrong medically with mental

To make

his case, Dr.

as "schizophrenic,"

Walker

patients

and

treating

them

cites countless individuals diag-

"manic depressive,"

etc.,

who

recovered completely

once the physiological problems underlying their mental disorders were diag-

nosed and treated. In selves in this fashion

his view, the failure

amounts

of psychiatrists to conduct them-

to participating in a vast system of misdiagnosis

with the most tragic consequences for patients. In his words, "psychiatric patients

whose

disorders are caused

by tumors,

monal imbalances, or other physical ailments if

will suffer needlessly, or

even

die,

they are simply labeled, drugged, and psychoanalyzed."

Another

excellent

book of this general

Sigren Busick, R.N., Ph.D. (1986). ture, Dr.

in

infections, toxic exposure, hor-

mental

character

Drawing

is 77/

heavily

Not Insane by Bonnie

on the

Busick makes a strong case for broad acceptance of a medical model illness that "carefully searches for physiological

problems which could

cause the behavior in question before assuming the problem origin."

professional litera-

The book

identifies

more than 200

is

physical illnesses

of psychological

and conditions

that can cause or exacerbate mental problems.

Other medical professionals who have written Koranyi, Robert Hall, and Lorrin Koran, instances in

all

in this vein include

Erwin

three of whom report countless

which practitioners have misdiagnosed mental

patients, often

Whole Hind

The

42

disastrously,

by

failing to

examine the physiological

of their

factors at the root

symptoms.

HOW TO LEARN MORE Not Insane.

CO: New

Idea Press, 1986.

Busick, B.

Ill

Walker,

A Dose ofSanity. New York: John Wiley and Sons,

S.

Louisville,

1997.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND THE NEW HOPE PROJECT Mr. Stegmaier received a secondary school

his bachelor's degree

World War

pilot/instructor in

from Harvard University and was

teacher for several years.

Department of State from 1946

II

and

He

served as a military

as a foreign service officer

to 1968.

From 1968

to

of the

1971 he was president

of Encyclopedia Britannica Japan, Inc. and was president of the Well

Mind

Association of Greater Washington, a not-for-profit, all-volunteer educational

and public children

1984-1996.

service organization, during

—

a son

and three daughters

—

all

He and

his wife

have four

but the youngest of whom have

always enjoyed sound mental health.

Mr. Stegmaier Inc.

He and his wife

istic,

and

is

effective

cofounder and president of the

incorporating techniques that

treating psychotic illness

project has an excellent site families across the country

and has

ill

working gainfully

do

not.

The

from dozens of

children have failed to benefit distinctive features will be a

clean, low-rent

in the general area. Parents will be

New Hope

real-

in diagnosing

that

attracted intense interest

whose mentally

program that includes chemically

to play an active role in the

work

and scrupulously avoiding those

from other programs. One of New Hope's most

for graduates

Foundation,

have spent more than a decade working to establish a

new model,

lifelong follow-up

New Hope

program, particularly

housing

encouraged

at the

graduate

level.

New Hope is tentatively scheduled to begin operating in 1998. For details, contact the New Hope Foundation, Inc., Box 201, 3205 Wake Drive, Kensington,

MD 20895, (301) 946-6395.

Stanislav Grof, M.D.

4

Rethinking Basic Assumptions about Psychology and Psychiatry: The Role ofSpirituality and Nonordinary

States

of Consciousness

WHAT ARE NONORDINARY Nonordinary

states

STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS?

of consciousness

(NOSC)

are characterized

by dramatic

perceptual changes, intense and often unusual emotions, profound alterations in

thought processes and behavior, and by a variety of psychosomatic manifes-

tations.

This chapter will focus on research findings in a large and important

subgroup of NOSC that ness"

from the Greek

states,

consciousness

I call

"whole" and

holos, is

"holotropic"

changed, but

is

(literally

trepein,

"oriented toward whole-

"moving toward"). In these

not grossly impaired. All intellectual

functions are intact and the person remains fully oriented.

holotropic experiences

is

The content of

often spiritual or mystical. This state involves

sequences of psychological death and rebirth and a broad spectrum of transpersonal

phenomena, including

the universe, past

life

feelings

experiences,

logical landscapes as described

of oneness with other people, nature, and

and

visions of archetypal beings

and mytho-

by C. G. Jung (1960).

Holotropic experiences can be triggered by various forms of systematic spiritual practice involving meditation, concentration, breathing,

ment

and move-

exercises that are used in different systems of yoga, Vipassana or

Zen

Buddhism, Tibetan Vajrayana, Taoism, Christian mysticism, Sufism, or Cabala. Ancient cultures have brought on these states of mind through chanting,

drumming,

breathing, dancing, fasting, enduring extreme pain,

and

social

Whole Hind

The

44

and sensory

isolation,

and ingesting psychedelic

plants.

Such processes were

important parts of shamanic practices, healing ceremonies, and

rites

of pas-

sage.

Among

modern means of inducing holotropic

the

are psychedelic substances isolated ry,

and powerful

of consciousness

states

from plants or synthesized

in the laborato-

experiential forms of psychotherapy, such as hypnosis, primal

therapy, rebirthing, or holotropic breathwork.

There

are also very effective lab-

oratory techniques for altering consciousness including sensory isolation and

brainwave biofeedback.

Episodes of

NOSC

identifiable cause,

can also occur spontaneously, without any specific

and often against the

will

of the person involved. Since mod-

ern psychiatry does not differentiate between mystical or spiritual states and

mental diseases, people experiencing these are hospitalized,

and

I

and

when

My wife emergencies or psychospiritual crises. We

receive medication to suppress the

refer to these states as spiritual

believe that

states are often labeled psychotic,

symptoms.

properly supported and treated, they can result in a patient's

emotional and psychosomatic healing, positive personality transformation, and consciousness evolution (Grof and Grof, 1989, 1990).

and important

useful

It is

to study

nonordinary

states

of consciousness

because of their great therapeutic potential and because they are a rich source

of revolutionary

new information about

the psyche,

human

nature,

and the

nature of reality.

HOW The

IT

BEGAN

therapeutic use of nonordinary states of consciousness

development

in

Western psychotherapy. Paradoxically,

it is

is

the most recent

also the oldest

form

of healing and can be traced back to the dawn of human history. Shamanism

is

the most ancient religion and healing art of humanity, the roots of which reach far

back into the Paleolithic

versal;

Australia,

The

era.

Shamanism

is

not only ancient,

it is

also uni-

can be found in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia,

it

and Polynesia.

fact that so

many

different cultures

throughout

human

history have

found shamanic techniques useful and relevant suggests that they address the "primal mind"

—

a basic

and primordial aspect of the human psyche that

tran-

scends race, culture, and time. All the cultures, with the exception of the

Rethinking Basic Assumptions about Psychology and Psychiatry

Western industrial

much time and them

to

NOSC in great esteem and have spent

have held

civilization,

effort to

45

develop various ways of inducing them. Societies used

connect with their

deities,

with other dimensions of reality, and with

and

the forces of nature; for healing, for cultivation of extrasensory perception, for artistic inspiration.

nonordinary for

states

both of them

For preindustrial cultures, healing always involves

—

of consciousness

at the

either for the client, for the healer, or

same time.

The history of psychotherapy is

deeply connected with the study of NOSC.

Examples include Franz Mesmer's experiments with "animal magnetism," hypnotic sessions with hysterical patients conducted in Paris by Jean Martin

Nancy by Hippolyte Bernheim and Ambroise Auguste Liebault. Sigmund Freud's early work was inspired by his sessions with a client (Miss Anna O.), who experienced sponta-

Charcot, and the research in hypnosis carried out in

neous episodes of nonordinary

of consciousness. Freud also

states

initially

used

hypnosis to access his patients' unconscious before he radically changed his strategies.

As

a result of this shift,

NOSC

Western psychiatry and psychology do not

(with the exception of dreams) as potential sources of healing or of

valuable information about the

human

psyche, but basically as pathological

phenomena. Michael Harner (1980), an anthropologist and

shaman

see

initiated during field

Western psychiatry nocentric,

in the

Amazonian

seriously biased in at least

which means that

and of reality centric" (a

is

work

it

considers

to be the only correct

its

two

a practicing

jungle, suggests that

significant ways.

It is

own view of the human

one and superior to

all

others.

and observations

of consciousness. Psychiatry's disinterest in holotropic

psyche "cogni-

It is

more accurate word might be "pragmacentric"), meaning

takes into consideration only experiences

eth-

that

it

in the ordinary state

states,

and disregard

for

them, has resulted in a culturally insensitive approach and a tendency to pathologize in

its

own narrow

context

includes the ritual and spiritual

all activities

life

that cannot be understood. This

of ancient and preindustrial cultures and

the entire spiritual history of humanity.

In the 1950s, psychiatrists and psychologists developed

other psychotherapies that emphasize experience rather than start

LSD

therapy and

talk.

This was the

of a movement to reintroduce the therapeutic use of nonordinary

consciousness.

states

of

TheWholeMind

46

IMPLICATIONS OF MODERN CONSCIOUSNESS RESEARCH If

we

systematically study the experiences

NOSC or more specifically,

and observations associated with

holotropic states, this leads inevitably to a radical

and the human psyche, and to new forms of psychiatry, psychology, and psychotherapy. The changes we would have to make in our thinking fall into the following categories: revision of our basic ideas about consciousness

entirely

The Nature of the Human Psyche Traditional academic psychiatry and psychology use a

model

that

is

limit-

ed to biology, postnatal biography, and the Freudian individual unconscious. This model has to be vastly expanded and a created to describe

all

the

phenomena occurring

new model of the psyche must domain

tal

related to the

address two

details

main

in

NOSC. The

areas:

has to be

Specifically, this

first is

the perina-

trauma of birth. Traditional medicine denies that the

child can consciously experience relive various aspects

new map of the psyche

and

recall birth.

However, many people do

of the biological birth process, including photographic

of aspects of the event of which they have no intellectual knowledge.

It

appears that experiential confrontation with birth and death results automatically in a spiritual

opening and discovery of the mystical dimensions of the

psyche and of existence.

The second major domain psyche

is

now known under

that has to be

the

name

added

to the

"transpersonal,"

map of the human

meaning "beyond the

personal" or "transcending the personal." These are experiences that have been

described through the ages in the religious, mystical, and occult literature.

These experiences involve going beyond the usual boundaries of the individual (his

or her

body and ego) and beyond three-dimensional space and

that restrict

perception of the world in the ordinary

American writer and philosopher Alan Watts

linear time

state of consciousness.

The

referred to this restricted range of

perception as the "skin-encapsulated ego." In the ordinary state of consciousness,

we

are separated

the

moon.

in

by a

If we are in Paris,

San Francisco.

of our body

and with

moment.

solid wall, ships

is

all

We

feel

in direct contact

see objects

from which

beyond the horizon, or the other

we cannot

cannot

we cannot

side of

hear what our friends are talking about

the softness of a lambskin unless the surface

with

it.

In addition,

we can

experience vividly

our senses only the events that are happening in the present

We can

recall

the past and anticipate future events or fantasize about

47

Rethinking Basic Assumptions about Psychology and Psychiatry

them; however, these are very different experiences from an immediate and direct experience of the present

moment.

We

are

from our everyday existence and they

tions

relevant.

According

to the

Western science, these

all

are

familiar with these limita-

undoubtedly pragmatically

Newtonian-Cartesian paradigm of traditional

restrictions

and limitations

are absolutely

mandatory

and definitive, since they result from the material nature of the world and are determined by physiological laws of perception. However, modern consciousness research has clearly demonstrated that in transpersonal experiences these

limitations

do not apply and can be transcended. This represents

a critical

challenge not only for psychiatry and psychology, but for the entire philoso-

phy of Western

science.

The Cause of Emotional and Psychosomatic Disorders Emotional and psychosomatic symptoms that are not organic in nature are seen by traditional psychiatry as resulting from traumatic things that happen to us in infancy these

and childhood. Therapeutic work using

symptoms may have

levels.

additional roots

on the

NOSC reveals

perinatal

that

and transpersonal

Thus, for example, somebody suffering from psychogenic asthma can

discover that the underlying biographical material consists of memories of suffocation during a near theria in infancy.

On

drowning accident a deeper level, the

choking in the birth canal, and

its

childhood and an episode of diph-

in

same problem

erly

all

this process

tual opening, personality transformation,

lems are

study of

is

experience of

necessary to allow

When

prop-

can be conducive to healing,

spiri-

it.

and consciousness evolution. The

emergence of symptoms represents not only

The

it is

connected with

life

the layers of problems associated with

understood and supported,

opportunity; this insight

also

deepest root can be a past

being strangled or hanged. To resolve this symptom, oneself to experience

is

a

problem, but also a therapeutic

the basis of most experiential psychotherapies.

NOSC has

revealed that emotional

much more complex than

is

usually

and psychosomatic prob-

assumed and

that their roots reach

incomparably deeper into the psyche. Freud once likened the

human

psyche to

an iceberg, of which only the one-tenth visible above the water surface represents the conscious

mind, while the submerged nine-tenths are the unconscious

realms studied by psychoanalysis. In light of modern consciousness research

(and ancient wisdom of perennial philosophy), say that

all

we can

correct this simile

that Freudian psychoanalysis has discovered about the

and

human

The

48

psyche represents,

at best, the

Whole Mind

exposed part of the iceberg, while vast additional

domains remain hidden under water. In the words of Joseph Campbell, Freud was fishing while

sitting

on

a whale.

The Process of Healing

The

goal in traditional psychotherapies

how

standing as to

the psyche functions

to derive a strategy to "fix" the patients

problem with and

gists

ing

this strategy

psychiatrists

is

to reach an intellectual under-

and why symptoms develop and then

from

this

understanding.

A serious

among

psycholo-

the amazing lack of agreement

is

about these fundamental

issues, resulting in

number of competing schools of psychotherapy. Work with

a very radical alternative: If the experts can not reach agreement,

one's

own

healing intelligence, one's

own

an astonish-

NOSC suggests why

not trust

inner healer. This approach was

first

suggested by C. G. Jung. Jung saw the task of the therapist as helping to establish a

the

dynamic

Self.

The

interaction between the client's conscious ego

and what he

healing then comes from the collective unconscious and

called

it is

guid-

ed by an inner intelligence that surpasses that of any individual therapist or therapeutic school.

NOSC

induces a

The

task of the therapist

full trust,

simply to offer a method that

a psychedelic substance or faster breathing

(e.g.,

tive music), that creates a safe

and with

is

and evoca-

environment, and that supports unconditionally

the spontaneous unfolding of the process. This trust has to

extend even to situations in which the therapist does not understand intellectually

what

is

happening. Healing and resolution can often occur in ways that

transcend rational understanding. In this form of therapy, the therapist the doer, the agent thetic supporter

who

is

is

not

instrumental in the healing process, but a sympa-

and coadventurer. This attitude corresponds with the

meaning of the Greek word

therapeutesr.

original

"attendant or assistant in the healing

process." It

seems appropriate to emphasize a very important and amazing char-

acteristic

to engage

of

NOSC

something

that

and that

invaluable for psychotherapy. These states tend

an "inner radar," automatically bringing into con-

like

sciousness the contents tional charge

is

from the unconscious that have the strongest emo-

are

most psychodynamically

relevant at the time. This

represents a great advantage in comparison with verbal psychotherapy,

where

the client presents a broad array of information of various kinds and the therapist has to decide

what

is

important, what

is

irrelevant,

where the

49

Rethinking Basic Assumptions about Psychology and Psychiatry

client

is

blocking, etc. This automatic selection of relevant topics sponta-

neously leads the process to the perinatal and transpersonal levels of the psyche, domains not recognized and acknowledged in academic psychiatry

and psychology. The Role of Spirituality

From rial

in

Human

Life

the point of view of traditional psychiatry

world represents the only

reality,

and psychology, the mate-

and any form of spiritual

belief

is

seen as

reflecting a lack of education, primitive superstition, magical thinking, or a

regression to infantile patterns of functioning. People

ences of spiritual realities are seen as tion between a mystical experience

ill.

and

of mental disease. In

as manifestations

who

have direct experi-

Western psychiatry makes no distinca psychotic experience,

its

rejection of religion,

and

it

both

sees

does not

dif-

ferentiate primitive folk beliefs or fundamentalists' literal interpretations of scriptures

from sophisticated mystical

phies based

on

traditions

and Eastern

spiritual philoso-

centuries of systematic, introspective exploration of the psyche.

In contrast with the Western attitude that pathologizes the entire spiritual history of humanity, transpersonal psychology seriously studies

and

respects

the entire range of human experience, including perinatal and transpersonal

phenomena.

the psyche that period.

It

the deep

more

It is

also

is

culturally sensitive

universal

honors the

human need

and applicable

spiritual

found

who

to

offers a

any human group and

historical

for transcendental experiences. In this context, spiritual

have experiences of

in the mystical branches

and legitimate human

this

activity.

kind are more open to spirituality

of the great religions or in their monastic orders,

not necessarily in their mainstream organizations. versal, all-embracing,

way of understanding

dimensions of existence and acknowledges

search appears to be an understandable

People

and

It is

spirituality that

is

uni-

and based on personal experience rather than on dogma

or religious scripture.

To prevent confusion and misunderstandings promised many similar discussions, between other

spirituality

realities. It

and

it is

that in the past have

critical to

religion. Spirituality

is

make

com-

a clear distinction

based on direct experiences of

does not necessarily require a special place or a special person

mediating contact with the Divine, although mystics can certainly benefit from spiritual

guidance and a community of fellow seekers. Spirituality involves a

special relationship

between the individual and the cosmos and

is

in its essence

Whole Mind

The

50

a personal

and private

affair.

At the cradle of all great

(perinatal and/or transpersonal) experiences

and even ordinary Buddhist

Pali

followers. All

Canon, the

others are based

on

major

religions are visionary

of their founders, prophets,

spiritual scriptures

saints,

— the Vedas, the

Book of Mormon, and many

Bible, the Koran, the

revelations in holotropic states of consciousness.

CONCLUSION As we have

seen, the observations

challenge to contemporary science.

from

The

NOSC

research represent a serious

results also cause us to

question some

of the more fundamental assumptions about the nature of reality. The observation

I

would

like to use here

pline studying death

people

who

operation.

comes from thanatology,

and dying. There

young

scientific disci-

many well-documented

cases of

experienced clinical death as a result of cardiac arrest during an

At

this time,

they experienced their consciousness detaching from

the body, floating freely above interest.

are

a

They were

it,

and observing

it

from above with detached

able to witness efforts of the medical

detailed, retrospective accounts

of these

activities after

team and to give

they were revived and

They also could accurately describe how many peowho came through which door, what gadgets were brought and out, and how they were used. Michael Sabom (1982), a cardiosurgeon who conducted an intensive study

returned to consciousness. ple were involved, in

of the near-death experiences of his patients, wrote a book summarizing his observations, Recollections ofDeath. His patients, lying

on the operating

table

with their eyes closed and in a state of deep coma, were able afterward to describe in minuscule details the events in the operating room, including the

movements of the

little

hands on the gauges of the medical instruments during

various stages of the resuscitation procedure. In other studies,

many

patients

could describe accurately what was happening in other rooms of the building, or even in remote locations.

were medically blind

And

as a result

there are even observations of persons

who

of organic damage to their optical system. At

the time of their clinical death, they were able to perceive the environment visually

and

in full color.

They

lost their sight again

sciousness, but could give accurate reports about

many other

when

they regained con-

what they had

seen.

There

are

types of transpersonal experiences that present similar critical chal-

lenges to traditional science. However,

the study of near-death experiences

is

I

hope

that the preceding example

sufficient to

from

demonstrate the nature and

Rethinking Basic Assumptions about Psychology and Psychiatry

Many

seriousness of the problems involved.

51

can be

illustrative case histories

in my books (Grof, 1985, 1988, 1992). When confronted with such challenging observations, we have

found

The

choices.

first is to reject

the

new

only two

observations simply because they are

incompatible with the traditional scientific belief system. This involves an arro-

gant assumption that

we

with certainty what

possible

any

there cannot be

context, anyone

bad

is

already

surprises,

who

scientist, a fraud,

know what

and what

but there

approach: people

not.

With

There

who

are

is

It is

accused of being a is

an approach that

fundamentalism and has very

many

historical

little

to

examples of such an

they "knew" there could not be craters on the moon; those

who

who

fought against

called Einstein a psychotic

when he

of relativity.

his special theory

The second

tell

kind of approach,

refused to look into Galileo Galilei's telescope because

the atomic theory of chemistry; those

proposed

and can

also very little real progress. In this

is

or a mentally deranged person. This

science.

like

is

this

brings critically challenging data

characterizes pseudoscience or scientistic

do with genuine

is

the universe

reaction to such observations

is

characteristic of true science.

excitement about and intense interest in such anomalies combined with occurred

when

the leading paradigm was seriously challenged and failed to account for

some

healthy

skepticism.

critical

Major

scientific progress has always

significant findings. In the history of science, field for

some

ridiculing the

time,

and

are replaced

by new ones.

new observations, we would

tunity and conduct our

own

study to

test

the reports were accurate. At that point,

thing very different from what industrial culture believes.

It

we were

would

paradigms

also

consider

arrive,

If instead

them an

of rejecting and

interesting oppor-

them, we might very

we would

dominate the

likely find that

realize that

we

are

some-

taught and from what the Western

become

clear that materialistic science

has an incomplete and inadequate image of reality, and that

its

ideas about the

nature of consciousness and the relationship between consciousness and mat-

must be

ter (particularly the brain)

radically revised.

We would

literally find

ourselves in a different universe. It is

hard to imagine that Western academic science will continue indefi-

nitely to ignore

in the study data. its

all

the challenging evidence that has already been accumulated

of various forms of holotropic

Sooner or

later

it

will

far-reaching theoretical

states, as well as

be necessary to face

and

this

new

practical consequences. It

the influx of new

evidence and accept is

my firm

belief that

we

Whole Mind

Ihe

52

are rapidly

approaching a point when transpersonal psychology and the

work with nonordinary

new

scientific

HOW

of consciousness

states

paradigm of the

will

become

integral parts

of a

future.

TO LEARN MORE

R

Alexander,

"Buddhist Training

as Artificial

Catatonia." Psychoanalyst 18 (1931):

129.

Grof, C. and S. Grof. The Stormy Search for the Grof,

S.

Self.

Los Angeles:

SUNY Press,

The Adventure ofSelfDiscovery. Albany, NY:

Grof, S. Beyond the Brain. Albany,

NY:

SUNY Press,

J. P.

Tarcher, 1990.

1988.

1985.

Grof, S. and H. Z. Bennett. The Holotropic Mind. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco,

1992. Grof,

S.

and C. Grof,

Grof,

S.

Realms of the

Harner,

eds. Spiritual Emergencies.

Human

Unconscious.

Los Angeles:

New York:

Viking

J. P.

Tarcher, 1989.

Press,

M. The Way of the Shaman. New York: Harper and Row,

1975.

1980.

Jung, C. G. "The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious." Collected Works, Bollingen Series XX. vol. 9.1. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1960. Perls, F.

The Gestalt Approach and Eye-Witness

to

Therapy.

New York: Bantam

Books,

1976. Ring, K. Heading Toward Omega.

New York:

Sabom, M.

New York: Simon

Talbot,

Recollections

ofDeath.

M. The Holographic

Universe.

William Morrow and Co., 1984.

and Schuster, 1982.

San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1991.

Wasson, G., A. Hofmann, and C.A.P. Ruck. The Road to of the Mysteries. Wilber, K.

New York:

Harcourt Brace

A Sociable God. New York:

& Co.,

Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret

1978.

McGraw-Hill, 1982.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stanislav Grof,

M.D.,

is

a psychiatrist

and professor of psychology

California Institute of Integral Studies with

more than 40

at the

years of research

He was born and educated M.D. from Prague's Charles

experience in nonordinary states of consciousness. in Prague, Czechoslovakia,

and received an

University of Medicine and a Ph.D. from the Czechoslovak Sciences.

He

University,

Academy of

has served as a clinical and research fellow at Johns Hopkins

and has conducted research on psychedelics

Hospital in Baltimore,

MD.

In 1969 he

at

Spring Grove State

became chief of psychiatric

research at

Rethinking Basic Assumptions about Psychology and Psychiatry

53

the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center and assistant professor of psychiatry at

Henry Phipps

Clinic,

where he continued

apy for neurotics, terminal cancer patients,

moved

to California

and became

his research

with psychedelic ther-

and substance

abusers. In

1973 he

a scholar in residence at the Esalen Institute

in Big

Sun Since that time, he has focused on exploring the potential of experi-

ential

psychotherapy without drugs, in addition to writing and conducting

He was Association. He

seminars worldwide.

the founding president of the International

Transpersonal

has published

fessional journals

and

is

more than ninety papers

the author of numerous books.

in pro-

PART

2

The Complementary Healing Modalities

Joan Arnold

The Alexander Technique

CT

WHAT

IS

THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE?

The Alexander Technique® is a mental practice that focuses on improving movement to achieve optimal health for body and mind. Our movement expresses who we are, how we feel about ourselves, and how we relate to others. Each of us has an individual movement pattern. Posture, like a still photograph of the way we move, reflects much about our emotional state, how we expect to be treated, and how comfortably we approach a new challenge. On a purely physical level, the technique's basic tenet is that, when the neck

is

not overworked, the head can poise lightly at the top of the spine. That

delicate poise sparks the body's antigravity response, a postural reflex that invites the spine to lengthen, rather than compress, as

the technique to capitalize

we move.

We

can use

on the body's inherent support system, enhancing

our sense of ease and pleasure in movement.

Though peeling

the technique does not address the psyche directly, the process of

away habitual tensions often

One of my clients

reveals their underlying

described his Alexander

psychotherapy: examining his

work

emotional

as the physical equivalent

own outdated assumptions about

Alexander teachers are not psychotherapists, but the work deeply tudes and emotional states. For example,

it

logic.

of

his body.

affects atti-

can help people with a wide range of

problems, including anxiety, depression, performance anxiety, addiction to food, alcohol or drugs, sexual abuse, and the despair associated with chronic pain.

Whole Mind

The

58

You can use the Alexander Technique

to

complement

main-

a physician's

stream treatment. If you are taking medication for a psychiatric disorder, the technique will not counteract

its

positive effects,

enable you to reduce your dosage.

It is

and

its

calming influence

also a particularly

may

good complement

to

psychotherapy.

The Alexander Technique in that

you have

hands,

elicits

is

similar to approaches such as massage or reiki,

a private session with a skilled practitioner

your body's capacity to integrate and

who, through the acupuncture and

heal. Like

therapeutic touch, the technique can help resolve a wide range of symptoms by

bringing your whole system into better balance. But are

it is

different in that

you

an active participant, learning to notice and undo unconscious habits that

get in your way. Learning the technique can also

improve your receptivity to

other forms of bodywork.

Like biofeedback, the technique helps you change your inner

state, replac-

ing a mechanical beep with the teacher's verbal and tactile cues. Both aim to train

that

your internal monitoring system, making your senses more

you can modulate your own

stress level.

The technique

of yoga, T'ai Chi, meditation, or prayer in that

on your own

mony and

that aligns

aliveness.

you with

But

approach to movement, a

do something

HOW

IT

not a

it is

set

it is

reliable so

echoes the effects

something you learn

to

do

universal forces, inducing a feeling of harset

of exercises or postures. Rather,

it is

of guiding thoughts that you keep in mind

as

an

you

else.

BEGAN

Frederic Mathias Alexander (1869-1955) was an 18-year-old Shakespearean

actor

when he was plagued by chronic

hoarseness.

audience, he sometimes lost his voice completely. to correct the problem,

his vocal troubles.

He

and he began set

up

to look at

While on

stage before an

A doctor's treatment failed

what he was doing

to

provoke

a three-way mirror to observe himself,

and he

noticed that every time he began to speak, he tightened the muscles in the back

of his neck, pressure

lifted his chin,

on the spine

Changing

and

tilted his

head back and down. The resulting

and shortened

restricted his breathing

this habit

proved surprisingly

mentation revealed that "inhibiting"

difficult.

his stature.

Many

hours of experi-

— stopping the habit — was

useful than trying to correct the habit. His

far

more

whole concept of correctness was

untrustworthy, based on years of faulty habits. Alexander discovered that

59

The Alexander Technique

work was not

deliberate muscular

He

he called "directing." his overanxiety to

tivity lessened.

found that

his ability to

do

so.

his goal,

He was

known

His voice and body worked

He

much more

becoming the

easily,

could do more, he found, by doing

less.

how

to restore his voice

for his mellifluous voice.

found that

out, he

and enrich

As he taught

his stage presence. his

method

to those

He became who

sought

resolved a wide range of symptoms. His students'

it

overall health improved. Polio victims regained their balance, recovered

movement

of their

and

range,

disabled. People

felt far less

awkwardness, stuttering, or stage fright overcame their

ued

to teach his technique in

1955

at the age

Among

England and the United

who

suffered

difficulties.

He

more from

contin-

States until his death in

of 86.

those

who

have studied the technique are Jacqueline Kennedy

Onassis, Paul McCartney, Mario

Mary

try-

the end of Alexander's nine-year odyssey of self-observation, he had dis-

covered

him

he was too concerned with

he focused on the process rather than the goal, his overac-

expressive tools he yearned for.

By

if

perform well interfered with

When

ing too hard.

also

envisioning an activity, what

as effective as

Steenburgen, Paul

Thomas, Kevin

Kline, James Earl Jones, Sting,

Newman, and Joanne Woodward. Today

there are

2,500 Alexander Technique teachers throughout the world and 700 in the United

States.

They

offer their students a

that Alexander articulated:

We

begin

lessly

this in

young

They have

children.

balance their large heads on

When

They

cry.

life's

challenges.

naturally erect spines

They walk and

necks.

little

are also spontaneously expressive.

they are hurt, they

They become all

beneath, waiting to unfold.

with a body exquisitely designed to meet

life

regal posture. feel.

is

WORKS

IT

can see

to apply the important principle

When we stop the fear reaction that drives our hold-

ing patterns, a harmonious organism

HOW

way

When

and can

You

effort-

play, often

with

They know how they

they want something, they grab

enraged, and then suddenly,

it's

over. Barring birth defects,

it.

we

began that way.

Over the explore.

loom

We spend

larger,

internal cues.

around

years,

us,

we

lose

some of that

more time

in shoes

and the voices of parents,

poise

and

and immediacy, that freedom

chairs.

The

to

expectations of others

teachers, or peers

may drown

out our

We learn which behaviors and emotions are unacceptable to those

and learn

to control them.

But suppressing a genuine response takes

Whole Mind

The

60

may

effort.

Unspoken

pelvis.

Since muscular tension also serves as an anesthetic,

when

or rage

feelings

trauma or

a

lodge in a tight jaw, injured sexuality in a tight

loss

is

too painful to bear.

incident or the cumulative assaults so

common

sues continue to register unresolved conflicts

become

in

and

Technique assumes that by stripping away harmful

When reflex

one

feels

marked by

you heard

much

threatened, the

a tight

or

But once the danger

flee.

Chronic restabilize.

may be

stress

We

occurs

is

past,

the body's

fears.

actions.

habits,

tis-

They can

The Alexander

we can

restore the

—

a fear

If while reading this

book,

into the startle pattern

you would automatically

startle pattern. Vigilant for danger,

lives,

of our original poise.

body goes

neck and contracted body.

a deafening crack,

our

all

and childhood

limiting habits that infiltrate our thoughts

accuracy of our responses and

we hold back tears Whether from a single

react like a cat with the

your body would compress, ready to fight

you should return

when muscles

to a neutral state.

stay contracted

continue to respond with

life

and the body does not

or death alarm to a threat that

long gone. If we are braced in a perpetual state of anxiety and

An

fear,

what

began

as

an adaptive instinct becomes a prison.

makes

it

impossible to give in to gravity and benefit from the natural opposi-

tional force that lies

in a strong,

external shell of tension

makes flowing, graceful coordination

possible. Real strength

connected center. Paradoxically, we must

go to be better

let

supported.

We do not live in an ideal world.

Irrevocable change, pain,

of existence. But by restoring resiliency in body and mind, resources sleeping within us, the fullness of our

own

and find

satisfaction in

and

loss are part

we can awaken

going through

life

the

with

experience intact.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Like

many

alternative approaches, the Alexander Technique's beneficial effects

are primarily recovery.

shown by anecdotal evidence

—

However, a growing number of studies

of touch, meditation, energy exchange, and

people's stories of their attest to the beneficial

stress

reduction

—

all

own

impact

of which are

part of the Alexander Technique.

Research increasingly shows that most diseases and chronic conditions are stress-induced.

Kenneth

Pelletier,

M.D., of the Stanford Center

Disease Prevention, wrote in Mind/Body Medicine: Better Health.

How to

for Research in

Use Your Mind for

Goleman and Gurin (1993) "A 1992 review of stress and

disease

61

The Alexander Technique

from two physicians, researchers the role

National Institutes of Health, noted

at the

of stress in a wide array of psychiatric disorders, autoimmune diseases,

coronary heart disease, functional disorders of the intestinal

and

a range of other medical

and psychological

tract,

chronic pain,

disorders."

Studies of stress reduction techniques have verified their value over.

The Alexander Technique

—

fear response

many

times

helps to reduce stress by inhibiting the body's

the startle pattern

—

thus raising the baseline of physical and

mental health. In the 1950s, Dr. Wilfred Barlow, a British physician

M. Alexander and became demonstrated

its

a teacher

studied with

F.

of his technique, conducted studies that

effects (Barlow, 1952).

He photographed

lyzed their posture with a scale of postural faults,

The

who

participants, ana-

and measured

their progress.

control group of forty- four students at London's Central School of Speech

and Drama did not receive Alexander lessons, but were given exercises their posture.

Their number of postural

faults actually rose,

to

improve

from an average of

nine before the exercises to ten afterward. The forty students at the Royal College

of Music in London

who

did receive Alexander lessons increased their height

and shoulder width and reduced

their

number of postural faults from ten to

five.

Their teachers noticed that the students became easier to teach, improved their singing and acting

ability,

Performance anxiety effectiveness

and became more psychologically balanced.

is

something we

all

contend with

at times. It

can block

whether we face an audience, a classroom, a business meeting, a

social occasion, or

an empty page. To modulate performance anxiety, profes-

sional musicians increasingly take drugs, especially beta-blockers. Chris

Stevens, a physiologist

and Alexander

teacher, collaborated with

physicians on a study of thirty-nine

Orchestra in

Denmark

members of

the Aarhus

two Danish

Symphony

(Stevens, 1994). For eight weeks, three groups of per-

formers each used a different stress-reducing alternative: beta-blockers, exercise,

or the Alexander Technique.

To determine

stress level in a test concert,

changes in heart rate and blood pressure were measured. Results showed that the Alexander Technique was

more

effective than exercise

and

as effective as

beta-blockers in reducing performance anxiety.

In a 1988 study published in Holistic Medicine (Fisher, 1988), participants in a multidisciplinary pain

management program were interviewed about

preferred approach. Patients rated the technique as the

method of managing

their pain.

their

most highly valued

TheWholeMind

62

REAL PEOPLE AND THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE

When

Linda came for her

that she

peted

first

Alexander lesson, her

floor. Several

walk on pavement

months

before, she

in a thin pair

had bruised her

much

hurt so

feet

was reluctant to walk barefoot a few steps across the

studio's car-

feet

on

a long

of boots. Though her physician said they

had healed, the tenderness continued and she could no longer distinguish between the original injury and her

own

reaction to

it.

Mystified and

frightened by the pain, she was concerned that her range of function was

narrowing. She longed to dance and exercise again. At age 38, Linda was recuperating from a miscarriage six for chronic depression, she

months

before. Since taking Prozac

had gained 25 pounds. She was plagued by

frequent bouts of despair as she juggled career

demands with

the needs of

her husband and energetic six-year-old daughter. As a successful attorney, direct confrontation 1

996, her

is

part of her job. But

movement had

when

met her

I

In her first few lessons, Linda thought that she

onto a stool to reach the bodywork

table.

was superfluous.

about their bodies, and say things

head

Many

like,

will fall off," or "If I don't grip

patterns are based

on

had to step up

my suggestion, she leaned When she did so easily, she

students have irrational fears

"I'm afraid

my legs,

beliefs established

first

At

against the tables edge to swing her legs up. realized the stool

in January

a fragile, tentative look.

I'll

my neck go, my my balance." Our

if I let

lose

sometime

in the past. Linda

traced her fearfulness to her mother's dramatic reaction to any physical

problem, whether mild or severe. She seemed afraid to beneath her

When pulled

feet

—

she was on the table, her feet floor.

felt tight, as if

As she learned

to notice

she customarily

and

saw that her foot pain was not a condition from

source, but linked to her pattern.

and she complained of pain her,

in her

with words and touch, to

tance. "I don't

ground

literally.

them up from the

pull, she

trust the

want

to

open

let

Her hands had arms and

a similar taut quality,

wrists.

When

her palms open, she

my hands,"

release that

a mysterious

she mused,

I

encouraged

her

own

resis-

making

tight

fists.

felt

63

The Alexander Technique

me then

She told

that

when

so often that they bled.

she was seven years old, she washed her hands

Though

this

behavior was diagnosed later as obses-

sive-compulsive disorder, at the time her mother told her, "That's just a

phase that children go through." While a splinter in Linda's foot provoked

high drama, her compulsive hand-washing caused barely a ripple. Her

hands became scaly and ragged,

ashamed and

To "I

them."

this extraordinary story,

guess so," Linda said

makes

me

me.

I

If

tried to hide

feel

I

don't talk about

said,

softly.

when you

strange

it, it's

"You've been through a lot."

And

saved her

tern,

not

its

life.

then, in a surge of emotion, "It

say that.

not that

I

real,

Linda had been in psychotherapy for felt,

1

guess

we

concrete for

it

not that bad."

woman who,

— which addressed

— provided something unique. As she

uncurl, the childhood feeling of withdrawn dren,

makes

it

5 years with a

Yet the Alexander lesson

origins

was

"like alligator skin," she said. "I

shame

let

she

the pat-

her hands

resurfaced.

As

chil-

muffle some of our genuine responses to survive in our families,

but the original feelings endure within

us.

My empathy sharpened her

sense of the sadness, shame, and loneliness of those years. In therapy she

had learned the value of allowing, not denying, such the insight gleaned from her Alexander reciprocity of the

work

two approaches continues

feelings,

and brought

to her psychotherapist.

The

to enrich her explorations.

After 5 months, Linda's foot pain dissolved almost completely. She

wears cushioned shoes, but easily walks barefoot across the

floor.

After

woman

10 months of Alexander study,

this basically healthy, energetic

works out

Her increased sense of control over her

several times a week.

body has quieted her

lifelong fear of illness.

some of the breathing pressant ful,

practices she has learned.

She

still

and wresdes with her personal demons. Her

but she enjoys

freer to

She has taught her daughter

it

more. With

less fear

takes an antide-

life is just as stress-

and more confidence, she

is

move.

In 1993, Frank

woke up one morning unable

to

lift

his head.

Getting

out of bed became a complicated, excruciating procedure to avoid the

Whole Mind

The

64

stabbing pain in his neck.

He

made

asked what event might have triggered this attack. That question

Frank

reflect

worked

as

recalled.

on the

deteriorating atmosphere in his office,

"You couldn't turn your back because you could never

some

relief.

problem returned. Anti-inflammatory medication was effects. Still,

really got bad,

I

who

tell

Several days after his physician pressed hard

it."

into the offending muscles, Frank experienced

it

where he had

an administrator for 12 years. "Things were just horrid," he

might plunge a knife into

were side

who

consulted with a family practitioner,

But

later the

helpful, but there

he always carried his bottle of pills, "just in

would take them."

A

case. If

active 61 -year-old, he couldn't

fit,

jog because of the pain.

When Frank came for AJexander lessons beginning in July began to see

how

"the tension

and the way

this terrible pain." After six lessons, pletely. "I still

how to

have achiness, but

reduce the tension in

the anti-inflammatories, and

carried myself were causing

I

he eliminated the tension almost com-

it's

a lot better," he said. "If I can learn

my muscles,

Now that it's under my control,

then the pain doesn't progress.

I'm not afraid of it anymore."

many times during

method of sensing his inner state and readjusting. and remember

to loosen up, stand erect, let

bending my knees more. Every time I get up

There was

also a shift in his

up

straight ...

I

"I notice

fat

.

.

.

is

off

new

I'm a little tight

my shoulders go,

to

He

a day, he uses his

and walk

move, I'm more conscious."

body image. Many people

of self-loathing or another: "I'm too lazy to stand

1996, he

too thin

.

.

.

suffer

one kind

too old

.

.

.

too

walk like a duck." But such judgments don't

encourage progress. Offering a more generous, constructive internal voice,

an Alexander teacher ing the student's

an environment of support, while recogniz-

full responsibility for

After Frank's 4 I'd

creates

stand up, you'd put one hand on

self-conscious about. But vice

of doing your work.

my body."

change.

months of study, he said of our lessons: "Often when

I

it

didn't

my

stomach

— an

seem to bother you

area I'm very

at all, in the ser-

got the feeling of your complete acceptance of

65

The Alexander Technique

came

Rachel, an athletic 35-year-old corporate training coordinator, the technique to relieve the pain in her right shoulder. But the to

something deeper. Early on,

one evidence of tension

work

to

led

my touch elicited muscular tremors in her, Rachel found herself crying often and

release.

writing in her journal, returning to emotional issues she had examined in

her 10 years of psychotherapy.

When er,

she was

1 1

years old, Rachel

winning tournaments and

ents discouraged her

relishing the game's challenge.

from becoming a

her fathers unfulfilled desire to response to her success.

was shaken beginning

professional.

become

Though at

was already a talented tennis play-

She

worst was the

when

crowd was watching.

absolutely horrible.

I

work

I

her

was playing

started crying

I

Tm outta here.'

if

life

were

I

well,

athlete

—

ment.

I

I

this intense fear. I'd

in danger, she froze. I

was 29.

"The

A big

but suddenly a wave of panic

and could barely

stopped playing for a while

hit the ball. It

after that.

I

was

thought,

'

knew nothing of Rachel's performance together.

on

the pressure was

of a major mixed doubles event when

finals

came over me.

As

that

she pursued her passion, her confidence

age 13. Sometimes,

lose the point."

now believes

musician engendered his dark

a

during a game, "my whole body would tighten with

choke and

But her par-

Noting her awkwardness

—

anxiety

when we began our

surprising in an accomplished

encouraged her to decompress her spine and expand in move-

how

helped her relearn

force through her

to

whole body, not

improve her swing, distributing

just the shoulder. After 3

its

months, her

shoulder pain vanished. Her muscular tremors lasted for more than 6

months and gradually stopped.

ment

skills

Now Rachel continues to refine her move-

both on and off the court, and has radically altered her play-

ing style.

When story, it

she recently

was the

first

won

time

I

a doubles

match and excitedly told

"During

a panic attack," she said, "I used to think,

Now

this

downward

'Uh oh.

I

made

only get worse. I'm about to embarrass myself.'

spiral,

the

heard the history of her anxiety episodes.

mistake.

it'll

me

"

a

In

her mistake became an indictment. Rather than

staying in the present with

all its

inherent possibilities, she imagined

The

66

Whole Mind

catastrophe in the future. But as Rachel learned the technique, she used her

new way of thinking in activity to still her fear response. Then she could

be in the moment, said, "instead

free

of paralyzing judgments. "In

of freaking out about a mistake,

reminding myself that

I

this last

game," she

stayed calm and focused,

my body really knows what to do."

Learning to

inhibit her body's fear reaction restored the relaxed focus that encourages success.

Though panic still occasionally troubles

now supersedes her fear of losing. ments," she said, "but then

of challenge

could always give up playing tourna-

"I

be bored.

I'd

her, her love

It's

the competition that makes

me stretch and play my best game. That's what keeps it interesting."

Though

the Alexander Technique works through simple, accessible prin-

human

ciples, its applications are as varied as

experience.

Whether

the result-

ing changes are quick and direct, or slow and subtle, the technique's rich ideas

continue to resonate through ourselves

and each

other.

all

our

With

all

informing our understanding of

efforts,

the complexity and difficulty of being

human, we can use the technique on the path

to integration, each in

our

own

way.

WHAT TO EXPECT Though

the Alexander Technique has therapeutic benefits,

educational method. lesson;

and the

to a

primarily an

called a teacher; the private session, a

is

Students can be at any functional

Most

the wheelchair-bound.

home

from injury or

practitioner

client, a student.

elite athletes to

some go

The

it is

or hospital to

work with

teachers

work

level,

from

in an office, but

the dying or those recuperating

surgery.

An Alexander lesson is an opportunity to unwind and observe how your mind and body work. From the teacher you get focused, sympathetic coaching on how to use your increased awareness to calm your system and raise your level

of functioning.

a chair,

bodywork

allows free

A teaching studio

table,

is

usually a low-tech environment with

and mirror. You wear

movement of the arms and

legs.

or goal brings you there and what you

loose, comfortable clothing that

The

would

teacher

may ask what problem

like to achieve

through your

The Alexander Technique

67

Alexander work. You also might discuss other relevant information, such

as

your medical history,

how

you

active or sedentary

and what your

are,

life

demands of you.

Though

every lesson reiterates the same principles, each one

ent. Similarly, all practitioners teach the styles.

ing,

The

teacher will observe

and walking

— and

same

is

a bit differ-

principles, but with varying

you doing simple actions

help you learn to notice your

—

like sitting, stand-

movement pattern. Some

students hold themselves up in a rigid posture; others pull themselves into a slump.

Some

and anxious," or

"I

say, "I

hate the

way

have a bad back."

tern connects with your concerns

I

The

how your patyourself in a new way by

teacher can explain

and helps you

own movement

guiding you to watch your

down

walk," or "I'm always uncomfortable

see

in the mirror.

To demystify

the

workings of the body, you might look

at a

ton. Appreciating the elements of your

neuromuscular design helps you under-

stand

how

to attain

more

ease

and

muscle chart and miniature skele-

effortless support. Part

opportunity to release accumulated tension. While you

and

for example, the teacher fluid stride, while self.

spirit

clothed on the table to encourage

the vehicle to improve your functioning.

As you walk,

the teacher gently

more

may use touch

fully.

to give

a chair, the teacher

sion in your neck, release

—

an

you the

feeling of a lighter,

more

encouraging you to direct and engender that fluidity in your-

As you get up from

activities

is

moves your limbs

settle into a restful state,

expansion, helping you to breathe

Movement becomes

lie

of the session

it,

writing, speaking,

of observation

capacity for efficient

as

might ask you

to notice

compres-

and envision your spine lengthening. Ordinary washing dishes

— then become imbued with

a

you explore your tendencies and discover your own

movement.

Alexander teachers practice a unique touch. Placing their hands gently on the head, torso, or limbs, they can sense your body's imbalances and tense areas.

This light touch does not intrude or manipulate, but invites your muscles to lengthen, suggesting a freer

way

to

move. Such a

release

may

you sense how much you have been holding. This touch the teacher's thought, informing ipate.

you how

to direct,

and

is

be the

also a

inviting

you

Such experiences then become reference points, memories to

you have

left

the studio.

The

first

time

conduit for to partic-

call

on once

next day, you might catch yourself hunched over

your computer or unnecessarily gripping a coffee cup, and remember that you can breathe, lengthen, and streamline your

efforts.

As time goes on, you

The

68

improve your replicate

Whole Mino

an idea or a sensation from your lesson and to

ability to recall

it.

The Alexander touch

often evokes a feeling of relaxation. But unraveling

tensions can also expose held emotions.

When

a student suddenly recalls a sup-

memory or bursts into tears, the teacher can offer a sympathetand may invite you to talk about your experience. Though this can

pressed painful ic

presence

open

a door to further insight,

who

pist

one way

it is

best to have the support of a psychothera-

can address the issues involved more to

unwind

fully. Still,

the body's emotional holding patterns.

The Alexander Technique

is

a

skill

—

like

speaking French, playing tennis,

or playing the piano. If you are intrigued by your it, it is

the technique offers

first

lesson

and decide

best to give your initial study three to six months, attending regularly

once or twice a week. Lessons are generally 45 minutes long, with sions

up

to an hour.

Many students

after their first lesson. It

you

to try

realized

about

begin applying their

initial ses-

new understanding

can be liberating to find that you have more choice than

how you

look and

feel.

Some

experience pain relief and

may take six months to a year to reverse the adverse effects of lifelong habits. Some students take lessons for several years, continuing to deepen their understanding. Your choice will depend on how serious your problem is, your available time and resources, and your interest. Many greater ease immediately; others

students solve the problem that fascinated

The is

first

drove them to study, and then continue,

by the process of removing inner obstructions and refining

success of the

work depends on how you use what you

their skills.

learn.

The

goal

not to make you depend on the teacher, but to train you to find greater com-

fort,

confidence, and peace in

Technique

your interactions. Given time, the Alexander

offers a gentle mindfulness, a

throughout your

HOW TO

all

way

to

work on yourself each

day,

life.

FIND A PRACTITIONER

NASTAT — The

North American Society of Teachers of the Alexander

Technique. All members have completed a three-year, 1,600-hour course of training.

To

find a teacher in your area, call (800) 473-0620.

Personal referral

— Ask acquaintances who have studied

about their experiences and their teacher's teacher's qualifications.

style

the technique

and emphasis. Verify the

The Alexander Technique

69

Professional referral

—

If your physician or

mental health professional

is

not familiar with the Alexander Technique, consult an alternative practitioner or a directory of holistic health services. Institutions

— Continuing education programs,

college performing arts

departments, wellness programs, or pain clinics are potential referral sources.

Some sponsor

introductory Alexander Technique group

Find an instructor whose personality

come from

a variety

of backgrounds that

is

will

classes.

Alexander teachers

right for you.

be reflected in their work.

Though

the technique's principles are consistent and the practitioners are exceptionally

and degrees of

well-trained, individuals have different styles

interest in the

work's psychological aspects. Lessons will vary from a half hour to a

and

cost

from $30

to $100.

When

full

hour,

speaking to prospective teachers, you might

inquire:

Where

they studied and the

About other

areas

number of years they have been

of expertise, such

Whether they have experience About

fee, location,

HOW

TO LEARN MORE

For a

free catalog

schedule,

as physical

in dealing

teaching.

therapy or psychotherapy.

with a problem similar to yours.

and appropriate

attire.

of books and videos available through

NASTAT

Books,

call

(800) 473-0620. Austin,

J.

and

P.

Ausubel. "Enhanced Respiratory Muscular Function in Normal Adults

After Lessons in Proprioceptive Musculoskeletal Education with Exercises." Chest,

102 (1992): 486-490. Barlow,

W.

"Postural Homeostasis." Annals ofPhysical Medicine

1

(1952): 77-89.

Caplan, D. Back Trouble. Gainesville, FL: Triad Publishing, 1987. Fisher, K. "Early Experiences

Holistic

Gelb,

of a Multi-Disciplinary Pain Management Programme."

Medicine 3 (1988): 47-56.

M. Body Learning. New York: Henry Holt and

Goleman, D. and J. Gurin, Health. Yonkers,

Stevens, C. The

STAT

F.

eds.

Co., 1987.

Mind/Body Medicine:

How to

Use Your Mindfor Better

NY: Consumer Reports Books, 1993.

M. Alexander

Books, 1994.

Technique: Medical

& Physiological Aspects. London:

The

70

Whole Hind

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joan Arnold, a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique, has performed

and taught dance, yoga, and

exercise for

more than 25

years. Since her

1988

graduation from the American Center for the Alexander Technique, she served

on

its

faculty for three years

Manhattan. She has taught

and maintains at

Equinox

a private practice in Brooklyn

Fitness Clubs,

New Age

and

Health Spa,

Hunter College, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and has demonstrated the technique cles

on dance,

New

York

on CBS Good Morning and Fox

alternative health, psychology,

Woman,

Woman, where she

Self, is

Cable's

FXJMD. Her

and bodywork have appeared

Family Therapy Networker, Living Fit, Shape, and

a contributing editor.

arti-

in

New

Walter H. Schmitt,Jr., D.C., D.I.B.A.K., D.A.B.C.N.

Applied Kinesiology:

6

Individualized Assessment Using Applied Kinesiology Procedures

WHAT

IS

APPLIED KINESIOLOGY?

Applied kinesiology (AK) carried

by the nerves

which nerve ing."

The

in

way

measure

how well

are "short circuit-

the traditional realm of the medical neurologist, but for

may be

restored to normal function.

How we feel and how we act depend,

to a great extent,

on our body's

as little static

and background noise

as clearly as possible. Likewise,

possible in the

and

to

body and mind

we want

as possible so the signal gets

to

do so

through

we would like to eliminate as much static as optimum clarity of our thoughts and actions,

for

maximize the potential with which each of us was born.

AK doctors approach

the patient from a comprehensive, holistic frame-

work. Starting with an open mind, the directly,

AK

abili-

and send unimpaired messages through our complex nerve path-

ways. If we wish to listen to a radio or transmit a radio signal,

with

messages are

not evaluate for destruction or pathology of nerve

dysfunctional states that readily

ty to receive

to

working normally and which ones

AK doctor does is

a simple

your brain and central nervous system, and to find out

circuits are

pathways, which

is

AK doctor interacts with

the patient

using feedback from the patient's nervous system to guide the work.

researchers have

shown

reflected in the function

the well-known

body-mind connections

of the muscles. Therefore,

to be

AK doctors employ manual

muscle testing to measure patients' responses to various stimuli. Nowhere in the Western healing traditions are the principles of touching and healing and

The

72

body-mind

relationships

more

Whole Mind

elegantly or completely exemplified than in the

application of the techniques of AK.

on

AK doctors blend a multitude of natural and alternative therapies, based the individual assessment of each patient. AK doctors can design individu-

alized treatment

programs for people with most mental health problems includ-

ing anxieties, phobias, decreased motivation, learning disabilities, depression,

and schizophrenia. In people without named mental health problems, been equally effective in the quest for maximizing

human

AK has and

potential

improving quality of life.

HOW

IT

BEGAN

In 1964, an original observation by Detroit chiropractor Dr. George Goodheart

gave birth to

AK. While working with

a patient

who had a long-standing shoul-

der disability, he noticed a muscle weakness in an important muscle in that shoulder.

A simple manipulation immediately restored the strength of the mus-

and normal function of the shoulder. Goodheart

cle

commonly

realized that

referred to as muscle "spasm" or muscle "tightness"

is

what was

not usually

the primary problem, but a secondary consequence of another muscle being

weak due

to underfunctioning. Visualize

a sailboat.

gives the appearance that the other wire

in that wire than previously.

tightened.

two guy wires attached

Loosening one wire allows the mast to

The same

is

To

is

tighter

shift to the

when

there

to the

is

no more

straighten the mast, the loose wire

true for muscles

mast of

other side and pull

must be

and muscle balance, except

it is

the

nerve pathways to the muscles that control their function.

By applying simple AK procedures return of muscle strength cles

to

is

reduced just

observed.

as quickly.

The

weak muscles, immediate

tightness or

Muscle balance

is

spasm

in opposite

mus-

achieved, along with a return

normal nerve function.

The clinical all

is

to strengthen

ramifications of this simple principle have expanded to include

healing professions in

many

parts of the world.

The

International College

of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK) was formed in 1974 and has

now

evolved into

an international organization. Meetings of ICAK chapters gather numerous practitioners

from varied backgrounds

to share their observations

and

experi-

may use AK to improve their approach to jaw and bite problems. Medical doctors may use AK to identify which medication is most compatible with an individual patient. Psychologists may ences with other professionals. Dentists

73

Applied Kinesiology

AK

use

clients.

understanding the interplay of various stressors for their

to aid in

As more practitioners become involved with AK, the applications of

AK principles continue to penetrate new frontiers of the various healing arts. HOW The

IT

WORKS

function inside our bodies

is

of our muscles.

reflected in the function

network of nerve connections begins

The

throughout

in the sensory nerve endings

the body, goes to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and ends in the nerves to

our muscles.

Our

muscles are hooked to

all

other functions of

our bodies and minds.

An AK

muscle

The doctor places cle

test

is

an interaction between the doctor and the patient.

the patient's

arm or

leg in a position to isolate a specific

with specific neurological connections.

The

patient

the doctor's force as the doctor pushes against the

arm or

measures the strength response of the specific muscle. cle testing response

ways that

then asked to

is

musresist

leg in a direction that

The

strength of the

mus-

depends on the nerves going to the muscle. The nerve path-

affect the

muscle

test

response can originate virtually anywhere in

the brain or nervous system.

The

ability

of the patient to

resist

the doctor's pressure

is

further evaluated

while a variety of sensory nerve endings are stimulated. For example, the muscle testing response

tion,

may

be measured with the patient's body in a certain posi-

with various nutrients placed in the mouth to stimulate

endings, or while the patient mentally focuses

on

taste

bud nerve

stressful events.

TRIAD OF HEALTH Applied kinesiologists symbolize their view of the body gle (see Fig. 1),

the sides.

with structure

as the base

as

an equilateral

and chemical and mental

A change in any of the three factors in

this "triad

factors as

of health" will have

an impact on each of the other two

factors. Likewise, therapies directed

any one factor

two

will affect the other

factors

trian-

toward

whether or not the therapy was

designed with this purpose.

This triangle

is

more than

a convenient representation of a philosophy.

It

has been the basis for the open-ended investigation of anything that affects the

nervous system and

may

result in

muscular imbalance.

Any

factor

monitored

by the nervous system can be evaluated by muscle testing procedures.

AK

procedures identify the source(s) of static in our nervous systems and employ

Whole Mind

The

74

treatments to remove the static and restore a clear signal. Following are examples

of techniques based on these principles.

Figure 1. The Triad of Health. © Systems DC, Pueblo, CO (from David Walther, with permission)

The Mental Side of the Triangle: Emotional Recall Technique

The emotional cuiting based

recall

technique

is

used to identify a neurological short-cir-

on mental or emotional

stress patterns.

think of a stressful situation, past or present. In

many

The

patient

an immediate, temporary weakening of muscle strength, often while the thought

is

maintained. This

ference or static in the nervous system

Treatment that negate the

is

is

a perfect

is

asked to

instances, there will be all

over the body,

example of identifying

inter-

from a mental source.

based on identifying sensory receptors and nutritional factors

weakening

effect

of the emotional

recall.

When

this pattern

is

corrected, the person can recall the emotionally stressful event or thought with-

out any resulting muscle weakness. Further, confrontation with the previously distressful

thought or situation

is

usually

met with remarkable calm and

toler-

ance by the patient. Thoughts or memories that previously caused butterflies, cold palms, or other uncomfortable

symptoms can now be

tolerated with

none

of these symptoms.

A number of AK doctors have

refined the emotional recall technique to

deal with specific problems such as addictions, phobias, grief, post-traumatic stress

syndrome, and even overcoming academic,

Many

sales,

and sports

barriers.

of the techniques employed to reset emotional or mental circuit

75

Applied Kinesiology

breakers can be taught to the patient so that therapy

or whenever needed.

The

may be performed

simplicity of these techniques

the often dramatic changes they

make

is

home

at

out of proportion to

in people's abilities to cope.

The Chemical Side of the Triangle: Neurotransmitter Chemicals and Their Nutritional Precursors

Why is it that some people seem to be clear-headed and some people never seem to think clearly? Why is it that some people easily fall into depression one of the reasons

ple react differently, but

is

why

peo-

makeup of the

per-

many

while others stoically accept fate? There are obviously

the chemical

reasons

son, particularly the availability of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are

communicate with each

the chemical substances our nerves use to

All messages carried in the nervous system

chemical neurotransmitters. Whether the nerve message reaction such as removing your

ment such relies

on

ters at

hand from

other.

depend on the presence of these a thought, a reflex

is

a hot object, or an intentional

move-

turning your head, or reading this page, the message

as walking,

a fascinating system involving the release of chemical neurotransmit-

the end of one nerve that stimulates the next nerve to carry the message.

How we

think and

ability to sense

how we

feel,

our sleepiness and our wakefulness, our

our surroundings, and

how we

from

react to various stimuli

our environment depend on the presence of neurotransmitters in our brains.

These neurotransmitters

are constantly being used

up and must be

What significantly affect how

Neurotransmitters are derived directly from substances in our

we

eat

and how completely we

our nervous systems function. a

few hours

at

But what affect the

people

digest

The

and absorb

foods

we

it

can

diets.

eat can have a fairly rapid (within

most) effect on our entire sense of well-being. if a

persons nutritional status

is

compromised

adequate production of neurotransmitters? Such

who

replenished.

in is

such a way

the case in

as to

many

have mental symptoms.

Medical practice uses drugs to enhance or block neurotransmitter

activity.

Applied kinesiologists and other nutritionally minded practitioners try to stimulate production of neurotransmitters through natural means. If we can identify

what nutrients

are

needed

for the

production of neurotransmitters,

supply those nutrients, which allow the body to

Of course,

there are

many

cases

make

the needed chemicals.

where medications are necessary,

the short term. But with our growing experience in

we can

how

especially in

to manipulate the

TheWholeMind

76

body chemistry, we

find that there

is less

frequently a long-term need for anti-

depressants and tranquilizers. Just as there

is

a need for adequate availability of nutritional substances for

nerve and brain function, an excess of certain chemicals will also interfere with the ability of our brains to function optimally. Poor diet, food allergies, or

exposure to certain chemicals from the environment can have a major impact

on mental (and

physical) functioning. Allergies to foods are

society and have arising

a

effect

on the function of the

from the person's digestive system. These

rarely considered tify

huge

by many doctors.

which patients have too

little

rampant

our

in

brain. So does toxicity

critical

chemical factors are

AK individual assessment procedures iden-

of some nutrient or too

much

of some toxic

substance.

The Structural Side of the Triangle: Chiropractic Manipulation and Other Sensory Stimulation

We

are

all

long as there

mal health

conditioned to believe that everything in our bodies

is

no

pain. This

to disease

is

far

from the

is

okay

as

One does not go from optiwhen function first declines

truth.

without a period of time

without symptoms. Deviations from normal, balanced posture are often

among

the

first

signs of dysfunction,

Optimal muscle balance

is

rarely

whether

structural, chemical, or mental.

found among even the strongest

athletes

and

the healthiest fitness enthusiasts. If you look closely at a person's relaxed, standing posture, you will almost always observe at least slight alterations of the levels

of the hips, shoulders, and head. Muscle imbalances allow misalignment of

the spine and other joints in our bodies. Muscle imbalances and

alignments cause abnormal sensory nerve stimulation and activity

more

difficult,

tural patterns are

most

which adds considerably easily corrected

bony mis-

make normal

to a person's stress.

daily

These pos-

by chiropractic and other manipulative

therapies. Following manipulation, the mechanical sensory nerve endings will

once again send normal messages to the brain and central nervous system. Muscle, organ, and brain function will operate closer to their as a result

optimum

levels

of the restoration of normal sensory input from the vertebra and

other joints.

Many

people report that they

feel like

"someone

just turned

on

the lights" as their mental clarity immediately improves following chiropractic

manipulation.

Applied Kinesiology

With

77

AK treatment,

mechanical sensory nerves are normalized from the

muscles and the joints. By stimulation of sensory nerve endings locations

all

and mental

over the body, changes can be

Normalizing

factors.

all

made

at strategic

our structural, chemical,

in

how our by many other

three sides of the triangle affects

brains function.

It is

these structural aspects that are overlooked

approaches. Yet

it is

by normalization of sensory input

to the brain that

of the most dramatic influences are made to help people achieve their

some

human

potential.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Since 1976, cles

ICAK

and papers by

meet

rather than

has published Proceedings, which include hundreds of arti-

its

members. Most of these papers

strict scientific criteria.

and not

trained as clinicians

research methodology,

researchers.

are designed to share ideas all AK doctors were AK doctors trained in

Until recently,

The

scarcity of

combined with the extremely limited money

for natural health care research, has resulted in almost

no

clinical

available

papers appear-

ing in peer-reviewed research journals.

The Foundation

for

Applied Conservative Therapies Research (FACTR)

has recently been created by

ICAK as

of generating and publishing

a research foundation with the purpose

scientific research

on AK. To

clinical

outcome

studies of the effectiveness of

although several have been started. lished based

on the

Two

clinical

pub-

mechanisms of AK. So

lished have dealt only with the neurophysiological

no

date, studies

AK have been

far,

completed,

papers have recently been pub-

relationship of muscle testing responses to emotional stress.

Both used concepts developed by Scott Walker, D.C., which he Emotional Technique." The

first

was

calls

a preliminary study that

"Neuro

found that

induced emotional arousal (threatening stimuli in phobic patients) showed

weakening responses during muscle

number of previously

The

testing in a high percentage

of people,

unidentified variables were controlled (Peterson, 1996).

other paper reviewed two patients with elevated cholesterol levels

spinal adjustments

if a

performed while pondering

who had

stressful events (Peterson,

1996). Both had significant reductions in their cholesterol levels (27.8 percent

and 22.5 percent) following the procedures. Follow-up studies formed but have been not been published

at this time.

are being per-

Whole Mind

The

78

REAL PEOPLE AND AK

had died

Sarah's brother

when he was

in a tragic automobile accident

1

15.

Now in her late twenties, Sarah still thought of her broth-

er daily, but her

memories were mainly of the hours and days surrounding

and she was

the tragedy. She could not enjoy any fond memories of her brother with-

out being shunted into thoughts of his death. For the past 10 years, any thoughts of her brother would make her tearful and unable to function. In the er's

AK doctor's

office,

when

Sarah was asked to

death, she immediately broke into tears.

by the doctor tested

by tapping them ness.

He

al recall.

as

weak.

until he

continued to tap

The doctor

recall

Any muscle

test

her broth-

performed

evaluated acupuncture points

found one that negated Sarahs muscle weakthis point

while Sarah continued her emotion-

After a few seconds, Sarah's tears stopped. After 30 seconds of

tapping, her recall of her brother's death caused no muscle weakness.

Sarah remarked that for the crying

when

first

time since his death, she didn't

Now Sarah

can

recall

her brother's

life

fondly,

brother's death with sadness, but without tears pacitated. er's

feel like

thinking about her brother.

and she can

recall

and without being

On followup visits with her AK doctor,

her

inca-

the recall of her broth-

death did not result in any muscle weakness.

Many AK practitioners work with mental combined with

health care professionals.

traditional mental health approaches, the

When

AK techniques

often help patients past blocks in therapy, as the following case history demonstrates.

Ted had early

life

a

tumultuous relationship with

and into

father's love

was

his college career.

to excel at whatever

seemed to please

his father.

Ted he

felt

that the only

did. Yet

port himself.

way

his

to earn his

in college,

but in

Ted became depressed,

dropped out of school, and worked

He

throughout

none of his achievements

He was extremely successful

the middle of his junior year, his father died. his motivation,

his father

at

odd

lost

jobs to sup-

sought therapy, and after years of professional help, he

Applied Kinesiology

understood

79

problem

his

logically,

but he

motivation to pursue his potential as a

Ted was seen by an

many

been present for

human

no

and

better

still

even before his

years,

would

to think about the

a time. This recall pattern caused a

Ted

for four of the six stressors

last

had no

being.

AK chiropractor for chronic back pain

the treatment were good, but they

The doctor asked Ted

felt

father's death.

The

no longer than

major

that

a

stressors in his

had

effects

of

day or two. life,

weakening response to muscle

one

at

testing

identified, including several related to

The doctor tapped a different each time Ted recalled a new emotional

always being unable to please his father.

acupuncture "circuit breaker" stressor.

He

also identified that tasting folic acid, an

for brain neurotransmitter function, negated the

emotional

recall.

The weakening

weakening

made remarkable

therapy and was able to decrease sessions to twice a

once a month.

He

made new

which had been put on hold

is

includes

many

progress in his

month and

and

friends,

eventual-

felt

the return of his

life,

many years.

for

a middle-aged, full-time clinical psychologist

from family

of the

returned to school, finished his degree, found a job

based on his training,

Nancy

effects

pattern of emotional recall never

recurred in Ted. In the next 6 weeks, he

ly

important nutrient

whose

practice

depressed and anxious patients. Prolonged stress arising

illnesses,

combined with her

stressful lifestyle, resulted in

exhaustion and depression. She tried psychotherapy and antidepressant medication, which helped somewhat with her daily levels of depression,

but she was

still

tired

and would occasionally have such

severe depressive

episodes that she was unable to function.

Nancy consulted an

AK doctor who

(the body's antistress glands)

were near

found that her adrenal glands

total exhaustion.

AK treatment methods and placed Nancy on vitamin C,

B 6 and pantothenic ,

supplements of folic acid,

acid (B complex).

Her energy returned and her

The doctor used

Nancy improved greatstill

had

occasional, unexplainable, transient bouts of uncontrollable crying

and

ly.

hopelessness.

By her next

visit,

episode in 3 weeks, and her

daily depression lifted, but she

Nancy had not experienced

a depressive

AK doctor found very little wrong.

In the

The

80

subsequent

visit,

Mind

though, she burst into tears the minute she entered the

room and wondered out loud

treatment

Whole

if

she would ever be better.

The

AK exam showed multiple problems, almost as if all the previous problems had recurred at once. AK assessment showed that these factors were associated with an acute allergic reaction. Questioning revealed that

Nancy had

eaten at a Chinese restaurant the night before and that she

usually ate this type of food about once a allergy reactions to soy

(MSG). These were treated

Nancy

month. The doctor found food

and the food additive monosodium glutamate

later

confirmed by laboratory

for the acute allergic reaction

stopped crying. Further treatment that day

left

tests.

The AK

and immediately Nancy her feeling tired but oth-

erwise close to normal. She was instructed to avoid soy and

they were poisons, which, for her, they

are.

doctor

MSG

as if

She returned to normal func-

tioning with the exception of occasional recurrence of short-term depression

if

she accidentally ingested soy or

MSG.

WHAT TO EXPECT

AK crosses many interdisciplinary lines, your experience with an AK practitioner will vary. If you see an AK chiropractor, osteopath, or medical Since

doctor,

most

likely

you

will receive a physical

examination and possibly a labo-

ratory workup. If you see an AK-trained psychologist, dentist, or other practi-

approach

tioner, a different

One

will

be taken, depending on the person's discipline.

of the most unique things about

AK

is

that as the patient

you

are not

passive but directly involved in each step of the office procedure. This

is

because most procedures involve before-and-after muscle testing to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy. patient's

All

call this interactive

assessment of the

problem.

AK

involves

We

practitioners perform

you

manual muscle

resisting the practitioner's force as

your limbs. Sometimes you

will

be able to

resist

testing procedures. This

it is

directed against one of

the examiner's pressure and

other times your muscle strength will easily be overcome by the force of the tester.

Factors from each side of the triad of health will be evaluated with

cle testing before

and

after

each step.

mus-

81

Applied Kinesiology

You may be asked

may push

examiner

to place your

specific areas

of the body or the

or tap various important "circuits" to determine

circuits are involved or not. as

hands on

You may be asked

if

these

to taste various substances such

vitamins or minerals or other remedies. As mentioned earlier in the case his-

tories,

you may be asked

to mentally focus

on

stressful events in

your

life.

In

each case, the examiner will observe changes in muscle strength that will guide

you both

Most people

by the

are fascinated

lifestyle

process.

recommendations.

You may or may not be

the difference in muscle strength changes during your exam.

feel

that the

outcome of any one muscle

your practitioner

is

test is

able to

Remember

only a part of the larger picture that

trying to develop. Your professionally trained practitioner

be able to describe the significance of the findings and outline further rec-

will

ommendations

HOW

for treatment

and

lifestyle

which

are

unique for your

case.

TO FIND AN AK PRACTITIONER

AK, by is

and

to the proper treatment

definition of ICAK,

is

performed by licensed health professionals and

used with professional training and appropriate examination and diagnosis

of the patient. There are a number of people, both professional and nonprofessional,

own

who

have adopted some of the concepts of muscle testing to suit their

purposes.

The ICAK maintains

Australia, Europe,

and other

a

list

of members in the United

world

areas of the

who

States,

practice according to the

ICAK's professional standards. Certification

of certification

is

is

available to

AK doctors at various levels. The highest level

D.I.B.A.K. (Diplomate of the International Board of Applied

Kinesiology). For referral to an

ICAK, 6405 Metcalf Ave.,

ICAK member

Suite 503,

in the U.S. or abroad, contact

Shawnee Mission, KS 66202-4080.

Phone: (913) 384-5336. Fax: (913) 384-5112.

HOW

TO LEARN MORE

Callahan, R. Phobias.

Durlacher,

How

J.

Executives Overcome Their Fear of Public Speaking

Wilmington, DE: Enterprise Publishing,

J.

V.

Freedom From Fear

Forever.

Inc.,

and Other

1987.

Tempe, AZ: Van Ness Publishing Co.,

1994.

Goodheart, G.

and

You'll

available

Be Better

— The

from Dr. George

Woods, MI. (313) 881-0662.

J.

ofApplied Kinesiology. Privately published Goodheart, 20567 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe

Story

Fax: (313) 881-8691, 1985-

Whole Mind

The

82

Maffetone,

P.

Maffetone,

P.

Everyone

Is

an Athlete. Mahopac, NY: David Barmore Productions, 1994.

The Health Capsules Book

Shawnee Mission, KS: ICAK, 1994. (6405 KS 66202-4080 (913) 384-5336. Fax:

II.

Metcalf Ave., Suite 503, Shawnee Mission,

(913)384-5112). Peterson, K. B. "A Preliminary Inquiry into

Manual Muscle Testing Response

in

Phobic and Control Subjects Exposed to Threatening Stimuli." Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 19 (1996): 310-316. Thie,

J.

E

Touch for Health. Marina Del Rey, CA: DeVorss and Co., 1985.

Valentine, T. and C. Valentine. Applied Kinesiology.

New York:

Thorson Publishing

Group, 1985.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Walter H. Schmitt, Hill,

NC. He

Chiropractic.

Jr., is

a graduate of

is

He

served

a chiropractic physician practicing in Chapel

Duke

University and the National College of

on the board of directors of the International College

of Applied Kinesiology for 19 years and tion. In

a charter diplomate of the organiza-

is

1991, he received a diplomate in chiropractic neurology from the

American College of Chiropractic Neurology.

He was

the

first

doctor to hold

diplomate status in both applied kinesiology and neurology. His memberships

American Chiropractic Association and the North Carolina

also include the

Chiropractic Association.

He

is

an adjunct

member of the

postgraduate faculty

of Logan College of Chiropractic and serves on the editorial review boards of the journals Chiropractic Technique

Schmitt

is

a trustee for the

and Alternative Medicine Review. Dr.

Foundation

for Allied Conservative Therapies

Research (FACTR). Dr. Schmitt

is

the author of

Common

Glandular Dysfunction in the General

Practice (1981)

and Compiled Notes on Clinical Nutritional Products (Second

He

has authored numerous papers and frequently lectures to pro-

ed.,

1990).

fessional groups,

both nationally and internationally. His lectures and papers

include such subjects as pain and pain the relationships between

relief,

functional endocrine problems,

body chemistry imbalances and

structural faults,

and

applied kinesiology, particularly the use of muscle testing in enhancing neurological diagnosis

of functional problems. In 1983, he served on a special

Chiropractic Research Protocol Committee formed by the United States

Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Modalities Commission.

Christa Obuchowski

Aromatherapy

7

WHAT

AROMATHERAPY?

IS

"Aromatherapy" nal properties

Aromatherapy effect

is

in the essential oils of various plants

and

effective tool

from

herbs. This therapy can relieve pain, kill bacteria, cleanse the

body

treat

immune spirit.

deficiencies

and

stress,

and support the health of the

Essential oils are extremely concentrated. For example,

takes thirty large roses to harvest

found

been found to be an

distilled extracts, also called essential oils, refined

body, mind, and it

soul. It has

other healing practices.

Aromatherapy uses

of toxins,

and herbs. These

a powerful, effective, natural healing therapy that has a pro-

on body, mind, and

when used with plants

and medici-

a term recently coined to describe the healing

have been familiar to people throughout recorded history.

properties

found

is

found

one drop of essential

in the barks, stems, flowers, branches, roots,

and

oil.

Essential oils are

leaves

of plants and are

extracted through a process of steam distillation or cold-pressing.

The

essential oil gives a plant

somewhat misleading. in the

aroma of the

It

oil.

its

fragrance.

But the term "aromatherapy"

suggests that the value of essential oils

Aromas

are powerful in

is

is

found only

and of themselves,

as

evi-

is

denced by the stimulation of pleasant memories and associations carried by a specific odor. ties

But

essential oils also

that can help with

ter cold,

have specific pharmacological proper-

minor everyday ailments such

and even more serious problems

83

as a sore throat or a

win-

like bronchitis, sinusitis,

and

Whole Mind

The

84

rheumatism. Bacterial infections found well as diseases of the

immune

at the root

of

many lung

ailments, as

system, are being addressed by aromatherapy.

In the area of mental health care, aromatherapy can be an invaluable tool, not

many

only to improve and uplift a patient's mind, but also to address ing physiological problems that

may go hand and hand with

nia, anxiety, grief, learning disorders,

underly-

depression, insom-

and the myriad of other overt symptoms

of an unbalanced system.

HOW The

IT

BEGAN

use of essential

oils

appears to have been practiced since the earliest record-

ed history of humankind. In almost every country, we have discovered the remains of incense burners, pots that held cosmetic potions, and indicate the use of infusions of herbs high in essential

oils.

other resins were used in the temples of Egypt. Essential

mummification. Hindu liturgical

texts refer to countless

and therapeutic

in religious practices, to

practices.

oil

lamps that

Frankincense and oils

were used for

aromatic products used for both

Ancient Semitic people used

expand consciousness, and

to

essential oils

improve meditation. In

Europe, plagues and epidemics were combated by fumigation with powerful essential oils.

The Greeks

of anxiety, hysteria,

perceived that aromatics were useful in the treatment

grief,

and depression. Many cultures sent prayers

to the

more than 5,000

years.

gods through fragrance.

The cosmetic

use of essential oils dates back

Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Europeans designed personal perfumes to elicit

various emotions. Unlike

modern

synthetic perfumes, an essential oil

does not merely mask foul odors of the atmosphere or the body, but actually suppresses izes

them by

a physiochemical action that destroys, hinders, or neutral-

germs. In 1920, Rene-Maurice Gottefosse, a French chemist, coined the term "aro-

matherapy." In his work in the perfume industry, he had discovered that

of the essential

oils

used were superior to chemical antiseptics.

of burning his hand and plunging

hand was healed within ing discovery led

him

it

into pure lavender

oil.

He

To

tells

many

the story

his surprise, his

a short time without infection or scarring. This amaz-

to explore the uses of essential oils in the cosmetic

dermatological industry. Gottefosse's mercial researchers to continue the

work

inspired other medical and

work of exploration

healing and restorative properties of essential

oils.

and

com-

into the myriad of

85

Aromatherapy

In England, lavender

is

used in hospitals to aid cancer patients with pain

and insomnia. With the invention of penicillin by Alexander Fleming

in 1928,

chemical antibiotics were viewed as a scientific wonder, and the interest in research focusing

on

essential oils dwindled. It

was not

until 1982,

with the

publication of The Practice ofAromatherapy by Jean Valnet, M.D., and then

L'Aromatherapie Exactement by

Franchomme and Penoel

remarkable properties of essential healing

community and

Aromatherapy

is

oils

(1992), that the

once again came to the attention of the

to the public.

an ancient science with a

We are just

new name.

begin-

ning to understand the depth of benefit available to us even though our tionship with

HOW

IT

an ancient one.

it is

WORKS

Aromatherapy can be practiced fessional.

with the aid of a health care pro-

and

aesthetic professions.

Those

practices of many dif-

interested in simple

and

practical

can find workshops and books that give an introduction to the

It is

fine to

experiment

differ-

Many oils can be used for personal enjoyat home with diffusers, baths, and inhalation.

ent methods of using essential

ment.

as self-care or

Aromatherapy has been incorporated into the

ferent healing self-care

rela-

oils.

Discuss the use of essential

oils

with a certified aromatherapist

when your

health issues necessitate the help of a professional. Seek help from a certified

aromatherapist

if

you have any questions or concerns regarding the use of oils,

especially if you have asthma, high or py, or

low blood pressure,

on chemothera-

have eczema or hypersensitive skin. If you are pregnant, consult an aro-

matherapist about which

not use essential

oils

oils

you may use

on children under

Following are some of the ways the lap

are

between the techniques

listed

safely

during your pregnancy.

Do

three months. oils

can be applied. There

under each of the following

is

some

over-

categories:

Aromatherapy Massage

A hands-on

method using

essential oils

and massage.

of body and mind ailments. Massage with essential

oils

It

can address problems

ranging from those that stem from lymph congestion to

and insomnia. Therapeutic massage tive use pist,

of essential

or at

oils.

home with

is

addresses a variety

stress

management

often considered to be the

Whether through

the

work of a

most

effec-

trained massage thera-

a friend or loved one, the senses are stimulated as the

Whole Mind

The

86

essential oil penetrates the body. If a full

hands and

feet

is

is

not possible, massaging the

an excellent way to stay in good health.

body

points for the

massage

are stimulated

by

this

The

reflex or

zone

method. This helps to balance the

body's energy flow.

Medical (Clinical) Aromatherapy In France and Germany, doctors and naturopaths are using essential oils

given through prescriptions and taken orally to treat infectious diseases. Diffusers are being used in hospitals in

and deep ers

rest after surgery.

At homes

England

in

to

promote

of small children are learning to use diffusers with essential

airborne infection during childhood

illness.

of relaxation

states

Europe and the United

States,

oils to

moth-

combat

A trained aromatherapist can

cre-

ate personalized formulas for use in a diffuser.

Steam inhalation oils.

In the

is

home, one

hot, steaming water.

nose for quick

an excellent treatment for direct absorption of essential to

two drops of an

essential oil can easily

Cover your head with a towel and breathe

relief.

Whether using

essential oils in a

in

be added to

through your

steaming bowl of hot

water, a cold or hot humidifier, or a sauna, inhalation can easily address both

chronic and immediate problems.

Aesthetic Aromatherapy Essential oils are used eration,

and

by beauty

therapists to treat skin problems, for regen-

to uplift the spirit. Treatments

may

include

body

herbal masks, personalized perfumes, moisturizers, cleansers.

The

spa industry

apy into every area of body

in the process

is

facials,

of expanding

its

herbal wraps,

and skin

oils,

use of aromather-

care.

A hot bath at the end of a busy day helps keep body and soul in harmony. It is

one of the most wonderful ways of using aromatherapy

essential oils that will provide the desired stimulus;

er like honey, liquid soap,

Epsom

or sea

salt;

at

home. Choose

mix them with an

add them

to

emulsifi-

your bath water; and

relax.

Environmental Aromatherapy

The

use of essential

ing. Diffusers are

oils to

being used

office buildings to stimulate

modify and enhance our at

home

for personal

living spaces

mind-body

is

increas-

care, in large

mental concentration, and in hotels and casinos

87

Aromatherapy

to subtly create

environments of luxury and well-being.

Essential oils

do not mask unwanted

smells; instead, they cleanse the air

by altering the structure of the molecules. Diffusers or aroma lamps disperse essential oil molecules into the

are usually

that

is

made of ceramic,

heated by a candle or

water; the

and the

air.

glass,

Diffusers

electricity.

the pleasure

it

Heat

added

size

to the

of the room

releases the volatile essential oil

influence of the scent

can create aesthetically.

fuser can disinfect a

peacefulness,

The

oil are

determined by the

You can begin using

effect.

many different forms and

Drops of essential

oil is

intensity of fragrance desired.

can have a profound

in

or marble, with a small container for water

number of drops of essential

molecules into the atmosphere.

come

is

a diffuser at

very subtle but

home

The formulas designed

simply for

for use in a dif-

room, increase concentration, bring a sense of calm and

and stimulate and strengthen the immune system.

A SELECTION OF ESSENTIAL OILS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS It is

crucial that only

pure essential

ural plant essences extracted in the

be used in aromatherapy. These are nat-

oils

by steam

distillation or expression. Plants

wild or grown organically yield essential

ing essential

oils,

choose the

best.

oils

of optimal

quality. In

grown choos-

Reconstituted products or chemical copies

of natural essences simply do not work.

Chamomile Roman (Anthemis

noblis)

Action: Soothing antispasmodic. essential oils. It It

is

Chamomile

is

one of the most useful

anti-inflammatory and carries extreme soothing action.

eases anxiety, tension, anger,

Indications: Overactive

and

fear. It is

a wonderful oil for children.

mind, impulsive behavior,

fear,

tension, anger,

insomnia, stress-related complaints, stomach conditions, inflamed skin, menstrual problems. Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

Action:

Calming and euphoric. Clary sage

sion, a racing

mind, and panicky

and the capacity Indications:

to see

life

states. It

is

used to relieve nervous ten-

encourages feelings of well-being

in perspective.

Migraine headaches, hormonal imbalance, menstrual cramps,

panic attacks, exhaustion, depression, hysteria, insomnia, anxiety, obsession.

Whole Mind

The

88

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri/thurifera) Action: Sedative. Frankincense has a calming effect

on

the nervous system.

Indications: Shortness of breath, anxiety, obsession, hopelessness.

Helichrysum (ImmorteUe/Helichrysum angustefolium)

and promotes

Action: Rejuvenates

psychological effect.

changes in

life. It is

It

growth. Helichrysum has a strong

cell

helps to ground the

often used for pain

mind and

foster acceptance of

relief.

Indications: Lethargy, nervous exhaustion, neuralgia, stress, shortness of breath, menstrual cramps.

Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) Action: Balancing, calming. Lavender

the

spirit, relieving

known

is

exhaustion and anxiety.

It

for cleansing

has a balancing action on the

nervous system, resulting in a calmer approach to Indications: Insomnia, fear,

mood

and soothing

life.

swings, nervous conditions, worry,

depression, shock, hypertension, headaches, exhaustion.

Marjoram (Origanum marjorana) Action: Calming. qualities. It

is

Marjoram

well-known

is

for

warming, relaxing

its

extremely helpful for nervous muscle spasms, aches, and

insomnia. Indications: Menstrual disorders, high

blood pressure,

grief, hyperactivity,

insomnia, nervousness, muscle cramps.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Action: Cooling stimulant. Peppermint It

is

has historically been used for nausea.

an excellent

It is

oil for

a tired mind.

cooling and refreshing and

is

used for nervous exhaustion and fatigue. Indications: Hysteria, fatigue, depression, shock, indigestion, nausea, dizziness,

lymph

congestion.

Rose (Rosa damascena) Action: Soothes the emotions

and

lifts

the heart.

It is

used traditionally in

times of grief and sadness. Indications: Grief, nervous tension,

poor self-image,

frigidity,

impotence,

sorrow, cardiac congestion, emotional exhaustion, disappointment.

89

Aromatherapy

Rosemary (Rosmarinus Action: Stimulant.

officinalis)

Rosemary

is

a stimulating, uplifting essential oil that

can be used effectively for both mental and physical problems.

mind and

aids

memory.

good

It is

for

It

clears the

mental fatigue, general dullness, and

lethargy.

Indications: Depression, lethargy, exhaustion,

poor memory, headaches,

water retention.

Sandalwood (Santalum album) Action: Calming.

Sandalwood

been used

for that reason, has often

sional attitudes.

stimulate the

It

as

an aphrodisiac.

It

helps with obses-

encourages relaxation and a sense of well-being.

immune

system and keep infection

High blood

Indications:

aids in the relief of underlying anxiety and,

It

can

at bay.

pressure, muscle spasms, frigidity, impotence,

depression, anxiety, grief, insomnia.

Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) Action: Emotionally uplifting. Tangerine to release anxiety

is

refreshing to the

mind and helps

and depression.

Indications: Indigestion, depression, anxiety in adults

and children, sad-

ness.

Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata) Action: Aphrodisiac.

on the

exotic

been used

as

anxiety,

High blood

it

uplifts the spirit

an aphrodisiac.

regulates adrenaline flow.

Indications:

aroma of ylang ylang has

same time,

nerves, but at the

traditionally It

The

It

It

a sedating effect

and mind.

It

has

calms overly excited systems.

balances hormones.

pressure, impotence, frigidity, nervous tension,

hormonal imbalance.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Today, scientists are studying the effect of aromatherapy on every aspect of health,

of the

them

from the aging process

immune

to the treatment

of cancers and the stabilization

system. Essential oils vary in chemical

specific properties that act

upon the

makeup and

thyroid, adrenals,

and

carry with

ovaries

—

the

regulators of the body. Essential oils are capable of stimulating the drainage of

TheWholeMind

90

the

lymph glands and detoxifying the body. They

tem and

assist in

and

erties

The

Many

the digestive process.

invigorate or calm the sys-

hold antiviral prop-

essential oils

are effective in treating infection.

science of aromatherapy addresses the

tie

between fragrance and

mem-

ory triggers in the brain. With each breath, fragrance molecules reach the brain.

The

olfactory

membrane, located

olfactory nerve

cells.

These

amounts of information. The

are brain cells capable of carrying

olfactory

where the central nervous system

Odor

in the nasal cavity, consists of millions of

is

membrane

in direct

molecules are carried by nerve

cells in

is

tremendous

the only place in the

body

connection with the environment. the form of electrical impulses into

the brain. These impulses of information reach the oldest and innermost control centers in

our brain. Neurotransmitters are released by the odor stimuli.

For example, encephaline, a neurotransmitter, that can be released by a scent, reduces pain and creates a sense of personal well-being. Endorphin, another neurotransmitter, stimulates the feeling center and reduces pain. In are deeply

reality,

we

touched by scent.

Giovanni Gatti and Renato Cayola (1923, cited that sedative

1994) found

in Lawless,

and stimulating plant essences were useful

in relieving anxiety

and depression. Paolo Rovesti, a chemist and pharmacologist, conducted many clinical

experimental studies on patients suffering from "hysteria or psychic

depression" that

showed aromatherapy

to be very effective (1975).

The

research

of Gatti, Cayola, and Rovesti has given us documented evidence of the psychotherapeutic effects of specific essential

and

treat psychological

oils that are sedatives, relieve anxiety,

ills.

Today, research with essential

oils is

continuing in the

field

of brain wave

technology. Essential oils are introduced to a patient and the impact of the

fragrance

is

traced through neurological activity.

Steele (1984) oils,

when

The

and Robert Tisserand (1978) has found

research of Dr.

John

that certain essential

inhaled or smelled, have a tranquilizing or stimulating effect

because they alter the brain waves. In clinical studies conducted by Alan Hirsch (1991, 1993), a Chicago neurologist and head of the Smell and Taste

Treatment and Research Foundation,

essential oils

from lavender, chamomile,

lemon, and sandalwood calmed brain activity more effectively than Valium.

Hirsch has also documented certain

oils that

can stimulate the brain and

heighten the sense of expansion and energy. In Japan, scientists have studied the effect that lemon's essential oil has

on mental concentration. They found

91

Aromatherapy

by 54 percent

that in office environments, typing mistakes were reduced

when

the essential oil from the

lemon was

room

diffused in the

(Fischer-

Rizzi, 1989).

REAL PEOPLE AND AROMATHERAPY

Richard

is

a 42-year-old

had persisted

man who

for four years

and

sought help with lower back pain that

for exhaustion.

He had

both a chi-

tried

ropractor and an osteopath and both had agreed that the source of his pain was not structural.

He was

using aspirin and cortisone shots to relieve

the back pain.

my

In

first

consultation with Richard,

problem was

a result of

demanding.

He was

his sense

it

mental and physical

became

stress.

clear to

me

Richard's job was very

the manager of a large and successful business, and

of responsibility was driven and compulsive.

He was

aware that

He

he needed time out for himself and he had taken up tennis.

week with the same compulsive drive

twice a

He

tude at work.

played

that characterized his atti-

described skin problems that occurred during particu-

demanding times and

larlv

that his

didn't

seem

to

know

the difference between

extending and overextending himself. His body awareness was not strong in

anv area of his

and

still

life,

feeling that

and he often found himself exhausted and drained

he should do more.

Richard made a commitment to see sages.

He also agreed

to

work with me

would support the treatments.

ment was

me weekly for aromatherapy mas-

to

make some

lifestyle

My first consideration

to address the physical manifestations

in

of his

changes that

Richard s

stress

and

treat-

relieve

the pain he suffered. In long-term treatment, our goal was to change his

mental attitude toward

life

from one of competition,

and worry

fear,

one of harmony. His program included personal time spent

He

began to take hot baths three times

mula designed oped

to relax

a

week with an

essential oils

in relaxation.

essential oil for-

and balance the mind-body connection.

a massage oil that his wife agreed to apply after his

matches or a particularly hard day

at

to

We devel-

weekly tennis

work. These formulas included

of lavender, frankincense, rosemary, immortelle, roman

Whole Mind

The

92

chamomile, marjoram, and ginger. Richard began to

feel

more comfortable spending downtime

personal activity. After the

had

greatly changed.

first

He was

month he

sleeping

reported that his sleep patterns

more deeply and

of time. His attitude toward his job began to

remained

as

demanding

as before,

for longer periods

Although

shift.

commitment

approach

it

of

life

now

feels

deeper, as he has learned to

with harmony and cooperation. His back problems have dis-

appeared, he has no ity

work has grown

to his

his job

Richard was beginning to recognize

the limits of his body. After two years of treatment, Richard that his

in quiet

more problems with

much more

seems to be

skin rashes,

and

He

satisfying.

his general qual-

looks forward to a

massage with aromatherapy once a month and continues with his per-

home.

sonal formulas at

He no

longer feels the need for either aspirin or

cortisone and feels that the essential oils have had profound effects in

many other areas of his

Judy

is

a 53-year-old

life

as well.

woman who had

been in a successful marriage since

her early twenties. Her appearance was youthful and vibrant. entered menopause, however, she began to

feel a

deep

loss

When

she

of her identity

and female sexuality. She was haunted by the fear that she would no longer be attractive to her husband and that her sleepless,

was

over.

with mental visions of the regrets of her

young and healthy, Judy felt ical level,

life

that time

Her

life.

nights were

Although

was running out for her.

still

On a phys-

she suffered from hot flashes, poor digestion, and frequent

headaches. She kept her fears and obsessive thoughts of failure to herself.

She

felt

alone.

that

As

menopause was simply a process she had

to suffer

through

her depression increased, she attracted the very thing she feared.

She began to gain weight and, with the

loss

of self-confidence she experi-

enced, she also began to avoid intimacy with her husband.

Judy came her

first

to

me

weekly for body work and aromatherapy. During

massage session,

I

began to discuss the opportunities and prob-

lems that come with menopause.

open the process

for her in a

I

more

recommended

several

positive way.

also

I

books that could

recommended

she begin to discuss her personal experience of this profound

life

that

change

93

Aromatherapy

women

with her

From al

friends

and with her husband.

a selection of essential oils specifically chosen for their

hormon-

balancing qualities (sandlewood, ylang ylang, rose geranium, rose,

roman chamomile, jasmine,

lavender,

and peppermint),

clary sage,

I

Judy to choose fragrances that most attracted her. Using those blended a special massage reduce the hot flashes.

I

oil for

was

of her deep feminine nature.

woman

her to use at

home on

asked oils, I

her legs to help

also interested in helping her regain a sense It is

looks at herself sexually.

true that I

menopause changes the way

chose a selection of essential

oils that

—

not only addresses the hormonal system but also the emotional body oils that

and

feel

stimulate natural sensuality. her desirability in her

From

I

was important

for

Judy

to relax

new phase of life.

most

the oils Judy was

sonal perfume.

It

a

attracted to,

added relaxing formulas

I

blended a bath

oil

and

per-

improve her

to the bath oil to

perfume

I

concentrated on deep sensuality

to increase her personal attractiveness.

I

created a formula based

sleep patterns. In her personal

mine, which

is

especially effective in psychosomatic disorders.

natural analgesic that brings deep relaxation

and euphoria

on

Jasmine

jasis

a

to darkness.

After several sessions, Judy's creativity began to blossom. She was enjoying her sensuality again in a tion to nature,

new way. She began

which led her into new

activities like hiking.

paint the landscapes through which she hiked.

dropped away and she

felt

to feel her connec-

The

She began

to

additional weight

herself to be reborn.

WHAT TO EXPECT If you

choose to go to an aromatherapist for aromatherapy massage, an office usually take

visit will

one

to

two hours. Commonly, a patient

will

be asked to

From the history, the therapist will choose a oils. The patient will participate by sampling the

give a personal health history. selected

group of essential

fragrances

and choosing ones that

are pleasing.

A patient's preference for a cer-

may tell us much about that person's mental, emotional, or The therapist will then prepare a face oil and a body oil. The

tain essential oil

physical state. patient

is

asked to undress and

lie

on the massage

table.

The comfort and warmth

Whole Mind

The

94

of the client the client

is

is

on

always paramount. Pillows

may be

placed under the knees

his or her back, or a special face cradle used

Many styles

of massage

may be

when

lying face

when down.

used with the application of the essential

A deep

bond

is

created between the therapist and the patient during the treatment and

is

oil,

from deep

tissue to the light

touch of lymph stimulation.

always characterized by the personal respect tion of

its

for the body's

communica-

needs. Special techniques such as foot reflexology or sacro-cranial

work may be used and enhance therapist

shown

of well-being,

a sense

may

Often, music, which

as well.

is

is

chosen to aid in relaxation

an integral part of the treatment. The

choose to work on specific organs of the body to enhance

also

the effect of the essential

oil.

A major focus of the massage

of an olfactory reference to specific

states

is

the establishment

of being. In other words, the thera-

wants the patient to associate warmth, relaxation, and well-being with

pist

specific scents so that

unconsciously

when

recalls the

those essential

oils are

used at home, the patient

experience of his or her treatment.

therapist might make a personal blend of The client might be directed to use the oil blend in the bath, a diffuser, or when massaging the feet, hands, legs, or face. Often weekly massages will be recommended for a period of time. A patient should notice

At the end of the treatment, the

oils for

the patient.

immediate

shifts in his or

what length of time

HOW

her well-being and can discuss with the therapist

will pass before

more profound changes

appear.

TO CHOOSE A PRACTITIONER

As of 1998,

there

is

no

licensing agency in the U.S. for aromatherapists.

There

however, a variety of schools that offer classes in aromatherapy and can

are,

supply the names and addresses of certified practitioners. There

standard for certification, so each school establishes

its

is

no national

curriculum. In dis-

cussing certification of aromatherapists, Michael Scholes, president of

Aromatherapy Seminars, aromatherapist class

when

says, "I consider a health practitioner a fully certified

they have participated in a

work and hands-on work, and have been

apy for

minimum

active in the field

may

fluctuate

from $55

to

$150, depending on the

length of the session and the therapy used. If the therapist oil

on the

of aromather-

at least three years."

Fees for these services

or an

of 300 hours of

blend for

home

use, the cost

essential oils chosen.

may

recommends an

oil

range from $15 to $50, depending

Aromatherapy

Many Massage

95

health practitioners incorporate essential oils into their work.

therapists, naturopaths, psychologists, estheticians,

specialists,

If you are interested in discussing

methods.

with an aromatherapist trained in blending formulas for

would be

best to contact

These organizations

your

ucts, seminars,

and workshops.

area.

American Alliance of Aromatherapy P.O. Box 309 Bay,

Tel: (800)

OR 97341

center,

and

your health needs

home

or personal use,

also offer

aromatherapy prod-

Tree Aromatics

Life

John

Steele,

owner and master blender

3949 Longridge Ave.

809-9850

Aromatherapy

oils to

one of the following aromatherapy schools and ask

for referrals in

Depot

health care

nurse practitioners, and others are adding the use of essential

their healing

it

home

Sherman Oaks,

newsletter, information

Tel: (818)

referral service.

CA 91423

(please send

$2.50 for information packet)

986-0594

Offering classes and high-quality

Aroma Botanica

essential oils.

Institute

Christa Obuchowski, owner and lecturer Tel: (505)

New Mexico Academy of

984-1879

Practicing aromatherapist

and therapeutic

blender, aromatherapy workshops, semi-

nars

and

trainings for private individuals

Healing Arts Christa Obuchowski, teacher, applied

aromatherapy 501 Franklin Ave.

and the spa industry.

Santa Fe,

NM 87501

Tel: (505)

982-6271

Aromatherapy Seminars

Offering classes in aromatherapy

Michael Scholes, president and

training.

head lecturer

1830 South Robertson Los Angeles, Tel: (800)

Blvd., Suite

203

CA 90035

677-2368, (310) 838-6122

Pacific Institute of

facilitators

P.O.

Box 6723

Artemis Institute of

San

Natural Therapies

Tel: (415)

Peter

P.O.

Holmes, L.Ac, M.H., director

Boulder,

Offering

CO 80306 443-9289

classes,

and high-quality

Rafael,

CA 94903

479-9121

Specializing in scientific

and medical

aromatherapy and high-quality

Box 1824

Tel: (303)

Aromatherapy

Kurt and Monica Schnaulbelt,

aromatherapy training, essential oils.

oils.

essential

Whole

Mind

Harmony from Within

Brighton,

The

96

HOW

TO LEARN MORE

Balacs, T. "Essential Oils in the Body."

UK: Aromatherapy Publications, UK. Phone: 0273-772-479). Damian,

P.

Aroma

'93:

1994. (P.O. Box 746, Hove, E. Sussex

BN3 3XA,

and K. Damian. Aromatherapy: Scent and Psyche. Rochester, VT: Healing

Arts Press, 1995. Fischer-Rizzi, S. Complete Aromatherapy

Handbook.

New York:

Sterling Publishing

Co., Inc., 1989.

Franchomme,

P.

and D. Penoel. L'aromatherapie Exactement. Limoges: Roger

Jollois

Editeur, 1990.

Gattefosse, R. Aromatherapy. Saffron Walden,

Gumbel, D.

Principles

UK: C.W.

Daniel, 1993.

ofHolistic Therapy with Herbal Essences. Heidelberg, Germany:

KarlF. Haug, 1986. Hirsch, A. R. "Olfaction and Anxiety." Clinical Psychiatry, 16 (1993): 4.

Hirsch, A. R. "Olfaction and Psychiatry." Psychiatric Association,

New Orleans,

LA,

144th Annual Meeting, American

May

16, 1991.

M. "Human Olfactory Communication." Aroma '93: Harmony from Within. Brighton, UK: Aromatherapy Publications, 1994. (P.O. Box 746, Hove, E. Sussex BN3 3XA, UK. Phone: 0273-772-479).

Kirk-Smith,

Lawless,

J.

Aromatherapy and the Mind. London: HarperCollins, 1994.

Rovesti,

P.

Alia Ricerca dei Cosmetici Perdutti. Venedig, France: Publisher

unknown,

1975. "Brain Research and Essential Oils." Aromatherapy Quarterly

Steele, J.

Stoddart, D.

M. The

1

(1984):

5.

Scented Ape. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press,

1993. Tisserand, R. Aromatherapy

to

Heal and Tend the Body. Santa

Tisserand, R. The Art ofAromatherapy. Rochester, Valnet,

J.

Fe,

NM:

VT: Healing Arts

Press,

The Practice ofAromatherapy. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts

Worwood,

V. A.

The Fragrant Mind. Novato, CA:

New World

Lotus, 1988.

Press,

1978. 1982.

Library, 1996.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Christa

Obuchowski

is

Europe and the United apy and related

fields.

a certified aromatherapist States.

For the

who

received her training in

She began her work by studying massage therlast

seven years, she has devoted

of her practice to working with essential

oils.

more and more

She has worked extensively with

97

Aromatherapy

some of the foremost aromatherapists, conducting and nars with Dietrich

participating in semi-

Gumbel, Ph.D, Kurt Schnaubelt, Marcel Larbre, and

Michael Scholes. Her goal

is

to design a personalized, client-oriented experi-

ence that will stimulate the natural healing potentials inherent in the body.

Obuchowski

is

on the

staff of the

New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts, where

she teaches aromatherapy and hydrotherapy.

Jim

Brooks, M.D.

Ayurveda:

8

WHAT

Maharishi Ayurveda and Mental Health

AYURVEDA?

IS

Ayurveda is

a

is

the system of traditional medicine from India. Maharishi Ayurveda

more comprehensive and complete version of Ayurveda developed by

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The term "Maharishi Ayurveda" has recently been

expanded upon, and

is

referred to as "Maharishi's Vedic

approach to health,"

or "Maharishi's Vedic medicine." These terms refer to the application of all forty branches of Vedic literature to the field of health. For a

description of Vedic literature and

Human

how

relates to health

and

Physiology: Expression of Veda

Ayurveda has many

it

more in-depth

look

at the

the Vedic Literature.

practical applications to the fields of

book

Maharishi

mental health and

substance abuse treatment. Ayurveda also emphasizes strategies for preventing illness

and

for

promoting mental and physical

as transcendental

sciousness ing.

The

meditation

beyond the

three

(TM)

most

health;

it

includes

methods such

for developing higher states of human con-

familiar states: waking, dreaming,

theoretical underpinnings are

sound and simple

and

sleep-

to understand,

and

the clinical application of the principles significantly contributes to current

treatment modalities. Techniques of Maharishi Ayurveda, which include meditation, diet, herbal preparations, purification treatments, tine,

and

taste

and aroma

These treatments serve

to

therapies,

all

act in a holistic

changes in daily rou-

and

synergistic way.

enhance the benefits of other mainstream treatments.

For instance, psychotherapy and medication can sometimes have the unwanted

99

Ayurveda

side effect of

promoting dependency and a lack of control over

A Western-trained physician who

process.

is

also trained in

one's healing

Maharishi Ayurveda

can use an integrated approach that primarily emphasizes natural treatment

methods

add additional approaches. In

but, if necessary,

—

get the best of both worlds

HOW

IT

way, patients truly

East and West.

BEGAN

Ayurveda

is

There

old.

this

thought by medical historians to be approximately 6,000 years

are textbooks

on

this

system of healing, including the Charaka

Samhitas by Sharma and the Sushruta Samhitas by Bhishagratha,

Due

today, that were written approximately 3,000 years ago.

much of the

years of foreign rule in India,

been

lost.

essential

to

still

hundreds of

knowledge of ayurveda has

Since India's independence, there has been a resurgence of ayurvedic

medicine. There are more than 100 ayurveda colleges in India, a

which

available

are fully

supported by the Indian government.

number of

The World Health

Organization has formally recognized and given support to the reestablishment

of this system of health in India. Over the

last eight years in particular,

there

have been significant strides in bringing the knowledge of ayurveda back to original status.

Yogi, a

The

individual most responsible for this

renowned expert

in

Vedic knowledge,

scendental meditation program and a

who

is

is

Maharishi Mahesh

the founder of the tran-

number of academic

institutions

the world, including the Maharishi Institute for Vedic Science in India

its

and the Maharishi University of Management

around

and Technology

in the

United

States.

Maharishi, working with leading ayurveda physicians in India, including Brihaspati

Dev Tri Guna and

Bal Raj Maharishi, has rediscovered the essential

knowledge of ayurveda and has made courses available the world so that they can

become

Hundreds of medical doctors on

The

IT

five

continents have it

now

taken courses in

with their medical practices.

WORKS

classical

textbooks of ayurveda describe four causes of mental

chological, physiological, behavioral, ical

around

trained in this system of natural health.

Maharishi Ayurveda and are integrating

HOW

to physicians

cause of mental "

called in Sanskrit

illness,

illness:

psy-

and environmental. The main psycholog-

according to Maharishi Ayurveda, involves what

is

pragyaparadha" The English translation means "mistake of

the intellect." Pragyaparadha

is

the tendency to misperceive

and misunderstand

Whole Mind

The

100

the world around us.

inner

self,

It

when

occurs

a person has lost contact with his or her

or "pure consciousness." This loss of contact affects such elements of

personality functioning as self-esteem, creativity, capacity for experiencing pleasure, outer versus inner

and

dependence, frustration tolerance,

overall ability to achieve one's goals in

an effective and life-supporting

manner. People can regain contact with their inner practice of meditation or other

reality testing,

selves

through the regular

methods of transcending the usual

states

of

consciousness. According to Maharishi Ayurveda, during meditation, the regular experience of pure consciousness results in a completely

new

style

of psy-

chophysiological functioning and changes the qualitative experience of an individual in a dramatic and significant way. These changes include mental calmness, broadened awareness, and profound inner contentedness, called "sat-

chit-ananda in Sanskrit.

The calmness of mind

habit of meditating enables the individual to be distraction.

inner

and

A less

stability.

distracted

The

mind

is less

that grows with the regular

less

likely to

to obtain pleasure

from outside

self.

is

likely to

shown

not have

more

alert

significant enhance-

have a positive effect on

conditions and addictive behavior. Research has

will

Also, being

means having more energy and motivation. Obviously, the

ment of inner well-being

prone to

more open mind

Such a person

one's

less

be shaken from a sense of

individual develops the ability to have a

to see a situation with a broader perspective.

much need

anxious and

many psychiatric

that the

TM technique

helps individuals gain control over their personal habits.

A second factor seen by ayurveda to contribute to chiatric conditions

is

principles that govern

the development of psy-

an imbalance of the three basic underlying metabolic

human

physiology

(as well as

the physiology of the ani-

mal and plant kingdoms). These three organizational principles Vata, Pitta,

ment

and Kapha (Chopra, 1990). Vata represents the principle of move-

in physiology. It

tem and the flow of the for the digestion

and

are called

is

responsible for the functioning of the nervous sys-

circulatory

and

digestive

and metabolism, and Kapha

fluid balance

symptoms.

is

is

responsible

responsible for the structure

of the body. All of the modern and

ings of the body's composition

Pitta

scientific

understand-

and function can be placed into one of these

three categories.

There Vata, Pitta,

are several advantages to categorizing the physiology according to

and Kapha.

First,

every individual can be categorized as one of seven

different psychophysiological constitutional types, based

on the combination

101

Ayurveda

of these three elements, which are called "doshas." tutional type

Once an

individual's consti-

determined (through a comprehensive history and physical

is

examination, including the examination of the pulse), then

possible to

it is

determine what types of food would promote balance in any given individual. Also, if there

is

some

psychological or physiological imbalance, or disease, pre-

and recommendations can be prescribed

sent, herbal preparations

to restore

balance for that individual. Patients are taught to understand their psychophysiological constitutional type so that the foods eaten in the future will not

contribute to the development of illness. Patients are also given exercise recom-

mendations, because exercise, in the proper amounts, very strengthening to the

immune

seen in ayurveda to be

is

system. Ayurvedic physicians also teach

appropriate daily routines to maintain proper balance between the patient's biological

rhythms and the natural rhythms of the environment.

For example,

if

then that individual

and

anxiety.

an individual has primarily a Vata type of constitution,

may

be prone to such psychiatric conditions

as

insomnia

For such an individual, certain food types that reduce excess Vata

symptoms.

in the system will be extremely helpful in reducing the

heavy foods with more of a sweet, sour, or Also, regular, mild exercise, a daily

warm

oil

Warm

and

would be appropriate.

salty taste

massage, regular practice of tran-

scendental meditation, certain herbal preparations that provide a soothing influence to the nervous system,

and

a variety

of other behavioral recommen-

dations will serve to correct the anxiety and insomnia. Ayurvedic treatments often can be administered without having to resort to

may tend

to

standing the patient,

and

have harmful and unwanted side

human it

physiology

is

effects.

modern

drugs,

which

This system for under-

simple to learn for the physician and for the

gives the psychiatric patient a

tremendous sense of control over

his or her recovery.

A third perspective for understanding the etiology of mental imbalance and addiction

is

Maharishi Ayurveda's principle of the "violation of natural law."

This

refers to the idea that

idea

is

we

create

becoming well-known and

smoking and alcohol consumption

much

of our

own

misery. In medicine, this

scientifically proven.

are

For example, cigarette

proven to be related to such disorders

as

lung and throat cancer, heart disease, strokes, hypertension, auto accidents, homicides, and suicides. Thousands of years ago, ayurveda not only recognized this fact,

but more importantly, provided a methodology for reducing and

ultimately eliminating the tendency to violate natural law.

Whole

The

102

person

If a

is

emotionally healthy, with positive self-esteem, he or she has

of a tendency to behave in a manner that creates harm to him or

less

others. Behaviors that result in

harm

ing of lack. Improper diet, too

little

drug abuse,

Hind

etc., will

to one's nature result

or too

much

be significantly reduced

if

herself, or

from an inner

feel-

smoking, drinking,

exercise,

a person reduces the feeling of

inner lack.

Each of the approaches of Maharishi Ayurveda greatly

enhance one's sense of

Ayurveda promote

TM

self.

serves in a natural

way

to

and other techniques of Maharishi

a natural experience of well-being that, for

many, elimi-

nates the need to use drugs or alcohol.

The

fourth factor seen to contribute to mental illness

influence.

Our environment

definitely plays a role in daily

turing environment does a lot

more

to foster

Maharishi Ayurveda maintains that

stressed.

the quality of our environment from

two

environmental

A loving,

nur-

normal human development than

an environment in which one's parents and/or siblings are

and

is

life.

it is

hostile,

judgmental,

possible for us to enhance

perspectives.

The first is that it may be difficult to change another person's behavior, but we certainly can change our own. If a person is improving his or her physical

on

and mental well-being through the technologies of Maharishi Ayurveda a daily basis, then he or she

may

be able to step out of the vicious cycle

often seen in unhealthy relationships. If we can improve ourselves and develop

more inner

we

often can begin to respond to our family

defensive and

more supportive and empathic manner.

strength and stability,

and/or peers in a

less

This can go a long way in reversing negative trends and tendencies that we previously viewed as unchangeable and hopeless aspects of our environment.

Secondly, and

more profoundly, Maharishi Ayurveda

of our mind

we

states that

are intimately connected with those

on the

around

deeper

levels

Just as

two houses may look very different on the outside and yet contain the

same atoms and subatomic

particles

on the

inside,

ayurveda

us.

states that the

deeper aspects of personality, especially the underlying pure consciousness of the individual, has the property of infinite correlation. this deepest level

of our nature. Consequently,

infinite correlation

scending,

it

through individual and,

if

we

We are all

the same at

can enliven this field of

especially,

through group tran-

should be possible to significantly influence our environment in

the direction of greater peacefulness and positiveness.

103

Ayurveda

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS

A great deal has been written on the physical health benefits of Maharishi Ayurveda, and there are

now

a

number of published

of Maharishi Ayurveda for mental health. There cal

papers describing the benefits is

also a

growing body of clini-

experience in applying Maharishi Ayurveda therapies to psychiatric patients.

demonstrates improvements from the practice of

Scientific research clearly

ayurvedic techniques, both in psychological and physiological health (Barrett

and Brooks, 1992). Group practice of the tation techniques) ness,

and

programs

TM and TM Sidhi (advanced medi-

results in a reduction

suicides. In addition,

of crime, accidents, sick-

numerous published

studies indicate that the

use of Maharishi Ayurveda in prison has a significant and positive impact

on

the rehabilitation process (Dillbeck and Landrith, 1981). Repeated findings

include decreased recidivism, improvement in inmate-inmate and inmate-

guard relationships, and increased participation in educational and recreational activities (Bleick

and Abrams, 1987). Research on the transcendental medita-

tion technique indicates that this state of restful alertness has a corresponding style

of physiological functioning that includes

EEG

coherence (Banquet,

1973), marked reduction in metabolic rate (Wallace, 1970), increased skin resistance

(Orme-Johnson, 1973), low

levels

of Cortisol (Bevan, 1980), and a

constellation of other neurophysiological parameters (Jeuning

and Wilson,

1978; Results ofScientific Research, 1984).

Major depression

is

one of the more

mately 20 percent of the population techniques of Maharishi

common

afflicted at

Ayurveda help

conditions, with approxi-

some point

in their lives.

The

to treat this condition to a signifi-

cant degree. Research has demonstrated that herbal medications, ayurvedic physical therapy procedures (including Shirodhara, an ancient treatment for

mental conditions involving the pouring of herbalized

and transcendental meditation but a

are

all

oil across

helpful in treating not only depression

number of other conditions (Sharma

et al.,

1990; Hauser et

These treatments appear to work by virtue of effecting change cal parameters,

including changes in

the forehead),

EEG, serum

Cortisol,

al.,

1988).

in physiologi-

endogenous endor-

phin production, and endogenous imipramine receptor binding. Also, factors such

as

stress

reduction,

increased inner contentment associated with

enhanced self-esteem, and increased energy depression.

all

contribute to the alleviation of

Whole

The

104

Mind

REAL PEOPLE AND AYURVEDA

Carla

is

a married nurse with

which caused her

two

children.

She became severely depressed,

to be unable to function at

extremely suicidal. She was given a

trial

work or

at

home. She was

of antidepressant medication

in

the hospital but, due to side effects, she was unable to take an effective dose.

She was prescribed transcendental meditation and within a few days,

she had a significant improvement of her depression to the point where

she was able to leave the hospital. This patient previously was stuck in her therapy sessions. She was unable to look at

some

difficult issues relat-

ed to early childhood abuse. After learning to meditate, she had more self-confidence

and was able

many

to face

difficulties in

her

life

from

which she had been emotionally hiding. Mental health professionals who integrate Maharishi Ayurveda into their practice are finding similar benefits in the treatment

and

tions including anxiety disorders, borderline disorders, psychotic disorders,

Ralph

is

narcissistic personality

and substance abuse

a 40-year-old attorney.

He

suffered

from

of other condi-

disorders.

a variety

including narcotics, amphetamines, and minor tranquilizers. struggling for years to get off these substances.

With

a

of addictions

He had been

combination of

Maharishi Ayurveda therapies including herbal preparations, transcendental meditation, dietary recommendations according to his constitutional type, is

music therapy,

etc.,

he has been able to stop using drugs.

also feeling a sense of inner happiness

to achieve previously only

and

by taking drugs.

strength,

He

described his experience

with ayurveda as follows:

Having been a poly-substance abuser nearly ready to give

had studied precluded

my

TM

its

for the last

up and simply maintain

in the seventies, but

use in

my

daily

life.

ayurveda-oriented physician,

I

my

After

He

which he was able

20

years,

I

was

a crippled lifestyle.

drug use had

all

I

but

some prompting from

began twice-daily meditation.

105

Ayurveda

Any

attempt

ing.

It

at describing the positive effects

would be minimiz-

has been the only competing approach to altered con-

sciousness that has been effective against the tremendous anxiety

and craving produced by the drug withdrawal endure. After 20 minutes of meditation, focused, and feel that ple yet powerful that

be so valuable. this

most

ly for

it

life

who

I

become

have had to relaxed

has meaning. Meditation

seems almost impossible that

My aftercare plans'

useful tool.

those

my

I

I

foundation

would recommend

suffer, as well as for

simply want to greatly improve their

its

those

lives.

is

its

is

and

so sim-

effect

can

the inclusion of

use unconditional-

who

are healthy but

Whole Mind

The

106

HOW TO LEARN MORE Banquet,

J. P.

"Spectral Analysis of the

and Clinical Neurophysiology 35 Barrett,

P.

and

J. S.

EEG

in Meditation." Electroencephalography

(1973): 143-151.

Brooks. "Transcending Humiliation:

An

Ancient Perspective."

Journal ofPrimary Prevention 12 (1992).

Bevan, A.

J.

W. "Endocrine Changes

in Transcendental Meditation." Clinical

and

Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology 1 (1980): 75—76. Bhishagratna, K. L. Sushruta Samhita. Bleick, C. R.

and A.

Chowkhamba

Sanskrit Series Office, undated.

Abrams. "The Transcendental Meditation Program and

I.

Criminal Recidivism in California." Journal of Criminal Justice 15 (1987): 211-230. Brooks,

J. S.

andT

Scarano. "Transcendental Meditation in the Treatment of Post-

Vietnam Adjustment." Journal of Counseling and Development 64, no. 3 (1986): 212-215. Chopra, D. Perfect Health.

New York: Harmony Books,

1990.

M. C. and G. Landrith. "The Transcendental Meditation Program and Crime Rate Change in a Sample of 48 Cities." Journal of Crime and Justice 4

Dillbeck,

(1981): 25-45.

Hauser, T, K. Walton,

J.

Inhibits Binding of

Glaser,

and R. K. Wallace. "Naturally Occurring Ligand

(3H)-Imipramine

to

High

Affinity Receptors." Society of

Neuroscience 14 (1988): 244.

Jeuning, R. and A.

F.

and Behavior 10

Wilson. "Adrenocortical Activity During Meditation." Hormones (1978): 54-60.

T

Human Physiology: Expression of Veda and the Vedic Literature. through MAPI at (800) 345-8332. More information can be obtained

Nader,

Maharishi University of Management of Maharishi Vedic Medicine

Available

by

calling

at (515)

472-

7000.

Orme-Johnson, D.

W

"Autonomic

Stability

and Transcendental Meditation."

Psychosomatic Medicine 35 (1973): 341—349. Results

of Scientific Research on the Transcendental Meditation and Transcendental

Meditation-Sidhi Program. Jabalpur, India: Age of Enlightenment, 1984.

Sharma, H. M.,

et al., "Effect

Abuse." Presented

at the

of Maharishi Amrit Kalash on Depression and Substance

annual meeting of the American Association of Ayurvedic

Medicine, Boston: Spring, 1990.

Sharma,

P.

V

Charaka Samhita. Chaukhamba Orientalia, undated.

Wallace, R. K. "Physiological Effects of Transcendental Meditation." Psychosomatic

Medicine 167 (1970): 1751-1754.

107

Ayurveda

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jim Brooks, M.D., Institute of

Iowa

at

currently the clinical director of the Mental Health

is

Mount

Pleasant.

He

is

a board-certified psychiatrist

and

has had extensive training in the application of Maharishi Ayurveda to the field

of mental health.

He

Secrets to Longevity

lished research

has cowritten a

and

on the

book on

Total Health, published

benefits of Maharishi

victims of post-traumatic stress disorder.

this subject entitled

Aurvedic

He

has pub-

by Prentice-Hall.

Ayurveda

in the rehabilitation

of

Frank Andrasik, Ph.D.

Biofeedback

9

WHAT

BIOFEEDBACK?

IS

Imagine primitive

man walking

about,

when suddenly he

is

confronted by a

dangerous animal. Immediately, his body prepares for one of two possible actions:

the

Remain and

same

fight to the

for either course:

end or

flee to safety.

The

blood stream, response.

is

is

His pulse quickens, heart rate and blood pressure

increase, muscles tense, digestion slows, sweating increases, his extremities

bodily reaction

blood volume in

reduced, pupils dilate, clotting factors are released into the

etc. All

of these bodily changes are part of the fight or flight

They prepare

a

person for physical action. For example, blood

is

diverted from the hands and feet to the belly muscles (to prepare the person for

combat or running) and

to the brain (to ensure that

mental processes are

optimal). Reducing blood flow in the extremities also reduces the likelihood of

bleeding, because hands and feet deliver and block blows and are to be injured. Clotting factors are increased to

sweating of the hands makes

it

more

son. Pupils dilate to sharpen vision.

body

difficult for

Energy

is

promote

more

likely

healing. Increased

an aggressor to grab the per-

diverted from digestion.

senses a need to channel energy to those activities necessary for

The

immedi-

ate survival.

The required

fight or flight response

more

was very adaptive long ago, when our

lives

physical responses to our environment. Carrying out a physical

109

Biofeedback

response served to discharge the excess arousal. Today,

we

rarely face such life-

threatening situations, but our bodies continue to react in a very similar

man-

ner to the things that create stress and anxiety for us, such as criticism from a

spouse or unreasonable deadlines from a boss. Without an effective outlet, these bodily reactions can rage at

full

force over time.

needed for optimal functioning; tasks at hand.

enough,

it is

However, when the

fight or flight response

and focuses us on the is

how

activated frequently

problem can develop.

full-fledged clinical

restore bodily functioning to a

Biofeedback teaches people

from occurring

A certain amount of arousal is

energizes, motivates,

no longer adaptive and a

What is needed is a way to tion

it

more reasonable

level.

to prevent this exaggerated bodily reac-

in the first place, or

how

to tone

it

down when

does

it

occur. Biofeedback treatment involves monitoring various bodily states

using the information gained to

person learns to sense

when

make meaningful

and

changes. In biofeedback, a

bodily response systems are becoming overly

aroused and to apply strategies to combat the arousal problem.

Biofeedback shares a close kinship with the diverse approaches that use relaxation as a

way

to

combat

life stresses,

such

as

meditation, mindfulness,

yoga, autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation training, paced breathing,

and imagery. Biofeedback

relaxation-based approaches. application, are quite characteristic

is

The

combines one or more of these

goals of biofeedback, in

complementary

to these procedures.

most

its

The

allied

common

distinguishing

that biofeedback uses instruments that record information

about your body progress.

typically

as a

Think of it

as

way of gauging

targets for treatment

and evaluating

instrument-aided relaxation.

Biofeedback can be helpful with anxiety, panic disorder, addictions, attention deficit disorder, self-confidence, self-efficacy, elevated

problem-solving

skills. It

mood, and enhanced

can successfully be combined with psychotherapy.

Biofeedback therapists typically maintain close working relationships with other health care providers, particularly physicians. Physicians need to rule out

medical causes prior to treating certain disorders, and the biofeedback therapist will regularly consult

with the physician

if

physical problems arise during

treatment. Also, a favorable response to biofeedback

may

necessitate medica-

tion adjustments. For instance, significant reductions in blood pressure as a result

of biofeedback

drug dose.

may leave

a person over

medicated and in need of a lower

Whole Mind

The

110

HOW

BEGAN

IT

Biofeedback, like so

Mark

ences.

many

treatments, owes

its

beginning to multiple influ-

Schwartz, a past president of the Association for Applied

Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, traces at

least ten separate influences that

converged to spur the development of biofeedback (Schwartz, 1995).

One

of the pivotal influences resulted from some basic laboratory studies

conducted with animals. In a

series

of experiments,

it

was shown that these

laboratory animals could learn to control bodily responses that previously were

assumed

to be outside of voluntary control.

"autonomic responses" to

reflect

These bodily responses were labeled

"automatic" control (Miller and DiCara,

1967). Imagine the excitement as researchers learned that animals could be taught to alter blood flow, blood pressure, and heart

rate. It

was

just a matter

of time before researchers began to see whether the phenomena that emerged

from the highly controlled laboratories would humans. In

short, they did

and continue

to

do

translate to the real so.

world with

Biofeedback researchers con-

tinue to place a strong emphasis on using basic research to pave the

applying and conducting

HOW No

way

to

of approaches.

critical analyses

WORKS

IT

single explanation can

do

justice to

how

biofeedback works.

The mecha-

nisms vary with the type of biofeedback used and the condition treated.

Common

to

factors are

most

all

approaches

is

awareness of how symptoms are expressed, what

likely to trigger

symptoms, and the

emotions, feelings, and bodily reactions.

relation

Armed with

this

between thoughts,

awareness and with

the aid of the biofeedback therapist, individuals are taught new,

ways

more adaptive

to respond.

For example, with tension-type headaches, a major cause of the pain overactivity of shoulder, neck, head, and/or facial muscles.

These increased

contractions typically occur in response to stressors encountered in daily as if one ical,

or

that

is

is

guarding or bracing against the

more

likely,

both. For example,

mentally taxing, you

may end up

stress. Stressors

when

is

life,

can be mental, phys-

faced with a pressing deadline

frantically

working

at the

computer

keyboard and holding your body rigid for extended periods of time. Before long,

it

would not be surprising

ing was impaired.

to find that

How might this

your muscles ached and your think-

problem be approached therapeutically?

A

physician might prescribe a muscle relaxant, while a physical therapist might

111

Biofeedback

use heat, massage, or exercises. If positional problems are involved, instruction in

body mechanics might be

keyboards.

in order, as well as use

A biofeedback approach would

of special furniture and

involve attaching tiny sensors to

various muscles suspected to be contributing to the problem.

of muscle tension

is

identified, the biofeedback therapist

coach the person in ways to prevent muscle tension in

how to

high

muscle tension

relax

levels

when

levels

Once

would

the source instruct or

from increasing, and

they begin to approach dangerously

levels.

Feedback

is

the critical link and the distinguishing feature of this approach.

Feedback and feedback loops are ficult

would be

it

to learn to play tennis if you

told

when

ball,

you would have

a ball

vital to all types

would be served your way. little

idea where

it

of learning. Imagine

how dif-

were blindfolded and were not

If you

should happen to hit the

went. Removing the blindfold estab-

feedback loop that allows learning to take place more quickly. With

lishes a

biofeedback, changes in physical processes in your body, such as muscle tension,

hand temperature, and sweat gland

that

you can

and

it is

see or hear.

made

senses,

to mirror changes in bodily response. For example, learning

to decrease muscle tension in the

becomes

activity, are translated into signals

Feedback can be provided through any of the

softer,

or a bar

on

a

how

neck can be done by providing a sound that

computer screen that shrinks

in height as

muscle

tension decreases. Computer-based biofeedback systems allow a great deal of variety

and the creation of special forms of feedback.

how

warm

to

the screen as

his or her hands, the

and made

image of an

ice

When

teaching someone

cube can be displayed on

to melt as temperature goes up,

and

to

expand or harden

temperature goes down. With children, feedback can be provided in a game-

like

format to enhance interest and motivation. This direct feedback helps you

learn

what makes your symptoms get worse and what you can do

to

make them

get better.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Biofeedback

on

is

a dynamic, evolving field, with

a regular basis.

effectiveness

is

a

One

new

research findings generated

current source that addresses both efficacy and cost-

document published by the Association

for

Applied

Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB), "Clinical Efficacy and CostEffectiveness of Biofeedback

and Therapy: Guidelines

Reimbursement" (Shellenberger

et al.,

1994).

The

for

Third Party

authors defined various

The

112

criteria

by which

The

these criteria.

ma, attention

to judge effectiveness

and then

Whole Hind

listed diagnoses that

contains the following diagnoses: anxiety disorders, asth-

list

deficit disorder (hyperactivity), cerebral palsy, disorders

tine motility, enuresis, epilepsy, essential hypertension (high

incontinence (urinary and

fecal),

of intes-

blood pressure),

insomnia, motion sickness, neuromuscular

low back

disorders (Bell's palsy, whiplash, muscle-tendon transfers,

strain, joint

nerve problems, spasm, incomplete spinal cord

repair, torticollis, peripheral

motor neuron

lesion, lower

meet

and

lesion, ataxia, dystonia,

paralysis), pain

(headache, back, rheumatoid arthritis, and myofascial/temporomandibular),

Raynaud's disease, and stroke.

AAPB,

at various times, has

commissioned blue-

ribbon panels or task force committees to systematically review available ture for a given disorder

and

litera-

to prepare detailed, critical reports of biofeedback

The most recent collection of task force reports may be found in Hatch, Fisher, and Rugh (1987). Researchers are exploring more cost-efficient ways for administering biofeedback-based therapies, and one of these is what we have termed "minimal-contact" treatment. By giving patients instructional manuals and cassettes, the number of trips to the office can be reduced considerably without a correas a treatment.

sponding reduction

in effectiveness for

1996). Studies have

shown

biofeedback, often responding

than adults (Attanasio

some problems (Rowan and Andrasik,

that children are especially

more quickly and with

good candidates

greater

for

improvement

et al., 1985).

REAL PEOPLE AND BIOFEEDBACK

For several years,

Tom had been experiencing panic attacks,

an intense

fear or

discomfort that would reach a peak within 10 minutes.

During an

attack,

and shortness of breath

dizziness,

symptoms ries

first

appeared,

continued, so

tion

and

much

(a

rate,

smothering

sweating, trembling,

feeling).

Tom feared he was about to

die

When

these

and these wor-

so that they served to further intensify his condi-

started a cycle of panic.

revealed that in skin

he experienced a rapid heart

described as

A

psychophysiological stress profile

Toms panic attacks were accompanied by marked

conductance response, which

is

elevations

a measure of sweat gland

activity.

113

Biofeedback

It

was

first

explained to Tom that panic attacks are best thought of as harm-

alarms that are

less false

compounded by worries about them. The body

preparing to cope with danger, but since the danger

is

strictly internal,

nothing to run from or to fight (Gilbert, 1986).

Tom

gradually

there

is

came

to realize that his worries served only to exacerbate the condition.

Next,

Tom

conductance

was taught various

activity.

strategies to relax to decrease his skin

Treatment then entered the

panic attacks were induced in the clinic so biofeedback-aided

ported

Tom

is

relaxation skills "live."

The

final stage,

Tom

wherein

could work on his

therapist coached

and sup-

through successive panic episodes, until he reached the point

where he was comfortable warding off attacks by himself.

Greco (1994) recently reported on the successful use of a very specialized form of biofeedback, termed "neurotherapy,"

who

for treating

two individuals

experienced severe eating disorders. Treatment for one individual

summarized

here. S. W., 45,

is

began binge eating and purging (self-induced

vomiting) more than 25 years ago, and

when

seen for treatment, she was

purging 20 times each day on average. This took considerable time, required a lot of money to purchase food,

from family and

friends.

and

led her to

become

She has previously been treated for depression

and suicide attempts, including electroshock therapy, two tions, various medications,

experienced a high

had been sober for three

was a substitution

when

I

hospitaliza-

and counseling. She reported a prior addic-

tion to alcohol but stated that she related that "bulimia

isolated

years.

She

for drinking alcohol in that

I

purged."

Treatment was based on an approach that has shown promise with alcohol addiction (Peniston and Kulkosky, 1989), called "alpha-theta brain wave training." Treatment begins with six sessions of temperature

feedback to

facilitate

general relaxation

sessions of neurotherapy, during

and continues with

thirty or

which the person attempts

more

to increase

brain wave activity in the alpha-theta range. Learning to control brain

wave

activity

week

(S.

is

quite difficult, so multiple sessions are typically held each

W. was

seen four times per week).

When

brain

wave

activity

is

The

114

Whole Mind

increased in the alpha-theta range, people often report experiencing a

deep

of relaxation. Remaining in

state

this state for

an extended period

can unleash images that are very vivid and often traumatic and anxiety producing. Such "abreactive reactions" occurred frequently with

S.

W.,

and the content centered on themes of abuse she had experienced

as a

child.

The

therapist helped her

At the end of treatment,

months

work through

her purging had not returned and

later

depression had cleared as well.

weight with a normal

diet.

produced changes

activity

opioids,

Two

had

stabilized. Six

her long-standing

Greco theorized that changes

in brain

in certain brain chemicals, called

W. working through

S.

now

years later she was maintaining her

which were ultimately responsible

along with

these distressing images.

S. W.'s eating patterns

for the

wave

endogenous

improvement noted,

certain adverse situations experienced

as a child.

WHAT TO EXPECT Once

a detailed clinical history

is

taken, the biofeedback therapist typically

performs an assessment called a "psychophysiological

of recording bodily responses when the person are

made

to place

mild

stress

stress profile." It consists

tries to relax,

when attempts

on the person, and when simulating

real

world

behaviors in an attempt to identify which response systems are the most reactive or sensitive

and most

Armed with

knowledge, the biofeedback therapist instructs or coaches the

this

likely to

be contributing to the target problem.

person to respond to stressful situations in more adaptive ways and teaches

how

to

like to

keep bodily responses from becoming too extreme in the future.

think of the biofeedback therapist as a coach, or as a teacher

ing with children.

and can impart

A coach

this

is

someone who has

special skills

We

when work-

and knowledge

information to others in a supportive way.

Biofeedback therapists use numerous techniques to augment biofeedback, including diaphragmatic breathing (breathing that mic), guided imagery (focusing

on

is

slow, deep,

and rhyth-

pleasant, relaxing scenes), autogenic train-

ing (a form of self-suggestion to enhance feelings of deep relaxation), and progressive muscle relaxation training (systematic tensing

and relaxing of major

Biofeedback

115

muscle groups designed to promote deep relaxation of the entire body).

To be ment and

successful at biofeedback, a person

learn to behave

and think

in

tant psychological changes, such as a

new

must take an

ways. This often leads to impor-

newfound sense of mastery, improved mood, and enhanced problem-solv-

self-confidence

and

ing

acquired for a particular problem

skills. Skills

active role in treat-

self-efficacy, elevated

may be

useful

when

dealing

with other significant problems as well. It is

helpful to distinguish between the general practice (GP) biofeedback

clinician

GP

and the biofeedback

specialist

The

(Andrasik and Blanchard, 1984).

biofeedback clinician treats conditions that share certain characteristics:

The symptoms thetic nervous

are generally related to heightened arousal or excessive

sympa-

system activity and are believed to have some association to

stress

or anxiety, or conditions activated by the fight or flight response. Examples

include anxiety disorders, recurrent headaches, elevated blood pressure, and

nervous stomach. For these types of problems,

many forms

of therapy have

been attempted with success.

Other types of problems treated by biofeedback require more specialized approaches and training. Examples include modifying brain rhythms (EEG) for deterring epilepsy, for

improving cognitive functioning in people

who

have

experienced a stroke, and for enhancing attention and concentration in chil-

dren

who

are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder; increasing

for people experiencing paralysis

and muscle coordination

due

to stroke;

muscle tone

and enhancing muscle tone

for people having disorders of intestinal motility.

Successful treatment within this cluster of disorders requires specialized

biofeedback instruments and knowledge above and beyond that of the

GP

biofeedback clinician. In certain neurotherapy applications, such as treatment

of alcohol and drug addictions, for example, therapists need to be especially vigilant for culties

unexpected side

should they occur.

specialist

is

effects,

The

and

to have skills to deal with these diffi-

type of treatment provided by the biofeedback

more involved and time-consuming, taking perhaps

or more, while conditions treated by the biofeedback

GP

forty sessions

most commonly

require eight to twenty individual sessions.

HOW

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

Biofeedback clinicians can be found in mental health centers, universities, medical schools, hospitals,

and private

practice.

These

clinicians hold degrees in

Whole Mind

The

116

psychology, medicine, physical therapy, social work, counseling, or related disciplines.

may have been

Their training in biofeedback

es,

intensive

or

may

workshop programs) or informal

formal (university cours-

(self-directed study).

They may

not hold a certificate from the Biofeedback Certification Institute of

America (BCIA). BCIA was founded

in

1980, and

it is

the only entity that

presently defines and monitors standards for competence in biofeedback.

now management. BCIA Certification

is

available for the is

cerns specialization in

One approach

just

EEG

now

GP

biofeedback clinician and for

establishing a third certification,

is

to contact

BCIA, which main-

of therapists meeting minimal standards for com-

petence in administering biofeedback. If a certified provider

your

area, a search

biofeedback

among

which con-

biofeedback or neurotherapy.

to locating a practitioner

tains a geographical registry

stress

of the local directory their offerings.

may

is

not available in

reveal professionals

who

list

Questions to ask potential therapists con-

cern their extent of training in biofeedback, academic pursuits involving

biofeedback (does the provider present workshops, teach courses, or conduct research

on biofeedback), experience with the problem

at

hand, and the pro-

fessional standing in his/her specific field (e.g., licensing). Certification in

biofeedback

is

voluntary at present, and

ed not to pursue

this option.

While

many competent

therapists have elect-

minimum

certification ensures a

level

of

competence, the absence of certification does not imply the absence of this level

of competence.

RESOURCES

The two

best sources for gathering further information are the Biofeedback

Certification Institute of America (BCIA),

Wheat

Ridge,

10200 West 44th Ave., Suite 304,

CO 80033-2840; (303) 420-2902; fax:

(303) 422-8894; E-mail:

[email protected], and the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and

Biofeedback (AAPB), 10200 West 44th Ave., Suite 304, Wheat Ridge,

80033-2840; (303) 422-8436 or (800) 477- 8892; mail: [email protected].

fax:

CO

(303) 422-8894; E-

Both organizations request that you send

stamped, self-addressed envelope to receive information and

a

referrals, rather

than calling on the telephone.

AAPB, founded members include

in

1969,

is

a multidisciplinary professional society. Its

nurses, educators, social workers, physical

therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, dentists,

and occupational

and mental health

117

Biofeedback

counselors. This organization conducts an annual scientific meeting, offers

workshop programs around the country, publishes and

periodic

various publications for professional and lay audiences, ic

journal, Applied Psychophysiology

feedback

and sponsors

(formerly

a scientif-

known

as Bio-

and Self Regulation).

The

following items published by

readers: the

a series

and Biofeedback

distributes

AAPB may be

brochure "Biofeedback Training:

of particular interest to

A Client Information

Paper" and

of white papers prepared for consumers that discuss biofeedback

approaches to varied disorders. Popular books abound and

may be

obtained

at

local bookstores or libraries.

HOW

TO LEARN MORE

Andrasik,

F.

and

E. B. Blanchard. "Applications of Biofeedback to Therapy." In

Clinical Psychology: Theory, Research,

1123-1164. Attanasio, V.,

F.

Homewood, Andrasik, E.

IL: J.

and Practice (Vol.

II),

edited by C. E. Walker,

Dow-Jones-Irwin, 1984.

Burke, D. D. Blake, E. Kabela, and

M.

S.

McCarran.

"Clinical Issues in Utilizing Biofeedback with Children." Clinical Biofeedback

and

Health 8 (1985): 134-141. Clinical Applications

of Biofeedback and Applied Psychophysiology:

A

Series

of White

Papers Prepared in the Public Interest by the Association for Applied Psychophysiology

and Biofeedback. Wheat Ridge, CO: AAPB, 1995. Gilbert, C. "Skin

Conductance Feedback and Panic Attacks." Biofeedback and Self-

Regulation 11 (1986): 251-254.

Greco, D. "A Case Study Approach Examining the Effects of Alpha-Theta Brainwave

Training upon Bulimia Nervosa." Advances in Medical Psychotherapy 7 (1994):

163-174. Hatch,

G.

J. P., J.

New York: Miller,

N.

E.

Fisher,

and J. D. Rugh,

eds. Biofeedback: Studies in Clinical Efficacy.

Plenum, 1987.

and

L.

DiCara. "Instrumental Learning of Heart Rate Changes in

Curarized Rats: Shaping and Specificity to Discriminative Stimulus." Journal of

Comparative and Physiological Psychology 63(1 967) 12—19. :

Peniston, E. G. and

P. J.

Kulkosky. "Alpha-Theta Brainwave Training and B-endor-

phin Levels in Alcoholics." Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 13 (1989): 217-279.

Rowan, A.

B.

and

F.

Andrasik. "Efficacy and Cost-effectiveness of Minimal Therapist

Contact Treatments of Chronic Headaches: (1996): 207-234.

A

Review." Behavior Therapy 27

Ihe

118

Runck, B. Biofeedback:

Issues in

Department of Health and Schwartz, Press,

M.

S.

Whole Hind

Treatment Assessment. Washington,

Human

DC:

U.S.

Services, 1980.

Biofeedbacks Practitioners Guide. Second Edition. NY: Guilford

1995.

Shellenberger, R.,

P.

Amar, C. Schneider, and

J.

Turner. Clinical Efficacy

and

Cost

of Biofeedback Therapy: Guidelines for Third Party Reimbursement. Second Edition. Wheat Ridge, CO: Association for Applied Psychophysiology Effectiveness

and Biofeedback, 1994.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Andrasik received his doctorate in clinical psychology from University,

upon

School of Medicine in 1979.

He

presently holds the positions of professor,

director of the Center for Behavioral Medicine,

Programs

in the

Pensacola.

He

to

Ohio

completing an internship at the University of Pittsburgh

Department of Psychology

has been the recipient of

and director of Graduate

at the University

several federal

of West Florida,

and foundation grants

conduct research on biofeedback and has published and presented exten-

sively

on

this topic. In

1992, he received the "Merit Award for Long-Term

Research and/or Clinical Achievements" from this

same organization from 1993

to 1994.

AAPB. He

He

served as president of

currently serves as editor-in-

chief for this association's professional journal, Applied Psychophysiology

and

Biofeedback. Dr. Andrasik can be reached at the Center for Behavioral

Medicine, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola,

FL 32514-5751;

(904) 474-2041;

fax:

(904) 474-2042; E-mail: fandrasi@

uwf.edu.

Preparation of this chapter was supported in part by a grant from

NINDS, NS-29855.

NIH-

Carol Bush, M.S. W„

L. C.S. W.

Sara Jane Stokes, Ph.D., M.T.-B.C.

The Bonny Method of Guided

10 WHAT

IS

Imagery and Music

THE BONNY METHOD OF GUIDED IMAGERY AND MUSIC?

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) experiential therapy

and a method

for

uncovering deep

is

levels

a music-centered

of the mind. This

new form of psychotherapy makes use of music, combined with the ability of the mind to access images to communicate feelings and root causes. The GIM experience

deeper

Clients

and often face

ens is

is

much

selves. It

may

waking dream and enables people

experience emotional releases,

a spiritual unfolding.

and helps

new

like a

can illuminate or help to resolve current

levels

to

to connect to their

life issues.

new connections and

This work encourages unresolved

remove mental, emotional, and

insights,

issues to sur-

spiritual blocks. It also

awak-

of creativity while encouraging a deep inner connection to what

most meaningful. The music

is

chosen from the great masterworks, such

compositions by Bach, Beethoven, Strauss, Mozart, and Wagner.

GIM

as

makes

use of the fine art of great music as a potent healing force that allows people to directly participate in their

Unlike directed

many

from

music and by

own

visualization

health and well-being.

and imagery techniques,

GIM

a script but unfolds spontaneously, stimulated skilled guidance. Clients are

imagery

and

carried

is

not

by the

encouraged to find answers by being

honest with themselves, since images do not

lie

the images

from some therapies because

is

hard to manipulate.

directly engages

beyond the

It

differs

intellect, at the

and the dream-like nature of

sensory and feeling

levels.

it

This method

is

selves in life transitions,

even hospice.

who

such

as career

It is

helpful for those

To

tion to explore, heal,

enter this type of inner

and perhaps

on with

get

their goals. Additional benefits are the

the growth of spontaneity, faster

GIM because

it

work

life.

there

Whether

a motiva-

the motivation

GIM

is

moves people

promotion of body awareness,

enhancement of creativ-

resolution,

not recommended for people with serious mental disorders,

is

has the potential for uncovering deep emotional issues and unconis

not helpful for people

balance and coping with the

IT

symptom

must be

and deep appreciation of music.

scious material. This

HOW

find them-

change, geographical moves, divorce, or

the desire to ease emotional pain or the urge for growth,

intuition,

who

very well-suited to people with addictions, especially those

It is

are in recovery.

toward

and most

best-suited for people with depression, anxiety,

and relationship problems.

stress-related

ity,

Whole Mind

The

120

who

of everyday

realities

are struggling to maintain

life.

BEGAN

In the past several decades, the emergence of holistic thought in health care

way

has led to a renewed appreciation of the

knew

the ancients used music.

the potential of music to alter consciousness.

The

origins of

GIM date back to when a tremendous push to explore outer Man

space spawned a similar push to explore inner space. the

They

moon.

had

seek and stretch.

The Menninger Foundation

ness using hallucinogenic drugs. Several research gathered at these L.

two research

che, because

it

was

a time to

Kansas and the Maryland to explore conscious-

renowned pioneers

in consciousness

centers.

Bonny, Ph.D., R.M.T., a music therapist, brought her special

knowledge of music's potential in Baltimore.

in

government grants

Psychiatric Research Center received

rience.

walked on

People, especially youth, were restless for change. This was the time

of Kent State and the Beatles. Old forms were breaking up;

Helen

just

She

it

felt

that

for altering consciousness to the research

music was the perfect vehicle

team

for exploring the psy-

could carry someone through the heights and depths of an expe-

She developed a powerful yet

safe therapeutic

guided imagery and music (GIM). Since then, pioneered in such diverse areas

as individual

opment of creativity, uniting mind/body cross-cultural issues. In

all

areas, this

method

GIM

for healing called

applications have been

and group psychotherapy, devel-

in the healing arts, spirituality,

method honors

and

the ancient idea that

we

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music

121

can awaken our inner vision and reconnect with our deep source.

The Association es a professional

Music and Imagery (AMI), founded

for

journal for

GIM

and

endorsed training programs worldwide. There practitioners of the

tinue to research

HOW

new

practitioners through

growing number of skilled

a

the

title

of fellow,

who

con-

applications of the method.

WORKS

IT

Through

ate use

is

Bonny method of GIM, under

The guided imagery and music it.

GIM

credentials

in 1980, publish-

process works without having to think about

the skilled guidance of a specially trained therapist, the appropri-

of music, and the willingness of the client to be spontaneous, the process

energizes the psyche's innate ability to heal

dramatic means of tapping into

this

itself.

GIM provides a creative, often

complex means of healing. While

listen-

ing to inspired performances, the music provides a projective screen for cre-

many

atively

connecting

process

we connect our

The

levels

conscious

material that emerges

lish trust in this

of mind, body, and

is

mind

to

spirit.

Through

the

GIM

our unconscious mind.

often metaphoric, so

way of communicating with

it is

the inner

important to estab-

self.

Often the experi-

ence of being able to release bottled-up emotions enables a client to

immediate

relief

and

to trust that

something

significant

is

feel

happening.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Dr.

Kenneth James of the University of Chicago observed

presentation at the

AMI

quite differently than is

it

in

an unpublished

Conference in 1980 that the brain responds to music does to the spoken word.

The

brain's right

hemisphere

activated by stronger impressions with music than with the spoken word.

Such feeling-laden images can be processed by the brain almost simultaneously.

The

time-space barrier of the logical

left

brain

is

circumvented. This allows

millions of bits of information to be processed in seconds. Since the

has an enormous

human

capacity to store information, the retrieval

of significant

way of accessing

the conscious

impressions and images becomes an effective

and the unconscious mind. Dr. Robert effects

McDonald,

a

GIM practitioner from Minneapolis, studied the

of GIM on the body and mind (1990).

essential hypertension jects received

who were

He

studied thirty adults with

not taking medication.

A third of these sub-

GIM once a week for 6 weeks. A third received verbal therapy once

The

122

a

week

for six weeks,

GIM

pressure in the

Whole Mind

and the remaining third received no intervention. Blood group steadily declined. At

a six

month

follow-up, the

blood pressure of that group remained lowest of the three groups studied. Dr. Cathy

McKinney (McKinney, 1994) found

that listening to music

while imaging has a more intense effect on the body and mind, in terms of accessing emotions and effecting

body

states,

than just listening to music.

A

synchronization occurred between the music, feelings, images, breath and pulse rate,

causing a potent

effect.

whom

had

sions.

She found that the

She studied a group of

latent Epstein-Barr virus,

mood

and gave them

states

fifty-six adults, half

a short series of

GIM

of

ses-

of both groups were significantly and

positively altered in terms of anxiety, depression,

and confusion. Also the

Epstein-Barr group showed significant improvement in terms of fatigue on

GIM

low-up. Her results indicate that a short series of

fol-

sessions (at least six)

can positively effect mood.

M.

Dr. Elizabeth

Jacobi (publication in press) recruited 30 subjects diag-

nosed with rheumatoid session per

week

for 10 weeks.

physical, psychosocial,

showed tress

arthritis to participate in a

90-minute individual

Data were collected on three

levels:

GIM

medical/

and behavioral functioning. Results from the study

statistically significant

improvement

in the level of psychological dis-

and subjective experience of pain.

GIM studies

therapy has been applied to a wide range of special populations. Case

by

GIM therapists,

and Imagery, include such

published in The Journal of the Association for Music diverse areas as

Borling, 1992), collective grief from the

trauma and abuse

World War

II

(Pickett, 1995;

Holocaust (Merritt and

Schulberg, 1995), post-traumatic stress disorder with Vietnam veterans (Blake, 1994), and addictions and recovery (Stokes, 1992).

ed for a nonverbal the use of

GIM

man

has also been adapt-

with autism (Clarkson, 1995). Bruscia (1992) reports

with several people with AIDS. Clarkson and Geller (1996)

and Wrangsjo and Korlin (1995) chiatric

GIM

and psychoanalytic

discuss the effectiveness of

perspective.

GIM

from

a psy-

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music

123

REAL PEOPLE AND THE BONNY METHOD

came

Liz

to therapy with relationship problems.

She found herself avoid-

ing intimacy with her husband, Rob, and admitted that

had been

relationships

She couldn't seem to

difficult as well.

anyone. She had

come from

fights before they

divorced

a

home

when

her previous

all

in

she was

feel close to

which her parents had frequent 1 1

.

Her

brothers teased her con-

and during childhood she frequently suffered from night terrors. had been seeing Liz for approximately five months on a once-a-week

stantly I

basis.

We had an equal number of GIM and talk sessions.

to trust her inner

wisdom and

expressed her feelings. But one day, she

up

for a session.

She and Rob had had

with her aloofness.

I

way

the metaphoric

suggested that

we

felt

in

She had learned

which the imagery

miserable

when

she showed

He was

argument.

a bitter

up

fed

explore the blocks in the relation-

ship as the music of Bach began. She saw herself in a park with her hus-

band approaching. She couldn't

face him.

She

felt

too ashamed.

urged to explore that shame, she became aware that she her genitals. She

knew

As she looked more

light.

connected with, yet separate from, the

had somehow

child

split off

was

like a haggard, frazzled

tired

wound was

It

With my

had been doing

this to protect

self. It

and

seeing the ones

This defender

informed her

who would

it

get

the child.

urging, Liz was able to ventilate

now she was

saw that

a pure, innocent child.

this scene.

form of her adult

the worn-out defender. She raged

over but

closely, she

of constantly standing between her and anyone

close to her.

in

from her and was hiding.

The form of a defender emerged within looked

When

wounded

that only a pure white light could help her, but

she was cut off from the

The

felt

all

the pent-up feelings of it

was

her. In

her

cried. Finally, she indicated

who had

first

wounded

mind's eye she was back at the beach as a five-year-old. She was at an out-

door evening concert with her the

bathroom

Threatening to

alone. kill

Some

her

if

family.

She remembered she had gone to

boys jumped her as she came in the door.

she told anybody, each one raped her.

reexperiencing the trauma of this event, she was able to release

By it.

briefly

As

this

Whole Mind

The

124

occurred, a bright light appeared in her inner world, filling the void and

wound. Suddenly the

healing the

child found herself transforming into

Tinkerbell (a child-woman) while her shadow was sewn back on.

Returning to her normal

state after this

music

session, she

was amazed

what had occurred. She had never connected the rape with her hesitancy in relationships. She was not aware that she still carried the shame

at

from that long ago

event.

The

fear

had lodged deeply

and

in her psyche

had made her overly protective of her emotional attachments. This one session had an enormous effect on the intimacy problem with her husband, and she years they are

Mary was an paying job

felt it

still

helped to save her floundering marriage. After 10

happily married.

attractive 35-year-old

as a

who was

married and had a well-

computer consultant. Her appearance belied her inner

turmoil. Previously, she had tried conventional talk therapy for her feelings of depression but felt frustrated that her insights

any that

real

change. She sang in a

somehow

community chorus and was

it

a try and committed for twelve

sessions.

Her

initial

tent career

intrigued

music could be used for counseling. Because she loved

music, she decided to give

apy

had not produced

imagery revealed that there were two Marys

woman and

dutiful wife,

and the woman

—

GIM

ther-

the compe-

who was carrying on

and whose increasingly heavy drinking was getting harder Her overriding feelings were of loneliness and guilt. In her third

a secret affair to hide.

we began As Mary lay

session,

to see the

dynamics that contributed to her aloneness.

on the couch, the music from a Bach fugue of spiraling downward. Though she felt apprehensive,

relaxed

evoked a sensation

need to go down to that cave and go

in."

she reported,

"The

There

hidden recesses of the cave, she encountered her brother,

in the

strings say

who had committed have done friend!"

this to

Music

suicide

I

when

she was 8 years old.

me?" she cried out

selections for grief work

in anguish,

"How could you

"You were

encouraged Mary to

my

best

fully feel the

anger and abandonment she had hidden deep inside. Afterward,

Mary

125

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music

was amazed that her

and

her husband,

and Berlioz is

referred to as

"how my

life is

a

lie."

GIM session, she reported that she had been arguing with and she

Bill,

just couldn't trust

I

him with her

feelings.

She

used the nurturing music of Britten, Vaughan Williams,

as she explored her

brilliant blue; the scent

ing. I'm

16 in

my

on the

is

in the

air. I

Tommy,

know something is wrong. As I look at myself, encouraged Mary to continue sharing. "I look

I

I

look excited and bubbly on the

I

inside I'm hollow

Mary

have no heart, no soul

from Pucinnfs "The

Butterfly caress her,

and she

and

softly cried, "I

—

Humming

felt their

gentle

split."

I

asked her to

want to be whole and

I'm just empty."

Later in the session, as her tears subsided, lovely voices

hear the crowds cheer-

inside

touchdown.

"but on the

I

of fall

Mary said, "The

a

try to explore her feelings.

stop hurting ...

Sharing her imagery,

made

don't have any face!"

happy," she said,

life.

blue and gold cheerleader outfit at the game.

boyfriend, just

outside, but I

with emotion

impelled to keep her secret affair going, though she suffered from

guilt pangs.

my

what she

to face

In her sixth

sky

filled

next few weeks, Mary's frozen feelings began to thaw and she was

more ready

felt

from long ago could be so

She thought she had dealt with her brother's death "long ago."

so real.

The

loss

Mary was

able to let the

Madam

Chorus" from

harmony

of mercy.

as angels

Mary's face was relaxed now. "They're comforting me," she whispered,

"and the darkness to be

all

is

beginning to

right." In the

the imagery.

"It's like

lift.

They

are telling

me

that

it's

going

weeks afterward, we discussed the significance of the

mask

I still

wear today," she mused, "living

a

secret life."

Mary had grown up and her mother was

ular

and

The get

to face her

aloof.

which her

father

would often drink

Kids were to be seen and not heard. Having

was discouraged and Mary remembered excelling

friends over excuses.

in a family in

at

making

family rule was to look good and Mary's job was to be pop-

good grades. In the imagery sequence, Mary had found

deep childhood wounds of isolation and feeling

split,

a

and was

able to begin to allow herself the comfort and caring that she never

from her parents. Even though she did not consider herself

Maty

accepted the angel helpers without question.

way

felt

religious,

Whole Mind

The

126

Gradually, in the weeks that followed,

Mary

felt like

aware of her reactions and behaviors. She wondered more, yet

still

was churning over her

She also saw her daily cocktail hours of her current

feelings

and

affair

as a

way

all

if

the secrets in her

numb

to

out the hollow

Mary found

herself stuck in the middle of a

bridge surrounded by a barren landscape, and could not move. decide whether to go back to Bill or leave

The music mirrored

swayed back and

know

don't

"This

fied.

forth.

want

if I

him

my lover,"

for

"I can't

she lament-

her ambivalence as the melody and rhythm

"The

affair

is

to be with Bill."

go on," she moaned,

can't

over," she admitted quietly, "but

The

have got to move!" To the strains

"I

with dancers. To her surprise, she and

filled

ing the rhythm of their

used to do al

she for

be and

once and for

this?"

how much

fun

relieved to say her affair

felt

in

all.

"Am

I

it

were dancing,

feel-

"We

metaphor

was over but

really getting

how natur-

Mary

stated that

felt

scared to really end

an answer from myself about

for exploring really

some

it

all

risk-taking with

end her

She

she could at least trust her

affair

another chance. In the

last session,

own

happened. She relayed, .

.

it's

the kind you is

"I see a

him

tell

Mary made some critical

deci-

want

instincts

lost brother,

to get into."

a kind of glow

and give the marriage

and a curious thing

pool of water with ripples on the sur-

She

fell silent

and then con-

coming up from down under.

of a diffused light coming up through ful!" Later,

Could things

she found herself once again in the

dark cave where she had grieved over her

tinued, "There

Bill.

dance image

and seek out couples counseling with her husband.

sions to felt

to use the

be different? Could she open up more and

her real needs? In the weeks that followed,

.

"I forgot

Mary wondered.

between them

face

Bill

was." Afterward,

During the following week, Mary was asked as a

ball-

tune and time to the music.

back when we dated," she exclaimed.

this

we could

movements

I

feeling of being stuck intensi-

of Brahms' Piano Concerto, the scene shifted to an old-fashioned

room

life.

life.

In her eighth session,

ed.

more

she was

she could trust

me and

all

around me.

It's

It is

wonder-

during Wagner's exquisite masterpiece "Lohengrin,"

closed the session with a

memorable reunion. "Ted,

my

brother

sort

is

Mary here,"

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music

she declared.

"We

feel so grateful.

Today,

are holding each other.

There

Mary

127

are

He

says he

proud of me.

is

I

no words."

regards herself as a different person. She states that she

much more open emotionally and willing to try new things. She feels much more confident and reports that she and Bill are getting along much

is

better.

They

actually signed

up

for ballroom

they had always talked of doing.

To Mary,

The images were powerful metaphors

dancing

GIM

classes,

something

therapy was amazing.

that told the story of her

life.

Her

journey contained the wounds of the past and the present, yet also held the treasures and her strengths to be the real person she longed to be.

The

music was her constant companion, urging her forward, mirroring her pain, giving comfort.

Today she

longer split or stuck but free to

is

free to grow, to risk,

make

— no

and to love

choices and take chances trusting

herself and others.

WHAT TO EXPECT In

GIM

therapy, the client

and

therapist

work together

team.

as a

We

refer to

the client as "traveler" and the trained therapist as "guide." This terminology

supports a mutual cooperation to solve problems and empowers clients to trust in their

own

capacity for healing and insight.

In conventional talk therapy, getting to the core of a presenting issue nor-

mally would take months or even years to accomplish. In

GIM

therapy, the

combination of the music, deep relaxation, and a trained guide greatly accelerates the

time frame. For instance, during a

3 to 4 months, major

shifts usually

series

of 10 sessions, which

may take

occur in enhanced self-concept, restoration

of more healthy behavior patterns, positive attitudes, and capacity for change. Sessions are generally

commits ly.

60

to

to a series of six to twelve sessions. This

In other cases, the

with bodywork, to

touch during a

GIM

client/traveler usually

may occur weekly or

biweek-

number and frequency of sessions may be determined by

the guide and client as needed. assist

90 minutes long. The

The

client stays fully dressed.

facilitate release

session,

The guide may

of intense emotions or supportive

with prior permission from the

client.

The

128

Each

session begins with the traveler

and concerns of the

client.

down on

ably, lie

a

and guide exploring

A focus or intention

chooses appropriate music to be used.

The

couch or mat, and

is

Whole Mind

is

often reached and the guide

client/traveler

assisted

significant issues

may sit up

by the guide

or, prefer-

to relax through

breathing or autogenic relaxation suggestions. These suggestions help shift the traveler into a relaxed yet focused

mind

state.

The music

starts,

and

as

images, sensations, and feelings, the traveler and guide talk together. eler describes experiences as

ages the inner action.

The

it

evokes

The

trav-

they occur while the guide supports and encouractive

involvement with the music usually

approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Afterward, the guide

reflecting

on the images and experiences

ate, their

relevance to

life issues.

assists

The remainder of the

gain closure and to return to an alert state.

lasts

the traveler to session

is

spent

that the traveler felt and, if appropri-

Often the

art

therapy technique of the man-

dala (a circular drawing that helps to connect the conscious to the unconscious) is

used for further nonverbal assessment.

GIM

ses-

sion indicate a certain course of action that supports the healing process.

The

Sometimes the thoughts,

feelings, or

images accessed during a

guide would encourage the client to trust this information and to follow Since

GIM

GIM

guide. However, people

therapy

is

an in-depth process,

who want

it

to

it.

requires the expertise of a trained

do

this

experience an adaptation of this process in a limited

work on

way

(see

their

own may

Chapter

1

7 from

Carol Bush's book Healing Imagery and Music, 1995).

HOW TO

FIND A PRACTITIONER

A listing of certified GIM

practitioners

is

available

from the Association

for

Music and Imagery (AMI) c/o executive secretary James Rankin, 331 Soquel Ave., Ste. 201, Santa Cruz,

GIM

CA 95062,

(408) 426-8937.

practitioners are graduates of approved

credentialed by

AMI.

A GIM

GIM

trainee undergoes a basic

training programs

and

and advanced training

consisting of two to three years of short-term residential courses plus practical

applications in the field.

The

trainee

must have

a master's degree in a mental

Upon completion of the training program, the trainee is granted the title of fellow by AMI. He or she is then qualified to practice the Bonny method of GIM. Practitioners may work with groups and/or individuals. They may be spehealth or related field to graduate.

cialists

and have

a private practice or

work

in a clinic or institutional setting.

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music

Charges vary but an individual session

and

129

may range from $60

$90

to

for

an hour

a half.

RESOURCES If you are interested in attending a class or introductory

you can get

a directory of approved

with workshop information from

may be

professionals or

trainings are held in

AMI. Some workshops

affiliated

with a university for

AMI

is

available to anyone,

GIM,

a newsletter

CEU credit for

offer

credit. International

Australia, England,

and

else-

and an annual national con-

authors are directors and trainers of the Mid-Atlantic

VA 23454,

Program (P.O. Box 4655, Virginia Beach, the

and

in

held.

is

The

training programs

Germany, Denmark, Mexico,

where. Membership in ference

GIM

workshop

GIM Training

(757) 498-0452, or for

MD office, (410) 757-9719). They grant CEUs and graduate credit for

three

of training through Virginia

levels

Commonwealth

all

University,

Richmond, VA. Helen Bonny's original monographs and other publications by Lisa

Summer may Salina,

be ordered from

The Bonny Foundation, 2020 Simmons

Kansas 67401, (913) 827-1497.

the field

is

the Journal of the

Parkway, Baltimore,

AMI c/o

An

excellent source of articles

St.,

from

Eugenia Pickett, 500 West University

MD 21210, (410) 243-7300.

HOW TO LEARN MORE Achterberg,

J.

Imagery in Healing: Shamanism and Modern Medicine. Boston,

New Science Beaulieu,

J.

Blake, R.

Music and Sound in

the Healing Arts.

New York:

"Vietnam Veterans with Post-Traumatic

Music and Imagery Bonny, H.

L.

Project." Journal of the

"Music Listening

Music Therapy 3, no. Bonny, H.

L.

L.

1

for Intensive

and

M.

From

a

(1994): 1-4.

Coronary Care Units:

A Pilot

Project."

(1983): 4-16.

MD: ICM L.

Station Hill Press, 1987.

Stress Disorder: Findings

AMI 3

The Role of Taped Music Programs

#2. Baltimore,

Bonny, H.

MA:

Library, 1995.

in the

GIM Process. GIM

Monograph

Books. 1978.*

Savary.

Music and Your Mind.

New York:

Harper and Row,

1973. Borling,

J.

"Perspectives

on Growth with a Victim of Abuse:

A Guided Imagery and

Music (GIM) Case Study." Journal ofthe AMI \ (1992): 85-98.

Whole Mind

The

130

from the Other Side: Healing Persons with AIDS Through Guided Imagery and Music." In Music and Miracles, edited by D. Campbell.

Bruscia, K. E. "Visits

Wheaton,

IL:

Theosophical Publishing House, 1992.

Bush, C. "Dreams, Mandalas, and Music Imagery: Therapeutic Uses in a Case Study." Arts in Psychotherapy 15, no. 3 (1988): 219-226.

Bush, C. Healing Imagery and Music: Pathways

to the

Inner

Portland,

Self.

OR: Rudra

1995.

Press,

Campbell, D., ed. Music and Miracles. Wheaton,

IL:

Theosophical Publishing House,

1992.

Clarkson, G. "Adapting a Guided Imagery and Music Series for a Non-verbal

Man

with Autism." Journal ofthe AMI 4 (1995): 121-127. Clarkson, G. and

J.

Working with Series."

Geller.

"The Bonny Method from

The Arts

in Psychotherapy 23, no.

Copland, A. Music and Imagination.

Goldberg,

F.

S.

Music Therapy

M. and G.

Rheumatoid

Eisenberg.

in

Arthritis." Association for

Leuner, H. "Guided Affective Imagery:

Acute Psychiatric Inpatient and Private 6 (1989): 40-43.

Efficacy of

A Method 1

Unpublished doctoral

Treatment of

in the

(in press).

of Intensive Psychotherapy."

(1969): 4—22.

Efficacy of Guided Imagery in

cept and Blood Pressure

GIM

Music and Imagery

American Journal of Psychotherapy 50, no.

McDonald, R. G. "The

Mentor, 1952.

Perspectives

"The

Guided Imagery and Music

4 (1996): 311-319.

New York:

"Music Psychotherapy

Practice Settings."

Jacobi, E.

a Psychoanalytic Perspective:

a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist in a

Music

as a Strategy

of Self-con-

Change Among Adults with Essential Hypertension." Walden University, Minneapolis, MN, 1990.

thesis,

McKinney, C, M. Antoni, A. Kumar, and M. Kumar.

Music on Depression and Beta-Endorphin

"Effects of Guided

Levels." Journal

Imagery and

of the AMI 4 (1995):

67-78. Merritt, S.

Mind, Music and Imagery. Santa Rosa, CA: Asian, 1996.

Merritt, S.

and C. Schulberg.

"GIM and

Collective Grief: Facing the

Shadow of the

Holocaust." Journal of'the AMI 4 (1995): 103-120.

Nolan, no.

P.

"Insight Therapy:

1

Pickett, E.

the

GIM

in a Forensic Psychiatric Setting."

Music Therapy 3,

(1983): 43-51.

"Guided Imagery and Music:

AMI 4

A Technique for Healing Trauma." Journal of

(1995): 93-102.

Stokes, S. "Letting the

Sound Depths Arise." Journal of'the AMI 1

(1992): 69-76.

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music

Stokes, S.

"Music Synergy." Unpublished doctoral

Minneapolis, Stokes, S.

MN,

dissertation,

Walden

University,

1985.

and C. Bush. "Guided Imagery and Music: Ancient Roots, Modern

Practice." Storr,

131

Open Ear Winter (1992): 7-11.

A. Music

and the Mind. New York: Macmillan, 1992.

MMB Music, Inc.,

Summer,

L.

GIM in the Institutional Setting.

Summer,

L.

"Imagery and Music." Journal of Mental Imagery

Tame, D. The

Secret

St.

Louis,

MO:

9, no.

in Psychiatry." Journal

*Available from the

4 (1985): 83-90.

Power ofMusic. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books, 1984.

Wrangsjo, B. and D. Korlin. "Guided Imagery and Music

Method

1988.

as a

Psychotherapeutic

ofthe AMI 4 (1995): 79-92.

Bonny Foundation

(listed in "Resources").

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Carol Bush, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.,

more than 25

is

a pioneer in guided imagery

years of clinical experience have included a variety of mental

Miami and Virginia Beach. She

health settings, including private practices in

the author of Healing Imagery

and Music: Pathways

Press, 1995). In addition, she has

journals

and

is

a specialist

and

authored scholarly

trainer in the use of

Association and Research Institute widely, conducting

tant,

M.T.-B.C,

and received her training

work pioneered

music therapy

(MARI

)

Card

to the

Inner

is

5^(Rudra

articles for professional

mandalas and the Mandala Test. Currently, she travels

workshops and training seminars.

Sara Jane Stokes, Ph.D.,

doctoral

and music. Her

at St.

in

is

a clinician, educator,

GIM with

Bonny in GIM. She is a past

Dr. Helen L.

further applications of

and consul1973. Her director of

Mary-of-the- Woods College. As a seasoned workshop pre-

senter, her specializations include

such diverse areas

as recovery, leadership

development, and spiritual formation. She has also produced a ation tapes used in health care settings

and

and Music and Miracles (Quest Books, 1992).

is

series

published in the

of relax-

AMI Journal

Glenn

Doman

11

WHAT

IS

Child Brain Development in Brain-Injured and Well Children

CHILD BRAIN DEVELOPMENT?

Child brain development

is

a nonsurgical treatment for brain-injured children,

and

a series of techniques for

and

socially splendid.

making

well children intellectually, physically,

These treatments

are directed at the brain, the source of

the paralysis, speechlessness, blindness, deafness, apparent mental retardation,

and other problems that beset the brain-injured

child.

at the

source of the problems.

An

is

in contrast to the

aimed

at

symptoms

approach aimed

at

symptoms alone

traditional, widely used rehabilitation approaches

than

This

rather

leads to institutionalization or extremely limited goals for the millions of chil-

dren worldwide with brain injury.

The

cost of this traditional approach, both

human and economic terms, staggers the imagination. The half-century of work on the part of the child brain developmentalists who make up the staff of the Institutes for the Achievement of Human in

Potential has established clearly that brain growth

predestined and unchangeable

facts.

and development

are not

Brain growth and development can be

accelerated by giving the child visual, auditory,

and

tactile

stimulation with

increased frequency, intensity, and duration, in recognition of the extremely orderly

way

in

which the brain grows.

This chapter will report that, using these principles, injured children began to see and read;

many

many

blind, brain-

deaf children began to hear and

Child Brain

speak;

Development

many

and think

many

gain knowledge and

as well as

The

IT

speechless

began to

(and sometimes substantially better than) their

skills at levels far

many well

above what

children were able to

usually considered normal

is

techniques described here are carried out at home, by the

families of the children, rather than

HOW

many

severely mentally retarded children

noninjured peers of the same age. In addition,

for their age.

133

paralyzed children began to walk and run;

children began to talk; and read, write,

and Well Children

in Brain-Injured

by

professionals.

BEGAN

Discouraged by the lack of

results achieved

by the traditional symptomatic

treatment of brain-injured children, a multidisciplinary team began to form

immediately prior to World rosurgeon, Temple Fay,

who

the chair of Neurology at

War

II.

This team was led by a distinguished neu-

then occupied both the chair of Neurosurgery and

Temple University Medical School

and the team included a young physical In the years immediately following

therapist: this author.

World War

II,

this

a physiatrist, a nurse, a speech therapist, a psychologist,

and

objective of the

team was

rather than the

symptoms, thus achieving

to find efficient

appropriate specialists, and a

new

effective

results that

By 1955, the team had grown

palliative.

in Philadelphia,

team grew

and an educator. The

means

to treat the brain,

were curative rather than

to include pediatricians

discipline

to include

and other

was formed. The new discipline

was called child brain development, and the methods employed complemented and reinforced the results being achieved by the neurosurgical members of the team.

When to

hundreds of profoundly and severely brain-injured children began

perform

as well as or at

ing problems arose.

What

even higher did

it

mean

levels if

than well children,

children

who had

many perplex-

suffered profound

or severe brain injury performed at higher levels than uninjured children twice their age?

It

became

clear that well kids

were not nearly

as well as

they were

capable of being.

By 1963, we turned our physically, bilitation

Human Japan.

and

attention to

socially splendid,

Center

Potential.

at

making

all

children intellectually,

and changed our name from the Reha-

Philadelphia to the Institutes for the Achievement of

There are currently

Institutes affiliates in Italy, Brazil,

and

The

134

HOW

WORKS

IT

To be

own

Whole Mind

successful, treatment

we must

terms. In short,

The

functions.

of brain dysfunction must take place on the

brain

is

brain, like the biceps,

deal with the principles

the most sophisticated system

grows by

use.

This

also

known

the brain

humans. The

to

been well-known to neuro-

fact has

They have

physiologists for half a century.

upon which

brain's

known

that the opposite

is

true.

Both of these points have been proven repeatedly by animal experimentation that gives sensory deprivation to

one group of laboratory animals while pro-

viding sensory enrichment to their matched rized the findings of his research

group

mates. David Krech

litter

at the University

summa-

of California

at

Berkeley, "After a lifetime spent in giving environmental enrichment to one

group of rats and environmental deprivation to clear that the rats raised in

oped, highly intelligent brains, while their in

their

matched

environmental enrichment have litter

litter

mates,

it is

large,

highly devel-

mate brothers and

sisters, raised

environmental deprivation have small, stupid, underdeveloped brains. ...

would be that

it is

that

it

scientifically unjustifiable to

also true in people.

were not true

.

.

expanded by Marian Diamond

And

.

in people."

assume it

These

at

would be

all

too often,

we

is

true in

socially criminal to

vital studies

rats,

assume

have been continued and

UCLA.

Tragically, there are indications that the

but

because this

that,

It

discover a child

same

is

true in people. Infrequently,

whose insane parents kept the

oner by chaining them to a bedpost in a darkened

attic,

child pris-

or confined to the

darkness and silence of a locked closet. Such children, depending on the duration, depth,

and age

at

which the child suffered

this

epitome of child abuse,

have consequences ranging intellectually from severe retardation to absolute idiocy,

and ranging physically from

treatment

is

paralysis to

profound

arrest

of growth. This

the exact opposite of a program of child brain development.

Neuroscience research has also shown over the past two decades that the brain

has

is

very capable of recovering from certain kinds of injury. This research

shown

that the brain responds to stimulation of the senses

ment by growing and age,

and

in

developing. There

is

also

both normal and pathological

and

to

compelling evidence that

states,

moveat

any

behavioral events alter the

functioning of brain chemicals and that this can change behavior (Institutes, unpublished).

Brain pathways can be divided into two broad categories: sensory ent) pathways,

which bring information into the

brain,

and motor

(affer-

(efferent)

Child Brain

Development

in Brain-Injured

pathways, through which the brain reacts by the information a

it

135

and Well Children

commanding motor

responses to

has received. All incoming sensory, or afferent, pathways are

one-way road into the brain and incapable of carrying an outgoing message.

All outgoing, or efferent,

This

brain.

is

pathways are incapable of carrying a message into the

a long-recognized

and well-known

fact

of neurology that seems

to have been completely overlooked in conventional rehabilitation of brain-

injured patients.

The normal

on the

of these pathways. The destruction of motor or sensory path-

ways

integrity

will result in a lack

functioning of the brain

of functional performance of the

a lack will continue until the specific

new pathways ment. All

efforts in

locating the break

Following

being. Such

to the brain

completing the

and back again

total cyber-

to the environ-

treatment of the brain-injured patient must be directed at

and closing the

circuit.

summary of some of the techniques used

a

is

human

pathways are restored to function, or until

are established that are capable of

from the environment

netic loop

completely dependent

is

which make use of the above

at the Institutes

principles.

Procedures That Supply Discrete Bits of Information to the Brain for Storage It is

not possible to extract either function or information from a brain that

has none. Such a brain

is

in a zero state

and

remain so until information

will

supplied. Brain injury creates a barrier between the brain that, in the case

normal

uli at

er, it is

levels

of frequency,

intensity, or duration.

To

penetrate the barri-

necessary to increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of stimuli

ment demand

ten,

When

and even more. The

principles of child brain develop-

that such a child be provided with the greatest, rather than the

impingement from

for an

and the environment

of the patient in a coma, cannot be penetrated by sensory stim-

by multiples of five,

least,

is

a child has

his

environment.

been traumatically brain-injured and has been in a coma

extended period of time, he or she has traditionally been provided with

life-sustaining medical

and nursing

care, in a

room kept

as quiet

stimulating environmental impingement as possible. His bed

room with dled only

and is

curtains drawn, with silence enforced as far as possible.

when

necessary. Exactly the opposite

is

required

if

free

from

in a private

He

is

such a child

hanis

to

have a chance for recovery.

For example, tain a flashlight,

at the Institutes,

such a

child's

two blocks of wood, a tuning

bedside table might con-

fork, pins, brushes, sniff jars

Whole

The

136

Mind

containing various strong smelling but harmless substances, and a variety of other stimulus-producing tools, as well as

jars

stances such as horseradish, garlic, mustard,

containing strong-tasting sub-

and so on. In addition

to regularly

and frequently scheduled periods during which the following procedures used, each professional person

who

passes the child's

room

is

are

directed to stop

long enough to open the child's eyes and shine the flashlight into them, to

of wood together sharply near his

strike the blocks

stick

him gently with

pinch

ear, to

his skin, to

the pin, to place the vibrating tuning fork

on various

joints, to

brush his skin briskly with textured brushes, to pass various aromas

under

nose

his

briefly,

and

to place

on

his

tasting foods, insufficient in quantity for

tongue very small amounts of strong-

him

to

choke or

All of these procedures are entirely sensory in nature

a

motor response. They

random

intelligence.

and do not

These procedures provide basic sensory stimuli that range as the

presence of light, sound, or feeling to such

much more sophisticated bits of information as or feeling a specific object.

reading a word, hearing a word,

When such stimulation

respond by seeing, hearing,

is

introduced, one frequent-

feeling, tasting,

and smelling

matter of days or a very few weeks, even though the individual in a

comatose

state for

more common,

months or even

the child

is

required to produce coma. varies in degree.

years.

whose injury

The

child's

Much is

may

less spectacular,

at a level just

is

problem

The same procedure can be

The techniques

anticipate

are intended purely to supply the brain with bits of

from such simple information

ly sees a patient

aspirate.

in a

have been

but

much

below the

level

often identical and simply

applied with success.

for supplying basic, discrete bits of information to the brain

are geared precisely to the patient's developmental stage in the area of sensory

may

competence being

treated. Levels

of competence in different sensory areas

The

patient's levels

of competence are determined, and he or she

differ greatly. is

supplied with input normal to those

all

levels.

The

the sensory input normal to the next higher

to accomplish

However,

due

due

level,

to

is

and enriched auditory,

made an

is

then supplied with

which he or she

is

unable

environmental deprivation.

in supplying the next higher level, a carefully

greatly intensified

ry stimuli

to brain injury or

patient

planned program of

visual, tactile, gustatory,

integral part of the environment.

and

olfacto-

Treatment begins

to

supply the brain with sensory stimulation with increased frequency, intensity,

and duration,

in recognition

develops and grows.

of the orderly way in which the

human

brain

Child Brain

Development

Procedures That

in Brain-Injured

137

and Well Children

Demand an Immediate Response from the

Brain to a Basic

Discrete Bit of Information That Has Just Been Supplied to the Brain

Procedures under this principle might range from tapping the patellar ten-

don with (if

a

hammer, demanding

extension of the knee

upon which

senting a card red letters,

demanding the

a patellar reflex response

a desired

is

the

from the spinal cord

developmental response), to visually pre-

word "Mommy" has been

cortical response

written in very large

"Mommy."

of the spoken word

Procedures That Program the Brain

These procedures range from those that the final level of sophistication to

are life-saving to those

human communication. Very basic programs

of sensory input are supplied to the lower and more primitive brain, such as the tactile

programming of how

or simple crawling movements.

which add

To the higher

it

feels to

level

levels

of the

breathe rhythmically,

of the brain, they supply

very complex and advanced programs of sensory intake, such as the tactile pro-

gramming of complex walking movements,

human

speech, and the visual

dures place great reliance that are prerequisite to

programming of human

upon the

human

tactile, auditory,

it

programming of

reading.

and

These proce-

visual

pathways

walking, talking, and writing. All of these pro-

cedures address the brain at the appropriate that

the auditory

level, in

the sensory language

understands, and concerning the function or functions for which

it is

responsible.

Procedures That Permit the Brain to Respond to Previous Programming

These procedures

are sensory-motor in nature

and provide an optimal

opportunity for the brain to use the programs provided in the third principle. Since the programs were often repeated and included precisely coordinated large

amounts of related information, the responses now

are holistic

and

will consist

elicited

from the brain

of precisely coordinated patterns of function. They

include patterns of mobility function that range from crawling, through creeping, to the highest levels

of

human

walking.

They

also include patterns

of

speech function ranging from meaningful sound to the highest levels of human speech,

and patterns of human

cortical hemisphere,

creative

such

creativity

as creative

emanating from a

single,

dominant

speech composition, creative writing, and

manual accomplishments. These procedures provide an opportune

environment

in

which

to retrieve the specific patterns desired.

For example,

it

is

Whole

The

138

human

easiest for a

smooth,

flat

surface

is

being to crawl on a smooth, provided

if

the goal

is

flat surface.

Mind

Therefore, a

to retrieve a homolateral pattern

of human crawling that has been programmed into the brain.

Procedures That Provide an Improved Physiological Environment in Which

the Brain May Function

The best known of the procedures under this ing. It

is

principle

is

called reflex

a response to the fact that in nearly every kind of brain injury, there

almost invariably an insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain. This in

minutes by the death of brain

cells

and brain

children suffer from

some degree of chronic hypoxia. This

most

clearly in the child

palsy,

whose mouth

is

who

is

diagnosed

as

is

many

injury. After

experience, the staff of the Institutes have been persuaded that

all

is

followed years of

brain-injured

demonstrated

is

having severe athetoid cerebral

perpetually open as he or she gasps for

air.

dren are usually injured in the midbrain. They are frequently result

mask-

These

chil-

brilliant, as a

of their unhurt cortex, but have historically grown worse with each pass-

ing year as a result of their untreated midbrain injury. This process

is

reversed

using the techniques described below.

The

brain

is

cipally oxygen.

entirely

dependent upon a constant supply of nutrients, prin-

The most important

single step in child brain

development

meet

the provision of an adequate supply of oxygen to the brain to

under

all

its

is

needs

circumstances, since without this nutrient, other methods of treat-

ment, however ingenious,

will

fail.

In reflex masking, the child, under the closest parental observation, wears a small plastic

mask over

the nose and mouth.

administer oxygen in hospitals.

The

The mask is the type used to own expired air for

child rebreathes his

periods ranging from 10 seconds to one minute. In each succeeding breath, the

amount of carbon dioxide rebreathed

tors in the brain,

increases.

As

a result, the chemorecep-

which monitor every breath taken throughout

life,

detect the

decreasing amounts of oxygen, and react by causing the child to breathe deeper

and

faster to increase the

amount of inspired air and,

thus, the

amount of oxy-

gen inspired. Simultaneously, the increasing amounts of carbon dioxide cause

much

greater

dioxide

is

minute or

amounts of blood

to reach the brain,

due

an extremely powerful vasodilator. Since the less,

the child reaps two rewards: great

to the fact that carbon

maximum

time

is

one

amounts of oxyhemoglobin

Child Brain

Development

in Brain-Injured

139

and Well Children

reaching the brain and huge chest expansions and chest growth. This

is

vital

since brain-injured children have markedly smaller chests than do well chil-

masking must never be attempted without prior consultation with

dren. Reflex

the patients medical doctor.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Following are

results

of the

Institutes'

program between 1972 and 1992. Results

are published annually in the Institutes' publication,

The In Report. These

results were achieved entirely by parents treating their children at home, using

the program of child brain development taught to Institutes.

The

them by the

children were seen at the Institutes twice a year.

children achieved victories in

many or

all

of the categories

staff

of the

Many

of the

listed.

Chest Growth

In a population of 987 brain-injured children consecutively admitted to the program,

888 had

chests with circumferences

below that of their well

Following the use of reflex masking, the average chest growth

among

peers.

the 888

children with below- average chest size was 167 percent greater than average chest growth

among normal

children, according to published charts used

by

pediatricians.

Mobility 1.

2.

Of the

2,164 individuals (ages seven months to 29 to

out help for the

time in their

Of the

Of the walk,

4.

lives.

unable to creep, 471 (43%) began to do

so.

1,222 individuals (ages 16 months to 26 years)

462 (37.8%) began

Of the

months) who

1,094 individuals (ages seven months to 19 years, four months)

who were 3.

first

years, six

move, 584 (26.98%) crawled across a room with-

had never been able

to

who were

unable to

walk without help.

1,055 individuals (ages 20 months to 18 years, eight months) able to

walk but not run, 364 (34.5%) learned to run

at least

100 yards nonstop.

Speech

Of the

3,249 individuals (ages 17 months to 28 years, three months)

couldn't speak,

777 (23.9%) learned

to speak consistently

who

and meaningfully.

Whole Mind

The

140

Vision

Of 624 blind,

individuals (ages 15

212 (34%) attained

months

to

24

months) who were

years, nine

useful vision.

Reading

Of 2,905 read.

individuals

(They ranged

who were

in age

unable to read, 2,334 (80.3%) learned to

from one-year-olds reading

single

words

to three-

year-olds reading books to five-year-olds reading newspapers to 24-year-olds

reading age-appropriate materials.) Writing

Of 1,160

individuals (ages 45

months

to

30

years) unable to write,

388

(33.4%) learned to write. Graduated to

(The child place

life

is less

when both

home will

than perfect on "The Profile," but such a graduation takes

staff

and family

result in the child

80 individuals

(ages

are confident that continuing the

program

at

completely recovering.)

55 months to 23 years) graduated to

life.

Graduatedfrom the home program

(The child

totally successful neurologically,

and

intellectually,

such a child

is

is

socially.

home

is

to say physically,

Such a child would be below average

in

no way and

very often above average compared to a well child.)

52 individuals (ages 42 months to 19 the

which

years, five

months) graduated from

program.

Well Children

The approach

taken with well children

is

based on the following obser-

vations:

Our wildly variable

intellectual differences are a result

ences in the environments in which

Tiny kids would rather learn than

we were

eat or play,

of the wide

differ-

raised.

and they want

to learn

about

everything right now.

Given a choice, children plexity.

They

will always

are intensely curious.

choose the subject of greatest com-

Child Brain

Development

in Brain-Injured

Tiny children use object with

141

and Well Children

their five senses as laboratory tests to learn

which they

are not familiar.

They

use the same

about every

method of solv-

ing problems as do scientists.

Children are superb learners. They are limited only by they have to learn about and

The

ability to take in facts

how

is

how much

material

presented.

it is

an inverse function of age, so

it is

easier to

teach any set of facts to a two-year-old than to a seven-year-old. If you teach a tiny kid the facts,

ern them. But cover the

if

he or she

you teach him the

will discover the laws that gov-

laws, the child cannot, as a result, dis-

facts.

Parents give their babies the degree of genius that each individual baby will possess

by the amount and variety of visual, auditory, and

tion they give the child

and the judicious use of the frequency,

and duration with which they give

The

first six

baby

years of

life

tactile stimula-

it.

are precious

beyond measure.

It is

easy to

a genius before six years of age, but extremely difficult to

a genius after that age. effective people

intensity,

make

make

a

a child

True geniuses are the kindest, most capable, most

around.

The world

has too few geniuses.

Parents are the best teachers, but are in danger of having their natural instinct bullied out

of them by professionals

who

believe that mothers are

the problem.

Today all

there are hundreds of thousands of children

of the following by age

six

who do

one, many, or

or even younger: Read superbly; play the violin;

read and speak several languages; do advanced math; are very familiar with classical art,

music, zoology, history, linnaean classification, geography, and a host

of other wonderful things; are splendid gymnasts; and are most especially

warm, humane, and the that

sensitive, delightful

Institutes'

programs.

no child must be denied

tually,

and

human

beings due to their parents' love

We call this the "gentle revolution," his or her birthright

assert

of being physically, intellec-

socially excellent because his or her parents didn't

child could be.

and we

know

that their

Whole

The

142

Mind

REAL PEOPLE AND CHILD BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

Dawn

was born in 1973 following 18 hours of labor, during which her

mother received medication distress

and

the birth but at three

she showed spasticity in her right

Her

months had poor use of her

which time

arm and leg, could not walk

in cross pat-

comprehension, and

program was created

and

intellectual growth,

Dawn mically,

right

at

Institutes'

program,

as

an aid

field

injury. An

Dawn, focusing on

at peer level.

intense neuro-

physical, physiologi-

with particular emphasis on the right

entered high school at peer

managed the

and served

for

in her right hand.

were

social behavior

diagnosis was a moderate, diffuse midbrain

logical cal,

was questionable.

and had poor balance with poor manual dexterity intelligence,

The

fetal

leg.

At age 45 months she began the

tern,

doctors noted

told the parents that the baby's survival

The baby survived hand and

The

to hasten the birth.

level,

side.

where she succeeded acade-

hockey team, swam for the

varsity

in special education classes. In 1995,

swim team,

Dawn

graduat-

ed from college with a B.S. degree. In college, she was active in student government, was vice president of the biology club, taught swimming for the Special Olympics, and served as a peer counselor and tutor. Currently,

Dawn

works for a medical supply company and

is

contemplating return-

ing to graduate school for a master's degree.

Jason's parents attended the

"How to

Multiply Your Baby's Intelligence"

course and began a program of stimulation as soon as their son was born,

with plenty of opportunity for him to be on the

floor.

As

many feet nonstop by the time he was six weeks learning so much that one of his first words was "more!"

crawled

At six-and-a-half years

old, Jason

is

a result, Jason

old and enjoyed

home-schooled, reads

at the

high

He plays violin and piano, has an orange belt in karate, and enjoys gymnastics. He is a very school

level,

sociable

and

takes university classes for gifted children.

boy and easily establishes a relationship with everyone he meets.

Child Brain

HOW

Development

in Brain-Injured

and Well Children

143

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

The

techniques described in this chapter are carried out exclusively by the fam-

ilies

of the brain-injured and well children. The programs of the Institutes are

toward teaching people to administer the techniques

entirely geared

at

home.

In addition to the courses (at varying levels of intensity) available at the Institutes, there are a

number of books

that contain detailed instruction in the

techniques of child brain development. For more information, contact the Insti-

8801 Stenton Ave., Wyndmoor,

tutes direcdy at

HOW

PA

19038, (215) 233-2050.

TO LEARN MORE

Bennet, E.

L.,

M.

Anatomical

C. Diamond, D. Krech, and

Plasticity

M.

R. Rosenzweig. "Chemical and

of the Brain." Science 146 (1964): 610-619.

Diamond, M. C. Enriching Heredity: The Impact ofthe Environment on the Brain.

New York:

Doman, G. "The Gentle

to

of

Revolution." Paper presented to the International Congress

for Early Education, Victoria, Spain,

Doman, G. How

the Anatomy

Macmillan, 1988.

December, 1991.

Give Your Baby Encyclopedic Knowledge. Garden City Park, NY:

Avery Publishing Group, 1984.

Doman, G. How

to

Multiply Your Baby's Intelligence. Garden City Park, NY: Avery

Publishing Group, 1984.

Doman, G. How

Your Baby

to Teach

to

Read.

Garden City

Park,

NY: Avery Publishing

Group, 1986.

Doman, G.

Teach Your Baby Math. Garden City Park,

NY: Avery Publishing Group,

1979.

Doman, G. What to Do About Your Brain-Injured Child. Garden City

Park,

NY: Avery

Publishing Group, 1974.

Doman, G. and

J.

M. Armentrout. The

Philadelphia, PA:

Doman,

G.,

The

Better

M. Dimancescu,

Baby

Universal Multiplication of Intelligence.

1980.

Press,

R. Wilkinson,

and R.

Pelligra.

Multisensory Stimulation on

Coma Arousal and

Rehabilitation 3, no. 2 (1993):

203-12.

Doman,

G., D.

Superb.

Doman,

M. Doman, and

Garden City

G., et

al.

Park,

B. Hagy.

How

to

"The

Effect of Intense

Recovery." Neuropsychological

Teach Your Baby

to

Be Physically

NY: Avery Publishing Group, 1988.

"Children with Severe Brain-injuries: Neurological Organization in

Terms of Mobility." Journal of the American Medical Association 174 (I960): 257-262.

Whole Mind

The

144

Doman,

G., et

al.

"Neurological Organization, the Basis for Learning." In Learning

Disorders, edited

Doman,

R. and E.

by J. Helmuth.

W. Thomas.

Seattle,

WA:

Special Child Publications, 1966.

"Brain-injury as a Diagnosis and the Results of

Treatment in 335 Brain-injured Children,"

Human

Potential

1,

no. 5 (1968):

339-44. Fay, T. "Neurophysical Aspects

Green, L.

of Therapy in Cerebral

74 Totally Untreated."

Patients,

"An

J.

111

Wind:

A

Pediatrics

Palsy:

The Outcome of 177

29 (1962): 605.

Discussion on Air Ionization and

Its

Effect

on Our

Environment." Proceedings, 12th annual meeting, World Organization for

Human

PA,

Potential, Philadelphia,

May

10, 1979.

Harvey, N. "The Relationship Between Stanford-Binet Test Scores and

Doman-

Delacato Developmental Profile Scores Achieved by Brain-injured Children." research study conducted under the aegis of the Research Institute,

LeWinn, M.D.,

director.

Edward

A B.

A master's thesis on file at the University of Pennsylvania,

Philadelphia, PA, 1965. Klosovskii, B.

N. The Development ofthe Brain and Its Disturbances by Harmful Factors.

Oxford: Pergamon, 1963.

Doman, and G.

Lee, E., G.

Kerr.

"The

of a Program of Neurological

Practical Results

Organization of the Institutes for the Achievement of Proceedings, 4th annual meeting,

Wyndmore, PA, LeWinn,

E. B.

LeWinn,

E.

B.

"Effect

New

of Environment

1982.

on Human Behavioral December 15, 1967.

Influence

York State Journal ofMedicine,

Human Neurological Organization.

E. B.

Human Potential." Human Potential,

for

April 28, 1971.

Coma Arousal. New York NY: Doubleday,

Development."

LeWinn,

World Organization

Springfield, IL: Charles C.

Thomas,

1969.

LeWinn, in

and M. D. Dimancescu. "Environmental Deprivation and Enrichment

E. B.

Coma." The Lancet,

LeWinn,

July 15, 1978.

and W. Thomas. "Some Physical Characteristics of Brain-injured

E. B.

Children: Chest Circumference."

Morrow,

Human

Potentials (1970).

Mind Meets Brain: The Developmental MA: Harvard University, 1970.

J.

Theories of Piaget

and Doman.

Cambridge, Taylor, R.,

Jr. "Statistical

Potential:

Research

at the Institutes for the

Measurement of Neurological Development."

Achievement of Human

Human Potential \,

no. 2

(1968): 75-84.

Thomas,

E.

W.

Brain-injured Children. Springfield, IL: Charles C.

J. M. The Results of Treatment Thomas, 1970.

Wolf,

Thomas, 1969.

in Cerebral Palsy. Springfield, IL: Charles C.

Child Brain

Development

in Brain-Injured

145

and Well Children

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Glenn

Doman

graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1940 and

began pioneering the

field

of child brain development. This process was inter-

rupted by distinguished service as a combat infantry officer in World

He founded

the Institutes for the

More than 15,000

families

Achievement of Human Potential

from 135 nations have found

their

War

II.

in 1955.

way

to the

He has lived with, studied, and worked with children in more than nations. He continues to spend all day, every day with "the finest parents

Institutes.

100

on

earth," deeply involved with the joyous process of getting hurt kids well.

Among ment

honors from

many

for his outstanding

the author of publications.

nations, he

was knighted by the Brazilian govern-

work on behalf of the children of the world. He

What to Do About Your Brain

is

Injured Child and numerous other

Kevin

V. Ergil, M.A., M.S., L.AC., F.N.A.A.O.M., F.A.A.RM.

William Prensky, O.M.D.,

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

12

WHAT

IS

L.Ac.

CHINESE MEDICINE?

Chinese medicine

is

an ancient system of healing that has been practiced, writ-

ten about, thought about,

and modified

herbs, diet, massage, exercise,

and meditation

being achieve a state of healthy balance. cine will

is

that a

human

being

is

be happiest and healthiest

Mental health There

is

in

2,000

years.

Acupuncture,

are used to help the

whole human

for at least

A basic assumption of Chinese medi-

subject to the laws of nature

when

living in accord with

Chinese medicine

is

and

them.

intertwined with physical health.

no sense of the body and mind being

split

or separate from each other.

Physical imbalance can be seen as a factor in mental problems, tal

that he or she

and proper men-

equilibrium and healthy habits of thought are seen as important to good

health. This perspective pervades

mental health

issues.

all

the approaches of Chinese medicine to

Depression, substance abuse, anxiety, insomnia,

irritabili-

among the issues that yield to clinical approaches based on Chinese medicine. The optimization of health and the process of self-actuty,

and confusion

alization can be cipals

are

enhanced and supported through the application of the prin-

of Chinese medicine.

It is

not

uncommon

for patients to

make

use of Chinese medicine in

com-

bination with other approaches to health care. Mental health issues are no exception.

A patient suffering from panic attacks might use psychoactive phar-

maceuticals to bring the condition under control and then gradually reduce

147

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

his or her

dependence on pharmaceuticals. This approach makes a great deal

of sense from the perspective of Chinese medicine, since the intent the patient back into balance

HOW

IT

As

the case with

is

and eliminate

his or her

BEGAN

many

systems of medicine in Asia, Chinese medicine has

who showed

legendary teachers almost godlike in stature, tice

to bring

is

need for drugs.

medicine.

The mythological

ancient emperors.

how

people

originators of Chinese medicine are three

Fu Xi taught people how

to domesticate animals

and how to

understand yin and yang. Shen Nong, or the Divine Husbandman,

have been born around 3494

to prac-

B.C.E.,

and

is

is

said to

considered to be the founder of

Huang Di, also known as the Yellow Emperor (born around known as the originator of the traditional medicine of China.

herbal medicine.

2674

B.C.E.),

He

the legendary author of the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic

is

Jing), first

China

three B.C.E.

compiled around 200

is first

The

is

B.C.E., in

described in a form that

is still

which the

traditional

at

medicine of

familiar to us today.

earliest text sources available to us are the materials

tombs excavated

(Huang Di Nei

recovered from

Ma Wang Dui in Hunan province, which date to

168

(Unschuld, 1985). These texts are considered to be older than the Inner

Classic.

They discuss magical and demonological concepts

about yin and yang in relation to the body.

of channels in the body, but in a Emperor's Inner

less

The

as well as

texts present

some

ideas

an early concept

developed fashion than the Yellow

Classic.

The development of Chinese medicine as we know it began in the Han Dynasty. The Han created a stable aristocratic social order, expanded geographically

and economically, and spread Chinese

Korea.

The Chinese today

dynasty.

political influence in

refer to themselves as the

During the Han dynasty (206

B.C.E. to

219

appears that reveals the emergence of a medicine that

medicine we

know

is

Han

Vietnam and

people after this

C.E.) textual

today.

Chinese medicine continued to develop through the centuries. static tradition

and

from the ancient

new books. tice

Ideas

it

It is

not a

has not adhered rigidly to early ideas. Doctors used ideas

classics

and combined them with

their insights to

compose

came into China from other countries and influenced the prac-

of medicine. Certain

were put

evidence

similar to the Chinese

aside. Rarely in

styles

and approaches were emphasized and others

Chinese medicine

is

anything discarded. Even today,

Whole Mind

The

148

ideas about therapy

only the

C.E. are

used next to ideas that have emerged in

twenty to thirty years. All of this makes Chinese medicine very

last

dynamic and

HOW

from 200

rich.

The skillful

practitioner has a great deal to

draw upon.

CHINESE MEDICINE WORKS

Yin and Yang

Chinese medical thought begins with the theory of yin and yang. Yin and

yang express the idea of opposing, but complementary, phenomena which in a state of

dynamic equilibrium. The most ancient expression of this idea

seems to be that of the shady and sunny sides of a side

is

the yang side and the shaded northern side

ine the different environments that exist to get

an idea of yin and yang.

that enjoy light are

shaded side

is

more

dim, the

on

prevalent, the air

air

is

the yin side. If you imag-

is

side

you can begin

drier

and animals

bright, plants

is

and the rocks

human

beings have a nature which

pletely linked with the

on the shaded

a nature

body

is

which

is

world around them. Just

side of a hill has characteristics

insep-

comas life

which

own

different from those of the sunny side, our

life

are

and

adjust to changes in the seasons, time of day, diet,

and emotional

states.

Since yin and yang govern the

world and the body, health

is

useful for thinking about yin

medicine

is

a

burning candle.

aspect of the candle to be the to be the flame

so,

and yang If

result

idea that

of is

in relation to

one considers the yin

wax and

the yang aspect

see how the yin nourishes and how the yang consumes the yin, and

we can

supports the yang,

doing

thought to be a

harmony with yin and yang. An

living in

in

warm. The

are

seems moist and cool.

from yin and yang. This means that they have

Yang

The sunny southern

hill.

either side of the hill

The sunny

Chinese medicine believes that arable

exist

burns brightly.

When

the

wax

is

gone, so

is

the flame. Yin and yang exist in dependence on each other.

Yin and yang are used to characterize

all

phenome-

na and to think about the kinds of symptoms a patient displays.

A yin

mental

state

is

withdrawn, somnolent,

depressed, or catatonic while a yang mental state

is

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

149

The appearance of yang can be produced by The appearance of yin is produced either by

manic, hyperalert, or overexcited. too too

much yang or too little yin. much yin or too little yang.

are actually

In

many

cases states that are manifestly

yang

produced by an insufficiency of yin aspects that normally balance

the yang aspects.

Five Phases

Another idea that has played Chinese medicine

is

a significant part in the

that of the five phases

to as the five elements.

The

five

mental

states.

Category

xing), also

sometimes referred

phases are earth, metal, water, wood, and

In general, the five phases speak to a set of

many things.

(wu

development of

dynamic

relations that are

fire.

found

in

Five-phase thinking can cover almost everything from seasons to

which might be understood by thinking about expressions

associated with joy,

such

Qi

Whole Mind

The

150

as "it

my heart"

warms

me a warm

or "he gives

feeling."

and Blood

There

is

no concept more

nounced: chee). This circulate. In this

Chinese medicine than qi (pro-

crucial to

the substance that makes the

is

system of medicine, the body

is

body move and the blood

pervaded by subtle material

and mobile influences that cause most physiological functions and maintain the health and vitality of the individual.

It is

not unusual to see the idea of qi

translated with the term "energy," but this translation hides the real idea of qi:

a fine

It is

and mobile substance which

can be nourished and stored.

two symbols. One the symbol for

is

character for qi

is

traditionally

the image of breath or rising vapor, which

Qi

rice.

The

acts differently in different places

is

is

and

composed of placed above

linked with the concept of "vapors arising from food"

(Unschuld, 1985). Over time the concepts associated with

this character

broad-

ened, but never lost their distinctively material aspect.

The

extremely broad, encompassing almost every variety of

is

phenomena. There

natural

type

idea of qi

body and mind. Qi helps think,

and

to

many

different types of qi in the body.

normal psychological and physiological

related to the

is

are

fills

us to breathe, to speak, to walk, to digest food, to

We cannot directly observe the wind,

the

sail.

In a similar fashion, the

ment of substances within the body All illness in Chinese medicine

when

qi

is

activity of the

feel.

Sometimes the analogy of wind captured of qi.

Each

blocked in

its

all

used to express the idea

we can

infer

signs of the action

its

presence as the

it

move-

of qi.

understood in relation to

qi.

Pain occurs

When qi is insufficient, fatigue disrupted. When qi is congested or

cycle through the body.

can occur or the functions of organs can be stuck, there can be pain

but

is

movements of the body and

are is

in a sail

and dysfunction.

Essence and Spirit Together with

medicine

essence and spirit

make up what

are

known

as the three treasures. In brief, essence is the gift

while spirit

human

qi,

is

the gift of heaven. Essence

is

Chinese

the most fundamental source of

physiological processes: the bodily reserves that support

and which must be replenished by food and

in

of one's parents,

rest,

human

life

and the actual reproductive

151

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

substances of the body. Spirit see

it

in the luster

the alert and radiant aspect of human

is

of the eyes and face of a healthy person and in their ability

and respond appropriately

to think

We

life.

expressed by shen, or

world around them. The idea

to the

Chinese medicine encompasses consciousness

spirit, in

and healthy mental and physical function.

The

health of the shen

is

considered fundamental to overall good health.

In Chinese medical theory, mental disturbances, especially personality disor-

and confusion,

ders

shen

are considered disturbances of the shen.

produced by the healthy

is

activity

of the

vital

The

health of the

organs and the correct use

of the mind.

The Organs and Channels In Chinese Medicine, the

word

channels (meridians) refers to the pathways

along which the qi flows, like water in underground

along the channels, the qi flows close to the surface and manipulated. These locations are called holes channels travel up and

down

the

(xie),

At

rivers. is

certain locations

touched and

easily

or acupuncture points.

The

They

also

body and along the arms and

legs.

go inside the body and connect with the internal organs.

The in

idea of an internal organ in Chinese medicine

is

a

little

different than

Western medicine. The physician of Chinese medicine encounters a body in

which twelve organs function. These twelve organs

—

the viscera

— and

six fu or

and locations of the anatomical structures importance

is

is

—

familiar,

related to digestion

and

it.

but what

many

solid

The names

is

of utmost

physiological

For instance, the spleen in Chinese medicine

to the process of

thought and

think that, because this has nothing to do with the stand the spleen, the Chinese were ize that

the bowels.

the relationship between each organ and

functions that are related to

zangoi

are divided into six

hollow organs

reflection. It

way

in

is

is

easy to

which we under-

wrong or confused. Instead we need

to real-

the "spleen" in this case refers not to the organ specifically, but to the

physiological

and psychological processes that

system in which organs are important

as

it is

associated with. This

set

The organs

of yin and yang are related to

a

markers of associated physiological

functions rather than actual physical structures. Each organ

another in a

is

is

paired with

pairs.

both physical and psychological functions.

Ancient Chinese thought personalized the organs, giving them a

title

and

set

of actions that reflected their general characteristics and role in the body-mind.

Whole

The

152

The

heart was the supreme controller that reflected

its

dominant

Mind

role in physi-

role as the seat or home of the shen. The heart protecknown as the "minister of leisure" because it created tor or pericardium was feelings of pleasure and joy. The liver was known as the "general in charge of making plans" and the home of the ethereal soul.

ological function

and

its

Chinese Medicine and the Mind It is

in

important to note that there

Chinese medicine.

It is

is

no

distinct separation

of body and mind

understood that the psyche and soma interact with

each other and that aspects of mental and emotional experience can impact the body, and vice versa. In this sense, spirit

and

to the health of the

understood

as

mind.

is

linked both to the health of the

Similarly, aspects of

predominantly mental in

a

human

As mentioned lish

the

body

ideal state

is

earlier,

experience that are

biomedical frame of reference are

linked to specific organs in Chinese medicine. Anger

while obsessive thought

is

related to the liver,

related to the spleen, and joy to the heart.

the fundamental idea in Chinese medicine

in a balanced state of health. This does not

of health that everyone must aspire

cine seeks to create a situation where

to. It

mean

means

lifestyle,

physiology,

is

to estab-

that there

is

an

that Chinese medi-

the person being treated

prone to physical and mental disturbance because he or she putting their

body

is

becomes

less

increasingly

and environment into an optimum

relation-

ship.

The key

approach

to this

Diet, rest, exercise,

the understanding and manipulation of

is

and thought

are

all

tools to

acupuncture, herbs, and massage can adjust the

manipulate

qi.

movement and

Beyond

qi.

that,

density of qi in

the body.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Research in the

field

of acupuncture and Asian medicine

is

a

complex

issue. It

can be said that the 2,000-year history of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine represents a

form of empirical research conducted by countless

throughout China. In addition,

its

clinicians

continued use in China and East Asia

of efficacy. However, the world in which

parallel

medical system suggests a

we

often asks for a higher standard in the verification of the safety and

live

level

as a

effi-

cacy of a medical technique or substance.

Systematic research on acupuncture has been conducted in China and

153

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

Japan for

fifty years.

(RCT) or even

Most of these

studies are not

clinical trials

controlled studies, but what are called case series.

follows the treatment of a single condition for

about the effectiveness on the basis of the gives

randomized

some information,

it

many

patients

total results.

A case series

and generalizes

Although

this

method

does not give us absolute scientific certainty about

the usefulness of the intervention.

While most of the research egory, recently

more

in herbal

research has been

the result of this work, a large

medicine

still falls

into the above cat-

done on acupuncture

in the

West. As

number of studies were gathered up and

pre-

FDA to support changing the legal status of acupuncture needles experimental device to a standard medical device. In 1996, the FDA

sented to the

from an

agreed that the acupuncture needle could be considered a class

II

medical

no longer experimental.

device,

Research has shown acupuncture to be clinically effective for conditions including respiratory tract disorders, stroke, acute and chronic pain, nausea,

female

infertility,

menopause, and peripheral nerve

health, acupuncture has been scientifically

shown

injury. In

terms of mental

to be useful in depression

and substance abuse.

REAL PEOPLE AND CHINESE MEDICINE AND ACUPUNCTURE

Joan was a 36-year-old professional

who

suffered

woman

from severe depressions that could

round of these depressions began with a

and sudden awakenings lem with Joan's chest

The

in the public relations field,

at night,

or, for that

feeling

last for

months. Each

of congestion in her chest

although no one could find any probmatter, anything else medically wrong.

interruptions in her sleep continued,

and the depression deepened

during these bouts. Twice she had to be placed on a regimen of antidepressant drugs.

When Joan came was

in the

before. terns

to see

me, upon

referral

from her

psychiatrist, she

midst of a depression that had begun approximately two weeks

She was not yet taking any drugs, and her sleep interruption pat-

were worsening.

The

154

Whole Mind

Joan had one child, a three-year-old girl, and also wanted to have another baby.

She was afraid that her depression would deepen, and that she

would have to be placed on a long course of antidepressant medication. Examination showed Joan to be suffering from deficient kidney

qi

leading to deficient heart blood and a condition referred to as "cold in the upper burner." This caused the sleep problem, and the inability of

her heart to maintain a proper residence for her spirit (mind) to depression

which tended

to

—

leading

worsen over time. She was treated with

a

course of acupuncture to strengthen her kidney qi and to balance her kid-

ney and heart, combined with herbs to strengthen her lungs and her spleen to aid in the balance of digestion, and to dispel the congestion

from the cold

afflicting her chest.

She recovered completely within

six

weeks, did not require any antidepressant medication, and became preg-

nant two months

later.

She went through an uneventful pregnancy sup-

ported by regular (bimonthly) acupuncture, and gave birth to a healthy boy. She continues to be symptom-free after three years. "clSD

Malcolm was

a 42-year-old construction worker with bipolar disorder

who had been

maintained for the past ten years on daily doses of lithium.

His mania was the predominant pathological condition, causing him to his family

bank

account, and periods of elation, which led inevitably to exhaustion,

some

go on wild buying sprees

physical injury,

and

The

fire

which he emptied out

a subsequent period of severe depression.

Malcolms examination with "heart's

in

revealed clear signs of deficient kidney, along

blazing upwards." His tongue

deficient kidney signs were

showed

confounded by the

clear signs

effect

of fire.

often years of

lithium therapy, which can alter kidney signs, but the pattern of distur-

bance between the heart and the kidney was

Acupuncture was

initiated to restore the balance

heart and to strengthen the kidney yin.

week

clear.

for five weeks, then

He

between kidney and

received acupuncture twice a

weekly acupuncture for

five

weeks, and then

ongoing monthly acupuncture. Lithium therapy was not discontinued, but his daily dose was cut in

half.

Malcolm reported

feeling

"much more

155

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

balanced"'

and

"less frightened"

He has

dence upon lithium.

about both his daily

life

and

his

remained stable for five years under

depen-

this treat-

ment regimen. "

Tom and

was a very a

swimmer.

athletic

He

1

7-year-old boy, a football player in high school

became extremely depressed and,

rather suddenly

He began

subsequendy, very anxious.

awaken during the night with panic

to have trouble sleeping,

and would

attacks, sweating profusely.

He

did

not report remembering any nightmares or specific dreams.

Tom

came

first

After speaking for diately,

to see

me upon

the advice of his high school coach.

more than two hours, we began psychotherapy imme-

with counseling sessions three times weekly (and more often by

telephone as needed) with a family and

intervention counseling psy-

crisis

chologist specializing in adolescent psychotherapy. In addition, a psychiatric consultation

was conducted and anti-anxiety medication was given

twice daily. In addition,

we began acupuncture

sessions three times a week, with

traditional oriental medical herbal formulas directed to

and

Tom

to regulating emotional excesses.

calming the

spirit

responded very quickly to

acupuncture, herbs, and the other therapies. His anxiety would be completely relieved during

would

last for

up

and following acupuncture

to twenty-four hours.

continued therapy, he was able to stop

sessions

and the

relief

Over the course of six weeks of

all

pharmaceutical drugs.

He

con-

tinued with counseling, acupuncture, and herbs for six months, during

which time he regained

his previous balance

Louise was a 60-year-old

woman who had

thirty-two years. She was a legal secretary

same rather

tent secretary at

who

known

as a

stability.

recently lost her

husband of

who had been working

large firm for twenty-four years,

tion of supervisor. She was

meeting

and

and had

in the

risen to the posi-

remarkably efficient and compe-

never forgot anything. She could

which she had taken notes twenty years

recall

before.

the details of a

The

156

About one year

memory

loss,

after she

became

confusion, and anxiety.

Whole Mind

a widow, she began to

The

anxiety

may

show

signs of

have been a result

of the other changes. She sought psychiatric evaluation from her company's

Employee Assistance Program, but no conclusive diagnosis was made.

was unclear whether her condition was related to her recent

It

advancing age, or to other causes.

No

loss, to

specific physical findings led to

any

conclusion regarding electrolyte imbalances or other possible physical causes of her condition.

After exhaustive examinations and testing, she was referred to

her psychiatrist. After speaking with Louise and examining her,

apparent that she suffered from what "sudden shock" syndrome. The a very

loss

is

known

in oriental

it

me by

became

medicine

as

of her husband had been followed by

minor accident during which she had been very frightened,

although she suffered no physical injury. (She had been a passenger in a

bus that had struck a young to passengers

on the

man

bus, but the

riding a bicycle. There were

no

young man was permanently

injuries

injured,

suffering severe brain damage.)

The

oriental medical strategy

was

to

calm her heart and

spirit

and

allow the spirit to find a safe abode in the heart once again. Herbal formulas

were taken daily for seven days, then nothing for three days, then again

for seven days for four cycles. In addition, Louise

twice weekly for three weeks, then once a

Following

this

week

was given acupuncture

for six

more weeks.

regimen she recovered completely. She returned to her

previous job (she had been on sick leave for nine weeks) and was able to

resume her professional duties without any qualification or exception. Four years

after

treatment she remains completely without trace of her

presenting condition.

WHAT TO EXPECT

When

you

first visit

several things to

that

you

a practitioner of Chinese medicine

you can usually expect

happen. You will be greeted and asked to explain the problem

are trying to address. Generally,

called the four diagnoses to assess

most practitioners

will use

what

your situation. These are detailed below.

are

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

157

Asking Questions

The

practitioner will ask

you many

questions.

Some of these questions will make it worse or better.

address the specific problem and the conditions that

Many of the questions may seem unrelated. If you are there to discuss insomnia, you may be asked about your bowel movements, your diet, whether you prefer cold or hot climates,

whether you perspire

easily, if your

back hurts, or

if

may be asked about your favorite foods, colors, or that may seem unrelated to you are often very impor-

your knees are weak. You time of day. Questions

tant to the practitioner, since

problem

your answers help him or her to understand your

in relation to the overall functioning

of your body and your specific

situation.

Smelling and Listening

The sound of your

voice and, in

some

cases, the

odor of your body can

A voice with a shoutthe liver or the wood phase. A

give your practitioner important clues to your condition.

ing strident quality can suggest a problem with voice that

is

low and

soft

may

suggest weakness of the qi while one that has a

singing melodious quality suggests an involvement of the spleen or earth phase.

Looking

By observing

the

uation. Observation

the health of your

Your tongue

so,

walk, your body's size and shape, and your gen-

appearance, your practitioner can

eral

tell

way you

is

also

make many

Is

sit-

important in terms of learning about your shen and

spirit.

is

also inspected to help

us a great deal about the state of the

where?

observations about your

the qi strong or weak?

Is

with the diagnosis.

body and mind.

Is

The tongue can

heat present, and

if

the blood circulating properly or stuck?

Will the patient be easily angered or depressed?

The tongue can

help us to

answer these questions.

Touching This

is

but while

perhaps the most famous diagnostic practice in Chinese medicine,

it is

important,

it is

only one of four. Even the most famous pulse

diagnosticians state that pulse diagnosis three diagnoses.

The

is

almost useless without the other

practitioner will usually take your pulses, although this

Whole

The

158

may not

always be done.

The

minutes. Besides counting the beats, the practitioner will in size

and quality

stand the

at different positions

way in which

may

process of pulse taking

and use

this

feel

Hind

last for several

subtle differences

information to under-

the organs (in the Chinese sense) are working and

what

needs help.

Depending on your condition and the tioner,

may want

he or she

style

of practice used by the practi-

to palpate various areas of your body, especially the

abdomen. Sometimes individual points or channel pathways as well. If this

and

lie

the case, the practitioner will need

is

down during

Many

the diagnostic part of the

you

be touched

will

to partially undress

visit.

practitioners of Chinese medicine will also use biomedical physical

examination and laboratory diagnosis. Don't be surprised to see a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope or other diagnostic tools. These tools help the practi-

up on

tioner to follow

his or her treatment

and screen

for serious health

problems.

Once all

the diagnostic process

complete, the practitioner will try to gather

is

the information about you into a coherent diagnostic pattern in order to

plan treatment. For example, a clinical approach to schizophrenia includes a pattern of "flaring of fire" with excess phlegm.

have a sudden onset of mental disturbance,

A patient in this situation might headache, insomnia, a

irritability,

flushed face, bloodshot eyes, and restlessness.

The

patient might

become

easily

angered or violent. There might be instances of irrational behavior, shouting,

and physical

and

attacks

stringlike

on people and

things. In this case, the pulse

and the tongue would have

slimy yellow fur (Cheung et

al.,

a purple color

would be

1981).

Treatment would include herbs that act to cool the body and to disturbed

qi.

fast

and be covered with

In addition, herbs that address

phlegm and

settle

the

settle

the

mind would

be added. Acupuncture would include points that would have similar actions, as well as points that are traditionally

In a normal office plete. It

treat a disturbed spirit.

treatment will begin after the diagnosis

is

com-

usually necessary to undress partially or completely for acupuncture

is

treatment.

puncture

visit,

used to calm and

The

is

thicknesses.

practitioner will provide a

gown

or sheet if necessary. Acu-

performed with very fine needles that are of different lengths and

The

average needle

as thick as a hair.

is

about a quarter of a millimeter thick, about

Unlike the hypodermic needle used for injections, the acu-

puncture needle has no hole in

it

and no cutting edge. Where the hypodermic

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

needle cuts the skin as aside.

This

is

why

159

inserted, the

it is

there

normally

is

little

acupuncture needle pushes tissue

or no bleeding after an acupuncture

treatment.

The

on where

length of the needle depends entirely

on the method being

Longer needles

used.

to

it is

are used in areas

be placed and

where the muscles

are thick or the point lies quite deep. Short needles, as short as half an inch,

where the point

are used

lies

may

close to the surface; the needle

be inserted

only an eighth to a quarter of an inch. These areas include points on the

and

wrists,

ears.

Generally there ed, although

some

When

tary prick.

inserted, there tly

moved

feeling

face,

is

is little

patients

there

who

This

is

are

not excessive sensitivity and the needle

usually very

into place

is felt.

is

when an acupuncture needle is insertmore sensitive may feel a sharp momen-

discomfort

little

and when

known

it

The

discomfort on insertion.

is

properly

needle

is

gen-

reaches the proper location a sore or achy

as "getting the qi."

There can be some variation

here according to the techniques used by the practitioner and the condition of the patient.

As few

as one, or as

depending on the

maximum

in for a ical.

many

may be

patient's condition. Generally

used by the practitioner

acupuncture needles are

of forty- five minutes, but twenty minutes

Sometimes a needle

A

as thirty needles

is

inserted only briefly

number of adjuncts

to

is

much more

artemisia

is

typ-

and then removed.

may be

acupuncture treatment

used. These

include moxibustion, cupping, bleeding, skin stimulation, and massage.

most important of these

left

The

moxibustion, which involves burning the herb

on or near the acupuncture point

to influence the qi. Precautions are

always taken to avoid burning the skin. Although this technique sounds a bit exotic,

it is

a very useful clinical tool that produces a sense of profound well-

being and relaxation, and has measurable and beneficial

effects

system and other aspects of the body's function. Cupping

ducing a vacuum

in a

bamboo,

glass,

or plastic cup that

skin surface to increase local circulation. This culoskeletal conditions is

and

for

problems such

method

is is

is

on the immune

a technique of pro-

then applied to the

used for

as bronchitis.

many mus-

Skin stimulation

an important method in pediatrics, nervous system disorders, and skin con-

ditions.

There

are a

skin or tapping the skin.

it

wide range of methods that involve

lightly scraping the

with tools that stimulate and move the qi without piercing

The

160

Whole Mind

A typical office visit will last from forty-five minutes to an

hour and a

depending on how the practitioner works, what you need, and other

The are

initial

consultation

may

be longer and

half,

factors.

later consultations shorter. If you

going to receive an herbal prescription for your condition,

it

prepared while you are being treated. Herbs are provided in

will usually

many

be

different

The most effective and personal form is the formula of raw herbs that you take home and cook into a soup or tea. This method of formulation allows ways.

the skilled herbalist to adjust the dosage of each ingredient to your precise needs

make

and

to

and

pills are

the most of his or her herbal often used as well.

both patient and practitioner.

skills.

Powders, granulated extracts,

Many of these offer substantial convenience to In many cases they are combined to enhance

effects.

How

long you will need to see a practitioner of Chinese medicine and

acupuncture depends entirely on your condition. If you are addressing a minor

problem that its.

is

easily resolved,

you may not need more than

three or four vis-

A chronic or long-standing problem may require a significantly longer time

frame. In general, both you and your practitioner should expect to see signs of progress after the

Ask your

practitioner

first

few treatments, even

if

some

these signs are very small.

what you should expect and how he or she

will evaluate

progress.

HOW TO

FIND A PRACTITIONER

Finding a good acupuncturist and herbalist

low pages of your telephone book, that licenses acupuncturists

and herbal medicine. At

and

if

you

requires

this time,

may be

as easy as

are lucky

and

enough

opening the

to live in a state

tests for training in

about thirty-four

yel-

acupuncture

states license or other-

wise regulate acupuncture, but only California requires training in herbal medicine. If you are

beginning your search for a practitioner, you might

friends or family

members who have had

acupuncturist. If this information

ance from a

isn't

a

start

good experience with

available

you may want

with

a local

to seek guid-

state or national professional organization. State organizations will

often have a referral number.

Two

information about the profession:

national organizations provide referrals and

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

161

American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM)

National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance

433 Front

(NAOMA)

Street

Catasauqua,

PA 18032-2506

433-2448

Tel: (6 1 0)

Starr

WA 98359

Fax: (253)

Deciding

if a

practitioner

and good judgment.

and the

Is

state licenses

well qualified

is

Road

14637 Olalla,

is

S.E.

851-6896

a matter of careful inquiry

the practitioner licensed to practice? If he or she

is

not,

acupuncture, do not use their services. If the state does

not license acupuncture, the situation to assess the practitioner without

is

more complicated

any help from the

since

you

will

have

In this case the fol-

state.

lowing concerns become even more important. Is

gram

the practitioner well trained? in the

United States or an

Did he or she attend an

official training

receive training in herbal medicine?

NCCAOM

Diplomate

in

Some

program

in

accredited pro-

China? Did they

practitioners will hold the

Acupuncture and the

NCCAOM

Diplomate

in

Herbal Medicine. These are the only independent credentials available in the

United States to assure you that a practitioner has met a

minimum

standard of

competency. Today, most qualified practitioners hold these credentials, although some states

such

If this

Is

may

not have bothered to get these credentials, especially in

as California,

where licensing standards

are quite high.

sounds too complex ask the following questions:

the practitioner licensed in your state?

Does the

practitioner have at least three years of formal training or have

they been in practice for more than ten years?

Can

Do

they

tell

you where and how they were

they use disposable needles or

Don't accept a practitioner

trained?

sterilize their

if you can't

needles after every use?

answer yes to every one of the ques-

tions above.

Did they graduate from an Is Is

accredited school?

NCCAOM certified in Acupuncture? the practitioner NCCAOM certified in Chinese Herbal Medicine? the practitioner

Whole

The

162

Does the practitioner carry professional

liability

Hino

insurance (malpractice

insurance)?

"No" answers

to these four questions should

make you think

or ask

more

questions.

Do you know people who

have been treated by the practitioner and are

happy with him or her? Is

the practitioner able to discuss your situation with

you and understand

what you need? If you

can answer yes to

all

of the above questions you should be in good

hands.

HOW TO LEARN MORE Cheung, C.

S.,

U. Yat Ki

Lai,

U. Aik Kaw, and H. Harrision. Mental Dysfunction

as

Treated by Traditional Chinese Medicine. San Francisco: Traditional Chinese

Medical Publisher, 1981. Ergil, K. "China's Traditional

Medicine." In Fundamentals of Complementary and

Alternative Medicine, edited by

M.

Micozzi.

New York:

Churchill Livingstone,

1996.

Kaptchuk, T. The Web That Has

Hammer,

Dragon

L.

Rises

No

Weaver.

and Red Bird

New York: Congdon Flies:

Psychology

& Weed,

1983.

and Chinese Medicine.

Barrytown, NY: Station Hill Press, 1990.

Unschuld, Press,

P.

Medicine in China:

A

History ofIdeas. Berkeley: University of California

1985.

For information about research and scholarly acupuncture and Oriental medicine:

National Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NAAOM) Box 62 Tarrytown, Tel: (914)

E-mail:

NY 10591

332-4576

[email protected]

initiatives in the field

of

163

Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

For information about educational progtams and training in the

field:

Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) 1010 Wayne Ave., Suite 1270 Silver Spring, Tel: (301)

MD 20910

608-9175

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Kevin V.

Ergil,

M.A., M.S., L.Ac, F.N.A.A.O.M., F.A.A.P.M.,

is

the

Dean of

the Pacific Institute of Oriental Medicine, where he directs the clinical pro-

gram, teaches, and oversees the academic program. tice in

New

California) areas

York

and an

City.

He maintains a private prac-

As an acupuncturist (licensed

herbalist, his research

and

in

clinical interests

New

York and

extend into the

of chronic immunodeficiency disorders, women's health, substance abuse,

and harm reduction acupuncture and general medicine.

He

has

worked

in the

area of East Asian medicine since 1980.

He was

previously President of the American College of Traditional

Chinese Medicine in San Francisco.

He

is

a medical anthropologist (University

of Washington) whose research interests and

on Chinese and Tibetan medicine. He Acupuncture Research. Mr.

Ergil

is

is

activities

have focused primarily

also a director

a fellow

of the Society for

and founding governor of the

National Academy for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

He chairs the com-

mittees for Research Information and Core Curriculum for the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

William Prensky, O.M.D., L.Ac, practices in

New York City.

fessionally since 1972.

ture in this country; he in the

gram

United

to

States,

examine the

Dr. Prensky

is

He

is

a licensed acupuncturist

who

lives

and

Dr. Prensky has been practicing acupuncture pro-

is

one of the founders of the profession of acupunc-

was the

first

American licensed

to practice

and was one of the founders of the efficacy

first

acupuncture

university pro-

of acupuncture.

currently Associate Professor of Oriental Medicine and the

Director of the Graduate Program in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at

Mercy College,

in

Dobbs

Ferry,

Academy of Acupuncture and

New York. He

is

President of the National

Oriental Medicine, and

Acupuncture Society of New York.

Chairman of the

Carol GreiffLagstein,

C.S.W., a.T.r.-b.C.

Sandy Muniz Lieberman,

MM. T., A.D. T.R.

Jo Salas, M.A., C.M.T. Patricia Sternberg, M.A., R.D.T./b.CT.

13

The

Creative Arts Therapies

INTRODUCTION TO THE CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIES Creative arts have been part of this less

human

culture throughout time. Evidence of

can be seen in the music, dances, and rhythms of tribal history of storytelling,

and the discovery of early cave

of people to communicate through the

mind, body, and

With

rituals,

paintings.

arts reflects the irrepressible

the time-

The

urge of the

spirit to create.

the increased use of technology in

aspects of contemporary soci-

all

communicate

ety,

the need of the individual to create and

less

important than efficiency and greater productivity (Warren, 1993).

the urge to create

is

sometimes seen

need for

this outlet.

They

is lost.

use their

clinicians to guide the individual in creative exploration

Through

as

When

Creative

skills as artists

and expression.

the process of creating, there can be a sense of release, freedom, heal-

ing, self-understanding,

A universal goal all

is

denied, a valuable outlet for self-expression

arts therapists recognize the

and

drive

aspects of the

and personal growth.

of creative

human

arts therapists

condition.

is

an acceptance and respect for

A safe environment

individual can feel free to express him- or herself.

dences and disclosures are honored. possibility

The

of creative self-expression.

An

client

is

It is

is

provided, where the

a place

where

all

confi-

encouraged to explore every

ideal goal

is

to reach the

epiphany of

165

The Creative Arts Therapies

the creative

moment where

and often the unconscious to

make

time and thought surrender to the act of creating, prevails.

more simple, but

the mark, sound, act, or gesture that

presented

is

is

just as valued, goal

is

authentic to oneself. All that

is

received with appreciation, support,

Creative arts therapists

They work with

elderly.

A

diverse backgrounds

work with

individuals, groups,

and

levels

guides for individuals

who wish

greater self-awareness.

They

and

and

families.

of need. Creative to

at times, celebration.

adults, adolescents, children,

They

arts therapists

enhance their creative

The

who

people of

may

abilities

also offer treatment for people

cognitively, and/or emotionally challenged.

treat

and the

serve as

and achieve

are physically,

creative arts therapist helps

the individual to rediscover the freedom of self-expression found in children. In addition, the arts can create a pathway to repressed that

One

might otherwise be censored.

memories and

feelings

finds expressive therapists in rehabilita-

tion centers, counseling centers, psychiatric hospitals, schools, hospice pro-

grams, halfway houses, prisons, nursing homes, hospitals, private practice, and

community

The

centers, to

name

a

few

choice of a traditional talk therapy approach to treatment versus an

expressive arts therapy should be determined

the family or school, client.

Some people

are

creative modalities to

use words to

who may make

client or

by

others, such as

decisions or recommendations for the

more comfortable

talking to a therapist than exploring

promote growth and

communicate thoughts and

methods. Sometimes an individual

by the

will

healing. Others

may

feelings, preferring

find

more

it

hard to

expressive

respond to a combination of verbal and

nonverbal therapies. Creative arts therapists believe that the potential for healing as one's

is

as

boundless

imagination. This makes most creative arts therapists supportive of

other alternative forms of treatment, such as

homeopathy and meditation.

In this chapter, four creative arts therapists discuss the philosophy, back-

ground, and application of their particular approaches, in an effort to help the

consumer gain art,

a basic

understanding of the method.

dance/movement, music, and drama

are several other

forms of creative

arts

therapies.

The

Keep

chapter focuses on in

name

a few.

that there

therapy not specifically described in this

chapter, including poetry, sand play, puppetry, bibliotherapy, ing, to

mind

and story mak-

Whole Mind

The

166

Art Therapy Carol GreiffLagstein,

WHAT The

IS

C.S.W., A.T.R. -B. C.

ART THERAPY?

introduction of art to the therapeutic process adds a powerful dimension.

Art therapy provides a vehicle for an inward journey through which thoughts,

and images can be

feelings,

form

is

released in a concrete form.

often as significant as the final product.

The

The

this

and

can

it

client

evolves.

Art therapy has

many potential

releases feelings

through the act of creating and/or through the images

one

When

ated.

Sometimes

one experiences

catharsis there

is

making substance out of something

are

ally.

Art can serve

as a

pist functions as a

guide

who

understand what

effort to

A final

goal

would be

creativity in a safe,

cre-

a sense of relief and peacefulness. it

a spiritual connotation because

that did not formerly exist materifeelings.

At times

convey unconscious material. The

there

art thera-

helps the individual look at his or her artwork in is

being communicated.

to encourage the individual to explore his or her

non-judgmental environment. The joy of creating has a

curative function because

you

process can be cathartic, where

door to repressed experiences and

are images, shapes, or colors that

allows

goals.

of creating can carry with

this act

you

an

of creating

therapist

observe the tangible translation of the internal process as

The

act

it

builds confidence

and

freedom beyond

to experience a sense of

self-esteem. In addition, all

physical

it

and emotional

barriers.

A significant difference between art therapy and traditional verbal therapy is

the creation of a final visual or tactile product, which serves as a permanent

record of the experience.

Its

existence guarantees that the thoughts

and

feelings

one portrays cannot be denied or forgotten. As you progress through ment, you can review and For

many people,

feelings.

bols

HOW

IT

upon

the art serves as a

Imagery can serve

may be

reflect

as a

less

in

threatening bridge for discussing inner

metaphor

for personal concepts.

Everyday sym-

used to communicate profound ideas.

BEGAN

Art has been used throughout history

and

treat-

past stages of the therapeutic process.

cultural

life.

The

as

exploration of the

an indicator of emotional, cognitive,

meaning behind the symbols conveyed

dreams was introduced by Freud. Jung used

art as

evidence of his theory of

167

The Creative Arts Therapies

with symbols that repeat throughout time and in

a collective unconscious,

various cultures (Wadeson, 1980).

At the turn of the century,

as part

of a grow-

ing interest in psychoanalysis, several psychiatrists studied patients' artwork

and

its

relationship to their state of mind. In this original context, the artwork

was considered to be an enhancement to psychoanalysis, but not an independent form of treatment. In this country, there were two pioneers in the field of art therapy.

They

presented two different perspectives on the curative process of art therapy.

Margaret Naumberg, a psychoanalyst and educator, was the field in the early

thoughts, impulses, and memories. She art

and

to

first

to define the

1940s. She believed that art served as a passage to repressed felt

that encouraging patients to create

understand the meaning of their creations would actually speed up

the process of psychoanalysis. She stated,

"When the therapist convinces the may express, the patient may

patient that he (she) accepts whatever the patient project in images

Ten

years

what he

later,

ness of art therapy.

(she) dares

not put into words" (Naumberg, 1966).

Edith Kramer pioneered a different theory of the effective-

She proposed that the creation of art served

tion of unconscious wishes

and

as the

sublima-

drives into a socially acceptable form.

The

healing aspect of art therapy occurs through the act of creating. In contrast to

Naumberg, she did not the

Most

art.

way

to

feel it

art therapists

was necessary to verbally explore the symbols of

understand the two philosophies and have found a

combine both approaches

In the

1

in their

work.

960s, the American Art Therapy Association was founded. In this

same period the association began publishing the American Journal ofArt Therapy,

and

instituted

HOW

IT

Each

art therapist

an annual conference for professionals to share their work.

WORKS conducts

art

therapy sessions in a manner reflecting his or

her professional style, although most sessions have

Most

art therapists will

some

things in

common.

have a wide assortment of art materials available dur-

ing a session, allowing the client to choose. This also allows the art therapist to

encourage the use of a material that will enhance, rather than hinder, an individual's ability to succeed in the creative process.

reluctant to get dirty sions.

would not

Collage or markers

feel at ease

may make

tually guide the child to feel

For example, a child

using clay or paints in

the process easier.

more comfortable with

who

is

initial ses-

A goal may be

a messy material.

to even-

Whole Mind

The

168

The

art

can also be used to help the individual expand his or her

be more expressive.

ability to

may

medium

A person who

tends to be rigid and controlling

be guided by the art therapist gradually to explore materials that are more

difficult to control.

For example,

it

from magazine collage to drawing, of each material on therapy

is

might be helpful

to pastels,

and

to guide this individual

The impact

finally to paint.

often part of the process and can be discussed.

In a typical session, a client can expect to have the opportunity to create

The

art.

sometimes produce

art therapist will

respond to his or her nonverbal language.

add

with the client in an effort to

art

It is

rare that

an

art therapist will

to or alter a client's art.

Often time

is

allotted for discussion of the client's experience. Art created

during the session can be kept by the client or therapist, or continued in another session.

may recommend

Art therapists

home. This

art

is

usually

welcomed

that clients continue to create art at

into sessions for further processing.

individuals find art to be a gratifying

form of expression and continue

Many to be

creative long after art therapy treatment ends.

When pist

may

art

therapy

is

conducted with a family or other group, the

introduce group projects that require social

tion, sharing,

and cooperation. In

often help individuals

a family or

communicate

to others

skills

group

such

as

art thera-

communica-

setting, the

images can

something that may have been

too difficult to say in words.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Some

art therapists

have used traditional scientific research methods to mea-

sure the effectiveness of art therapy (for example, see Rosal, 1993; Neale

Rosal, 1993).

More

research has used subjective observation

and

and

qualitative

assessment of the art therapy process in group, family, and individual case studies

and through feedback from the

paradigm. For example, three iors

months of biweekly

clients,

Bowen and art

following a social science research

Rosal (1989) tested the effectiveness of

therapy sessions to reduce the maladaptive behav-

of Karen, a cognitively challenged adult.

The

results reflected

an increase

in appropriate behavior, increased productivity, greater resources for satisfac-

tion-seeking, greater It is difficult

body awareness, and

a

more

integrated sense of self.

to use traditional scientific scales to quantify the effectiveness

of art therapy since the creation and the perception of art

is

greatly influenced

by aesthetic and subjective experience. Art therapists have addressed

this

169

The Creative Arts Therapies

new

research paradigms

accurately convey the art therapy process (Junge

and Linesch, 1993;

problem by using that

more

their creative ingenuity to develop

Edwards, 1993). Present and future research

reflects these

new

research models

and Peavy, 1994).

(Schavarien, 1993; Quail

REAL PEOPLE AND ART THERAPY

One young woman

covered the bulb of a lamp with papier-mache. She

purposefully allowed a few strips of the papier-mache to peel described

added

it

as a representation

that, as she

A young girl

in

of

was healing, her

an

lage looked like a

She

herself, a recovering alcoholic.

She

light

was beginning to shine through.

therapy group displayed her abstract tissue paper

art

collage for discussion.

off.

The

art therapist

and group observed that the

burnt-down tenement building. The

col-

girl tearfully

acknowledged that she had unknowingly portrayed the events leading to the death of her familv.

An

adolescent

an

art therapist to

who was

struggling with a conduct disorder

work symbolically with

limits

was

referred to

and boundaries. This

was done through the choice of media or themes. The

client

was encour-

aged to move from controlled to noncontrolled art materials, such

from colored pencils with a superhero

to paints.

who must

She was

also asked to create a

comic

strip

confront situations analogous to those she

experienced.

Figure

1

represents a group mural

where eight individuals worked cooperatively to create a city scape.

When one group member

painted a significant part of the city,

as

leaving others out, another

Figure l

fBBBBBBBBBM

The

170

group member painted a bomber plane attacking the

city.

This nonverbal

nication opened the door for tic

commu-

more authen-

verbal discussions.

Figures 2, 3, and 4 demonstrate projects

done independently, but incorporating

drama

to unite the group.

A mask-making

project was introduced to a group of seven-

to-ten-year old children diagnosed with

learning disabilities.

The

children created

characters to represent themselves.

wore

their

They

masks and assumed the identity

of the created character. They also tried on

and acted out one another's

characters,

and

in the process, developed their sense

empathy and

of

self-expression.

Art therapy was introduced to an inpatient in a psychiatric hospital,

who was

Whole Mind

171

The Creative Arts Therapies

diagnosed tions

as

paranoid schizophrenic, and

who

suffered from hallucina-

and delusions. His treatment plan included individual

sessions several times a

week

to help

him improve

art

therapy

his reality testing.

Materials such as clay and pencil drawing were suggested in order to help

him

gain a sense of control and to feel

more grounded.

It

was

a slow

and

painful process. At times he used the art simply to portray his internal

experience where words failed. Figure 5 represents, through imagery, his experience of schizophrenia.

HOW

TO FIND AN ART THERAPIST

The American Art Therapy Association

established a credential of registration

who had met

specific professional criteria, including

signifying an art therapist a

minimum

have the

this level

exam

tion

of 1 ,000 hours of supervised letters

in art therapy

clinical experience.

A.T.R. after their name. In 1994, the

was administered to A.T.R.'s

in

(art

An

therapist-board certified)

individual

who

is

is

awarded to those

interested in learning

first certifica-

an effort to help the

A credential of A.T.R. -

public assess the level of competency of an art therapist.

B.C.

Art therapists of

who

pass the exam.

more about

art

therapy could

contact their local chapter of the American Art Therapy Association, or the national association for assistance.

The

address

is:

AATA 1202AllansonRd. Mundelein, Tel: (708)

The

HOW

II.

60060

949-6064; Fax: (708) 566-4580.

organization publishes a directory of art therapists.

TO LEARN MORE

Anderson,

F.

E.

Artfor All the Children: Approaches

Springfield, IL: Charles C.

Betensky,

M.

to

Artfor Children with

Disabilities.

Thomas, 1992.

Self Discovery Through Self Expression. Springfield, IL: Charles C.

Thomas, 1973. Bowen, C. A. and M.

L. Rosal.

"The Use of Art Therapy

to

Reduce the Maladaptive

Behaviors of a Mentally Retarded Adult." The Arts in Psychotherapy 16, no. 3 (1989): 211-218.

Whole Mind

The

172

"Why

Edwards, D.

M.

Junge,

Research?" In

A Handbook ofInquiry in

by H. Payne. London: Kingsley Publishers,

Own Voices: New

and D. Linesch. "Our

B.

Do

Don't Art Therapists

the Arts Therapies, edited

Research," The Arts in Psychotherapy 20, no.

Inc.,

1993.

Paradigms for Art Therapy

(1993): 61-67.

1

New York:

Kramer, E. Art Therapy in a Children's Community.

Schoken Books, 1978.

Kwiatkowska, H. Family Therapy and Evaluation Through Art. Springfield,

IL: Charles

C.Thomas, 1978. Landgarten, H. B. Clinical Art Therapy:

A

Clinical Guide

and

Casebook.

New York:

Bruner/Mazel, 1981. Levick,

M.

They Could Not Talk So They Drew: Children's

Springfield, IL: Charles C.

Thomas,

1

Naumberg, M. Dynamically Oriented Art Therapy:

Grune

& Stratton, Inc.,

Neale, E. L. and Projective

M.

J.

L. Rosal.

Its

Principles

and Practice. New York:

"What Can Art Therapists Learn from

Drawing Techniques

M. and

of Thinking and Coping.

1966.

Arts in Psychotherapy 20, no.

Quail,

Styles

983.

1

for Children?

A Review of the Literature."

The

R. V. Peavy. "A Phenomenologic Research Study of a Client's

Robbins, A. and L. B. Sibley. Creative Art Therapy.

M.

on

(1993): 37-49.

Experience in Art Therapy." The Arts in Psychotherapy 21, no.

Rosal,

the Research

New York:

1

(1994): 45-57.

Bruner/Mazel, 1976.

"Comparative Group Art Therapy Research to Evaluate Changes in Locus

L.

of Control in Behavior Disordered Children." The Arts in Psychotherapy 20, no. 3 (1993): 231-241.

Rubin,

J.

Child Art Therapy.

Schaverien,

J.

New York: Van

Nostrand Reinhold, 1984.

"The Retrospective Review of

Pictures:

Data

for Research in Art

Therapy." In Handbook of Inquiry in the Arts Therapies, edited by H. Payne.

London:

Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Ltd., 1993.

Wadeson, H. Art Psychotherapy.

New York: John Wiley

Wadeson, H. Dynamics ofArt Therapy

Psychotherapy.

& Sons, Inc.,

1980.

New York: John Wiley and

Sons,

1987.

Warren, B. "Introduction." In Using the Creative Arts in Therapy. Second Edition, ed by B. Warren.

New York:

Routledge, 1993.

edit-

The Creative Arts Therapies

RESOURCES Journals Art Therapy, the Journal ofthe American Art Therapy Association

1202AllansonRd. Mundelein, IL 60060 Tel: (708)

949-6064; Fax: (708) 566-4580

American Journal ofArt Therapy

Vermont College of Norwich University Montpelier, Tel: (802)

VT 05602

828-8540; Fax: (802) 828-8855

Arts in Psychotherapy an International Journal Elsevier Science Inc.,

660 White

Plains Rd.

Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591-515

173

Whole Mino

The

174

Dance Therapy Sandy Muniz Lieberman, M.M. T., A.D. T.R.

WHAT

IS

DANCE THERAPY?

Dance therapy

is

form of psychotherapy

a

development of the individual. Since our

that uses

life stories

reside in

reality

of who

Dance

therapists include this expression as part of the

we

are

and who we have been

movement

is

to further the

our bodies, the

reflected in our

movement.

dynamic and

creative

process of therapy and inner growth. This can be transformative, for

it

may

reach parts of ourselves that cannot be reached through talk alone. It is

well

known

that people

do not always understand why they behave or

may often motivate when we move, paint, sing, or dance, we are enlivening those aspects of ourselves that may be constrained by our everyday habits, speech patterns, or personality limitations. The dance can be particularly powerful due to the immediacy of feelings and sensations when felt in the feel in a certain

way. In

fact,

unconscious unresolved issues

and control our behavior. But

body. This kind of exploration bypasses cognitive control, and taps into the

unconscious material that needs to surface for healing to begin. This can be particularly powerful

when

mation to the emerging

HOW The

IT

"witnessed" by the therapist, as

self that

it

it

provides confir-

has in fact been "seen."

BEGAN

many ancient used dance and community movement ritual as

use of dance in expressive release and healing has

cultures.

These

societies

important aspects of daily

life,

its

roots in

providing a forum to express emotions, com-

municate cultural mores, and build community. This shared experience of

movement

expression

no doubt eased

inclusion of the individual in society.

feelings of isolation It also

and supported the

supported the wholeness of the

individual internally, as the creative, physical,

and

spiritual

dimensions were

expressed together. In contrast, Western society has traditionally seen people as

more compartmentalized. Western medicine developed

that focuses

on symptom

oped verbal approaches

relief in physical health,

for

the medical

model

while psychotherapy devel-

mental health. Artistic expression was chan-

neled into highly disciplined classical forms that required extensive training,

such

as ballet.

The

focus was

on audience reception of the

finished aesthetic

175

The Creative Arts Therapies

product, rather than on the total healing experience of self/performer in relation to

community.

more compartmentalized

In the early part of the twentieth century, this

experience of the individual began to

shift.

More

holistic views

explored in the fields of dance and psychotherapy.

communicate from and the

spiritual

Modern

emphasizing

their inner selves,

were gradually

dancers sought to

creativity, improvisation,

dimension of the dance. Isadora Duncan and Ruth

St.

Denis

who experimented with new forms of dance as communication and communion with self and others. In the field of psychothera-

were two such pioneers

py, there

was

away from convention,

a similar breaking

as psychologists

explored the more nonverbal and expressive aspects of personality. Wilhelm Reich, an Austrian psychiatrist,

worked

extensively with the deep connections

between the somatic and the psychic realms. His work on character armor, or

body

defenses, laid the

groundwork

many

for

theorists

and

clinicians

who

fol-

much attention to the creative therapeutic value. One of his major contributions

lowed. Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, paid process with emphasis

on

its

was the development of the concept of "active imagination," a process whereby unconscious material becomes conscious through symbols in ence.

Each of these pioneering individuals contributed

society to seek a deeper, ety.

more

Dance therapy emerged

holistic

in the

Marion Chace (1896—1970)

is

to the

artistic experi-

growing trend in

understanding of the individual in soci-

1940s out of this environment. generally considered the

"Grand Dame" of

dance therapy. She was a gifted individual, a pioneering dancer

who worked

with hospitalized psychiatric patients, facilitating communication develop-

ment and promoting bal rapport alone.

movement

social interactions

with patients unreachable through ver-

Her work with symbolism, group rhythm, and therapeutic

relationships has greatly influenced the

development of dance ther-

apy theory and practice. Mary Whitehouse (191 1-1979) was another major dance therapy pioneer a greater

who worked

emphasis on helping her

primarily in her private studio and placed

clients'

unconscious material surface through

movement. Integrating expressive movement and Jung's theory of active imagination, she developed a essence, this

is

form of work

movement." In

its

concerned with the embodiment of inner truth and the healthy

integration of the individual. this

called "authentic

same time by

chotherapy that

is

Many

others. Today,

dance therapy

initiatives

dance therapy has evolved

widely recognized

as

were begun

as a

at

form of psy-

working toward the wholeness of the

Whole Mind

The

176

individual.

dance

itive

HOW

IT

Its

roots are

still

celebrated as

and modern

ritual

coming from the

dance's expression of the inner

unity of body and psyche

apy.

Dance

is

self.

a strong principle that underlies

therapists understand that

dispositions

combine with our

life

we

are our bodies.

We carry themes

Our

dance ther-

all

biological pre-

circumstances to develop the

vocabulary and body image that shapes our personality,

habits,

life

movement and coping

from our childhood that become deeply embedded

our character structure and body image, affecting us throughout our

Dance

of prim-

WORKS

The

styles.

spirituality

and work with

therapists recognize

child continually criticized

and attacked by

this information.

a parent

may

in

lifetime.

For example, a

develop perpetually

raised shoulders, as if in anticipation of the next assault. This holding pattern

may be

carried into adulthood, long after the threat

is

gone. In this example,

the anxiety and apprehension of the child live on in the

body of the

adult,

affecting that individual's ability to operate in the world. This nonverbal

munication here

is

(raised shoulders)

can signal to others on an unconscious

a potential victim, thus continuing to define a person based

Even when the psyche may forget or

body holding

pattern.

our

our bodies do not forget.

life story,

Some dance

ded

in a physical

movement

habit.

Body awareness and

level that

on

a past

repress a part of

therapists call

memory," the astonishing way our bodies remember an

com-

early

it

"bone

trauma embed-

exploration can lead

to the remembering of repressed memories and feelings,

making previous

unconscious material conscious and ready to be integrated into the personality.

Through

the therapy process, changes

made by

the client are reflected in both

body and psyche.

Dance

therapists enrich their understanding of clients' psyches through

careful observation of their clients' sively in systems

body movements. Therapists

train exten-

of "movement profiling" that can provide a tremendous wealth

of diagnostic information about a client based on his or her movement. This information

assists

the therapist in working with a client for a deeper under-

standing of his or her experience and needs.

Another basic principle pattern,

we

directly

For example,

when

tread softly through

in

dance therapy

is

that,

when we change

impact the corresponding emotional and cognitive a timid life,

woman, who movement

finds in

a

body

factors.

has only been able to whisper and

therapy the impulse to stamp with

177

The Creative Arts Therapies

strength around the

room and

assert her physical presence in space, this will

have an impact on her psychological functioning.

When

a distractible scattered

child with learning deficits experiences herself moving with prolonged directed

attention across a balance beam, her newly discovered ability to focus in space will directly affect her general attention span.

ment range, and changes occur on a body

As people expand

level,

their

move-

growth and change occur

in

the psyche as well.

The movement

must

therapist

environment that

create an

for the client, so that a trusting relationship

mover

feel

secure

enough

apies that are

ment

more educational

is

in contrast to

in nature,

safe

enough

can develop. Only then can the

to risk truly being "seen"

growth process can begin. This

is

by another, so that the

some other body-oriented

ther-

where a therapist might teach a move-

prescription to solve particular ailments. In dance therapy, the developing

relationship between the therapist

and the

client

is

a very integral part of the

process.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS movement therapy

Research studies have documented the efficacy of dance

as

Brooks and Stark (1989) conducted

a treatment modality in specific situations.

a study

which supported the premise that dance therapy can change how peo-

ple feel.

A single dance therapy session significantly changed the participants'

affect,

with depression and anxiety affected more than

hostility.

Movement

therapy has been found to have a positive effect on body image by Franklin

(1979) working with the mentally retarded, and by Christup (1962) with chronic schizophrenics. Another study (Kuettel, 1982) found that subjects receiving dance therapy will express less anxiety

members of

control groups. Westbrook and

and greater affection than

McKibben (1989) found

dance movement therapy improved movement initiation Parkinson's disease.

They

suggested that dance therapy

in patients

may be

for other groups of patients with neurological disabilities.

that

with

equally useful

Other studies have

demonstrated the effectiveness of dance therapy with troubled youth (Payne, 1988), and with mothers and

young children

In 1993, the U.S. Senate appropriated

of dance therapy with older persons.

The

at risk

money

of abuse (Meekums, 1991). for research

on the

efficacy

findings of this research project, sub-

mitted in 1996, strongly suggest that dance/movement therapy improved the functional abilities on a

number of key

variables for older adults

who had

Whole Mind

The

178

sustained neurological insult

Although there

is

(AOA Grant Number: 90 AM

0669).

pressure to prove the effectiveness of dance

therapy both from within the

field

and from outside

movement

sources, serious issues have

been raised by researchers that question whether the profession can be evaluated through the old paradigm model of traditional research (Meekums and Payne, 1993). Traditional research with data,

and

strictly controlled

effectiveness of a process

parameters

its

emphasis on

may

objectivity, isolation

of

not be relevant to the study of the

which by definition

is

holistic, interactive,

and

diffi-

Meekums and Payne (1993) present a strong case for the development and use of new paradigm methodologies in future dance therapy cult to isolate.

research, such as illuminative evaluation (Parlett, 1974, 1981).

REAL PEOPLE AND DANCE THERAPY

Specific client goals

and what

actually happens during a session vary

considerably depending on the setting, population, and individual clients' needs.

A few examples follow.

For the autistic-like client

has severe social and communication deficits, the usually

is

who

movement therapy

done one-on-one. As part of the process of relationship build-

ing, there are

nonverbal techniques that dance therapists use to com-

municate empathy and establish understanding of

clients'

attunement in tension

trust.

Dance

therapists gain a deeper

experiences through such techniques as

flow,

adjustment in shape flow, and mirroring

of basic body shape patterns. These often very subtle kinesthetic identifications are particularly

with the nonverbal others. After a

powerful

when used

client, or the client

number of sessions, an

ignores the therapist might begin short

chronistic tact

movement with

who

in relationship building

has difficulty relating to

autistic child

who

completely

and sporadic sequences of syn-

the therapist.

and seemingly random touch would

Over time,

fleeting eye con-

increase as the child actively

begins to seek contact, increasing his or her level of tolerance for

com-

munication attempts. Using these active nonverbal techniques, the therapist encourages the specific goals of increased relatedness increased ability to

communicate needs.

and

179

The Creative Arts Therapies

For the average adult with intact ego boundaries, dance therapy can be done either individually or in a group. mal. Clients

may

The

structure can be mini-

improvise movements with freedom to explore their

may

unconscious impulses. For example, an individual

need to twirl around the space endlessly until focus and balance

her sense of

Her

stability.

collapse, fearing she

circular

Then

may

never as

rise again.

Often the therapist

needed or requested. In

might suggest the place of collapse

as the starting

movement,

to process the experience,

meaningful part of the therapy. This

movement,

feelings,

is

when

Work with pist

will offer

this case, she

move. Talking is

often a very

conscious verbal integra-

and images can enhance the thera-

peutic experience. Goals specific to this self-awareness,

loses

point from which

to begin exploring feelings, sensations, or impulses to

tion of the

quite similar,

is

motions become frenzied and she

she lives in terror of that familiar place of

guidance to the client only

together after the

maintain

in this way. Eventually she

discover that her busy and successful lifestyle

metaphorically.

discover a deep

ability to

gone. She collapses in a heap and cannot move.

is

Again and again she begins her sessions

may

all

empowerment, and

way of working include

integration of

body and psyche.

may require much more structure and more theraMore formal activities, or movement games and exer-

children

involvement.

cises, are specifically

designed to address the unique developmental

needs of each child or group of children, stimulating social interaction,

and

self-expression.

children,

One example

of this

is

a small

group of preschool

most of whom had been neglected or abused and were

gling to find ways to express their feelings without

whelmed by them. facilitates

moving with

movement due

movement doors.

After

One

strug-

becoming

over-

colorful silk scarves,

which often

and flowing

quality, the

to their texture

therapist suggested that the children pretend to be out-

child

drooped with passive weight and collapsed

ground. Rocking slightly yet slumped over, the child

said, "I

to the

am a dying

Whole Mind

The

180

flower."

The

other children were asked

if

there

was anything that could

move

be done for a dying flower. Their response was to

fashion, delivering "flower food," water for the roots,

in parade-like

and

a great big

yellow scarf "sun" to the child. Slowly, the dying flower child began to

respond to the touch and stood up

here have included facilitating coping tions,

stimulating social interac-

skills,

and expression of self.

Som ome dance work

twirling her scarf around. Goals

tall,

in

therapists incorporate other creative modalities with their

movement. Examples of this

tain kinds

of movement exploration, using

symbols and imagery that

may

music to

spirit

facilitate cer-

art to visually express the

surface during

poetry to capture, in language, the

Whether

are using

movement, or using

of the movement discovery.

or not other modalities are incorporated, dance therapy's

unique distinction continues to be that

it

utilizes

our very bodies

as

the instrument of self-expression, with every gesture and impulse

choreographing our

literal

embodiment accounts

journey toward health. This immediacy and

for the

powerful, often transformational

nature of this work.

HOW The

TO CHOOSE A DANCE THERAPIST training for dance therapists

are therapists

who

see

is

varied.

At one end of the spectrum, there

body and movement expression

as first

and paramount,

with meaning in and of itself. They use terminology relating to movement, not to psychology,

and they may or may not

end of the spectrum perspectives

therapy

(ie:

are therapists

clients.

its

upon which

all

is

on

this

movement

continuum,

dance therapists agree.

founding in 1966, the American Dance Therapy Association

has worked to establish and maintain high standards of professional

education and competence in the in

have incorporated various psychological

Regardless of where a therapist

there are fundamental principles

Since

At the other

Jungian, psychoanalytic, developmental) into their

work with

(ADTA)

who

discuss the dance process.

field.

Dance/Movement Therapy, and

Dance Therapists hold masters

are eligible for a

Registered). Alternate routes are available.

There

degrees

D.T.R. (Dance Therapist is

an advanced

level

of

181

The Creative Arts Therapies

registry,

A.D.T.R. (Academy of Dance Therapists Registered) signifying that

may

an individual

vate practice. For

teach, provide training

and supervision, and engage

more information, contact the

in pri-

national office:

ADTA 2000 Century Columbia, Tel: (410)

HOW

108

Plaza, Suite

MD 21044 997-4040

TO LEARN MORE

Adler,

"Who

J.

is

Quarterly 12, no.

Bernstein,

P.

A

the Witness: 1

Description of Authentic Movement." Contact

(1987): 20-29.

Eight Theoretical Approaches

to

Dance Therapy. Dubuque,

IA: Kendall

Hunt, 1979. Brooks, D. and A. Stark "The Effect of Dance Therapy on Affect:

A

Pilot Study."

American Journal ofDance Therapy 11, no. 2 (1989).

Marian Chace: Her Papers. Columbia,

Chaiklin, H.

Chodorow,

J.

MD: A.D.T.A.,

1975.

"To Move and Be Moved." Quadrant Journal of

G.

the C.

Jung

Foundation for Analytical Psychology 17, no. 2 (1984): 39-48.

Dance Therapy and Depth Psychology: The Moving Imagination.

New York:

Routledge, 1991.

Christup, H.

"The

J.

Effect of

Dance Therapy on

Psychiatric Quarterly Supplement 2, no.

Franklin, S.

"Movement Therapy and

the

Concept of Body Image."

36 (1962).

Selected Measures of

Body Image

Trainable Mentally Retarded." American Journal ofDance Therapy 3, no.

1

in the

(1979):

43-50. Kestenberg,

J.

and M.

Sossin.

The Role ofMovement Patterns in Development, Vol.

New York: Dance Notation Kuettel,

T

"Affective

Change

in

Press,

2.

1979.

Dance Therapy." American Journal ofDance Therapy

5 (1982): 56-64.

Levy,

F.

Dance Movement Therapy:

A

Healing Art. Reston, VA:

for Health, Physical Education, Recreation

Lewis B.

P.

and D. Singer,

eds.

The American

Alliance

and Dance, 1988.

The Choreography of Object

Relations. Keene,

NH:

Antioch University, 1982. Lewis,

P.

and

Loman, eds. The Kestenberg Movement and Future Directions. Keene, NH: Antioch

S.

Applications

Profile: Its Past, Present

University, 1990.

Whole Mind

The

182

Lewis,

Creative Transformation: The Healing

P.

Power of the Arts. Wilmette

IL:

Chiron

Publications, 1993.

Loman,

S., ed.

The Body-Mind Connection

in

Human Movement Analysis.

Keene,

NH:

Antioch University, 1992.

Meekums,

B.

"Dance Movement Therapy with Mothers and Young Children

at

Risk

of Abuse." The Arts in Psychotherapy 18, no. 3 (1991).

Meekums,

B.

Research

and H. Payne. "Emerging Methodology

— A Way Forward."

by H. Payne. Philadelphia:

Muniz,

S.

Facilitating

with a Residually Autistic Latency

by

P.

Dance Movement Therapy in the Arts Therapies, edited

Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1993.

"The Choreography of a

Relations, edited

in

Handbook ofInquiry

In

Environment: Movement Therapy

Aged Child." In The Choreography of Object

NH:

Bernstein and D. Singer. Keene,

Antioch University,

1982. Parlett,

M. "The New

HMSO/DES,

Evaluation." Trends in Education, Innovative 34. London:

1974.

"Illuminative Evaluation." In

Human

Inquiry, edited

by

P.

Reason and J.

Rowan. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1981. Payne, H. "The Use of Dance

Movement Therapy with Troubled Youth."

Interventions in Child and Adolescent Therapy, edited

John Wiley

In Innovative

by C. Schaefer.

New York:

ed.

Interscience, 1988.

Handbook ofInquiry

in the Arts Therapies:

One

River,

Many

Currents.

Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1993.

Schwartz-Salant, N. and

M.

Stein, eds.

The Body

in Analysis. Wilmette, IL:

Chiron

Publications, 1986. Siegel, E. Press,

Dance Movement Therapy: Mirror of Ourselves.

New York: Human

Sciences

1984.

Westbrook, B. and H. McKibben. "Dance Movement Therapy with Groups of Outpatients with Parkinson's Disease." American Journal ofDance Therapy 11, no. 1

(1989): 27-38.

Whitehouse, M. "Physical Movement and Personality." Paper presented ing of the Analytic Psychology Club, Los Angeles, 1963.

at the

meet-

183

The Creative Arts Therapies

Drama Therapy Patricia Sternberg, M.A., R.D.T./B.C.T

WHAT

IS

Drama

DRAMA THERAPY?

therapy

"the systematic

is

defined by the National Association for

and intentional use of drama/theater

associations to achieve the therapeutic goals of

Drama Therapy

processes, products,

symptom

relief,

and personal growth." Drama therapy

as

and

emotional and

uses structured

and

creative role-play to increase life skills. Its techniques deal with the here

and

physical integration,

now, enhancing problem-solving ing alternative solutions to

Drama

ual

Drama

and beyond

rather than

where goal.

on

artistic

own

the present and future, and illustrat-

skills for

problems.

therapy can enrich the

discovery of his or her in a group.

all

client's

sense of self-worth through the

how

inner resources as well as learning

to function

therapy can offer a vision of something outside the individ-

one's

narrow view of the world.

a product, unlike theater

focused on the process

education or theater performance,

achievement rather than the

However, some drama therapists are

It is

actors' participation

also theater directors

is

who

the desired create pro-

ductions for an audience, which then becomes involved in the process after

viewing the product. Three such companies are Stop

Gap Theater, Playback

Theater, and Enact.

This active approach to behavioral, emotional, and cognitive change has been found to be effective with severely disturbed and disabled populations well as others.

It is

a

way

to explore the creative potential in

all

people.

as

It is

a

nonthreatening technique which promotes awareness of one's environment and one's inner resources, encourages self-worth, skills. It

can be geared to varying

HOW

BEGAN

IT

Drama

therapy

is

levels

of functioning.

the newest of the Creative Arts therapies. Although

therapy has been practiced in Europe for for

Drama Therapy (NADT) was

therapists

the National Association

first

president.

As of November 1997,

Drama Therapy had close to 400 members. Most (R.D.T's) come to Drama Therapy from a drama/

the National Association for

drama

many years,

drama

established in the U.S. in 1979, at Yale

University with Gertrude Shatner as the

registered

and expands problem-solving

Whole Mino

The

184

theater background,

and many

theoretical

frameworks are represented,

reflect-

ing varied backgrounds of training. These include Jungian, psychoanalytic, and Gestalt perspectives, as well as humanistic

HOW

IT

Drama

and cognitive psychology.

WORKS therapy

populations.

community

practiced in a variety of settings

is

It is

used in mental health

and

serves

many

centers, correctional facilities, rehabilitation programs,

nesses, as well as in private practice. Currently,

with special education

drama

classes, psychiatric patients,

different

schools, prisons,

facilities, hospitals,

and busi-

therapists are

working

persons recovering from

substance abuse, trauma victims, dysfunctional families, developmentally and physically disabled persons (including

AIDS

patients), prison

and correctional

inmates, anorexic and bulimic patients, the homeless, the elderly, chil-

facility

dren, adolescents,

and

others.

Drama

therapists provide services to individuals,

groups, and families in addition to conducting clinical research.

Drama

therapy uses

many

different techniques,

performance to stimulate the audience,

as

from a

mentioned

earlier, to

awareness exercises, depending on the population and

Drama

full-fledged theater

its

simple sensory

functional level.

therapists use techniques such as improvisation, role play, theater

games, concentration exercises, mime, masks, and puppetry,

as well as scripted

dramatizations and opened-ended scripts. These techniques further emotional

growth and psychological integration.

Drama efforts

therapists provide evaluation

and treatment. They coordinate

sonnel as part of a team treatment approach. the

drama

ater)

their

with psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and other per-

and

therapist

regularly

with nursing

is

that he or she

works

staff and

is

of the important

assets

of

trained as a team player (as in the the-

in conjunction with other therapists. In consultation

medical recommendations, the therapist conducts drama

therapy groups to deal with problems, times, specific

One

recommendations

issues,

and concerns of the

are given to the therapist

patients.

by a doctor,

At

social

worker, psychologist, or nursing staff for specific patient problems.

Emphasis

is

placed on problem-solving

skills

and

role training, as well as

ways and means to help achieve and maintain mental health. Through simulated

life

situations, patients get opportunities to try out

methods of solving problems without the the

drama

therapist assists the

fear

new

behaviors and

of any consequences. Sometimes,

group to identify

common

concerns or issues

185

The Creative Arts Therapies

with which they would

like to

work. In addition, tole-training situations are

enacted, such as interviewing for a job or placement, asserting personal needs

on the job or

in a relationship, or

handling anger, frustration, and

stress in a

and problem-solving

constructive way. Patients can practice their verbal

skills

in a variety of spontaneous situations.

Drama

go beyond "talk thera-

therapists offer a variety of techniques that

many

py."

They

size

and otherwise), puppets, masks,

use

different kinds of objects in their work, such as dolls hats, scarves, costumes,

(life-

punching bags,

Play-Doh, photographs, paintings, cubes, pillows, paper, crayons, and a myriad of other objects. Sound and music can also be a part of a private drama ther-

apy

session.

But unlike the

art therapist or

music

therapist,

with these techniques, the drama therapist uses these stone to the drama.

Through drawing or mask work,

become the image, and the

role play

could

who

follow through

articles as a stepping-

the client

may

actually

start there.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Read Johnson's work with schizophrenic

In David issue has

been the relationship between improvisational

intrapsychic

role playing

and

clear

and interpersonal boundaries. His research focused on the problem

of loss of the studies

main

patients (1980) the

self

and the potential of drama therapy

in recovering

it.

Further

on self-image have been conducted by Renee Emunah and Johnson

(1983). Johnson's current research

is

focused on post-traumatic

stress disorder.

who works mainly with children, has conducted research to how dramatic play can help the learning-disabled child and the emo-

Eleanor Irwin,

determine

tionally disturbed child (Irwin, 1980).

Michiko Moriyama ly patients in a

nursing

is

currently using

home

in

Japan (1994). Her

has produced rehabilitation effects

language and action

abilities,

drama therapy to results

on higher conical

and psychological

stabilizing the patients emotionally,

treat

show

demented

that this therapy

functions, such as

effects,

such

elder-

improved

as activating

and reducing abnormal behavior.

REAL PEOPLE AND DRAMA THERAPY

A

typical private

warm-up such

drama therapy

as talking

session

would include some kind of a

about what went on since the

last

meeting.

and

Whole Mind

The

186

:

The

client

scenes.

The

may want therapist

pened, and/or play

to replay

and the

it

any particularly

client

may play out

again as the client wanted

guides the client to understand his feelings and

stand those of the other people involved.

difficult or

-'*r^v

emotional

the situation as it

it

hap-

The therapist help him under-

to go.

tries to

therapist

may

guide the

and what he meant, were two Communication skills are discussed, analyzed, and

client to realize that

different things.

The

*S ::>;

what the

client said,

upon. Possible alternative ways to handle feelings are explored. A role play is enacted to give the client the experience of dealing

built

with a

difficult situation.

so that he

is

The

therapist creates resistance for the client,

prepared for possible problems which

may

arise.

Role

used to give the client a chance to put himself in the other person. person's shoes, and to try to understand the feelings of that Future projection can be used, as well as inner monologue, or the reversal

empty his

is

chair technique.

The

client

is

given every opportunity to vent

emotions. Does he need to throw a couple of punches

ing bag before he leaves?

He

at the

punch-

laughs and realizes that most of what he

gone or redirected. The therapist helps the client what needs process what has happened during the session. They review

came

to

in

with

happen

is

next. Specific behavioral goals for the client are discussed

and agreed upon

for the next meeting.

f?D s is

take a look at a group session within a psychiatric

one of the most

common work places

for

drama

groups of psychiatric patients exclude anyone nating, agitated patients

who

who

is

facility,

therapists.

which

Most

actively halluci-

are non-directable, or patients

who

are

actively suicidal.

Most

therapists structure their session in a similar

warm-up of some

kind, followed by the

way with

main action where

used, and a conclusion of sharing or processing.

role play

Sometimes

a

a is

group

goal meets over a long period of time and becomes cohesive. This is a short-term facility or in a long-term facility. However, in working in a crisis

newcomers

to each ses-

name games and

"getting to

intervention groups, frequently there are

sion, so thata

warm-up may

consist of

The Creative Arts Therapies

know you" well

activities

such

as

"My name

and one thing

is

I

do

."

is

The drama

action segment

therapist

One

today.

skills to

where

role play

is

used. For example, a

be contracted to work with a group of managers

therapist

was brought

constitutes sexual harass-

in to teach problem-solving

adolescents with behavior disorders.

and

niques,

may

is

them become more aware of what

to help

ment

l 87

specifically role play,

management, counseling, and

Drama

have been used in

crisis

therapy tech-

sales training, hotel

intervention even before

it

was

recognized as drama therapy. In

some

group comes up with their own issues or problems to explore with the therapist. Sometimes the drama therapist is hired to lescent

settings the

work on

building with a particular group, such as the ado-

skill

group mentioned above, or with an incarcerated group. Here

the therapist might focus clients to

on achieving

social skills that

be more effective in communicating

a place to

would enable

when applying

or returning to a particular environment.

live,

An

for a job, issue that

comes up frequently with many behavior disorder groups is learning how to deal with anger using methods other than violence. Once the problem is selected, volunteers act out the specific situation suggested by the therapist such

as, "I

want

to be able to stand

up

for

my husband and not always have to do everything his way," "Every time my kids have an argument start screaming at them and

myself with or

make

mon

I

it

worse.

I

want

to

handle the problem differently." Another com-

concern from patients about to be discharged from a psychiatric

hospital

is,

"What do

the problem to be time, place, etc.

I tell

people

worked on

is

when

they ask where

I've

selected, then the scene

been?"

is set:

First,

location,

When

everyone knows where they are and what they're doing, the players begin to improvise the scene. Sometimes prepared scripts are

used to get the scene started or to get a discussion going, and

then the players

move

to improvisation:

situation? Lets try the scene

When we move

"What would you

say in that

your way and see what happens."

into the processing or sharing part of the session, the

players talk about the feelings they

had during the scene. Members of

the audience are encouraged to express their feelings and responses.

Whole Mind

The

188

Other

possibilities are discussed, for instance,

have gone or what

else

could the person have said? Everyone

aged to make some contribution. important is

always

how else might

One

as the action.

more than one

The

the scene is

encour-

processing discussion

significant element stressed

is

as

that there

is

solution to every problem.

Often when a patient

is

warmed up

fully involved in the role play

to

an

issue,

and has the same

he or she becomes

feelings

and reactions

Comments frequently heard after a know how my husband feels!" Or, "I never

that occur in the real situation.

good

role play are,

"Now,

I

thought of it that way before." Sometimes with comments such see

as, "I

there's

even more insight

always thought he was a cold

now

fish,

he could be just shy." The experience of being in someone

shoes can be very insight-provoking.

time for

this processing at the

It is

end of the

I

else's

important to allow enough

session.

Other types of group drama therapy include theater performances dealing with specific problem issues. These are most popular in school settings

and

usually offer the kinds of life choices facing students today in

regard to drugs and alcohol, sexual conduct, violence, problems with parents, teachers,

and

offer information

drug abuse, shops

their peers.

and/or education on a specific subject such

illiteracy,

after the

Other groups present productions which

dealing with violence,

etc.

Some groups

as

AIDS,

offer

work-

performance. These workshops can be anywhere from a

month's residency to a one-session discussion to explore the issues dramatized in the performance.

Others have a question-and-answer period

at

the end, and sometimes the players stay in role to answer such questions as,

"Why didn't you want to go to bed with your boyfriend?"

HOW TO When

FIND A

DRAMA THERAPIST

choosing a drama therapist, verify that the person

the only valid credential for

drama

therapists.

through the National Association for standards. trainer.

R.D.T/BC

is

an R.D.T. This

These R.D.T.s

is

are registered

Drama Therapy and have met

rigorous

denotes the added credential of board certification as a

Standards of registration for R.D.T. include the following: expertise in

dramatic, theatrical, and performance media; an understanding of psychother-

apeutic process with different populations in a variety of settings; integration

189

The Creative Arts Therapies

of the

artistic

and psychological aspects of drama therapy; and professional

expertise in the field of mental health and/or special education.

Many drama

therapists in private practice hold other degrees in addition to their

M.A.

tus (which denotes an

minimum

as the

M.S.W., Ed.D., M.F.C.C., C.A.C.,

R.D.T.

sta-

requirement), such as Ph.D.,

as well as credentials in the other creative

arts therapies.

Unfortunately, there are people

no

who

themselves drama therapists with

call

credentials other than their interest and/or experience in

but without knowledge of the

Some may have

registered.

translate into being a

a musician calling

theater,

background or study necessary to become

a degree in

drama

him

clinical

drama or

drama or

in theater

but that does not

therapist or holding the credential R.D.T.

like

It's

or herself a music therapist just because he can play the

piano.

The

National Association for

icut Ave.

(202) 966-7409. well as

HOW

all

Drama Therapy

is

located at 5505 Connect-

NW #280, Washington, D.C. 20015. Their telephone number other

They keep an updated

members of the

list

of all R.D.T.S and R.D.T. /BCs,

is

as

organization.

TO LEARN MORE

Courtney, R. Play,

Drama and Thought. New York: Drama Book

Specialists,

1974.

Re-Play: Studies ofDrama in Education. Toronto: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, 1982.

Drama and Intelligence. Emunah,

R.

"Drama Therapy with Adult

Psychotherapy Vol. 10.

Emunah,

Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1990.

New York:

R. and D. Johnson.

Psychiatric Patients." In The Arts in

Pergamon

Press,

1985.

"The Impact of Theatrical Performance on the

Self-

images of Psychiatric Patients." The Arts in Psychotherapy 10 (1983): 233-239. Irwin, E. "Introduction." Proceedings

CT: National Association Irwin, E. C.

and

for

-

First

Annual Conference

Drama Therapy,

E. S. Portner. Proceedings-First

Haven, CT: National Association

for

1,

NADT, New

Haven,

1980.

Annual Conference

Drama Therapy,

1,

"The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Use of Pretend-play." Play Therapy, edited by C. Schaefer and K. O'Connor.

NADT. New

1980. In

Handbook of

New York: John Wiley

&

Sons, Inc., 1983.

Jennings, S.

Drama Therapy: MA: Brookline

Cambridge,

Theory and Practice for Teachers Books, 1987.

and

Clinicians.

Whole Mind

The

190

Creative

Drama

in Groupwork.

"Drama Therapy with the Wings.

and Home.

London:

and Individuals."

Families, Groups,

Press,

"Drama Therapy and

in Waiting in

1987.

the Schizophrenic Condition." In

by G. Schattner and R. Courtney.

New

Drama in Therapy, Drama Book

York:

1981.

Moriyama, M. "Drama Therapy with Alzheimer

Drama Therapy Landy, R.

1986.

Waiting at the Gate: Creativity and Hope in the Nursing

New York: Haworth

Specialists,

Press,

Jessica Kingsley, 1990.

S. L. Sandel.

Vol. 2, edited

London: Winslow

Drama

Conference,

New Orleans,

Therapy: Concepts

Patients." National Association for

LA: Unpublished paper, 1994.

and Practice.

Springfield, IL: Charles C.

Thomas

Publishers, 1985.

and Performance: The Meaning of Role

Persona Everyday

Life.

New York:

"Training the

in

Drama,

Therapy,

and

Guilford Press, 1993.

Drama

Therapist:

A

The Arts

Four-Part Model."

in

Psychotherapy 10 (1983): 175-185.

Read Johnson, D. "The Other Room." Dramascope

Read Johnson, D. Patients."

11, no.

"Effects of a Theater Experience

2 (1991):

7.

on Hospitalized

Psychiatric

The Arts in Psychotherapy! (1980): 265-272.

Salas, J. Improvising

Real Life: Personal Story in Playback Theater. Dubuque, IA:

Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co., 1993. Shatner, G.

Book Sternberg,

1989.

and R. Courtney. Drama Therapy Vol.

Specialists, P.

I

and Vol.

II.

New York: Drama

1981.

and A. Garcia. Sociodrama: Who's

in Your Shoes?

New York:

Praeger Press,

191

The Creative Arts Therapies

Music Therapy Jo

WHAT

Salas, M.A., C.M.T.

MUSIC THERAPY?

IS

Music therapy to

the use of music, in the context of a therapeutic relationship,

is

meet treatment

ties

of music

itself

Music therapy sion,

goals. It usually involves

— rhythm, melody,

in music. Self-expres-

communication, and integration, the central goals of most forms of ther-

apy, take place within the

Music therapy

is

framework of this

artistic

medium

is

in itself

used with a wide range of clients, including physically

and mentally handicapped adults and children, psychiatric

patients,

emotion-

disturbed children and adolescents, the elderly, and normally functioning

people seeking self-awareness and growth.

music therapist chooses interests

of the

background.

tic

that

and communicative.

integrated, expressive,

ally

uses the quali-

timbre, harmony, pattern, and so on.

on the presence of order and form

built

is

making music, and

nursing

will

The method and

depend on the needs,

clients, as well as

on the

therapist's

techniques that a

capabilities,

own

and musical

musical and therapeu-

A music therapist working with a group of elderly women

home may

the era of their

sit at

in a

the piano and play songs carefully chosen from

young womanhood. As they

are

drawn

into the familiar

melodies, they also experience connection to one another and to their past; their respiration deepens;

memories and emotions

are stimulated

verbally.

Another therapist working individually with a patient

hospital

may

offer a selection

shakers, a xylophone.

in a psychiatric

of simple percussion instruments

With very

little

talking, the patient

and shared

— drums,

and the therapist

improvise together, saying things with the music that cannot be said in words.

Other possible

activities

might include group instrumental improvisation;

choosing popular songs and relating them to one's the

lyrics;

learning

how

sis

on the therapeutic

or

"fill-in"

songs,

expressiveness

HOW

IT

to play the piano, guitar or

perhaps by rewriting

process); or songwriting, either full-fledged original songs

where the

and

life,

trumpet (with the empha-

clients

supply words or phrases that require their

creativity.

BEGAN

Music therapy was developed

in the U.S. after

World War

course, music's healing effects have been noted for centuries

(although, of

II

and

in

all

cultures).

Whole Hind

The

192

Staff working in

VA hospitals

and emotionally

observed that their patients improved physically

of musicians

after the visits

who came

to entertain them.

Exploring the use of music in a more deliberate way, musicians and theorists evolved the

methodologies of music therapy. In 1950, the National

first

Association for Music Therapy was formed. Music therapy grew as people realized that

it

was

effective

with

many

different kinds of clinical populations. In

1971, a second association, the American Association for Music Therapy, was created to support broader training and research. As of early 1998, the two associations have merged,

which

HOW The

will

IT

encompass

becoming the American Music Therapy Association,

their

combined spectrum of philosophies and

practices.

WORKS

experience of creativity and mastery

esteem, an important goal for

is

many music

piece, learning to sing a song, or simply

a powerful step in building self-

therapy

clients.

Creating a musical

producing a drumbeat

at the right

moment may lead to a lasting sense of affirmation. An unsuspected musical talent may be discovered not as rare as you might think, and particularly valuable for someone who has believed herself to be without talents. Whether

—

a client ities

especially girted or not,

is

it is

so that they will be successful

on every

level,

the therapist's task to frame musical activ-

and

satisfying.

This satisfaction can occur

from the chromosomally damaged three-year-old breaking into

a crooked smile as he hits the tambourine, to the opera singer recovering a stroke

As

who

in other modalities,

client's

music therapy begins with a process of assessing the

needs and strengths.

— and enjoyment abilities,

is

experience,

The

therapy will be more effective and enjoyable

and

—

aware of the

client's

interests, especially those directly related to

music.

healing in itself

if

the therapist

is

Based on that assessment, treatment goals are identified, with the ticipation

and agreement,

if possible.

music therapy group might be to tal

from

finds the courage to use her voice once again.

relate to others

music. For a troubled adolescent

therapy, a goal

might be

A goal for a withdrawn

who

client's par-

adult client in a

through vocal and instrumen-

has been referred for individual music

to develop self-esteem

and

creative self-expression

through improvisation and song composition. The therapist establishes an understanding about measuring progress during treatment, either with the client, the client's

therapy

is

family or clinic

being used adjunctively.

staff,

or with the primary therapist,

if

music

193

The Creative Arts Therapies

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Music

therapists have researched the processes

apy with

many

and

effectiveness of

music ther-

different client groups. In this field, as with the other arts ther-

apies, researchers are

investigate their work.

still

learning the most effective ways to record and

Many

statistically inconclusive,

traditional quantitative research are

even though the work they describe

apparently of value to the clients.

phenomena of music

on

reports

The problem

lies

therapy, usually too diverse

is

interesting

and

in accurately describing the

and subtle

for quantification.

Qualitative case study research methods, increasingly adopted by researchers,

tend to yield a clearer picture.

with a dying cancer patient.

One

article presents a

The author

finds that

study of music therapy

music therapy can accom-

plish not only clinical goals, such as reduction of anxiety, but can also engen-

der profound and healing interactions between the patient and family

members

(Martin, in Bruscia, 1991). Another article presents a four-phase model of

early-childhood musical development and discusses the parallels with major

models of developmental psychology (Briggs, 1991). In an exploration of music therapy with alcoholics, the researcher reports that participation in group music sessions allows clients to express feelings without their usual recourse to alcohol.

Their enjoyment of the sessions leads them to attend consistently, an

important factor in the success of the treatment (Dougherty, 1984).

REAL PEOPLE AND MUSIC THERAPY

^r

When Sam He was old.

was

three,

he was diagnosed with a malignant brain

treated successfully,

and

he's

now a healthy,

But the experience of his horrifying

much

illness

has

left

a mark.

He was

too young to understand the pain, the surgeries, the experience of

being physically restrained, the strictures of convalescence. angry,

tui

active, bright six-year-

and most of his anger

is

aimed

at his

mother.

He

He

is

deeply

refuses to talk at

home, although he has an unusually good vocabulary. He has tantrums

when

it is

time to go to school. In spite of being angry at his mother,

she's

the only person he wants to be with. She understands the causes of his rage,

but

she's at a loss to

know how

best to help him.

She brings him to

Whole

The

194

me

for

music therapy,

in the

hope

that

Sam might

find

Mind

new ways

to

express himself.

In his

first sessions,

especially entranced

Sam

by the

flits

from one instrument

tact. I listen to

invite

him

He

doesn't talk or

for little fin-

make

eye con-

him, play with him, accept his choice of verbal silence,

— with music —

be a creative child and,

He begins

enough

child-size guitar, small

gers but with a mellow, beautiful sound.

to another. He's

to look at

like

to consider

any

he

artist,

new is

ideas.

shows himself to

own

creations.

a question or a

comment

gratified

me directly. He volunteers

He by

his

here and there.

Sam's

way of being

his experience

that he

I

had

world has been shaped to a large extent by

of illness and treatment. Guessing that

an outrage to his that time,

in the

spirit to

it

must have been

be so helpless and uncomprehending during

design activities that give lost as a three-year-old.

him

He

a chance to assert the control

readily accepts the invitation to

me when and what to play, and when to stop. He learns to exercise a conscious choice over how we spend our time in the sessions. He learns that I will listen when he says what he wants. He

be the conductor

talks

who

tells

more and more. His playing becomes

sustained. Together

we develop

increasingly organized and

a repertoire of activities that he chooses

to return to in each session, often involving vigorous improvisation with

drums, cymbal, and other percussion. His music creative

is

very expressive, very

and adventurous, and well-controlled. Sometimes

for ten or twelve

we'll

improvise

minutes without stopping.

After about three months, Sam's mother reports that he's

home and more amenable

to going to school.

He

less

angry

at

continues to

come

to

therapy, playing his favorite instruments, singing his favorite songs,

playing the games

we have

and

devised together.

t3D

HOW

TO FIND A MUSIC THERAPIST

Music

therapists are trained in three areas: clinical theory

therapy theory and practice, and music

itself.

Music

and

practice,

music

therapists are required to

195

The Creative Arts Therapies

have enough practical musicianship, including repertoire, to be able to guide

and support

their clients' musical expression.

credentials for

Certified

music

There

are currently four accepted

Music Therapist (CMT) or Advanced

therapists: Certified

(ACMT) for graduates of AAMT-affiliated Music Therapist (RMT) for graduates of NAMT-affiliated

Music Therapist

Registered

schools; schools;

and Music Therapist, Board Certified (MT-BC), the credential issued by the

new

association

AMTA. To

find a music therapist in your area, contact:

AMTA 8455

Colesville Road, Suite

Silver Spring,

HOW

930

MD 20910

TO LEARN MORE

Boxill, E.

H. Music Therapy for

the Developmentally Disabled. Austin,

TX:

Pro-Ed.,

1985. Briggs, C. A.

"A Model

for

Understanding Musical Development." Music Therapy 10

(1991): 1-21. Bruscia, K. E. Case Studies in

Music Therapy. Phoenixville, PA: Barcelona Publishers,

1991.

Dougherty, K.

M. "Music Therapy

in the

Treatment of the Alcoholic Client." Music

Therapy 4 (1984): 47-54.

Martin,

J.

A. "Music Therapy at the

End of a

Life." In Case Studies in

Music Therapy,

edited by K. Bruscia. Phoenixville, PA: Barcelona Publishers, 1991.

NordofF,

P.

and C. Robbins. Music Therapy

in Special Education.

New York: John

Day,

1971. NordofF,

P.

and C. Robbins. Creative Music Therapy.

Payne, H., ed.

London:

Handbook ofInquiry

New York: John

in the Arts Therapies:

Day, 1977.

One River, Many

Jessica Kingsley, 1993.

RESOURCES Journals Journal ofMusic Therapy

Music Therapy

Publication of the National

Publication of the American

Association for Music Therapy

Association for Music Therapy

8455

Colesville Road, Suite

Silver Spring,

MD 209

1

930

P.O.

Box 80012

Valley Forge,

PA 1 9484

Currents.

Whole Hind

The

196

The Arts in Psychotherapy Elsevier Science Inc.

660 White

Plains

Tarrytown,

NY 10591-5153

Road

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Introduction

and Art

Therapy: Carol Greiff Lagstein,

ATR-BC, CSW,

has a mas-

degree in Art Therapy from Pratt Institute and a Masters of Social

ter's

from Columbia University. She a certified social worker.

is

a registered, board certified art therapist

therapy. Currently she

and coordinator of the undergraduate is

and

She has extensive post-graduate training in psychody-

namic psychotherapy and family

Aquinas College. She

Work

art

is

an adjunct professor

therapy program at

also in private practice

and

is

St.

Thomas

the co-director of Teen

Power, an organization providing discussion groups and services for adolescent

and

girls

their families,

and she works

Ms. Greiff Lagstein

as a social

worker in a middle school.

gratefully acknowledges the generous contributions

and support of her friend and mentor, Nana Koch, Ed.D., D.T.R.

Dance Therapy: Sandy Muniz Lieberman, M.M.T., A.D.T.R., dance therapist with a master's degree

in

Kestenberg (The Kestenberg

a therapist, staff development trainer, tic,

movement

Movement

Profile).

extensive post-graduate

training)

and with Dr. Judith

She has worked extensively

and consultant

tains a private practice in

ment and

as

to agencies serving autis-

developmentally disabled people, and preschoolers at

risk.

Rockland County, NY. Her current

working with groups of women using the

a registered

Dance Movement Therapy from

Antioch/New England Graduate School. She has had training with Janet Adler (authentic

is

She

also

main-

specialization

creative arts for personal

is

empower-

the development of community ritual forms.

Music Therapy: Jo

Therapy from

Salas,

New York

MA, CMT,

holds a master's degree in Music

University. She has

worked with emotionally

dis-

turbed and learning disabled children and adolescents, and with developmentally

disabled adults, in residential treatment, day treatment, and private

practice.

Her published work on music therapy

includes her article "Aesthetic

Experience in Music Therapy" {Music Therapy Vol.

9, 1)

and "Like Singing

with a Bird: Improvisational Music Therapy with a Blind Four- Year-Old,"

The Creative Arts Therapies

197

co-authored by David Gonzalez (Case Studies in Music Therapy, Kenneth Bruscia, ed., Barcelona Publishers, 1991). She torial

is

a former

member of the

board of Music Therapy, the professional journal of the

also the author

of Improvising Real

Life: Personal Story in

AAMT.

edi-

She

is

Playback Theater

(Kendall/Hunt, 1993).

Drama Board

Therapy: Patricia Sternberg,

RDT/BC

(Registered

Certified), chairs the National Association for

Examiners and serves

as a

drama therapy consultant

Drama Therapist

Drama Therapy Board of to hospitals

She received her master's degree from Villanova University and sor of Theater at

and Film

at

Hunter College

work on her eighth book, Theatre for

in

New York City.

Conflict Resolution.

is

and schools. a full profes-

She

is

currently

Her other books

include Arts for the Handicapped and. Sociodrama: Who's in Your Shoes? (with

Antonia Garcia). She internationally.

is

a well-known

workshop

leader,

both nationally and

Fran

Segal, Ph.D.

A A

WHAT

Ecopsychology and Holistic Health

ECOPSYCHOLOGY?

IS

Ecopsychology

is

a holistic clinical practice that acknowledges the importance

of meaningful personal relationship with the natural world, both for the healthy functioning of the

human

psyche and for physical

Recognizing that

this psychological relationship

has been severely

damaged

for

much

life

support.

between nature and people

of modern humanity, ecopsychologists

have developed theories and practices to help restore

this

bond, and the

result-

ing sense of belonging to and being a part of the world. In this way, ecopsy-

chology brings the concept of holistic healing into a larger arena than that of

The

just the individual.

as individual therapy.

ecopsychological view

As such,

it

frees

calls for cultural

and encourages people

therapy as well

to

work

in

both

areas.

While ecopsychologists do not encourage ancient past, there

been

lost.

we have

lost

lives,

loses

When

a

is

literally,

ourselves

to after death.

clearly a psychological is

from physical contact with nature,

with where we've come from, what sustains

and where we return

baby

ways of life from the

growing recognition that valuable ancient wisdom has

touch, quite

point of view, this one.

a

By gradually removing

us during our

ical

is

reverting to

and

From

a holistic health

spiritual loss, as well as a phys-

permanently separated from a nurturing mother,

it

not only physical sustenance but also a deep psychological and spiritual

bond with

the

life it

came from. In

this

same

sense, the

urban dweller's separa-

199

Ecopsychology and Holistic Health

from nature, our "earth mother," has led

tion

bonds

spiritual

and

to a break of psychological

and

to the land, leading to a chronic sense of rootlessness

a feel-

ing of not truly belonging anywhere.

Humanity has gradually separated itself from the rhythms, images, and sensations of nature, so that many people complain of a deep emptiness inside

know what

but no longer

is

missing.

form of alienation which, added

American society

The break with

nature

is

many,

to other social pressures, has left

with no ground to stand on.

in particular,

a devastating

It

in

has caused

instead a profound instability leading to increasing incidences of homicide,

and other

suicide, family violence, substance abuse, depression, schizophrenia,

"mental diseases."

The

of ecopsychology

field

we

tion that that these

the only

are in the

two

way

developing in response to a growing recogni-

is

middle of an ecological and a psychological

crises are

deeply interrelated.

to solve these crises

is

Many ecopsychologists

by bringing individuals and

and

crisis,

believe that

their cultures

back into a meaningful relationship with the ecological systems within which they

exist.

This

is

most often accomplished through wilderness

the use of

trips,

and the integration of principles of ecopsychology

ritual in natural settings,

into psychotherapy.

The

ideas of ecopsychology represent not just another subfield within psy-

chology, but a set of realizations that

theory and practice,

if

we

must be incorporated

move toward

are to

is

well

ner Thich

coming

in the

The

century.

made by Vietnamese Buddhist monk and Nobel peace

Nhat Hanh, who

aspects of

all

greater holistic health (in the

most inclusive sense of mind, body, and planet) point

into

prize-win-

writes:

Restoring mental health cannot be simply efforts to adjust

man

modern world with

The world

is ill.

tal

health.

galloping pace of economic growth.

its

Adaptation to an

ill

environment cannot be the way to

Many people who

need psychotherapy,

been victims of the contemporary

life

with

its

as

you

lack of

Psychiatric treatment requires environmental change

must

real

The

him adapt

other half is to help

to an

strength to refuse

it

ill

man

men-

know, have

meaning

and

.

.

.

psychiatrists

participate in efforts to change the environment, but that

half the task.

ing

all

to the

to be himself, not

is

only

by help-

environment, but by providing him with the

and change

it.

(1985)

The

200

HOW

BEGAN

IT

At one time

human

Whole Mino

human

in

activity

history, nature

was carried out

and culture were intimately

in nature,

that were perceived through the senses filled the

human mind,

emotions, and were reflected in the culture through other means. This allowed people to

around them,

as

feel

related. All

and the natural rhythms and images

art, ritual,

inspired the

mythology, or

connected to and a part of the world

indeed they were.

In the European tradition, the forces enlivening these aspects of nature,

such

as thunder, sun, or sea,

the Greek and

Roman

American, which are

were conceived of as "gods" and "goddesses,"

as in

pantheons. In other traditions, such as Taoist or Native

still

alive today, these life forces

were sometimes called

"nature spirits." In these traditions and others, qualities in nature were realized

human

condition that their culture developed

this relationship

and the cohabitation of humans and

to be so related to aspects of the

in

ways that honored

nature on the earth. This aspect of culture was viewed as important for physical,

psychological,

The

and

spiritual well-being.

theoretical roots of ecopsychology can be traced to these origins

to the responses that developed

when Western

nature. In Europe, nature-oriented literary

culture began turning

and philosophical

and

away from

traditions arose

in the nineteenth century in reaction to the alienation felt as a result of the

Industrial Revolution.

The

so-called

Romantic poets of the

British Isles strove

to keep alive an emotional sensitivity to nature, writing odes

expressed the importance of the natural world around

inner

life.

and

ballads that

in relation to their

In the realm of philosophy, phenomenologists such as Heidegger

described a belief that consciousness ical

them

is

rooted in a particular place in the phys-

world. Finally at the turn of the century, as the

new

discipline of psycholo-

gy was forming, Freud's student Carl Jung began developing concepts such as "anima mundi" or "soul of the earth" reflecting a deep respect for the natural

world and the

The

human

relationship to

it.

continued in the U.S. with Henry David Thoreau's

literary tradition

book Walden Pond. In 1851 he wrote:

would

recreate myself

minable and to the

I

are wild

citizen,

and

.

.

life

consists of wildness.

When

I

seek the darkest wood, the thickest and most inter-

Sanctum sanctorum. There good things

".

most dismal swamp. is

the strength, the

free."

I

enter as a sacred place, a

marrow of nature.

In short,

Thoreau knew the value of wilderness

all

for heal-

ing and rejuvenation, and even in his time he was concerned about the

Ecopsychology and Holistic Health

201

encroachment of civilization into wild "citizen"

toward wilderness.

After Thoreau

came other "nature

writers"

personal inner experiences in wilderness.

which continues even

erary tradition,

numbers of readers by the

large

and the uncaring attitude of the

areas

known and

influential

and

who founded

activist

The

who

based their work on their

insights described in this rich

early twentieth century. Perhaps the

most

of these writers was John Muir, the mountaineer, the Sierra

Club and was involved

the national park system in the 1940s.

lit-

today, were beginning to ring true with

He wrote

in his

well-

writer,

in the creation

of

time that "thousands of

tired,

nerve-shaken, overcivilized people are beginning to find out that going

to the

mountains

going home; that wilderness

is

and reservations

tain parks

is

a necessity; and that

are useful not only as fountains of timber

moun-

and

irri-

gating rivers, but as fountains of life" (Nash, 1967). At the Sierra Club's ninth biennial

it

was stated that "the parklands of America

we

health guardian

As gy,

this

are the greatest

mental

have" (Nash, 1967).

sentiment continued to grow, the disciplines of philosophy, ecolo-

and psychology came together under various contemporary names such

ecosophy and deep ecology, the

latter

as

movement founded by

being a

Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess. The concept of deep ecology, which quickly

spread to the U.S.,

is

ecopsychology-, because

requirement for ty itself

own

is

right

human

perhaps the closest forerunner to the emergence of

it

recognizes that contact with healthy ecosystems

quality of life.

Deep ecology

only one part of an ecosystem in which (i.e.,

not simply for humanity's

Expanding upon these

also stresses that

all

is

a

humani-

pans have value

in their

use).

ideas, Bill Devall

and other American deep ecology

philosophers looked ahead to a possible future for humanity in a sustainable

and respectful relationship with nature. Devall once achieved,

will lead

humanity toward enhanced

spent in contemplation, and ultimately, to

Feminist theory, and what

which looks

to early

states that this relationship,

is

human

creativity, greater

spiritual

time

development.

often called feminist earth-based spirituality,

European paganism, has

ment of ecopsychology. Feminist

also played a part in the develop-

historians have brought to light relational,

earth-honoring ways of looking at and being in the world, which existed in the

European

past.

These ways were destroyed with the

Christian culture that denied that

which limited

spiritual

nonhuman

life

worship to a "God"

rise

of a more patriarchal,

was imbued with a

who

soul,

and

resided only in the sky.

Whole Mino

The

202

Important

historical research has

Gimbutus, and Riane Merchant and Susan

been done in

Eisler.

Griffin,

this area

by Merlin Stone, Marja

"Ecofeminist" writers, including Carolyn

have pointed to ways in which the oppression of

the natural world has been analogous to the oppression of women in the history of male-dominated Western societies.

The contemporary that

field

of transpersonal psychology, based on the premise

inherently related, has also created a fertile ground for the ideas

all life is

Some of the theoretical work in this but much is also based directly on Eastern

of ecopsychology to grow and develop.

from Jung's writings,

area draws

philosophies and on spiritual traditions worldwide.

The deep ory,

ecologists' philosophical principles, ecofeminist research

and transpersonal psychology together have

set the

and

the-

foundation for the

work of nurturing the reemergence of a healthy human/nature

ecopsychological relationship.

HOW

IT

WORKS

Ecopsychology practice has most often taken the form of wilderness

trips

and

nature outings for the purpose of psychological and physical well-being. This

began in the 1940s with the formation of Outward Bound. While originally conceived as a survival

grams now aim [the

course for young

for "personal

development

and many others cal

skills

sailors,

the

Outward Bound

pro-

development, interpersonal effectiveness, and

of] philosophy

and values" (Bacon, 1983). These programs

that have been developed in recent years are based

challenge in the wilderness setting as a

means

for

on physi-

expanding the boundaries

of experience and, ultimately, expanding participants' self-esteem. These pro-

grams are

now

available not only for the general population, but also for vari-

ous clinical populations such as abused

women, delinquent

youths, business

management teams, and other groups. There

is

a second orientation toward use of wilderness experience that

is

outwardly more spiritual and involves the use of ritual. Probably the most popular of this type of format

involving meditation,

art,

is

the "vision quest," though other ritual forms

and group process

exist as well.

The term

"vision

quest" originally referred to a Native American tradition, although this type of activity has

been a part of many earth-based cultures around the world. The

use of the term "vision quest" by non-Native Americans has evoked a great deal

of controversy, so

this

phrase

is

being used

less

and

less

by wilderness

trip

203

Ecopsychology and Holistic Health

leaders. Vision quest involves preparing to

go to the wilderness in search of

meaning with the help and support of a group of peers, spending time alone and

fasting in the wilderness to seek

share

it

with the group and

The two

wisdom

or a "vision," and returning to

one's society.

orientations to wilderness experience, physical challenge

cho-spiritual ritual, can be seen as

relationship to nature.

and psy-

two poles on the body/mind continuum

What becomes

clear in their practice

is

in

that both are

necessary in order to relate to nature as a whole person. Physical challenge helps

beyond our usual limitations so

us go

riences,

and

used alone,

ritual gives it

meaning

that

to the experience.

a broader range of expe-

When

physical challenge

is

can easily become a task of "conquering" nature rather than

achieving a balanced relationship with exploring physical boundaries,

Many

we can have

it

it.

When

ritual

is

not grounded in

can become empty theatrics.

ecopsychologists have found that there must be continued activity

conclusion of the wilderness trip that honors and keeps one in touch

after the

with the experience, for the sake of the emotional well-being of the participant. Robert Greenway,

Psychology

at

who

Sonoma

found that unless there

led

and researched wilderness

State University is

trips as Professor

of

throughout the 1970s and 1980s,

follow-up of some sort, trip participants could

fall

into depressions or other emotional/mental states that were less healthy than their states prior to the experiences.

new

level

meditation before such a all

attributes this to the experience of a

of aliveness in the wilderness being followed by a return to a culture

which does not honor these

with

He

insights.

trip,

Greenway encourages

and then

to use

it

as a

participants to learn

means of staying

aspects of one's self after the trip. Creative arts therapies

mental activism also seem to be effective for

in

touch

and environ-

this purpose. Devall

and Sessions

(1985) point out an "obligation to act directly or indirectly to create change in the world toward a greater appreciation of ritual,

life"; this

may mean

politics, art,

or another field of endeavor.

The

wilderness journey or pilgrimage has been the primary

principles of ecopsychology have are possible

and

come

into practice.

are developing as the field

way

Many other

that the

orientations

grows and expands. For example,

Joanna Macy and John Seed have developed an ecopsychological form which they

call

a "Council of All Beings."

The

council helps participants identify with

the natural world by asking each person present to represent one life

form

at the "council,"

and

to advocate for

it.

As

nonhuman

a part of the process,

which

The

204

usually lasts one or

two days and includes some outdoor

are also aided in finding their individual

An py

While

this

may

ecopsychological concepts, clients to

an aspect of their

happens

pist.

activities, participants

to act for change.

ecopsychological perspective also can be brought into the psychothera-

session.

this

power

Whole Mind

will vary

not always be the method of choice for the use of it

can often be an important means of introducing

lives that

may

be undervalued or overlooked.

For example, a psychodynamically oriented therapist

client's

How

depending on the theoretical orientation of the thera-

childhood experiences with nature

as

may

they relate to current

explore the life issues.

A

behaviorally oriented therapist might begin to incorporate exercises in nature that a client could

The humanistic

do on her or

his

own,

of a therapeutic treatment plan.

as part

or expressive arts therapist has the opportunity to bring an

ecopsychological orientation to the healing that takes place through creative expression;

and the transpersonal

therapist can bring a

new dimension of mean-

ing to dreams and myths, which so powerfully incorporate universal images of nature. All of these

When we

methods

are currently being explored.

begin to see wilderness as a

life

depth and richness, supports our growth, and al level,

we

then

process of

its

begin to see

how

the earth

own, having inherent value

stage of awareness

is

now an

area of

much

is

who

mirrors our

own

a part of us at the transperson-

involved in an ongoing organic

is

in

partner

and of itself. Working with

this

focus as the theory and practice of

ecopsychology continue to develop.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS In a review of challenge-based therapeutic use of wilderness experience with

emotionally disturbed children and adolescents, delinquent adolescents, and adult psychiatric patients, Peter Gibson (1979) stated that "while

many of the

empirical studies are of questionable validity due to methodological shortcomings,

it is

clear that wilderness

programs can and do

result in positive

in the self-concepts, personalities, individual behaviors

and

changes

social functioning

of the program participants." In 1987, Willis and Drebing completed a comprehensive research project called "Wilderness Stress

Therapeutic Modality." In the

number of mental

ness stress

camping"

the anxiety

and

study they looked at the "virtual explosion" in

health programs

as a

fears

this

Camping as an Adjunctive

making use of what they

treatment modality.

They found

that

call

"wilder-

working through

brought about by these programs served to build

Ecopsychology and Holistic Health

self-esteem, cal

enhance self-concept, develop

and sociological

community, and

and provide other psychologi-

development of leadership

spiritual or mystical experience.

camping they included

group problem-solving, and

ing,

trust,

benefits. In addition, they felt that the

beneficial in providing

ness stress

205

skills,

programs were

awareness of self in

Under the category of wilder-

wide range of activities such

a

as

rock climb-

While

solitary outings lasting several days.

the authors found that wilderness programs can benefit "just about anyone,"

who

they state that they are not advised for "any person

on heavy medications such

and other

that balance

is

acutely psychotic,

basic functions are severely

impaired, highly disorganized, a medical risk as with the possibility of severe seizures, organically

impaired as with Alzheimer's disease, undergoing a course

of ECT, patients with very poor impulse control homicide, and patients ability"

In

who would

who

are risks for suicide or

otherwise be disqualified due to age or dis-

(Drebing and Willis, 1987).

my own

transpersonally-oriented study of people

who

felt

they had

meaningful experiences of "communing with nature in wilderness," four major stages

of the process could be identified.

The

stages are

1)

an enhanced senso-

ry/perceptual awareness; 2) an enhanced emotional awareness accompanied by

an emotional catharsis; 3) a direct experience of union or oneness with the

environment (what may be called an enhanced

enhanced sense of individuality and

how

creativity

"spiritual" awareness);

accompanied by a

and

desire to

4) an

some-

"give back" to the world.

In the

first stage,

heightened sensory awareness

brought about by a rich

is

environment offering unlimited stimulation from an endless variety of sources, e.g.,

the smell of pine cones, a view of a lake, the feel of a rock, etc. This leads

to a fuller integration of the life of the

lead to inner conflict if feeling in the

body

body

into consciousness, but can also

is

blocked by certain mental

images or ego. As in other holistic bodywork therapies tain "blocks" or denials are held in the

touched in a certain way,

it

body and when

comes back

to life

wilderness experience, one might say that the peutic touch of nature in an intensive is

by

self-

can be said that cer-

it

that part of the

body

is

releasing these blocks. In the

body

is

experiencing the thera-

and ongoing way. The process of release

the emotional catharsis, the second stage in the transformational process.

The

catharsis

may

focus

on

life

events, past behaviors, or acceptance of one's

mortality, for with a true acceptance of the

of death.

Once

body must

consciousness becomes stable in

also its

come an acceptance

integration of

body

awareness, one can transpersonal

move

into a realization of the even broader identity of the

beyond the time/space boundaries of ego and body.

self,

This experience has

comes to experience that a

Whole Mind

The

206

"I

have a mind and body and emotions, but

mind and body and emotions."

this type

whereby one

parallels in various spiritual traditions

If

one

is

open and ready

I

am

of consciousness seems to occur almost naturally in wilderness

tings. In the research, subjects

that allowed

them

not

for the experience, set-

spoke of a "mirroring" quality of the wilderness

to see themselves with

new

They

awareness.

also described

having a new awareness of synchronicity between events in the environment

and

their internal worlds

of thoughts and

"When

you're meditating

whole thing

is

.

.

.

what's in

a meditation

One

subject

came from meditative

rience with a sense of connectedness that

there the

feelings.

you

and

it's

is

who had

expe-

practice stated,

doing the meditation, but out

coming

me

into

instead."

The specific mirroring occurrences serve as teachers fostering greater selfawareness, and at the same time fostering the expansion of self-identity into the transpersonal realm. There

is

a sense of being an integral part of the environment,

of being a part of something greater than one's physically separate the undeniable sensation of everything working together.

one of us has

a vast internal

and richness and,

because of

self,

As human

beings, each

depth and richness. Wilderness can match

in this sense,

this

depth

be a partner in our personal growth.

REAL PEOPLE AND ECOPSYCHOLOGY

following are excerpts from an interview with a

te

woman

about her

'vision quest" experience.

I

was on

this real

rocky knife-like ridge and

sheerly in both directions. at this as a

dangerous place,

was running through tals

I

my

looked

at

I

dropped off very

was getting more scattered, looking it

would be easy

head.

was a way of getting back,

again. ...

it

to

fall

To look down and literally, in

off

—

all

that

see these crys-

contact with the earth

could relax and look at these rocks, and the more

them, the more fascinated

I

got with them.

I

They were

Ecopsychology and Holistic Health

bubbles of quartz that came out of this

like clear

kind of

change

207

lava. .

.

.

So the rock

and was frozen

from very dark and dense

had been alienating

fears

this tense, constricted

doing up

here?'

that they pulled

dous

shift in

itself

much

to

and the rocks were

me out

of

[this condition].

and

my God,

just so beautiful

I

My

was] in

[I

what am

I

and striking

There was

a tremen-

my fears were dispelled I

A little bit later

the beauty of the rocks

clearer. ...

environment.

like 'oh

major

this

of transformation

and

lighter

me from my

kind of state

my attention

moment

in that

denser

real dark,

was going through

know, by

got shaky and looked

down and there were the crystals again, so a similar thing happened to me mice on that ridge. [The rocks] became real symbolic for

me

in terms

me what I had

of expressing for

that trip, going into the dark places within light.

So

was a

real

and bringing them

attached lots of meaning to the whole trip

I

and being

kind of heart connection for loved, that kind of a flow

I'm trustworthy.

The two

really

.

.

me .

it's

out and look is

also

at things

and not be

being able to take

.

.

.

to

there

... a sense of loving like

it's

trustworthy,

go together. That kind of trust-

ing experience allows for a lot of creativity

ative

learned on

.

real afraid.

.

.

.

.

being able to step .To

me being cre-

risks.

In this scene, the primary sensory input was visual and, as in

many

wilderness experiences, the enhanced perception involves a sense of beauty.

This quality cannot be overestimated in

consciousness into the body.

Some

power

to heal

by drawing

ecopsychologists believe that the neg-

ative sensory stimulation that surrounds traffic sirens, dirty air,

its

modern urban

dwellers, such as

and even certain "ugly" consumer products,

are

responsible for the dulling or closing

healthy natural environment, the ceived encourages the senses to

The second place around

stage, or

down of the senses. Conversely, in a beauty and harmony of what is per-

more

fully

open.

emotional catharsis, in the above example takes

fear, risk-taking, and being able to trust. In this case, as the experience progressed, the subject began to see her fear as an "internal

TheWholeMind

208

judge or

critical

parent that was running rampant ...

constricted ego." This

not to say that her situation

is

my protective may

not have been

was getting

truly dangerous, but that, in her particular case, she

little

in

touch

of the with a more expanded view of herself that helped her feel capable of beauty The attempt she was making, and inspired her to complete it. stay in touch with the rocks allowed her to keep her senses open and thus this part

of herself.

The third stage, or the transpersonal aspect, is described in this account as a "heart connection."

"belonging,"

etc.,

Other people have used words such

when

they had similar experiences.

as "oneness,"

It is also

generally

"home." described as a point of relaxation and sometimes a sense of being The fourth stage, wanting to creatively reciprocate or give back to nature,

is

one has

one which may occur immediately, or not

left

the wilderness. This

process for her, order to look at respect

I

for the other life

when

described this as a very subtle

around

by an episode which occurred

mother

later

manifesting in a greater ability for risk-taking "in the world" around her, and then as an enhanced feeling of

remember being on

my

much

first

and honor

ly inspired

woman

until

this

her.

This

was

after seeing the rocks.

one ridge and seeing

just loves juniper trees.

latter

particular-

She

a juniper tree;

states:

and

This tree was just beautiful

was sculpted by the wind; and it just reminded me very much of my mother and other women from that side of the famexceptional. They've also ily, women I would consider really

the

way

it

endured some severe elements too and so

just like the tree has a

unique shape, a unique beauty, not the picture perfect kind of postcard tree or something like a pine or fir with a geometric really

triangular shape.

It

was weird and contorted and weathered

in

some ways and not everybody would find it very beautiful, but I found it very beautiful. That was a real, real special moment to respect, honorsee that again. A strong feeling of reverence and ing this living thing

came up

for

me.

human life is a recurring Another woman whose entire wilderness

Trees and animals that appear to mirror

theme

in wilderness accounts.

209

Ecopsychology and Holistic Health

experience was centered around a particular tree said,

and the

I

thought of all the storms

way

it

was.

I

it

"It

must have weathered

thought of some of the storms in

looked

that

real wise,

had shaped

my own

life

it

and how

they had shaped me."

HOW

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

There are no uniform training standards for ecopsychologists, nor licensing or certification procedures. Practitioners of ecopsychology

are there

come from

varying backgrounds and use a variety of clinical practices.

The

following organizations can direct you to practitioners with specific

kinds of training. Ask for details of the training of the

recommended

practi-

tioners.

Center for Psychological and Social Change, Harvard Medical School Sarah and lane Conn 5

1

Winthrop

W.Newton, Tel: (617)

International Society for Ecology

and Culture P.O.

Box 9475

Berkeley,

CA 94709

Tel: (510)

St.

MA 02165

965-4893 or -5097

527-3873

(Combines ecopsychology study and social/political action groups.)

Colorado Outward Bound School

The School of Lost Borders, S. Foster and M. Little

945 Pennsylvania

Box 55

Denver,

St.

CO 80203-3198

Tel: (303)

837-0880

(Challenge-oriented)

Big Pine,

CA 93513

E-mail: [email protected]

("Vision Fast" and ecopsychology trainings)

The

Institutes for Deep Ecology Education The Tides Foundation Box 2290 Boulder, CO 80306

Wilderness Guides Council P.O. Ross,

Box 482

CA 94957

Tel: (415)

456-4370

(Education and "Council of All

(A national organization of wilderness

Beings")

guides

who

offer ecopsychologically-

oriented wilderness

trips.)

The

210

Whole Mind

Ropes Courses: Usually one day long challenge-oriented courses. Offered

through hospitals, camps, and various non-profit organizations. Private practitioners: Individual practitioners advertise locally.

Check

refer-

ences and speak with past clients or participants.

Some psychology programs are beginning to recognize ecopsychology and may be helpful in referring people to practitioners. Current course work or programs exist at California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA; JFK University, Orinda, CA; Naropa Ecopsychology academic programs:

Institute, Boulder,

CO; and

Prescott College, Prescott,

AZ.

Ecopsychology Newsletter Online: http://isis.csuhayward.edu/ALSS/ECO/index.html

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The Conscious Use ofMetaphor

S.

in

Outward Bound. Denver, CO: Colorado

Outward Bound School, 1983. Berman, M. The Reenchantment Berry, T.

of the World.

New York: Bantam

The Dream of the Earth. San Francisco:

Badiner, A. H., ed.

Dharma

Sierra

Books, 1981.

Club Books, 1988.

Gaia. Berkeley: Parallax Press, 1990.

Brown, M. H. "Wilderness Vision Quest." Proceedings of the Third Annual Wilderness Psychology Group Conference, Morgantown, Buber,

M.

WV,

1982.

I and Thou. Translated by Walter Kayfmann. NY: Charles Scribner's Sons,

1970.

E The

Capra,

Turning Point. NY: Bantam Books, 1982.

and Personal Renewal Through

Cass, A., ed. The Soul Unearthed: Celebrating Wilderness

Nature. Devall, B.

NY: Jeremy

and G.

P.

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Drebing, C. E. and

S.

Tarcher, 1996.

Deep

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UT: Gibbs M. Smith,

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Camping

as

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CA, 1987.

R. The Chalice

and M.

Foster, S.

Wilderness. Foster, S.

and the

Little.

Little.

and Self healing. Big Gablik,

S.

San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1988.

The Book of the Vision Quest: Personal Transformation

New York:

and M.

Blade.

in the

Prentice Hall, 1980.

The Roaring ofthe Sacred River: The Wilderness Quest for Vision Pine,

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Press,

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The Reenchantment ofArt. NY: Thames and Hudson, 1991.

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Gibson,

M. "Therapeutic

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Literature Review."

Aspects of Wilderness Programs:

A

Comprehensive

Therapeutic Recreation Journal. Arlington,

VA; National

Therapeutic Recreation Society, 2nd quarter. (1979).

Glendinning, C.

My Name is

Chellis

and I'm

in Recovery

From Western

Civilization.

Boston and London: Shambhala Publications, 1994. Griffin, S.

Woman and Nature. NY: Harper and Row,

Halifax,

Shamanism. NY: The Crossroad Publishing Co., 1982.

Hanh,

J.

1978.

N. "Man and Nature." In The Path of Compassion, edited by

T.

F.

Eppsteiner

and D. Maloney. Berkeley, CA: Buddhist Peace Fellowship, 1985. Heidegger,

M.

Highwater,

J.

Hillman,

and M. Ventura. We've Had a Hundred Years ofPsychotherapy and the

J.

Being and Time. NY: Harper and Row, 1962.

The Primal Mind. NY: Harper and Row, 1981. World's

Getting Worse. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1993.

Jung, C. Two Essays on Analytical Psychology. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1966. Kimball, R. O. "The Wilderness as Therapy." The Journal ofExperiential Education

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no. 3 (1983): 6-9.

La Chapelle, D. Earth Wisdom.

Silverton,

La Chapelle, D. Sacred Land, Sacred Sex. Macy,

CO: Finn Silverton,

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CO: Finn

World as Lover, World as Self Berkeley, CA: Parallax

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Metzner, R. The Well of Remembrance: Rediscovering the Earth Wisdom Myths of Northern Europe. Boston and London: Shambhala Publications,

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1967.

Roszak, T. The Voice of the Earth.

Roszak,

New Haven

Inc.,

T, M.

E.

NY: Simon and

Gomes, and A. D. Kanner,

Schuster, 1992.

eds. Ecopsychology: Restoring the Earth,

Healing the Mind. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1995. Segal,

F.

"Ecopsychology: Toward an Integration of Nature and Culture." Creation

Spirituality, Vol. 9,

No.

2.

Oakland, CA: Friends of Creation

Spirituality, Inc.,

1993. Segal,

F.

Wilderness Experience:

A Phenomenological Study. Ann Arbor,

MI: University

Microfilms International, 1989. Shepard,

P.

Nature and Madness. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1982.

Whole Mind

The

212

Spretnak, C. The Spiritual Dimension of Green Inc.,

Stone,

Politics.

Santa Fe,

NM:

Bear and Co.,

1986.

M. When God Was a Woman. NY:

No

Wilber, K.

Boundary. Boston,

Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1976.

MA: Shambhala

Publications, Inc., 1979.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fran Segal Berkeley,

is

a writer, artist,

CA. Major

and

influences

chology, Taoist, Buddhist,

and hiking, climbing

,

clinical (eco) psychologist in private practice in

on her work include Jungian/transpersonal

and Native American philosophies and

skiing

and being

in the

back country of the high

She has been leading personal growth-oriented wilderness

when

she trained with

Her Ph.D.

Sierra.

trips since

Outdoor Leadership Training Seminars

dissertation research

psy-

disciplines;

1985

in Colorado.

was on "The Experience of Communing with

Nature in Wilderness"; and she has taught "Wilderness Experience and Deep Ecology"

at

John

and building enhance the

F.

Kennedy

slate murals,

spirit

University.

As an

artist,

she

is

currently designing

using the natural colors and textures of stone to

of natural place in urban garden

settings.

David McMillin,

15

WHAT

IS

M.A.

Edgar Cayce on Mental Health

THE EDGAR CAYCE APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH?

The Edgar Cayce approach causes, full

offers a

and treatment of mental

comprehensive resource on the prevention,

illness.

This body of information covers the

spectrum of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, schizo-

phrenia, personality disorders, relationship difficulties, ioral

and childhood behav-

problems. This approach also covers developmental issues such as personal

growth and the fulfillment of human potential.

Edgar Cayce provided

this

ness similar to self-hypnosis.

information from an altered state of conscious-

When an individual came to him for a "reading," he

entered into this altered state of consciousness, after a brief period of preparation,

and then he would verbally describe the cause of the condition and suggest a treat-

ment plan

to restore health.

graphically transcribed,

Cayce Foundation These readings

Over 14,000 of these psychic discourses were steno-

and they have been preserved in the archives of the Edgar

in Virginia Beach,

VA, where they are available for public use.

are the foundation of the

In the readings, Cayce

approach described

recommended

a

in this chapter.

wide variety of modalities and tech-

niques for the treatment of mental and emotional disorders, including physical,

mental, and spiritual modalities. Although Cayce

recommended

a vast array

of therapeutic techniques, he consistently maintained that treatments of any

kind do not heal. They can only

assist the

body

then, were also suggested as preventive measures for persons recovering

from mental

illness.

to heal

and

itself.

The

for health

therapies,

maintenance

HOW

IT

BEGAN

Although Cayce (1877-1945) had no formal training fessional or a psychic diagnostician, tic

Whole Mind

The

214

he

is

either as a medical pro-

widely regarded

as the father

of holis-

medicine. Edgar Cayce's career as a medical intuitive began at the age of

fifteen,

when he spontaneously

diagnosed an ing baseball.

illness

He

entered an altered state of consciousness and

acquired as a result of an accident he suffered while play-

prescribed a treatment for himself that consisted of a poultice

made up of simple,

natural ingredients from his mother's kitchen. His parents

followed his instructions to create the poultice and he recovered quickly. As he

matured and became aware of his potential life

for helping others,

to alleviating suffering, especially in children.

Over

he dedicated

his

a period spanning five

decades, Edgar Cayce gave thousands of readings to persons suffering from

almost every type of disease. Hundreds of these readings were for persons suffering

from mental

illness in its

myriad forms.

James C. Windsor (1969) and Charles

T.

Cayce (1978), grandson of Edgar

Cayce, later focused on the mental health applications of the Cayce material.

Their important work laid the foundation for further development of Edgar Cayce's approach

HOW

IT

and

ness,

recommended reading

in this area.

WORKS

Cayce's approach

and the

are highly

spirit.

To

is

a holistic one, in that

it

addresses the body, the mind,

address the physical pathology associated with mental

ill-

Cayce commonly prescribed chiropractic treatment, osteopathy, mas-

sage therapy, nutrition, exercise, herbal teas, hot packs, electrotherapy

(including use of the radial appliance and the wet below), and hydrotherapy. Castor assimilation of foods

oil

cell battery,

described

packs were recommended to improve

and elimination of wastes from the

intestinal tract.

For

the mental aspects of the illness, he used "suggestive therapeutics" (a form

of naturalistic hypnosis), behavior modeling, thought monitoring (mindful-

and

a cognitive restructuring exercise

spiritual

dimension of the approach empha-

ness), visualization, bibliotherapy, called the "ideals exercise."

sized

awakening the inner

The self,

and included therapeutic

therapy, prayer, meditation, color therapy,

examples of

mental

how

illness.

and music

milieu,

companion

therapy. Following are

these treatments might be applied for

two

specific types

of

Edgar Cayce on Mental Health

215

The Treatment of Depression

Edgar Cayce consistently acknowledged the strong biological aspects of depression in his readings.

He

defined depression as a "lapse in nerve impulse,"

a description strikingly similar to the

modern medical view

that links depres-

sion to a chemical imbalance in the nervous system.

Edgar Cayce noted numerous causes of depression. At a physical stated that hereditary predisposition

was sometimes a

factor.

he

level,

Glandular imbal-

ances (particularly involving the adrenal, thyroid, and pineal glands) were often cited as causes of depression. Injury to the spine

was another

common

causal

factor in cases of depression.

From

a psychological perspective, depression can be caused

thought patterns such builder"

and quoted the

by negative

He often stated that "mind is the man thinketh in his heart, so is he"

self-condemnation.

as

Biblical verse "as a

(Proverbs 23:7). Destructive thought patterns are sometimes associated with stressful life events

and environmental influences (such

experiences). Edgar tive

as

traumatic childhood

Cayce frequently described the processes by which nega-

thought patterns are translated into nervous system pathology (hence the

"lapse in nerve impulse" in cases of depression).

The life.

spiritual aspects

of depression

relate to the

Why are we here? What is life about?

Edgar Cayce observed that

to

spiritual

A lack of spiritual awareness

malaise was often the source of depressive feelings.

and commitment

purpose and meaning of

growth and development can contribute to depression.

Cayce believed that regardless of the cause(s) of the depressive symptoms, the nervous system

is

usually involved, so physical therapies such as spinal

adjustment, exercise (outdoors in the open), and hydrotherapy (the therapeutic

use of water such as steam baths, colonics, etc.) were

dations given by Edgar Cayce. radial appliance,

He recommended

which operates somewhat

equalizing the body's

At the mental

own

level,

the use of a device called the

like a

energy, resulting in

common recommen-

magnet, redistributing and

improved sleep and

Cayce suggested various techniques including positive

affirmations, bibliotherapy (inspirational reading material),

From

relaxation.

and meditation.

a spiritual perspective, individuals were told to find a purpose in

life.

He

described a technique called the "ideals exercise," in which an individual focuses

on the purpose of life and the importance of integrating

the mental

a spiritual ideal with

and physical aspects of living. Also, individuals were encouraged

be of service to others.

to

The

216

Whole

Mind

Naturally, this holistic approach has to be adapted to the individual. For

high functioning persons with mild depression, the treatment ter

of self-care. Other than bodywork

and hydrotherapy, most of the work depression,

more support by health

program such

as a clinic

may

(e.g., is

is

spinal adjustments

mat-

largely a

and massage)

done by the individual. For severe

care professionals

is

required.

A residential

be helpful.

The Treatment of Schizophrenia

As with depression, Edgar Cayce was decades ahead of modern medical science in recognizing the strong biological aspects of schizophrenia.

vided graphic descriptions of the nervous system pathology in listed the various causal factors

He

pro-

this illness.

He

including genetic predisposition, physical insult

to the nervous system, biochemical imbalances (often involving the glands),

and the

role

of stress in precipitating psychotic episodes. As with depression,

he recommended a holistic therapeutic approach including physical, mental,

and

spiritual modalities.

However, due to the severity of the

the health care provider shifted to a

made

the role of

illness,

more team-oriented model. Edgar Cayce

frequent referrals to the Still-Hildreth Osteopathic Sanitarium in Macon,

Missouri (no longer in existence). At this institution, individuals were treated

with dignity and respect

(in contrast to the state hospitals

of that

era).

They

received the full range of treatments including spinal adjustments, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, diet,

and psychosocial

rehabilitation.

Edgar Cayce's recommendations for electrotherapy were particularly noteworthy. While recognizing the degeneration of brain nerve tissue in schizophrenia,

he stated that the nervous system could be regenerated through the application

of electrotherapy. Most often, he prescribed the use of a simple chemical battery (the "wet cell battery");

it

produces a very minute direct current and, combined

with various medicinal solutions, would he said, stimulate nerve tissue. In

some

instances, if families were unable to send their relatives to Still-

Hildreth, Edgar Cayce provided recommendations for

home

treatment. In a

couple of exemplary instances, families were able to bring the individuals

from the mental

institution, provide the treatments,

and gain

home

excellent results

with the assistance of their local health care professionals (Smith, 1991).

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS The

health concepts advocated by Edgar Cayce have been researched in a

217

Edgar Cayce on Mental Health

variety of ways, directly

and

Osteopathic Sanitarium

which Edgar Cayce made frequent

of major mental

(to

illness)

For example, the Still-Hildreth

indirectly.

referrals in cases

reported very impressive results on the treatment of

schizophrenia in an extensive research project involving 860 subjects. Sixtyeight percent of patients admitted within the

were treated and assessed

as recovered.

The

first six

months of the

illness

reported recovery rate for people

with schizophrenia for over two years was twenty percent (Hildreth, 1938).

Contemporary research has focused on some of the

specific therapeutic

techniques

recommended by Edgar Cayce. Grady (1988) reported an

in the level

of certain hormones and neurotransmitters (chemical messengers

of the nervous system) in subjects using the radial appliance as the

"impedance device"). In a double-blind study of the

McMillin and Richards (1995) reported

a

increase

(also referred to

radial appliance,

tendency for improvement of circu-

lation in subjects using the appliance.

Cayce and Thurston (1974) studied Edgar Cayce's recommendations treating children with behavioral problems.

massage, castor

problems such Pecci

( 1

oil

packs,

as fighting,

and

They found

that a

for

combination of

pre-sleep suggestions were helpful in decreasing

poor

sleep, anxiety, etc.

972) reported notable improvement in a study of sixteen children

with hyperactive behaviors and seizure problems. Castor

oil

packs were the

primary therapeutic intervention.

The Meridian

Institute

is

a research group dedicated to the scientific study

of Edgar Cayce's approach to healing. Research reports are provided free to

anyone requesting them. Although the primary research focus

is

currently

on

medical disorders, mental and emotional symptoms are often present and are

measured

in the research protocol.

REAL PEOPLE AND THE EDGAR CAYCE APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH Following

is

a description of

two

cases of

major mental

illness treated

by

Edgar Cayce himself (Smith, 1991).

The

first

and was

individual had been a postal worker a patient at the

who became

Rockland State Hospital

in

mentally

Orangeburg,

ill

New

The

218

Edgar Cayce's reading

ork.

spine

when he

slipped and

on

ice

man

stated that he

had injured

his

while doing his job. As was typical

Edgar Cayce recommended spinal adjustments and the

for such cases,

wet

for this

fell

Whole Mind

The treatments were given as recommended by Edgar man recovered without further hospitalizations or relapse.

cell battery.

Cayce and the

The second

case cited

was a young

artist

who was

physically assaulted

subsequently confined in a mental asylum on Ward's Island in

She was psychotic (out of touch with

reality)

and

New York.

and exhibited the mood

swings typical of manic-depressive disorder. As with the previous case,

Edgar Cayce described the incident that produced the injury and recom-

mended

spinal adjustments

lar case,

noting the psychological damage resulting from the attack which

produced the

illness,

This

woman

cell battery.

Also, in this particu-

he recommended a change of environment (thera-

companion therapy

peutic milieu) and herself.

and the wet

until she

was able to take care of

received the treatments advised by Edgar Cayce

was cured of her mental

illness.

Contemporary application of Edgar Cayce's approach has duced

positive outcomes.

woman

suffering

An

example

is

also pro-

the case of J. K., a middle-aged

from severe anxiety and

recently divorced, struggling financially, trointestinal

and

suicidal depression.

and suffering

symptoms. She was referred to

J.

K. was

significant gas-

a medical doctor for

an

anti-

depressant medication to address the severe depression. Although she was hesitant to take the medication, she rary measure to help her

mentary medicine, crisis,

he would

immediate

as practiced

utilize

was reminded that

crisis.

This

is

by Edgar Cayce.

it

was a tempo-

an example of comple-

When

people were in

whatever therapies were helpful in getting the per-

son stabilized and then pursue a more natural course of healing. J.

K. participated in weekly counseling sessions for about three

months

to address her attitudes about herself

accept herself and

and

life.

She was able to

become more empowered by using her

will to

choose

Edgar Cayce on Mental Health

the attitude

219

and behaviors that she wanted

to express, rather than feeling

victimized.

She was referred

He

to a chiropractor experienced

with Cayce's approach. diagnosed and treated problems with her spine that were contribut-

ing to her anxiety and gastrointestinal symptoms. She began using herbal

and slippery elm bark) and castor oil packs, therapies recommended by Cayce to heal the gut. The gastrointestinal connection is often significant in cases involving teas (yellow saffron

depression and/or anxiety. As Cayce noted, the

abdomen

contains

its

own

nervous system and brain, called the enteric nervous system, that "sends

and

receives impulses, records experiences

nerve

cells are

and responds to emotions. Its bathed and influenced by the same neurotransmitters. The

gut can upset the brain just as the brain can upset the gut" (Blakeslee, 1 996) This is one of the hottest areas of modern medical research and yet one

more

example of how the information provided by Edgar Cayce was (and still is in many respects) on the leading edge of medical research and application.

The to eight testinal

became

pattern of healing for

many ways. Within six weeks she no longer was anxious and depressed. The gastroinsymptoms had been eliminated. She went back to school and a professional

Cayce approach tional

As

symptoms

J.

K. was typical in

massage therapist. She has followed the Edgar

for maintaining health

and has not had

significant

emo-

since her recovery (over five years).

a final example, the case of P.

H.

illustrates the application of the Edgar Cayce approach for a person suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. P. H. had been in the public mental health system for over fifteen

years with multiple tions.

and lengthy hospitalizations

At various times she had been diagnosed

bipolar disorder,

and

schizoaffective disorder.

as

in psychiatric institu-

having schizophrenia,

She had used the

full

range

of medications and psychiatric rehabilitation procedures typically prescribed for such disorders.

When P. H. came to me for counseling and consulting, she had been involved in an Edgar Cayce study group for several months and was receiving

The

220

significant support there.

The members of

ropractic treatment,

and she

did.

with her on the use of the wet this

the study group (aware of

recommended

the importance of a healthy spine)

Whole Mind

that she receive chi-

provided counseling and consulted

I

cell battery.

Within

a year of the onset of

treatment regimen, she had obtained a full-time job and gotten marAfter four years, she

ried.

married and working. She has not received

is still

Under the supervision of her

further psychiatric treatment.

psychiatrist,

she was able gradually to decrease and eventually eliminate psychiatric

medications.

and

P.

H. reported

to

made

spinal adjustments

me

that she believes the

wet

cell

battery

a significant contribution to her recovery.

WHAT TO EXPECT As

is

evident from the above discussion, there

application of the Edgar Cayce approach.

is

considerable variability in the

Depending on the

severity of the

condition, this approach can vary from being highly self-care-oriented to the

involvement of a team of health care professionals.

Whatever the application, comes from within. The

it is

important to recognize that

best that a healer can

do

is

all

healing

and encour-

to stimulate

age the healing process. In other words, the client/patient must accept responsibility for the

healing process. Even in cases of severe disability (such as

schizophrenia), the individual

the person

is

is

encouraged to be

so incoherent as to be irresponsible

as responsible as possible. If (e.g.,

acute psychosis), the

persons providing treatment must accept the responsibility for the healing. spiritual orientation

by

The time frame

all

persons involved

for healing varies

is

essential.

depending on the condition. Mild

More

depression and anxiety will often respond within a few weeks. conditions (such as schizophrenia, manic-depressive ease, etc.)

by

even years of treatment. Childhood problems such

in a

as

and thumb sucking

severe

Alzheimer's dis-

months and

bed wetting, simple phoare often corrected with-

few days or a couple of weeks.

Edgar Cayce his

illness,

their nature require long-term application involving

bias (such as riding a school bus),

A

life.

utilized the full range

of therapeutic options available during

Although the treatment recommendations were usually

for relatively

natural remedies, he was flexible in dealing with each individual. In certain

221

Edgar Cayce on Mental Health

modern terminology,

cases he suggested surgery or very strong medications. In

the Edgar Cayce approach

is

an excellent example of complementary medi-

Complementary medicine can be thought of as treatment

cine.

medical practice. Complementary medicine emphasizes coopera-

to" standard

tion between health care professionals of conventional pies.

(Budd

The

et al.,

health care professionals

pening in the

and

alternative thera-

1990; LaValley and Verhoef, 1995).

clinical practice will

how

"in addition

who

use the Edgar Cayce approach in their

spend time talking with their

clients' lives.

They

clients

about what

will listen closely to the choice

is

hap-

of words and

they are spoken to get a sense of the mental and spiritual aspects of the

presenting problem. enlist a

Some

practitioners follow

Edgar Cayce's example and

medical intuitive to provide input into the therapeutic process.

Practitioners often develop their

own

intuitive abilities to

complement

their

medical training.

HOW The

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE) maintains a

health care professionals

who

recommended by Edgar Cayce. The is

open

to the public.

ARE operates

This library contains

numerous books, and audio and video

all

tapes

list

of

and techniques

utilize the therapeutic principles

a substantial library,

which

of the Edgar Cayce readings plus

on health

related topics.

The ARE

also operates a bookstore.

Most of the

practitioners utilizing the

Cayce approach

are chiropractors

and massage

therapists.

at the Reilly

School of Massage Therapy in Virginia Beach (which

Massage therapists can receive training

with the ARE). Atlantic University in Virginia Beach

ARE)

offers holistic health classes

in this is

approach associated

(also associated

with the

with a strong emphasis on the Edgar Cayce

approach. Otherwise, health care professionals educate themselves by studying the Cayce readings and the

ARE. There

is

no

numerous health books and resources

available

from

certification process for persons applying this approach.

Practitioners vary in their

knowledge

of,

and experience

the Edgar Cayce approach. Health care practitioners

who

in,

working with

apply Cayce's system

of healing must study the Cayce readings and integrate that information into their clinical practice. illness. It is a

good

They may have

idea to

limited experience treating major mental

do some background reading

with Cayce's approach to treating mental

can help you to choose a practitioner

illness (see

as well as

to familiarize yourself

How to Learn More). This

provide useful information for

Whole Mind

The

222

the self-care aspects of the approach.

The ARE

Clinic operates a limited residential program where individuals

can receive the

range of therapies

full

recommended

in the

Edgar Cayce read-

ings.

RESOURCES

The Meridian 1

168

First

Virgina Beach, Tel: (757)

The Association for Research AND ENLIGHTENMENT

Institute

Colonial Rd., Suite 12

VA 23458

67th Street and Atlantic Ave. Virginia Beach,

496-6009

VA 23458

428-3588

Tel: (757)

The Association for Research and enlightment clinic 4018 N. 40th St. Phoenix, AZ 85018 Tel: (602)

955-0551

HOW TO LEARN MORE Blakeslee, S.

"Complex and Hidden Brain

in the

Gut Makes Cramps,

Butterflies,

and

Valium." The New York Times, January 23, 1996, C1-C3.

Budd,

C;

B. Fisher;

D. Parrinder; and

L. Price.

Complementary and Allopathic Medicine

"A Model of Cooperation Between in a

Primary Care Setting." British

Journal of General Practice AQ, no. 338 (1990): 376-378. Callan,

J. P.

"Holistic Health or Holistic Hoax?" Journal of the American Medical

Association 241, no. 11 (1979): 1156.

Cayce, C. T. "Concerning a Physical Basis for Mental

Illness."

A.R.E. Medical Symposium in Phoenix, AZ. Available

No.

9.

Virginia Beach,

Cayce, C. T. and

M.

VA:

ARE,

as

Paper presented

at the

Child Development Series

1978

Thurston. "Child Behavior Problems."

ARE Journal'May (1974):

108-116. Grady, H. Study of the Cayce Impedance Device. Phoenix, AZ: Fetzer Energy Medicine Research Institute, 1988. Hildreth, A. G. The Lengthening Kirksville,

LaValley,

J.

MO:

Shadow of Dr. Andrew

Osteopathic Enterprises,

W. and M.

J.

Inc.,

Verhoef. "Integrating

Taylor

Still.

Third Edition.

1938.

Complementary Medicine and Health

Care Services into Practice." Canadian Medical Association Journal 153, no. (1995): 45-49.

1

223

Edgar Cayce on Mental Health

McGarey, W. A. Physicians Reference Notebook. Virginia Beach, VA:

ARE

Press,

1983.

McMillin, D. Alzheimer's Disease and the Dementias. Virginia Beach, VA: LifeLine Press,

1994.

McMillin, D. Broken Press,

Lives: Case Studies in Schizophrenia. Virginia Beach,

VA: LifeLine

1995.

McMillin, D. Living Nightmares: Case Studies in Anxiety. Virginia Beach, VA: LifeLine Press,

1992.

McMillin, D. Principles and Techniques ofNerve Regeneration: Alzheimer's Disease and the Dementias. Virginia Beach,

VA: LifeLine

Press,

1995.

McMillin, D. Shades ofSadness: Case Studies in Depression. Virginia Beach, VA: LifeLine Press,

1995.

McMillin, D. The Treatment ofDepression. Virginia Beach, VA: LifeLine

Press,

1991.

McMillin, D. The Treatment of Schizophrenia. Virginia Beach, VA: LifeLine

Press,

1991.

McMillin, D. and D. G. Richards. The Radial Appliance and Wet Cell Battery: Two Electrotherapeutic Devices

Recommended

by Edgar Cayce. Virginia Beach,

VA:

LifeLine Press, 1995. Pecci, E.

F.

"The Relationship Between Emotion and Function

presented at the

ARE Medical Symposium in

in Children."

A paper

Phoenix, AZ, Jan. 13-16, 1972.

Smith, A. R. "Rachel's Nightmare." Venture Lnward 7 no. 6 (1991): 12-14. ,

Windsor,

C. "A Holistic Theory of Mental

J.

edited by

Illness." In Physician's Reference

W.A. McGarey. Virginia Beach, VA:

ARE Press,

Notebook,

1983.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR David McMillin, M.A.,

is

a mental health professional living in Virginia Beach,

VA. Mr. McMillin received a B.A.

in Psychology

from Greenville College and

an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Sangagmon State University in

Mr. McMillin

Springfield, IL.

is

a researcher with the Meridian Institute

professor at Atlantic University where he created "Principles

and Techniques of Energy Medicine."

and taught

He

is

and a

a course entitled

the author of six books

addressing the treatment of mental illness from the perspective of the Edgar

Cayce material.

He

co-authored a book with Douglas Richards entitled The

Radial Appliance and Wet Cell Battery and wrote a treatment manual entitled Principles

and

Techniques ofNerve Regeneration. David McMillin lectures and

provides workshops

Cayce material.

on

his research

and on the

clinical application

of the Edgar

Doris Rapp, M.D.

Environmental Medicine

16

WHAT

IS

ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE?

The emotional

memory of some

well-being and the learning ability and

dren and adults can be adversely affected by what they

eat,

chil-

touch, and smell.

Environmental medical physicians estimate that approximately 25 to 50 percent of the population are affected by environmental

do not know

it.

This chapter will discuss

trigger these reactions

and how

how

illness,

to find out

although

many

which substances

to correct the condition.

People affected by allergies and sensitivities often note some of the follow-

on

ing tion 1

a daily or intermittent basis,

allergen,

and the dura-

and type of exposure:

Sudden changes

in affect

and

anger, aggression, depression,

and withdrawn, or 2.

depending on the

Many

retreat

mood

and

including hyperactivity,

vulgarity.

Some become

irritability,

excessively tired

to dark tiny spaces or under furniture.

of the above complaints are associated with physical

illness

such

as

headaches, abdominal pain, muscle aches, asthma, congestion in the nose or eyes, itchy skin, and/or twitches. Excessive infections, especially of the ears, sinuses,

and lungs

are

common. Many of

appear to have a strong personal as 3.

hay

fever,

who are affected or family history of common allergies such those

asthma, eczema, or hives.

Inexplicable changes in their writing or drawing.

The

letters

or numbers

225

Environmental Medicine

can be abnormally small,

large,

deformed, in mirror images, upside down,

or very different from normal.

Some Some see

Periods of poor comprehension of written or spoken information.

4.

can only read print

whirl about or

letters that

Changes

5.

if it is

in speech,

cannot speak clearly or

The

as

at

speaking unusually over.

fast or

too loudly.

Some

Others babble, become hoarse, or

all.

senses of hearing, smell,

and touch

in environmentally

may cringe, pull may be unable to

be abnormally acute. They

touch them. They

tries to

time.

tell

off the page.

same phrase over and

repeat the

6.

roll

such

Some cannot

upside down.

ill

away, and scream tolerate the

persons can if

someone

sound of normal

speech. 7.

Some walk with

8.

A few have extreme irrational and unusual behavior. They scream, claim to

a strange gait, almost falling or tipping over.

be out of their bodies, see spiders on the

walls,

and

feel that

they have lost

control of their bodies.

Multiple chemical sensitivities are a

new

be debilitating and devastating for those

who

tors, psychologists,

the scope ness

is

HOW

severity

becoming

IT

In our

and

parents, educa-

are often skeptical or

of environment-related

illnesses.

At the

unaware of

rate that this

ill-

BEGAN

modern

Rowe and that

are affected,

and

evident, this will surely change.

society,

cals that interfere

health.

and health professionals

world. This can

illness in today's

are increasingly

exposed to large amounts of chemi-

with our health and well-being. In the 1930s, Drs. Albert effects this

exposure has on our

described a condition called allergic toxemia.

They clearly showed

Albert Rowe,

They

many

we

Jr.

began to study the

emotional and physical

illnesses

could be caused not only by foods,

but also by molds, pollen, and dust. They recommended dietary changes and avoidance of known offenders. In the 1940s, Theron Randolph, M.D., wrote

about

how

chemicals can similarly affect the body and

health complaints such as arthritis and depression. called allergic fatigue

which

is

He

mind causing many

discussed a condition

increasingly prevalent today. In the 1950s, Fred

Whole Mino

The

226

Speer,

M.D., coined the term

which was

Allergic Tension Fatigue

Syndrome

in children,

strikingly similar to the illness currently referred to as attention

deficit disorder

(ADD)

(ADHD) He again emphasized diet as a means of relief.

or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

seen in both children and adults. In spite of the fact that

fifty

years have passed since these revelations, there

acceptance on the part of the medical establishment that allergies

is still little

cause a wide range of physical and mental

illnesses. Instead,

many highly sophis-

ticated drugs are used as the preferred therapeutic modality. Medicines certainly

provide quick temporary relief and their costs are covered by insurance

companies. But

it is

preferable to find

and eliminate the cause of an

illness.

Insurance carriers will typically pay large sums for drugs and procedures

documented but not

that are scientifically

many

helpful for

people, while they

symptoms more

arbitrarily refuse to

pay for alternative methods that

quickly, effectively,

and inexpensively. They claim that the medical

relieve

literature

does not verify the efficacy of these treatments to the satisfaction of the medical

establishment in spite of a plethora of scientific evidence (Rea, 1992, 1997). In recent years, precise, efficient methods of allergy testing have been devel-

oped, such as provocation/neutralization testing. This method enables envi-

ronmental medical

specialists to

pinpoint medically significant cause-and-effect

relationships in minutes. Increasingly, scientific data validate

explain the effectiveness of these methods, which are

and more

fast, safe, effective,

fully

and

inexpensive.

HOW

IT

WORKS

The human body

is

stressed bodies react spiration,

now exposed

to

many

chemicals on a daily

by eliminating certain chemicals

and exhaled

air,

but the load of toxins

is

so heavy that is

many

longer but the quality of life has suffered.

others have alies,

have to

damaging, particu-

our immune, endocrine, and reproductive systems. The children and

adults of today are not nearly as healthy as those of fifty years ago. live

Our

in the urine, feces, per-

be stored, particularly in the fatty areas of the body. This larly to

basis.

become much more

New

illnesses

They may

have arisen and

prevalent, such as asthma, cancer, birth

anom-

autism, Alzheimer's disease, Tourette's Syndrome, panic disorder, learn-

ing disabilities, and endometriosis, to

name only

a few.

Let us take a simple example of how the body can be affected. Suppose you

breathe in

some dust or

a mold. This can swell the tissues of your nose

and

227

Environmental Medicine

lungs, causing congestion. This decreases the blood supply so infection often

develops in the ears, sinuses, or lungs. If you are given antibiotics for the infection, the delicate balance in the intestines

is

altered, allowing

an overgrowth of

undesirable yeast and a loss of the necessary lactobacillus organisms. This yeast

how you

overgrowth can change

feel

and

Common

act.

manifestations are a

white tongue, bloated abdomen, red anus, itchy genitals, and depression.

Chemicals are even more harmful because there olfactory nerve in the upper part of the nose directly into this critical

We can

body

area

and can

is

and the

alter

a direct line between the brain.

how you

The chemical

think, feel,

goes

and

act.

strengthen the body with nutrients and provide basics such as filtered

or pure water, proper bowel elimination, and exercise.

form of neutralization

allergy therapy, so that

even a few chemicals, can be tolerated with

many

less

We can

use the newer

allergenic substances,

or no

illness.

But the key

and

chal-

How can we avoid or eliminate the rapidly expanding number of allergenic and chemical offenders that surround us? We also need to alter lenge

still

remains:

the structure of the health care and insurance industries so that people will be

them

able to afford the care that will help

What

can you do?

and chemical there

a

is

Much

of the work of detecting and eliminating food

can be done

sensitivities

to get well.

at

home

as self-care. In certain people,

need for the intervention of a medical

specialist

able about the treatment of multiple sensitivities.

who

is

You can begin

knowledgeto find

and

eliminate the cause of your sensitivity by asking yourself what was eaten,

touched, or smelled prior to the onset of the symptoms. Ask

due

to

something inside

food. For example,

a

when

exactly did the troublesome

days at school or work, and not evident

toms occur. ing. If

If it

is

changes in

is

special,

a food, your

how you

the change

home, school, or workplace, outdoors; or due

they noted mainly after a snack or meal?

around and find out what

if

feel,

Is

is

to a

symptoms begin? Are

your health a problem during week-

when you

are

home, or vice versa? Look

new, or different in the area where symp-

symptoms

will

probably occur shortly after eat-

look, or act occur after smelling an odor, think

"chemical sensitivity."

To pinpoint

the cause, go through the five steps discussed below.

before and after entering each

and

after

in

this

your home, workplace, or school, before

meals and chemical exposures. Changes due to foods, beverages, or

dust, mold, pollen, or fifteen

room

Do

something

minutes to an hour

in the

environment usually occur within

after exposure.

Symptoms caused by chemical

Whole Mind

The

228

Once symptoms

exposures often occur within seconds to a very few minutes.

develop they can

on

vidual and as a result

last for

minutes to days. This varies from individual to indi-

different occasions in the

specific answers to help yourself. for

same person.

If

major changes occur

of the following techniques, you are probably very close to finding

One word

of caution, however:

Do

not

test

any food that you know causes an alarming or frightening reaction such

as

severe asthma or unconsciousness.

1.

Write your name, the alphabet, or the numbers one to ten. If your to

do any of these things

alters, it indicates that

ed by exposure or food. For example,

2.

if you

your brain has been

when you go

write well

when you wake up

but cannot write normally

ability

in the

affect-

to bed,

morning, something

in the

bed or bedroom can be the cause of your learning problems.

If you

have breathing problems, blow into a Peak Flow Meter. (Please see

how

the Resources section for information about

products referred to in this chapter.) This tor or gauge that icant.

moves

For example,

if

as

you blow

into

to order this

a plastic tube with an indica-

is

A drop

it.

and other

you blow 400 before you

eat

of

1

5 percent

and an hour

is

signif-

you

later

can only blow 300, a 25 percent drop, you probably ingested something that diminished your lung function. If you find that a food

physical or emotional problems, five

foods and beverages you "cannot

lem, you probably included

3.

it is

Take your pulse

often your favorite. live

on your

it

is

regular. It

and then slow down or miss that the ilar

ple,

to a

beats.

a

watch with

smoke alarm

that

is

is

A change

set off when there is

list is

of the

a prob-

a

second hand.

routinely 80.

A

unquestionably significant.

should not suddenly become very

fast

in the pulse often indicates

whole body has suddenly been put into an

suppose your pulse rate

a

without." If a food item

change of 20 when you are quiet and relaxed Also, note if the pulse

Make

the cause of

list.

minute using

for a full

is

"alert"

mode.

It is

sim-

a room. For

exam-

You can check an odor

in the

is

a

fire in

following manner. Smell the suspect tobacco, perfume, marking pencil, or gasoline for a few seconds.

Does your pulse

increase to

100 or higher? This

degree of change strongly suggests a sensitivity to that exposure. Such individuals will often smell odors before others notice

odors, such as gasoline,

make them

ill.

them and complain

that

229

Environmental Medicine

4.

Notice

how you

you have dark

Were

look.

circles

these changes

Are your

under your

first

or there or 5.

is

many

a change in

a

Compare

your physical

how they act

feel.

mal

fear,

to you, but they

realize.

to

it

as well as

emotions (sadness,

of this process be caused by

that they

On

in their eyes.

how you

how you

felt

felt after

before exposure to a food

you were exposed. This

may have

emotional well-being. You

actually be caused

by

felt

refers

certain

more than you

sensitivities

basis.

carried out the five steps listed above, before

is

that

it

tell

what

is

causing your

helps you realize that

sensitivities, rather

the other hand,

illness.

and

One

after vari-

of the bene-

some troubling symptoms

than simply being aspects of your per-

some people

are so constantly

exposed to toxins

might require a detoxification process before they can properly

their situation.

The

next step

is

and find out what

is

assess

to try to eliminate the specific cause.

If the suspected toxin or offending agent

dust,

uncontrollable,

also develop a spaced out

and on an intermittent or constant

ous exposures, you can often

sonality.

Some

become

Take note of whether these changes occur throughout the course of

Once you have

may

or

adults develop bril-

desperation, etc.) for so long that they seem nor-

may

the day, week, or year,

fits

weak?

legs restless or

some

children and

before they

few moments to consider

or chemical.

your

restless legs just

somewhat frightening look

Spend

to

and

eyes, or are

evident only after the exposure? Such changes pro-

vide fast clues. For example, liant red earlobes

abnormally red and hot, do

ears or cheeks

is

inside a building, look

new, different, or unusual in that area.

around

there too

Is

much

mold, or evidence of some chemical? Think of carpets, new construction

materials (paint, wallboard, shellac, etc.), pesticides, or scented

body or cleaning

new

agents.

furniture (plywood, vinyl, etc.),

Are the furnace

the air ducts clean? Try to eliminate the specific cause.

An

clean?

Are

air purifier that

can

filters

remove dust, molds, pollen, and chemicals might be the answer and sometimes help overnight. returned

if it

One

can be obtained on a short

it

trial basis

can

and

does not help (see Resources).

For symptoms that occur outdoors, think of pollen, mold, factory pollution, pesticides, fresh asphalt, or other chemicals. If the

noted on

damp room,

damp

rainy days or in wet places, molds

or pollen season of the year, you in particular,

but

if this

symptoms

may be

may need an

are

mainly

the cause. If it

air purifier in

is

the

your bed-

does not relieve the problem, seek allergy

Whole

The

230

treatment for pollen and/or molds from a nearby

The

ideal

answer

is

Hino

specialist.

always to try to eliminate the source. If the cause

is

pol-

lution, such as outside pesticide spraying, switch to natural lawn care. If the

neighbor's lawn pesticides are a problem, al

methods

and they won't use

to control their weeds, avoid being

home

chemicals are applied, and keep the windows closed Again, an

air purifier

There

are a

might be

more natur-

safer,

at the

time

when you

when

are at

these

home.

helpful.

number of methods

to help relieve health concerns

due

to

foods and beverages. First you must find the cause. If you suspect a single item, eliminate

add

it

it

in all forms

from your

symptoms stopped when

back. If you found that the

when you reintroduced

recurred

diet for five to twelve days,

it,

it

and then

was avoided and

you have found an answer. Avoid that

food, or receive allergy extract treatment from a physician familiar with this technique. If you suspect several foods, try the Multiple

cussed in

week

my books

(see the

etables,

but

it

Is

This Your Child?

and

Is

Food Elimination Diet

Resource section). This diet allows most excludes

common

dis-

This Your Child's World? for one fruits,

meats, and veg-

allergens such as milk, wheat, eggs, chocolate,

corn, sugar, orange juice, food dyes, preservatives,

and

additives. Adults can

use the same diet, but should be aware that they must also avoid coffee, tea, alcohol,

and tobacco. During the second week, add the foods back one

time and see which food causes symptoms to reappear.

improve

people will

in three to seven days.

Once you become aware of which rotation diet. This enables

you

foods cause symptoms, you can use a

to eat gradually increasing

problem foods, but not more than once every four will

Many

at a

amounts of certain

days. In time, certain foods

no longer cause symptoms. Books by Golas (1983) and Powell (1989) can

be helpful with implementing

this diet. If this diet

ization allergy extract treatment,

mal quantities within a Another way fication so the

many problem

relatively short

combined with

neutral-

foods can be ingested in nor-

period of time.

to help diminish food allergies

body can better

is

is

to aid digestion

utilize various nutrients

and detoxi-

and foods. There

are

various dietary programs and supplements that enhance bowel function, the efficiency of the liver,

and the normal pathways of the body

unwanted substances. These

include, for example,

Permavite and Dr. Jeffery Bland's

series

to eliminate

Dr. Steven Levine's

of "Ultra" products

(see Resources).

231

Environmental Medicine

For a chemical

whenever fier

sensitivity, try to

possible. If that

is

remove or avoid the problem chemical

impractical or difficult, obtain a Dust-Free air puri-

or a Personal Air Purifier on a

trial basis

for

your home, school, or work area.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Space limitations prevent a detailed account of the current research on food

and environmental

P/N

but the interested reader can see Dr. Rea's

sensitivities,

books, Chemical Sensitivity,

Vol.

7—^(1992-1997),

for a detailed review.

The

(provocation/neutralization) testing itself often provides convincing proof

of the cause-and-effect relationships between foods and chemicals and symptoms. In

many

system, a

symptom immediately

is

cases,

when

a suspected allergen results.

found, the symptoms abate. For

When

is

introduced into a person's

the correct neutralization dose

many patients,

this

is

enough

"proof."

REAL PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD SENSITIVITIES

Ryan was

initially

seen in our medical center

His mother noticed that

after

when he was

four years o

he attended school two afternoons a week,

he became so fatigued he could barely stand up and he clung to teachers complained that he

Because his symptoms seemed

mother was advised

to

His

had other periods when he was unbelievably

hyperactive and uncontrollable. His face tended to twitch or

his

her.

tic

much worse when he was

frequently. at school,

go to his classroom and look around. She

observed that the table tops in his room and his nap area were sprayed with a popular phenol-containing aerosol disinfectant several times each afternoon.

To

evaluate this factor,

aerosol onto a paper towel utes, his

behavior changed.

to his mother,

we sprayed

and then placed

He

it

The and an

near him. In thirty min-

could not hold a pencil, clung excessively

whined, and appeared exhausted. These were exactly the

types of complaints that were noted during relieved his

a four-inch spot of this

symptoms

after school.

Oxygen

was switched

to

Aqueous Zephiran

in his classroom. It

is

of interest to note

disinfectant for the table tops

air purifier

and

in minutes.

was placed

Whole

The

232

that the teacher felt there in that

room

after

was

significantly less infection

Mind

and absenteeism

these measures were taken. Other teachers have made

similar observations after air purifiers were placed in their classrooms.

-So

At one year of age, Liza began

and whine constantly

to cry

no appar-

for

ent reason. She also had repeated bronchitis, which perplexed her doctors. Liza's ability to learn first

was

when

evident at age four

during swimming lessons.

also

impaired

at certain times.

she could not concentrate and

Even though she normally learned

This was

remember easily,

could not concentrate or follow the simplest swimming instructions

she

when

she was in the pool. Learning problems due to a chlorine sensitivity were

not obvious again until she was twelve years old, and a teacher noted a

marked deterioration tion she

in the content

and the penmanship of a composilater traced to the bleach

had written. These changes were

in the family laundry.

room where infections

The

air

used

from the laundry room was vented into the

she wrote the paper. Liza suffered from chronic recurrent

and headaches, mainly during the cold months. Her major

complaint, however, was severe leg aches. Usually this complaint suggests a dairy allergy, but this

toddler, Liza's parents night.

time she reached

had to rub her

six years

clearly evident that riding the school

vomit,

faint,

When

also

By the

many

learning.

foods It

was

bus made her so sick that she would

when No one knew why.

eight hours. There were periods

She

at a stretch.

and problems with

and sometimes subsequently

than a block or two.

was a

evening or during the

sixteen hours

of age, her mother recognized that

to cause headaches, vomiting,

seemed

legs every

cried for as long as

At times she

for this child. Since she

was not the case

fall

asleep for as long as forty-

she was too

had recurrent nosebleeds, easy

bruising,

weak and

to

walk more

rectal bleeding.

she was only six-and-a-half years old, she had vaginal bleeding.

Her knees were black and

blue, not

from a

but from unexplained bleeding inside her

fall

while running or playing,

joints.

Repeated medical evalu-

ations did not provide relief or answers. Liza's

mother and

father also

complained of

a

number of physical

233

Environmental Medicine

symptoms, many of which were worse

Her brother had

in the winter.

memory and

depression and problems with

concentration that were also

worse during the cold months.

During the summer, four

became aware

the family time,

it

years after they

that there

was

moved

into their

new home,

a gas leak in their stove.

was suggested that they acquire an

electric stove.

At that

Three days

later,

brother stopped having temper outbursts, and his disposition

Liza's

improved remarkably.

stopped aching for the

Liza's legs

she no longer cried with leg pain each night. stove's natural gas leak

first

time in years;

was apparent that the

It

had caused these problems.

when the weather became colder, the gas furnace was turned on again. Once more the entire family had another flare-up of their previous complaints. They recognized clearly for the first time why their medical symptoms recurred each winter. The cause was a leaking furnace and improper venting of the exhaust fumes. Once they recognized the cause-and-effect relationship, they bought a new furnace, However,

later that year,

switched their heat to

electricity,

and corrected

their ventilation prob-

lems. After this was completed, the winter medical complaints of each

family

member

quickly subsided.

Liza, however,

continued to have intermittent

phenomenon" had become noted every so often ties

because of an

cal.

Once

odor

clearly evident.

after certain individuals

initial excessive

This

illness.

The

refers to the reaction

develop chemical sensitivi-

or prolonged exposure to

sensitized, they Find that very little exposure to

will cause

"spreading

some chemiany chemical

immediate and sometimes quite severe and prolonged

symptoms.

Anita was

initially

seen

when

she was thirteen years old.

A

few weeks

before her examination she had been so despondent that she had tried to slash her wrist.

She had been

ill

her mother had been exposed to

work while she was pregnant. excessively.

During

her entire

many

life,

possibly, in part, because

strong chemical cleaning agents at

In the uterus, the baby kicked

that time her nursery

and hiccuped

was being remodeled, exposing

Whole Mind

The

234

the fetus

and

later the infant to the

particleboard,

new

carpeting, etc.

chemical odors associated with paint,

As an

infant, she

had

a feeding prob-

lem and vomited frequently. This situation improved when she was switched to a soy-based formula. She had allergies that caused nasal connewly gestion and she did not sleep properly until she was taken from her decorated nursery and placed in the living room, which had a floor

and older

furniture.

Throughout childhood, she plaints.

When

By the

she entered a

new

from a number of physical com-

suffered

age of twelve she rarely

visual problem. twirl

wooden

felt well.

school in the

She said that the

fall

easily

and

often.

of that year, she developed a

seemed

letters

She cried

to roll off the

page and to

around, turn upside down, and become double. In spite of her high

IQ, she had tremendous difficulty reading and could not periods of irritability and hostility and often too tired to get out of bed, and

She

many

made

foods. After the

first

She had

other symptoms. She was

became extremely depressed.

tried a four-day rotation diet for a

certain foods

learn.

few weeks and determined that

her feel worse. In our office,

we

tested the suspect

day of tests, she noticed improvement

in her

symp-

when we tested her for a mold, suddenly she could not read at all. When we found the correct neutralizing dose of mold treated allergy extract, she was again able to read. The third day, after we

toms.

The

her for soy

next day,

allergy,

her normal vision returned. For the

she could read print that was not upside down.

By the

first

time in weeks,

fourth day, she was

remarkably improved and had hope for her future. She was smiling and a few days totally different young lady than when she entered the office a earlier.

ancy

is

a young, vibrant, well-trained special education teacher

whose

symptoms became progressively more evident over a period of about eight years.

she

At

felt

first,

no one recognized why she was

so badly

and "out of control"

plaints were particularly evident

ill,

and she wondered why

at certain times.

when

Although her com-

she was in her classroom,

years before she realized that excessive chemical exposures

at

it

was

work were

Environmental Medicine

235

part of her problem. For example, she repeatedly inhaled the odor of disinfectants because her classroom

dren's lavatories.

relationship. tions, aerial

happened

to be located next to the chil-

She did not recognize the obvious cause-and-effect

The combination of chemicals used during school renovapesticide spraying, fresh paint in her new apartment, and

molds, both at her school and in her waterbed at home, created havoc in her

immune

body could

system. These various exposures exceeded the level that her

tolerate,

and the

was severe debilitating

result

She was seen by one physician true cause of her sickness. After

after another.

many

down. At one point, she was advised "tough

it

out"

when

she

felt dizzy.

ness, constant ear ringing,

a leave

and

illness.

one recognized the

she was told that she was if

she would just calm

to see a psychiatrist

who

told her to

Her extreme exhaustion, muscle weak-

severe depression finally forced her to take

of absence for ten weeks in the spring of 1991. At that time, she

was too cried

tests,

and her health problems would go away

stressed,

No

tired to get out

of bed, take a shower, or prepare a snack. She

most of the time and became so

her to crawl the few steps from her

ill

that

bedroom

her self-confidence and thought she must be a

she couldn't control her

moods

it

took twenty minutes for

to the

bathroom. She

lost

weak or bad person because

or regain her physical health. Little did

she realize that her depression was biochemical and could be helped by dietary regulation

and environmental changes.

When Nancy was

seen by an environmental physician, she was

com-

plaining of the following symptoms: extreme fatigue, muscle aches/

spasms,

mood

of fingers and

swings, excessive crying, leg cramps and pain,

numbness

face, ringing in the ears, irritability, dizziness

and black-

outs, headaches, a

nal pain,

and

heavy head,

difficulty concentrating, nausea,

difficulty focusing.

Most physicians who hear

abdomia list

of

complaints of this type have been taught that such patients have a psychological problem, but this variety

and number of symptoms

are typical

of many chemically-sensitized adults and children. Challenge Testing with individual allergy extract solutions easily repro-

duced some of the above symptoms. Most notable was the trouble she had thinking clearly and the depression, anger, and crying that resulted from a

Whole Hino

The

236

y test

with the

air

from Nancy's school.

A single drop of several standard

allergy extracts (dust mites, molds, phenol)

provoked symptoms. Within

eight to ten minutes she experienced facial numbness; heaviness in her

mouth and

head; fatigue; swelling of the

cheeks; itching and burning of

her eyes; pressure in her ears; pain and tightness in her jaw; cramping of her hands and

numbness beat; all

feet; facial pain;

a hot feeling in her face; dizziness; vertigo;

and

in her hands, feet,

face; difficulty talking; a rapid heart-

subsided in about ten minutes after

correct neutralizing dilution of the response.

how she

which item was being

At the end of the that

allergy extract that caused the

a placebo, a

mock

injection,

which

or acted. At no time was she aware of

tested. last test,

had previously occurred

office into the

felt

received one drop of the

Nancy

same

At one point she was given

caused no change in

mouth. These reactions

taste in her

extreme fatigue; and a metallic

parking

she had a frightening response of the type

at school.

She suddenly ran wildly, from the

using vulgar language and screaming. Her car

lot,

keys had to be taken from her because her the past she had driven at a reckless speed

companion was aware

when

this

that in

happened.

After a thorough clinical evaluation, she was found to be sensitive to foods, dust, molds, pollen,

and chemicals. She

also lacked

some

essential

subnutrients. After she received allergy extract treatment for the various

symptoms markedly improved. This comprehensive environmental medical therapy was combined with stances to

which she was

detoxification,

sensitive, her

which included

exercise, massage, saunas,

and frequent

intravenous nutrient therapy. For a year she also drank a formulation this called Ultraclear, an oral detoxification formula. After two years of type of therapy she stated, "I I

feel

honestly look forward to what

so well that is

it is

yet to come.

a foreign feeling for

It's all

up from

me.

here!"

She was fortunate because her family provided positive support during her ordeal. In time, they realized that she had a genuine illness, and they learned how to detect the cause of her unusual responses to specific inadvertent exposures. For her and her family,

it

was

a relief to under-

stand what caused her reactions.

In September 1994, however, she found she was without funds or a

237

Environmental Medicine

She could not afford the allergy extract therapy that had helped her

job.

maintain her health. She did not want to fight for insurance coverage, social security, worker's

investigate alternative sure,

compensation, or disability

methods of help, trying

aid.

shiatsu, a

and energy balancing. Shiatsu was so helpful

She decided to

form of acupres-

that, in time, she

was

able to discontinue her allergy extract therapy, her extremely strict rotation diet, that she

and

had

all

her nutrients except for vitamin C. However, she found

to continue to avoid chemicals, drink purified water,

and

eat

organic foods while limiting or avoiding certain major food offenders. At times, she finds that she can tolerate certain exposures that previously

caused devastating and debilitating

now go

to church.

She can shop

effects. If

in a mall for

thing she had dared not consider for

have a rarely

real

Christmas

tree,

very cautious, she can

about ten minutes, some-

and even cautiously attend

that she will be exposed to flare

is

many months. She

without her charcoal mask and

symptoms

she

is

visit friends,

a concert.

She

is

constantly on guard and fearful

something that

will cause a setback. If her

because of an exposure, especially

uses vitamin C, alkaline

can

trisalts, shiatsu,

if

she

is

stressed, she

and meditation. Although she

continues to find certain exposures impossibly challenging and incapacitating, she

is

encouraged because she

is

gradually improving. She

presently back at school, in a different room, and, by using

is

good judg-

ment, extreme caution, and avoidance, she has adjusted to a different, but

far

more normal, and acceptable

lifestyle.

WHAT TO EXPECT If you visit a physician trained in cally

environmental medicine, he or she will typi-

study your previous records, and do a very detailed history and physical

examination.

A number of blood

mon

and

illnesses

allergies. In addition,

titration allergy skin tests

whether or not (P/N)

test,

tests are

often indicated to check for

provocation/neutralization or special

can be most helpful. These

allergies are a

com-

tests

can document

problem. For the provocation/neutralization

one drop of a strong extract of a suspected allergen

the arm. If you are allergic to this substance,

symptoms

is

injected into

often appear. Then,

Whole Mind

The

238

one drop of this same

extract,

which has been diluted

five fold,

is

administered.

This process of administering weaker dilutions of the extract will be repeated every eight minutes until the tralization dose.

P/N

and-effect relationships.

prevent or treat the this test that

pollen,

disappear. This dose

By

is

called the neu-

injection of this dilution into the arm,

allergy. Titration skin tests are a

allow for

and mold

symptoms

testing enables a physician to pinpoint specific cause-

more

precise testing

more complex

and treatment

you can

version of

for allergies to dust,

in particular.

A typical program of environmental evaluation

and patient education

include recommendations for dietary changes, and ways to

make

a

home more

safe

and

lent

bowel function are given detailed consideration. Special additional

also

might be indicated

allergy-free. Exercise,

will

adequate hydration with pure water, and excel-

for certain patients

who

tests

have particularly complex

problems that have not responded adequately to the above program.

HOW

TO FIND AN ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICAL SPECIALIST

There

ronmental medicine. You can

Medicine

at (215)

oral

New Hope, PA 18938

These physicians

cialties in

United States

862-4544, or write to them

East Randolph Street, cialist.

who are trained in envicall The American Academy of Environmental

are physicians scattered over the

at

P.O Box

CN

1001-8001, 10

to find the nearest trained spe-

are usually board-certified in

one or more other spe-

medicine. In addition, they have taken special courses, and passed

and written examinations.

RESOURCES For more details about any aspect of this chapter,

you

read, Is This Your Child's World? or Is This Your

ed below and are

as valuable for adults as

video, "Environmentally Sick Schools,"

is

it is

strongly suggested that

Child?These books are

they are for children. In addition, a available

which

how exposures to dust, molds, pollen, chemicals, and how some people feel, act, learn, and behave. Call Practical Allergy Research Foundation

Dust Free or other

air purifiers, for

ing problems, and for

an

asterisk).

Or write

PARF

at

(PARF)

vividly demonstrates

certain foods can alter

at (716)

875-0398

for

Peak Flow Meters to detect causes of breath-

many of the

to

list-

resource books listed below (marked with

1421 Colvin Blvd., Buffalo, NY, 14223.

Call National Ecological and Environmental Delivery System

(NEEDS)

at

239

Environmental Medicine

(800) 634-1380 for the Personal Air Supply and to chemically sensitive people.

400 Preda

0489, (800) 545-9960, and from

St.,

from

PO Box 489, San Leandro, CA, 94577-

HealthComm

5800 Southview

International,

WA 98335, (206) 851-3943.

Gig Harbor,

HOW

527 Charles Ave., Suite 12 A,

detoxification preparations referred to above can be ordered

Allergy Research Group,

Dr.,

is

other products useful

NY, 13209.

Syracuse,

The

Their address

many

TO LEARN MORE

Ashford, N. and C. Miller. Chemical Exposures:

Low Levels and High

Stakes.

New York:

Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1991.* Colborn,

T.,

J. P. Myers. Our Stolen Future: Are We Threatening and Survival? A Scientific Detective Story. New York:

D. Dumanski, and

Our Fertility,

Lntelligence,

Dutton, 1996.

NuDawn

Dunford, R. and K. May. Your Health and the Indoor Environment. Dallas: Publishing, 1991.

Durnil, G. The

Making ofa

Conservative Environmentalist. Bloomington, IN: Indiana

University Press, 1995.

Golas, N. and

F.

G. Golbitz. LfThis

Ls Tuesday, Lt

Must Be

Chicken.

New Canaan, CT:

Keats Publishing Co., 1983.*

Green, N.

Poisoning

S.

Our

Children: Surviving in a Toxic World Chicago:

Noble

Press,

1991.

Krohn,

J.

WA: Krohn,

The Whole Way

Hartley and Marks,

The Whole Way

J.

Marks Lawson,

L. Staying Well in

M.

Powell, D.

to

Inc.,

Relief

& Prevention. Second Edition. Point Roberts,

1996.*

Natural Detoxification. Point Roberts,

WA:

Hartley and

Publishers, 1996.*

Matthews, B. Moses,

to Allergy

L.

a Toxic World. Chicago: Noble

Chemical Sensitivity. Jefferson,

Press,

1993.

NC: McFarland and

Co., 1992.*

Designer Poisons. San Francisco: Pesticide Education Center, 1995.

Why 5? A Complete Food Allergy Diet Book. Waterdown,

Ontario: Cobra

Limited, 1989.*

Randolph, T. and R. Moss.

Row

An Alternative Approach

to Allergies.

New York:

Harper

Publishers, 1989.*

New York:

William Morrow, 1991.*

Rapp, D.

J. Is

This Your Child>

Rapp, D.

J. Is

This Your Child's World? New York:

Rapp, D.

J.

Bantam

Publishing, 1996.*

The Impossible Child at School and at Home. Buffalo, NY: PARF, 1989.*

&

Whole

The

240

W. Chemical Sensitivity,

Rea,

Vols.

1, 2,

Mind

3 and 4. Boca Raton, FL: Lewis Publishers,

1992-1997. Available through the American Environmental Health Foundation,

8345 Walnut

Hill Lane, Suite 225, Dallas,

TX 75231.

(800) 428-2343 or (214)

361-9515.

Up America

Regenstein, L. G. Cleaning

the Poisoned.

Washington, DC: Acropolis

Books, 1993.* Rogers, S. Tired or Toxic? Syracuse,

Rousseau, D., Hartley

W

Rea, and

& Marks,

J.

NY:

Prestige Publishing, 1990.*

Enwright. Your Home, Health and Well-Being. Vancouver:

1989.*

Wilson, C. Chemical Exposures and

Human

Health. Jefferson,

NC: McFarland and

Co., 1993. Tate,

N. The Sick Building Syndrome. Far

Thrasher,

J.

Hills,

NH: New

Horizon

Press,

1994.

and A. Broughton. The Poisoning of Our Homes and Workplaces. Santa

Ana, CA: Seadora, 1989. *

Can be

ordered through PARF, see the "Resources" section.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Doris Rapp was born in Erie, PA, and

knew from

the age of four that she want-

ed to be a physician. She earned her B.A. degree, magna

cum

laude,

M.A. degree from the University of Buffalo. She studied medicine University, Bellevue Medical Center, followed

by training

at

and an

New York

in Pediatrics

and

a

fellowship in Allergy and Immunology. She practiced conventional pediatric allergy

medicine until 1975, when she attended a conference on newer

approaches to allergy detection and treatment. This changed her

method of treating

life

and her

patients. Since that time, she has used these newer,

effective techniques to help patients. effectiveness; she believes the public effective treatment techniques

She

also has written

more

books about their

should not have to wait to hear about more

due simply

to the medical establishment's reluc-

tance to acknowledge newer ways that have repeatedly proven beneficial. She presently

lives, practices, researches,

and

writes in Arizona.

Wes Sime, Ph.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Exercise Therapy:

17

WHAT

Working Out the Problem

IS EXERCISE

THERAPY?

Exercise therapy (also called walk/ talk therapy)

program of exercise with

is

the practice of combining a

traditional psychotherapy.

The

exercise

is

carried out

within the session, under the guidance of the therapist. In addition to the weekly

walk/ talk therapy sessions, the client

gram of daily

exercise which, ideally,

is

encouraged to establish a regular pro-

would continue long

after the

therapy has

concluded.

Adding

exercise to psychotherapy can be beneficial for people suffering

from a wide variety of mental health

issues

include depression, anxiety, addictions,

good

for overall health

and

and interpersonal problems. These

irritability,

and confusion.

It is

also

for self-actualization.

Exercise therapy can be

combined

successfully with a

number of other

traditional, mainstream therapies, as well as nontraditional health care proce-

dures. This

is

particularly true of healing arts that

might help with physical

recovery from the traumatic aspects of exercise, help people get in touch with

bodily reactions to outside influences or recognize subtle changes in body position and alignment. cise is

It is

advisable to use caution

when combining

exer-

therapy with methods that dramatically alter biochemistry of the body;

possible that dietary or pharmaceutical interventions

blood sugar effects.

levels in

such a manner

as to

may

compromise or

it

influence the

intensify exercise

Whole Hind

The

242

It

should be emphasized that walking

exercise during psychotherapy, sible safe

method. Jogging

is

but

it is

is

most convenient and

the

effective, as

not the only effective method of

long as the pace

allow comfortable conversation. Hiking up mountain aesthetically desirable

and biking

is

tion detracts

HOW

IT

is

readily acces-

slow enough to

trails is

perhaps more

and physically stimulating than walking on

certainly feasible,

though somewhat dangerous

if

flat

ground,

the conversa-

from attention to the path or roadway.

BEGAN

Since the time of Hypocrites (460-377 B.C.), exercise has been viewed as a pri-

mary component of the "healing power of nature." Throughout

history,

many

other medical philosophers have declared the virtues of exercise without necessarily offering a rational scientific it

explanation about the mechanism by which

works. In the

last

half century, technological advancements in labor-saving conve-

niences have reduced the need for physical exercise in daily living. Motorized transportation has virtually eliminated walking or bicycling to work. in factories

and industry have become

previously had been a physically

demanding

Most

tasks

semi-automated, so that what

at least

task,

such

as lifting or

pushing,

now is accomplished by some hoist, lift, or other powered device. The first recorded sessions of exercise (walk/ talk) therapy were conducted in the middle of this century by Thaddeus Kostrubula, a psychiatrist who practiced in San Diego, California. He took many of his patients walking on the beach and eventually wrote the book The Joy of Running (197 6) Kostrubula .

firmly believed that the cathartic ("getting

it

off your chest") effects of physical

exertion carry over into psychological catharsis. as a trained clinician,

care professionals have taken to in particular has written

scribe exercise for depression

The modern

the

only logical that he,

it

came

recommending

Many

other health

exercise for their clients, but

and anxiety (Johnsgaard,

history of exercise therapy

clinical credentials to treat

combined walk/ talk

forth.

about the objective procedures needed to pre-

careers of Kostrubula, Johnsgaard,

have

felt it

should be on the scene to effectively process the rich

source of emotionally-charged material as

one

He

therapy.

is

defined by the professional

and Sime. There

mental health

1989).

issues

are very

few others

and who opt

to

who

conduct

243

Exercise Therapy

HOW

IT

WORKS

Johnsgaard (1989) reports that during exercise, his clients loosen up, become inhibited, less self-conscious,

less

and experience. He

ings

more

and more

says they tend to

inclined to talk about their

more

walking, clients are

their anger

As

and defer

a therapist,

I

tic (aids in

tend to repress

and concerns of others.

down

barriers

and encourages people

it all

out")

when

it is

to

engage in

highly therapeutic and cathar-

the issues are complicated or entangled.

client

and the

therapist to be alert

and

cre-

problem-solving process. In addition, the constantly changing

scenery seems to be refreshing for most clients. There action

who

find that brisk activity (such as walking side-by-side with

Walking helps stimulate both the ative in the

touch with their anger and their need

of conversation. In addition,

"getting

feel-

become more energized and seem

extremely helpful for those

to the needs

the client) helps to break difficult topics

is

touch with their immediate

needs and feelings. At a brisk pace of

likely to get in

which

to assert themselves,

own

in

when both

client

and

is

less face-to-face inter-

therapist are walking. This allows the therapist to

pose difficult questions or confrontive interpretations without inadvertently putting added pressure on the client due to direct eye contact, which might

seem

to call for an

immediate

reply. Similarly, if the client

is

having difficulty

formulating a response, gazing at the scenery or focusing on walking seems to help create an informal atmosphere that allows

more spontaneous

responses.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Numerous al

exercise

scientific studies

and

positive

have documented the association between habitu-

mood and affect

(Steptoe et

1992; Byrne and Byrne, 1993; Daniels

accustomed

etc.),

report that they feel better

when

ence mild withdrawal symptoms

if

games

is

al.,

on the

job, or to moderately

(basketball, racquet ball, jogging,

they stop due to injury or (at least

if

they

fail

to

once every two or three days)

1994; Weyerer, 1992). Part of the benefit associated with exercise

an increase in self-esteem (McAuley

self

Owen,

they exercise. In most cases, they experi-

maintain a regular schedule of exercise (Rajala et

1993; Berger and

1992). Groups of individuals

et al.,

to a regular routine of physical labor

intense leisure exercise or competitive

al.,

comes through accomplishment

or fitness (Fisher and

Thompson,

et al.,

1991). Feeling good about one's

as well as

1994).

through a change in body tone

Whole

The

244

There

many

are

possible reasons

why

Mind

exercise benefits mental health.

The

the so-called thermogenic theory, which states that the increased metab-

first is

olism associated with exercise generates body heat and perspiration, which, in turn, causes biochemical changes in the

vation (DeVries et to

al.,

to exercise has

hyperventilate or benefit

from an

The people

stability as

1987). Another theory

some

that are associated with

an outcome of exercise training

potential benefit. Individuals

who

who

have other breathing problems (Fried, 1990) seem to

exercise

program.

improves the quality of sleep (Bliwise

may

it

program of exercise helps

et al.,

1992), and minimizes

To

a certain

be that the distraction of enjoyable movement or the mild

comfort of physical labor keeps one's mind off other problems (Roth 1990). Note here associated with

that the

mood

There are two

due

have a tendency to

the immediate impact of stress and the frustration of daily living. extent,

shown

that the increase in respiration

is

physical fatigue associated with an extended

relax,

mood ele-

1968). Both heat and cold tolerance have been

al.,

improve with enhanced emotion

(Dienstbier et

body

enjoyment of music, movement, and dancing

dis-

et al.,

also

is

elevation.

specific

biochemical changes associated with

mood and exer-

Endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, are released during any form

cise.

of mild, moderate, or severe trauma (such This includes exercise, which necessarily

and other that the fort,

soft tissues

body

and

this

as injury, childbirth, or surgery.)

elicits

very small tears in the muscle

surrounding joints that are under physical load.

releases

seems

It

endorphins to accommodate the muscle/joint discom-

simultaneously causes

and Rasmussen, 1991). Secondly,

mood

elevation in

most people (Lobstein

several other chemicals (serotonin,

dopa-

mine, and norepinephrine) that are essential in normal nerve communication

and sensory awareness (touch,

on

sleep quality

pressure,

motion) also have a positive influence

and duration (Dey, Singh, and Dey, 1992).

noted that the interaction of the physical sion reduction,

and biochemical

effects

faction of saving It

should be

anesthesia), together with a feeling of loss

and

a

fit,

accom-

trim body, are

(Some people might experience the added

money on commuting by walking

to work, or

on

satis-

errands).

appears that aerobic (running, swimming) and anaerobic exercise (weight

lifting, fits

also

of exercise (thermogenic, ten-

plishment and a sense of well-being about weight a part of the positive effects.

It

strength training) are equally effective for achieving mental health bene-

(Johnston et

al.,

1993; Folkins and Sime, 1981; Norvell and Belles, 1993).

245

Exercise Therapy

Regarding the dosage required (frequency, appear that there

is

a direct relationship

the mental health benefits

some

(Hobson and

intensity, duration),

does not

it

between the amount of exercise and

Rejeski, 1993). In fact,

studies that high-intensity aerobic activity

achieve mental health benefits (Blumenthal et

is

al.,

it

appears from

not absolutely required to 1991). However, there

is

recent evidence showing that regular exercisers (six days/week for forty-five

minutes of moderately intense

who

of exercise

are deprived

arbitrarily

withdrawal symptoms (muscle tremor, sleep disturbance, anx-

suffer substantial iety,

activity)

depression, fatigue and confusion) after just twenty-four to forty-eight

hours (Mondin

et al., 1996).

These symptoms subside quickly upon return to

regular exercise.

REAL PEOPLE AND EXERCISE

Don was 30

years old

depression.

He had

and unemployed when he came

for therapy

due

to

compounded

his

depressive symptoms. His financial problems were such that he had

no

a history of marijuana usage that

form of transportation to use

work was

in looking for

and

to satisfy his basic needs

His psychiatrist insisted on counseling, scribed for depression

present

among

work and

find

and

for a

work. His only motivation for

that of his recreational in addition to the

Don

to reduce or stop the

still

had

a transportation

a

neighbor

problem and

work

obliged to walk the distance.

would be good

for

days.

He

him

a distant family

lived

who would drop him

errands on most of his

is

often

verbalized his sincere intent to

department of a company owned by

He found

also

marijuana use, but he was very

discouraged about his prospects. Circumstance brought parts

habit.

medications pre-

mild form of anxiety, which

depressed patients.

drug

about off

There was no

member. He

five miles

on the way ride

a job in the

from work. to

do other

home, so

Don was

agreed with the therapist that walking

him, but he also resisted

initially,

thinking that

it

would

be distasteful, boring, and would make him sweat, something he hated. After the

first

few days of work and walking home, the

client sheepishly

revealed in the counseling session that he rather enjoyed being outside

by

Whole Mind

The

246

himself.

He had discovered a quiet route by a railroad track and

that he definitely enjoyed the

The unexpected na diminished the walk

benefit

also, as

walk and

was that

Don

his

he found

shower upon arriving home.

found that

his urge to use marijua-

he was more relaxed and content upon completing

home from work.

Later he was able to

buy

a bicycle, so he

was

not dependent on the neighbor for his ride to work in the morning. Don's experience was not a complete success, since he did fluctuate in his discipline to maintain the exercise habit na.

and

his abstinence

from the marijua-

His strongest motivation to continue or to renew the practice was the

absence of his depression symptoms.

Amy is a 53-year-old female client who suffers from severe anxiety attacks and mild depression. She distasteful

childhood

as

is

married with no children, and had a

fairly

her father was an alcoholic and her mother con-

when Amy was an adolescent. She had to care for who lost her voice and her physical attractiveness rapidly with

tracted throat cancer

her mother,

and her

the progression of the cancer. Both of her parents died very early,

marriage was a mess. Her blood pressure was elevated, which

I

treated

with relaxation, biofeedback, and counseling for several months with only

modest

good

success.

Her job was with

The

client preferred the counseling sessions

and showed

progress in facing her marital situation.

whom

the single

most

element in her

life.

Her

boss,

she had had an affair in previous years, was something of a

father figure to her.

She was in awe of him, partly because she could gain

his considerable recognition

exceptionally well. issues

satisfying

Her

life

by performing her executive

was not

fulfilling

and her

secretarial duties

ability to

confront

was extremely limited. She had a dependent personality style.

Upon

the discovery that this client loved the outdoors and loved to walk, offered this

however, that the walk/talk therapy would continue only as long as

was willing to remain open to confronting

and her childhood ally well. It

I

mode of interaction as part of our therapy sessions. We agreed,

issues

became quite

of abuse, neglect,

common

Amy

issues related to her lifestyle

etc.

She responded exception-

for her to lash out at

me with

a line of

247

Exercise Therapy

words

colorful swear

as she

interpretations. This

responded to

grew into

my provocative questions

and

wonderful banter of teasing remarks,

a

followed by her swearing at me. But in the midst of the swearing she

began to acknowledge that those

and that

deal

it

issues did, in fact, bother her a great

was permissible for her to vent her anger

at the father fig-

ure through me. In essence, the walk/talk therapy opened

new dimen-

sions to therapy than those available in the stifling confines of a clinical office

with dead

away about four in with

me and

air

and no change

years ago, but returns

cramped

in scenery. This client

moved

once or twice each year to check

she insists that our sessions be active.

WHAT TO EXPECT Most

clients

who

under the age of 40

have not had prior medical complica-

tions (neurological disorder, orthopedic limitations, back injury, endocrine

disorder such as diabetes, or heart attack symptoms) can usually

make

sion for themselves that a moderately intense, gradually increasing exercise

is

safe for

them. In general,

if you

walking while shopping, climbing

have a typical

stairs as

the deci-

program of

lifestyle that

includes

needed and conducting routine

without compromise, then you can probably assume that the

leisure activities

walk/talk therapy, together with a well-designed personal exercise program, safe.

On the other hand,

if you are

symptoms of compromised

cardiovascular functioning (shortness of breath,

slight chest pain, fatigue, etc.),

it is

perhaps have an exercise tolerance

Your

exercise plan

effective in providing

important than weight

lifters

who

line lar

is

test.

in order to

mental health benefits. Enjoyment of the activity

While "no

and marathon runners,

ously sedentary person and, in als

very important to see a physician and

need not be overly ambitious or vigorous

intensity.

fact, it

pain, it is

is

is

be

more

no gain" may be the theme

for

not essential for the average, previ-

could be detrimental for some individu-

seek physical and emotional relief from their symptoms.

that every person

is

over 50 years old and have experienced any

The bottom

unique and the response he or she has to a particu-

bout of exertion should be evaluated in order to adjust the next bout of

exercise.

To be

specific, if you

hope

to jog as

your friends and neighbors do,

Whole

The

248

Mind

but you can't seem to continue running for more than a couple of minutes

without stopping to until

something

is

rest

—

that's okay.

The

idea

to

is

run

as slowly as possible

uncomfortable (shortness of breath or your

legs hurt),

walk until you are bored or eager to get going. Then run again and

you may be able This

is

to tolerate a longer

time

bout of exercise before needing to

rest.

the natural process of working

makes your

legs sore

and

stiff,

or

if

up

you

to a fast pace of running. If exercise

are persistently fatigued the

your exercise session, then you have probably overdone

back a

little

tional

symptom

in the next session. relief,

or the type of activity If you

By

then

this

contrast, if you

it

is

after

ease

do not experience any emo-

then perhaps the intensity and duration

you have chosen

day

and you should

is

insufficient

simply not appropriate for you.

go to see an exercise therapist, he or she

will likely ask

about your

previous experiences with exercise, and about the history of the emotional issues that

you want

to

work

on.

I

have developed the following questionnaire that

can be used to help you think about your

own

history with exercise.

Lifestyle Survey of Past and Present Activity Patterns

What memories do you

have about playing games outdoors

you play vigorous and prolonged games involving running able, satisfying, or fun? If so,

do you ever seek

as a child?

that were enjoy-

to relive those experiences in

some way

that reproduces the sensation of the fun

ment and

activity?

and some of the move-

what kinds of competitive games or

In your adolescent years,

Did

recreational

activities

did you participate in on a regular basis? Were these vigorous

games or

leisure activities that required

so,

do you ever wish

ational value that

part? If

to relive those experiences for the competitive or recre-

you enjoyed

What

kind of physical activity

days?

Do you walk your

and

some endurance on your

at the time?

is

a part of your regular habit pattern these

work on

the lawn

go on walks or bike

rides, or

dog, play games with children,

in the garden, play recreational games,

swim?

Does your current employment require any type of vigorous physical activity?

In your past

work

history,

what kinds of jobs required

fairly

heavy amounts

249

Exercise Therapy

of physical work

(lifting, carrying,

sweeping,

Were

etc.)?

ing in ways other than monetary compensation

(i.e.,

these jobs reward-

did you

feel a sense

of satisfaction upon completion of a job well done, or did you appreciate the sense of relief and well-being associated with the end of a hard day)? If so,

do you ever long

and

some

to again experience

aspect of the hard-work ethic

feeling of accomplishment?

Are there

alternative

or train part

ways

commute

to

way and walk some

to

your job

distance; can

(i.e.,

you

drive part

on parking by walking the additional

distance; can

someone and then walk or

home on some

would you be

willing to

ride a bike

make some accommodations

exercise

program into your regular

Do

recall

you

"get to

any positive experiences

can you take a bus

way and

you get

save

a ride with

occasions)? If so,

in order to build

an

work" time?

(pleasure, joy, satisfaction, reward,

energy) with walking, jogging, running, biking, swimming, stair climbing, etc. that

would influence you

to establish or

renew a pattern of exercise

that includes those activities?

Do you ty,

recall

any very negative experiences

(fatigue, discomfort, irritabili-

would

aggravation, bad feelings about sweat/perspiration, etc.) that

make

it

hard for you to

Does your spouse

some kind of regular

start

exercise

program?

participate in exercise programs, or does he or she

encourage you to exercise?

Would your

spouse be willing to help you find

opportunities for exercise and resulting rewards?

Do you have a friend with whom you would enjoy participating in an activity (besides fishing) that requires If so,

would you be

some vigorous, perhaps

willing to get

him

friendly competition?

or her to participate with you on a

regular basis?

The

course of exertional talk therapy might be as short as one or two

(for a highly receptive

and low-risk

over six to eight weekly

visits to

client), or

work up

of exercise to produce the desired

it

visits

might take a regular program

to a sufficient duration

and

intensity

effects.

Risks and Pitfalls

There

is

a strong tendency for

This can cause

many people

strain, pain, or injury

and

to overdo therapeutic exercise.

will

not be productive,

as

they

Whole Mind

The

250

will

not

the benefits outweigh the costs in terms of effort, time

feel that

expenditure, respiratory discomfort, sore feet and muscles, joint pain,

People

who

have been very sedentary for a long time, or

who

etc.

have medical

complications (heart, lung, gastrointestinal problems), should be seen by a It is

also

impor-

tant to recognize individual differences in motivation, ability,

and

restric-

physician before beginning a graduated exercise program.

tions. Clients

will

who

have orthopedic limitations, back pain,

have to adjust the intensity of their

activity. Failure to

arthritis, etc.

attend to this

concern will eventually result in poor follow-through when they are on

own.

their It is

important for most

activity,

some of which must be

resistant client will ity

clients to alternate

may

find

be in better shape to

such

it

enjoyable. For example, even the

acceptable to walk or jog

ski,

dance, or compete in

external factors

might

plan. If your spouse hates exercise or care, sustaining a

a pact with yourself agreeing that

you have performed your Plan for the

first

Using a log

that they

to

with a continuing exercise

unwilling to cooperate with child difficult.

to solidify habits. For example, sign

you

will

not eat dinner or watch

TV until

daily dosage of exercise.

difficult periods

in the

way of your

document

to include

your

of job pressure and family conditions

regular enjoyable pattern of exercise.

benefits versus costs of exercising can be helpful.

mood and

changes in

other more obvious benefits (weight

work

means

recreational activ-

bout of laziness, and report to a partner or use a log to

prompt you during might get

is

interfere

long-term exercise plan will be

Use daily behavioral reinforcements

Be sure

if it

some

most

as basketball.

Be aware of how

that

between two or more kinds of

patterns). This will help

loss,

life

circumstances along with

more productive and

you maintain

efficient

a rigorous pattern of exercise

over the long term.

HOW TO If you

FIND A PRACTITIONER

have an uncomplicated history (no serious anxieties, depression, or other

mental health problems) and are simply looking to prevent problems and boost

251

Exercise Therapy

general well-being, you

may

YMCA

find appropriate benefits at a local

health club or with a personal trainer. However,

if you are

or

trying to overcome a

mental health problem you will need to work with a professional counselor or psychotherapist.

Although many psychotherapists believe that clients, systematically

exercise

is

conducting exercise during therapy

is

tional counselors. Stuck in a high-rise office building in a area, or

accustomed to the face-to-face

ficult to

suggest an active vigorous therapy session.

to take the initiative to suggest a brisk will

need to find

a

talk format,

walk

sion while walking, climbing

stairs,

some understanding of the physiological modest

It is

therapists find

and

home

acupuncture, creative

why you might want session.

You

engage in a counseling

ses-

of a counseling

It is

essential that the therapist

intensity)

even

if you are also

using a personal

exercise sessions.

It

might be desirable to include biofeedback, massage, changes, and/or naturopathy, for

arts therapies, dietary

should encourage you to do so in order to amplify the Unfortunately, there are certified as

may have

no

is

competent

in

A

results

state or national directory

good

of individuals

would

specific training

skills in exercise

become

one who appre-

exercise regularly themselves)

same

session.

To

and who

is

my knowledge,

programs that prepare therapists for conducting

exercise therapy. Rather there are

prepare educators to

who

both exercise prescription and counseling. You

willing to engage in walk-talk therapy in the

no

therapist

of the treatment.

to interview several psychotherapists in order to find

ciates exercise (ideally, they

ular

have

principles of exercise prescription

example, in addition to the exertional talk therapy.

levels

dif-

important to recognize your need for additional kinds of therapy in

treating this condition.

there are

it

goals, establishing a progressively increasingly pat-

tern of duration, frequency, trainer to help design

will

is

rare among tradidowntown urban

or whatever the environment will permit

(such as a stationary bicycle in the office.)

(starting slow, using

That

as part

competent counselor who

many

beneficial to their

numerous

fitness leaders

programs that

exercise physiology

and personal

trainers

with excellent

prescription (helping people to maintain safe yet challenging

of exercise over time) and to motivate participants to continue in a reg,

program of exercise. Unfortunately, these individuals

rarely

and they do not routinely engage

health or counseling

skills

along with the

clients.

The American Association

(AAASP) has

a subsection

for

have mental

in the exercise

Applied Sport Psychology

devoted to "Health Psychology."

Many

of the

individuals listed have

some have

some experience

the requisite counseling

ed by the patient. You can

You might

have a

listing

me

call

also contact the

provide walk/ talk therapy

at (402)

472-4305 or (402) 472-1 161

listed in the

AAASP membership

fitness leaders

Their telephone number

effective exercise planning.

if request-

who

for

directo-

American College of Sports Medicine,

of personal trainers and

and

in exercise as a healthy behavior,

skills to

your area

referrals to practitioners in ry.

Whole Mind

The

252

as

they

can provide safe and

(800) 638-6423.

is

HOW TO LEARN MORE Bahrke,

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P.

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49-55. Blumenthal,

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C. Emery; D. Madden;

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"Running and Mixed Physical

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Byrne, A. and D. Byrne. "The Effect of Exercise on Depression, Anxiety and Other

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565-574. Choi,

P.

"The Psychological

Benefits of Physical Exercise: Implications for

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Physical Exercise or Cognitive Behavioral Stress

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Hobson, M.

L.

and W.

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Mondin, G.; W. Morgan;

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Sime

is

both an exercise physiologist and a health psychologist

exercise therapy as sion, addiction,

who

uses

an adjunct to counseling in the treatment of anxiety, depres-

and pain

disorders.

from the University of Pittsburgh

He in

received a Ph.D. in exercise physiology

1975 and a second Ph.D.

in counseling

psychology from the University of Nebraska, 1991. Dr. Sime has authored or edited over 100 publications and

many on field,

exercise therapy for

which uniquely

requires a

psychotherapy. Dr. Sime ging, stationary bicycle,

is

numerous books or book

mental health.

background

He in

a regular exerciser

is

chapters, including

a leading authority in the

both exercise prescription and

who

alternates

rowing machine, and stair-stepper

between jog-

as part

of his health

Whole Mind

The

256

program. In addition, he enjoys skiing, recreational soccer, hiking, and quetball. Part of his

penchant for exercise

as

therapy also

is

based upon the per-

sonal benefits he experiences in relief of muscle pain. Dr.

numerous neck and back flexibility

and

Sime had suffered

finds the exercise necessary to maintain

and strength while blocking the pain.

ingly, that effects

injuries

rac-

He

also says,

somewhat

jok-

he must keep exercising to ward off the devastatingly depressive

of the long winters on the plains of Nebraska.

Patricia

Kaminski

Flower Essence Therapy:

18

WHAT

IS

Integrating

Body and Soul

Wellness

FLOWER ESSENCE THERAPY?

Flower essences are subtle liquid extracts of flowering plants, generally taken in

which

oral form,

are used to address

soul development,

and mind/body

profound

health.

The

of emotional well-being,

issues

flower essences are

made from

moment of flowering. new form of medicine, which is uniquely

fresh flowers collected in pristine habitats at the precise

Solar extraction

methods

create a

capable of addressing very delicate and subtle aspects of the emotions and thoughts of human beings.

They

are used

by a very broad range of professional

health practitioners, as well as for self-care. ly integrated

The

use of flower remedies

with other therapeutic techniques,

as a

is

usual-

support for the holistic

therapeutic process.

Flower essences are different from medicines such

which

ceutical drugs can also be

press

On

harmful

fear,

if

or anxiety. Nearly

all

human

psychopharma-

overused, or can produce unwanted side

the other hand, flower essences

work

as catalysts.

They do not

symptoms; rather they stimulate consciousness by introducing new

mation into the emotional and mental

fields

in a

way

similar to our experience of

sound or

light

we

work

Prozac or Valium,

directly alter brain chemistry in order to control or suppress

emotions; for instance, depression,

effects.

as

perceive something that

operate through the

medium

sup-

infor-

of the individual. Flower essences

music or

art:

moves or

through the vehicle of

inspires us.

The

essences

of water, which holds an extraordinary imprint

257

Whole Mind

The

258

of the color, form, and beauty of the flower in a way that speaks to the feelings

and thoughts of people. Thus, flower essences of the

self,

new

so that

choices can be

reveal rather

made about

potentized energetic medicines, they work in a

life issues.

Because they are

manner which

is

gentle

and

without danger of overdose or long-term dependency.

life-affirming,

Many cases for a

than conceal aspects

have demonstrated the successful application of flower essences

broad range of conditions and ailments including learning disorders, child

abandonment and

abuse, family systems

formance and career goals and depression and

grief,

and personal

relationships,

values, environmental sensitivities

body tension and general

choices, parenting, masculine

and feminine

stress,

nutritional

identities,

work

and

per-

allergies,

and

lifestyle

problems of

artistic

expression, sexuality, coping with terminal illness or chronic disease, psychoso-

matic

involving prior emotional trauma, and overall

illness

immune

response.

Flower essences have also provided broad support for healing from a large

num-

ber of specific diseases and physical dysfunctions.

HOW

IT

BEGAN

Healing with flowers

both ancient and universal. All cultures, including our

is

present-day culture, intuitively sense that flowers express a soul language far

more profound than words. Flowers of joy,

It

was

and commemorations

in

convey one's deepest feelings

or tribute at births, weddings, funerals, and

grief, love,

celebrations

are used to

England

in

human

numerous other

culture.

in the 1930s, however, that Dr.

Edward Bach,

known medical doctor and homeopathic physician, formulated the

first

a wellprecise

system of soul healing based on medicines extracted from the flowering parts of plants. Dr. Bach was an early advocate for the kind of holistic healing that finally receiving

Bach completed

more widespread attention his

undergraduate training

at

in the latter part of

assumed

a post as casualty medical officer for this

in charge of over

400 beds during World War

observed the effects of stress and trauma tial

of his patients.

hold field

all

He

I.

It

same hospital and was

was here that he

clearly

believed that surgery and standard medicine did not

became deeply

of immunology, assuming the role of chief bacteriologist

with saving

He immedi-

in relationship to the recovery poten-

the answers for his patients, and he

Bach went on

our century.

Birmingham University and then

graduated from University College Hospital in London in 1919. ately

is

to develop a

number of bacterial

many thousands of lives when he

interested in the at the hospital.

vaccines that were credited

inoculated war troops during a

259

Flower Essence Therapy

He felt, however, that these vaccines and when he accepted a new post at

virulent influenza epidemic.

crude in composition,

Homeopathic Hospital he developed

to discern

related with each nosode,

the

too

still

London

a series of seven bacterial nosodes (vac-

cines that are homeopathically diluted

Bach was able

were

and document and he began

and potentized). More

significantly,

clear archetypal personality traits cor-

to diagnose

and

treat

according to these

mental and emotional aspects, rather than outer physical symptoms. These

many homeopathic pracand Europe. They are still included in the

nosodes received wide recognition and were used by titioners in

both the United States

standard homeopathic pharmacopoeia.

As Bach became

increasingly sensitized to the emotional

and mental

issues

presented by his patients, he continued to seek remedies that could act with

even greater depth and harmony than the homeopathic nosodes. By 1930, Bach

He

completely abandoned his prominent Harley Street London career.

returned to the countryside of his Welsh ancestry to begin an intensive study

of the native plants that he had esteemed so patients in the small villages of the traveled,

As he

treated

Welsh and English countryside where he

these remedies could benefit the emotional

undermined the health and well-being of his

in 1936,

in his youth.

he developed entirely new remedies from the flowering parts of plants.

He found that

much

Bach had developed

and mental conditions

patients.

By

the time he died

a collection of thirty-eight flower essences.

Since then, other practitioners from around the world have confirmed,

through their

own

observation and research, the unique healing benefits of

flower essence therapy. In

by Richard Katz tional

in

1

979 the Flower Essence Society (FES) was founded

Nevada

City, California as a non-profit

worldwide educa-

and research organization. The Society has investigated and collected

empirical case studies, not only for the original thirty-eight English remedies,

but also for significant

new

essences derived

from medicinal herbs and North

American wildflowers. The society conducts an annual for practitioners

well as a

member

and publishes research newsletter.

work of over 60,000

HOW

IT

in regular editions

The Flower Essence

practitioners,

who

program

of its Repertory,

as

Society has a worldwide net-

serve hundreds of thousands of clients.

WORKS

A model of wellness is now emerging that cannot be regarded

know

certification

as separate,

recognizes that the

but must be seen

as

body and

one interwoven

that emotional responses affect the body. Especially since

reality.

soul

We

World War

II,

Whole

The

260

Hino One

researchers have correlated distinct personality traits with specific diseases.

of the most famous of these studies was conducted by Drs. Meyer Reidman

and Raymond Rosenman, who coined the term "Type

A

behavior" for the

impatient, hostile attitude connected with the greater risk of heart disease.

Since then, numerous studies have pinpointed the decisive role of emotional factors such as anger, grief, depression, or self-esteem cific diseases as

called

well as overall immunity.

on the outcome of spe-

A whole new field of medical research,

psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), has documented important changes

in

emotional and physical wellness by identifying biochemical messengers which transmit emotional responses to and from the glands in the body. Definite scientific links between flower essences and these biochemical mes-

sengers have not yet been established. However,

much

broader picture of the

between feelings and bodily tures that comprise each

address these links, are

human states.

human

on a whole, PNI confirms

being, involving the

As we

a

complex interactions

identify the larger energetic struc-

being, medicines like flower essences,

which

becoming more prominent.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS The Flower Essence

Society has conducted research for the past two decades.

This research consists of case studies collected from professional practitioners

who

are involved in

other practitioners

its

certification training

who

program,

as well as

hundreds of

regularly report significant cases or overall trends

The society has also worked closely with who have now administered flower essences

involving flower essence therapy.

approximately

fifty practitioners

to clients for a

number of years. These

practitioners have been able to provide

comprehensive information about flower essence therapy extending beyond the immediate cause-and-effect

phenomena

may occur

within the

first

several weeks. Instead, these practitioners are able to assess the results over

time

that

periods ranging from one to three years, during which the essences are used at various intervals to assist with unfolding

life

challenges. This research identifies

seven major areas of change that flower essences appear to currently or sequentially, regardless of the initial the client. These "meta-levels" of change include:

responses to typical issues al

life

facilitate, either

symptoms 1)

or dysfunctions of

greater range of emotional

challenges; 2) ability to see relationships between

and emotions, along with the

well-being; 3) ability to take risks

con-

ability to achieve a greater sense

body

of person-

and make changes that previously seemed

261

Flower Essence Therapy

out of reach to the individual; 4) ability to identify and create meaningful work or other contributions to one's family and community; 5) increased sensitivity

and inner awareness, including dream expression, and awareness of nature;

well as various forms of artistic

recall, as

6) ability to take responsibility for one's

including the ability to forgive, as well as to

life,

to others;

new

and

make amends

of spiritual and moral

7) increased awareness

for

harm caused

issues,

including

or renewed choices of religious expression or spiritual discovery.

In addition to identifying these major benefits of flower essence therapy, the Flower Essence Society has also analyzed the case ter

understand the therapeutic process.

The

phenomena

preliminary results

itself to bet-

show

that there

are four basic stages that can be associated with flower essence therapy.

Release or relaxation. If the

remedy

is

well chosen, the initial experience

usually a sense of well-being or relaxation.

improve, sometimes dramatically. depressed person might

At

feel

more

A

The more obvious symptoms

tense stomach begins to relax.

cheerful. Insomniacs

times, the sensations of release or letting go

— some release

individuals

such

may need more

and

benefits.

may

may

also the area

sleep better.

be more pronounced

sleep, or there

may be emotional

is

the most pivotal in flower essence ther-

which distinguishes

its

truly

unique and important

Flower essences are not intended simply for symptom

although they

may

much

As they

deeper.

A

crying or laughter.

as

Recognition or insight. This stage apy,

is

provide

initial clearing

relief,

and

or calming, their true action

are used, the connection

is

between the bodily dys-

function and underlying emotions or attitudes becomes clearer. For example,

one may become more aware of tension held

also begin to identify

might now be seen

when

the emotional triggers occur.

as a failure to clear

the day, rather than as an isolated

neous or they

may

in the stomach, but

A sleep problem

something that happened

symptom. These

now

insights

earlier in

may be

sponta-

gradually emerge over a longer period of time.

Professional counselors,

who

are also using other modalities to assist the

mental and emotional developmental process, report that the flower essences

make

a definite

and

distinct

impact on the therapy, providing

deeper and quicker cognitive connections in the mind-body process. Resolution or reconciliation.

Once

insights have

tional factors that are causing dysfunction,

emerged about the emo-

it is still

necessary to bring the

Whole Mino

The

262

conflicting parts of the self to resolution. Flower essences initiate a ic

dynam-

process within the individual that can best be described as an integration

ofopposites.

This characteristic distinguishes flower essence therapy from

the other two major streams of medicine: allopathy, which

Law of Contraries, and

homeopathy, which

is

based on the

is

based on the

Law of Similars.

Allopathic medicine, by far the predominant form of medicine in contem-

porary culture, treats symptoms by introducing an opposite, such decongestant to unclog mucus membranes.

On

the other hand,

as a

homeo-

pathic medicine uses potentized substances that parallel as closely as possible the presenting

form

its

own

symptoms, thereby stimulating the immune system

response to the

to

Flower essence therapy most closely

illness.

follows the paradigm established by Carl Jung in Jungian archetypal psychology. This approach to healing involves the

ingly opposite tendencies in the

shadow of disowned

parts of the

self,

dynamic resolution of seem-

and the integration of the

so-called

self.

This third, in-depth stage of flower essence therapy usually requires a

commitment

to inner work, either through a

or with the help of a trained counselor

if

the problem

Because the flower essences do not operate

duce a new

program of self-development is

like drugs,

deeply established.

which simply

behavior by altering brain chemistry, the change

ulated by the flower essences

must

also

intro-

initially

be met by conscious inner work for

the results to be in-depth and enduring. For example, an individual has a history of ulcers or other digestive upsets causal links

sion about her job is

may

to realize she

is

invested in seeing herself as a good, "nice," or

herself

is

enters the

holding a great deal of anger and ten-

and working conditions. However,

angry part of herself is disowned

who

begin to identify the

— her stomach knots up whenever her employer

room, and she begins

stim-

deeper

level,

she

compliant person —

the

at a

or repressed. Yet this

shadow aspect of

not necessarily "bad"; instead, such an individual will need to

find a

way

tively.

In the healing process facilitated by flower essence therapy, such an

to express anger or other dissatisfactions appropriately

and

posi-

individual will not simply return to being a "nice" person; instead, a devel-

opmental process of continuing depth and authenticity

The

will

be fostered.

appropriate flower essences will help to stabilize and maintain this

developmental cycle until the individual has achieved true change. Again, this

method of healing

differs greatly

from psychiatric drugs, which

are

263

Flower Essence Therapy

often habit-forming and

from

tional behavior

Regeneration of the

must be taken

indefinitely to prevent dysfunc-

recurring.

self.

personality problems or modifying behavior. self.

When

ally

introduces

individual

taken to

new

who

its

is

not simply about fixing

It is

about transforming the

Flower essence therapy

ultimate conclusion, this therapeutic process actu-

potentials

and

creative possibilities. For example, an

has learned to recognize and transform previously repressed

anger will often discover

new sources of energy or

An

creativity that

had

previ-

who comes to terms with her repressed anger at the workplace may now learn how to communicate more effectively and authentically. But ultimately such an individual may see that a completely new career or job situation is possible, one much ously been blocked or dormant.

more pists

individual

suited to her newly forming personality.

who

are

now

new

life

thera-

tracking clients in the later stages of their therapy have

consistently noted major biographical changes

ing

Those flower essence

—

partners, changing careers, finding

leaving marriages or find-

new

places to live, or

mak-

ing other significant lifestyle changes.

Additional research on flower remedies has tended to focus primarily on stage in

one changes.

Nevada

City,

Jeffrey

CA,

Cram

(unpublished) of The Sierra Health Institute

reports that with Five Flower

nation remedy for stress and trauma), people

timed math

test

or a loud noise recovered

Formula

who were

(a special

combi-

facing the stress of a

more quickly

(as

measured with

biofeedback of galvanic skin response) than did people receiving a placebo. In

Germany, Gudrun Riihle (1994) examined twenty-four birth.

Those taking flower essences had

medication

Many

when

better coping styles

and required

less

labor started.

other research projects involving standard test measurements or

placebo controls are

now in various

stages

of progress, both in the United States

and abroad. As flower essence therapy becomes more funding

women overdue to give

will

be allocated for "hard"

visible

scientific research that

and

credible,

more

can be added to the

foundation of empirical research collected and analyzed by the Flower Essence Society.

Whole Mind

The

264

REAL PEOPLE AND FLOWER ESSENCE THERAPY

Bleeding Heart

An

8-year-old

girl

suddenly developed acute stomach pains

A gastrointestinal expert conducted a full bat-

and

diarrhea.

tery

of tests and could find nothing wrong with the

Finally,

her parents took her to a family counselor

child.

who

also

used flower essences. In the opening diagnostic session, the

drew

child

a large picture of a heart that

was broken. The counselor used

bleeding heart to help her address what was sensed as a deep source of grief

within the child.

The young girl began

mate who had been her symptoms. affected

killed

Her family had no

by the death of her

ing heart, the child's

to share her sense of loss for a play-

suddenly several months prior to the onset of

friend.

idea that she had been so profoundly

Within

several days

of taking the bleed-

symptoms were drastically reduced and within

several

weeks, they completely disappeared and never returned again.

Impatiens, Zinnia, and Borage

A 58-year-old executive salesman contended with a great deal of stress in his daily lifestyle.

He was

diagnosed by his physician as having chronic high blood pressure

him

and to

in the early stages

make

reduction in his daily

grams

made

lifestyle.

for reducing stress little

of coronary heart

nutritional changes,

progress.

end of the day

He

disease.

The doctor

asked

and to incorporate exercise and stress

Despite enrolling in two different pro-

and learning relaxation techniques, the man

still

found himself anxious and

irritable at the

A flower essence therapist recommended a combination

of impatiens, zinnia, and borage. using these remedies

— he

felt

The man

noticed an immediate effect

more calm and

centered.

The

relaxation

techniques that he had previously attempted seemed easier to incorporate.

He

noticed

many

situations at

home and

in the family that

were

265

Flower Essence Therapy

changing due to for his regular

of greater ease and self-control.

his feeling

checkup

six

weeks

later,

the physician was

When

he went

amazed

to dis-

cover that his blood pressure had dropped significantly and he wanted to

know what had changed

for his patient.

Mimulus

A woman

in her seventies

had gradually become a shut-in

following the death of her husband. She was afraid to do

household errands or go out alone, despite the

was physically capable of doing valid driver's license, she

drive

she

and was

became hypersensitive

become

afraid that her

to

many

noises in her house

became

to

grew more pronounced,

fear

house would be broken

she began to sleep very restlessly and

Although she had a

had depended on her husband

As her

reluctant to use her car.

so.

fact that she

into.

Due

and began

to

to these fears,

and

increasingly fretful

agi-

A flower essence counselor prescribed the single remedy of mimu-

tated.

No clear changes were noted until about the third week of use. The woman then reported that she felt calmer and was getting more sleep at lus.

night.

A week later she

remarked to her daughter,

acting like a frightful child,

weeks life. I

later,

can't

many social

California

time for

pretend I'm dead just because

incremental changes in her ing

it's

me

she reported to her counselor,

lifestyle,

invitations that she

to

"It's

"I certainly

make some time for

my husband

me

is."

have been

Two

changes/'

to get another

She made many

learning to drive her car and accept-

had previously declined.

Wild Rose This flower essence was used for a 16-year-old young

woman who had become moody, colors,

and grew emotionally

began to dress

distant

from her

in

dark

family.

Her

grades suddenly plunged from above average to barely passing. In a

"bored" with

life

and

counseling session, the young

didn't feel

had recently parted with

much

a boyfriend

interest or

and had

part in a school play that she had wanted.

hope

also

girl stated

she

for her future.

felt

She

not been chosen for a

Her mother noticed

a change

Whole Mind

The

266

within two weeks of taking the California wild

rose.

She was more

will-

ing to talk about her feelings of pain and rejection, and she found a

Within

friend at school.

more

cheerful

several

and her grades

new

months, her disposition was brighter and

at school

had returned

to their

normal

level.

Star of Bethlehem

A

young woman

and robbed

attacked, raped,

had been

in her twenties at

gun

point. She

violently

had received

counseling for these incidents and seemed to be in recovery. Six

months

later,

along with food

she developed a severe eating disorder

allergies.

Despite nutritional and psy-

chotherapeutic counseling, she continued to lose weight, and showed other signs of depression.

She was given

star

of Bethlehem to address the shock

and trauma of her violent attack. Through the use of the essence, she began to relive the original incident, but feelings

of rage,

grief,

now she acknowledged the tremendous

and shame she

felt

about her attack. As she worked

through and resolved these emotions, her eating disorder also subsided. Tiger

Lily,

Mariposa

Lily,

Alpine Lily

A woman who

I*

^

forty

went

cological

had

just

turned

for her regular gyne-

check-up.

She

was

diagnosed with severe cervical dysplasia

by

tissue biopsies

sue.

from

five different areas

all

III),

confirmed

of the cervical and vaginal

Her physician recommended immediate

removing

(CIN

tis-

surgical intervention,

of the affected tissue in the cervix and vagina, through a

process called conization. This required hospitalization, general anesthesia,

and a two-month recovery period. In

his opinion, she

was

for cancer without these measures. Because this condition

so suddenly without

any prior

history, the

woman

at

high risk

had developed

sought psychothera-

peutic counseling and nutritional counseling. She modified her diet to

exclude foods that were irritating or difficult to digest. suggested a trio of lily remedies including tiger

lily,

Her counselor

mariposa

lily,

and

267

Flower Essence Therapy

alpine

lily

to address her feminine identity

and

its

connection with her

woman did deep

gynecological issues. During the next several months, the

emotional work around her sense of grief about never having a child; she also realized she

her

own

and

daily

had many ambivalent

feelings

about motherhood due to

traumatized relationship with her mother. Her dream journal life

journal,

and

sessions with her counselor, revealed

merged emotional material that was now being revealed period of six months, the

woman

to her. After a

returned to her gynecologist for anoth-

er evaluation, intending to allow surgery if her cell tissue

was

new

tests

cervical dysplasia, even in

mild form. Her

and have remained normal

for five years.

still

dis-

—

to the

showed absolutely no

areas of

turbed. Tissue biopsies were taken of the original sites

astonishment of her doctor, the

much sub-

tests

were completely normal

Holly

A young boy of nine years of age was diagnosed as hyperactive.

His parents sought help from a holistic doctor

also uses flower essences. In a diagnostic

al

boy,

no

were

identified.

work-up

significant nutritional or physiological

However, the child showed

clear

who

for the

problems emotion-

problems. His behavior was on edge; he was always irritated or hostile

in his response to others.

He seemed

unable to be a part of his family sys-

tem, or to receive warmth and affection from others.

The single remedy

of holly was chosen. The parents reported amazement their son.

They commented

to their doctor,

"We

can't

at the

changes in

thank you enough,

whatever was in those drops has been so transforming to his personality; he's reintegrated

himself into the warmth of our family."

Elm

A middle-aged man visited his chiropractic/naturopathic doctor, presenting

symptoms of severe, deep pain

shoulder joint. All typical protocols and in evaluating this

tests

in his left

were followed

man's condition. After six visits for chiro-

practic adjustments

and

soft tissue therapy, the

agonizing

The

268

pain continued unabated.

Whole Mind

The doctor concluded that the cause of the pain

was not of physical origin

and prescribed elm flower

days, the patient reported that his pain

essence. After eight

was completely gone. During

time, he gained the insight that his discomfort

came from

his

this

overwhelm-

ing sense of responsibility and burden, which had manifested as a psychic

"weight"

on

his left shoulder.

With

the help of the

elm flower

essence, this

man made a permanent shift in his inner attitude about his life and work. The intense pain he felt in his left shoulder has never returned.

WHAT TO EXPECT The key

to successful use of flower essences

remedies.

An

—

helpful

work by

is

the ability to select appropriate

inappropriate remedy will not be harmful, but neither will

it

be

simply will not register a significant response. Flower essences

it

means

a principle called resonance. This

that the character of the rem-

edy must match a similar pattern within an individual in order to evoke a heal-

Not

ing response.

might be

all

remedies work in the same

five different

senting symptoms.

The

remedies for practitioner

way on

five different

must

different people.

There

people with the same pre-

identify the patterns of emotional

dysfunction that are unique to the person. This involves looking beyond the

on

surface,

a

number of

different levels,

and making an assessment of the

unique emotional picture of the individual. Most people can perceive and describe physical aches

and pains without

difficulty,

but in our culture,

we tend

not to fully develop our ability to identify and describe emotional or mental imbalances. Models of psychotherapy are helpful in looking at and conceptualizing these aspects of

gained a

much

human

life.

In the last forty years, psychologists have

deeper understanding of the dynamics of the

human

soul.

For

example, clinical research has substantiated that core beliefs from childhood significantly

impact adult

internalizing gender roles

life.

and

Much

is

now known,

cultural expectations,

too, about the process of

and how the

stress

of mod-

ern living and technological culture affects our general well-being.

For

this reason,

when

first

using flower essences, most individuals find

it

useful to visit a psychotherapist skilled in diagnosing personality dynamics.

Some

therapists specialize exclusively in flower essences, although

porate

them within

most incor-

a range of options offered to the client. Flower

remedy

Flower Essence Therapy

269

portraits involve the interweaving effective practitioner

ships.

is

of both the mind and the body; therefore an

one who has developed the

This has more to do with the practitioner's

ability to see these relation-

skill in

observing and asking

questions than any particular healing modality; flower essences are successfully

used by a broad range of practitioners including medical doctors and nurses, psychotherapists and other counselors, energetic practitioners such as acupuncturists

and homeopaths,

art therapists, teachers, nutritionists,

As with any healing modality,

practitioners

according to their actual qualifications, ers use

in determining the correct remedies.

and experience. Some

skills,

pendulums, applied kinesiology

and body workers.

must be objectively

testing, questionnaires,

These methods can be

assessed

practition-

and other

aids

helpful, but they

cannot substitute for the essential knowledge of the practitioner, since the infor-

mation gained through these methods tioner's

own

beliefs

and

is

modified and colored by the practi-

insights.

Flower remedies are used quite safely and successfully by basic

home

care.

When

the remedies are used for self-care,

do extensive reading about the remedies and is

indicated.

else,

It is

many families it is

helpful to discuss the presenting concerns with

helpful to keep a journal while taking the remedies, in order to ly capture the process initiated

there are

one

which each

somebody

It is

more

also very

accurate-

by the flower essences. Most people find that need over a period of time,

to three archetypal remedies that they

or during various intervals, as similar to the

important to

to study the issues for

perhaps a trusted friend, in order to get past any blind spots.

new

challenges or destiny issues emerge. This

dren. Because the essences safe at all ages.

With

do not produce physical

as a result, finding the right

more

straightforward, with results that are

when

treating animals with flower remedies.

flower essences

is

more

remedy

clear cut.

is

relatively

The same

is

true

Although the range of available

about 200 single remedies, there are about one dozen reme-

commonly used

for children

the selection process

much more

chil-

side effects, they are very

children, the issues are usually less established in the psy-

che or conscious belief system;

mals —

is

homeopathic concept of constitutional remedies.

Flower essences have outstanding and even astonishing success with

dies

for

is

and another dozen commonly used

for ani-

simpler because the issues presented are usually

basic.

Flower essences are generally taken orally in liquid form, several drops time, although

some

practitioners apply

them

at a

directly to meridians or other

Whole Mino

The

270

energy points on the body during a therapeutic session.

They can

also

be added

to skin creams or bath water, or put in misting bottles to be sprayed

the

body and the environment. Although

typical

formula involves up to

used several times daily

—

single remedies are quite effective,

combined

flower essences can be skillfully

—

to create synergistic formulas

five or six remedies.

just before

around

and

These "dosage

after sleep,

a

bottles" are

and before meals. The

flower essence formulas are used in cycles of about one month. During this

moon

period, the emotional body, like the

waned" through takes several

itself,

has usually "waxed and

a phase of inner development. Flower essence therapy usually

months, with new applications of remedies

as the individual

moves

through successive stages or "layers" of change. Typical response time for flower essence use in

many

instances results

may

though some change may have occurred, essences, perhaps with

months

is

about one month, although

be noticed within days, or even hours. Even important to continue the flower

it is

some modification

about three

to the formula, for

in order to insure a deeper level of development. Typically, the response

to the remedies

is

more

general in the beginning stages. Individuals report feel-

ing calmer, clearer, better able to cope, or

less fatigued.

Through

counseling,

working with dreams, keeping a journal, or other ways of learning

and

articulate levels

of emotional and mental phenomena,

responses

can be documented, and new

following

is

"My

flower essences by a family therapist: ter starts

tense

whining and crying

and

ever, -since I

is

irritable. Invariably,

I

using flower essences,

understand

ative

may

why

she's

that

then begin to I

don't

who

is

seem

yell

specific

For instance, the

being treated with

usual reaction whenever

get a knot in

I

much more

surface.

my stomach

my daugh-

and

feel

or get angry with her.

quite

How-

to react so strongly to her. Instead,

upset and gradually seem to be discovering

more

cre-

ways to address her discomfort."

If a

remedy

is

entirely inappropriate

response. However, if an individual

about a particular

issue, the

it

will

not produce any significant

extremely resistant or in very deep denial

is

remedy may not appear

response. In such cases, the therapist the psychological material that a

issues

an actual quotation from an individual

to observe

woman who had pronounced

is

just

issues

is

to

produce an obvious

challenged to help the client uncover

below the

surface.

One such

with her mother. Mariposa

that addresses the mother-child bond,

case involves lily,

a

remedy

was strongly indicated by applied kine-

siology testing, as well as basic counseling assessment. However, no clear

271

Flower Essence Therapy

changes were noted until this

woman was

breakthrough occurred shortly

after,

asked to record her dreams.

when

this

A major

woman woke up from

an

intense dream in which she was on a submarine with her mother, and tried to

throw her mother overboard. The significance of this dream was so

woman

that she could not

deny

its

clear to the

importance; she then became willing to

address the issue. Flower essences often stimulate deep areas of the subconscious that

HOW

must be brought

to the conscious

mind

for successful resolution.

TO CHOOSE A PRACTITIONER

important to speak with a prospective practitioner about his or her cre-

It is

dentials, training,

and experience,

right qualifications

and demeanor

choose a therapist

in order to

for

who

has the

your particular needs. You should inquire

about general training and experience,

as well as specific

knowledge of flower

essences.

The Flower Essence tioners, including

Society offers various educational programs for practi-

an 80-hour program for in-depth training, followed by a

six-

month case study program, which leads to certification. These certified However, many other kinds of

practitioners are registered with the Society. professional training are also valid,

and other

practitioners are also enrolled

the Flower Essence Society practitioner referral

You can Fax: (916)

Web

HOW

list.

for referrals to qualified practitioners at (800)

736-9222;

265-0584; E-mail: [email protected]. The mailing address

Box 459, Nevada

P.O. tive

FES

call

on

site at

City,

CA, 95959. The FES

also maintains

is

an informa-

http://www.flowersociety.org.

TO LEARN MORE

Bach, E. and

F. J.

Wheeler. The Bach Flower Remedies.

New

Canaan, CT: Keats

Publishing, 1979.

Barnard,

J.

to the

and M. Barnard. The Healing Herbs ofEdward Bach: An

Guide

Flower Remedies. Bath, England: Ashgrove Press, 1995.

Barnard,

J.

Howard,

J.

ed. Collected Writings

ofEdward Bach. Bath, England: Ashgrove

The Bach Flower Remedies: Step by

W. Daniel Company, Kaminski,

Illustrated

P.

1987.

Walden, England: The C.

Ltd., 1990.

and R. Katz. Flower Essence

Society, 1994.

Step. Saffron

Press,

Repertory.

Nevada

City,

CA: Flower Essence

Whole Mind

The

272

Kaminski,

"Choosing Flower Essences:

P.

An

Assessment Guide." Nevada City, CA:

Flower Essence Society, 1994. Kaslof, L. Traditional Flower Remedies of Dr.

Edward Bach: A

New

Self-Help Guide.

Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing, 1993. Mclntyre, A. Flower Power. Riihle,

G.

Onset.

A

Pilot Study:

A

New York: Henry Holt and Company,

1996.

The Use ofFlower Essences with Primipara In Delayed Labor

Psychological Thesis for the Psychological Institute in Tubingen,

Germany, 1994. Scheffer,

M. Bach Flower

Therapy. Rochester,

VT: Healing Arts

Weeks, N. The Medical Discoveries ofEdward Bach, Physician.

Press,

1988.

New Canaan,

CT: Keats

Publishing, Inc., 1979.

Wildwood, C. Flower Remedies: Natural Healing with Flower

Essences.

Rockport,

MA:

Nevada

City,

Element Books, 1992.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Patricia

Kaminski

is

co-director of the Flower Essence Society in

California. She has a B.A. from the University of Nebraska, and graduate edu-

cation in counseling and education. She has additional training in herbalism,

and Waldorf education. She

Goethean nature

studies,

Essence Repertory

and has written and taught around the world on the subject

is

co-author of the Flower

of flower essences for over sixteen years. She has been instrumental in designing and administering the society's research and practitioner training programs,

and

also maintains a private flower essence therapy practice.

All artwork, courtesy of the Flower Essence Society,

Catalina O'Brien.

by resident

artist

Larry Christensen, Ph.D.

Food and Mood:

19

WHAT

IS

The Sugar- and Caffeine-Free Diet for Depression

THE SUGAR- AND CAFFEINE-FREE DIET?

Food and mood

mood and

your

is

the practice of

making changes

what you

general feeling of well-being. This enables

more productive and happy

lead a

in

life.

eat to

many

improve

individuals to

This appears to have the most

signifi-

cance for individuals experiencing depression.

Changing your ple,

diet can eliminate

symptoms of depression

reduce symptoms for others, or in some cases,

may

for

have no

some peoeffect. It is

generally best to use a diet change in conjunction with other types of therapy,

such as psychotherapy.

HOW

IT

If you

BEGAN

look

at

recorded history, you will find that there has always been a belief

that food contributed to an individual's health. Ancient

work

reveal that food,

and

beliefs

about the

effect

documents and

art

of food, have always played

an important role in medicine. The Bible makes repeated reference to various foods and provides detailed and specific information concerning the animals that could ical

and could not be

eaten.

The

ancient Greeks believed that both phys-

and psychological disorders could be treated by eating certain foods.

Physicians during the Middle Ages believed that a good diet helped cure the body, and physicians that did not give adequate attention to diet for their patient could

when

caring

be sued for malpractice. Hippocrates even went so

far as

TheWholeMind

274

to state that

medicine would never have been discovered

if

sick individuals ate,

drank, and lived the same type of lifestyle as healthy individuals. During the

Egyptian period, various foods were used to cal

and mental

disorders. Vegetables were

turnips to increase sperm, for example,

Over the such

as

years,

wide variety of both physi-

supposed to nourish the

and meat

scurvy and pellagra, caused by a lack of vitamin

the vitamins.

It

had

vitamins, he or she bleeding

gums

diet.

By

C

and vitamin B 3

person was deficient in one or more

would not only experience physical symptoms, such

toms, such as depression,

,

the early 1900s, research had identified most of

also revealed that if a

or diarrhea, but

would

irritability,

support for the belief that the food

and physical

libido,

to increase sexual urges.

crude studies demonstrated that various deficiency diseases

could be treated with

tal

treat a

also experience a variety

and memory

we

loss.

of mental symp-

This research provided

eat contributes significantly to

health. In the 1940s, a

program

as

to enrich bread

and

our menflour with

various vitamins was begun. This program virtually wiped out diseases due to

vitamin deficiencies in the developed world.

Although deficiency

diseases

were

now under

control, interest in the effect

of food on our physical and psychological well-being persisted. Attention

shift-

ed to other avenues. For example, hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, attracted the attention of a large segment of the population in the 1970s and

became

the fad disease of that decade. Also, during this period, Dr. Ben Feingold pro-

posed that hyperactivity was caused by the dyes, colors, and preservatives our food supply.

The

significance of

in

most of these approaches was greatly

overexaggerated and research demonstrated that they affected only a small seg-

ment of the population. This has public's belief in the effect that

the healing cles,

as

and

power of food

is

not, however,

promoted

"nutritional therapies."

had much

effect

on the general

food can have on our well-being. in

many self-help

A belief in

books, magazine

Some of these books and magazines

arti-

(as well

other essays in this book) claim that eating certain foods or changing your

diet can cure a

whole host of physical and psychological

that eating the right food can increase your mental

My

disorders. Others claim

and physical prowess.

research investigating the mood-altering effect of diet was stimulated

by an acquaintance who read

a lot of popular literature

could have on one's emotional

found that

it

state.

helped relieve her depression.

encouragement, read

on the

She applied some of

many of the books on

I

it

effect that

became aware of this and, this topic.

food

to herself

The books

I

at

and her

read were

Food and Mood

275

The

fascinating.

authors were good journalists and wrote fascinating accounts

of how altering one's diet can eliminate

kinds of physical and psychological

all

problems. After reading several of these books,

had

to be an element of truth to

I

became convinced

that there

said

and made a commitment

and what

to investigate. In reading

what was being

to look into the concept.

Now I

needed to decide where to

the various books

and

literature that

start

had been thrust

at

me,

I

discovered that

common thread was the underlying assumption that hypoglycemia was the cause of many of the disorders. Although I didn't believe this, I decided to the

investigate

— which means low blood

hypoglycemia

For the next several months,

and found, much

I

my surprise,

to

read the scientific literature that hypoglycemia could

chological, as well as physical, disorders.

undiagnosed cases of hypoglycemia, such as schizophrenia. tions such as the

it

true.

it

fact

did not account for

Hypoglycemia occurs quite

to start, so

symptoms of hypoglycemia who were

I

identified individuals

also seeking psycholog-

counseling from a University Counseling Center. These individuals com-

Much

to

my chagrin,

test,

Fortunately, I

I

which diagnoses hypoglycemia.

none of these individuals had hypoglycemia,

that further investigation of hypoglycemia

was

asked several of the individuals

toms. This gave

it

me

made them

feel better

the glimmer of hope

tinue investigating the effect of diet

Since that time,

I

responder,

I

profit

who

took the

one

from

the

my surprise,

and eliminated many of their symp-

me

needed and encouraged

to con-

one's emotional state.

is

I

have

sensitive

a dietary change. In addition to identifying the dietary lot

of attention on identifying the type of foods

to feel emotionally distraught. This research has revealed

that individuals experiencing

dietary responders

realized

test to try

to

of person, called a dietary responder, that

have focused a

that can cause

I

have conducted over half a dozen studies in which

tried to identify the type

and would

on

I

so

useless.

had prepared. Several of these people agreed and, much

they reported that

to

that various professional organiza-

is

was a good place

pleted a five-hour oral glucose tolerance

diet

psy-

treated for other disorders,

was an infrequent disorder and that

However,

experiencing the ical

who had been

cases of misdiagnosis. This actually

infrequently.

mimic many

American Medical Association were adamant about the

that hypoglycemia

many

on hypoglycemia

There were instances of people with

became aware

also

I

sugar.

some degree of depression

and that the two substances that

are

most

are

likely to

most

be

likely to

Whole

The

276

Mino

contribute to the feelings of depression are added sugar and caffeine. As a result,

when

I

conduct

my studies,

focus

I

on depressed individuals and have them

eliminate anything that contains added sugar and caffeine from their diet.

HOW

IT

WORKS

Now you know that the essential ingredients of the dietary intervention are the elimination of sugar and caffeine. This sounds simple and

not quite

and

as

simple as

The

first

diet.

spend the time and So

moody and life

Even though effort to try

feeling

and

tired,

down

Go

this decision.

is

totally responsible for the

When

you

reason for

feel low,

it?

is

then

way you

down

at

very simple, you don't want to

feelings

a very

low self-image, diet let

you can ask yourself that

it's

very possible that diet

are

you

will help if

the

partially or

is

feel.

dumps, or depressed,

in the

It is as

there a specific

is

though they climb into

when

you,

it is

one indication that

why it happens. If you may be a dietary

the other hand, if this situation doesn't describe you,

mean you is

are not a dietary responder.

you may think

total cause of,

that

is

difficult

is

caused by

it

diet.

does not neces-

Sometimes you may think you

causing your depression. For example,

through a divorce or having a

this

or

responder or that the depression you are experiencing

spouse,

of depression.

most of the time. Will the

times and they can't control

this situation describes

know what

likely to

over each of the following questions and,

yes,

it is

Often, dietary responders report that they have these feelings

deep dark hole

sarily

But

considered

whether you are

is

dumps, have

in the

of depression for unknown reasons.

On

is.

you probably won't get any benefit from

it if

just feel terrible

answer to most of them

1.

this diet

again? There are several questions

you make

really

many subtle issues to be get maximum benefit.

assume that you have been experiencing some

let's

You have been enjoy

you

question you must ask yourself

respond to the

it.

appears. There are

it

steps to be followed to ensure that

it

if

you

are

going

time with one of your children or a

cause. Indeed

it

may contribute

to,

or be the

your depression. But you must ask yourself whether the

depression existed prior to this presumed cause. If it did, diet

may be

the

cause of much of your depression. 2.

Do you

feel as

though you

view themselves

as

being

are very

moody

moody? Dietary responders

people.

They

get irritated

frequently

and angry very

Food and Mood

easily.

3.

277

They

cry easily. Or, they feel fairly

good one moment

next they can

feel awful.

Are you

and fatigued most of the time? Can you

tired

Do

hours a night yet wake up tired?

you ever

feel as

— and the

sleep eight or

more

though the energy

is

suddenly being drained out of you? This experience of fatigue and being

sapped of energy with

very characteristic of dietary responders. Individuals

is

this persistent fatigue

seem

tually anything to get out of irritating to those

to have

little

They will do

motivation.

doing work. They appear

around them. Others frequently

which

lazy,

though

feel as

persistent fatigue.

4.

Do you

These people don't have the energy

to

is

do anything.

have frequent headaches? Although headaches are not one of the

frequency to be included

as

The headaches

migraine. There

is

no consistent

pattern. Frequent headaches are

may

be due to

use headaches as the primary indicator.

qualify as a

some have them almost every

range from a dull ache to something approaching a

cation that your depression

as the fatigue,

sufficient

an indicator. Dietary responders often report

experiencing headaches several times a week;

such

real rea-

extreme and

most dominant symptoms of dietary responders, they occur with

day.

very

is

this per-

son needs a swift kick in the rear to motivate them. However, the

son behind the apparent laziness and lack of motivation

vir-

diet.

one

indi-

However, you should not

You must have other symptoms

moodiness, and depression along with the headache to

good candidate

for being a dietary responder.

must be present most of the time, not

These symptoms

just when you have

a headache.

Now let's assume that you have read each of these questions and agree with most of them. You

feel

depressed,

you

frequently have a dull headache. This

are tired

most of the time, moody, and

means you may be

a dietary responder.

emphasize may be because a positive answer to these questions cation. is

Try the

diet.

You have nothing

definitely not going to If you

and everything

harm you and may do you

have decided to try the

line strictly. Eliminate

to lose

diet,

is

I

only an indi-

to gain.

The

diet

a world of good.

you must adhere

to the following guide-

any food or beverage that contains caffeine or added

sugar.

This means that you must read the label of the products you purchase to

make

sure that

names

that

no

caffeine or sugar

amount

to the

is

same thing

included. Also be alert to various other as sugar.

Some products

will state that

sucrose

is

included. This

states that

it

is

just another

term for

contains dextrose or glucose, this

been added. You should avoid

this product.

is

sugar. Similarly, if a

than sugar and apparently

On

the other hand, you

tive to sugar.

However,

I

tolerated fairly well

is

suggest you avoid

all

product

basically stating that sugar has

able to handle fructose or corn sweeteners. Fructose ly

Whole Mind

The

278

is

may

be

metabolized more slow-

by most individuals

sweeteners at

first,

sensi-

including

products such as honey, maple syrup, and molasses.

When

checking products for caffeine and sugar, make sure that you don't

forget to check medications.

Many medications add

ety of reasons. For example,

some headache medications add

caffeine or sugar for a varicaffeine, proba-

bly to treat headaches caused from withdrawal from caffeine. Also recognize that caffeine

is

in

many

beverages other than coffee,

For example, beverages such

When you

Dew contain

and some cola

don't eat sugar or

make

You must

consume

caffeine.

stick to the diet

When you eliminate

make

sure

variety in

your

is

You can have unlimited

do not include

sure that they

drinks.

quite a bit of caffeine.

following this diet, remember that the important rule

meals. Just feine.

Mountain

as

tea,

to

sugar, dextrose, glucose, or caf-

with absolutely no deviations,

sugar and caffeine from your diet,

at least initially.

make

sure that

you

substitute other foods for them. Don't stop eating or dramatically reduce your

food consumption. Reducing your calorie intake to the point that you are

los-

ing weight can also contribute to feelings of depression.

Be prepared

some withdrawal

to experience

sugar and caffeine from your diet.

headache, which

is

effects

when you

The most common withdrawal

eliminate effect

is

a

probably due to the lack of caffeine. These headaches can

be very severe in some people, but in most they are tolerable and

will last

from

about two to four days. For those that experience severe headaches, which can last

up

to

two weeks, the best procedure

intake over about a one to two

week

is

to gradually reduce your caffeine

period. In addition to headaches,

some

people report experiencing light-headedness or shakiness between meals. These

symptoms

are probably

from eliminating

sugar. If you experience these

toms, eat something immediately. If these symptoms days,

you should record

an hour prior to

Most

when

when you

last

more than

sympseveral

they occur and then eat something about half

think

they'll occur.

individuals can expect relief from their depression

and moodiness

within four to seven days, although some individuals have to be on the diet for

two weeks

to experience relief. If you don't experience relief within

two weeks,

Food and Mood

you can be

279

and sugar

fairly sure that caffeine

depression. This assumes, of course, that stances

from your

Now

diet

Does

mean

this

totally eliminated these sub-

totally eliminated these

and that your depression

from your

you have

your

diet.

assume that you have

let's

are not contributing to

is

two substances

gone or has dramatically improved.

that you're sensitive to both sugar

and

caffeine

and have

to

completely eliminate them from your diet forever? Most people are sensitive to

one or the other substance, rather than both. This

you

to test yourself to

mood

problems. To do

mood

you can be

ness return, then

doing

this,

two

this for at least

make

attempting to

sure that

isolate the

causing your

state to see if the depression returns.

more people

starting with sugar because

Do

is

you must consume each of these substances and

this,

stance. Eat things with sugar in desserts.

important for

it is

determine which of these substances

monitor your depression and

ommend

why

is

them

for breakfast,

rec-

between meals, and for

to three weeks. If your depression

fairly

I

are sensitive to this sub-

confident that sugar

is

and moodi-

the cause.

While

you do not consume caffeine; remember, you are

offending substance.

After you have tried the sugar challenge,

you should challenge yourself with

Consume

caffeine.

Use the same procedure you used with

caffeine,

but make sure that they do not contain sugar. Again, you want to see

if

sugar.

products with

your depression returns when you consume caffeine so you must limit your-

self to caffeine

consumption.

returns, caffeine

is

yes,

Do

you have

to

two weeks.

If your depression

is

it.

If it

probably not the problem.

to stay off

it

sensitive to either caf-

the rest of your

life?

The answer

is

may be able to consume small amounts and still avoid The longer you stay off these products, especially sugar,

but you

their negative effects.

the

up

assume that you have found that you are

feine or sugar.

probably

this for

probably the problem and you must stay away from

does not return, then caffeine

Now let's

Do

less sensitive

you become, up

to a point. After avoiding these products for

some time (months) you can probably consume some without harmful consequences. But don't

no longer

let this

lack of symptoms fool

react to, say, sugar

will gradually return.

—

However,

if you

you

into thinking that

continue to consume

at this stage

it,

you may be able

you

your depression to tolerate

some

sweet products like honey or maple syrup. If you want something sweet,

would recommend

mood

state

that

you

be your guide.

try

it

and

see

what happens. Remember,

let

I

your

TheWholeMind

280

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS

A small

we eat has Richard Wurtman and

contingent of researchers have demonstrated that the food

an effect on biochemical substances in the brain. Dr. his colleagues at

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have demon-

consumption of pure carbohydrate has the

strated that

effect

of stimulating

the production of a brain neurochemical called serotonin. This substance

known

to have an

effect

on mood,

My research and dietary intervention program has, on the contribution of caffeine and sugar

gram developed

as the results

is

especially depression. as

mentioned, focused

to depression. This intervention pro-

of years of research in

my laboratory.

However,

others have conducted research that has provided support for these findings.

For example, Dr. Fernstrom and her colleagues (1987) found that depressed individuals report changing their dietary preference for specific foods as they

become

depressed. Specifically, the depressed individuals in their study report-

ed that they increase their consumption of carbohydrates

and

depressed,

and

that their preference

his colleagues

and alcohol dependence

carbohydrates and caffeine

when

with a study Shark Somers and

we asked

I

individuals

report

consumption of

experiencing depression. This

is

consistent

we

analyzed this data for the

consumed. Depressed and nondepressed individuals

amounts of all

consume

all

depressed and nondepressed individuals to record every-

specific nutrients they

similar

they become

conducted (Christensen and Somers, 1996).

thing they ate or drank for three days and then

consumed

as

for sweet carbohydrates. Dr. Leibenluft

(1996) found that individuals diagnosed with depression,

seasonal affective disorder,

In this study

is

a greater

nutrients, except for carbohydrates. Depressed

amount of carbohydrates than did

pressed and most of this increase

came from

the nonde-

increasing their intake of sugar.

Why do depressed individuals consume more sugar?

Dr. Leibenluft (1996)

and others have postulated that the consumption of a carbohydrate such

as

sugar has the effect of producing an improvement in a person's depressed state by, for

example, decreasing their feelings of fatigue. There

this proposition.

is

some support

Rosenthal and his colleagues (1989) found that individuals

with seasonal affective disorder experienced a more positive nondepressed individuals two hours

Thayer (1987)

also

persons energy

level.

short-lived

for

and that

after

consuming

found that consuming However, Thayer after this initial

also

mood

than did

a carbohydrate rich snack.

a carbohydrate snack increased a

found that

this

boost in energy was

energy boost, energy level declined to a

Food and Mood

level

281

below that of an individual who engages

suming

a

candy

walk instead of con-

in a brisk

bar.

This suggests that the energy boost from carbohydrate consumption a

temporary

individuals.

temporary

fix.

My belief

is

from

only

that a vicious cycle possibly occurs in depressed

Foods that contain a

relief

is

lot

of simple carbohydrates (sugars) provide a

of dysphoria and fatigue. Following

feelings

rary relief, feelings of depression

and

tempo-

this

fatigue increase, not only creating a fur-

ther desire for eating a food rich in sugar, but also contributing to the

development and maintenance of mood

states

such

hypothesis has not been tested in depressed people, exists

among

as depression. it is

While

similar to that

this

which

remember the more immediate mood-ele-

alcoholics. Alcoholics

vating and energy-enhancing effect of alcohol consumption and not the nega-

occur

tive effects that

that eliminating

much

later. I

My

students and

in the short term,

research has revealed

diet will not only help

but also that these beneficial

I

have conducted several studies

uals experiencing

1

990) in which

Christensen,

we have demonstrated

that individ-

emotional distress profit from eliminating added sugar and

their diet. In the Christensen

demonstrated that individuals their depressive

(e.g.,

and Stagner, 1985; Krietsch, Christensen, and White, 1988;

Christensen, and Burrows,

from

why my

over time.

Krietsch, White,

caffeine

is

added sugar and caffeine from your

you control your depression effects will last

believe this

symptoms

must be emphasized that

who

three

this

stayed

months

and Burrows (1990) study we

on the

after

diet

continued to be

they began the

long-term benefit

exists

only

However,

diet.

if

free

you continue

avoid caffeine and added sugar.

REAL PEOPLE: THE SUGAR AND CAFFEINE-FREE DIET

Ann was

an attractive brunette in her mid-twenties, married, with one

Ann

child.

During the

much

of the time. She also reported she was quite intolerant of

initial interview,

revealed that she

felt

things her husband did and that they frequently argued.

though she was very moody and had

a short fuse.

depressed

Ann

She would

little

felt as

fly off the

of it

to

handle and get

mad

times she

though she would get

After

felt as

Ann had

at insignificant things.

never got mad. tolerant

mad enough

virtually disappeared.

Only now she was not

and had

Her anger was

as

When

Then

a better marriage.

me

told

I

so intense at

kill.

I

talked to her at the

This

is

lifted

not to say she

quick to anger. She was more challenged

gave her caffeine- filled gelatin capsules to see

substance.

to

Hino

been on the diet for two weeks, her depression

and her moodiness and anger

I

Whole

The

282

Ann with

caffeine.

if

she was sensitive to this

end of the

sixth challenge day, she

she didn't get off this substance her husband was going to

if

divorce her. Ann's moodiness, short fuse, and anger had returned. This

was a case of caffeine causing the depression.

Linda represents a case where the diet helps but psychotherapy needed to

treat the conditions

causing the depression.

When

also

is

I first

saw

Linda, she stated that her son, daughter-in-law, and ex-husband were living

did

with

little

her.

She was providing food and

bills.

of them.

them

—

yet they

or nothing to help her clean the house, cook, or even do the

dishes after she prepared the meal.

of the

shelter for

all

Yet they

would

To make matters

criticize

her for being

worse, she paid most

selfish

and not thinking

They constantly asked more and more of her and she would

never refuse them! Linda was unable to confront them and to that they help or leave.

She

felt

demand

worthless; nothing she did was

good

enough.

At the time gist

I

saw Linda, she was in counseling with another psycholo-

and taking antidepressant medication.

dietary intervention closely, Linda's depression began to

I

encouraged her to follow the

which she agreed lift.

to do.

Within two weeks

As her despondent mood

lifted,

decreased her antidepressant medication. (She didn't like taking it

made her mouth and

pressant medication

it

she

because

hair dry.) She eventually quit taking the antide-

and her depression continued

to

improve

as

long as

she stayed on the diet. Linda also found other benefits to the dietary intervention.

As her mood improved, she became more

assertive

with her

free-

loading family and insisted they contribute their fair share. However, Linda

283

Food and Mood

was

living in

an unhealthy environment and no amount of dietary

inter-

vention could eliminate the unhealthy family interactions. She needed

continued counseling to help her deal with her children and ex-husband.

HOW The

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

dietary treatment

I

have just described

is

quite

have a group of committed practitioners. This

you can

me

easily

is

attempt yourself. If you have any

new and

does not currendy

also a treatment

program that

difficulties feel free to

contact

at the following address:

Larry Christensen, Ph.D., Department of Psychology/University of South

Alabama, Mobile,

You could

AL

36688.

also contact a

former student of mine

at the following address:

Kelly Krietsch, Ph.D., Department of Psychology/University of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff,

AZ, 86001.

HOW TO LEARN MORE Christensen, L. The Food-Mood Connection. College Station: Pro-Health Publications,

1991. (To get a copy of this book please write the

book is $9.95

plus $3.00 for shipping

me at the above address. The cost of

and handling.)

Christensen, L. Diet-Behavior Relationships: Focus on Depression. Washington, D.C.:

American Psychological Association, 1996. Christensen, L. and R. Burrows. "Dietary Treatment of Depression." Behavior Therapy

21 (1990): 183-193. Christensen, L.; K. Krietsch; B. White; and R. Stagner. "Impact of a Dietary

on Emotional

Distress." Journal of Abnormal Psychology

Christensen, L. and

S.

Change

94 (1985): 565-579.

Somers. "Comparison of Nutrient Intake

Among

Depressed

and Non-Depressed Individuals." International Journal of Eating Disorders 20 (1996): 105-109.

Fernstrom,

M.

H., R.

I.

Krowinski, and D.

in Depression: Effects of

J.

Kupfer. "Appetite and

Food Preference

Imipramine Treatment." Biological Psychiatry 22 (1987):

529-539. Krietsch,

K,

L. Christensen,

and

B. White. "Prevalence, Presenting

Symptoms, and

Psychological Characteristics of Individuals with a Diet-related Mood-disturbance." Behavior Therapy 19 (1988): 593-604.

Whole Mind

The

284

Leibenluft, E.;

P.

L. Fiero; J. J. Bartko;

D.

E.

Moul; and N.

E. Rosenthal. "Depressive

Symptoms and the Self- reported Use of Alcohol, Caffeine, and Carbohydrates in Normal Volunteers and Four Groups of Psychiatric Outpatients." American Journal ofPsychiatry 150 (1993): 294-301. Rosenthal, N. E.;

Coursey;

S.

M.

J.

Genhart; B. Caballero;

Rogers; and B.

and Protein-rich Meals

J.

F.

M.

Jacobsen; R. G. Skwerer; R. D.

Spring. "Psychobiological Effects of Carbohydrate

in Patients

with Seasonal Affective Disorder and Normal

Controls." Biological Psychiatry 25 (1989):

1029-1040

Thayer, R. E. "Energy, Tiredness, and Tension: Effects of a Sugar Snack Versus

Moderate Exercise." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 52 (1987): 119-125.

Wurtman, Press,

R.

J.

and

J. J.

Wurtman,

eds. Nutrition

and the

Brain.

New York:

Raven

1987.

RESOURCES Nutrition Reviews, lar issue

Volume 44 (Supplement), 1986.

A supplement to

the regu-

of Nutrition Reviews covering numerous topics ranging from the

of food on brain neurochemicals to the well as delinquency

and adult mental

effect

effect

of food on children's disorders

as

disorders.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Larry Christensen, Ph.D. received his graduate degree from the University of

Southern Mississippi and

is

a

member of

the American Psychological

He

advanced through the

professor at Texas

A&M University and

Association and the American Psychological Society.

ranks of assistant, associate, and

full

recently accepted a position as chair of the Psychology

University of South Alabama.

He

Department

chological statistics, social psychology,

and the psychology of nutrition. He

past president of the Southwestern Psychological Association

committee judge

for the

Social and Behavioral Sciences (with Stoup), The to

is

as

Prize. Dr.

fifty-five scientific articles.

His books include Experimental Methodology, Introduction

Way

and served

Gorden Allport Intergroup Relations

Christensen has authored or co-authored more than

Your

at the

has taught courses in research methods, psy-

to Statistics for the

Food-Mood Connection: Eating

Happiness, and Diet-Behavior Relationships: Focus on Depression.

Brent W. Davis, D.C.

Herbal Therapy

20

WHAT

Medicinal Plants and the Mind

HERB0L0GY?

IS

Simply

I:

stated,

herbology

phytotherapy or medicinal plant

(also referred to as

therapy) consists of ingesting medicinal plants to obtain therapeutic benefit.

However,

if

linked in a

is

believe, as did

web of life

and by more plants

you

most

itude of

ancient people, that

that can be perceived

subtle, intuitive

on many

levels

all

of creation

is

(by the five senses

ways of knowing) then the subject of medicinal

more complex.

Plants have a the

many

way of getting along with one

difficult circumstances;

bloom and maturing

another; of surviving under

of reliably bursting forth into the joyous grat-

to seed, ensuring that the

marvelous process of

The many fine characteristics of plants and medicinal herbs seem to be bound around both their energetic and physiochemical makeup, and these can be transferred to humans under the right circumstances. life

will continue.

Herbs can be used first

two

in four different

are generally recognized

by the

ways

to influence the

lay public or

mind. Only the

by health professionals of

industrialized societies.

The

first is

the use of plant psychotropics such as marijuana, certain hallu-

cinogenic mushrooms, and other "recreational drugs."

The second way ical sedatives.

properties.

An

is

the use of herbs to influence the

example

is

valerian,

which

A relative few master herbs, that

is,

is

mind

used for

plants

which

its

as natural

chem-

natural sedative

are unusually

broad

The

286

acting, can be used for therapy in the sweepingly general

many pharmaceuticals history

and

are

Whole Mind manner

in

which

employed. For example, regardless of an individual's

constitution, the herb echinacea can be successfully taken

by most

immune resistance and to avoid catching cold during flu season. However, many valuable herbs do not work as broadly as echinacea, and require deeper understanding to determine what and who they as preventive

therapy to increase

can heal.

The gy,

third

way stems from

the developing field of psychoneuroimmunolo-

which explores how the mind and the immune system

have been findings in that

tem

exerts

field

an adverse influence on

lished that the

mind can be

mood

There

immune

and behavior. Since

states

it is

sys-

estab-

immune system (A is related to immune system (B is related to C),

influenced by the

C), and herbs definitely can influence the it is

interrelate.

demonstrating that an impaired

reasonable to suggest that herbs likely influence the

mind (B

is

related to

A) by other than sedative or psychotropic means.

The

fourth

way

ed and/or experienced

as sacred matter.

When

ticipant can be the recipient of blessings

reaching beneficial

they are ingest-

this occurs, the

consumer/par-

mind

is

and energizing that may have

far

effects.

important to distinguish between the

It is

when

that herbs can influence the

use. In recent years, articulate

first

and fourth ways of herbal

and compelling writers and speakers have put

forth the notion that the shamanic ritual use of plant hallucinogens represents

and most sacred form of herbal experience.

the highest

and chemically powerful hallucinogenic herbs such caapi) or mescaline often catapult the

of the

astral

plane

(a potential

mind and

as

disagree. Ritualistically

I

ayahuasca {Banisteriopsis

the spirit into the dark places

realm of evil), and without the guidance of a

gift-

ed and honestly benevolent shamanic guardian/interpreter, serious psychospiritual injury

can occur.

The

astral

plane

is

the plane of illusion. Unwittingly, an

herbal hallucinogen voyager might ascribe significance to a vision that was actually quite irrelevant, or

The

otherwise misinterpret a message out of the darkness.

highest form of herbal experience,

ing the living character of herbs with a clear

I

believe,

is

mind and

achieved by recogniz-

intention, realizing the

miracle of life they represent and maintaining an openness to the blessings they offer as

pure healing agents.

In psychology, in the

mind and

it is

universally accepted that the dark or troubled places

personality

must be brought

to light before psychological

Herbal Therapy

287

I

maturity can manifest. Methods used to reveal and eradicate or transform the darkness, however, vary tremendously right into their

most troubled

Some

therapists require patients to

areas to confront

jump

them and experience the pain

of the encounter. Other therapists try carefully to knit together the positive pieces of personality they find to

From

that safe place, those

their

own

form

a protective "housing" in the patient.

under therapy are gradually empowered to discover

inadequacies and transform them by spiritual will. In the latter

method, herbs of many kinds can be especially helpful support. Medicinal

enormous capacity

plants have an to prefer

And

to strengthen spiritual will.

they seem

working by gentle but persistent means. So herbs can be used

as

an

adjunct to psychotherapy, or as part of an integrated approach to balancing the health of the body, mind,

HOW

IT

spirit.

BEGAN

Throughout

history

we can

sessed the accumulated plants.

and

see that native peoples thrived as their cultures pos-

wisdom of

centuries of experience with medicinal

The development of this knowledge depended on

tion, intuitive

with nature, rather than control over nature.

knew

The shaman and

healer/priest

herbs because they lived with them, used them, and understood

friends

and

allies.

They developed

they tested their insights by

trial

insights out

their healers

ance in our lective

lives.

viewed disease

as

usage of the herbs.

as a teacher that

Herbs were revered

body and consciousness

harmony and

them

of that special relationship, and

For the past several millennia, until quite recently,

and

empirical observa-

and mystico-religious perception, and balance and harmony

—

as beings

many

native peoples

encourages us to restore bal-

—

possessing a

nonhuman

capable of helping to turn one's

life

col-

toward

health.

There were differences among to effect cures.

Some were

far

great possibility for variability

civilizations, tribes,

and

more accomplished than

clans in their ability

others.

And

there was

among healers (and failure or chicanery by some), much more art than science. The most obvious

because healing was generally failing

of this kind of healing practice was that

effective

emergency medical

care.

The

it

greatest

generally did not include

accomplishment of many

ancient medical systems was their understanding of the use of herbs for reversal

of chronic

illness,

provements in

and

for health maintenance, tonification,

mood and

psychic well-being.

and

related im-

Whole Mind

The

288

Ancient methods of herbal preparation varied considerably, depending upon the state of advancement of the material culture in the society where the herbs

were being prepared. For example, Egyptian healer in

3000

had

B.C.

a vastly different intellectual

priests at the

framework and material culture

than Australian aboriginals in the same time period. As a urally differences in the herbal products each in material culture, however,

into herbal medicines.

The way

in

result, there

would make. Despite

most ancient peoples held

existence of living forces in nature,

temple of Ptah

were nat-

differences

a similar belief in the

which should be preserved and concentrated

which "advanced" and

"less

advanced" peo-

ples achieved concentration of vital energy into their medicines differed. Less

materially advanced cultures used simple

included hot water decoctions

(teas).

more

internally.

tures

often than not, was placed

To add

enhance

its

made from

on the skin

as a poultice rather

dried

fresh plant

than taken

the herb's vital energy to the preparation, "less advanced" cul-

communicated with the nature

eration in healing.

Tablets were sometimes

was frequently used right from the

herbs. Expressed juice of herbs

and,

methods of herbal extraction that

They did not

spirits

they saw, and asked for their coop-

intellectually

manipulate the herbal product to

complex task of healing

healing, but rather entrusted the

superintelligences in nature

— what we would

call

to the

God or the Creator.

Ancient Polynesians extracted herbs by pounding them with cane juice and coconut, to increase the extraction of alcohol and the plants

—

American

elder of the Iroquois nation told

fat

soluble

compounds from

a rather ingenious, biologically compatible procedure!

ed on these shores, Indians knew

how

A Native

me that long before white men landand used

to distill alcohol

it

only for the

purpose of making extracts (tinctures) of herbs for healing.

Ancient peoples with more advanced intellectual and psychospiritual capacities developed

more complex methods of herbal

healer priests in Egyptian, Arabic, Tibetan, spiritual disciplines

comprehend cines.

and other

and training they were able

natural

methods

to

preparation. There were

cultures.

to intuitively

enhance biological

Due

and

to rigorous

intellectually

activity of herbal

medi-

For example, natural ferments of herbs were prepared by complex

what was formerly

processes developed long ago in

when measured by modern inflammatory

activity

scientific

means

Sri

in the 1980s, increased the anti-

of specific herbs by several

fold. Interestingly, the tech-

niques called for preparation of products only at times

configurations existed.

When

Lanka. These processes,

when

precise planetary

prepared and measured scientifically

at

other

Herbal Therapy

289

I

than the prescribed times, they were significantly

potent. Reducing herb to

less

ash by sequential firing of the herbs in sealed earthenware vessels was developed in ancient India.

This process produces a "dynamic energy" (similar to the

and

process of homeopathic succussion

Modern

dilution) that

makes strong medicine.

science has largely rid medical practice of the mystico-religious

experience and reality of older cultures, and has developed intellectual meth-

ods of experimental research that can rapidly yield physically useful findings.

This approach has allowed great technological progress, and has contributed vastly to a higher material standard of living.

a material universe. in large

Many

not, however, live only in

earlier societies have, for millennia,

measure by their religious

their reverence

We do

beliefs, their

been sustained

metaphysical perceptions, and

and honoring of nature. They regarded nature and

its

various

most tangible physical manifestation of God. To them, con-

life

forms

trol

of nature, validation of experimental hypotheses, and interoperator

as the

ability (the

replic-

watchwords of modern medical research) would have no useful

meaning. They related to nature in a manner totally different from orthodox science

and medicine. Their approach, which

intuitive perception, is

them

to understand herbs' influence

IT

on empirical observation,

and balance and harmony, rather than control over nature,

the very thing that allowed

HOW

relied

to master the use of medicinal plants,

and

on the human psyche.

WORKS

Herbal practice can take two forms, which

I

refer to as the sacred

and the pro-

The sacred deals with using our intuition and our attunement with plants know how to choose them so that they can be of greatest service. Herbs chosen and used in this way most influence the spiritual heart and the mind. The profane deals with the chemical makeup of herbs, their material preparation, fane.

to

and the

gross physical indications for their use. In

uses herbs as pharmaceuticals (that

is,

some

cases, the latter

recommending

a particular

method

herb for a

named disease or a specific symptom). In my experience, using herbs in this way is only minimally effective. Such an approach ignores the wisdom of outstanding healers worldwide since antiquity. That patient, not the disease.

When

wisdom

advises us to treat the

treating people as individuals, their unique con-

stitutional inheritance, individual history

and

state

of health, and mental/

emotional disposition, play an important role in guiding the knowledgeable physician/healer in the right choice of herbs.

Whole Hind

The

290

Figure

seem

some of what

explains

1

have observed

I

to affect cures. It represents the idea that, at

continuum, substances heal entirely realm. This

is

the

domain

that

about

clinically

how

herbs

one end of the therapeutic

in the subtle, nonphysical "energetic"

most influences the mind and emotions. At the

other end of the continuum, substances heal by virtue of their gross chemical constituents. This

the

is

domain

that

most influences the physical body. The

center of the schematic represents the halfway point between "energy" ter,

partaking equally of both.

50/50 point,

A fresh plant extract,

at the central or

of therapeutic chemicals in

uct. It has a considerable concentration

same time,

is

and mat-

most broadly healing type of herbal prod-

in general represents the

possesses, at the

which

a highly energized

dynamic character

it,

and

similar to

low-potency homeopathic medicines. BODY

MIND

TOTALLY

GROSS MATERIAL SUBSTANCE

50/50

High potency

Low potency

Homeopathic:

homeopathics

/

Fresh plant herbal

&

extracts

'

x

Pharmaceuticals; certain

High quality

biologically

standardized herbal

fluid extracts ]

Ayurvedic

Bhasmas,

'

etc.

active .

whole herbs

as teas or tablets

concentrates; commercial

/

/

dried herbs

Figure 1 (Illustration

The

effectiveness of herbs

by Brent Davis)

depends on their

quality, the

knowledge of the

herbal prescriber (matching the appropriate herbs to the appropriately identified imbalance),

and upon the

belief systems of the healing participants. If the

herbal healer attending his or her patient believes that herbs can support and heal the psyche, then simple herbal extracts can

dynamically healing. If a health problem

is

become more potent and

primarily physical

(e.g.,

simple

chemical toxicity), then the concentrated therapeutic chemical aspect of herbs

may be most

important. If the problem

is

heavily mental/emotional (psychoso-

matic), then the subtle nature of the herbal product

the problem

continuum

is

mixed

are often

in etiology,

most

which so many

helpful.

It is

is

are,

worthwhile

some of the many methods by which herbs

of utmost importance. If herbs at the center of the at this

are prepared,

point to describe

and the general char-

acter of each.

Commercial (nonorganic) herbal

tablets

and capsules

fall

toward the right

Herbal Therapy

291

I

side of the schematic.

They

quality tablets are generally

made from

dried,

powdered herbs pressed together

with binders, lubricating agents, and a coating that

20 percent of the not break

make

down

Commercial

are often relatively devoid of energy.

tablet weight. If the tablets are

and

in the digestive tract

may comprise

as

much

as

compressed too hard, they do

are relatively useless.

possible to

It is

with a higher herb content, and with beneficial properties superi-

tablets

or to capsules. In recent years, such beneficial tablets are not

Mass production of capsules seems

to be easier,

and

that

is

commonly

found.

what most vendors

have opted to do. Herb capsules consist of dried, powdered herbs with flow agents in gelatin capsules.

A relatively new development

which

I

Tablets and capsules of dried herbs, if prepared cor-

rectly,

can be very beneficial

feel are superior.

therapeutic

ble. If the

if

is

nongelatin capsules,

the therapeutic part of the herbs

compounds

is

water solu-

are not water soluble, then they

need to be

extracted with alcohol so that they can be absorbed in the digestive tract.

Standardized extracts are herb

isolates,

water or grain alcohol, but which

which

made with made with unhealthy

are occasionally

are also frequently

organic solvents and by other industrial chemical means. Such processing

and renders them

destroys the "vital energy" of herbs

as

pure chemical sub-

men-

stances (like pharmaceuticals). This reduces their healing capability in the

tal/emotional realm, but they are useful are

that

all

when concentrated

herbal chemicals

needed.

is

Fluid extracts are one of the older techniques used to concentrate herbs.

They way

are

to

made with

make

grain spirits (and usually glycerin), and are a very

good

a strong herbal product. Fluid extracts are five to ten times

more

concentrated than most liquid extracts found in the health food store marketplace.

duce,

made by most companies because they are costly to proand would elevate the retail cost of products. They are a very good way They

are not

to administer concentrated material,

and

at the

same time, preserve the

"energetic" nature of the herbs that benefits the

human

psyche.

The

subtle

highest

quality fresh plant herbal extracts are prepared by crushing freshly picked

(undried) medicinal plants, mixing extract therapeutic chemicals

and

them with an alcohol/water solution

to capture vital energy, letting

pressing out the liquid herbal essence, that have long experience in listed at the

end of the

contains a good

and

filtering the extract.

making high-quality

chapter.

The

amount of healing

them

to

soak,

Two companies

fresh plant herb extracts are

benefit of this type of preparation

is

that

it

plant chemicals that are highly absorbable,

Whole Mino

The

292

and

it

captures the vital essence of herbs, which can positively influence the

mind and support our

spiritual nature.

Homeopathic medicines and

stances,

and chemicals. Their

way they

cise

are

made

from herbs

pellets)

are prepared

are

in liquid

as well as

and dry forms

from minerals, animal sub-

particular healing character

dynamized, that

is,

it

loses straight

gains in the

comes from the

more

dilute

amount of therapeutic energy

chemical concentration.

pre-

diluted and shaken, or ground

(succussed or triturated.) As material becomes

dynamized,

and

(tablets

Many

when

stored in

cases call for energy

it,

up

it

is

but

it

and not

for

the chemical concentrates that one finds in pharmaceuticals and standardized extracts. Relatively speaking,

low-potency homeopathic medicines have not

been diluted very much. At very high potencies, there product — only

is

no matter

left in

"energy." High-potency remedies essentially affect the

the

mind

and emotions.

Bhasmas thy).

are an ancient type of medicine

They achieve

a

dynamic energy

similar to

than by

tially fired in clay vessels rather

from India (pre-dating homeopahomeopathics by being sequen-

serial dilution.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS The

highest form of herbal treatment today involves a reverence for nature

and an appreciation of the subtle eration of a vast

qualities

number of factors

of the plants.

It

also involves consid-

that influence the overall health of each

individual patient. This kind of healing process does not yield to mainstream

many variables to control in although much research exists on

academic research methods, for there are too

the

experimental framework. Consequently,

the

use of medicinal plants as pharmaceuticals, there research

on the

subtle, intuitive

is little

approach to treating mental

or no "scientific" illness

with herbs,

outside of thousands of years of accumulated experience and wisdom. institutional medicine,

the view that

if

which

is

by nature conservative, seems

to have

Modern adopted

healing procedures of former times are not experimentally mea-

sured by current means, they are dangerous to contemplate and irresponsible

Though entrenched attitudes in health care are changing due to from patients who are benefiting from unorthodox healing, institu-

to employ.

pressure

tional medicine

and mainstream science have

maintaining the status quo.

a powerful vested interest in

Herbal Therapy

293

I

Randolph Lowell was a giant of a man,

just able to clear the six-foot-eight

standard doorway entering

my

him, he cleared quite

because he was bent over with a lower back

easily,

treating room. But the first time

injury. Superficially, this gentle, quiet fellow

would have appeared

I

saw

to be

standard fare for the average chiropractic or orthopedic physician. But in reality, his

case

was quite complex,

as so

many

are.

He had

back disc herniation and strain/sprain to the spinal his

medical history during his

about parts

his

on

life.

He worked

a lathe.

full-time in a

often exhausted.

felt listless.

joints. In

machine shop turning out metal

work extra hours

Over

providing

Mr. Lowell revealed much

As that did not provide adequate income

children, he felt compelled to

He was

initial visit,

low

suffered

as a

for his wife

and

part-time horse shoer.

the last few years he noticed that he often

His children were often sick with

flulike

symptoms and mid-

dle ear infections.

His wife was weary and concerned about her children and about

his

long hours of work. There was a lot of love between him and his wife, but there was something

wrong

into detail in that area. I

I

He

in their relationship.

more would be

suspected

did not want to go

revealed

later.

explained to Mr. Lowell that based on his history and

examination of him, mobility,

my plan

my

was to reduce acute pain, restore normal

and help him regain normal muscle strength

in the

sides

of the trunk, and abdomen. Strong, balanced muscles act

that

promotes healing and can prevent

part of the equation.

I

physical

re-injury.

then would investigate

That

how

is

low back,

like a splint

the mechanical

his internal organs

functioned, particularly the bowels. Congested, toxic, or otherwise

irri-

tated bowels (and depleted kidney meridian energy) often send out dis-

turbed nervous signals that weaken support muscles, which can predispose the low back to injury. analysis to discover

ness

how emotional

I

explained that

distress

and other body malfunctioning.

to complete this treatment plan.

I

I

would

also use reflex

might be causing muscle weak-

told

him

it

would take

a few visits

Whole Hind

The

294

I

and

made

specific gentle structural corrections to Randolph's

skull (cranial therapy).

extract

I

gave

him

and flower remedy of the herb echinacea

frequently,

and told him

to

come back

in

low back

a very high-quality fresh plant

two

to

be taken in small doses

days.

When he returned, he stood straight and was obviously in less pain. He had a good response to the structural therapy. But another response was spectacular. His whole energy level was much higher. His face was clearer.

Some burden had been

herbal force in nature

very well.

He and

Echinacea it

is

I

lifted

from him.

I

knew

that a nurturing

had given him support. The echinacea had acted

both knew he would recover

nicely.

not normally given for back pain, but in Randolphs case

was indicated. His bowels were sluggish and

toxic,

which was one of

the underlying causes of his back weakness. But his bowel malfunction

was not due so much to

surmised that the ambient vaporized

icity. I

trated in the air at the

up

intestinal dysfunction as

in his

it

was

to total

body

oil droplets, heavily

concen-

machine shop where Randolph worked, had

blood and acted

like a poison, eventually

tox-

built

putting a strain on

all

eliminative organs.

Echinacea

is

outstanding in

its

ability to activate the

immune system

and increase phagocytosis (engulfment) of foreign matter by the white blood ins.

cells.

Echinacea helped his whole body by clearing the blood of tox-

Echinacea is also a strongly benevolent plant and can donate vital ener-

gy to those

who

take

it

if

the conditions/circumstances are correct.

master herbs, both recognized and forgotten, have that wonderful

Over another few

visits,

Many

ability.

with the help of low-potency homeopathic

Barberry {Berberis aquifoliem) and dietary changes, the structural complaints

and pain

that brought

Randolph into the

office

had

resolved.

But

knew it. Mr. Lowell was truly a humble and kind man, and although I never mentioned that, he appreciated that I honored him for it. Each of us hon-

he was

still

not well, and he

ored the other.

He

extended deep gratitude to

gence in his case and for

my

interest in his

me

life. I

for

my effort

appreciated

at dili-

him

for

learning from his illness and for recognizing the opportunity to reevaluate his life

and make necessary changes.

It

was a

privilege for

me

to treat him,

Herbal Therapy

295

I

because out of mutual respect a condition was created where he entrusted

me

to contribute to his spiritual well-being.

Gratitude, honor, gentleness, trust. Those are the characteristics of the transformative healing environment where in a person's

life.

nal plants (and

That

quantum

shirts

can occur

the milieu where the miraculous side of medici-

is

homeopathic remedies made from them) can optimally

manifest.

As soon his children

When

as

Randolphs condition became

— two

boys, five

had seen the whole

I

to the malaise that

seemed

and seven

family,

years old

to be gripping all

varied structural and metabolic problems.

had been contaminated with

— and

me

to treat

later his wife.

recognized that there was a pattern

I

water quality in his neighborhood.

he asked

stable,

It

I

of them.

began

It

contributed to

to inquire into the

turned out that the water supply

agricultural runoff.

the water issue because he feared that this

Mr. Lowell had avoided

would make the planned

sale

of their home, and relocation out of state, impossible. In good conscience, he explained, he could not

lem on

to another.

After hearing that, to be a way,

and allow I

I

house, for he would not pass his prob-

sell his

He would

not want them to suffer the consequences.

my esteem for him

rose even higher.

There would have

thought, for Universal Intelligence to support this fine

his decent

hopes and fond dreams to be

advised Mr. Lowell to use water filtration devises on his drinking

and bathing

water,

and

to

have his water analyzed.

I

also advised

speak with the local health department, water quality assurance

from the

state,

and

also

That was quite

involved.

with his neighbors

Eventually

it

in short, to It

him

to

officials

become

must have

much good came of it.

was determined that the water was badly contaminated,

and there were documented local

—

a step for this meek, retiring fellow.

been what was needed because so

The

man

realized.

cases of health

water district was closed by the

area residents caused

them

problems resulting from

state,

it.

and the activism of the

to be adequately compensated for the costs of

relocation.

One

day, after his sons

in the waiting

had been

room, Lowell took

treated

me

aside

and had joined

and asked

if

their

mother

he could speak

Whole

The

296

with

me

about

his wife,

JoAnne.

He mentioned

that she

Mino

was often weary,

noting, though, that she had improved since changes had been

made

to

the family's water and diet. She had various sporadic structural and muscular complaints.

A small list of other problems followed.

while to get to the

him

hand, which was

real issue at

difficult

It

took him a

and painful

had been the victim of incest by her

to describe. His wife

although she never spoke about

Nor would

it.

for

father,

she seek normal avenues of

care such as special counseling or psychotherapy. She loved

Randolph

very much, he was sure, but she had sexual phobias and ambivalence

about receiving and expressing affection.

He

felt

her unresolved experi-

ence of violation was responsible for a high background ness. I

He asked me to treated

ings.

I

when

I

of nervous-

treat her.

JoAnne with techniques based upon the

she described

level

took her

physical complaints

and upon her physical exam

history,

find-

used eclectic chiropractic therapies, including craniopathy.

I

saw

her perhaps once every four to six weeks over the next year.

Each

visit, I

changed the

vital

herbs she received and occasionally

applied specific single homeopathic remedies. Initially she responded very well to Passiflora (passionflower),

first

then in homeopathic preparations.

It

in the herb extract strength,

stopped her nervous tremors.

and used

I

other carefully chosen remedies as well. Even though they were very important, there was another force at work. As with her husband, JoAnne

had

a sense of gratitude

when

she was being treated.

the necessary state of thanksgiving

and surrender

I

was heartened that

to the divine

had taken

place within her heart to foster deep healing.

Six

months

usual, but

was

later

Mr. Lowell returned.

energetically

much

He was

reserved and quiet as

richer as a person than

when

I first

met

He was full of good news about his life. As I treated his minor structural complaints, we chatted. He had found a small farm out of state him.

where he was intending

and stood, preparing had received and as

to

move with his

to leave,

for the

improvement

though he wanted to give

see a glistening tear

on

family.

As he

rose

from the

table

he expressed appreciation for the care he

me a

his cheek.

in the health of his family. It looked I

could

is all

well."

hug, but he restrained himself.

He

said quietly,

"My

wife

Herbal Therapy

297

I

By the look of profound thanksgiving

in his eyes,

I

knew what he meant.

JoAnne had been transformed by herbal grace and compassion, and was whole again.

me

Rose McGuiness always made

laugh, regardless of

condition of her health. She had a

booming

how

terrible the

bawdy

voice, a

sense of

humor, and a massive, overweight body. She smoke, drank, and excess.

much

When

she

first

as fifteen times

saw me,

higher than normal.

and her skin was yellowish

gray.

Her

ate to

were

several of her liver function tests

as

eyes were jaundice yellow

Despite her normally ebullient nature,

she was subclinically depressed as a result of her dire medical condition.

She recounted that her whole problem began a few months

medical physician prescribed a drug called Tegretal. She took

after her

for

two weeks

and

sy,

a

it

to treat severe facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia), developed

a critical liver problem, and was hospitalized. After one pital

earlier,

tremendous number of tests including

she was sent

home with

month

liver scans

in the hos-

and a biop-

the expectation of liver failure

and death

within the next few months. Being too ornery to die, she managed to survive

by making some

essential

changes on her own. Basically, she fasted,

with occasional chicken and vegetable soups, and pulled her out of the immediate

crisis,

but she was

lots

still

of water. That

in a pitiful state

of

health.

Rose's case was a classical example of the need for dandelion, a very

cooling herb, to quench the "heat" (inflammation/infection) in her

and

to increase excretion

quizzically

when

"Of course

it

told her

roots

I

ra

boomed

out,

"what do you think!" Good.

to dig a quantity of dandelions,

and greens into

saw her three days

a salad to be thoroughly

after she

and

to

half.

amazed

at

how much

a day.

better she

felt.

I

in the scle-

She used colorful language

describe both the increased quantity of urine she was passing utterly

I

chop the washed

chewed three times

began that regimen and the yellow

of her eyes had diminished by

She was

me

questioned her about the condition of her back yard.

has weeds," she

husband

liver,

of toxins through the kidneys. She looked at

and

its

to

odor.

Within three weeks.

The

298

Whole Mind

Rose was slowly crawling in her garden, digging her own dandelions and enjoying the process. In addition to herbs,

used

I

all

therapies at

my dis-

posal, including diverse chiropractic modalities, cranial/sacral treatment,

homeopathy, and

specific dietary

integrated therapies

is

recommendations. The combination of

management of all complex

essential for efficient

health problems. Historically, herbs were always used as part of a total health system, including diet, spiritual or ritual practices, and

some form

of manipulation or massage. In Mrs. McGuiness's case, dandelion was discontinued after six weeks

and replaced with herbal combinations and homeopathics. But use

made

quite an impact

upon

her. In her

own rough way,

its initial

she described

her spiritual joy and renewed faith in the Creator for the grace and mercy

of having created healing plants

for the benefit

of humanity and the earths

creatures.

Because herbs and the

environment of my

office

tion of many different

allied forces

my life,

and

I

of nature have entered into the healing have had the privilege of seeing resolu-

complex health conditions. Herbs

are exemplars

which

aid us along the path. Yes, they have therapeutically active chemicals within

them, but that

is

only a part of their character.

And

their divine nature, not their principle identity.

herbs, in

which can be transferred by consumption,

them, distinct in each one,

HOW

as

each

human

is

I

believe

it is

an

effect

The most important is

the love that

is

of

part of

embedded

distinct.

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

Relatively few practitioners share

and mental

health.

cially qualified

Those

that

my herbal

do have

person to help you

methodologies to foster healing

diverse kinds of training.

may take

time.

With

that in

To

find a spe-

mind,

I

suggest

the following. 1

.

Develop an understanding of the two

sides

of healing: diagnosis and

treat-

ment. Dedicated and competent orthodox medical physicians can provide a great service in the area of conventional

modern

diagnosis, especially if

Herbal Therapy

299

I

they can non-invasively pinpoint which of your parts are

much

failing,

and how

they have deteriorated. If you have a serious health condition, avail

yourself of that information. Save the therapy and unorthodox diagnosis part of healing for

someone

any drugs unless you are

or eliminate

As you

its

3.

midst of a medical emergency. If you are professional assistance to try to reduce

necessity.

are searching for a qualified natural practitioner,

dietary changes able

in the

on medication, you will need

already

2.

trained in natural medicine, and avoid using

on your own. A simple guide to help you

from Forest Center Herbs. Call (800) 274-3727

If you

for

make

essential

in that area

is

avail-

your copy of it.

have a serious medical condition, find a medical physician

who

will

support you in pursuing natural healing with so-called alternative therapies.

You can

therapies

open mind

to alternative

by contacting: American Preventive Medical

American College of Advancement in Medicine

Association (APMA)

(ACAM)

P.O. Box 211,

P.

O. Box 3427

Laguna

Hills,

Tel: (714)

4.

get a listing of physicians with an

Tacoma,

CA 92654

WA, 9840 1-2111 230-APMA

Tel: (800)

583-7666

Herbal Practitioners

who

have a good appreciation of the subtle, living

quality of medicinal plants

may

American Herbalists Guild. These

be found in the membership of the practitioners often

work

in association

with primary health care providers licensed to diagnose.

American Herbalists Guild Box 746555 Arvada, CO 80006 Tel: (303)

5.

423-8800; Fax: (303) 423-8828

Your alternative practitioner should be widely trained with a primary back-

ground

in either chiropractic, naturopathic medicine, or acupuncture.

Additionally,

kinesiology,

it is

helpful if he/she

is

trained in craniosacral therapy, applied

and homeopathy. The best herbal healers

qualifications

and often one more: they have traveled

study alternative healing practices firsthand.

I

know have

these

to other countries to

Whole Mind

The

300

For a possible

listing

of qualified health professionals in your area who share

some of my views and who use Research Laboratories

quality herbs,

you may write Phytotherapy

at:

Phytotherapy Research Laboratories P.

O. Box 627

Lobelville,

To

TN 37097

(Mention

this publication.)

locate health professionals with

advanced training in structural therapies

(including chiropractic), contact:

International College

of Applied Kinesiology P.

Upledger Institute 11211 Prosperity Farms Rd.

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

O. Box 905

Lawrence,

KS 66044-0905

Tel: (913)

542-1801

Tel: (407)

622-4706

Sacro Occipital Research Society International, Inc.

(SORSI) P.

O. Box 8245

Prairie Village, Tel: (913)

KS 66208

649-3475

For acupuncture practitioners contact:

American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine 4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 201 Raleigh, NC 27607 Tel: (919)

787-5181

National Commission For Certification of Acupuncturists 1424 16th

St.

Washington, Tel: (202)

NW,

Suite 601

DC 20036

232-1404

For naturopathic practitioners contact:

Bastyr University

14500 Juanita Dr.

NE

Bothell,WA 98011 Tel: (206)

823-1300

For homeopathic practitioners contact:

International Foundation for

National Center for

Homeopathy

Homeopathy

P.

O. Box 7

Edmond,

WA 98020

Tel: (206)

776-4147

801 N.

Fairfax, Suite

Alexandria, Tel: (703)

VA

306

22314

548-7790

Herbal Therapy

301

I

SOURCES OF QUALITY HERBS In the rural areas of every state there are small organic herb farms that produce lovely quality herbs.

It is

certainly worthwhile to get to

know such

establish-

ments. Frequently, however, these farms specialize in culinary herbs and have

only a limited supply of medicinal plants. ize in

The

three sources following special-

herbal medicines. Their products have been used by leading health pro-

fessionals for years,

and

are excellent.

Dolisos Homeopathic Medicines.

DOL-ISOS

Tel: (800)

High

quality

cines

and homeopathic

available

P.

homeopathic medi-

from

this

Herb Pharm

texts are

O. Box

1

16

Williams,

OR 97544.

Tel: (503)

846-7178

company.

Forest Center Herbs All Saints P.

Hollow

O. Box 307

Lobelville,

TN 37097

Tel: (800)

274 3727

HOW

TO LEARN MORE

Burton Goldberg Group, The. Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide.

Fife,

WA:

Future Medicine Publishing, 1994.

Bremness, L. Herbs. London: Dorling Kindersley, Ltd., 1994.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Since 1980, Brent Davis has had a compelling interest in the world of medicinal plants.

He

has focused especially on bringing to light both forgotten and

de novo applications of master herbs as they relate to use in everyday clinical practice. In the field

of applied kinesiology, he has been the principal voice on

herbs for over a decade. Dr. Davis

is

internationally distinguished in the ability to create

ment an expansive model and prepared herbs

for herbal research

in the wild

and

practice.

from around the world,

usefulness, brought lost herbs to the attention of the

munity, and has co-authored

articles in

He

and imple-

has collected

clinically validated their

academic research com-

peer-reviewed scientific journals.

In addition to his part-time clinical practice, he creates herbal products for health professionals at PRL-Phytotherapy Research Laboratories, health food store product line of Forest Center Herbs.

and

for the

Brett D. Jacques, N.D.

Jacqueline Jacques, N.D.

Herbal Therapy

21

WHAT

IS

II:

Herbal Self-Care

HERBAL SELF-CARE?

Botanical medicine, which has enjoyed varying levels of popularity throughout time,

cine

is

is

studies.

experiencing a true revival in the current decade. This form of medi-

a rich art, blending lore

Herbs

are

and

science, ethnobotany,

and double-blind

good medicine and you can maintain your health with

cious use of them. Plants can be effective

allies

when

judi-

addressing mental health

More and more research is backing the clinical success of many herbs and providing new ways to use herbs that have had a long and storied use. issues.

Herbal

self-care

and well-being. matic onset.

It is

is

an important step in taking responsibility for your health

We recommend

that

you use herbal

depression and anxiety, and occasional ery phases of eating disorders ate for other

disorders,

and when used it is

as

self-care for cases

irritability. It is also

and addictions. Herbal

mental disorders such

or anxiety. However,

no

and haven't had a dra-

best used for problems that are mild

as

confusion and

of mild

useful in post-recov-

self-care

can be appropri-

memory

loss,

behavioral

an adjunctive therapy with more severe depression

important to understand that

self-care

of any kind

substitute for the guidance of a trained health care practitioner.

The

is

use of

herbs should only be combined with prescription medication under the care of

an appropriately trained physician.

Herbal Therapy

HOW

IT

303

II

BEGAN

Traditionally,

all

of the basic maladies

self-care. If there

was

woman, who had

a

people were treated by herbal

a disease that simple measures didn't cure, the patient

was then treated by the person was usually

afflicting

in the village

with the most experience. This

learned her understanding of plant medicine

from her mother and her grandmother. There were

work who were

spiritual healers or

also

men

entrusted to this

shamans, and learned their

craft as part

women

an apprenticeship. Today's botanical medicine owes a great debt to the

and men who preserved the cution and

on

of

traditions of plant medicines in the face of perse-

This persecution and adversity continues today, though

adversity.

different levels.

The new ies are

herbal renaissance

on

a scientific foundation.

Many stud-

truly

come

full circle is illustrated

by the following anecdotal time

(from the website of Dr. Peter D'Adamo, N.D., http://www.dadamo.com):

2000

1850 A.D.

1940 A.D.

2000

HOW

IT

There

— Here, heathen. Here, — That — That Here, drink — That potion snake Here, Here, — That eat this root.

B.C.

1000 A.D.

the

built

being done to verify the effectiveness of plants and their constituents.

That we have line

is

A.D.

root

say this prayer.

is

prayer

is

superstition.

antibiotic

this potion.

take this antibiotic.

oil.

is

eat this root.

is artificial.

WORKS

are

many

approaches to botanical medicine.

more common schools of thought regarding

We shall

describe

some of

the use of herbs.

In the allopathic approach to botanical medicine, herbs are prescribed

based on symptoms and the diagnosis of disease. Allopathic medicine

most people

call traditional

to practicing

'V

for disease "y."

would probably not use herbs herbal medicine in the same

at all, if

way

as

found feel

The good

Though

is

they do, they are likely to approach

method can be

used by other health care practitioners

thing about this approach

to support the herbs

— they

the majority of allopaths

they prescribe drugs. This

very effective and simple to use, and as well.

allopaths are accus-

medicine based on following certain protocols

always use substance

what

medicine, practiced primarily by M.D.'s, but a

more accurate term would be conventional medicine. Most

tomed

is

and protocols that

is

that research can generally be

are used. This

more comfortable because the doctor can show them

may make patients

studies

and data

to

Whole Mind

The

304

back up for the

The

The downside

their treatment.

same problem

is

not

that, like drugs,

all

herbs

work

in different people.

physio-medicalists, also

known

as

Thomsonians, practiced

a

method

of herbal prescription that involved finding excesses and deficiencies. This

tem of herbal medicine was developed by Samuel Thomson, who

The

physio-medicalists were M.D.'s

who shunned

1800s) in favor of plants. This system trained herbalists

a self-trained, lay herbalist

didn't like medical doctors of the

is still

sys-

named

day (Wood, 1992).

the drugs of their day (early

practiced today, primarily by

and some naturopathic physicians

in America, Australia,

England. Herbalists with the physio-medicalist orientation

treat

and

organ systems;

they evaluate the status of organ systems by considering nervous system input to that organ

and looking

may be

organ systems

can

at circulation, elimination,

and

nutrition. Several

involved in the diagnosis, and excesses and deficiencies

exist simultaneously.

The

herbs are chosen based on

how

they effect the

nerve supply, circulation, elimination, and nutrition of an organ system. This

approach can be extremely complicated, requiring both

A third approach

is

the eclectic system.

The

the late 1800s through the early 1900s, rely

—

key symptoms

this

is

art

and

eclectics,

science.

who

flourished in

on physical diagnosis

as well as

an empirical approach similar to prescribing a homeo-

pathic remedy. These doctors were, again, mostly M.D.'s

who

used whatever

worked. They made extensive use of the so-called toxic botanicals in small doses.

The

eclectics

helped to create the understanding that most plants had

the potential to be a medicine or a poison depending dosage. Eclectic herbalism

is

practiced by

pathic physicians. There are also

There

are

many

trained herbalist and naturo-

some medical doctors who use

isn't

meant

to invalidate

relevant to our particular discussion of the topic.

ment of various mental

work

this

approach.

other schools or approaches to herbal medicine, and their

exclusion from this discussion less

many

on the administered

— they

are just

When discussing the treat-

health concerns, an integrated approach will probably

best for choosing the botanicals

on herbs by Brent Davis

them

you

will use. Please also see the chapter

for additional insights.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS It is is

common

no

practice in the established U.S. medical

scientific

simply not

so,

community

to say there

evidence for the safe and reliable use of herbal medicine. This

and most doctors who say

this don't take the

is

time to validate

Herbal Therapy

305

II

their statements.

There

of phytotherapy.

The

a lot of

is

good

research

on the

safety

and

effectiveness

journals listed at the end of this chapter are just a sam-

pling of the available research reports. Medline, the online computer database

of medical journals, can steer you to more studies. detailed later in this chapter under

"What

to Expect."

of phytotherapy {phyto means plant)

cal analysis

Many is

of these findings are

The

done

and

scientific

in

many

clini-

countries,

notably Germany, France, Great Britain, Japan, China, and the U.S. Germany,

where phytomedicines are highly-regulated,

and

classification

found and

of herbs. Likewise, in France, most botanicals can only be

in pharmacies.

this

may

The

regulation in Europe has led to safer use of plants

follow in the U.S.

However, research ical setting

isn't

everything.

A long traditional use of herbs in a clin-

can also be a valid method to determine the effectiveness and safety

of a substance. Medicinal herbs work on

work and no one has

many

the clear leader in the research

is

is

many

different levels.

sure why, particularly since each health

causes. Naturopathic physicians understand

but research

is

a reductionistic science

research, there are

When

the

is

known,

certain successes

be explained based on the mechanisms. As a is

hard to apply to plants,

levels

and

are not yet

as

is

known.

cannot always

failures

approach

they are complex entities that can work on

understood in

many ways.

Many

not make use of medicinal plants?

this,

modern naturopathic doctors understand do

Even with growing

this.

and

this idea,

reduced to a

result, the reductionistic

why

practitioners

is

few herbs for which the exact mechanism of action

mechanism

herbs

problem usually

and work with

(meaning that everything

simple cause-and-effect formula) and has yet to accept

Some

If they are safe

many

and they work,

aboriginal peoples understood this,

but

many other health

care

not.

Another unfortunate led to an emphasis

side of current research, in

on the extraction of individual

our opinion, active

is

that

it

has

components from

herbs or on drug development. There can be value in this for the purpose of standardization and reproducible research studies. However, the reduction of a

—

may also limit its application it doesn't validate the complexity of the many levels on which a whole plant can work. The whole is always greater than the sum of its individual parts. Herbs generally contain multiple active compounds and nutrients. These compounds plant to a single active constituent

and/or nutrients can have effects which are systemic or short-term, immediate or delayed.

local,

long-term or

Whole

The

306

Still,

science

is

providing

new

directions for botanical medicines.

Hind The

dis-

covery of chemical constituents of plants, and the knowledge of the biochemical

pathways on which the constituents work,

herbs.

had no

way

also leading the

It is

leading to

is

for the use of plants that, for

extensive traditional use. Gingko biloba

is

edge of its constituents and their biochemical

new

uses for old

whatever reason,

one such example. The knowl-

effects has

allowed millions of

people to benefit from this ancient herb. Gingko wasn't very popular in traditional medicines but,

fidence for a

due

to science

number of different

and

research,

it

can

now be

used with con-

health problems.

REAL PEOPLE AND HERBS

Michael was a 39-year-old divorced male ety

and panic

Now a

attacks. In the past,

who had

a long history of anxi-

he had self-medicated with alcohol.

recovering alcoholic, he was turning to naturopathic medicine

because, no longer putting harmful substances into his body, he wished to address his anxiety in as natural a

way as

possible. Michael's

symptoms

primarily occurred in the evenings after supper. Alone in his apartment,

he would work himself into a very anxious dren, ex-wife, finances,

and

himself to sleep, he had a fall

lot

job. Since

of trouble

state

thinking about his chil-

he was no longer drinking to put falling asleep.

He would

regularly

asleep in front of the television well after midnight. After dozing off,

he would frequently wake

— sometimes many

times a night

—

in a state

of great panic. Because of this pattern, Michael was extremely fatigued

approached to the

clinic.

He was

when he

first

caught in a vicious cycle of anxiety and

insomnia, and the resulting exhaustion only served to worsen his symp-

— one

toms.

We treated Michael with two formulas

night.

The daytime formula consisted of kava,

for

day and one

for

and avena.

Ail

good

for

passiflora,

three of the herbs address anxiety, the passiflora

and avena

are

exhaustion and have the added indication of being specific for people

have had an alcohol or drug dependency. At night

with valerian to help with the insomnia.

we

who

replaced the kava

Herbal Therapy

307

II

number of other na

Michael's treatment plan also included a

pathic protocols, including a form of hydrotherapy (see Boyle and Saine,

1988).

We addressed

his nutrition,

provided him with counseling, and

At

eventually prescribed a homeopathic remedy.

Michael reported that he was

now

able to

fall

much

asleep at

He was

within an hour of taking his nighttime herbs.

two times a night, but with

one week follow up,

his

less anxiety,

and he

around

still

felt

1 1

p.m.,

waking one to

that the quality

of his sleep was greatly improved. Between his daytime herbs and the fact that he ities

was now sleeping, he

felt

that he could get through his daily activ-

with greater ease and productivity.

somewhat

after the first visit

—

dose of his P.M. formula the

We

adjusted his medications

primarily instructing

him

time he woke from

first

to take another

sleep. Eventually,

however, as his anxiety lessened and his sleep continued to improve, he ceased to

wake

at night,

except on rare occasions, and this second dose

became unnecessary.

As of our

last visit five

virtually off his stress,

or

if

months

daytime herbs

—

after starting treatment,

Michael was

them

of increased

reserving

for times

he had not slept long enough the previous night.

He was

still

taking the nighttime herbs, but at a decreased dose, and the second dose

was

rarely necessary.

Brenda was

a 52-year-old female

who came

to the clinic reporting that

she suffered from mild lifelong depression. She had been treated off with various medications, but

had experienced

on and

side effects with the

majority of them. Primarily, she had addressed her depression with counseling, a

good

for her until

diet,

and regular

now. About

exercise,

which had been

a year before she

begun to have mild menopausal symptoms

came

fairly effective

to see us,

— hot

flashes,

Brenda had diminished

menses, and mild headaches. She had discussed this with her gynecologist,

who

evaluated her

and recommended hormone replacement therapy

(HRT), but she declined, not wishing

to take the

to see us because, while the hot flashes

was becoming increasingly depressed.

hormones. Brenda came

had stopped, she noticed that she

Whole Mind

The

308

We began by addressing Brenda's menopause symptoms more comWe evaluated all her hormones (estrogens, progesterone, DHEA,

pletely.

and thyroid)

testosterone,

cardiac

and osteoporosis

and patient

history.

via

risks

Based on

determined that Brenda was

blood and salivary with blood this

and

tests,

assessed her

bone density evaluation,

tests,

work-up and

a

thorough physical, we

very low risk for osteoporosis and heart

at

good

disease (due to her dedication to exercise,

and minimal family

diet,

history),

and so could be responsibly treated without HRT.

that her

DHEA was somewhat low, but decided

We did find

to try other treatments

before supplementing this adrenal hormone.

The two racemosa)

herbs that

and

St.

we gave Brenda were black cohosh {Cimicifuga

John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

— both

dardized extracts at a dose of one capsule three times a day.

in stan-

We also gave

her a high-quality multivitamin/mineral supplement, and encouraged her

At

to continue exercising regularly.

a

one-month follow-up

reported that not only was her depression

"all

DHEA again,

Dean sion.

is

a 27-year-old male

When

this time,

but she declined, feeling that

taking the hormone, especially since she

who came to

felt

Brenda

but gone" but that her

headaches had ceased after one week on the herbs. At her the

visit,

would

we offered

rather avoid

so good.

us with mild to moderate depres-

he was younger, Dean had a history of stimulant

use,

and

his

when he ceased this use. The major were low moods and extreme apathy

depression had essentially begun

symptoms of Deans depression

—

he didn't want to get out of bed, he didn't want to go to work, then he didn't

want

to

come home from work or

these basic decisions were too difficult

When

he came to the

John's wort

at

ing

and

bed

at night.

He found

stressful.

Dean had been

self-medicating with St.

an adequate therapeutic dose for over three months.

had seen no change his treatment.

clinic,

get into

in his

symptoms and was now seeking guidance with

Based on the

symptoms of apathy,

Siberian ginseng

— an

He

failure

stress,

of the

St.

Johns wort and the present-

and history of drug

use,

excellent adaptogen for stress,

Dean was

given

enhanced energy,

Herbal Therapy

309

II

and mild depression

—

at a

dose of two grams per day of dried encapsu-

lated herb.

At a two-week follow-up

He

greatly improved.

He found

ease.

visit,

Dean

was performing

reported that his

his daily tasks

although he would eventually

sleep.

At

bed

to

Dean was

this time,

take a five-day rest from the ginseng

much

with

had apathy about going

that he only

symptoms were greater

at night,

instructed to

and then resume taking

it

at a

reduced dose of one gram per day.

A month still

Dean returned

At

to the clinic for an unrelated issue.

was questioned about

that time he

was

later,

his depression.

taking the ginseng — though not

daily

He

reported that he

— and

that he

had

all

but forgotten that the problem had existed so recently.

WHAT TO EXPECT Herbal

and

self-care

should be practiced with an allopathic foundation, adding

pieces of physio-medicalism

and

eclecticism.

This chapter will provide you

with the basic information needed to get started: herbs, the conditions that they can treat,

bits

The

classifications

of the

and detailed descriptions of the herbs

themselves. If you're using herbs and something doesn't feel right, stop taking

the herb and see your alternative health care practitioner. People are unique.

One

person's food can be another's poison.

We have chosen

eleven categories in

which the botanicals

be appropriate for over the counter use, based on their usefulness.

have

left

The

indications

came from

research

available

might

safety, availability,

and from empirical

data.

and

We

most of the hard science out, but have provided references at the end

of this chapter for the curious.

One

of our major goals here

is

led us to discuss only single herbs

to keep this information simple.

This has

and not discuss formulas. The reasoning

may be comwhen used prop-

behind the making of a formula can be complex, and some herbs patible together as a formula while others aren't. Single herbs, erly,

are usually equally if not

exceptions,

with your

more

effective than a mixture. Also,

most formulas have not been studied. You may wish

own

combinations, but remember: Keep

it

simple.

with few

to experiment

The

310

The

Whole Mind

length of time that you should take an herb can vary, but you need to

long enough to give

a chance.

We recommend taking an herb for about

take

it

two

to eight weeks, then taking a brief "drug holiday" (a

weeks), and taking

it

again. Cycling the dosages in this

it

few days to

manner works

a

few

better in

the long run.

There

are

many forms in which plant medicines may be administered.

one should consider the environment

First,

which the herb was grown. Plants can

in

be cultivated, organically grown, or wild crafted. Cultivated herbs are usually

grown with means

pesticides

and other

that the plants are

found

thing in northern Maine, but

same term

the

the best.

is

in their natural habitat,

some unscrupulous

applies to plants

Organically grown

farming methods. Wild crafted

less desirable

found

in

which could be

you know

When you

isn't

median

strips

on the L.A. freeways.

—

if you

want

Think about

it

shop for herbs, you

may

tablet.

if

You

it

some-

be something

be overwhelmed by the multitude of

may

first

are willing to ingest. If you don't like to take pills,

or a tea;

to ingest

contaminated with pesticides and exhaust fumes?

forms in which they can be purchased. You

you

good

plant gatherers seem to think

thing natural to improve your health and well-being, shouldn't that

a

you don't

want

care for peculiar tastes, you'll probably

will find herbal

to consider

you may want

want

what

a tincture

a capsule or

medicines in the following forms: teas/dried herbs,

tinctures (alcohol, glycerin, or vinegar), fluid extracts, solid extracts, capsules,

standardized extracts, and tablets. There are advantages and disadvantages to all

of these forms depending on the herb,

its

constituents,

and the nature of

the drying or extracting process.

Classes of Herbs in Mental Health

Phytotherapeutic classification of herbs that herb has

on the

on the body. Many herbs

fact that they

fall

is

into

based on the particular action

more than one

category, based

have actions on a variety of systems. Also, different schools

may put different herbs into different classes. We have outlined here the most common Western classes of herbs that pertain to our discussion. Adaptogens. This is a relatively new classification of herbal action. It was a of herbalism

term coined by two Russian

scientists,

and

it

ance or enhance the body's ability to deal with

refers to a plant's ability to balstress.

Adaptogens usually simul-

taneously support the adrenal glands, and the nervous and

For

this reason,

immune

systems.

adaptogens are very important in the treatment of mental

Herbal Therapy

311

II

health problems.

The only

real

caution with these herbs

and Asian ginsengs

stimulating. Siberian, American,

is

that they can be too

are the

most popular and

studied herbs of this category. Nervines. Nervines are herbs that help nourish

system.

They

are usually considered tonics

health conditions. Nervines include the

icum perforatum), and other

and

now

and modulate the nervous

are

famous herbs such

less

needed

popular

St.

in

many mental

John's wort {Hyper-

and

as hops, scutelleria,

avena. Sedatives.

These

nervous system.

we

don't

want you

many of them a

are herbs that have a calming, "depressant" action

to believe that these herbs can cause depression. In fact,

are very useful in the treatment of depression, especially if

component of anxiety or insomnia. Some herbs

kava kava, and valerian. There also

and

sedatives,

with

Stimulants.

action

on the

We have put quotes around the word "depressant" here because

many of these

These

is

a fair

has

in the category are passiflora,

amount of overlap between

nervines

herbs possessing both properties.

are herbs that are considered to have

on the body. Herbs

it

an "upper-like"

in this class include coffee, black tea, ephedra,

and

many plants in this category can may be in part related to the dose that

ginger. Stimulants can be confusing because also is

be nervines and/or sedatives. This

administered, but

more

having multiple actions. particular herb, this

is

if

mood

it

The body

that

relates

back to our concept of single herbs

know what it needs from a effect. Another way to think of

usually seems to

becomes the

overall

that the herbs are acting to normalize function

the imbalance

but

and

likely

is

in the direction

the imbalance

is

and

restore balance.

So

if

of anxiety, an herb might be more sedating,

in the direction

of lethargy, the same herb might be a

elevator.

Emotional Conditions Herbs Can Help Addictions. Addictions

and addictive behavior

are widespread,

and almost

everyone has been close to a situation involving addictions. Recovery requires

support from friends and family. Herbs cravings

may

and withdrawal symptoms can be

offer

some support

difficult to deal with.

as well.

of years of substance abuse can also present significant health problems.

probably good to

start

with the

liver

The

The side effects It is

herbs in this case. Several well-studied

herbs include milk thistle {Silybum marianum), licorice (Glycerrhiza glabra),

and curcumin (Curcuma

longa).

Kudzu

(Pueraria lobatd) has been

shown

to

Whole Mino

Ihe

312

reduce alcohol cravings (Keung and Valle, 1993). This vine also has been shown to decrease

blood alcohol

Lobelia {Lobelia inflata) has

levels (Xie et al., 1994).

been studied for nicotine cravings. Nicotine and lobelia are thought to have the same pharmacological actions, but lobelia

potent (Murray, 1995).

less

is

This herb has a long history of use in the United States by Native peoples and the European settlers.

It is

a

much maligned

plant,

due

to

its

potential toxicity,

but can be very effective to aid in nicotine withdrawal. Valerian can be a valuable aid for withdrawal stituents in valerian

from benzodiazepine drugs

like

(Mennini, 1993). This should ease the symptoms, but

The active con-

Valium.

bind to the same receptors in the body

as this class

we recommend

of drug

that this

be done under the supervision of a qualified health professional. Other herbs

recommended include

the green milky sap of oats {Avena sativd) to aid the

nerves (nervine), and

there

if

is

insomnia from alcohol addiction,

try passion

flower.

Anxiety

and panic attacks. Anxiety and panic

ety limit a person's ability to participate in iety, is

and these usually fall

life.

attacks associated with anxi-

Many plants

are useful for anx-

into the sedative and/or nervine category.

familiar for this but has not

Chamomile

been backed up by research. The herbs that have

been shown to have some benefit with anxiety are kava kava {Piper methysticum), ginseng

{Panax

spp.)

and ashagawanda {Withania somnifera) Kava has .

significantly reduced anxiety levels in a double-blind study (Kinsler,

Kromer,

and Lehmann, 1981). Kava does not impair cognitive and mental function but actually improves if

the anxiety

known

as

is

it

due

(Munte

et

1993). Panax ginseng

al.,

to stress (Bhatta

is

Indian ginseng and has been very effective in studies (Werbach and

cators: Passion flower

and drug abuse;

is

indicated

if

listed

the anxiety

oats {Avena sativd) if there

is

lateriflora) if there is oversensitivity; valerian

depression and/or insomnia; and

accompanying

next with their primary indi-

is

accompanied by exhaustion

exhaustion; skullcap {Scutellaria (

Valeriana officianalis)

finally, St. John's

wort

is

used

if

if

there

is

there

is

aggressive behavior.

Confusion. Confusion in all

especially effective

Charya and Mitra, 1991). Ashagwanda

Murray, 1994). Other herbs to consider are

go

is

and "brain fog"

are vague

symptoms

that

come and

of us. There are botanicals that can help reduce these symptoms and

the frequency of their occurrence. are the categories usually

Mild stimulants, antioxidants, and nervines

drawn from. Ginger, which

is

a

mild stimulant,

may

be helpful. Kava kava {Piper methysticum) has been shown to improve mental

Herbal Therapy

313

II

function (see Munte, 1993). Stinging nettle {Urtica dioica) fusion that

accompanied by congestion

is

lation in the cerebral area (Kleijnen

may

alleviate

Gingko improves

in the head.

and Knipschild, 1992)

as well as

antioxidant effect in the brain. This second action of gingko

con-

circu-

having an

may be important

because the damage done by free radicals in the brain has been implicated with

many

disorders of aging including confusion (Brown, 1996).

been used for centuries to improve cognitive function. tally disabled children

demonstrated improved mental

Siberian {Eleuthrococcus senticosus)

Gotu kola

has

A study in developmenability (Murray, 1995).

and Chinese {Panax spp.) ginsengs have been

studied and confirmed to help with confusion and brain fog. In another study,

Siberian ginseng enhanced mental acuity (Fransworth, Kinghorn, Soejarto,

and Waller, 1985). These adaptogens are

good

an epidemic in today's

is

not been studied or explored.

The two

helpful with depression are gingko

lar to

and

stress

choices.

Depression. Depression

work

body cope with

also help the

and

Many causes

society.

herbs indicated by research to be most St.

best in mild, unipolar depression.

John's wort. St. John's wort seems to

The

actions of this plant are very simi-

antidepressant drugs; the active constituents block an

down

that breaks

brain chemicals that act to maintain good

tional stability. St. John's

studies demonstrating

wort

is

virtually nontoxic.

Hypericums

have

moods and emo-

There are many well-done

Gingko

efficacy.

enzyme (MAO)

is

best if the depression

is

due to vascular insufficiency or lack of blood flow (Murray, 1995, and Werbach

and Murray, 1994). There have shown

are

many

clinical benefits as well.

ginseng indicating

its

other herbs that have been studied and/or

There

research behind the use of Siberian

is

effectiveness in depression,

ancing of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters). cianalis)

which might be due

Lemon balm

best for children with mild depression

is

and

is

to a bal-

{Melissa

offi-

probably the best

choice for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) depression. Black cohosh has been researched for menopausal depression (Duker tion, try passion flower.

one who

is

grandiflora)

is

used with

and depressed, use

used for depression with illness, try

clinical success are

Eating

disorders.

1991). If there

is

conges-

For sluggishness and depression use valerian. For some-

oversensitive

depression after a long

et. al.,

There

fear; oats

vervain

damiana

(

skullcap. Cactus {Selenicereus

(

when

Verbena

there

is

irritation.

officianalis).

For

Other herbs

Turnera diffusa) and gotu kola.

are three basic categories

tion (anorexia), overeating (bingeing),

of eating disorder: starva-

and binge-purge eating (bulimia).

Herbal therapeutics for anorexia focus on four as

Whole Mind

The

314

hops and kava help

to deal

of plants. Sedatives such

classes

with anxiety around food. Appetite stimulants

such as ginger or the bitter herbs including gentian

(

Gentian

luted)

and gold-

enseal {Hydrastis canadensis) can be helpful to increase desire for food restart a digestive

and

to

system that has become sluggish from lack of use. Adaptogens

can help the body deal with

include Siberian ginseng and

stress better; these

Asian ginseng. Finally, nutritive herbs, such as alfalfa (Medicago sativd) and kelp (Laminaria spp.) help correct nutritional deficiencies. For excessive eating, appetite suppressants are used, the safety of which are questionable. Green tea

{Camellia

sinensis)

is

— about

the safest but contains caffeine

per cup (Murray, 1995). Fibers such as guar

gum may help

four milligrams

to induce the sen-

sation of fullness, but eating a balanced meal containing lots of vegetables

would be

better. Sedatives

and adaptogens

but the choice of herbs for Irritability.

The most

from three classifications:

this

are appropriate for bulimia as well,

may depend more on

effective herbs for dealing

sedatives to

presenting symptoms.

with

irritability will

function better; and adaptogens to help the body respond better to again,

is

a

good choice

for

its

calming properties.

Jamaican dogwood {Piscidia erythina). Restless the irritability

good

is

from overwork or insomnia,

sedative to consider, while a

Asian ginsengs, or ashagawanda are

memory and

The

learning because

it

to

The

oats.

is

as

Hops

is

another

Siberian ginseng,

adaptogens.

same botanicals with

a lot of the

plants listed for those also have effec-

improves blood flow to the brain exhibits antistress

mechanisms

that

improve cognitive function. All of the ginsengs have data indicating

improvement

may

Kava,

pain, then consider

and memory. Gingko has repeatedly proven

(Werbach and Murray, 1994). Gotu kola

seem

is

stress.

irritability calls for skullcap. If

good choices

all

Memory. Learning and memory share

tive for

If there

try passion flower.

good nervine

the confusion/brain fog symptoms. research related to learning

come

calm the nerves; nervines to help the nerves

be the

in

memory and

learning,

and

it

appears the Siberian ginseng

best.

Other conditions. Attention deficit disorder steadily increasing in the population.

much, but some

clinicians have

cardiaca), vervain,

(ADD,

ADHD)

has been

Treatment with herbs hasn't been studied

had success with

oats,

and ginseng. Personality disorders

motherwort (Leonurus

are usually treated as part

of an overall symptom picture and they have not been clearly defined in botanical literature.

good place

The

use of sedatives, nervines, and adaptogens might be a

to start. Treating schizophrenia/psychosis has

not been

common

for

Herbal Therapy

315

II

practitioners of plant medicine,

and ginseng appears

tioned for such use (Sherman, 1979).

Most people who

on some kind of medication,

affliction are

to be the only herb

are plagued

so herbal self-care

men-

by

this

would be con-

traindicated unless under supervision of an appropriate practitioner.

Detailed Descriptions of Selected Herbs

Following

is

a

list

of some herbs

commonly used

mental health con-

form

cerns, along with the indications for their use, the best

for adults

for

to choose, dosages

and contraindications. Any good herbal reference book such

Francis Brinker's Formulas for Healthy Living can provide (usually based

on body weight and

herbal products

may

also

list

you with

a

formula

age) for calculating children's dosages.

a safe dose for children

on the

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa): Nutritive for anorexia,

as

Some

label.

many other

uses.

Best forms: Freeze-dried capsules or the solid extract.

Dosage:

Two

to four capsules three times daily or 1/4 teaspoon of the solid

extract, three times daily.

Contraindications: Pregnancy (uterine stimulant).

Ashagawanda (Withania somnifera): Adaptogen,

for use in anxiety, confu-

sion/brain fog, depression, eating disorders, learning/memory and personality disorders.

Best form: Alcohol extract.

Dosage:

1

5-30 drops twice None.

daily.

Contraindications:

Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa): Antispasmodic, nervine and sedative for depression associated

with menopause.

Best forms: Freeze-dried capsules or alcohol extract.

Dosage:

Two

of the

capsules three times daily or

1

5—30 drops, three times

daily,

extract.

Contraindications: Pregnancy

(emmenogogue).

Cactus (Selenicereus grandiflora): Cardiotonic that associated with

is

used for depression

fear.

Best forms: Freeze-dried capsules or alcohol extract.

Dosage:

Two

capsules three times a day or

30 drops of extract

three times a

day.

Contraindications: People with heart conditions should not use without

appropriate health care provider supervision.

The

316

Damiana (Turnera diffusa): Nervine and stimulant used

Whole Mind for depression.

Best form: Alcohol extract.

Dosage: 15 to 30 drops twice daily. Contraindications: Pregnancy (uterine stimulant).

Gentian (Gentian lutea): Bitter tonic herb to stimulate and improve appetite in anorexia. Best form: Dried

Dosage:

One

powder

in capsules.

capsule before meals.

Contraindications: Gastrointestinal inflammation.

Ginger (Zingiber officianalis): Stimulant that

is

used for brain fog and

depression. Best forms: Freeze-dried capsules or as a tea.

Dosage:

One capsule

twice daily or

11

A

tsp. to

Contraindications: Gall stones (cholegogue)

though somewhat Gingko (Gingko

make

a

cup of tea twice

and pregnancy

daily.

(abortifacent,

controversial).

triloba):

A mild stimulant that

is

useful for

confusion/brain fog, depression, and learning/memory problems. Best forms: Standardized extract sides), three

Dosage: 40- 1 20

times

powder

in capsules (24 percent gingko-

daily.

mg per day of standardized extract.

Contraindications:

None.

Ginseng, Asian (Panax spp.): Adaptogen for addictions, anxiety, confusion/brain fog, eating disorders, ties,

irritability,

learning and

memory difficul-

and schizophrenia.

Best forms: Alcohol extract or

powdered

Dosage: 30 drops three times daily, 100 sules, twice daily, or 1.5

capsules.

mg of standardized powdered

cap-

grams per day of dried root capsules.

Contraindications: Pregnancy

and while on the drug phenelzine.

Ginseng, Siberian (Eleuthrococcus senticosus): Adaptogen for addictions, anxiety, confusion/brain fog, eating disorders, irritability, learning

and

memory disorders. Best forms: Solid extract, standardized extract (one to three percent eleuthrocides) alcohol extract,

and powdered dried root

Dosage: One-half teaspoon twice daily of the solid extract;

1

capsules.

00

mg of stan-

dardized extract three times daily; 30-45 drops of the alcohol extract three

times daily; one to two grams of the powdered root capsules twice Contraindications:

High blood

pressure,

daily.

and with the use of phenobarbital.

Herbal Therapy

317

II

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis): Bitter digestive to stimulate appetite in anorexia.

and alcohol or glycerin

Best forms: Freeze-dried capsules

Dosage:

One

extract.

capsule before meals or 10—25 drops of extract before meals.

Contraindications: Pregnancy (uterine stimulant).

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica):

A mild stimulant that

is

used in depression,

confusion/brain fog, and learning/memory problems.

and alcohol

Best forms: Standardized extract

extract.

Dosage: 20 to 30 drops of standardized extract or

45—60 drops twice

daily

for alcohol extract.

Contraindications: Pregnancy

(emmenagogue and

Green tea (Camellia sinensis): appetite suppressant but has Best form:

Dosage:

As

One

abortifacent).

A mild stimulant that can be used as an

many other

uses.

a tea. to three cups daily.

Contraindications:

None.

Hops (Humulus lupulus): Sedative and nervine that anorexia and

is

used in anxiety,

irritability.

Best forms: Alcohol extract

and freeze-dried

capsule.

Dosage: 25 to 50 drops of the extract twice daily or 2 capsules twice daily. Contraindications:

With

use of phenobarbital.

Jamaican dogwood (Piscidia erythina): Sedative for Best forms: Solid extract

Dosage:

One

and alcohol

irritability

with pain.

extract.

half teaspoon twice daily or

30-45 drops of the

extract twice

daily.

Contraindications:

Not

for use in the elderly

Kava kava (Piper methysticum):

and

in children.

A sedative used for anxiety and confusion/

brain fog. Best forms: Standardized extract (70 percent kava lactones).

Dosage:

1

00

mg

twice daily.

Contraindications: Pregnancy, lactation, depression,

and with use of CNS

depressants including alcohol.

Kelp (Laminaria spp.): Best forms: Dried

Dosage:

A nutritive herb used in anorexia.

powder

Two 500 mg

Contraindications:

in capsules.

capsules three times daily.

None.

The

318

Kudzu (Pueraria lobata):

An

herb that

is

Whole Mind of

effective in the treatment

alcohol dependence. Best form: Standardized concentrated extract (5:1 concentration).

Dosage:

250-500

mg per day.

Contraindications:

Lemon balm

(Melissa officianalis):

are depressed;

Best form:

Dosage:

As

Two

None.

it

A good herb for children when

they

has been clinically effective in seasonal affective disorder.

a tea or extract (alcohol or glycerin).

cups per day of the tea or 15-25 drops of the extract.

Contraindications: Pregnancy

(emmenogogue).

Lobelia (Lobelia inflata): Antispasmodic that

is

effective for nicotine with-

drawal. Best form: Alcohol extract.

Dosage:

1

5 to

30 drops two

to three times daily.

and

Contraindications: Heart disease, pneumonia, high blood pressure,

pregnancy.

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca): Nervine used with some with attention

clinical success

deficit disorder.

Best form: Extract (alcohol or glycerin).

Dosage: 30 to 40 drops three times daily. Contraindications: Pregnancy

Oats (Avena sativa):

(emmenagogue).

A nutritive and nervine used for alcohol and drug

addictions, anxiety with exhaustion, confusion/brain fog,

and

irritability.

Best form: Freeze-dried.

Dosage:

Two

to four capsules

Contraindications:

two or three times a

day.

None.

Passion flower (passiflora incarnata): cated in addictions

if

there

is

A nervine and sedative that

insomnia. Anxiety

when

it is

indi-

accompanied by

drug use and or exhaustion, and with depression when there Best forms: Solid extract, extract (alcohol or glycerin),

is

is

and

congestion. freeze dried

capsules.

Dosage: One-quarter teaspoon twice daily of solid extract; 15-45 drops of extract or

two

to four capsules twice daily.

Contraindications: Pregnancy (uterine stimulant)

and with barbiturate

use.

Herbal Therapy

St.

319

II

John's wort (Hypericum perforatum):

A nervine and sedative that is

the herb of choice in mild, unipolar depression,

and anxiety with

aggres-

sive behavior.

Best form: Standardized extract (.3 percent hypericin).

Dosage: 30

mg two

or three times daily.

Contraindications: Pregnancy

(emmenagogue and

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): depression

the person

if

is

abortifacent).

A nervine that is used in anxiety and

oversensitive,

and

for irritability with restless-

ness.

and

Best forms: Freeze-dried capsules

Two

Dosage:

extract (alcohol

and

freeze-dried capsules three times daily or

glycerin).

15-45 drops of

the extract three times daily. Contraindications:

None.

Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica): fog and learning and

A nutritive that aids

memory problems,

if there is

in confusion/brain

congestion.

Best form: Freeze-dried.

Dosage:

Two

capsules

two

to four times daily.

Contraindications: Pregnancy

(emmenagogue and

Valerian (Valeriana officianalis):

mended

for withdrawal

A nervine and sedative that

from benzodiazepines,

for anxiety

accompanied by depression and/or insomnia, and

when

sluggishness

is

abortifacent).

is

when

recomit is

finally for depression

also present.

Best forms: Solid extract, freeze-dried capsules

and

extracts (alcohol or

glycerin).

Dosage: One-quarter teaspoon twice daily of the solid extract, two to three freeze-dried capsules, or

Contraindications:

30-45 drops of the

None.

Verbena (Verbena officianalis): cess in depression after a

long

A mild stimulant used with clinical suc-

illness

and

Best form: Extract (alcohol or glycerin).

Dosage:

1

5 to

30 drops three times None.

Contraindications:

extract.

daily.

in attention deficit disorder.

Whole Mind

The

320

HOW

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

Guidance from an

alternative health care practitioner

is

very valuable and can

provide insights worthy of consideration. Finding the right practitioner for

you can be tioners; all

many

many

types of alternative health care practi-

some

are better than others.

There

aren't

qualified health care professionals trained in the use of botanical medi-

school for four years under

solid training in diagnostics

in

are

use and

Naturopathic doctors study botanical medicine

cine. ical

There

difficult.

may be of some

North America

many

and

clinical settings.

therapeutics.

There

at a

postgraduate med-

Naturopaths also receive

are four accredited schools

that train Naturopathic physicians properly.

number of mail-order

There

are a

schools that attempt to provide naturopathic degrees,

but they simply don't provide quality education and their graduates do not have the

clinical training that

we

believe to be essential.

pathic medicine has been covered in detail in this Starbuck. tice

We

refer

you

The

topic of Naturo-

book by Dr. Jamison

to her chapter for a greater understanding of

our prac-

of medicine, and for information about finding a Naturopath in your

There

are

many

area.

herbal schools in the U.S. and hopefully accreditation

is

forthcoming for these schools because some of these institutions offer outstanding training. Medical doctors and chiropractors do not routinely receive training in the use of herbal medicines

and

if

they do,

do, however, have an understanding of pathology

them

may

to use herbs

on

it is

They

very limited.

and biochemistry. This allows

a purely allopathic basis with reasonable safety.

Some

seek postgraduate training in the use of herbs.

HOW

TO LEARN MORE

Alstat, ed. Eclectic Dispensatory

ofBotanical

Therapeutics, Vol.

I.

Portland,

OR:

Eclectic

Medical Publications, 1989. Bhattacharya,

S.

K. and

S.

K. Mitra. "Anxiolytic Activity of Panax Ginseng Roots:

An

Experimental Study." Journal of Ethnopharmacology 34 (1991): 87-92. '

Boyle,

W. and A.

Buckeye Brinker,

Brinker,

F.

F.

Saine. Lectures in Naturopathic Hydrotherapy. East Palestine,

Press,

OH:

1988.

Formulas for Healthy Living. Sandy,

OR:

Eclectic Medical Press, 1995.

Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. Unpublished manuscript

1996.

Brown, D. Herbal Prescriptions for Better Health. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1996.

321

Herbal Therapy

II

Duker, E.M.,

et. al M

"Effects of Extracts

Release in Menopausal

Women

from Cimicifuga Racemosa on Gonadatropin

and Ovariectomized Rats." Planta Medica 57

(1991): 420-424.

R

Farnsworth, N. R.; A. D. Kinghorn; D. D. Soejarto; and D.

Ginseng (Eleuthrococcus Senticosus): Current Status Economic and Medicinal Plant Research, Felter,

H.W. and J. U.

Vol. 1,

Waller. "Siberian

an Adaptogen." In

as

London: Academic

1985.

Press,

Lloyd. King's American Dispensatory. Portland,

OR:

Eclectic

Medical Publications, 1983.

Keung,

W M. and

B. L. Valle. "Daidzin

and Daidzein Suppress Free-choice Ethanol

Intake by Syrian Golden Hamsters." Proceedings ofthe National Academy ofScience

U.S.A.#90, no. 21 (1993): 10008-12. Kinzler E.,

J.

Kromer, and E. Lehmann. "Effect of a Special Kava Extract

in Patients

with Anxiety-, Tension-, and Excitation States of Non-psychotic Genesis."

Arzneim Forsch 41, no. 6 (1991): 584-588. Kleijnen,

J.

and

P.

Knipschild. "Gingko Biloba for Cerebral Insufficiency." Br. Journal

of Clinical Pharmacology 34 (1992): 352-358.

Mennini,

T.,

"In Vitro Study

et al.,

Compounds from

on the Interaction of

Valeriana Officianalis Roots with

GABA,

Extracts

and Pure

Benzodiazepine and

Barbiturate Receptors in Rat Brain." Fitoterapia 54 (1993): 291-300.

Mitchell,

W. Naturopathic Applications of Botanical Remedies.

Seattle,

WA:

Self-pub-

lished, 1983.

Moore, M. Herbal Repertory in Clinical Practice. Albuquerque,

NM:

Self-published,

1990.

Munte,

T.

F.,

et

al.,

"Effects

lated Potentials in a

Murray,

M.

Murray,

M. The

of Oxazepam and an Extract of Kava Root on Event Re-

Word

Recognition Task." Neurophysiology 27 (1993): 46—53.

Healing Power ofHerbs. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1992. Getting Well Naturally Series:

Stress,

Anxiety,

and Insomnia. Rocklin,

CA: Prima Publishing, 1995. Sherman,

J.

The Complete Botanical Prescriber. Portland, OR: Self published, 1993.

Weiss, R. Herbal Medicine. Gothenburg, Sweden:

Werbach, M. and Press,

M.

AB Arcanum,

Murray. Botanical Influences on

Illness.

1988.

Tarzana,

CA: Third Line

1994.

Wood, M. The Magical Staff. Berkeley, CA: North Adantic Books, 1992. Xie,

Chang-I Levels

et. al.,

"Daidzin, an Antioxidant Isoflavonoid, Decreases Blood Alcohol

and Shortens Sleep Time Induce by Ethanol Intoxication." Alcoholism:

Clinical and Experimental Research 18, no.

6 (1994): 1443-1447.

The

322

Whole

Mind

RESOURCES Journals and Periodicals Journal ofEthnopharmacology

Journal ofNaturopathic Medicine

Medical Herbalism Planta Medica Australian Journal ofMedical Herbalism

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Dr. Brett D. Jacques holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Fitness from Springfield College in Massachusetts

and

a Doctorate of Naturopathic

Medicine from National College of Naturopathic Medicine currently practices naturopathic medicine in Portland,

on

the use of botanical medicine.

He

is

in

Oregon.

He

OR, with an emphasis

also a frequent lecturer

and

a consul-

tant to the natural health field.

Dr. Jacqueline Jacques holds a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from

National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She rently completing a residency in Naturopathic Family Practice with an sis

on Physiatry and Neurology.

is

cur-

empha-

George Vithoulkas, M.I.H. Vangelis Zafiriou, M.D.

Homeopathy

22 WHAT

IS

HOMEOPATHY?

Homeopathy is on the

a holistic therapy.

Sometimes

idea that disease can be cured

called energy medicine,

it is

based

by strengthening the body's defenses with

substances selected for their energy-giving properties. These substances, which

may

be herbs, minerals, or of animal origin, are diluted and purified beyond

the point of harm to their quintessential energy state. Conventional medicine,

on the other hand,

treats the separate parts

of the body

separately, using nuclear

instruments, doses of poisons, and surgery to repair the part that

be

believed to

is

"sick."

If this so-called conventional

chiatry

— were

satisfactory, there

medicine

— and

especially conventional psy-

would be no need

for

any

alternative. It

does

not, however, appear to be satisfactory for the following reasons:

1

There

is

no therapy

for chronic diseases (if there were, such diseases

not be called "chronic" but "acute"!). There

symptoms, 2.

Even

this

as

long

symptom

as the

relief

is

only temporary

chemical action of the medicines is

not without

cost.

There

is

relief

would of the

lasts.

always

some damage

to other parts or functions of the organism, scientifically called side effect.

These

side effects

may sometimes prove fatal, while the disease that was unThe recall of previously widely used medicines be-

der treatment was not!

cause they "suddenly" prove to be dangerous

is

a well-known

phenomenon.

The

324

The dominant medical nomic

cost

No human vessels, brain,

is

practice often causes

Whole

Mind

more harm than good.

Its

eco-

one of the major problems of all Western governments.

being has ever been built by joining together eyes,

and

so on.

What we

know

all

is

that

we

liver,

are one being, not

blood

man-

made up of parts that someone has joined together, but born from one cell that evolved into many cells in order to reveal its inherent potential for life. This one cell develops into one complete organism with many funcufactured, not

tions.

The

stronger the organism, the

more

satisfactory the functions (in terms

The weaker the organism, the less satisfactory the functions "diseases"). Homeopathy aims to strengthen the entire organism

of life expectancy). (what

we

so that

all

call

of its functions will be improved. If it

organism to a stronger one, also

isn't it

is

The remedy

all.

is

weak organism

the

or disappear (unless there

irreversible

no matter how many

HOW

IT

there

may

diseases, a

homeopath

will prescribe

not for the so-called diseases but for the one

weak organism. By making is

weak

the basis for homeopathy. This explains

why, for a patient suffering from different for

possible to change a

rational that this organism's functions should

improve? This simple reasoning

one remedy

is

stronger, the diseases

and permanent damage of the

improve tissues),

be.

BEGAN

In 1790, while translating a textbook of pharmacology, Samuel

found himself disagreeing with the cure malaria.

Hahnemann

The

writer's explanation for quinine's ability to

writer maintained that the plant's bitter taste was the key.

decided to

test quinine's properties

amount of it every day and watching that malaria-like

Hahnemann

on himself by eating

the effects.

symptoms were appearing! After

to test other natural substances

gather around him.

He

To

his surprise,

a certain

he noticed

his first surprise,

he started

on himself and on the students who began

noticed and wrote

down

to

the totality of symptoms that

each substance produced, a totality that invariably imitated a natural disease.

Hahnemann

stated that this

the therapeutic

Law

has the value of a law, and called

it

of Similars. This was the origin of homeopathy as a sys-

tem of therapeutics and In his

phenomenon

as a

medical science.

book The Organon, Hahnemann

states that

it is

likely that the idea

of "cure by similars" was used in ancient times. Cases with hints of cure using similars are

mentioned

in the Indian

Vedas (written

in the fifteenth century

Homeopathy

B.C.), in

325

ancient Chinese scripts, on ancient Egyptian papyrus, and in ancient

Mesopotamian

scripts.

Crude forms of homeopathy

(cure with similars) are

still

used in

rubbed with snow

ditional medicines: chillblains are benefited if

many tramen-

(also

tioned by the ancient Greek historian Xenophon), and burns by warmth. Scorpion's extract relieves the pain of its bite. Covering a jaundiced baby with

a yellow cloth the Greek

may

relieve

Hahnemann

all

it

"Similar suffering"

the English translation of

is

word "homeopathy."

in

work on

presented his integrated

the foundation of home-

book Organon ofthe Rational Art ofHealing, and com1828 with the book Chronic Diseases. In the 1840s, almost half of

opathy in 1810, with pleted

it.

his

physicians in the U.S. were homeopaths, and

many

large

homeopathic hos-

pitals

were established to serve the health needs of the population.

HOW

IT

All

WORKS

homeopathic remedies derive from natural sources: animal, vegetable, and

mineral.

They undergo

methods and

special production

are administered in

very minute doses. These doses are so small that they never produce any side effects or

have any interaction with conventional or other therapy (although

coffee, antibiotics,

and medicines containing

the action and the result of homeopathy, action of homeopathic remedies

homeopathic substance,

as all

is

many

it is first

diluted

The

basis

in their electrochemical nature.

wave

field.

When

and then succussed, meaning that

times. This apparently causes the water molecules

stance in the formula to hit or

.

neutralize

Each

bounce against each

it is

the

remedy

is

pre-

vigorously shaken

and the primary sub-

other, causing friction,

and

beginning an electrochemical reaction throughout the dilution. This process repeated several times. stronger. People, too,

With each

state.

When

of the body every

cell in

repetition, the electrical charge

produce current or

have an electromagnetic wave

field that

a person ingests the remedy, is

of

elements in the universe, resonates with a cer-

tain natural frequency or electromagnetic

pared,

hormones may

they are used for long)

if

found

certain

electricity,

is

becomes

and around our

representative of the

we

is

cell's

cells

we

present

believe that the charge in the cells

subtly affected by the charge in the remedy. This can likely affect

the body. This

the physical, emotional,

is

probably

and mental

why homeopathic

remedies can affect

aspects of the person. For

more informa-

tion about the remedies themselves, please see The Science of Homeopathy,

Whole Mind

The

326

chapters 14 and 15 (Vithoulkas, 1980).

The on the

action of homeopathic remedies

remedy

is

not based on quantity, but solely

match between the person and the remedy. Finding the

correct

for each patient

is

a

complex process, and

homeopath. The remedy has

it is

correct

main work of the

the

to correspond to the totality of

all

mental and

physical symptoms, ailments, and disturbances of each patient, with peculiarities each

or bring

it

tom of the

The

patient:

comes

five days,

sure, felt

on.

symptom

at

appears to have, and

following

is

dy

if

and

P.M.

1 1

leaves at 3 A.M.,

shy,

fear

ameliorated by external pres-

is is

pulsating in nature.

of death and anxiety about her health,

and has intolerance

to the sun, will

is

need a different reme-

she also suffers from the above-described headaches; and yet a different

remedy

she

if

is

very extroverted and "warm" to everyone, very social, suffers

from nose bleed, cannot after a little sleep.

than obvious,

The

as there

recommended remedy

difficulty in finding the is

and her headaches disappear

tolerate cold weather,

mental and physical,

is

more

only one remedy for each patient, each time.

Another important concept in homeopathy exist

due

is

that chronic diseases, both

to the predisposition of each

from birth and

to appear. This predisposition exists eral

it

headache that appears only before the menstrual period for

A patient who suffers from and

the

an example of details needed for each symp-

only on the right side of the head, and

introverted

all

the factors that change

all

is

due

organism for them

to the parents' gen-

(mental and physical) condition of health, to their health at the time of

conception, and to the mother's physical and mental condition during pregnancy. This predisposition includes

phenomena

that are not

known

as diseases

according to conventional medicine, such as emotional vulnerability (oversensitive

or easily hurt or easily offended), or lack of endurance to sleep depriva-

tion or to physical exertion, cold or wet weather, etc. If the individual to

normal environmental

and above will

stresses,

his abilities because

he

which he himself experiences is

exposed

as excessive

constitutionally vulnerable to them, this

weaken the whole organism, and the

result

is

the appearance (or the aggra-

vation) of the illness that was innate in the organism is

is

from

birth.

This concept

related to the conventional medical concept of psychosomatic disease.

The

predisposition includes not only the chronic diseases from

organism

will suffer,

which the

but also a vulnerability to certain factors which vary from

person to person and which will act as a result

ance of the chronic diseases.

It is

as exciting causes for the

appear-

our personal belief that each individual's

327

Homeopathy

predisposition includes also the age at which each chronic disease will

appear

if

the patient lives a natural

he or she

leads, the earlier the onset

Modern medical to

life.

confirm

this

The more

stressful

first

and unnatural a

life

of the diseases.

investigations of the last

few decades tend more and more

200-year-old homeopathic concept of the predispositions as

the real cause of chronic disturbances: "the genetic factor" and "the familial trait" are referred to as

underlying most long-standing health problems, either

mental or physical. Homeopathy decreases the

which real

is

absolutely unique

and peculiar

to each

effect

of the predisposition,

one of us, so

it is

not only the

psychosomatic medicine, but also a true preventive medicine: by changing

the whole organism to a healthier one, the possibility

of a future

illness

under any circumstances

is

and the potential

severity

reduced.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS The

effectiveness of

homeopathy on neurological or any other

physical distur-

bances (which by their nature are not susceptible to placebo effect explanations);

its

even animals; and es

and

many

positive results in its

sprains, prove

immediate its

different diseases,

on

effect

reliability

suaded of the efficacy of homeopathy, their time in the office of a

way

exactly the first

all

insect

beyond if

homeopath,

homeopaths were

on

children, babies

and snake

a doubt.

Any

bites,

he or she cares to spend ten hours of listening to patients' reports. This

initially

is

convinced, from Hahnemann's

students to the authors of this chapter.

own

part,

is

compatible with

needs and peculiarities, proof that focuses attention solely on the body

and that can be demonstrated using so-called double-blind experiments.

When

it

comes

experiment 1

bruis-

physician can be per-

Conventional medicine demands the kind of proof that its

and on

and

There

to testing

arises in three

is

homeopathy, the great

main

difficulty

with

this

form of

areas:

no remedy-illness correspondence. Three patients suffering from

panic disorder will need three different remedies respectively, depending

on the whole mental/physical condition of their organism. Accordingly,

it

seems impossible to evaluate the effectiveness of homeopathy using a double-blind method, 2.

which

In the case of a patient

requires the

same therapy

for

all

patients.

who asks for homeopathic treatment for a skin probwe expect that during

lem, while she also suffers from asthma and phobias,

Whole Mind

The

328

treatment her skin problem will remain the same or even become worse, while at the same time her deeper and more serious problems of phobias

and asthma

will

improve considerably or impressively. This means that the

patient herself will

become much

healthier,

remains the same or even grows worse.

although her skin disease

How can

this skin disease ever

be

addressed in a double-blind experiment to examine the effectiveness of

homeopathy? 3.

There

is

no double-blind method

able to test the total modification of

health during or after the action of a remedy, because

would have

to be

measured and evaluated

ment would become

impossible, and b)

are so

a)

numerous

the factors that that the experi-

no conventional therapy has ever

been made (or even planned) to act on improving the

total health

of a

patient.

Researchers (Delinick, Bourkas, and Karagiannopoulos, 1994) have, however,

developed a machine that can measure the

electrical properties

of homeo-

pathic remedies. This shows promise as a useful research technique.

REAL PEOPLE AND HOMEOPATHY

SO In September 1994, a 35-year-old intense fear of people also

had

—

man came to the clinic,

suffering

from

a fear he had ever since his early childhood.

He

a mild stammer. After forty-five days of homeopathic treatment,

he referred to a 70 percent improvement of his social phobia (he described it

as "social cowardice")

and

his introversion.

He felt that his self-confi-

dence was much better, and the quality of his sleep and vitality had improved a lot.

His stammering remained the same.

months of therapy,

all

the above

On completing three and a half

became even

better,

while he mentioned

a reduction of his "sexual weakness" and a diminished tendency to bite his nails.

A

No

improvement of the stammering has occurred

to date.

13-year-old boy was brought to us in June 1992 by his parents for a

strong fear of death and heart diseases.

He was also very afraid of chickens

329

Homeopathy

on seeing them") and

("I feel chills

He was

a little less of other birds.

scared of any height, worried a great deal about his parents, while he

remembered As

far as

that "even as a

I

was very anxious about everything."

he could remember, he had always had a

become worse during the tor's

baby

assertions

had any

last

effect

fear

of death, but

three years, after his uncles death.

on

and

his fears

Even

anxieties.

his

had

it

No

doc-

dreams

were often about death. After twenty-five days of treatment, his father referred to an

improvement of 50 percent

alone. After four

homeopathy

in his fear

months of treatment, the

as "unbelievable":

he had started eating meat and

of death and of being

father evaluated the result of

almost no fear of death or heart disease;

all

kinds of food, which he had previously

avoided as hazardous for his health; his fear of chickens and birds had

diminished considerably; he seemed and

much

felt

less

The

anxious.

dreams about death never appeared again. There has been no relapse

as

of

Februarv 1995.

A 23-year-old woman with Down's syndrome (mongolism) 1983, escorted by her mother. For the

last three years she

ing irrational things, she talks alone as has

become very

character,

irritable

now she

mit us to go very near

to "say-

conversing with someone, she

and quarrelsome. While before she was a calm

gives the impression of not realizing

doesn't recognize voices

three months, she

if

came

had been

when answering

her,

and she

had asked

for a

where she

is,

she

the telephone, she does not per-

reacts very violently."

man and had

During the

last

masturbated in the pres-

ence of others. She needed thirty-two days of homeopathic treatment for a

70-100 percent improvement

to

all

the above symptoms, plus the

reduction of her extreme thirst and menstrual problems.

In September 1990, a 46-year-old

looked vacant. She heard voices: female one from far away.

They

woman was "a

visited at

home. Her eyes

female one from near, and another

are trying to confuse

me." She said that

the voices were having discussions, giving her suggestions and orders,

and

Whole

The

330

do harm

trying to tease or frighten her by planning to

Sometimes "they" joked and she laughed a

Her

lot.

to her relatives.

make her

she often wept for

talk in detail

no obvious

Sometimes she

reason.

atric

said she felt

Her mental

illness

and the symptoms fluctuated according

fifteen years ago,

was very

It

about what was happening inside

to talk about the things the voices told her.

medication she was given each time. By the

saw her

relatives often

swearing at invisible people, or making grimaces at them. ficult to

fiftieth

Mind

her,

dif-

but

ashamed

had

started

to the psychi-

day

after starting

homeopathic treatment, she had reduced the psychiatric medicines by 50 percent and said: "the tremendous depression

was

I

have no fear of going out of my house any more. ently now.

don't feel oppressed

I

by

fear.

feeling disappeared,

I

see the

Those voices

I

world

differ-

was hearing have

stopped." Three months after the onset of homeopathy, she stopped psychiatric medication ferent person,

I

and commented:

feel free

the colors around me. a physical weakness

I

and reborn,

need

free

I feel."

joy just by seeing the trees and

My only problem is

She looked much better and her

One

from the mental

year

later,

relatives

she married an architect

illness to date,

with no relapse and no

for further treatment.

A 38-year-oid man

came

had experienced

two

ical

I feel

all

have become a completely dif-

have gained self-confidence.

found her "absolutely normal."

and remains

"I

I

for

to the office in

During the

years.

1990

for a vision

problem he

investigation of his psycholog-

condition, he described himself as "very authoritative and dictatorial

with

my children,

very self-centered, tremendously egotistical,

the center of the universe, that

no one around

me

is

I feel I

am

of as great a value

as

are inferior. Insecure

my wife, in any company I feel that all others about my sexual ability (which is really poor). I

deserve a better wife,

and

I

am,

I feel

contempt

feel afraid to

my life. I am He also It

if I

had no sexual problem

argue with others, and this afraid in public places

suffered

was

for

from anxiety about

is

why

I

I

would

divorce.

have never quarreled in

and have no self-confidence his health

I

and

fear

at all."

of death.

clear that what we were dealing with here was mainly a

Homeopathy

331

personality disorder (what textbooks call narcissistic personality disorder) that touched, however, ity,

on the borderline of a

trists testify

delirious perception of real-

he came for the vision problem. All psychia-

regardless of the fact that

to the incurability of such cases,

and of personality disorders

in general.

The

patient

came back

He

homeopathic treatment. relaxed. Strangely,

second

for a

already looked

he did not

life,

that otherwise

would have broken

I feel

very well. Less

so happy.

now

happiness.

I

I

"I

me

of life.

live all the details

the

first

see the

I

at all,

failures this

had diminished considerably, he felt

no

didn't feel

fear

and they did not bother

time in

my life

same things

any contempt

of death ("Now

the cemetery"), he did not feel that he

I

that

I

feel

as before

but

for his wife ("I

go for walks around

would divorce

if

he had no sexual

problem. His sexual ability was slightly better, and for the occasionally

awoke

in the

morning with an

public places, he

commented

ety about health

had decreased a

ing the third

birth,

it

About

time he

his fear in

was no longer so dramatic. His anxi-

lot.

we had

woman

His vision problem improved dur-

with enuresis (bed-wetting) present

to face the difficult task

organism needed, and so our effect.

that

erection.

first

month of therapy.

In the case of a 23-year-old

any

month

they seem beautiful/' His dictatorial behavior toward his children

have accepted her"), he

from

but right

gained an inner peace, self-confi-

to pieces,

irritable. It is

calmer and more

problem

had two professional

dence, joy for

me.

much

refer to his vision

from the beginning he expressed that

days of

visit after thirty-eight

Two months

first

after the

of finding the remedy her

eight different remedies failed to have

ninth

— and indicated — remedy, her

problem disappeared.

In January 1990, a 17-year-old

girl

help with anorexia nervosa. In the

was brought to us by her mother

last

eighteen

months she had

lost

for

more

than 36 pounds and kept losing more. She weighed 107 pounds and her

Whole Mind

The

332

5' 6".

height was

Her period had disappeared

had diminished

breasts

in size,

and she

six

suffered

months

previously, her

from constipation. She

used to hide food in closets and other places in the house, pretending that she had eaten

it.

"She

possessed by the persistent idea that

is

if

she eats

even a small amount of food her body will become deformed," her moth-

Her mother described her

er said.

ly offended,

sociable at

while the

all,

go out alone.

as

tremendously sensitive and very

described herself as "very closed and timid, not

girl

weepy, anxious about everything, so insecure that

am afraid of others.

I

easi-

I

rarely

speak to no one at school." Having

I

completed one month of homeopathic treatment, she commented that she

felt

no anxiety

school, slept more,

at all, she liked

going out, had made some friends

and had no more constipation. She had wept only once,

and had gained 2.2 pounds. One year changed a

at

lot in everything,

I

after the first visit she said, "I

have

cannot believe the changes that are happen-

ing inside me." She had gained 10—12 pounds, but her menstrual period

had not reappeared

yet.

Here we may note the

lems for

later.

The

priority that the

reappearance of the period was delayed in

this patient,

because her organism could not endure the energy loss (blood this

organism

mental functions, leaving the physical prob-

gives to the restoration of the

function implied. In the

summer of 1991,

loss) that

she weighed 124 pounds

she looked better than ever, and her mother stated that "psychologically she has improved in leaps and bounds.

The difference is tremendous." The

menstrual period reappeared two years after the onset of treatment, she weighed 139 pounds (32 pounds gained).

when

The total duration of home-

opathic treatment during those two years was four months.

'So

A 28-year-old man with a height of 5' I

can remember

erwise

I feel

I

have always been obese.

irritable

the last time in

Three months

and

my life, no

When

restless.

and

I

want

after the first visit

personal effort and

diet at

all.

restless

when hungry,

I feel I sit

far as

the need to eat often, oth-

down

to eat,

feel as if it

I

is

large quantities of different foods."

he had already

lost

48 pounds, with no

His appetite had decreased.

better psychologically. His vitality

and

9" weighed 348 pounds. "As

was improved.

He did

He felt much

not

feel irritable

did not have the feeling of eating for the

last

Homeopathy

333

He

rime.

bit his fingernails

much

less

than before, and almost stopped

snoring at night. His sexual desire had diminished

(it

had been very

quent and he had been masturbating twice a day), and he was

Two

ious during work.

years later he

dieted. Psychologically he

A 37-year-old man tability,

and

tive effect

or three

was much

month of treatment,

cent. Six

months

He

worse."

He

drank one

liter

irri-

of wine

last five years.

consumption was reduced by 30 perless.

Right from the

timid," while during the fourth

less

was added, plus an improvement

in vitality

ual ability, concentration, better.

body,

first

therapy he said he was "more optimistic, had better

and was

improvement

his

never

drink alcohol that has a seda-

he drank 70 percent

later

after starting

self-confidence, great

feel

I

my

inside

felt

of beer every day, and had done so for the

After one

month

I

fre-

anx-

better.

complained of "restlessness

on me, but afterwards

He

weighed 240 pounds.

difficulty in concentration.

liters

less

and tendency

to irritability.

He

month

a

in his sex-

looked

much

never had a relapse.

A five-year-old girl was brought in by her parents ear infections.

During the psychological

for frequent colds

and

investigation of the child, her

parents revealed that ever since she had started walking and going out, she stole things from any shop they visited.

Her

parents had to be very

cautious about her, because of the subsequent problems, and were very hesitant to go shopping or even to visit friends with her.

her as very lazy and jealous, difficult that

days

later:

a child

very often

we

hit her."

obstinate.

The second

They

visit

described

said, "she

again," her appetite

we were

ear infections

had

easier to handle,

and we never needed

Mi

and

sleep

so

become

to hit her

had improved; and she wept much

less.

able to check that her tendency for frequent colds

also disappeared.

is

took place forty-five

the kleptomania had completely disappeared, she had

who was "much

later visits

weepy and

They

In

and

Whole Mind

The

334

Homeopathy can (popularly

known

also be used to treat the following disorders: psychoses

as "insanity"), stuttering, elective

mutism

(often associated

with excessive shyness, social isolation, withdrawal, clinging, school phobia or refusal,

found

other phobias and enuresis (bed-wetting), creating a syndrome that

in

is

homeopathic textbooks to be cured very often with the remedy Baryta

carbonica), pica, sleep problems, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (also referred to as

minimal brain dysfunction), and "psychosomatic"

asthma, ulcerative

(like

colitis,

diseases

peptic ulcer, several skin diseases, and juvenile

diabetes).

WHAT TO EXPECT In order to find the correct remedy,

we have

functions physically, mentally, and sexually.

know how

We have to

a particular patient

learn about their food

and aversions (indicating the condition of his metabolism),

desires

liarities,

adjustment to

investigated during the cases.

to

all

first

During the second

place one

month

later,

kinds of weather conditions, interview,

which

interview,

we

which

etc. All

takes at least

sleep pecu-

of these are

one hour,

in

most

for chronic patients usually takes

try to find out the exact changes that the

homeo-

pathic remedy has brought about in each one of the patient's symptoms. totality

The

of the changes produced indicates the result of the remedy's action, and

the need for possible continuation of the treatment, with the same or a differ-

ent remedy.

There

are

because there

is

cific "disease."

healthier,

no homeopathic psychotropic drugs or no

direct correspondence

as the

whole organism becomes

mental health takes place

in

se,

between a given remedy and one spe-

Mental diseases disappear

and the improvement

tranquilizers per

at a faster rate

than the improvement in physical health, since the body seems to tend to the

most

crucial functions

The

first.

percentage of cure and the

number of diseases

that will improve in a

given period of time depend on the strength of the person and not on the

of the disease. Thus, will

five

have different prognoses. This

is

also observed in conventional psychiatric

treatment. If we succeed in finding the specific patient, there will be an

what diagnostic category

name

people with exactly the same psychiatric diagnosis

improvement this

ous organic mental disorders.

belongs

remedy needed by

in his or her

to,

mental

from the very mild

a particular

illness

no matter

anxieties to seri-

Homeopathy

335

A precious gift found in homeopathic treatment much

to a

means

the restoration of health

better state than that existing before the onset of the disease,

which

that given the same, or even worse, exciting causes, the disease will not

reappear.

The

patient often expresses this

have never felt better in

"my

is

my

relatives are surprised

life,"

or "I

new

feel a

experience with phrases like

"I

completely different person," or

by the changes."

Homeopathic remedies not only

lack side effects or any undesirable inter-

action with any other therapy, they also bring about long-lasting results that

may

benefit the patient for the rest of his or her

homeopathy heavy,

and

and

is

life.

The

therapeutic value of

mainly tested by long-standing phobias that are persistent,

resistant to

any other therapy, and by obsessive-compulsive disorder

suicidal depressions.

HOW TO CHOOSE A HOMEOPATH Following are some

criteria for assessing the quality

and

reliability

of a homeo-

path: 1.

A good

homeopath

prescribes one

remedy

at a time, to treat the

whole

organism, not just one symptom. 2.

The

3.

All the patient's

symptoms

noted, otherwise

it is

uate 4.

interview should not

first

last less

than one hour.

at all levels

(mental and physical) should be

impossible to recall

them during the second,

The remedy should be

fifth

first

place.

all

from memory and

eval-

or tenth reexamination.

prescribed to address the totality of the patient's

problems, and not only the one that sent the

them

him

or her to the

homeopath

in

During homeopathic treatment, the organism begins with

the most important matters and leaves the least important for the end.

Only

in acute conditions or acute exaggerations of chronic diseases are

justified in giving a local action remedy, based

we

on the evaluation of the

acute condition exclusively. This remedy will not improve total health (unless

it

happens to be the one the whole organism needed

underlying long-standing It is

illness will

also),

and the

remain unchanged.

not advisable to use other alternative healing methods in combination

with homeopathic treatment,

as

they

may change

the symptoms. This

would

The

336

make dy,

it

difficult for the

homeopath

to evaluate the true effect of a given reme-

and he or she would be prescribing based on Following

is

Whole Mind

false

symptoms.

information gathered by the editor of

Bassman, on finding a homeopath in the United

this

book, Lynette

States.

For a national directory of homeopaths in the U.S., contact the National Center for Homeopathy

at:

National Center for Homeopathy 801 North Fairfax Alexandria, Tel: (703)

or

Suite

306

VA 22314

548-7790

visit their

The

St.,

web

site at

http://www.healthy.net/nch

International Foundation for

additional information about classical

Homeopathy can provide

homeopathy. Write to them

referrals

and

at:

The International Foundation for Homeopathy P.O.

Box 7

Edmonds,

WA 98020

Tel: (206)

776-4147; Fax: (206) 776-1499

The National Council

for

Homeopathic

Certification has established a

procedure for the certification of homeopaths. While their certification

mandatory, and

is

not a license,

it is

is

not

an important step in establishing the

national identity of the homeopathic profession, and assures certain standards

of training and competence. They can be contacted

at:

The National Council for Homeopathic Certification 1709 Seabright Ave. Santa Cruz, Tel: (408)

CA 95062

421-0565

Following

ommended by

is

a

list

of homeopaths and homeopathic centers in Europe

the authors:

The Faculty of Homeopathy of the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital

Ormond St. London WC IN 3HR Great

Tel:

00441-71-837-8833

Dr. Brian Kaplan 136 Harlem St. London WIN IAH, U.K. Tel: 0044 1 -7 1 -487-34 1

rec-

Homeopathy

337

Clinical Training Center for

Centro

Classical Homeopathy

Dr. Mangialavori

12 Septemberstraat, 19

ViaRolda91 41050 Modena

3940 Hechtel-Eskel Belgium 0032-11-732355

Tel:

Centro

di

S.

Tel:

HOW

M.

Italy

George Vithoulkas Stiftung fur Klassische Homoopathie Heimstrasse 32B D - 82 1 3 1 Stockdorf Germany

Medicina Omeopatica

Vincenzo 59

360l6Thiene

Medicina Omeopatica

0039-597-48088

Tel:

Dr. Stefano Barni

Via

di

(VI) Italy

0039-445-380348

089-8561644

Tel:

TO LEARN MORE

Borland, D.

M.

Children's Types.

London: The

British

Homeopathic Association.

Coulter, C. R. Portraits ofHomeopathic Medicines, Psychophysical Analyses of Selected

CA: North

Constitutional Types. Berkeley,

Delinick, A.,

R

Atlantic Books, 1986.

Bourkas, and K. Karagianopoulos. "Experimental Evaluation of the

Potentization of Homeopathic Remedies." European Journal ofDrug Metabolism

and Pharmakokinetics Hahnemann, Herscu,

P.

S.

19, no.

2 (1994): 68.

The Organon ofMedicine. Calcutta: Roysinghand Co., 1962.

The Homeopathic Treatment of Children. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic

Books, 1991. Kent,

J.

T

Lectures on

New

Homeopathic Philosophy.

Vithoulkas, G. Materia Medica Viva, Volumes

I,

Delhi: B. Jain Publishers, 1982.

//and

//.

London: Homeopathic Book

Publishers, 1995.

Vithoulkas, G. Homeopathy, Medicine of the

Simon

& Schuster,

Vithoulkas, G.

New Man. Second

Edition.

New York:

1992.

A New Model for Health and Disease.

Berkeley:

North Atlantic Books,

1991. Vithoulkas, G. The Essence ofMateria Medico, Vithoulkas, G. The Science ofHomeopathy.

New

Delhi: B. Jain Publishers, 1990.

New York:

Grove

Press,

1980.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS George Vithoulkas was born

in

Athens in 1932. After studying

ing at the Polytechnicon in Athens in 1959, he worked as a

South Africa.

It

was during

this

time that he

first

civil

civil

engineer-

engineer in

encountered homeopathy

and dedicated himself entirely in

Whole Mind

The

338

Noel Puddhephat's School

homeopathic studies and

after that at the

to studying in

it.

He

studied classical

South Africa until 1962.

in India at the

continued his

Bombay Homeopathic Medical

College

Indian Institute of Homeopathy (Calcutta) until 1966. In

1967, he returned to Athens and began to teach cine

He

homeopathy

which was almost unknown

classical

homeopathic medi-

time in Greece. In 1970, Vithoulkas

at that

founded the Athenian School of Homeopathic Medicine. In 1971, he established the

Greek Society of Homeopathic Medicine. In 1975, with

a small

team

of doctors, he established the Centre of Homeopathic Medicine (K.O.I.) in Athens, which he

still

directs.

The books of George Vithoulkas have been

lated into seventeen different languages.

Livelihood

Award

(the alternative

Nobel

He was

prize)

Vangelis Zafiriou, M.D., psychiatrist, Greece.

He

is

43 years old and was born

in

graduated from high school in Minneapolis in 1969, and from

Thessaloniki Medical School in 1977.

He

specialized in psychiatry in

the University Psychiatric Hospital in Athens, and chotherapy. Dr. Zafiriou studied

is

1982

homeopathy under the supervision of George

Med-

and has been practicing there since 1983. He teaches homeopathy

the Athenian Center, as well as at the Greek

and belongs

to the educational

artistic,

at

Homeopathic Association,

committees of both.

on ethnological, psychoanalytic, homeopathy.

at

experienced in psy-

Vithoulkas from 1979 to 1982 in the Athenian Center of Homeopathic icine,

trans-

recently awarded the Right

He

has presented papers

and philosophical

issues related to

Alexander Neumeister, M.D.

Norman

E. Rosenthal, M.D.

Light Therapies

23 WHAT

IS

LIGHT THERAPY?

Light therapy

is

shown promise

a

nondrug treatment used

for the treatment

especially for depression, but

of other conditions

it

has

as well (discussed below).

Light therapy involves exposing a person to bright,

artificial light,

with an

intensity of about 10,000 lux (the unit of measurement for light intensity), for

about forty-five minutes in the morning and in the evening. The remarkable success of bright light therapy for seasonal affective disorder

(SAD) makes

the treatment of choice for this condition (Rosenthal et

1984; Kasper et

al.,

al.,

it

1989; consensus report of the Society for Light Treatment and Biological

Rhythms, 1990), but other treatments including antidepressants, agement,

SAD

exercise, is

a

and psychotherapy might be

stress

man-

useful too.

syndrome characterized by the annual appearance of depressive

episodes during the

fall

and winter; these episodes go away during the spring

and summer (Rosenthal

et al., 1984).

Symptoms of SAD

mood, overeating with carbohydrate craving and weight than usual, fatigue, and social withdrawal.

The

include depressed

gain, sleeping

depression can

more

last for several

months, depending on the person and the geographical location. The long duration of the symptoms distinguishes these depressive episodes from the socalled holiday blues, a psychological reaction to stress that typically occurs

around the holiday season (Rosenthal, 1993). In most

women outnumber men by about

three to one,

and

clinical

samples of SAD,

studies have

found

that, in

The

340

women

general,

report

more of a

seasonal pattern than

Whole Mind men

(Kasper

et al.,

1989; Rosen etal., 1990).

There

are indications that light therapy can be useful for depression that

does not follow a seasonal pattern;

who

therapy for people

it

can be used as an addition to medication

have not had good results with medication alone.

Further treatment indications for light therapy include the treatment of jet

problems

rhythms

all

in

involve the capability of light to alter daily biological (circadian)

humans

and the

cycles

HOW

BEGAN

IT

lag,

and premenstrual syndrome. These

shift-work, delayed-sleep-phase syndrome,

Although the

(for

example, the sleep-wake cycle, temperature rhythm,

of hormonal rhythms).

beneficial effects of exposing people to artificial bright light have

been well-known for some time, the "modern" era of light therapy began in the 1980s

Health.

when

He

man came

a 63-year-old

to the National Institute of

sought help with recurrent depressive episodes during the

winter months, which alternated with periods of stable or elevated

Mental fall

moods

and dur-

ing the spring and summer. This patient had reached the conclusion that the

changes in length and intensity of environmental light might contribute to the cause of his depressive episodes. sity:

2,500 lux) for ten days;

depression (Rosenthal et

Since this

al.,

He was

treated with light therapy (light inten-

of treatment he switched out of his

after four days

1983).

initial case study,

controlled

trials

have demonstrated the

effica-

cy of bright light treatment for seasonal affective disorder. During recent years, physicians and patients have

and the

possibility

shown an

of treating

this disorder

evident not only in the increasing topic, but also

increasing interest in the origins of SAD

by the appearance of books, newspaper

The

television

programs on the

Biological

Rhythms (SLTBR) was formed

and cal

clinicians in this field,

work

today.

with light therapy. This interest

number of scientific

topic.

most of whom

is

publications on the

articles,

and radio and

Society for Light Treatment and in are

The society sponsors an annual

1988 by the leading researchers still

active in research

conference on the

and

clini-

latest research

in this field.

HOW

IT

WORKS

Based on the knowledge that

many animals exhibit seasonal changes

in behavior

341

Light Therapies

and physiology

(e.g.,

reproduction, migration, and hibernation), researchers

explored the possibility that biological rhythms in trolled

by environmental

rhythms

humans

in

light. It is

are controlled

humans might

widely acknowledged that biological

by an

pacemaker located

internal central

a region of the brain called the nucleus suprachiasmaticus

From

these findings a

also be con-

number of different hypotheses about

in

(Duncan, 1996).

the origins of SAD

and the mechanism of action of light therapy have been investigated during and

recent years

are the focus

of ongoing research.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Although no one knows exactly how areas of research that have

light therapy works, there are

shown promising

some

active

have

results. Several researchers

explored the potential role of the brain chemical serotonin in depression

(Asberg et

al.,

1976; Heninger

light therapy (Jacobsen et

leagues found a seasonal brains of people

al.,

et al.,

1989; Kasper

rhythm

who had

1984), and

in the

how

et al.,

it

relates to

amounts of serotonin present

et al.,

et al.,

1995; Blashko, 1995), and

overeating, carbohydrate craving, ly related to

and

minimum

al.,

et al.,

many of the symptoms of SAD,

levels

1989;

such

as

fatigue have been postulated to be close-

problems in the functioning of serotonin

1988; Rosenthal et

in the

1980). Drugs that affect serotonin

have been found to be effective in the treatment of SAD (O'Rourke

Lam

and

1996). Carlsson and col-

died during different seasons, with

during the winter months (Carlsson

SAD

1987; Rosenthal

et al.,

1989;

Possibly the strongest evidence that brain serotonin

comes from two

in the brain (Fernstrom,

is

Wehr

et al.,

1991).

involved in the mecha-

(Lam

nism of action of

light therapy

Neumeister

1997) showing that temporarily lowering brain serotonergic

et al.,

activity results in

an increase

in depressive

viously treated successfully with light. So

studies

symptoms far,

in patients

et al.,

1996;

who were

we have no answer

pre-

to the ques-

tion of whether abnormalities in brain serotonergic functioning are confined to the depressive episode, or

whether they are present even when the patients

are free of symptoms.

Other theories of SAD involve abnormalities

in hypothalamic-pituitary-

adrenal (HPA)-axis functioning. This line of research (Rosenthal et

Joseph-Vanderpool Vanderpool tive in

et al.,

et al.,

1991; Oren

et al.,

1996; Schwartz

1991) suggests that HPA-axis functioning

SAD. This could be

al.,

et al.,

may be

1997;

1997;

underac-

related to decreased brain serotonergic transmission.

TheWholeMind

342

Some result

researchers have suggested that the

symptoms of SAD might be

may

of abnormally delayed circadian rhythms, and that light therapy

work by

shifting these

rhythms

to a

normal pattern (Lewy

a

1987). Yet

et al.,

other investigations support the hypothesis that abnormal nighttime secretion

of the hormone melatonin might influence the development of symptoms in

SAD

(Rosenthal et

al.,

1986). Despite these promising leads, there

sensus as to the cause of SAD or

SAD

how

light therapy

works

is

no con-

in the treatment

of

(Rosenthal, 1996).

Use of Light Therapy on Nonseasonal Depression

There

is

an extensive

literature

depression, but there are a

on the use of light therapy

number of unresolved methodological problems

these studies. Because of small sample

sizes,

imperfect control of the placebo effect,

short durations of treatment,

we cannot

say that light therapy

some

effective treatment for this condition. Nevertheless, there are

are designed well

enough

apy may prove useful in

for nonseasonal

was

an

to give us the encouraging impression that light ther-

this condition.

and reported positive

that bright light

is

studies that

For example, the group of Kripke and

colleagues studied the effects of light therapy in nonseasonal depression

extensively

in

and

significantly

results

more

(Kripke

effective

et al.,

1992).

most

They showed

than dim light in drug-free,

nonseasonally depressed patients after only one week of treatment. This suggests

an

earlier onset

of the antidepressant action than can be expected with

antidepressant medications (Kripke et

al.,

1992). Schuchardt and Kasper

(1993) studied nonseasonally depressed outpatients

from antidepressant medication

who had

not gotten

in a placebo-controlled trial. After four

relief

weeks

of treatment, the group treated with bright light exhibited a 53 percent decrease

of the depression scores, whereas there was just a 26 percent decrease in the

dim

light group.

light therapy,

The

results

of this study suggest that bright

might be a valuable addition

tant to medication alone. light therapy in

to

light,

drug treatment

Another study (Neumeister

et al.,

but not dim

in patients resis-

1996) looked

combination with a technique that has been useful

at

in treating

depression: partial sleep deprivation. Light therapy prolonged the antidepressant effects of partial sleep deprivation in the second half of the night for

seven days after sleep deprivation. This finding there

is

is

up

to

of clinical importance since

often a relapse of depression following the post-sleep deprivation recov-

ery night.

343

Light Therapies

REAL PEOPLE AND LIGHT THERAPY

A 43-year-old

schoolteacher was referred in

November

to the Seaso

Studies Program of the National Institute of Mental Health. She report-

ed a history of fatigue and depressed mood, which has been recurring regularly

during

fall

and winter

for the past

depressive episodes, she found

it

twenty

years.

in

all

increasingly difficult to get

morning from the beginning of October. This year difficulty concentrating

As

on her teaching

duties

previous

up

in the

in particular she

and had problems

nizing her family and herself. She had gained several

had

in orga-

pounds during the

recent weeks before presenting to our outpatient clinic, and described increased appetite, especially for starches, chocolate,

and noodles. During

by her

family, as well as her

The

grew up

all

her winter depressions, she

colleagues at school,

and she

felt

rejected

felt like

a failure.

patient

in the

southern United States and reported no depressive episodes during her

childhood and early adolescence. During her years farther north

and

started to develop

at college, she lived

symptoms of SAD

that led to regular difficulties at school during winter.

summer,

her

all

at school.

symptoms would

resolve; she

as described

During spring and

would once again succeed

During the winter, the patient withdrew from and unmotivated. She was too ashamed

table, tired,

others,

was

irri-

to discuss her prob-

lems with her family or her friends, believing that difficulties

above

all

people had

during winter and that she had no right to complain about

them. Consequently, she has never received a treatment for her depressive episodes. Family history revealed that her suffered

from regularly occurring depressive episodes that were not

ly linked to

ing this

mother and her brother

close-

any season. Since her symptoms were especially marked dur-

fall,

the patient consulted her physician,

several medical conditions, including

lems, but

also

all

who worked

her up for

mononucleosis and thyroid prob-

laboratory findings were normal. Considering the regular

occurrence of similar episodes during

fall

referred the patient to the National Institute

and winter, the physician of Mental Health.

Routine physical examination, including laboratory work and

Whole

The

344

Mind

electrocardiogram, revealed that the patient was free of any medical culties.

The patient was diagnosed

as suffering

from seasonal

order (SAD), and light therapy was initiated. She was instructed to front of a standard 10,000-lux light

the screen it

and her

paperwork or to read during for forty-five six

and nine

box with a distance of 45

She was asked to face the

eyes.

periodically but not to stare at

it.

light

diffi-

affective dis-

cm

sit in

between

box and glance

at

Rather, she was encouraged to do

light treatment. Light therapy

was prescribed

minutes both in the morning and in the evening between

o'clock.

her lunch break.

She was encouraged to spend time outdoors during

Her condition began

to

improve

after ten days

of light

treatment. Within two weeks, she reported feeling almost completely better.

She

restarted her exercise

program, which she usually undertook only

during spring and summer, and with continued light therapy the patient

remained well throughout the winter. She stopped middle of March, and remained

well,

light therapy in the

without treatment during summer.

In early September of the next year, the patient started light therapy as a

preventive measure before the development of her usual winter symp-

toms, and indeed, she succeeded in enjoying her

first

winter without

depression for years.

WHAT TO EXPECT Currently, standard light therapy, as practiced at the National Institute of

Mental Health, involves exposing the patients with intensity for forty-five minutes at a time, in the

although some controversy

(Lewy

et al.,

1987; Avery

exists

et al.,

way

1990; Sack et

light therapy

daily treatment depends

In

in the evening,

is

al.,

1990; Eastman et

et al., 1993).

There

is

al.,

1996;

considerable

administered and the optimal duration of

on the individual

patient, the time of the year,

and

is

given

takes about four to seven days until an antidepressant effect

is felt.

in divided doses it

10,000 lux light

morning and

the geographical location. Frequently, patients do best

Usually,

to

regarding the best timing for light treatments

Terman andTerman, 1996; Wirz-Justice variation in the

SAD

if light

therapy

through the day.

many cases where

light therapy does

not work within

this

time period, an

345

Light Therapies

might optimize treatment response.

increase in the duration of daily treatment

While there

is

general agreement that light treatment

effects (Gallin et al., 1995), the strain, increased irritability,

ment

is

and

is

often free of side

more common ones include headaches, sleep disturbances, especially

When

administered late at night.

when

eye-

the treat-

side effects occur, they are usually

mild and transient, and can be handled by decreasing the duration of treatments or increasing the distance between the light box and the eyes (Oren et

Although bright for treatment

light therapy has

of SAD (Terman

or completely successful

et al.,

outcome

1991).

been shown to be remarkably successful 1989), not

all

patients

after light therapy, so

have to be found. As noted above, the

first

show

a favorable

treatment alternatives

strategy for improving response

to increase the duration of treatment, but if light therapy alleviating the patient's depressive

al.,

symptoms,

is

unsuccessful in

would be reasonable

it

to try a

psychopharmacological treatment, either in conjunction with, or instead light therapy. Antidepressants

take inhibitors (SSRI),

1995), are

e.g.,

recommended

depressants can often be

from the group called

fluoxetine

as

(Lam

et

al.,

1995) or sertraline (Blashko,

treatments of first choice. Light therapy and anti-

combined with good

The dosage of SSRIs and

adding

light therapy.

ment and exposure cise has

effect.

SSRIs are associated with

outdoor for

HOW

and one controlled study of aerobic

light,

only effective

when

it is

exer-

Patients should be informed about the

SAD, and

especially about the fact that bright

applied daily in a sufficient duration.

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

A list of names of practitioners who in particular

Biological

on

specialize in treatment

SAD, can be obtained from

Rhythms (SLTBR),

dence of side cian

loss or

the level of side effects can be decreased by

its efficacy.

different treatment options for is

and weight

Anecdotal evidence supports the value of stress manage-

to

shown evidence

light therapy

of,

selective serotonin reup-

side effects such as sexual difficulties, changes in appetite,

gain.

is

effects

is

low,

of depression, and

the Society for Light Treatment and

listed in the

next section. Although the inci-

we strongly recommend

that patients see their physi-

a regular basis to ensure an optimal treatment response.

with very mild cases of

SAD

(Kasper

et al.,

1985)

themselves with enhanced environmental lighting, disorders, can be a serious condition qualified professional.

While

may be

SAD,

patients

able to treat

like all depressive

and should be treated with the help of a

The

346

Whole Mind

RESOURCES

The SLTBR

is

worldwide organization that includes

a

manufacturers of light boxes. There research

is

discussed. Information about light boxes

is

scientists, students,

an annual meeting where the

and

light visors

and

latest

can be

SLTBR.

obtained from the

Society for Light Treatment and

Biological Rhythms (SLTBR), Inc.

10200 West 44th

Wheat

Ridge,

Tel: (303)

Web

site:

Ave., Suite

304

CO 80033-2840

424-3697; Fax: (303) 422-8894 http://wvm.webscience.org/sltbr

E-mail: sltbr@resourcenter

NOSAD was developed to support the interests of patients with membership

NOSAD and

it

is

open

to patients, relatives, friends,

offers a newsletter,

Its

interested professionals.

information about treatment options for

organizes seminars for people interested in

NOSAD

and

SAD.

SAD,

SAD.

(National Organization

on Seasonal Affective Disorder) P.O.

Box 40190

Washington,

The

DC 20016

Internet has

become

a

good source of information regarding

light therapy, as well as alternative treatment options

groups and

facilities.

SAD

and

and other supporting

Following are some useful world wide web

sites:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

http://www.mentalhealth.eom/book/p40-sad.html#head_5 http://www.nyx.net/~lpuls/sadhome.html http://avocado.pc.helsinki.ri/--janne/sad.html

Correspondence about Rosenthal, M.D.,

this article

can be addressed to

at:

National Institute of Mental Health, Clinical Psychobiology Branch Building 10/Room 4S-239 Bethesda, 20892

MD

Tel: (301)

496-2141; Fax: (301) 496-5439

E-mail: [email protected]

Norman

E.

347

Light Therapies

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D.

L.

Murphy;

Moul; N. Ozaki; A.

J.

T. A.

Wehr; D. Garcia-Borreguero; D. A. Oren; D.

Snelbaker; and N. E. Rosenthal. "Effects of

E.

M-CPP

Infusions in Patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder and Healthy Controls:

Diurnal Responses and Nocturnal Regulatory Mechanisms." Arch Gen Psychiatry (in press).

Society of Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms. "Consensus Statement Efficacy of Light Treatment for

SAD." LTBR Bull 3 (1990): 5-9.

on the

Whole

The

350

Terman, M.;

J. S.

Terman;

Rafferty. "Light

M.

Mc

Grath;

J.

W.

for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

A

Review of Efficacy."

F.

Therapy

Mind

Quitkin;

P. J.

Stewart; and B.

Neuropsychopharmacology 2 (1989): 1—22.

Terman, M.,

J. S.

Terman, and B.

Rafferty.

"Experimental Designs and Measures of

Success in the Treatment of Winter Depression by Bright Light." Psychopharma-

4 (1990): 505-510.

cology Bull 26, no.

Terman, M., and J.

Terman. "A Multi-year Trial of Bright Light and Negative Ions."

S.

SLTBR Abstracts 8 van Cauter,

(1996):

E.; J. Sturis;

L'Hermite-Baleriaux;

1.

M. M.

J.

D. Blackman; R. Leproult; G. Ofek; M.

W.

Turek; and O. van Reeth. "Demonstration

Byrne;

S. Refetoff; F.

of Rapid Light-induced Advances and Delays of the Using Hormonal Phase Markers."

Wehr, T. A.; H. A. Giesen; Kelly; S. Kasper;

M.

P.

and N.

Am J Physiol 266

Schulz;

Depression and Winter Depression." Wirz-Justice, A.;

P.

J.

(1994):

Anderson;

L.

E. Rosenthal. "Contrasts

Human

J.

Circadian Clock

E953-E963.

R. Joseph- Vanderpool; K.

Between Symptoms of Summer

J Affect Disord 23

(1991): 173-183.

Graw; K. Krauchi; B. M. Gisin; A. Jochum; J. Arendt; H. U.

Fisch;

C. Buddeberg; and W. Poldinger. "Light Therapy in Seasonal Affective Disorder is

Independent of Time of Day or Circadian Phase." Arch Gen Psychiatry 50

(1993): 929-937.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Alexander Neumeister, M.D., was born in Vienna, Austria. training

and received

his

M.D. from Vienna

He came to

his

medical

University in 1990. Immediately

afterward, he began his residency in Psychiatry at the

Psychiatry at Vienna University.

He did

Department of General

the Clinical Psychobiology Branch

of the National Institute of Mental Health in September, 1996, supported by a fellowship from the Austrian Science Foundation. Austria and continues his

work

started his scientific career sion, in particular

at

Vienna

affective disorder,

treatment modalities for depression, such tion.

University.

and has focused on the

on seasonal

He

as light

His work has been published in the leading

has since returned to

During

his residency,

he

biological basis of depres-

and on nonpharmacologic therapy and sleep depriva-

scientific journals,

including

The Archives of General Psychiatry. Dr. Neumeister has received national and international awards for his scientific work, including the Raffaelson Fellowship

Award

in 1996.

351

Light Therapies

Norman

Rosenthal, M.D., was born in South Africa.

and received

training

Johannesburg.

He

his

M.D. from

New

He

is

the University of Witwatersrand in

1

976, and was resident and chief resident in

He came to

currently chief of the section

Recognized

as a

NIMH in

book on the

Seasonal Affective Disorder

effects

— What

It Is

and How

book chapters on the

subject of mood disorders

as advisor

Psychiatry.

of the seasons on

mood

Dr. Rosenthal has writ-

to

Overcome

and

It

(Guilford

biological rhythms.

Therapy and Biological

on the DSM-III-R and

disorders. Dr. Rosenthal has also

been

DSM-IV task forces

in part-time private practice

He has received a number of honors for Anna Monika Foundation Prize in 1991.

for the past fifteen years.

including the prestigious

there

has also written or co-authored over 175 articles and

past president of the Society for Light

Rhythms, and has served

on mood

effects

of light,

He

is

979 and has worked

subject for the general public, Winter Blues:

Publications, 1993).

He

1

on Environmental

worldwide authority on the

and behavior, and on the antidepressant ten a well-known

medical

York State Psychiatric Institute and the Columbia

Presbyterian Medical Center. since.

his

did his internship at the Johannesburg General Hospital,

emigrated to the United States in psychiatry at the

He had

his

work,

David Briscoe

Macrobiotic Diet:

24

WHAT

IS

Whole Foodfor a Whole Mind

MACROBIOTICS?

Macrobiotics

is

an approach to living based on understanding the natural order

of life. Natural order, according to the macrobiotic view,

is

the ever-changing

interplay of complementary opposite energies within our environment, body,

and mind. This interplay produces aspects of life,

by extreme illness

including physical

lifestyle habits

a

dynamic balance and harmony

and mental

health.

in all

When this balance is upset

and by consumption of poor quality food, physical

and/or mental deterioration

result.

When we consciously align

ourselves

with the natural order by applying macrobiotic principles to our daily living

and

eating,

we become

true physical health

The

first

and

the masters of our real

mental

step in macrobiotics

and vegetables,

is

own

vitality.

changing to a diet based on whole grains

in order to establish a healthy

healthy body and clear mind,

destiny, steadily establishing

we can go on

body and

clear

mind. With a

to solve our difficulties, turning

sickness into health, enemies into friends, sadness into happiness,

and

frustra-

tion into fulfillment.

In the macrobiotic view of mental health, psychological states are mainly a reflection of

blood quality and internal physical condition. These things are

primarily determined by the food create

and maintain true and

day with

this in

we

lifelong

eat daily. Consequently, if you

mental health, you must

mind.

35?

select

want

to

food each

353

Macrobiotic Diet

Food

is

an important aspect of macrobiotics, but there

Another part of macrobiotic practice

that.

living that are

more

and healthy

natural

is

to

make

is

more

choices in

for the individual

to

all

and the

than

it

realms of

earth.

This

includes choices about the kind of clothes one wears and the kind of personal

health care products one uses. Living a personal resources wisely

and without waste

is

life

a very important

that uses the earth's

component of macrobi-

otic practice.

The

macrobiotic

way

her

sibility for his or

also encourages each

life.

When we

do

this,

person to take personal respon-

we begin

to live creatively

and

without blaming other people, germs, bacteria, pollution, parents, or

freely,

bad luck

for

our mistakes and misfortune. In the macrobiotic way, there are no

excuses for illness

and unhappiness; these

are seen as the result of each person's

own actions and choices. The heart of macrobiotic practice is accepting responsibility for one's own life without guilt or shame, and transforming it through personal effort and dedication.

and problems ends

nesses, life

anyone who

for

The macrobiotic road through

in happiness, health,

cares to travel

it all

difficulties,

ill-

and deep comprehension of

the way.

Until recently, the general macrobiotic view of psychotherapy was strongly

influenced by

its

who came from a culture and generation nor had much understanding of its potential

founding teachers,

that rarely used psychotherapy,

benefits to people of other cultures

and generations. As

teachings of macrobiotics naturally didn't say

a result, the traditional

much about

seeking professional

psychological help for mental and emotional problems. However,

new

now

that a

generation of Western-born macrobiotic teachers are stepping forward,

more and more of them recognize the value of professional psychotherapy those

who need

it.

It is

hoped

mental health professionals biotics.

that

more

will gain

psychiatrists, psychologists,

for

and other

knowledge and understanding of macro-

Psychotherapy combined with macrobiotic dietary practice can be a

very effective partnership.

HOW

IT

BEGAN

The macrobiotic philosophy and in the

1940s by a Japanese

dietary approach

was introduced to the West

man named George Ohsawa. Ohsawa

developed

macrobiotic philosophy out of traditional Eastern medical theory and cosmology.

He became famous

but to science,

for

its

application not only to nutrition and healing,

politics, sociology,

psychology, and

many other

realms of life.

According to Ohsawa, the macrobiotic way of eating tradition that

200

Whole

The

354

400

to

humanity practiced

all

Ohsawa

years.

for

is

based on the dietary

thousands of years up until the

that if we go back to

whole grains

He

as

and

ecological

and

real

ways of eating.

movement

over the globe and hundreds of thousands of

all

principles. Macrobiotics has

its

taught

lifestyle are

Today, the macrobiotic approach has grown into a worldwide

with centers and communities

He

our primary food, we will establish

also taught that macrobiotic diet

the most economical, nourishing,

people living by

last

taught that whole grains have always been the most

important main food of all humanity, not only of Eastern people.

health and well-being.

Mind

been a major influence on the

natural foods industry, the alternative medicine community, the organic agri-

culture the

movement, government food

new dietary views of major health

policies of the last

two decades, and

organizations such as the American Can-

American Heart Association, and the American Dietetics

cer Society, the

Association.

HOW

WORKS

IT

In the macrobiotic view, our blood so if we

want

our blood

body

to

is

change anything about ourselves, we must consider changing

quality.

From our blood come our body

and

The

tissue,

internal organs.

and nervous system determine our selves.

the source of our health and well-being,

Our

cells

including nerve

cells,

health and proper function of our brain

ability to judge, think,

and express our-

emotions, behavior, attitude, and outlook are also affected by the

function of our brain and nervous system. If our blood

is

of poor quality and

contains chemicals and other substances that interfere with or weaken the function of the brain

and nervous system, then

sions, expressions,

Where

and emotions

does blood

transformation of the

food we

eat.

body organs =

attitude,

and so on.

If we

want

to their

plain

and simple. Blood

is

a direct

quality of the food will determine the

simply: food = blood =

body

cells

to

make

=

body

tis-

a long-lasting beneficial change in any

cells, tissue,

organs, emotions, or behavior,

primary source, daily food consumption.

genetics, family circumstances,

and mental

The

—

physical condition, thoughts, emotions, actions, behavior,

health condition of the blood,

must go back

it

of our thoughts, dreams, deci-

be effected adversely.

come from? Food

quality of the blood. So, to put

sue =

will

all

and upbringing do play

It is

we

true that

a role in our physical

health, but according to the macrobiotic view,

working on these

355

Macrobiotic Diet

areas alone as a

provide

little

means

in the

changing the daily

to mental health, without

way of long-lasting

diet,

may

results.

According to the macrobiotic approach, food provides two types of nourishment: 1.

Basic nutrition. This

with already, and

it

is

many of us

the kind of nutrition that

includes the protein,

fat,

are familiar

carbohydrate, vitamin, and

mineral content of food.

Consuming foods

and refined carbohydrates

leads to chronically elevated levels of acid in the

that are high in protein,

fat,

blood. According to macrobiotic principles, over time this blood acidity causes chronic fatigue, mental sluggishness, moodiness,

and weak function

of all body organs, including the brain and nervous system. Numerous emotional and mental disturbances

weakened

arise

internal physical state that

Also, foods

and

it

from

this acidified

causes.

soft drinks that are

loaded with simple sugars such as

white sugar and honey are

known

which can lead

blood sugar disturbance, causing

to chronic

blood and the

to upset the body's glucose metabolism,

This has been widely reported in the news and in

many

mood

swings.

scientific publica-

tions during the last twenty years. 2.

Yin and yang nutrition. Each food has a unique quality that makes ferent

from any

grows

in,

whether

etable origin,

determine tion after

other. it

dif-

How a food is grown, where it is grown, the season it

grows slowly or quickly, whether

and what kind of sodium/potassium

how a particular

it is

it

food

affects

it is

ratio

of animal or vegit

contains, will

the blood, body, and mental condi-

consumed. In the macrobiotic view,

all

things, including food,

can be divided into two opposite categories, called yin and yang.

On

the

following page are examples of some of the foods in each of these categories.

Foods from the yang category, when consumed often, can lead to aggression, tension, violence, victimizing,

and domineering behavior. Foods from the

yin category can lead to spaced-out behavior, mental fatigue, lack of concentration, life

and other mental and emotional conditions characterized by

direction

and mental weakness. The foods

in these

two categories

sidered to be very imbalanced in terms of yin/yang nutrition

contributors to mental illness and emotional imbalance.

and

When

loss

of

are con-

are

major

a person eats

foods from the yang category he or she will also crave foods from the yin cate-

gory and vice versa. Opposites always

attract.

The

356

Yang Foods

Whole

Mind

357

Macrobiotic Diet

Institute

of Technology (MIT), whole grains and other foods high in complex

carbohydrates have the ability to increase the brain's intake of tryptophan, an

amino

acid that aids in lifting depression

According to istry

Tom

Monte,

"It

is

becoming increasingly

and function can be influenced by a

One

and improving

sleep (Kushi, 1987).

clear that brain

chem-

single meal" (Kushi, 1987).

study found a seventy percent rate of chronic hypoglycemia in diag-

nosed schizophrenics, and another found an astonishing ninety percent hypoglycemia rate in a group of seven hundred neurotic patients (Goleman, 1988). Dr. Stephen Harnish (1988), a

macrobiotics had benefited severely mentally

many of his

who were

reported that

chronically and

one detention home when the sugar content of

and beverages was covertly reduced.

Other research inal

patients

Dr. Stephen Shoenthaler (1982) reported positive changes

ill.

in the behavior of juveniles in their foods

New Hampshire psychiatrist,

behavior

is

related to the role of the macrobiotic diet in reducing crim-

too extensive to mention here. For a complete report of these

one conducted with patients from the psychiatric ward of

projects, including

Shattuck Hospital of Boston, and for case histories of individuals whose behavior

was changed by

a macrobiotic diet, please read

Crime and Diet by Michio

Kushi ctaL (1987).

REAL PEOPLE AND MACROBIOTICS

In 1967, at the age of seventeen, trists

and psychologists

the next five years

on

I

was diagnosed by a team of psychia-

in Kansas City as paranoid schizophrenic.

daily doses of Thorazine, Stelazine,

other medications whose

names

I

and

have long since forgotten.

time locked up

in psychiatric wards.

should prepare for a that, after they likely

end up

frightened.

I

in

life

sort

to serve as

of institution.

didn't care about

much

I

away to

and

I

spent

parents were told that they

of taking care of me well into their old

became too old

some

My

spent

a parade of

ran

I

the then hippie paradise of Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco

I

my custodians,

I

age,

and

would most

was extremely withdrawn and

of anything except hiding in

my

Whole

The

358

room and

my

listening to

know

relieved to

stereo for hours

on end.

was unconsciously

I

with the doctors' diagnosis,

that,

Mind

I

had

a

stamp of

approval to go on living without responsibility or accountability for life

and

felt

sorry for

actions.

nale for

I

was very lazy and

me or guilty about me,

my behavior

my fears,

I

and withdrawal.

and

anxieties,

let

so

my

parents take care

could use I

my

of me. They

my diagnosis as a ratio-

withdrew more and more into

bizarre inner world.

I

stayed in their

home and

attempted to function normally while under the steady doses of medica-

do happen, though. In 1972, an acquaintance

tion. Miracles

about the macrobiotic I

didn't

pay

much

was strangely

somehow and tle

I

I

satisfied

my

changes in

easy

a year,

and

thought

with

it.

I

it

my own

it

After

my life

became more and more

all, I

wasn't searching for a cure.

of dependence on

my

I

parents, but

interested in the macrobiotic diet, little, I

began to notice sub-

my

thinking started to clear gradually.

no longer needed

to take the medications. Slowly but

few

years,

I

became a

healthier person. It

was not immediate. There were

but they didn't

me

was some kind of health cult and

meals. Little by

mind, and

surely over the next all

I

attention to

began cooking

Within

diet.

told

last as

long as before.

I

still

was not

at

many ups and downs,

slowly and painfully emerged from

my shell and very gradually became a seasoned public speaker, something that still seems unbelievable considering my former state of withdrawal and have told

fear. I

went on to

six children. I

my parents

I

finish college

have already done

would not be able

was the key to changing that diet can't robiotics.

be.

I

The

and became a schoolteacher.

make

all

my early doctors know that changing my diet

the things that

to do.

I

my life. The doctors and

psychologists

who

a difference in mental health should learn about

They would then understand how powerful

am endlessly grateful

following case study

now

I

real

mac-

whole food can

to macrobiotics.

is

excerpted from the Vega

News (Miller, 1976):

On the first day of tenth grade, James experienced an anxiety attack. of vomiting accompanied the attack. This was the

with mental

illness.

say

start

Fits

of a seven year bout

By the age of 16 he experienced numerous stomach

359

Macrobiotic Diet

troubles

and developed an

ulcer.

He began

medications for these and

other physical problems and the doctor also prescribed Stelazine, an antipsychotic drug occasionally used for nonpsychotic anxiety. During the

summer of his sophomore

year,

he experienced a nervous breakdown

and kept himself sedated with the prescription medication while attending weekly sessions with a psychiatrist. During this time, Gregory also

began

a ten-year battle

drinks,

He

with a terrible case of acne.

and other junk food. None of the doctors or

mentioned

diet as a contributing factor in his physical

loved sugar, soft

psychiatrists ever

and psychological

problems. As he entered eleventh grade, his problems worsened and

Gregory

felt as

though he was going

Thorazine and then

Elavil,

to crack.

and Gregory

also

The

doctors prescribed

began to experiment with

drugs and alcohol. His condition deteriorated to the point of attempting suicide.

He was now 20

friend gave

him

a

copy of a macrobiotic book.

biotic diet for ten days live

years old. After getting out of the hospital, a

an increasingly more normal

experiencing a better

He

tried a simple

and experienced incredible

life

life.

results.

Within four

years,

macro-

He began

to

Gregory was

than he ever thought possible.

WHAT TO EXPECT

When you begin ate very high tal

blood

condition.

and the

using nutritionally complete and balanced foods, you can crequality,

You must be

which

to a wise

much

better physically

Changing

diet, as the

after

changing

blood quality has

and personal habits presents many

Most of them can gradually be overcome when

takes a gentle

However, many people

good food.

lifelong dietary patterns

and thoughtful approach

quickly into macrobiotics, or

your physical and men-

best changes are gradual ones

and mentally soon

and personally appropriate macrobiotic

already been improved by the

it,

The

internal condition doesn't change overnight.

have reported feeling

lenges.

will positively effect

patient, though.

if you

to

become

a person

making changes.

fanatical

If

is

chal-

patient

and

you rush too

and narrow-minded about

the benefits of this kind of practice are reduced. Steadiness and continuity

The

360

Whole Mino

are essential, but if you backslide or get off track, don't despair. Just to

come back

your macrobiotic practice and continue on. Macrobiotic counseling sessions can cost from $100 to $350 each, depend-

ing on the experience of the counselor. There

is

no predetermined number of

Most people have one or two

sessions that are necessary.

sessions, while others

may need regular follow-up sessions over a period of a year or two. This is determined by the I

highly

client

and the counselor.

recommend attending macrobiotic cooking classes

from experienced and qualified

instructors. Macrobiotics

do-it-yourself approach, but if you can receive

ning,

you can

establish a firm footing for

in order to learn is

good instruction

your practice. Also,

if

primarily a in the begin-

you can con-

nect with macrobiotic communities and individuals in your area, this will be very supportive of your

HOW TO It is

own

practice.

FIND A MACROBIOTIC COUNSELOR

essential that people

who

have been taking medication or drugs receive

guidance and support in their transition to macrobiotic practice from their personal doctor and a qualified macrobiotic counselor with experience in help-

ing people

who

have been taking psychiatric medication or other long-term

Do

not stop taking your medication to go directly into a macrobi-

medication.

otic practice.

Take a wise and steady approach under the supervision of your

doctor and a qualified macrobiotic counselor. Individuals

who

have been expe-

riencing psychotic episodes, hallucinations, or extreme emotional states should

wait until their state of practice.

and

mind

is

more

stable before beginning a macrobiotic

Then, they should only proceed under the supervision of their doctor

a qualified macrobiotic counselor.

A qualified macrobiotic counselor is a person who has gained much rience

and formal training

in macrobiotic counseling at

major macrobiotic schools. Some

also receive training

There

are

one of the country's

through apprenticeship

with senior macrobiotic counselors. If you are in doubt

of a particular counselor, you can

expe-

as to the qualifications

the macrobiotic centers listed below.

call

two major macrobiotic

residential centers in the U.S.

They

are

both long-established and offer a variety of classes, residential study programs, mail order service for foods, books, cooking supplies, and other macrobiotic services. Call

them

for information

individuals in your local area:

and

for possible referrals to macrobiotic

361

Macrobiotic Diet

The Vega Macrobiotic

The Kushi

Study Center

P.

1511 Robinson

Becket,

St.

CA 95965

Oroville,

Institute

O. Box 7

MA

Tel: (800)

1

223-0007

645-8744

818-8342 or

Tel: (800)

(916) 533-4777

As of this writing there ics.

However,

I

hope

no macrobiotic mental health hospitals or

are

that in the future the mental health

community will

ognize the value of macrobiotic practice and begin to develop such

Any mental

clin-

rec-

facilities.

health practitioners or organizations interested in incorporating

macrobiotic principles into their program or

who would like more informame at the Vega Study

tion or are interested in sponsoring seminars can contact

Center address above.

HOW TO LEARN MORE Aihara, C.

The Calendar Cookbook. Oroville, CA: George Ohsawa Macrobiotic

Foundation, 1979. Aihara,

H. Acid and Alkaline.

Oroville,

CA: George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation,

1986. Aihara, H. and C. Aihara. Natural Healing from

Avery Publishing Group, Briscoe,

Inc.,

J.

Toe.

Garden City

Park,

NY:

A Personal Peace: Macrobiotic Reflections New York: Japan Publications, 1989.

D. and C. Mahoney-Briscoe.

Mental and Emotional Recovery. Ferre,

Head to

1994.

Basic Macrobiotic Cooking. Oroville,

on

CA: George Ohsawa Macrobiotic

Foundation, 1987.

Goleman, D. "Food and Brain: Disorders." The

Harnish,

S.

New

Psychiatrists Explore

York Times,

"On My Awakening

Macrobiotics, edited

March

to the Macrobiotic

by Edward Esko,

M. Crime and Diet. New York: Japan

Miller,

G. "Whole Foods Saved S. L.

Connor; J.

and Depression

F.

My Life." Hollis;

Publications, 1988.

Publications, 1987.

Vega

and W.

in Relation to Dietary

in Treating

Way." In Doctors Look at

New York: Japan

Kushi,

Weidner; G.;

1,

Use of Nutrients

1988.

News 8 E.

(1976): 2.

Connor. "Improvements in Hostility

Change and Cholesterol Lowering." The

Family Heart Study. Annals ofInternal Medicine

1

17, no. 10 (1992):

820-823.

TheWholeMind

362

ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Briscoe became an internationally known macrobiotic selor,

coun-

and chef after recovering from schizophrenia through the application of

macrobiotic dietary principles. Reflections

He

is

co-author of A Personal Peace: Macrobiotic

on Mental and Emotional Recovery. Before becoming a leading mac-

robiotic advocate, he as

teacher,

was a teacher

an actor and director.

He

at the

high school and college

has appeared on

levels, as

numerous radio and

well

television

shows and before medical audiences throughout the U.S. and abroad, sharing the macrobiotic ogists eral

and

way with

all

who

are interested.

He

is

a consultant to psychol-

psychiatrists as well as other medical professionals.

manager of the Vega Study Center

leading macrobiotic schools.

in Oroville,

David

is

CA, one of the

the gen-

world's

William J. Kaplanidis, M.A.,

C.R.C., L.Ac.,

M.T.O.M.

Martial Arts and Mental Wellness

25

WHAT ARE THE MARTIAL ARTS? Martial arts

is

a broad term that incorporates

many

different fighting systems

from various countries around the world. Perhaps the more well known or popular martial arts

come from Asian

where global information exchange

Philippines, but in today's world easier,

countries; China, Japan, Korea,

and the is

much

martial arts from other areas such as Europe, Africa, South America,

the Middle

and Near East

and

are gaining recognition.

Martial arts training can include a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual exercises,

and some incorporate various training methods

like

Qigong

(pronounced chi kung), yoga, meditation, and acupressure.

The

various training methods in the martial arts are not only helpful

against physical attacks by others but can be applied to helping people face internal struggles as well. Studying the martial arts can be a process of self-

exploration, self-expression, learn

The

how

to

overcome obstacles

self-cultivation.

in life

As training progresses you

through discipline and

self confidence.

martial arts can help people cope with various emotional problems such

as irritability, anger, anxiety,

gies

and

trauma, abuse, and depression. Martial arts strate-

can be applied to breaking bad habits, dealing with feelings of frustration

or helplessness, severe stress, self-esteem (Wing, 1988).

and improving motivation,

discipline,

and

Whole Mind

The

364

One

also

can use the martial

arts as a

way

to honestly

and

oneself.

Sometimes

feelings

of anger and aggression, which we tend to view

in the initial stages

creatively express

of training people get in touch with

such feelings can be difficult to express. Martial

arts

as negative.

can provide a forum for

Through

the expression, release, and transformation of these and other feelings. training, people can get in

Often,

touch with feelings and emotions that can be

fur-

ther explored in individual psychotherapy. This can be very helpful in cases

where a person

Many

feels a

block or

feels a

need for extra support.

martial arts schools offer programs for children as

seven years old. Martial arts training has

many

young

as six or

positive effects for self-esteem,

concentration, and overall behavior through teaching discipline and respect.

HOW

IT

BEGAN

Historically, martial arts

or to protect one's particularly of

self,

emphasized military and fighting aspects used in war

family, country, etc.

Over the

China and Japan, incorporated

health-promoting components. Each martial

and

cultural roots.

Many of the martial

Islamic, Confucian,

In Japan

we

arts

centuries, the martial arts,

religious, philosophical,

art has its

own unique

and

historical

developed in China have Buddhist,

andTaoist (pronounced: daoist) influences (Deng, 1990).

also see

Shintoism or the

Way

of the Gods

as a

major influence

(Random, 1977). In both these cultures, martial arts became a

Warriors of China and the Samurais of Japan have

The Scholar with many methods

way of

left

us

life.

of training and understanding that can be applied to our contemporary culture.

For example, there are translations of Miyamoto Mushashi's The Book of

Five Rings and gies

Sun Tzu's The Art ofWar that

and philosophies can be applied

describe

how classic

to success in business

and

martial strate-

in relationships

in general.

After guns and other tial arts

had

to adapt to

fit

modern weaponry came society,

discipline, self-cultivation,

into

common

emphasizing their benefits

and almost any aspect of a

in

use, the

terms of health,

person's

life.

the martial arts continue to be practiced around the world. In

seeing another period of increased interest.

arts in the

Presently

China today

there are organizations preserving the martial arts. In the late 1960s

1970s there was a surge of interest in the martial

mar-

and

U.S. Today,

early

we

are

Martial Arts

HOW

IT

365

and Mental Wellness

WORKS

Martial arts training can help one find balance between physical and mental, inner and outer, personal and social responsibilities (Deng, 1990). All martial arts

have a component of self-defense that can help an individual physically and

Some schools may emphasize training as

mentally defend against violent attacks. a sport and as a

method of physical fitness. However, a complete martial art should

combine spiritual

strength, mental power, technical proficiency,

and physical

strength to help people reach their greatest possible potential (Ochiai, 1991).

There

are

hundreds of martial

art styles,

each emphasizing various aspects

of mind/body/spirit training. Chinese martial classifications: external

and

arts are often

divided into two

internal schools. External schools, the

most famous

being from the Shaolin Temple, emphasize a more physically demanding type

of exercise; while internal schools such as Xingyiquan ("Hsing

I

Ch'uan"), Pa

Kua Chang ("Baguazhang"), T'ai Chi Ch'uan ("Taijiquan"), and Liuhebafa emphasize the use of the mind and positioning over physical strength. Regardless of which

style

both the external and I

have

would

made

internal.

like to clarify that Eastern

A

is

no true separation of mind and body.

constant, because

Many of us it

way of self-cultivation, but

approaches to

basic teaching in

changing (Suzuki, 1983). is

There

references to the martial arts as a

Western viewpoint.

that

training will usually lead to an understanding of

you choose, the

Zen

in the

is

self are different

that everything

West

is

I

than our

constantly

try to cling to a sense

of self

no ego

in the

gives us a sense of security.

"There

is

sense of an enduring, unchanging private soul or personality that temporarily inhabits the body" (Erlich, 1986). illusion

and

to

go beyond

Our

everyday self is seen in Buddhism as an

this state to a

more

un-self-conscious

way of being

can be a liberating experience. Part of applying these principles to martial training

the

is

learning

moment.

It is

how

to

go beyond one's ego and

a process

Many

discipline

bad

and perseverance.

habits)

and make

(Deng, 1990).

it

is

It is

peace with one's

Of course

the doing of them rather than is

no experiencer

these higher levels

come through

no actor but the

but the experience" (Lee, 1975).

at

masters describe themselves as "just

doing" with no sense of self or ego. "The point is

action; there

(e.g.,

from

become whatever you want

to be

discipline that will liberate

possible for

you

arts

to be fully present in

of letting go and becoming

mind, body, and the environment.

the accomplishments. There

how

to

you

Whole

The

366

An

important principle found in Taoism

of opposing

the idea of yin and yang as pairs

is

For example, yin can be seen

qualities.

yang can be seen

ing, while

as male, light,

and

sented by the popular T'ai Chi symbol, which

Figure 1. The

T'ai

Chi

Mind

as female, dark,

active.

is

and

yield-

Yin and yang are repre-

shown

in Figure

1

symbol representing yin and yang.

T'ai Chi Ctiuan as a martial art

embodies the philosophy of yin and yang.

For example, yin and yang can be applied to yielding and striking, and the har-

mony

of body and

mind

training. In the

things while ignoring the other. side while

denying

are seen as

his

female

two separate

that oppose

An

West we tend

example

is

a

man who

side. In general, in the

parts of the

self.

to focus

on one

sees

West, the

side of

only his male

mind and body

Yin and yang are two equal powers

and yet compliment each other

(Liao, 1990).

They

represent the

and balancing yin and yang can

duality of our self-existence. Understanding

help us go beyond our conditioned ego and reach a state of higher self or universal consciousness.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS The

physical and mental benefits of the martial arts are described in

books and research Weiser

et al.

articles.

Following

is

many

a sampling of the findings.

(1995) mention that martial

arts

enhance self-esteem through

the provision of physical activity and group experience, as well as the teaching

of relaxation, concentration, assertiveness, directiveness, and honesty in communication. Martial

arts are

noted to be a form of therapy

as well as a useful

supplement to verbal psychotherapy.

Some of the

research regarding the psychological aspects of martial arts

training shows that longer training time

change. For example, Kurian et

al.

is

closely related to seeing positive

(1993) note that groups of people

trained longer in Taekivondo scored significantly lower

who

on anxiety and higher

Martial Arts and Mental Wellness

367

on independence questionnaires than those who had ences. Daniels

over time

and Thornton (1992) suggest

briefer training experi-

that participation in martial arts

associated with decreased hostility. Skelton et

is

significant inverse relationship

between

children's

al.

(1991) indicate a

Taekwondo rank and

their

aggression, implying a decrease in aggression with training time.

A pilot study by Gleser et al.

(1992) found that a modified judo practice

for seven blind, mentally retarded children with associated neuropsychiatric

disturbances helped with improvements in physical health, as well as psychosocial attitude.

T'ai

Chi may be the most well known martial

and mental

health.

Although most of the

cusses cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal,

art that benefits

literature

both physical

about T'ai Chi training dis-

and other physical

benefits, T'ai

Chi

is

known for its positive effects on mental health. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, the mind and body are not separated in ancient traditions and physical also

benefits can

improve mental health and vice versa.

Chi and computerized balance training

investigated T'ai

and

falls in

One study by Wolf et al. ( 1 996) in reducing frailty

older people. In addition to finding medical benefits of T'ai Chi,

researchers noted psychosocial benefits such as a reduction in the fear of falling.

Edward C. Chang (1985)

discusses the various healing aspects of T'ai Chi,

including relieving neurosis and depression through calming the cerebral cortex,

and

effectively treating

both anxiety and depression by producing a proper

balance between sympathetic excitation and inhibition.

Although

I

feel it is difficult to

analyze Eastern disciplines and healing sys-

tems from a Western perspective due to fundamental cultural and philosophical differences,

I

believe

number of people best of East

see

we

will see

more

integrative studies as an increasing

and experience the unlimited potential of combining the

and West.

REAL PEOPLE AND THE MARTIAL ARTS

Having been involved

in T'ai

Chi

as a

student and teacher,

I

have seen

both subtle and radical changes in people's mental health. Over the I

have noticed gradual changes in classmates

who

initially

years,

were perceived

as

Whole

The

368

Mind

having aggressive and ego-centered personalities. They gradually

became more suffer

selfless,

from chronic anxiety have reported

and more changed

One

in control of themselves.

studies both T'ai their

who

kind, and understanding individuals. People

Chi and Aikido,

minds about

a sense of being calmer

my former classmates, who

how some would-be muggers

related

assaulting

me

to

of

him

after

he met

their threat

with a

me

unable

calm and welcoming manner.

When to

I

was a teenager, a number of sports

walk without some

told that

sort

would never be

I

walk with a cane the

rest

age of forty. Because

I

of external supports

of my

to participate in the activities rage, anger, sadness,

and

life,

and believed

I

I

loved most.

frustration,

I

As

ability to

do

just

some of the

martial arts because spirit.

I

balance

I

It

was

largely

me

at a

time

my physical

ticing the slow

I

had

loved,

when

would choose

I

hopeless, angry,

felt

I I

me

moving T'ai Chi form,

squirrels

how

would often stop

to apply the T'ai

rating push-hands

(a

I

watch

Chi philosophy

spiritually.

my teachers were very

the guidance

began to

to

and

feel

I

needed. By prac-

calmer and more

me to

as

I

at

Neighborhood did

my life,

my

form.

and incorpo-

type of sparring done with a partner) and medita-

obstacles into challenges that

some

the

gathered the strength and

limitations at that time,

tion as parts of my training, helped

learn

Chi and med-

that if I could regain the

peace, with a special connection to the world around me.

Learning

by the

my physical

needed a way to express

I

felt

through T'ai Chi that

supportive and encouraging, giving

and

arthritis

that

needed for healing myself physically, mentally, and

Despite

cats

would

understood that they trained the body, mind, and

This motivated

depressed.

things that

was

I

total being. T'ai I

I

my mind became filled with

realized

me to do just that.

became a way for

canes.

my inability to walk or

was devastated by

and heal myself that would incorporate my itation

and

like braces

and be crippled with

active child,

was,

I

left

able to participate in sports again, that

was an

body was much of who

had

injuries

life lessons.

I

me

transform

many

difficulties

could overcome, and from which

Through

these Eastern practices,

prove the Western prognoses wrong, and to do things

I

never do again, such as walking, punching, and kicking.

I

I

and

could

was able

was told

I

to

would

Martial Arts and Mental Wellness

Jerry, a

47-year-old male

369

who became

wife, decided to try T'ai Chi.

ance in their

At

lives.

first,

He had

depressed after separating from his

heard

it

could help people find bal-

Jerry seemed enthusiastic and motivated

to

study T'ai Chi. But he soon began to experience performance anxiety and

would not be coordinated enough. These

the fear that he

him and he began

control over the class.

He

to

make

excuses for not participating in

began to ask the teacher to make special arrangements for

him, such as not having his classmates in the room strating his form.

give in to

all

The

when he was demon-

teacher gave Jerry the space he needed but did not

demands. The teacher was nonjudgmental and encour-

his

aged Jerry to continue his practice and simply do his to be a perfectionist

After about four

best. Jerry

seemed

and was very concerned about impressing the

teacher.

months of practicing just

part of the yang style T'ai

form, Jerry reported significant changes in his the teacher as well. Jerry seemed

motivated it

easier to

as

much

mood

brighter,

Chi

that were obvious to

more

at ease,

and more

he began to study the movements in greater detail and found

perform the

set.

Jane, a 28-year-old single

woman, sought

to sexual abuse she suffered as a child.

when

abuse began

gained

fears

help in resolving issues related

Her uncle was

the perpetrator.

The

she was five and continued for several years. Although

Jane appeared to be doing well, working full-time, and leading a normal life,

the aftermath of the abuse affected her intimate relationships as well

as her

menstrual cycle. Feelings of anger, rage,

fear, guilt, anxiety,

hatred kept her from being free to love and express herself fully. progress was this author,

made through acupuncture,

but

it

herbs,

was through her involvement

and

Much

and hypnotherapy with

in a

women's

self-defense

known as "Model Mugging" that Jane further transformed herself. Some of the benefits of this physical, psychological, and martial arts trainclass

ing were that she

felt

ed others to protect

stronger her.

and more confident. She no longer expect-

Rage and anger were no longer paralyzing

Whole Mind

The

370

emotions. She learned

how to

accept these emotions and channel them

There has been a

constructively.

improvement

significant

in her intimate

relationships as well as her ability to maintain her personal boundaries.

One can life's

change in

see a definite

changes.

It

how she carries herself and how she

faces

has been a year since she took that class and she contin-

ues to be grateful for

and aware of the many

benefits.

13D Heather

is

a 40-year-old

riences stress

a week, studying,

working part-time, and

overthinking, poor

of her daily

mother of two and a graduate student. She expe-

from commuting over an hour each way to school

life.

days

Worry, anxiety,

memory, and poor concentration have become

part

After eight weeks of Qigong classes, Heather noticed that

on Mondays

after

Monday was

just as hectic as

her Qigong class,

through the day with

inspired to exercise

life

seemed

less stressful.

Although

any other day, she noticed that she got

anxiety and worry. She attributes this, along

less

with improvements in her is

raising a family.

five

memory and

more

concentration, to the QigongznA

regularly.

WHAT TO EXPECT Studying a martial

art requires a

commitment of time and

positive physical, mental, emotional,

of

training.

The

first

and

effort.

spiritual effects often

Many of the

come from years

things a person usually learns in martial arts training are

various stretching and strengthening techniques to prepare the body. Various arts

have different ranges of physical demands. Nevertheless, you can expect

improvement

in strength, flexibility, stamina, balance, coordination, reflexes,

speed, etc.

In addition to learning basic

methods of self-defense such

punching, kicking, throwing, grappling,

etc.,

many

as blocking,

martial arts include

mem-

orizing katas (also called forms or sets). Katas are sequences of prearranged defensive and offensive

or he

is

fighting one or

easier sets first

movements performed

many

and progress

to

solo, in

which one imagines she

opponents. Generally people learn shorter and

more complex and

difficult ones.

These

sets are

371

Martial Arts and Mental Wellness

learned through modeling and repetition.

op

better focus, concentration,

At

its

Many people

report that they devel-

and self-confidence from practicing these

highest levels, kata becomes a kind of

sets.

moving meditation (Ochiai,

1983). Katas can be performed at different speeds, emphasizing the integra-

movement, breath, and

tion of mind,

movement

spirit.

T'ai Chi

is

known

for

slow

its

People turn their focus inward, concentrating fully on various

sets.

moving the whole body

aspects simultaneously, while

one

as

unit.

By continu-

ing practice with a good teacher, one can discover hidden techniques and other subtleties

through practicing

katas.

Several martial arts focus part of their training

and help move energy or

life's

("chee") throughout the body.

anced

state

visualization.

which

are

moting

Chinese or ki

as

combine breath

control,

bal-

the practice of doing

is

movement, concentration,

fighting arts,

holding a standing,

and others

that focus

some Qigong sets

sitting,

are

more on pro-

more meditative

or lying posture while other sets

yoga and pranayama from India. Martial

such as T'ai Chi and Aikido emphasize the power of the qilki

Japanese

physically demanding. Similar types of exercises are also prac-

ticed in other traditions such as

ment of

in

There are thousands of different forms of Qigong, some of

As with the martial

such

may be more

exercises that develop

Developing and circulating qi can create a

more oriented toward

health.

in nature,

vital force, called qi in

of body and mind. Qigong or qi cultivation

therapeutic exercises that

and

on

and being calm and

strength through relaxation

relaxed.

Both these

mind

arts

in the develop-

arts teach

power and

and unification of mind and body.

Qigong, in addition to including meditation and other self-healing exercises,

has a healing aspect. There are

as well as the qi

some Qigong masters who can

around them, to help heal

variety of touch

others.

direct their qi,

Qigong therapists may use a

and nontouch bodywork methods

to help heal patients

moving, restoring, and balancing energy. Similar healing

arts

include

by

reiki,

therapeutic touch, acupressure, and Shiatsu therapy.

Breathing techniques are taught

as part

breath and energy form a bridge between controlled either mentally or physically and dles the border of voluntary

of many of the martial

arts.

Since

body and mind, breathing may be is

the only vital function that strad-

and involuntary control (Reid, 1989). Simple

breathing exercises can have positive effects on health.

Another aspect of martial

arts training

is

learning sets or katas that involve

weapons. In the days before automatic machine guns, traditional weapons such

Whole Mind

The

372

sword were part of a martial

as the staff or

artists repertoire.

Weapons

training

adds another dimension to personal development, beyond the self-defense

how

function. People learn

and usually

to

make

the

weapon an extension of their own

more advanced movements. Different weapons

learn

will

have

qi

dif-

on the body and mind (Deng, 1990).

ferent unique health benefits

In addition to solo exercises, martial arts often involve training with oth-

Besides working with a teacher, classmates might do exercises together.

ers.

may

This

some

take the form of

exercise called

sort of sparring. In T'ai Chi, a

push-hands helps develop

and intention, which can be applied aries

and

relating to others

may

sensitivity to

two person

another person's energy

to self-defense. Various issues of

bound-

be addressed through this type of exercise,

as

well as better self-understanding.

Meditation

is

combined with the

often

practice of various martial arts,

can be a way to counter and balance some of the aggression that ated with certain martial help, but

arts.

some people might choose

how

(and men) learn

tions while their adrenaline

The

to seek psychotherapy in addition to their

known

is

martial arts, particularly is

you progress

used as a

in

your

strate proficiency in

historically there belt,

way

and group support

styles

of karate, have a colored belt

and teacher

studies, a different colored belt

what you have

learned.

belts,

that helps

issues.

many

for the student

were only two

One

is

to

mark

awarded

as

progress.

As

you demon-

of my teachers once said that

white and black. You began with a white

which, through years of practice, eventually turned to black, signifying

the length of time

you had

studied.

from one

Classes generally last

to three hours

to every day. Usually people attend classes

expected to practice at

home what

clothing.

Some

You may be required

one

and

are offered

to three times per

once a week

week and

are

Some schools have specific unirecommend loose and comfortable

they learn.

forms that need to be worn while others

such

Model Mugging,

pumping. Often powerful emotions come up.

them work through many emotional system that

as

to defend themselves against physical confronta-

participants get a combination of individual

Many

and

associ-

Usually a good teacher and peer support can

martial art training. In the self-defense course

women

may be

to be barefoot,

depending on the type of class.

schools will incorporate the use of weapons and protective equipment

as

padding, which are usually provided.

Whether

the class

is

conducted in a more

traditional, formal way, or a less

Martial Arts and Mental Wellness

formal

way

373

depend partly on the type of martial

will

more

instructor. For instance, the

traditional schools

art

may

and partly on the

bowing

require

to

classmates and instructors and an understanding of a few traditional words in the native language of the

art.

In these schools, one

respect for classmates of higher rank

and abide by

would be required

to

show

certain rules of conduct. Less

formal schools usually do not have the above expectations or they are emphasized.

The

in addition to, being role

may be

teacher

more

as a friend or peer rather than, or

your master or coach. Sometimes the teacher takes on the

of parent to the student.

tations,

seen

less

and your own

It is

important to be aware of your

responsibility

and volition

feelings, expec-

in the relationship

with your

teacher.

HOW

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

Choosing

One way

a martial art

to start

available in

is

your

is

what type of martial

leads, consulting

your

art schools

enough

area, or at least located close

you do not have any

on numerous

a very individual decision based

to explore

local

factors.

and teachers

are

for regular training. If

phone book or looking

in a

karate or

Kung Fu magazine may

affiliated

with professional organizations and have certain rank qualifications

do

for teachers, while others

instructors at

community

master or teacher

in a

Scholar Warrior:

An

is

help you get started.

Your

centers, colleges,

discussed at length

teacher

you choose. For

instance,

is

like to

encourage

a teacher. People

and development.

your goal to learn practical self-defense

limits; or are

approach to the martial

Once you

who

will provide a rigorous

you looking

for

more of a

workout

spiritual or

arts?

find a school, inquire about the different aspects of training,

as the following:

Are stretching and warming up part of the Are any body-strengthening

What

I

when choosing

motivation, and goals can help determine the type of martial arts

and push you beyond your

such

sports clubs.

Introduction to the Tao in Everyday Life.

techniques; are you looking for a teacher

lifestyle

one may find

What to look for by Deng Ming-Dao in his book

and

different teachers at different stages in their life

interest,

martial arts are

not. In addition to private schools,

people to trust their feelings and intuition

may need

Some

if you

class

time?

exercises taught?

cannot physically do some of the exercises?

Whole

The

374

What

the focus of the training

is

(e.g. for self-defense,

Mind

competition,

self-

improvement)?

Are there any

Ask

if you

lectures or meditation involved?

can observe beginning and advanced

classes.

Look

at

and

talk to

senior students. See if you can get a sense of their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Observe the

class

and ask yourself if you

Can you

the teacher and classmates.

the training and philosophy

see yourself enjoying

match with your needs and

needs and you might get direction on where to go.

Some

aggressive in the sense that getting hurt during training It is

feel

comfortable with

your training? Does goals? Express

schools is

may be more

part of the process.

important to get a good idea of the training methods and what

of you

at the various levels

There

of payment plans.

is

expected

of training.

a wide range of costs for martial arts classes.

is

uniforms, start-up

your

fees, etc.,

Some

schools require

while others do not. Schools might offer a variety

Of course individual instruction would cost more than group

classes.

As

I

mentioned

earlier,

Qigong, which consists of self-exercises as well as

therapy, can be explored in combination with another

by

training, or

itself.

If you are

these types of exercises, suitable for you.

form of martial

arts

not very interested in the fighting aspects of

someT'ai Chi and many Qigong classes may be more

James MacRitchie has put together an International Qigong

Directory, available from:

The Body Energy Center P.O.

Box 19708

Boulder,

CO 80301

Conversely for those of you, particularly women,

who

are interested in

intensive self-defense training that incorporates the emotional cal aspects

of being physically attacked,

Mugging program;

for

more information

highly

I

call

(800)

and psychologi-

recommend

the

Model

443-KICK.

HOW TO LEARN MORE "Bruce Lee:

Chang,

The

E. C.

Lost Interview Video." Calabasas,

CA: Wolff Creative Group, 1994.

Knocking at the Gate of Life and Other Healing

Emmaus, PA: Rodale

Cheng M. and R. Smith.

Press,

Exercises from China.

1985.

T'ai Chi. Rutland,

Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle Co.,

Inc.,

1987.

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Martial Arts and Mental Wellness

Daniels, K.

and

E.

Thornton. "Length of Training, Hostility and the Martial Arts:

Comparison with Other Sporting Groups."

British Journal

A

ofSports Medicine 26,

no. 3(1992): 118-120.

Deng M.

An

Scholar Warrior:

Introduction to The Tao of Everyday Life.

NY: Harper

Collins Publishers, 1990.

M.

Ehrlich,

no. Gleser,

"Taoism and Psychotherapy." Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy

P.

16,

(1986): 23-38.

1

M.;

J.

Margulies;

J. Y.

M. Nyska;

S. Porat;

H. Mendelberg; and

and Psychosocial Benefits of Modified Judo Practice

"Physical

Retarded Children:

A

Pilot Study." Perceptual

and Motor

E.

Wertman. Mentally

for Blind,

Skills

74, no. 3 (1974):

915-925. Kurian M.,

W Kulhavy.

C. Caterino, and R.

L.

"Personality Characteristics and

Duration of Ata Taekwondo Training." Perceptual and Motor

Skills

76, no. 2

(1993): 363-366.

The Tao ofJeetKuneDo. Santa

Lee, B. Liao,

W.

T'ai

Chi

Classics.

Clarita,

CA: Ohara

Publications, Inc., 1975.

Boston: Shambala Publications, Inc., 1990.

Millman, D. The Warrior Athlete: Body, Mind, and

Spirit.

Walpole,

NH:

Stillpoint

Publishing, 1979.

Musashi,

M. The Book ofFive Rings. New York: Bantam

Books,

Inc.,

1982.

Ochiai, H. Complete Book ofSelfDefense. Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc., 1991. Ochiai, H. "Kata." Karate Illustrated 14, no. 12 (1983): 38-41.

Random, M. The Martial Arts. London: Peerage Books, 1985. Reed,

W

Inc.,

Ki:

A Road that Anyone Can

M.

Skelton, D. L.,

Publications,

S.

M.

Schuster, Inc., 1989.

Berta. "Aggressive Behavior as a Function of

Perceptual and Motor Skills 72, no.

1

(1991): 179-82.

Zen Mind, Beginners Mind NY: Weatherhill, 1983.

Weiser, M.;

Mania!

Kutz;

I.

Arts."

S. J.

Kutz; and D. Weiser. "Psychotherapeutic Aspects of the

American Journal of Psychotherapy 49, no.

Wing, R. L The Art ofStrategy. Wolf,

New York: Japan

and Longevity. NY: Simon and

A. Glynn, and

Taekwondo Ranking." S.

Tokyo and

1992.

Reid, D. The Tao ofHealth, Sex

Suzuki,

Walk.

S. L.;

New York:

1

(1995): 118-127.

Doubleday, 1988.

H. X. Barnhart; N. G. Kutner; E. McNeely; C. Coogler; and

"Reducing

Frailty

and

Falls in

Older Persons:

An

Investigation of Tai

Computerized Balance Training." Journal ofAmerican Geriatric

T

Xu

Chi and

Society 44, no. 5

(1996): 489-97.

Wong

D. and

J.

Hallander. Shaolin Five Animals

Publications, 1988.

KungFu. Burbank, CA: Unique

The

376

Whole Hind

ABOUT THE AUTHOR William

He

J.

Kaplanidis began his formal training in the martial arts at age nine.

has studied various styles of martial arts with T'ai Chi (Taijiquan) as his

main focus

since 1983.

He

teaches T'ai

Chi and Qigong privately

the Pacific Institute of Oriental Medicine in

of experience working in the

field

New York. He

as well as at

has over 10 years

of mental health including city and state

psychiatric facilities as well as a private hypnotherapy/counseling practice.

William

is

a licensed acupuncturist with a private practice in

He combines

his counseling training

New York City.

with acupuncture, herbs, T'ai Chi,

Qigong, bodywork, and visualization, providing a holistic approach to healing.

In addition, he currently teaches T'ai Pacific Institute

of Oriental

Chi and Qigong classes

privately, at the

Medicine and at New York sports clubs.

David DiDomenico, CM. T.

Massage and Mental Health: Touching the Mind

26

WHAT

IS

Massage

MASSAGE THERAPY? is

a very general term that includes every

that exists.

Many

names, but

all

can be traced in some way back to our need

and be touched. Massage,

wisdom

as

we know

in caring for ourselves

and

it

others.

have gone beyond what

many people

down" approach, which

entails

and

form of "bodywork" therapy

of these techniques do not use the word "massage" in their

today, has

The

and jin

HOW

grown out of our innate

long soothing strokes, vigorous circular strokes,

such

as

Japanese shiatsu,

on key points on the body.

and range of motion techniques might be used

This chapter will focus on those techniques practiced by body workers

as well.

who

refer to themselves as

IT

massage

therapists.

BEGAN

Massage has been around since the beginning of time, and not only beings.

to touch

techniques of massage therapy

shin that place direct pressure

Passive stretching of the limbs

humans

think of as massage. Rather than the "rub

friction strokes, there are additional techniques

trigger point,

as

The

licking of

newborn puppies by

ple of massage in the animal world.

The

their

mother

is

for

human

one obvious exam-

licking serves not only to cleanse the

puppies of afterbirth but to stimulate the newly arrived organism into proper functioning.

The muscular

contractions of the

human mother

as

her child

is

pushed through the birth canal serve to stimulate the newborn's organs, much

Whole

The

378

like a

massage. Examples of what can be considered massagelike stimulation

found everywhere

are

Mind

animal kingdom

in the

Human beings have an innate tendency to attend to sore areas with our hands. When we have a headache, for example, we will find ourselves rubbing our forehead or the base of the

skull.

your body where you experience

you will have areas with

they

feel.

Think

moment about any

for a

sore, achy, or stiff sensations,

a clear recollection of touching

it

in

some way.

area of

and probably

We attend to these

touch because we can make a difference, however temporary, in "Soothing"

is

a

way we might

how

define the sensation of touch in these

instances.

In China, massage has been an integral part of the health care system for millennia. In Scandinavia, massage has been used for centuries as health care

maintenance. Today in the United States, massage nized as a valuable tool in the reduction of stress.

widely

as

is

beginning to be recog-

It is also

being used more

an adjunctive therapy for rehabilitation from trauma and in

soft tissue disorders.

There

and practiced

United

in the

oped

this century.

HOW

IT

are a multitude States,

many

of massage techniques being taught

from ancient Chinese forms

to forms devel-

WORKS

Massage therapists generally believe that

body or

react only with the

you on the back, there something. You

mind.

it is

not possible to touch only the

When someone

shakes your hand or pats

a response throughout the entire organism;

is

may have

you

feel

a "gut" reaction or develop a "first impression" dur-

ing a handshake by observing the firmness, dampness, and temperature of the other's hand.

So when

a

massage therapist touches the client they do not just

touch the body, they engage the entire person.

The

response or reaction to

touch varies from person to person according to their prior experiences of physical

contact, their perception of the therapist, their

tions, their physical condition, the pressure used factors. tal

body image,

by the

their expecta-

therapist,

and other

Following are some of the ways that massage can be used to foster men-

health.

Shame Frequently, issues of

obvious example

is

shame

are raised

and resolved through massage. One

the issue of nudity and having yourself exposed to another

379

Massage and Mental Health

person. Even though the client is

common

is

draped and never

for clients to feel threatened

by the

fear

fully exposed, in

of someone

massage

else seeing

it

who

they really are beneath the shelter of their clothing. In massage situations where clothing

not removed, these issues

touching.

pist's

can't

is

keep any

client

who

One

my body]

me

from

from the intimacy of the theraafter a session, "I just realized

a massage therapist." This

always remained fully-clothed during our sessions.

tioning often

is

bodies.

Many people

revealed in the initial meeting between massage therapist

Sometimes

and

A client once apologized

to

me

for having dry

lotion.

important that the therapist respect these issues and work with the

It is

them

client to help

more comfortable with, and

feel

Body image

body.

in, their

can be clarified and improved with the continuation of massage therapy. awareness follows the hands of the therapist as they

and unfamiliar by

are

a client will apologize for being overweight, out of shape,

and using up too much of my massage

client's

I

was a

How the client perceives her or his body and its func-

scarred, excessively hairy, etc.

skin

arise

of my clients said to

secrets [about

ashamed of their

client.

still

areas of the

one's vision or touch.

body such

as the back,

I

parts such as

is

not easily accessed

more complete

picture of the

have asked a client to touch him or herself to

bony

over familiar

This can help the client develop a greater awareness of

her or his body which, in turn, provides a

Many times

which

move

The

feel certain

self.

body

structures or the texture of certain muscles. This can be an

important step toward increasing self-acceptance.

A woman ankle.

I

felt it

self at least

once came to

would

once a

won't even look at

day. it."

it,

and then

for help with her recovery

her healing

When I

suggested

if

she

this,

I

She agreed.

would begin

massage strokes she could do

a shattered

I

asked

if

way,

I

she would be willing

told her not to look at

to guide her

"No

her-

it

but to begin

hands and show her some

We repeated this after each session until her ankle. It is my contention that this helped

at

she reacquainted herself with

I

from

would massage her ankle

she cringed and said,

After one of our sessions

to try touching her ankle.

to touch

me

facilitate

home.

her recover more quickly and completely.

Resistance and Defenses

The most important and well-known aspect of massage is that it is relaxing, yet massage clients commonly resist relaxing or "letting go." Feelings of vulnerability are a

common

response to a massage. This

is

a result of relaxing

The

Whole Mind

muscles that are chronically tensed in defensive patterns.

A defensive pattern

380

might, for instance, involve a collapsed chest and shoulders that are held round-

ed

—

a posture that

might say "please don't hurt me." The individual display-

ing this type of muscular pattern probably had, or has,

not

uncommon

them

good reason

for

It is

it.

during massage, the incidents that caused

for clients to recall,

to create these defensive patterns. This awareness can occur

when

those

muscles that are most involved are directly or indirectly manipulated or touched.

"Helping out"

is

term used

a

in

massage to describe a situation in which

the client uses her or his muscles to help the therapist to instance,

when

ally

the therapist

it is

who

— muscles

client "helps"

Sometimes

lifting the client's

a verbal cue

arm, but more

lifts

arm

to massage

that

is

let

rigid.

go of the

often than not, the cue needs to be repeated throughout the

pist releases the

and

arm and shoulder become

necessary to help the client

work. Often the client believes they have

air,

move them. For

or do range of motion, ide-

and supports the arm. Quite frequently the

tighten and the

is all

it

let

go, but

arm, the client notices that the arm

realizes his or

her tension. This

is

when is

the massage thera-

actually

still

up

in the

a manifestation of resistance to relin-

quishing control. Control equals tension and can occur anywhere in the body.

As

clients

begin to understand their impulse to help out

neously learn

how

to let go.

between sessions holding

and were able

to release

Many

they simulta-

caught themselves

clients report that they

up or tensing somewhere

in their

body

Clients in this process are developing a clearer

com-

their shoulders

it.

(resist),

munication with their muscles and gaining a higher form of control ability to let go.

We all

up our much valued

back

and further distortion of our

as infancy.

An

old injury,

let's

vidual to adapt by decreasing the weight session the leg

is

moved

self-image.

say the knee,

may have

on the injured

leg. If

knee has healed and the threat no longer

ually abused

sometimes make

their

body

scious attempt not to experience their as "leaving the

may go

caused an indi-

during a massage

in a direction that the client perceives as threatening to

the knee, he or she automatically and unconsciously stops the if the

the

energy, causing

People often have habitual patterns of resistance, patterns that as far

-

burden ourselves with enormous amounts of unneces-

sary muscle tension that only serves to eat fatigue, discomfort,

—

exists.

People

rigid or absolutely

own

sensations.

They

movement, even

who have been

sex-

limp in an unconusually refer to this

body." Since they were not physically capable of fending off the

381

Massage and Mental Health

perpetrator, they did the next best thing to resist the threat to themselves.

defensive or resistive behaviors can

Trust issues also create resistance. trol

over any body part

if

A client will certainly not relinquish con-

she or he thinks the therapist might drop

they deepen into a relaxed state with a person they don't experiences have taught

A client who many years, did massage.

I

if I

I

spoke with her

trust

She said

my body" feel

and

feel

vulnerable

is

trust.

it,

nor will

Some

people's

This issue

likely to

whom

will often

be resolved.

worked with

I've

where we talked and

it

was most important that also said that

it

I

was

more "grounded."

rarely easy. In

many

carry this out into the world that a conflict is

I

helped tremen-

instances, just

is

less

of a strug-

of the safety of the massage office and trust in the therapist.

tries to

for

hospitalized during a

massage, allowing the feelings of vulnerability

relinquished during a massage

be

from the hospital and asked what

from the "outside." She

Allowing oneself to

is

more

and with

after her release

my visits.

dously to "come back to

after receiving a

it

trust.

visited her several times in the hospital,

someone she could

when one

not safe to

would work with her while she was

she gained from

gle because

it is

a manic-depressive,

is

asked

manic episode.

felt

that

massage therapy, which makes

raised in the

she

them

These

become conscious through massage.

may

a false sense of security created

arise.

It is

What

by excessive

muscular tension, resulting in a potential experience of vulnerability. Excessive

muscular tension heightens one's susceptibility to physical injury, using up energy and contributing to

many

and emotional

physical

as well as

disorders.

Rather than excessive muscular tension being a result of anxiety or neurosis, is

often the physical manifestation of what

level.

When

is

it

taking place on a psychological

the muscular patterns of tension are released, neurosis can be

more

readily accessible to change.

Sexual abuse

is

trauma to the entire person and,

aspects of behavior.

The

as such,

feelings of vulnerability arising

terrifying to the sexually-abused individual.

door to healing. In cases of sexual abuse,

it is

Those

not

is

displayed in

all

from massage can be

feelings can also

open the

uncommon for the client spon-

taneously to recall traumatic events. Resistance to feeling pleasure from another's

touch, or feeling out of control

when

issues that often surface for the sexually

In his

book

relaxing, are

two extremely important

abused individual during a massage.

Existential Psychotherapy, Irvin

D. Yalom

writes:

"During the

course of therapy the patient opposes what he perceives to be the will of the therapist.

Freud labeled

this

opposition 'resistance,' considered

it

an obstacle,

Whole Mino

The

382

and suggested various techniques resistance

was a serious

error:

overcome

to

it.

To Otto Rank,

he believed that the

and important manifestation of counter

this

patient's protest

will and, as such,

view of

was a valid

must not be

elimi-

nated but instead supported and transformed into creative will" (Yalom, 1980).

This also applies to massage therapy, where, rather than a battle of wills (therapist vs. client), a client

is

often resisting

movement,

pressure, and/or relaxation

because, either consciously or unconsciously, he or she

is

attempting to avoid

unpleasurable sensations. Resistance then must not be considered an obstacle to be eliminated, but a manifestation

stood,

tance

and dissolved

if

of beliefs to be respected, explored, under-

the beliefs are

no longer

accomplished by the client through

is

Otto Rank called

valid.

his or her

"creative will," while the

The dissolution of resisown creative forces, what

massage therapist

assists in

the

process.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS There has been

little

research

on the

effectiveness of massage,

the area of massage and mental health.

The Touch Research

University of Miami School of Medicine tiveness of

Many

less

yet in

Institute at the

conducting research on the

massage with infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the

effec-

elderly.

of these studies are in progress or preparation, but preliminary results

show reductions There

is

and

is

in stress

and anxiety

a study in progress

levels, as

well as a decrease in depression.

on adolescents with eating disorders undergoing

massage therapy.

REAL PEOPLE AND MASSAGE THERAPY

As

I

worked Mr. M. s neck at the beginning of the

the small area

I

had

to

work

with. His neck

would have expected from looking

at

it.

session,

I

was aware of

seemed much shorter than

When

I

picked up his head he

instinctively shortened the muscles of the neck, shoulders,

back.

I

I

and upper

decided to begin working the shoulders one at a time,

as

he did

383

Massage and Mental Health

not display the same reactive tendency there.

worked slowly and

I

methodically to relax his shoulders, while simultaneously and surrepti-

motions into

tiously introducing small rocking

some verbal

cues to stop holding his head

and upper back ments

in a

way

to relax. His

still,

head began

his neck. Slowly,

he began to allow the neck

going back to the neck immediately,

I

addressing his arms, chest, belly, and

with

to roll gently

was not fighting

that indicated he

gravity.

continued to work legs,

with

my

move-

Rather than

down

his body,

introducing a gentle rhythmic

rocking motion with each massage stroke.

The

intention of the gentle

rocking was to continue the subtle rocking of the head that was established earlier.

then returned to his head.

I

began by scooping

I

my hands

under

his

head very gently to avoid triggering the reactive shortening of his neck. There was a very low his

head

with

my

level

rest quietly in

hands, as

if

I

of reactivity at

my hands.

I

first

that passed quickly as

then began to

was preparing to pull on

shorten his neck ever so eyes

popped open and he

in."

Then

slightly.

his neck.

After doing this a

said, "I feel like a turtle

continuing, as tears

make

filled his eyes,

he

tiny

I

let

movements

This made him

number of times

wanting to pull

said, "I just

its

his

head

remembered

my mother used to punish me, sometimes she just did it to be cruel, hitting me on the head with something. I never knew when she was

that

by

going to do

it

so

I

always had to protect myself."

We continued working for many sessions on lar

reaction while he

We all

worked with

overcoming

his psychotherapist

on

muscu-

related issues.

tend to develop behaviors that our nervous systems believe to be

protective. In the case of

Mr. M., the protective or defensive behavior was

causing pain, discomfort, and a limited range of motion. Mr. that this particular pattern

bad

his

for his health.

M.

realized

was not only no longer necessary, but

That recognition allowed him

it

was

to free himself from the

mental burdens stemming from an abusive parent. In

this process,

risked being vulnerable to having his head bopped, even

though

tually

he

knew

he

intellec-

the chances were slim to none.

wmmmmmmBm

Whole Mind

The

384

Ms. D., a

woman

in her

mid

came

thirties,

me

to see

to

work with

issues

of sexual abuse. The psychotherapist that she was working with suggested

some massage might help her

that

she had

some hip pain and

rediscover her body. She told

me

that

that she always felt as if she were "holding

back," but other than that there was nothing significant going on.

Lying on the attention. er.

table, she

Her arms were

appeared very

I

and her

tight to her sides

Her breathing was shallow and her

closed eyelids.

rigid, as if she

eyes

moved

legs

were standing

at

were tight togeth-

erratically

beneath her

proceeded very gently to massage her neck with long

broad strokes, making sure not to make any sudden or startling movements.

I

continued with

care to help her feel safe. as the

approach over her entire body, taking extra

this

Ms. D. began

weeks passed. This was evident

to trust

in

my work more and more

how quickly she responded

to

my touch when we began each session. Her breathing became deeper and more

full,

Eventually

time in

I

and her body began softening the moment

toward her center.

I

immediately would stop the rocking motion and light

massage and movement that she

muscles she had just contracted.

release those

this process a

ing sad but didn't

One

session, after

going

few times, she began sobbing. She said she was

know why.

and encouraged her

During

her.

responded by tightening everything up. She pulled herself

go over her body, suggesting with

sage

touched

began to introduce some gentle rhythmic rocking and, each

I

did, she

through

I

this session

I

feel-

continued with a light nonintrusive mas-

to be in touch with the sadness.

she had her

first

experience with feeling pro-

foundly vulnerable. Rather than sending her out into the world with

this

how

this

new and

frightening feeling,

we sat and

talked. After asking her

vulnerable feeling affected her muscles, she

came

to realize that she tight-

ened up. She agreed to experiment by noticing what muscles or areas of her body she

and cise,

released

felt like

them

tightening,

again.

When

she responded that she

tighten back up.

asked what she

felt less

felt after

vulnerable, but

Her homework was

ble/not vulnerable

privacy of her

and then consciously tightened them

in front

doing

this exer-

didn't feel

good

to

to continue to explore this vulnera-

mechanism of tightening and

home

it

relaxing muscles in the

of a mirror or with a trusted friend. The

385

Massage and Mental Health

tensing and relaxing that triggered the vulnerability or lack of it was so subtle that

it

was hard

Yet she experienced

it

for a well-trained eye to as gross

and not be "on guard" a Later in our

work

movement. She

tell

she was doing anything.

realized that she could relax

great deal of time throughout each day.

together, while

her back and did a stroke that

I

Ms. D. was lying prone,

had done many times

before.

I

massaged

The

stroke

involved pulling up with broad hands over her rib cage toward the spine.

At one point

in this stroke,

and adjacent to the breast. side, this

came and she

touching her there and

is

I

time she tightened up.

again the tears

After

my hands contacted the ribs under the arm When performed that stroke on her right

many massage

doing remarkably

I

stopped and asked

said she

had

just

was okay. Once

if she

remembered her

how she hated that he wanted to

father

touch her breasts.

an adjunct to her psychotherapy, Ms.

sessions as

D

well.

WHAT TO EXPECT In

most professional massage

apist.

The

py, followed

begin,

is first

interviewed by the ther-

interview can include completing intake questionnaires regarding

health history

client will

sessions the client

and current problems one wishes

to address with massage thera-

by a short talk about the same material. The health status of the

determine the course of treatment, such

and what techniques

will

most

likely

make adjustments

therapist will continue to

as

where on the body

be appropriate. to his or her

the changing needs of the client. Client feedback during is

essential to the

massage

best, involves the

change.

The massage

Most, but not

down

after

therapist's ability to facilitate healing.

to

each session

Massage,

at its

massage therapist and the client working together to create therapist

is

not there to

you discover and engage your own

at least

work according

and

to

A skilled massage

all,

fix

you or heal you, but

to help

abilities to heal.

massage therapies require that you be

fully unclothed, or

to your underwear, though the use of sheets and towels ensure

that your genital areas

and

breasts will not be exposed.

This brings up the issue

of whether you wish to use a male or female massage therapist.

Some women,

for example, feel too threatened

Some men

pist.

er

man,

feel

who

(abused by men)

men

by

it. I

have worked with

specifically

is

me

Some massage

therapists

consider that your hair and you'll feel great,

may

use

makeup

you might look

availability

usually very relaxing. This

your mind more

alert,

engage in vigorous

oils

a

man,

an adjunctive thera-

as

or lotions for reducing friction or for

(if you

like

work

wear

you just

it)

after a massage,

will

you might

be a mess and, although

rolled out of bed.

is

your

means

state

of mind

You can

clients feel vulnerable

and your breathing

fuller,

activity, physical or

immediately

after a massage.

that your muscles will be

inquire

Massage

more supple,

but you probably won't want

mental, for a while.

relaxation achieved in massage can be profound.

The

state

of

As mentioned above, many

after a massage.

With

and reorganized, our everyday patterns of posturing

the muscles relaxed

are not active, or not as

During the massage we may have relinquished the defensive patterns

seem

that

am

of a shower.

Yet another consideration

active.

I

working with a

This can be a consideration for some because of cer-

tain skin conditions. If you have to return to

to

because

certainly a topic to discuss.

their healing properties.

about the

male massage thera-

issues. If you are currently

mental health professional and are considering massage py, this

a

many sexually-abused women

chose to work with

ready to deal with their

felt

work with

to

threatened by the mere thought of being touched by anoth-

alone enjoying

let

and they

is

Whole Mind

The

386

to protect us against the world's dangers, such as an unconscious

facial

grimace that works well to keep people from engaging us in conversa-

tion.

This can be refreshing or terrifying and, oddly enough, sometimes both

at the

same time.

Many people

use massage therapy as part of their personal health mainte-

nance program and receive massage on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly Others use

from

it

injury.

as

an adjunct to physical therapy or primarily for rehabilitation

As described

to psychotherapy.

in this chapter,

massage

is

very effective as an adjunct

Treatment plans need to be developed through cooperation

and communication between psychotherapist and massage

HOW TO

basis.

therapist.

FIND A MASSAGE THERAPIST

When selecting a massage therapist,

most individuals want

number of sessions

it

Certain symptoms

may go away during one

to

have an idea of the

will take to resolve the difficulties they are experiencing.

session

and may not return

for

387

Massage and Mental Health

mean

hours or even days, but this does not resolved.

The time

it

the underlying cause has been

takes will obviously vary

from

client to client.

that a client receive at least five sessions before determining

I

suggest

whether or not

they will benefit from massage. You must not, however, subject yourself to a

massage therapist that you distrust or are not comfortable with. At

times

all

while in session with the massage therapist, you are in charge. You can inter-

view prospective therapists and get references to find one that

Keep

in

mind

and moved

in

that massage

is

inherently intimate.

ways that you are not

some

time.

Many

used

your needs.

to.

whom you feel comfortable working with may

Finding a massage therapist take

at all

fits

You will probably be touched

health clubs offer massage but these masseurs and

masseuses generally do sports massage which, although excellent for health maintenance,

not appropriate (nor the setting) for someone seeking massage

is

to include in their

work with mental

Therapy Association (AMTA) therapists.

They

is

also accredit or

health issues.

The American Massage

a professional organization serving massage

approve massage schools. They publish a mag-

azine called the Massage Therapy Journal,

which

is

a

good resource

for

names

and locations of accredited massage schools that can usually provide the names and phone numbers of massage

therapists in

ed friends are worth following up, sionals

who may already

your

as well as those

area. References

from

trust-

from mental health profes-

refer their clients to particular

massage

therapists.

RESOURCES Massage TherapyJournal 820 Davis

St.,

Suite 100

Evanston, IL 60201-4444

864-0123

Tel: (708)

HOW

TO LEARN MORE

New York: Jove,

Dychtwald, K. Bodymind. Feldenkrais,

M.

New York: Feldenkrais,

T.

Awareness Through Movement: Health Exercises Jor Personal Growth.

Harper and Row, 1972.

M. Body and Mature Behavior: A

Learning.

Hanna,

1977.

New York:

The Body

Kurtz, R. and

H.

Study oj Anxiety, Sex, Gravitation,

International Universities Press, 1950.

oJLiJe.

Prestera.

New York: The Body

Knopf, 1980.

Reveals.

New York:

Bantam, 1977.

and

Whole Mind

The

388

Masters, R. and

J.

Houston. Listening

Montagu, A. Touching: The Row, 1986. Pelletier,

K.

Human

I.

Body.

Significance

New York: of the Skin.

Mind as Healer, Mind as Slayer. New York:

Todd, M. E. The Thinking Body. Yalom,

to the

New York: Dance

Existential Psychotherapy.

New York:

Delacorte Press, 1978.

New York:

Harper and

Delta, 1977.

Horizons, Inc., 1979.

Basic Books, 1980.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR David DiDomenico, C.M.T.

(Certified

rized Feldenkrais practitioner.

He

is

Massage Therapist),

a graduate of the

is

also

Boulder School of

Massage Therapy and was a student of Moshe Feldenkrais. David core faculty

an autho-

is

a former

member of the Boulder School of Massage Therapy and has taught stress management classes for numerous

massage technique, movement, and

schools and organizations, in both the private and public sector. resides in Boulder,

CO, where

and massage, and continues the

field.

He

currently

he has a private practice in somatic education

to facilitate

workshops and present keynotes

in

Barry Friedman, Ph.D., M.F.C.C.

27

Meditation and Prayer

WHAT ARE MEDITATION AND PRAYER? Meditation and prayer are two distinct yet complementary spiritual practices that

draw upon the deepest dimensions of human experience and

reveal to us

our hearts, psyches, and our relationship to the sacred. Meditation and prayer are gateways

our

through which we can find inspiration, healing, and renewal for

spiritual journeys

From

its

and

our mental, emotional, and physical needs.

Latin root meditare, meditation means to ponder,

template; meditare itself its

for

classical sense,

may

or con-

derive from the root mete, to measure. Thus, in

meditation

refers to a

measuring of or reflecting upon an

object of thought. In current usage, meditation

which an individual gradually opens levels

reflect,

his or her

is

understood

mind

as a practice in

to alternative states

and

of consciousness. These states are not apparent or present in everyday

awareness, but they are understood to reside inherently and latently in the

human

psyche. These alternate levels of awareness are accessed through specific

techniques of focusing attention. Since tices into

World War

there has been an influx of Eastern teachings

the West. These have

tation practices,

a

II,

and the

myriad of forms,

philosophies.

The

result

styles,

uses

and

come is

and

and prac-

together with indigenous Western medi-

that meditation has taken root in practices, each

with

its

own

America

in

teachings and

goals of meditation are also extremely varied, rang-

ing from simple relaxation and calming, to healing physical, emotional, and

The

390

spiritual "dis-ease," to the ultimate goal

—

Whole Mind

variously described

— of union

with the Divine, Self/God realization, and complete enlightenment.

of goals

reflects the variety

ish in the U.S.

method

of traditions, Eastern and Western, that

For the purposes of

for gradually

this

The range now flour-

book, meditation can be seen

and progressively enriching

one's spiritual

life,

as a

and

for

improving one's general mental health by bringing heightened, healing awareness to one's physical

and emotional experience. Problems with depression, and

anxiety, confusion, addiction, anger,

fear,

together with their physical

man-

ifestations

such

as

low energy, high blood pressure, physical cravings, chronic

pain, etc.,

may

all

be ameliorated or alleviated through ongoing meditation

practice.

come

In this culture, prayer has

to

mean communication with

a "Higher

Power." This communication begins in the heart; Larry Dossey describes prayer as "an attitude

of the heart" (Dossey, 1996). While meditation

on

involve a focus

may or may not

a Divine Presence, prayer always seems to be an intentional

act of "turning toward" a Divine Presence. This "turning of the heart" holds an

intention of relationship with the Divine, and of communication in the form

of dialogue, praise, thanksgiving, confession, petition, inquiry, and even for the purpose of struggling with the Divine.

As with meditation, prayer can and

spiritual health in a variety

movements, such essential or

significantly affect one's mental, physical,

of beneficial ways. In

as Christian Science, consider faith

fact, certain religious

and prayer

to be the

only requirement for health and healing. Prayer can be a private,

individual experience, or a variety of forms, based

communal

one. Prayer takes an almost limitless

on the

diverse spiritual traditions of the world's multi-

Each

tradition has developed forms of prayer that are

cultural religious history.

uniquely expressive and evocative for a variety of purposes and occasions. Please see the

"How

More" section

to Learn

later in this

chapter for materials on

prayer and meditation practice in Christianity, Judaism, Islam (Sufism),

Hinduism, and Buddhism.

The

principles that

seem

to link meditation

and prayer together

are

inward/internalized attention, inquiry or searching, and attunement to a deeper

—

or higher

—

level

emergence of healing,

and

spirit that can,

of awareness or Presence. These actions

vitalizing,

facilitate the

transforming energies from the deeper

mind

through practice, profoundly enhance an individual's

experience on various

levels: physical, cognitive,

life

emotional, and spiritual. In

Meditation and Prayer

391

the deepest dimensions of the heart and mind, meditation and prayer can bring

about an experience of wholeness and presence.

HOW

IT

BEGAN

Both meditation and prayer spiritual yearnings

and holy

practices.

humanity has searched Rudolf Otto, an

spoke of the sacred

religion,

and

of humanity from time immemorial. Throughout the

world's cultural history, sacred

are practices rooted in the deepest emotional

for

— and taken

—

part in

of

early twentieth-century historian

as a spiritual reality that bursts into the cultural

matrix of every society, emanating majesty, mystery, and power, and inspiring the deepest awe, respect, and fear (Otto, 1976). Mircea Eliade, another emi-

nent religious historian, traced the patterns and structures of religious experience throughout history, and suggested that humanity for a return to a sacred, transcendent,

typal origins

and that

myth,

and psychospiritual

ritual,

and

to,

engaged in the quest

eternal reality that holds our arche-

reveals itself symbolically in

attempt to attune ourselves

is

time and space. Through

practices such as meditation

and

and

prayer,

emotional, and spiritual rebirth and renewal (Eliade,

physical,

we

participate in, the sacred for the purpose of

1974).

Meditation and prayer, then, are practices by which an individual or a com-

munity attempts whether we However, as

I

to access the deepest dimensions of

call this

would

experience God, Buddha, the

like to

add that these

human

Self,

experience,

the Absolute, etc.

practices should not be viewed simply

human condition. In practice, meditation and and now experience of our humanness, as well as

attempts to "transcend" the

prayer bring us to a very here

of our deepest nature and our relationship with the Absolute. Meditation and prayer often

call

into question distinctions between "sacred"

inviting (or requiring) us to

focused, and

examine the

more encompassing awareness.

broad and deep enough to encompass ly attests,

personal

HOW The

IT

"The

life"

universal

all

of our

lives

Spirituality, after

of who we

must be wedded

are.

with deeper, all,

must be

As Jack Kornfield wise-

to the personal to be fulfilled in our

(Kornfield, 1993).

WORKS

variety of meditation techniques

and modes of prayer seem

the range of cultures, religions, schools,

human

totality

and "profane," by

history.

and

limitless, given

practices that have evolved in

For simplicity's sake, our discussion of meditation will refer to

Whole Mind

The

392

Arthur Deikman's delineation of the subject into two principal categories

—

concentration and mindfulness (Deikman, 1982). Concentrative meditation

on

involves a focusing of attention lable or series

a single object, e.g., a flame, a

mantra

(syl-

of syllables), the breath, a part of the body (the heart, the space

between the eyebrows), a

an image, a holy person, or a representation

feeling,

of the Divine. In this concentration, discursive thought, problem solving and future-oriented goals are set aside so that the meditator's

moment.

diacy of the present

controlling one's attention at is

mind

is

in the

In contrast, mindfulness meditation all.

is

imme-

not about

Rather, a steady, dispassionate, bare attention

cultivated toward whatever sensations, thoughts, or emotions are arising

spontaneously in the moment.

Though

concentration and mindfulness tech-

niques of meditation are distinct in practice, both promote the development of

an "observing

self "

(Deikman, 1982).

In the initial stages of meditation practice, the breath

is

focus for the purpose of learning to relax. In fact, relaxation essential

breath,

element of meditation on

the way,

them

and

it

may be

body often tend

is,

in

my view,

an

of practice. With attention to the

one gradually becomes calm and the body

various parts of the

let

all levels

often used as a

relaxes.

Tension and pain in

to dissolve as practice progresses.

Along

necessary to "tune in" to the uncomfortable sensations and

"speak." Often, difficult physical sensations relate to unresolved events

issues

from the past that need

to be

remembered and

cleared as

one pro-

ceeds in the practice. Similarly, emotional impulses and feelings will arise as

one attempts

to relax the

depression, anger)

mind;

if

these impulses

become unrelenting

and

distractions,

feelings (such as anxiety, it

may be

necessary to

process (with a psychotherapist, for example) the feelings that are forcing themselves into

our awareness. In truth, meditation tends to allow unresolved emo-

tional conflict or

trauma

to surface so that

we can

bring healing awareness to

our past and present experience. Initially,

pleasant or unpleasant physical and emotional sensations and

impulses can seem like formidable obstacles to maintaining concentration or

prolonged attention. Gradually, however, the meditator learns to include these "distractions" in

moment-to-moment

awareness. In fact, these distractions can

and mindfulness.

actually be viewed as opportunities to cultivate attention

Distraction becomes an invitation to

moment. With continued

remember mindfulness

practice of

in each

emerging

moment-to-moment mindfulness,

the

393

Meditation and Prayer

need to "transcend" one's present

"immanence" and wholeness

With continued

The observing

becomes increasingly

the body, mind,

and

spirit.

ness

and

realization,

to an experience of unfolding

attentive

this

with his or

or witnessing function of

self,

and tuned

in to the subtle aspects

Particularly in the traditions of

Buddhist meditation (dhyana),

which an individual

way

moment.

practice, the meditator develops a familiarity

her psycho-physical organism. the mind,

state gives

in each

observing self

is

of

Hindu and

seen as the vehicle by

attains to progressively deeper (or higher) states of aware-

culminating in complete spiritual enlightenment. In the

Vedanta tradition of Hinduism, for example, concentrative meditation leads to the realization that the true self

of the individual

is

identical with the ulti-

mate, absolute Self {Brahmari) of the universe. In Buddhism, the mindfulness

meditations of the Zen, vipassana, and dzogchen traditions lead the practitioner to a gradual realization of "no-self," an awareness that our ultimate

nature essence

beyond any conceptualization or conditioned

is is

feeling state, that our

the radiant, compassionate, wise, skylike emptiness of Buddha-mind.

As mentioned

before, prayer

is

a heartfelt act of "turning toward" a Higher

Power or Divine Presence that may be perceived

as

being inside or outside the

The kind of communication and relationship we establish and cultivate depends to a great extent on what we seek from the relationship with the self.

Higher Power, on our capacity for intimacy, and on our willingness to open ourselves, to "bare

our souls" with honesty and

integrity.

Prayer allows us to express the deepest yearnings of the heart for guidance,

meaning, healing, and wholeness. Prayer suffering

is

a resource for people

from any type of physical, emotional, or

one attunes him/herself to Divine Presence relationship with the Divine.

As

who may

be

spiritual "dis-ease." In prayer,

in order to establish

and

this relationship evolves, personal

cultivate a

problems

can be held in a spiritual context of faith, love, compassion, and forgiveness. Dialogues with a Higher Power

may

not always be easy or joyful, but they can

evoke tremendous insight, inspiration, courage, redemption, and resolution for the

most

The

difficult

problems of body, mind, and

practice of meditation

spirit.

and prayer deepens over time, and changes

according to our needs and our capacity for intimate communication and con-

nection with the Divine. tinction between sacred

I

have found that with continued practice, the dis-

and profane begins

to dissolve.

Whole Mind

The

394

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS As

holistic

approaches to the study of human experience, health, and healing

have burgeoned in the

last

twenty years, meditation and prayer have become

increasingly prevalent as modalities of prevention

and therapy

in the field of

mental (and physical) health. Meditation and prayer have been shown to help with psychosomatic,

mood

(including anxiety, depression, and aggression) and

other mental health disorders; facilitate recovery from drug and alcohol addiction;

improve self-esteem and self-awareness; and stimulate cognitive

such

as learning,

memory, and concentration.

Increasingly, studies are being

undertaken to determine and verify the therapeutic prayer.

Authors such

as

abilities

effects

of meditation and

Andrew Weil, Deepak Chopra, Herbert Benson, and

Larry Dossey are not only documenting the benefits of meditation and prayer,

but are also contextualizing these benefits in an integrated vision of body, mind, soul,

and cosmos.

A recent Newsweek (Woodward,

1

997)

article

on the power

of prayer underscores the growing interest in these alternative, spiritually

ori-

ented health practices for mainstream America.

REAL PEOPLE AND MEDITATION/PRAYER

Alice, a female in her early thirties, described herself as a successful physi-

cian

who had

shortly after

achieved tremendous success in her professional

becoming

licensed.

Not

involved in her patients'

lives,

several years, however, gradually Alice

began to and,

it

alike.

Over the course of

began to notice that she was

began to

interfere with the

time and she developed insomnia. Over time,

affect her physical health; she

later,

and gener-

increasingly anxious about the well-being of her patients.

her anxiety continued to grow, free

their health

work and accomplishment,

and was respected by colleagues and patients

of her

which she became deeply

hoping to promote

well-being. Alice took great pride in her

becoming

very

quite a workaholic, she nevertheless

cultivated a very intense medical practice in

al

life

basis.

Alice's anxiety

developed respiratory problems

an inflammatory condition of the

any apparent organic

As

enjoyment

joints.

Neither disorder had

Meditation and Prayer

395

In our therapy sessions, Alice recognized the psychodynamic roots of

her over-involvement with her patients; she was attempting to take too

much

However,

responsibility for them.

relieve her anxiety or

this recognition didn't fully

reduce her psychosomatic symptoms.

practice of mindfulness meditation in which, with eyes

I

suggested a

open but not

focused on a point, Alice would allow her attention to be mirrored by the

empty space

made

it

in front

of her. At

difficult for Alice to

distracting thoughts

first,

allow her

mind

and

feelings

to relax into emptiness. But

with continued practice, she found that this mindfulness meditation

became

a deep experience of calm, peace,

and

reduced her generalized anxiety. In addition, Alice

would

silently

tion of serving

them

welcome her well,

I

self- awareness

suggested a prayer in which

patients into the

and then

silently

that greatly

room with

the inten-

bid them farewell as they

praying for their healing and well-being, while recognizing their responsibility

and autonomy

Alice's anxiety

in the healing process.

left,

own

Within a few months,

had greatly diminished, her psychosomatic symptoms

mostly disappeared, and her enjoyment of her work returned.

Jim, a gay African-American in his late

thirties,

came

to therapy because,

though he was extremely well-liked by the community

at large,

he had a

very difficult time maintaining individual friendships. At a certain point in his relationships,

he would inevitably

feel slighted in

some way and

break off contact without explanation. While extremely intelligent and fairly well-educated,

his

own

Jim lacked the

self- awareness to

understand

how

behavior perpetuated this pattern of failed friendships. His ego

-strength

and boundaries

initially

seemed inadequate

to the task

taining his emotional pain about the loss of his friends. In therapy, a great deal of time holding

offering empathic reflection

and containing and

of conI

spent

Jim's emotional pain,

insight, to the extent that

receive them. Jim's ego-integrity, self- awareness,

and capacity

and

he could

for intima-

cy began a steady development.

Then Jim received an AIDS

diagnosis.

With this diagnosis, Jim's sense

of alienation from others returned and, in addition, he fell into a depression

Whole Mind

The

396

and despair which were

overwhelming.

at times

Fortunately, in the course of our work, access to a

I

He

often wished to die.

had discovered that Jim had

profound sense of spirituality within him. While supporting

him emotionally

in his struggle with a life-threatening illness,

I

also sug-

gested that he might recognize his despair as a "dark night of the soul."

Jim was questioning whether

his life

had any meaning.

I

gently encour-

aged him to pray for the guidance and understanding that he needed and

God and

sought. As Jim began to explore his connection to

his

Higher

Self through prayer, he began to experience illuminating dreams visions that allowed his pain

pose in

more life.

him

to see himself more clearly

intelligible,

and offered him

and

a sense of

and

made

realistically,

meaning and pur-

Before his death, Jim emerged from his "dark night" with a

deep and grounded self-awareness and a profound

spiritual presence.

WHAT TO EXPECT Meditation and prayer can be practiced individually or in a group or nity setting.

There

is

a great deal of literature

both prayer and meditation that can practices.

With

assist

meditation, however,

it

you

commu-

and taped material concerning in beginning or cultivating these

would probably be

best to begin study-

ing with a competent and reputable teacher, either privately or in a group.

found

Classes can usually be clubs. Since there are

one

fits

yoga schools,

give

month

you very

I

recommend

class

is

to practice, the time, energy,

you

mind and

not for you.

and commit-

achieve. In addition to a

with your teacher, daily meditation

You might begin slowly by meditating once or twice

find that

practicing a meditation

before deciding to try another, unless your

give will determine the kind of results

weekly session or

you might

clear signals that a particular meditation

Whichever meditation you choose

ment you

holistic health centers, or fitness

types of meditation practices,

your needs better than another.

technique for a

body

many

in

a

is

extremely useful.

week

for ten to fifteen

minutes. Gradually build up to a daily routine of thirty minutes to one hour

(depending on your time constraints). Meditation can be practiced lying

down, standing, or walking.

tion, using a comfortable

Usually, meditation

is

done

sitting,

in a sitting posi-

cushion to support the spine, which should be

397

Meditation and Prayer

straight but relaxed.

You may use

a chair,

on the

if sitting

floor

uncomfort-

is

able or inadvisable.

As

a natural expression of the heart, prayer

and

cultivate

that

some kind of "spiritual

direction" or guidance

tradition,

i.e.,

prayer ripens with practice.

many

A

and intention

people find

very useful in developing a specific religious

one that you have adopted),

helpful to discuss your spiritual needs

from that

is

you may be most comfortable with

tradition (either your family's or

you can begin

a practice that

without the assistance of a teacher. However,

a prayer practice. Since

director

is

for prayer

priest, rabbi, roshi, etc.

might be very

it

with a spiritual

As with meditation,

daily practice of prayer can engender an

ever-deepening attunement with your Self and with God. Prayer

is

the cultiva-

tion of a very intimate relationship.

Meditation and prayer can be combined with other healing practices. Personally,

I

have found that psychotherapy

practice of meditation

and

an excellent complement to the

is

prayer. Meditation

and prayer often help us

to "tran-

scend" our ordinary consciousness or personality; psychotherapy helps us to "transform" those aspects of our consciousness or personality that impede our spiritual journey. Psycho-physical practices

excellent

complements

to meditation

and

such

as

Whatever meditation or prayer you may choose gy,

commitment, and intention

ments that

remember

will condition

that meditation

way of life, which may

that

yoga and T'ai Chi are

you bring

to

to practice, the time, ener-

your practice are the key

your experience and the

and prayer tend

call

you

also

prayer.

to

results

become

you

part of a

to a gradual transformation

ele-

achieve. Also,

more

inclusive

and evolution

your

life-path.

HOW

TO FIND A MEDITATION TEACHER OR SPIRITUAL GUIDE

in

Meditation teachers are sometimes spiritual guides, and spiritual guides sometimes teach meditation, but this

and

classes are often listed in the

is

not always the case. Meditation teachers

Yellow Pages under "Meditation Instruction"

or "Yoga." Magazines such as the Yoga Journal, Holistic Health Journal, and

New Age Journal'list

meditation teachers, schools, and

classes, as well as offer-

ing useful articles on meditation and spirituality. You'll need to

out

as

much

as

you can about the

call

particular meditation, tradition,

and find

and tech-

niques being taught. Ask for literature. Find out about class schedules, length

of classes and

class size, the cost, the

recommended

dress,

and

if

you need

to

Whole Mind

The

398

own

provide your

cushion. You'll also

want

to

tell

a prospective teacher someth-

ing about yourself, particularly your expectations for the

class,

and any

rele-

vant emotional and physical health concerns or constraints. Be sure to gauge

how

the teacher responds to you: Your initial feelings about the teacher can

want

often be a useful guide to determine whether you her.

to study with

him

or

Also ask about his or her credentials for teaching: training, certification,

and teaching experience. There not useful

be true.

common

adage that searching for a guru or spiritual teacher

the time

However seeking

is

local church, synagogue,

This

right, the teacher appears.

may or may not

religious tradition

you might contact

mosque, Buddhist or Hindu temple,

with a spiritual director. Again, some of the magazines cited spiritual schools that

ested in their

own

But be

teachers are al

to discuss

your

spirituality,

careful:

you might

talk with

may

try to subtly coerce

you

and that what you

HOW

are seeking

is

And, sim-

who

Sometimes people who present themselves

are interinterest in

as spiritual

in the guise

of spiritu-

into accepting their beliefs

giving up your personal power to them. Always will

earlier will list

them about your

unaware of their own ego or "shadow," and,

assistance they

etc. to talk

spiritual needs.

have thoughtful and compassionate friends or family

ply, if you

prayer.

you can contact

is

guidance in prayer can be very

spiritual advice or

As mentioned, within your own

helpful.

your

a

is

— when

remember

that

you have

and free

ultimately within yourself.

TO LEARN MORE

There

is

an enormous body of literature on both meditation and prayer. The

following

list

includes general reading

mental and physical health,

as well as

on the

role

of meditation and prayer in

secondary material on meditation and

prayer from the five major religious traditions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam (Sufism),

Buddhism, and Hinduism. For a deeper

the primary texts of some of the great mystics

and

study,

you may want

Benson, H. Timeless Healing: The Power and Biology of Belief. Schuster, 1997.

Crown

Silence, Simplicity,

Publishers, 1992.

New York: Simon

and

New York: Crown Publishers, 1993. and Solitude: A Guide For Spiritual Retreat. New York:

Chopra, D. Ageless Body, Timeless Mind. Cooper, D.

to read

masters of these traditions.

Meditation and Prayer

Corless, R. The Art

399

of Christian Alchemy: Transfiguring the Ordinary Through

Holistic

Meditation. Ramsey, NJ: Paulist Press, 1981.

Deikman, A. The Observing Self: Mysticism and Psychotherapy. Boston: Beacon

Press

Books, 1982. Dossey, L. Healing Words: The Power of Prayer Francisco: HarperCollins, 1996. Dossey, L. Prayer

is

Good Medicine. San

and

M. The Myth ofthe Eternal Return. When

Green, T.

Maria Goldstein,

the Well Runs Dry: Prayer

Press, J.

of Medicine. San

Francisco: HarperCollins, 1996.

Easwaran, E. Meditation. Tomales, CA: Nilgiri Press, Eliade,

the Practice

1

996.

Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1974.

Beyond the Beginnings. Notre Dame, IN: Ave

1979.

The Experience of Insight:

A

Simple and Direct Guide

to

Buddhist

Meditation. Boston: Shambhala Publishing, Inc., 1987.

Helminski, E. Living Presence:

New York:

A

Sufi

Way

to

Mindfulness and the Essential

Self.

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1992.

Kaplan, A. Meditation

and the Bible. York Beach, ME: Samuel

Weiser, 1988.

J. A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual New York: Bantam Books, 1993. The Idea of the Holy. New York: Oxford University Press, 1976.

Kornfield, Life.

Otto, R.

Schimmel, A. Mystical Dimensions of Islam. Chapel

Hill:

The

University of North

Carolina Press, 1978. Suzuki, D.

An Introduction

Trungpa, C. Training the

to

Zen Buddhism.

New York:

Grove

Press,

Mind and Cultivating Loving-Kindness.

1991

Boston: Shambhala

Publishing, Inc., 1993.

Weil, A. Spontaneous Healing.

Woodward, K.

"Is

God

New York:

Ballantine Books, 1995.

Listening?" Newsweek,

March

31, 1997, 57-64.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Barry Friedman

is

a licensed marriage, family,

psychotherapist living in Oakland,

and

spiritual inquiry.

He

CA,

received his

and child counselor (MFCC)

specializing in depth psychotherapy

M.A.

in Divinity

and Ph.D.

in

South

Asian Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago, and an

M.A.

in

Counseling Psychology from John

F.

Kennedy

University. Barry has

taught meditation, yoga, comparative mythology, and religion, and has been

deeply involved in the field of death and dying.

Buddhism and T'ai Chi Ch'uan.

He

is

a student of Tibetan

/.

Jamison Starbuck,

28

WHAT

IS

N.D.

J.D.,

Naturopathy and Mental Health

NATUROPATHY?

Naturopathic medicine tioners are

is

a unique

and

distinct medical profession. Its practi-

naturopathic physicians — primary

who

licensed as such in recognizing states)

care family physicians (and

are specialists in natural

and

holistic

medicine. Naturopathic physicians treat a wide variety of physical, mental, and

emotional

illnesses,

trauma and abuse

including depression, anxiety, addictions, eating disorders,

related illnesses, confusion

and memory

disorders, attention

deficit disorder, obsessive/compulsive disorders, phobias, nightmares, nia,

and

issues related to self-esteem, self-actualization

Because of their role

as

primary care

holistic doctors, naturopathic physi-

cians are acutely aware of the interconnected nature of the

mind and

the body.

In direct contrast to the mainstream medical model, in which a patient sected" into

many parts and directed

ment of each

area of the

body

insom-

and personal growth.

is

"dis-

to a different doctor for the separate treat-

(a psychiatrist

or psychologist for mental/

emotional complaints, an internist for fatigue, a dermatologist for skin rashes,

and

a gastroenterologist for

model

sees

and

stomach problems), the naturopathic medical

treats a patient as

one singular organism composed of many

interrelated systems.

Naturopathic physicians routinely recognize the links between physical

symptoms and mental and emotional complaints. In tal

certain instances of

men-

or emotional illness, a physical imbalance underlies or causes the mental/

401

Naturopathy and Mental Health

emotional disturbance. In other instances, the mental or emotional create physical

symptoms. In order

illness

can

to accomplish true healing, naturopathic

physicians offer treatment for physical ailments in conjunction with treatment for

mental or emotional complaints. This

on each individual

HOW The

IT

set

is

done only when appropriate, based

of circumstances.

BEGAN

historical roots

eclectic, hygienic,

of naturopathic medicine

in the nineteenth

lie

century

and homeopathic schools of medical thought. In contrast

to

the "heroic" medical tradition of bloodletting, leeching, and purging with

heavy metals such cians

as

mercury, the eclectic, hygienic, and homeopathic physi-

employed gentler methods such

cise, lifestyle

as herbal formulas, specialized diets, exer-

changes, and hydrotherapy.

The term

"naturopathy," as a distinct medical profession,

United States between 1898 and 1902. In 1902, the

in the

opathic medicine opened

in

New York City.

school of natur-

as "standing for the recon-

harmonizing and unifying of nature, humanity and God." Naturopathic

medicine was "fundamentally therapeutic" because tion

into being

At that time, the Naturopath and

Herald of Health described naturopathic medicine ciling,

first

came

and empowerment

.

.

.

it

offered "healing, educa-

encompassing the realm of human progress and

destiny" (Cody, 1996).

While

today's language

may be more down

Victorian era, naturopathic medicine

empowerment. There

still

to earth than that of the lofty

offers healing, education,

are four recognized, accredited naturopathic medical

schools in the United States, located in Portland,

AZ; and

recently

opened

national licensing exams,

in Bridgeport,

and

OR;

IT

practice throughout the United States

causum, and

is

based on several principles:

primum non

Hippocrates and dating to 400 is

WA;

Phoenix,

and family

and other

physicians.

WORKS

Naturopathic medicine tolle

Seattle,

CT. Graduates of these schools take

countries, as general naturopathic medical practitioners

HOW

and

vis

medicatrix naturae,

nocere. Vis medicatrix naturae, a B.C.,

means

"the healing

term used by

power of nature." This

the foundation of naturopathic medicine, the belief that the

mind have

body and

innate healing mechanisms that can be enhanced and utilized in

the treatment of disease. Vis medicatrix naturae also recognizes the healing

The

402

properties of substances existing in nature: Tolle

air,

Whole Mind

water, food, plants.

causum means "find the cause." This term encapsulates the naturo-

pathic principle, which states that the most effective approach to disease involves not simply the treatment of symptoms, but the detection

ment of the underlying cause of the

Primum non

nocere

and

treat-

illness.

means "do no harm." Naturopathic physicians endeav-

or to use therapeutic modalities that are gentle, natural, and supportive to the

body. Medicines that the

body can

dangerous side

chosen to enhance the functioning of homeostasis.

effects, are

Also worth discussing over vitalism

vs.

utilize constructively,

without

difficult or

the place of naturopathic medicine in the debate

is

mechanism. The origins of these two medical philosophies

can be traced again to Hippocrates and ancient Greece, while the history of their evolving schools

Mechanism

of thought can be followed from ancient times into today.

essentially maintains that life

and chemical

reactions; disease

sort of external agent.

philosophies at

a series of complicated physical

a disruption of these reactions caused

is

by some

Treatment therefore involves the swift eradication of the

external agent, or the removal of its signs or tic

is

work

symptoms. Examples of mechanis-

orthodox medical community

in the

are: ear

tubes in

a child with chronic ear infections, anti-anxiety agents for a patient with panic disorder, Ritalin for a child with attention deficit disorder.

Vitalism,

ism

is

on the other hand,

unique and that

life is

is

based on the philosophy that each organ-

more complex than simple chemistry.

Vitalists

acknowledge modern biological and medical science, and concurrently recog-

— some

nize the existence of something

more

of balance, of a

moves body and mind toward healing

vital force, that

gives each individual his or her

symptoms not

as the action

the agent, and as

why not

Symptoms, according

—

that

as the body's response to

the body's attempt to defend and heal

itself.

According to

every person exposed to a flu virus will

symptoms, and why not every person exposed

display anxiety.

of homeostasis,

uniqueness. Vitalism explains disease

of the external agent, but

vitalism, individuality explains

get flu

own

special quality

same event

will

to vitalism, are relative to the vigor

and

to the

uniqueness of the individual.

Naturopathic medicine

is

primarily a vitalistic system of medicine. Naturo-

pathic therapies, such as botanical medicines, homeopathic medicines, nutrition, physical therapies,

and counseling,

organism and to enhance

its

largely

work

to strengthen the

human

capacity to fight disease. However, naturopathic

physicians also agree that there are situations in which a mechanistic approach

Naturopathy and Mental Health

is

and medical

necessary. Naturopathic physicians use their diagnostic

make

this

determination, and,

natural medicines

In

403

many

states,

prescribe

whenever

if

mechanistic treatment

feasible

is

skills to

required, will use

and prescription medications

if necessary.

naturopathic licensing law allows naturopathic physicians to

some pharmaceuticals

that are natural in origin, such as penicillin,

codeine, and thyroid medications.

Naturopathic physicians also recognize that there are individuals whose disease process requires mechanistic, medical intervention. Naturopathic

med-

icine has a long history

of cooperative interaction with orthodox practitioners

and medical

Naturopathic physicians will make

specialists

specialists.

when

necessary,

seeing medical doctors

referrals to

and often work with patients who

medical

are concurrently

and taking orthodox prescription medicine.

In the area of mental health care, naturopathic medicine works by gently

strengthening and healing both the body and the mind. Areas of disease or ness are specifically treated while concurrently the

whole organism

is

ill-

brought

into balance.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Research on naturopathic medical modalities the

is

increasing each year, with

most extensive research being conducted by the research departments

at

each of the four naturopathic medical colleges. Readers interested in ongoing or completed studies are urged to contact the research departments at National

College of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences, Southwest College of Naturopathic

Medicine and Health Sciences, or

University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine (see addresses page

408).

Numerous

research studies

on plant and homeopathic medicines have

been, and continue to be, done in Europe. Interested readers can learn

more

about these studies through botanical and homeopathic journals.

REAL PEOPLE AND NATUROPATHY

T. L., an

1 1

-year-old boy, was brought to the office for depression

attention deficit disorder.

Among his symptoms were

and

poor performance

— of of the basement, of nighttime, of ghosts and monsters — and apathy in school, suicidal

thoughts and statements,

many

fears

the dark,

Whole Mind

The

404

alternating with quarrelsome behavior. This

the time of his

first visit,

boy

an

also

is

artist,

and

at

was making very dark drawings of people being

with knives, of people hanging, and other scenes of torture and

killed

At that time,

misery.

T. L.

was taking 50

mg of Zoloft

daily. T. L.

taken a dislike to the Zoloft, and whenever possible, would hide the

under

his

tongue and

spit

it

when

out

his parents

had pill

were not watching.

After a thorough case-taking involving a ninety-minute office

visit,

he was given one dose of a homeopathic remedy, stramonium 200C.

During the first twenty-four hours, T.

L.

s

behavior worsened dramatically.

He became very angry, volatile, and violent. to

do

laps

By his

around the yard

in order to

the next morning, T. L.

His mother sent him outside

work off some of his

had changed.

He

invited his

room, usually a wild mess. His room was clean and

the

first

time. T. L.

had

arisen at

ening and cleaning his room.

frenzied energy.

tidy,

mother into

organized for

6 A.M. and spent over an hour

He was

straight-

calm, able to be kind, and interact

with family members.

Over the next two months,

T. L.

continued to improve.

He

lost his

fear

of the dark, began to do better in school, and no longer expressed

any

suicidal tendencies.

His drawings changed to landscapes and scenes

of boats, animals, and people enjoying themselves. T. L. returned to the office several

that involved

minor lying and

again and at this

visit

stealing.

months

later

because of behavior

His homeopathic case was taken

he was given medorrhinum 200C. Again, T. L. had

a significant reaction to the remedy, with lots

of physical energy, anger,

and mean behavior. Again, by the next morning he was calm. This time his

mother found him

sitting in bed, preparing his

homework. Over the

next few months, T. L. continued to improve in school and social settings. T. L. conflicts

was seen again

for trouble at

between him and

his father.

home involving power struggles and

He had grown and changed,

center of his disturbance was different than previously. Lachesis

had been

1M was prescribed. Again, T.

bance, with angry words, hyperactivity, al

it

L.

had

and meanness,

several

months

a similar distur-

this

days following the remedy. Again, he eventually settled

and the

time for sever-

down; he became

happier and able to function well within his school and family system.

405

Naturopathy and Mental Health

At the time of this ble at

home and

he

at school,

for certain subjects,

and

no demerits

received

writing, T. L. is

is

doing

well.

He

is

happy, he

is

sta-

enrolled in a holistic tutoring program

have improved significantly.

his grades

in school this past term,

ing itself in a positive fashion: T. L.

is

and

his creativity

He

is

has

show-

the only boy in his school to be

selected for this year's all-city choir.

R.

S.,

a 41-year-old female, suffered from anxiety, depression, and chron-

ic fatigue.

She had been born prematurely and grew up in an alcoholic

family with significant physical and emotional abuse. She had been in

therapy for several years. She liked therapy, though

was urging her

therapist

On cial

her

first visit,

it

drained her. Her

to take a prescription antidepressant medication.

R. S. refused any laboratory

claiming finan-

tests,

duress and an unwillingness to take any prescription medication. R. S.

was asked

to

make

feine, alcohol,

dietary changes that included the elimination of caf-

and simple

sugars.

She was given a constitutional homeo-

pathic remedy and a botanical formula including the herb

At her two week follow-up, R.

St.

John's

won.

reported that she was feeling better;

S.

she was excited by the change and looked forward to what she called her "'new

life."

R.

S.

did not return to the office for over two months, at which

time she had had a 50 percent relapse in her symptoms, most significantly fatigue

repeated,

and

a sense

and she was

of black doom. Her homeopathic remedy was

also given a botanical

roid function. Again, R. S. pletely sustain the

and

self-care

felt

formula to support her thy-

better for a time, but

was not able to com-

improvement. Though she was attentive to her diet

recommendations, R.

S.

was unable to work full-time with-

out getting exhausted, unable to do the eight- and ten-mile hikes she used to enjoy

on weekends, and she

still

suffered

from a

slight

but ever-present

sense of doom. Finally, R. S.

profile test

consented to laboratory

which revealed

a

hypothyroid

grain daily of Armour thyroid (the

tests,

among them

state.

R. S. agreed to try one

a thyroid

most "natural" type of prescription

thyroid hormone) in addition to her botanical formula. Within one week,

Whole Mind

The

406

her

life

had changed again. Within two months she had begun

full-time

and

felt

able to socialize, hike,

to

work

and tackle projects long

left

untended.

Over the next

six

months, R.

S.

maintained her commitment to a

healthy diet and was given another homeopathic remedy that helped her

during a particularly

One

year

later,

difficult

emotional period involving a job change.

new romantic

R. S. had begun a

relationship,

and was

considering graduate school.

These two

cases illustrate a

and treatments

to several

vitalistic in nature,

broad application of naturopathic philosophy

mental

illnesses.

In the

first case,

the treatment was

using homeopathic medicine to stimulate the vital force,

and a minor amount of therapy

to educate

and balance the emotional func-

tioning. In the second case, the vital force responded to natural medicines, but

was unable to support and sustain the

due to a physiological deficit.

individual's vigor

When

this

and verve

for very long,

was treated mechanistically with a

small dose of prescription thyroid hormone, the homeopathic and botanical

medicines were better able to support and strengthen R.

S.

WHAT TO EXPECT Typically, a patient schedules first office visit

ranges,

an

office visit

depending on the

minutes. For a mental health patient, this history taking, a review of any records, at

with a naturopathic physician. practitioner, first visit

from

quent

or performed during the

visit.

thirty to ninety

would involve

a thorough

and in-depth discussion of the problem

hand. Depending on the circumstances, a physical exam

mended

The

first visit,

or

may be

may

be recom-

scheduled for a subse-

Because naturopathic medicine honors the individuality and

uniqueness of each patient, issues of touch and of physical exams are managed in a sensitive

manner. Patients are informed about the reasons for any physical

exams or laboratory

tests,

and

are

empowered

to

make

their

own choices regard-

ing their bodies.

In most instances, treatment protocols involve specific nutritional and lifestyle advice,

one or more botanical prescriptions, homeopathic medicine,

407

Naturopathy and Mental Health

and recommendations regarding

hydrotherapy, exercise, and light therapy. specific training in

therapies

related

Some

such

bodywork,

as

naturopathic physicians have

psychotherapy and thus offer counseling

of their

as a part

treatment. Others are concurrently trained in acupuncture and Chinese herbology.

Naturopathic physicians take seriously the role of doctor the office

such

as taking a

may

as

men, weekly counseling, or

Most

keeping a diet

visits is also

working with mental health

cian once or twice a

diary, journaling,

visits

of self-care, and

visits as

often as once or twice a

utilized, the

involvement of other

issues related to geography, time,

first office visit

visit

and upon

local

and

range from $65 to $150; follow-up

economic

spend additional money on medicines, such

pathic remedies, and supplements, and

Symptom Because

it is

resolution

is

as herbal preparations, tests

continued maintenance

form of medicine,

it

offers a

may come

cases

where

HOW

TO FIND A NATUROPATH

essential for

symptoms within

the

wide

assort-

Most mental

first

two weeks

within several months. In some cases,

required over a period of years, and there are

is

resolution

homeo-

where indicated.

modalities, suitable for a variety of individuals.

of treatment. Full resolution

full

can also expect

distinctly possible with naturopathic medicine.

a broad spectrum, eclectic

ment of healing

factors. Patients

on laboratory

health patients notice a positive shift in

It is

basis.

range in price from $35 to $75. Prices will vary depending upon time

spent during the to

regi-

issues see their naturopathic physi-

week, depending on the treatment modalities

finance. Typical costs for a

more

an exercise

determined on an individual

month. Others schedule

practitioners, the extent

a medicinal tea, to

specific dietary changes.

frequency of follow-up

patients

range from something very sim-

homeopathic remedy or brewing

complex involvement such

The

during

they educate patients about the disease and involve patients in

visit,

the healing process. Patient participation ple,

as teacher;

is

some

not possible.

an interested patient to inquire about the training and licens-

ing of a naturopathic physician. Patients should be certain that the naturopathic

physician they are seeing

college,

board.

and

is

a graduate of an accredited naturopathic medical

licensed as a physician

As mentioned,

icine in the

is

United

by

a state naturopathic medical licensing

there are four accredited schools of naturopathic

States:

med-

National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr

Whole

The

408

Mind

University of Natural Health Sciences, Southwest College of Naturopathic

Medicine and Health Science, and University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine. With few exceptions, graduation from one of these schools

is

It is

required for licensing in the United States.

also a

good idea

to ask doctors, or their staff, if the doctor has

experience working with mental health issues. Patients should

feel free to

questions regarding training, licensing and practice specialties, practice

and cost of treatment when making an

initial

had ask

style,

inquiry and before scheduling an

appointment.

The

the

American

(AANP), 2366 Eastlake Ave.

East, Suite

best source for locating a naturopathic physician

Association of Naturopathic Physicians

322, Seattle,

WA,

98102. The

AANP

is

has a referral line for patients seeking

naturopathic physicians in their city or

state:

(206) 323-7610. There

is

a five

dollar charge for an information packet. Interested persons can also contact

one of the naturopathic medical schools:

National College of

Southwest College of

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine and

11231 SE Market

Health Sciences

St.

Portland,

OR 972 16

Tel: (503)

255-4860

6535

E.

Osborn Rd.,

Scottsdale, Tel: (602)

Bastyr University of Natural

NE

221 University Ave. Bridgeport,

823-1300 Tel: (203)

Readers

may

990-7424

of Naturopathic Medicine

Bothell.WA 98011 Tel: (206)

703

85251

University of Bridgeport College

Health Sciences 14500 Juanita Dr.

AZ

Suite

CT 06601

576-4109

also call or write their state naturopathic or medical licensing

board for information about naturopathic medicine in individual

states.

HOW TO LEARN MORE Cody, G. W. "The History of Naturopathic Medicine." In Medicine, edited by

J.

Pizzorno and

M. Murray,

Bothell,

A

Textbook of Natural

WA:

Bastyr University

Publications, 1996.

Pizzorno,

J.

and M. Murray

eds.

The Encyclopedia ofNatural Medicine. Rocklin, CA:

Prima, 1990. Somerville, R. ed. The Alternative Advisor. Alexandria,

VA: Time-Life,

Inc.,

1997.

Naturopathy and Mental Health

409

ABOUT THE AUTHOR J.

Jamison Starbuck, J.D., N.D., has a practice

MT. At

least

30 percent of her practice

is

in family

medicine in Missoula,

devoted to the treatment of mental

health issues, including A.D.D., depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. She also teaches

homeopathy and botanical medicine,

is

a consulting editor for

Time-Life Books, and writes and consults for various publications nationwide.

She is

is

a

1989 graduate of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine. She

also a graduate

Law, and

is

a

of Middlebury College and Willamette University College of

member of the

state bars

of Montana and Oregon.

Donald M.

7

M

Epstein, D.c.

Network Spinal Analysis: A Chiropractor's Perspective on the Body/Mind Connection

WHAT

IS

NETWORK SPINAL ANALYSIS?

Network Spinal Analysis® spine and nervous system.

the to

and

way we

remain

ence

is

a leading-edge application of chiropractic

who wants

ods available to anyone

directly

is

The

a freer,

more

life's

flexible, adaptable,

and more vibrant

shape, position, tone, and tension of the spine

indirectly affect our perception of

recover from

flexible,

meth-

circumstances.

and

free

life,

The

the

way we meet

ability

life,

and

of the spinal system

from mechanical tension and

interfer-

essential to the healing process.

The

intent of Network Spinal Analysis

is

to locate

and

correct the subluxa-

resulting muscular tension) of the spine to

empower

the nervous system to express a fuller range of its healing potential.

Network

tions (misalignments

Spinal Analysis

is

and

not designed to remove uncomfortable situations from the

patient's physiology or to help a person feel better (although this

commonly

happens). Network Spinal Analysis was not developed to cure any emotional or physical condition.

own

self-regulatory

The aim

and

My colleagues and I Network Spinal

is

to provide powerful assistance to the body's

self-healing capacities through the spinal adjustment.

have found that as a natural consequence of receiving

Analysis, the nervous system often reexperiences the events

that are the source of the suffering with

the spinal system the spine was in

is

released

new

insight, as

mechanical tension on

and the nervous system remembers the position

when traumas of the

past initially occurred.

410

Network Spinal Analysis

HOW

IT

411

BEGAN

My awareness of the

relationship between the spinal structures

and

a patient's

mental and emotional health began with the understanding that traumatic events could result in spinal distortion. tice,

had no idea that the

I

At the beginning of my

of the spinal distortion could

significant correction

have a major impact on a patient's emotional and mental

of the world. In this chapter,

my practice,

occurred in

tem

as a

I

some

will describe

forever deepening

clinical prac-

state,

and experience

clinical situations that

my understanding of the spinal

sys-

modulator of consciousness, and of the dynamic relationship between

traumatic events and the spine. These insights lead to the development of the

work now In

called

my

Network Spinal

maximize the body's own

efforts to

response to the force ered that not

all

Analysis.

I

self-corrective capacities in

applied to the spine in chiropractic technique,

I

discov-

subluxations of the spine were the same, and that the priority

of addressing them needed to be explored. As

I

developed a sequencing of

adjustments called a phasing system, and increased the precision of the timing, type,

and location of force applied, emotional responses became more com-

mon. Later

in the

development of the technique,

patients' spines

began to

undulate or wave. This was most often associated with altered states of consciousness, spontaneous emotional releases,

and reduction of spinal tension.

Further exploration of the significance of the body's self-generated wavelike

motions and postures lead to the development of Network Spinal Analysis is

presented in this chapter. There are two wave forms which

during care, a respiratory and a somatopsychic

(as

may be

compared

as

it

generated

to a psychoso-

matic) wave. Both are natural, spontaneous, and appear to be tools to dissipate

energy and exchange information. Research has suggested that the appearance

of these phenomena are positive influences for health and overall well-being (Epstein, 1996).

HOW In

IT

my

WORKS

practice as a chiropractor,

I

have found that the shape, position, tone,

and tension of the spinal system

are directly related to the shape, position, tone,

and tension

makes sense

bility

life. It

and natural contours, so does

spine that likely

in a person's

is

less flexible

and unable

be stuck in one perspective.

that

when

the spine loses

a person's life experience.

to recover

from

its

its flexi-

A person with a

experiences will most

When is

Whole Mind

The

412

the spine cannot enjoy

its

limited in the types of experience that

it

can have, as well

express itself on physical, mental, emotional,

time,

it

will

When

head pulled back, you

will

When your head is you

spiritual levels.

ways

can

it

At the same

be

will

latter position

it is

In addition,

When

your spine

ramrod

is

straight with the

be more stoic and both emotionally and mentally

tilted slightly

at peace, regardless

upwards with

of what

actually difficult for

when

may

your back and head are bent downwards, you

experience defeat or depression.

spine,

and

as the

be predisposed to certain types of experience while being unable

to respond to others.

rigid.

of motion, the body/mind

natural, full range

you

full

natural curves in your

happening

is

in

your

In this

life.

to experience anger or upset.

a person has experienced a

marked emotional, mental

or physical trauma, certain parts of the spinal musculature will take on a characteristic tone. If someone experiences a significant loss (such as that

of a loved

one, a relationship, finances) their spinal musculature will tense. This ural process, but

one that

itself shortly after

results in difficulty if the spinal

is

a nat-

system does not

reset

the experience. If the person's spine and nervous system do

not recover from the event, then the musculature will take on a characteristic thickness associated with the length of time since the trauma occurred. This

not unlike observing the rings within a the tree

is

examining

felled tree.

We can

determine

how

is

old

by counting the number of rings. Someone who has had experience trees for their characteristic ring patterns

traumatic events that the tree survived in disease, or forest

the trauma

fire.

Similarly, a skilled

past,

its

can determine the types of

such as periods of drought,

examiner can determine the nature of

and the approximate period

in a person's life

when

the situation

occurred.

The

body's

movement and

or clinician. This occurs even

traumatic event that

tem

is

tension reveal

if

movement,

this for as

long

as

it

history to the trained observer

the person does not consciously

expressed in the postural physiology.

will wall off the affected regions

restricted

its

from the

rest

body from the traumatic

rest

history in that area.

The nervous

sys-

of the spine or body through

tense musculature, restricted breath,

needs to protect the

remember the

and pain.

It

does

of the nervous system, spine, and It

may be years,

if ever,

before the

nervous system can allow for a safe exchange of information, respiration, and

movement between

When that

the

this particular region

body

is

and the

encouraged to reposition

rest

of the body-mind.

itself in

the tension pattern

was originally associated with a traumatic experience, the body unwinds

Network Spinal Analysis

movement of the body an emotional release occurs. With this release,

and then out of the mechanical tension. With

into

from high tension there

is

to

low tension,

more

a return to a

ment, and els,

413

peaceful

and natural

state

a

of less tension,

Resolution of the tension

fuller respiration.

freer

move-

may occur on many lev-

including the mental and emotional realm, which

never separate from

is

physical tensions. I

propose, based

upon the model of Panjabi (1992), the following explana-

tion for the process described above.

eration of its

component

The spine

maintains integrity by the coop-

systems. These systems are the passive system (the

spinal bones), the active system (the spinal muscles), (the nervous system).

When

nervous system,

traumatic experiences,

least

as in

and the control system

energy or information overwhelm the spine and

may be

it

stored as tension in at

one of these component systems. Muscle tension, altered spinal curves,

and limited motion of the spine or extremities

An system

additional is

component

the emotional subsystem.

is

I

of such adaptations.

The emotional

not located in any one place, as are the other systems. Instead

functional system derived from the tension tissues.

are examples

theorize that this tension

The emotional subsystem it

restricted

restricted

motion

and experienced and understood

the nervous system,

subsystems, and

and

and

shares information

must be able

spinal stability to develop.

to dissipate

its

as

sub-

it is

a

motion of the body

are processed

emotion or

through

attitude.

and energy with the other

stored tension effectively for

The emotional subsystem may

eliminate

its

tension

through vocalization or through transferring the tension to the spinal muscles,

which can

release

the its

through spinal motion, freeing the spinal bones to assume

it

their natural range

of motion.

The

less

more capable the emotional system

information easily and

safely.

by removing impairments

impaired the other spinal systems will

be to release

Network Spinal Analysis

its

are,

tension and share

facilitates this

to the optimal functioning of the spinal

process

bones and

muscles.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS

A

retrospective study

was recently conducted

University of California at Irvine.

and with

internationally.

The

results

statistically significant,

self-reported health

The

at the

Medical College of the

study involved 2,818 patients in the U.S.

demonstrate that Network care

is

associated

profound, and consistent improvement in patients'

and wellness

in

many areas,

ranging from general emotional

Whole Mino

The

414

well-being to improved

work performance

to

making

lifestyle

changes and

improving relationships. Additional studies are in progress to assess Network patients longitudinally,

and papers further

detailing the results have been submitted to peer-reviewed

more information about

journals for publication. For projects involving

Network Spinal

Network Chiropractic

this

and other research

Analysis, contact the Association for

or Robert Blanks, Ph.D., at University of California at

Irvine,

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology,

Irvine,

CA, 92697-1275, (714) 824-5984,

Room 322 Med

Surge

II,

E-mail: [email protected].

REAL PEOPLE AND NETWORK SPINAL ANALYSIS

The

following clinical stories are taken from

my book

The 12

Stages

of

Healing (1994).

Arthur was brought into

and

my office by his family. He was bent

to the side, using a stick to support himself, with

clenched in a

fist,

as if he

riencing extreme pain.

was ready

He

to

could not

forward

one of his hands

punch someone. Arthur was expesit at all,

because his pain was too

severe.

He mentioned

that he

was bending over to make a repair when he

The made it go away, not even the powerful medication and him by his medical specialist. I consulted with him and felt a snap in his back.

pain that followed was excruciating. Nothing

therapy given to his family

his past history, including his physical, emotional, mental,

traumas and

On

about

and chemical

stresses.

examining

his spine,

I

discovered very tense, thick, and protec-

tive musculature, especially in his neck.

Although

his history did

not

my physical findings suggested that a major trauma had occurred twenty years ago. When I questioned him about what might have taken reveal

it,

place, his response

was "Nothing." About two minutes

later

he recalled

that his brother had died in Vietnam, "but that was twenty-three years ago."

He got

angry and was emphatic that there had been nothing wrong

with him before he "snapped" his back.

415

Network Spinal Analysis

discovered a major region of mechanical tension in his upper spine,

I

near where the skull meets the neck.

I

applied a force as light as you might

comfortably place on a closed eyelid. Ten seconds

after

He dropped

ger from his neck, Arthur's posture began to shift.

brought

his

neck backwards, and

straighten up,

my

floor,

and

sat

tree

fin-

his fists,

offered,

to

branch he had

comfortably on the adjusting

comments he

asking for any

my

head up. His spine began

and he sighed deeply. He placed the

used as a cane on the

Without

tilted his

removed

I

table.

"You know,

I

I never cry. I never even cried when my He seemed surprised by the statement he heard himself common for a person to mention things about his or her past

almost cried today from the pain.

brother died."

make.

when

It is

spinal tension

and interference

are reduced with a specific spinal

adjustment.

Arthur suddenly started to his body.

He spoke of God's

cry.

around him. This surprised him

him

cry or talk about

God

75 percent improvement

deep

sighs.

very next time

I

as

it

did his family.

in that way.

least

The

His sobs resonated from deep inside

participation in the world

in

He

left

They had never

movement, and periodic spontaneous

adjusted this usually "self-controlled" man, a

different vertebra in his neck,

he held

and some choice

He punched

obscenities.

I

gendy adjusted a

the air screaming, "Its broken!

face. It

seems that he was actually

an event that took place about three years

after his brother died.

This accounted for the twenty-year-old muscle tension in his neck.

The body never lies, and

He

me

later related to

that he

to kill him, twenty years ago,

"Get away

his face, crying out,

broken," holding onto his jaw and

reliving

seen

the office at peace, with at

profound re-experiencing of a past event occurred. As

It's

and of the beauty

the

body and mind

was re-experiencing

by throwing a

had discovered

I

are one.

his father s

refrigerator

on top of him.

Within seconds of the spinal tension and interference being actually re-experienced the sense that his teeth were

attempt

knocked

released,

he

out, his nose

broken, and that he was spitting blood. This was a holographic re-creation, as his nervous system

was releasing the spinal holding patterns by

which he had been limited

all

these years. This process continued for

Whole Mind

The

416

about an hour. Finally he stood straight and remarked that the pain was gone.

Moments

later,

he began to shout obscenities

once again immediately stooped over

at his father,

and was

in pain.

own body/mind connection was healing with the help of the tool called a chiropractic adjustment. He was learning from the inside that his body and mind are not separate. He recognized, without a word spoken His

from me, that he was responsible

for

what he had not been

feeling

all

me that he was tired of not wanting to feel anyHe now wanted not to feel better, but to better feel. His

these years. Arthur told

thing anymore.

healing progressed rapidly.

new world

He

to Arthur.

realized that there

mind."

He

The

release

of spinal interference opened a

This was the world of his

own

were things that he had placed

also realized that his spine

Network Spinal

in the

"back of his

was indeed the "back of his mind."

Stories of healing such as Arthur's story occur

patients receive

healing potential.

Analysis care.

It is

commonly when

important to under-

stand that the use of Network Spinal Analysis by a chiropractor does not

produce the emotional healing. The emotional healing spontaneously occurs as the spinal interference

is

reduced, allowing a greater degree of

wholeness to spontaneously express ing,

the

itself.

Life, or the

power of self-heal-

produces these changes. The chiropractic adjustment

body

to better express this

is

the tool for

power of life.

Ron had been

a friend of my wife's family since high school.

years of age, he

was strong,

friend,

well-built,

and was always willing

to

do things

for others. If your car broke fix

it.

If you

needed money,

he was glad to help out. Happily married to a fine woman,

who was

thirty

and handsome. Ron was everyone's

down, he would stop what he was doing and

twelve-year-old son

At

Ron had

a

the spitting image of him, as well as a nine-

year-old daughter.

One

afternoon,

my wife

had just returned from the tic

phone call telling her that Ron He had been diagnosed with metastato the bowel. He had undergone both

received a

hospital.

lung cancer that had spread

surgery and radiation therapy. Ron's case was pronounced terminal, and

Network Spinal Analysis

417

he was sent

home

me

over and attend to

to

come

spend

to

but in the hope that

cer,

knowing

ence,

that this

I

his final days

him

with his family. Ron's wife asked not to treat his can-

as a chiropractor,

could help free the spinal system of interfer-

would empower

his

own

and

self-organizing

self-healing system. It

was

a

shock to see him. Lying in a hospital bed that was

the den, Ron's head was bald, his

body emaciated, and he had

which had been removed due

replace his intestines,

Rons breathing was shallow and

his eyes

were

his case

what

him fect

is

my

inner composure,

wrong with you, nor can

that, as a chiropractor,

I

I

I

bowel cancer.

He

was not very

pillows.

Ron knew

do anything

for

free

"I

your

up

I

told

which was

per-

distress."

that

within him, the coordinating intelligence of the body, by correcting

him

that

I

know

did not

die eventually. However, die, since

at

none of our

"medical" history. I

stopped

I

when

I

told

if

the cancer would go away, and that he would

I

told

him

that

I

did not

know when he would

He

birth certificates have expiration dates.

me. With the assistance of his family,

and mental traumas

physical, emotional,

as

that

cannot cure

spinal interferences (subluxations) in the central nervous system.

up

his

die.

began by saying,

could only help

in

to the

glassy.

and they were propped up on

was hopeless and that he was going to

Gathering

up

a sack to

become paralyzed during

responsive to conversation. Ron's legs had stay in the hospital,

set

I

looked

performed a history of his

in addition to the conventional

then proceeded to examine his spine. I

felt a

band of thick muscles along

his spine.

It felt

though the associated trauma had occurred when Ron was about twelve

years old.

I

asked what had happened in his

life at

that point in time.

Ron's parents were in the room, and since he didn't respond, his mother said, "Well,

he broke

his hip that year."

While

that

was indeed

a physical

trauma, the spinal posture indicated that an emotional trauma also occurred at that time.

mother

replied that

Then

his father

I

asked

Ron had

his

if

anything

else

had happened, and

appendix removed that same

mentioned that Ron almost

following year, due to a bone infection.

The

lost

situation

his

year.

both of his

lees the

was so serious that

the doctors had considered amputation. Ron's history was

becoming more

clear to

We had a boy who broke his hip in a bicycle accident,

me:

emergency appendectomy, and had nearly time of his

the

at that

body does not

crisis

then asked

place.

For the

about the same

legs at

if

first

point in his

life.

In clinical practice,

is

because the body and

there

was an emotional

time in his adult

life,

mind

found that

are not separate.

loss that

Ron began

I

from emotional

might have taken

to cry,

nodding

in the

His mother said that at the age of twelve, Ron had witnessed

affirmative.

the violent death of one of his closest friends. spine,

both

attract repeated physical crisis separate

or trauma. This

I

lost

had an

appeared that there was a pattern involving the lower

life. It

body reappearing

a

Whole Mind

The

418

and located another major subluxation.

number of different

in his hospital

I

I

continued to examine his applied a gentle touch to

and within minutes he

vertebrae,

bed and smiled. As

his spine released

its

raised himself

interference

up

and

holding patterns, his nervous system was slowly being freed from the perspective that

When

was

it

in.

His

mood was

saw him three days

I

changing.

later,

years of age,

a

moving

names

Ron

bus.

challenged his best friend to catch a ride

When

his friend refused,

until he agreed to

do

bus, his friend lost his grip, wheels.

He was

it.

fell

killed instantly.

he

felt

Ron

teased

on the

him and

side of

called

him

After barely grabbing onto the side of the

under the bus, and was run over by the

Ron watched

and abdomen were crushed by the that

me that he had When he was twelve

Ron's wife told

revealed something that he never told anyone before.

in horror as his friend's legs

large vehicle.

He

never told anyone

responsible for his friend's death.

After several days of adjustments

move around

Ron began

to gain

the house and yard. At the same time, he

weight and to

became more open

with others, and he and his family began to have the most meaningful dialogues of their lives together. Music and laughter could be heard in the house once more.

ments,

I

As Ron continued

no longer saw

reclaiming his

life.

a

man who was

receiving regular spinal adjust-

dying, but

Over the next few weeks, the

someone who was

quality of his

life

dra-

matically improved.

One Ron

told

night, an associate of

him

mine

visited

Ron

that he couldn't fight the cancer

to adjust his spine,

anymore and

that he

and had

Network Spinal Analysis

419

v

decided to 'move on."

The

following day

Ron

called his wife

and

chil-

dren together and said that he was "going home." They held his hand and

he described his ascension process

Within

a

going through a door of

light.

Ron was

diag-

few minutes, he was gone.

Rons childhood nosed

as

friend never

made

it

to age thirteen.

having cancer and passed on during his sons twelfth year of life.

as

Rons nervous system was stuck

in a perspective: emotional, mental,

and

physical realities that paralleled each other.

my office

Darlene came to spine,

asked her

I

earlier.

if a

She couldn't

traumatic event had occurred in her

recall

examining her

for her first adjustment. After

any such event, but

I

made

life

sixteen years

my find-

a note of

ings in her clinical record.

After three or four spinal adjustments, she began to re-experience a situation sixteen years ago spinal system

when

her stepfather had raped her. As her

was becoming freed of interference,

traumatic event,

unwound

ly re-created the

experience from a place of greater

itself past

it

"remembered" the

the experience, and Darlene actualflexibility.

As

a conse-

quence of that merging, she experienced tremendous anger toward her stepfather that lasted for a couple of days. She chose to consult a personal

abuse counselor. She soon totally forgave her stepfather. Please be aware of the

fact that

giveness

she did not "try" to forgive him. Instead, spontaneous for-

became

ing, as her spinal its

was experienc-

a natural consequence of the healing she

system became more

flexible, adaptable,

and

freed

from

previous limited perspectives.

Darlene that she

that they

had not

later related that

had forgiven him

had spoken

her stepfather phoned her the same evening

to say that he

was

sorry.

to each other since shortly after the rape.

initiated direct contact

it

from a higher

spective created a change in her

responded.

I

have found that

first

time

Darlene

with him. Her nervous system merged

with whatever was behind her suffering, and as a perspective toward

This was the

state

life

it is

to

not

result,

she changed her

of consciousness. Her new per-

which her stepfather somehow

uncommon when

an individual

Whole Mind

The

420

releases a

major spinal source of tension and interference, for

an

on others who were involved

effect

in the

drama

this to

have

associated with the

original spinal holding pattern.

'C£

Although

I

am

not a psychologist and do not perform psychotherapy,

aware of people's responses during the healing process. There

is

I

am

certainly a rela-

tionship between unacknowledged consciousness and the physical expression

we are blocked from "being with" will often find a physical or emotional way to be with us. I have found, for example, that a high percentage of women who have had hysterectomies, or individuals who often complain of soft-tissue pain that does not of disease. Somehow, in some way, the consciousness

respond to conventional treatment, often experienced some kind of marked physical or sexual abuse earlier in I

am

life.

not claiming that a particular disease

physical or emotional trauma.

the message

we

are

hoping

To make such

to provide.

is

the result of a specific type of

claims

What is

would be

important

a distraction

from

to realize that being

is

stuck in the perspective of a particular trauma can have physiological conse-

quences and cumulative

effects

even years

The

later.

spinal system appears to

be a switchboard of consciousness and of a person's history. In Ron's case, the physical or emotional earlier

symptoms appeared

to have

unresolved trauma. In other cases, they

been directly related to an

may

appear to be totally unre-

lated to the original experience or event.

WHAT TO EXPECT

A thorough

spinal examination will be

performed on your

first visit

and

peri-

odically (often about every eight weeks) throughout treatment. Visual observa-

tion

and palpation

are essential tools, but practitioners

forms of noninvasive evaluation. ed

life

The

may

use additional

patient will be asked about health-relat-

changes, and this information will be integrated with the findings of the

chiropractor's spinal examination.

The are

two

treatment levels

during the

is

built

around a system of graduated

of corrective care and two

first level

of care, which

may

levels

in

"levels

of wellness

some

of care." There

care.

cases last

Adjustments

two months,

are

421

Network Spinal Analysis

brief

and involve gentle touch adjustments

often with the patient face

minutes.

The

body

as the

body's

own

to the

down. Usually the

self-corrective

learns to dissipate energy

neck and lower spine, most

sessions last

movements and

no more than

respirations are seen

from the spinal systems,

releasing spinal

The second

tension and developing a long-term strategy for spinal stability.

of care

level

ing,

when

care

is

may

involve a

more

five

diverse range of adjusting techniques includ-

necessary, gentle structural

(moving the bone)

types.

This

level

of

designed to correct the chronic subluxations and to engage the body's

self-correcting

may

of care

and

synergistic systems to a deeper level. Visits during this level

last fifteen

minutes, though shorter or longer sessions are possible.

Later levels of care involve positioning the patient in ways that allow for the

body's

own

self-generated waves to correct the subluxations,

and once again

the visits are often less than five minutes each. All patients can progress through

the four levels of care, but not their needs

and

all

patients

may choose

to

do

so,

depending on

their goals for the treatment.

Patients are asked to wear loose-fitting clothes that are not bulky, so that

the spine can be palpated through the garments. Periodic full examinations are

most often performed with the patient a

way

in

an examination gown, or dressed in

that exposes the entire spine.

The

fees vary

savings plans to

from

office to office

with

many

offices offering substantial

accommodate frequent and family

Network Chiropractic was used

visits.

to describe the earlier versions of what

Network Spinal Analysis, the term Network Chiropractic

name by independent

HOW

Although the term

is

now used as

is

now

a trade

practitioners of Network Spinal Analysis.

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

Practitioners of Network Spinal Analysis are chiropractors, with

training

and

all

appropriate

credentials required for their locations. In addition, they have

taken basic or advanced, hands-on intensive seminars in the theory and practice

of Network Spinal Analysis, offered through the postgraduate department

of an accredited chiropractic college.

Many

have taken a

examinations covering that body of knowledge. studied

Network Spinal

series

of certifying

A list of practitioners who have

Analysis, support this conceptual

model of body/mind

integration, or have passed certification examinations can be obtained

tacting the Association for

Network Chiropractic

Longmont, CO, 80501, (303) 678-810.

at

by con-

444 North Main

St.,

Whole Mind

The

422

HOW

TO LEARN MORE

Blanks, R. H.;

W.

Craig, A.,

R. Boone; D. Schmidt; and

Outcomes Assessment."

Retrospective

M. Dobson, and

H. Blanks. "Changes

M. "Network

Spinal Analysis:

Care:

A

Reported by

in Lifestyle Practices

Undergoing Subluxation-based Chiropractic."

Patients

Epstein, D.

R.

M. Dobson. "Network

(in preparation).

(in preparation).

A System of Health

Care Delivery within

the Subluxation Based Chiropractic Model." Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research

Epstein, D.

1,

M.

no.

1

(1996): 51-59.

Theoretical Basis

(NSA). Longmont, Epstein, D. and

CO:

and

Innate

ofNetwork Spinal Analysis

Clinical Application

Intelligence, Inc.,

N. Altman. The 12

Stages

1996.

of Healing. Novato, CA:

New World

"Women and Alternative

Health Care:

Library/Amber Allen Publishing, 1994.

Dobson, M., W. R. Boone, and R. H. Blanks.

A Retrospective Study of Network Care Recipients."

(Submitted for publication

in 1996).

Panjabi,

M. "The

Stabilizing

System of the Spine, Part

I:

Function, Dysfunction,

Adaptation, and Enhancement." Journal of Spinal Disorders

5,

no. 4 (1992):

384-389.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Donald Epstein graduated from first articles

about

his

New York Chiropractic

College in 1977.

networking of chiropractic methods and

its

The

impact on

the healing response appeared in 1983. Dr. Epstein founded and developed

the

method of

spinal evaluation

Chiropractic, and

more

recently

and correction

Network

originally called

Spinal Analysis.

He

Network

has taught thou-

sands of chiropractors and chiropractic students his methods and theories. Over

TM 15,000 people have attended his Transformational Gate

He

is

an international lecturer on chiropractic and healing.

The 12 Stages of Healing, published by Publishing, and

numerous

New World

professional publications.

weekend seminars.

He

is

the author of

Library /Amber Allen

He

serves

on the Board

of Regents of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic, on the board of directors

of EarthSave Foundation, and

Chiropractic.

is

president of the Association for

Network

Abram

Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P. (c)

30

WHAT

Orthomolecular Psychiatry

ORTHOMOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY?

IS

Orthomolecular psychiatry

is

a branch of psychiatry, not yet recognized

profession, that emphasizes the use of optimum to restore the health of psychiatric patients. entirely

on the use of drugs such

and pays

lip service to

although tranquilizers

amounts of essential nutrients

Orthodox psychiatry depends

as tranquilizers, antidepressants, lithium, etc.,

psychotherapy and counseling.

imolecular psychiatry" since

it

No

initiate the process

of recovery by helping reduce symp-

most

also

make healthy people

patients. In other words, doctors

quilizers alone cause patients to develop a disease is

has been termed "tox-

person can be normal while taking the huge amounts of drugs that

are prescribed for

This

It

uses toxic drugs in sublethal doses. However,

toms and making patients more comfortable, they sick.

by the

characterized by physical

difficulty in thinking

movement quilizers),

dilemma.

I

who

prescribe tran-

call tranquilizer

psychosis.

and psychiatric problems including apathy,

and concentration,

retardation, tardive dyskinesia (a

disorder associated with the long-term use of certain major tran-

weight gain, and other side

A doctor wants

effects.

a patient to get well,

This creates the tranquilizer

and the drugs do

initiate the

process rather quickly. But as the patient starts to improve, their biochemistry

becomes more normal, and the more normal they become, the more they to the drugs as if they

were normal

—

that

423

is,

they

become

sick.

The

react

patient

Whole Mind

The

424

swings back and forth between the schizophrenic psychosis and the tranquilizer psychosis.

With orthomolecular their in

therapy, the nutrients

mental health improves, although the

most

cases

much

to use both: drugs for the rapidity of their effect,

is

sick as

So

slower.

possible to maintain the patient in a healthy state.

it is

approach, then,

do not make people

initial results are

The

and

best

nutri-

ents because they will eventually allow the removal of the drugs. Patients will

remain well

as

long

as

they remain on the program.

Orthomolecular psychiatry has value in treating schizophrenia,

mood

dis-

orders, children with learning and/or behavioral disorders, addictions (especially alcoholism),

and

a substantial proportion of the early senility

and aging

changes.

HOW

IT

BEGAN

Osmond, John Smythies, and myself hypothesized that there compound with the properties of mescaline present in the schizomight be a phrenic body, and that this compound might somehow be related to adrenaline. A few years later, we hypothesized that the compound might be In 1951, Drs. H.

adrenochrome, a product of the oxidation of adrenaline.

min

B 3 to inhibit the formation of adrenaline,

We

tried using vita-

and ascorbic acid

oxidation of adrenaline to adrenochrome. This was the world's hypothesis, and the

first

first

article in Science called

1968). In 1966, he read our

Osmond,

1966).

He

radical

He was

book

used by Professor Linus Pauling in his

"Orthomolecular Psychiatry" (Pauling,

How to Live with Schizophrenia (Hoffer and

astonished by the fact that

doses of nutrients up to 1,000 times the

(RDA).

first free

suggestion of the usefulness of antioxidants.

The word orthomolecular was fundamental

to inhibit the

reconsidered the

common

we were

Recommended

belief that vitamins

tiny doses, only for deficiency diseases,

and developed

Daily Allowances

were needed only

in

a theoretical explanation

of why these high or optimum doses could be effective in such

able safely to use

many people who and

did

not have the

classical deficiency diseases

Many other

medical scientists had contributed toward the destruction of the

as beri beri, pellagra,

scurvy.

old ideas, but Dr. Pauling's contribution provided the impetus that forced the scientific

world to examine seriously the new ways of thinking about nutrients.

After several decades of resisting the idea that schizophrenia

chemical disease, the profession has

now

accepted

this fact.

is

a bio-

However, most

425

Orthomolecular Psychiatry

methods

psychiatrists are not interested in using nutritional

They

pathological process. it is

more appropriately

reject

still

it

for controlling the

as alternative psychiatry

complementary psychiatry and

labeled

when,

will

in fact,

one day be

the mainstream of psychiatry.

Orthomolecular psychiatry, developed originally to

spread through the whole field of psychiatry and even

nias, has

icine.

countries were represented at the

IT

first

meeting of the

psychiatrists,

and they

seek other methods that they hope will be will outline the

does not

mean

more

society.

all

aim

orthomolecular treatment process that

first

treatments and responses.

is

are

is

illness, as

and

still

visions,

sets

is

Osmond,

essential to the diagnosis.

These two

well as a history of other

when

to

make

a

other information

continued.

diagnosis of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (Hoffer and

way possible.

Enough information should be obtained

obtained as the treatment

order.

follow but this

obtained that includes the

provisional diagnosis. This might have to be modified

degree, voices

I

We may differ in the details,

in the best

interview, clinical material

main symptoms and the development of the

toms

to

very fluid, allowing for

is still

and supplements

to use nutrition

During the

The

enough informed

effective.

innovation and the integration of new discoveries.

we

are well

already been treat-

that every orthomolecular physician follows the identical pro-

gram. Fortunately, orthomolecular psychiatry

is

med-

WORKS

ed unsuccessfully by other

but

into

members worldwide. Over fourteen

Most patients who consult orthomolecular psychiatrists have

I

more

Recently the International Society of Orthomolecular Medicine was

established, with approximately 8,000

HOW

treat the schizophre-

and

described in our

book

How

to

Live with

1992). There are two main sets of symp-

These

are perceptual changes (in the

to a milder degree, illusions)

and thought

of symptoms have been used over the past

compatible with the recently changed

criteria

Psychiatric Association. In the large majority of cases

extreme

1

00

years,

dis-

and

used by the American

my patients

were diag-

nosed by previous psychiatrists before they came to see me.

Once

the diagnosis has been established, treatment

patient. Attention

ommended will

is

given to the

dietary changes,

optimum

is

recommended

to the

nutrition for that patient, with rec-

and explanations of the individual nutrients that

be used, their doses, and the reasons for their use. If the patients are already

The

426

most of them

receiving medication, as

are

by the time they

arrive in the office,

may

take the nutritional

these are maintained in order to avoid relapse, since

program

several

months

become

to

Whole Mind

it

fully established.

But the aim

is

to discon-

tinue medication as soon as possible, or to decrease the dose so that the drugs

do not

interfere

Between

with normal

visits,

living. All

of the patient's questions are answered.

patients are advised to follow a

program of fitness and

to

many social activities as they feel comfortable with. An estimate may be given of how long it might take the patient to recover. Usually acute illness responds more rapidly than chronic illness. Schizophrenics who have been sick many years may require up to ten years before they really recover.

engage in

as

Chronic patients chotherapy

we do not

(as

will also

opposed

rehabilitative help, including supportive psy-

to psychoanalysis or the other

initial

and a

interview

lot

of support.

may

last

up

to

one hour. After

for follow-up therapy as often as indicated

Patients should expect to be treated as they

other specialists. Patients selves,

probing therapies, which

find useful in the context of orthomolecular treatment), re-educa-

tion, or education,

The

need

who

by the

severity of the condition.

would by

are seriously

ill

that, patients are seen

their favorite internist or

should not try to treat them-

but they are expected to be educated about nutritional medicine. This

information

is

readily available

from the more than 200 books

that describe the various aspects of orthomolecular psychiatry

available today

and medicine.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Orthomolecular therapy

is

the

double-blind methodology. that

first

It is

treatment modality that was introduced by

also

one of the very few therapeutic regimens

was not introduced by drug companies; the nutrients cannot be patented,

and so

are not

of interest to these profit-driven organizations.

My initial work with Dr. Humphry Osmond and Dr. J. lished as the

Smythies was pub-

adrenochrome hypothesis of schizophrenia (Hoffer, Osmond, and

Smythies, 1954), and included studies of the therapeutic value of two potential antidotes to adrenochrome: vitamin

B 3 and vitamin C.

We undertook the first

double-blind controlled experiments to compare the value of both forms of vit-

amin B 3 niacin and niacinamide, ,

against placebo.

We doubled the two-year

cure rate from 35 percent to 75 percent by adding these vitamins to the treat-

ment used at that time.

Large-scale clinical studies

by the early pioneers

in ortho-

molecular psychiatry confirmed these results (Hawkins and Pauling, 1973).

427

Orthomolecular Psychiatry

These experiments were terminated

become too and

difficult to

psychiatrists

in the late

1

960s.

By

that time,

it

had

continue since tranquilizers had swept into psychiatry

would not allow

their patients to be entered in these studies.

But by that time we had amassed enough evidence to conclude that the addition of these

two vitamins doubled the natural recovery

At the same time, we continued

years.

Other nutrients used

to

run

rate

by

at least

clinical trials.

megadoses have not been examined

in

two

as carefully

with controlled comparison experiments. However, the mass of clinical evi-

dence

so great that

is

than confirm what ple, Dr.

it is

already

is

W. Shute and

more

unlikely that controlled experiments will do

known by orthomolecular

physicians. For

exam-

Dr. E. Shute of Ontario, Canada, proved that vitamin

was very therapeutic in preventing and treating heart disease. But

when

E

they

published their findings they were considered quacks, and their work was totally

discounted.

The

recent large scale studies at Harvard University have

they were correct. Unfortunately, none of the Harvard scientists these studies referred to

seem

them

to be aware of the original Shute studies,

in their papers.

venting spina bifida.

The

first

Another example

studies

were severely criticized and laughed

made

that the original observation

hastening to catch up and

were

and have not

the use of folic acid in pre-

They

huge expensive studies showed

fifteen years

Now they are

ago was correct.

the addition of folic acid to food to pre-

The

vent this dreadful congenital complication. is

reported

clinical observational studies.

at until

recommend

is

who

shown

cost of this fifteen-year delay

enormous. I

have personal experience with over 3,000 patients. Currently

my care about vals

500 chronic patients on Vancouver

ranging from one

chronic patients

month

to several years.

who had been under

more than half were normal, but

Island.

have under

They see me

at inter-

A survey of twenty-seven of these

care for at least ten years

that in

I

some

cases

it

showed

had taken up

that

to seven

years for this recovery to occur.

Other corroboration comes from a lar psychiatrists

mated

large

and many current ones. At

that collectively

we had

lined.

A

results.

a meeting

many years

treated about 100,000 patients in

the United States. Every psychiatrist

approach has confirmed our

number of pioneer orthomolecu-

results if

who

ago

we

esti-

Canada and

has tried the orthomolecular

they followed the procedure

we had

out-

few psychiatrists claimed they had not been able to reproduce our

However, these researchers had modified the methods so

much

that

it

Whole Mind

The

428

was no longer orthomolecular psychiatry, but simply

idea of how

own

their

ought to be done. They used only chronic patients for short-term is

like trying to treat

studies.

chronic diabetics by giving them insulin for a

it

This

month

or

two. If you bake a cake using a recipe that you do not follow, and the cake turns

out badly,

not the fault of the recipe.

it is

Individual case histories are the stuff of medicine, and rightly so, since they are

much more

informative to clinicians. If all anecdotes were banished from

medical schools, they would have to close down, yet often ecular psychiatry have dismissed the value of our are purely anecdotal.

I

mention

and what the

work by saying

that the results

have read modern clinical papers in which no patients

were mentioned. They presented a didn't

of orthomol-

critics

specific patients:

side effects were.

I

lot

of statistics with probabilities but they

what happened

am proud

to

them,

how

they liked

it,

of clinical medicine which, by the

use of anecdotes only, has introduced some of the most effective treatment available today such as surgery, anesthesia, obstetrics, betes, pellagra, scurvy, beri beri,

and other deficiency

and the treatment of diadiseases.

REAL PEOPLE AND ORTHOMOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY

One young man

I

treated

was advised by

his psychiatrist that

he would

never recover from his schizophrenia, that he would never graduate from twelfth grade,

by

astated

me about The him

to

and

would never be off drugs. His

pronouncement, and he

this

it

that he

was dev-

became angry when he

told

later on.

family

moved

to Victoria,

me. He went on the

of vitamin

still

father

B3

,

total

and the doctor they consulted

program of nutrition, with

referred

large doses

vitamin C, plus other nutrients and a small dose of a tran-

quilizer.

Four years

awarded

later, I

his B.A. in

was invited to a graduation

tea.

My patient had been

Psychology from the University of Victoria. He had

graduated with a high grade average and he planned to go on to postgraduate studies. His friends and family had gathered to help

At the

tea

I

met

his cousin,

who had been

him

celebrate.

a successful psychologist

and

429

Orthomolecular Psychiatry

and had four years

teacher,

earlier

been struck by schizophrenia. She was

placed on tranquilizers and other drugs, and from then on went hill.

At the

about

sixty

tea she

tea.

and needed someone

But she told

me

two

With orthomolecular treatment improve, and four years

later,

is

will never again

In

hopelessly

and

friends.

different approaches in treatment.

a hopelessly

young man began

ill

he was normal. His cousin also became

but with standard treatment alone she had by point that she

She had severe

was no longer hearing voices. The

that at least she

cases symbolize the

chest.

cup so she could drink

to hold her

contrast was obvious to the whole group of family

These two

She had gained

several other drugs.

pounds, and was puffy from ankles to her

tardive dyskinesia

her

was on lithium and

down-

ill,

now

to

sick,

deteriorated to the

and unless the treatment

is

changed, she

be a useful and productive member of our community

How to Live with Schizophrenia (Hoffer and Osmond,

described the case of Mary, a chronic schizophrenic

1992)

we

briefly-

woman who had been

resident in a mental hospital for fourteen years. She was admitted at age

seventeen and was diagnosed as an imbecile (because her intelligence was tested

and found

are totally invalid

their

most

treatment

to be

under 25) and a chronic schizophrenic. I.Q.

when

given to very psychotic patients. She was one of

difficult patients in the hospital.

known

to psychiatry in

She had undergone every

an attempt to help

her,

including metra-

zole injections (the precursor to electroconvulsive therapy or insulin

tests

coma, and eventually repeated

series

of

ECT

ECT),

every year or so

whenever she became agitated and out of control. During her psychotic episodes she

window

would go on

a

window-smashing rampage and break every

she could find. After a series of ECT, she was subdued and quiet.

Tranquilizers had not yet been introduced.

We

brought her into our

my

home

Regina in 1953. The

in

our three young

was very

difficult for

at once.

She continued to hear voices.

wife, but

she began to talk to her father. replied that her father

was

When

I

calling her

On

first

month

children took to her

one occasion during dinner

asked her what she was doing, she

from

his grave

and wanted her

to

The

430

join him. After a suicide attempt

an

electric light cord,

when

started her

I

she began to improve. She learned

on

Whole Mind

she tried to strangle herself with

three grams of daily niacin. Slowly

how to

use the telephone,

how

to read

she had never had or had forgotten.

her bankbook, and other

skills that

After two years with us,

got her a job on the cleaning staff at the general

hospital in Regina. visit us,

I

She moved into her own apartment. She continued to

and whenever she had any

difficulty,

she

at the University Hospital.

Mary remained well.

nary insufficiency, but

was treated

this

would come

to see

me

Later she developed coro-

successfully.

In about 1980, Princess Margaret visited the hospital, presumably to

change of name from University Hospital to Royal

officiate at the

University Hospital. Walking through the corridors, she saw

Mary

in her

white uniform. Mary, unabashed, went up to her and said, "Dear, you look so nice."

I

imagine this

is

the

first

time a

greeted by a chronic schizophrenic patient

member

who had

of royalty was

on

niacin

working

steadi-

recovered

therapy. I

ly for

spoke to Mary

in August, 1996.

She

is

retired, after

over thirty years, and she has been living happily with her boyfriend

for the past eight years.

A few dollars worth of vitamin B3,

and

a couple

of years of careful attention, support, and direction, has saved the province of Saskatchewan at least one million dollars.

have died in the mental hospital or in some run nursing

home

if

she had not

come

to

work

It is likely

she would

down group home

for us.

or

But the minister of

health of that province, several years ago, refused to consider this an appropriate treatment because he had been informed by the Saskatchewan

Medical Association and by the Saskatchewan Psychiatric Association that this

treatment was controversial. However,

versial

HOW It

when

first

new treatments

are contro-

introduced.

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

can be extremely

no

all

difficult to find

an orthomolecular psychiatrist. There are

college or university courses available for the training of health profession-

als in

these techniques.

Most

psychiatrists are either totally unfamiliar with the

431

Orthomolecular Psychiatry

treatment it

or, if

they have heard about

can not possibly work.

ture,

and

I

it,

they are hostile to

suggest that the best approach

go along with the program. If your doctor cian,

and keep doing so

The

and

to discuss this with your family doctor

until

it

is

and

to read the litera-

try to persuade

will not, then seek

you find one willing

believe that

them

to

another physi-

to listen.

International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine

had

its first

orga-

may who are practicing this time. They may be contacted:

nizational meeting in Vancouver, in the spring of 1996. This organization

be in a position in the future to have type of therapy, but no

lists

of physicians

are available at this

lists

International Society for

Orthomolecular Medicine c/o Canadian Schizophrenia Foundation 1

6 Florence Ave.

M2N

Toronto, Ontario, Tel: (416)

HOW

1E9,

CANADA

733-2117; Fax (416) 733-2352

TO LEARN MORE

Hawkins, D. R. and

L. Pauling, eds. Orthomolecular Psychiatry.

San Francisco: W. H.

Freeman and Co., 1973. Hoffer, A. "Chronic Schizophrenic Patients Treated

Ten Years or More." Journal of

Orthomolecular Medicine 9 (1994): 7-37. HofFer, A. "Orthomolecular Medicine." In Molecules in Natural Science

An Encomium for Linus Pauling, Chichester,

West

edited by Z. B. Maksic and

Sussex, England: Ellis

Horwood

Hoffer, A. Orthomolecular Medicine for Physicians. Inc.,

M.

and Medicine,

Eckert-Maksic,

Ltd., 1991.

New Canaan,

CT: Keats Publishing,

1989.

Hoffer, A. "Nutrition and Behavior." In Medical Applications of Clinical Nutrition, edited by

Hoffer, A.

J.

Bland,

New Canaan, CT:

Keats Publishing, Inc., 1983.

"Mechanism of Action of Nicotinic Acid and Nicotinamide

in the

Treatment of Schizophrenia." In Orthomolecular Psychiatry, edited by D.R.

Hawkins and

L. Pauling,

San Francisco: W. H. Freeman and Co., 1973.

Hoffer, A. "Megavitamin B-3

Therapy

Association Journal \6 (1971):

for Schizophrenia."

Hoffer, A. "Treatment of Schizophrenia with a Therapeutic

HofFer, A. Hoffer's

Program Based Upon

ofSome Aspects ofMental edited by O. Walaas, New York: Academic Press, 1967.

Nicotinic Acid as the Activity, Vol II,

Main

Canadian Psychiatric

499-504.

Variable." In Molecular Basis

Law ofNatural Nutrition.

Kingston, Ontario: Quarry Press, 1966.

The

432

Hoffer, A. and

Whole

Mind

H. Osmond. "Treatment of Schizophrenia with Nicotinic Acid

-

A Ten

Year Follow-up." Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia 40 (1964): 71-189. Hoffer, A.

and H. Osmond.

How

to

Live with Schizophrenia. Revised Edition.

to

Live with Schizophrenia.

New

York: Citadel Press, 1992.

Hoffer, A.

and H. Osmond.

How

New York:

University

Books, 1966. Hoffer, A. and

H. Osmond. "In Reply

to

The American

Psychiatric Association Task

Force Report on Megavitamin and Orthomolecular Therapy in Psychiatry." Regina, Saskatoon: Canadian Schizophrenia Foundation Ave., Toronto,

ON, Canada M2N

H. Osmond; M.

Hoffer, A.;

J.

(Now

at

16 Florence

1E9) August, 1976.

Callbeck; and

Kahan. "Treatment of Schizophrenia

I.

with Nicotinic Acid and Nicotinamide.

"

Journal of Clinical Experimental

Psychopathology 18 (1957): 131-158. Hoffer, A.,

of a

H. Osmond, and J. Smythies. "Schizophrenia:

Year's Research."

Hoffer, A.

and M. Walker. Putting Lt All

New Canaan, Hoffer, A.

and M.

A New Approach II.

Results

Journal of Mental Science 100 (1954): 29-45.

CT: Keats Publishing, "walker.

Together:

Park,

-

New

Orthomolecular Nutrition.

1996.

Inc.,

Smart Nutrients

and Reverse Senility. Garden City

The

A

Guide

to

Nutrients That

Can Prevent

NY: Avery Publishing Group, 1994.

Pauling, L. "Orthomolecular Psychiatry." Science 160 (1968):

265—271.

See also the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine published by the Canadian Schizophrenic Foundation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR After being awarded his Ph.D. in biochemistry, icine at the University of

Saskatchewan and completed

University of Toronto in 1949.

He

his

in

education

medat the

interned for one year and then joined the

Department of Public Health, Psychiatric head a psychiatric research division.

Services Branch, Saskatchewan, to

He was Associate

and director of research

until 1967. In 1967,

ing to Victoria in 1976.

He has

es

Abram Hoffer enrolled

Professor of Psychiatry

he entered private practice, mov-

been actively involved

in searching for the caus-

of schizophrenia and in developing a treatment called orthomolecular

psychiatry.

He

is

president of the Canadian Schizophrenia Foundation

tor of the Journal of

page

at:

Orthomolecular Medicine. Readers may

http://www.healthy.net/bios/hoffer/advisory.htm

and

visit his

edi-

home

Roger Woolger, Ph.D.

31

WHAT Past

IS

Therapy

Past Life

PAST LIFE THERAPY?

therapy (also called past

life

life

regression therapy)

is

the process of access-

ing information or images from possible former lifetimes, usually through hyp-

some form of altered

notic regression or

state

of consciousness, for therapeutic

purposes. Accessing emotionally or physically traumatic helpful for

promoting cathartic

life

release, refraining attitudes,

memories can be

changing old habits

or behavior problems, and gaining conscious insight into the lessons of that

or

memory. The information can be used or experiences that effect current

beliefs,

the practice sometimes referred to as past

mind

is

probed

to retrieve historical

life

to resolve deeply buried attitudes,

life life

problems. This

regression,

is

different

from

where the unconscious

memories or information with no expecta-

tion of follow-up counseling to help understand or deal with the information.

Past

life

therapy

dimension to

As

is

a truly transpersonal psychology that assumes a spiritual

human

experience and addresses the deeper question of meaning.

a therapeutic technique, past life therapy superficially resembles hyp-

notic age regression, where a client

childhood trauma

as if he or she

ence with past

therapy

of possibilities, its

life

as in the

to,

were a child of four, for example. The

work of Jung

and encouraged

encouraged, in trance, to re-experience a

that the imagination

is

derivative, Gestalt therapy.

ed back

is

is

given a

much

or the psychodrama of J. L.

Much like hypnotic regression,

to relive, scenes

433

differ-

wider range

Moreno and

the client

is

guid-

from the past that have been

lost

Whole Mind

The

434

to consciousness.

But instead of being regressed

hood, a strong suggestion

is

to the patient's current child-

given that he or she go back to a "previous

life"

where the trauma originated.

What

is

remarkable about

in reincarnation for

scene from

some other

historical

the re-enactment, the client ferent character

and

awareness that "this ing the "past

—

betrayal, etc.

current

life.

precisely,

life"

The

is

technique

He

a different

trauma

—

that the client need not believe

time frame or culture

as if it

were

real.

During

identify strongly with a quite dif-

body image, but always with the conscious

only a regression."

is

is

or she simply relives a distressing

may temporarily The

therapeutic effectiveness of reliv-

abandonment, violent death,

accident,

rape,

similar to the therapeutic effect of recalling traumas in the

past

life

but will allow

trauma it

way through an imagined

ment. Such reliving

will usually mirror the present situation quite

to be experienced far

may be

example, a fear of suffocation the

this

to be effective.

it

death,

intensely

and

fully.

replayed as originating in a "past

which brings

like a fictional

is

more

release

For

life" all

and a sense of detach-

psychodrama that

leads to a complete

cathartic discharge of blocked feelings, such as rage, fear, grief, guilt, or shame.

This method allows an irrational symptom to be taken seriously

interpreted as a Past

patients

life

chotherapy.

is

a short-term, intensive therapy that

particularly helpful for those it

respond particularly well to past

life

The

some

depressions,

complaints, such as back pain and asthma. in releasing dissociative reactions

arising

is

often reserved for

are blocked in particular for those "stuck in a

following kinds of problems often

therapy: difficulties in relationships, aban-

separation issues, power and

compulsions,

who

new modality

supplies a

groove" to finish unresolved stories.

down

—

and played out through these images, rather than being

areas of conventional therapy;

bias,

of knives

have already made considerable headway in conventional psy-

It is

donment and

say, a baseless fear

metaphor or a psychological defense mechanism.

therapy

who

—

such

money

issues,

anxieties, It

chronic

this

approach and

it

pho-

and various physical

has also been extremely effective

as severe

shock and emotional shut-

from physical and sexual abuse. Birthing and

have responded to

guilt,

has brought

much

fertility

problems

relief to sufferers

from sado-masochistic compulsions.

HOW

IT

Past

life

BEGAN therapy developed from a growing awareness of ancient spiritual

435

Past Life Therapy

and experimental psychologies. The concept of past

traditions

or reincar-

lives

nation has been around since the beginning of human culture, recorded in pictures,

words, and cryptic symbols by cultures ranging from the Egyptians and

Tibetans to Christian Gnostics and Native Americans. Reincarnation belief in the survival of the soul

mummified bodies and buried would be birth

as rich as their

life

of the body. The Egyptians

servants with their rulers so their afterlives

earthbound

lives.

The Hindus

believe

we

live cycles

and death, progressing up an evolutionary path, including

mals before birth

The

as

of

lives as ani-

humans.

early pioneers in past

and philosophical

roots.

regressed patients back ries,

beyond the

the

is

life

therapy came from several different fields

De

Colonel Albert

beyond childhood

Roches,

to in utero

who

claimed to have

and previous

life

memo-

was a tum-of-the-century French psychoanalyst and hypnotherapist. Edgar

Cayce, the American clairvoyant venerated as "the sleeping prophet" because

he gave medical readings and other advice while in a trance, was a simple country

man. His channeling often connected past

though reject

his limited

many of the

education and

lives to

present health problems,

upbringing caused him to

strict religious

concepts he communicated while channeling.

In the 1950s, the public was entertained by regression stories, such as the case of Bridey

Murphy

(Bernstein, 1965),

tion, while past life therapy

Dr. ior

Denys

Kelsey,

and

a debate

was quietly taking shape.

began exploring reincarnation

as

on proof of reincarna-

An

English psychiatrist,

an explanation for behav-

problems when more conventional therapeutic approaches had

member of the Royal

College of Physicians, Kelsey was one of the

public with his use of prenatal and past

Morris Netherton, therapy,

documented

life

life

of the founders of past

traumas affecting current

life

and

go

life

health conditions.

His 1978 book, Past Life Therapy, related case studies of chronic as migraines, ulcers,

first to

A

regressions.

whom many consider one

past

failed.

illnesses

such

epilepsy.

In the 1970s, the American public really took note of the philosophical

underpinnings of past

lives

with Dr.

Raymond Moody's ground-breaking study

of near death experiences (NDEs) in Life After nations for

NDEs

ther research by

are

proposed and

may be

Life.

While

possible,

several other expla-

Moody's work, and

fur-

Kenneth Ring, Ph.D., have further opened the window to

belief in survival of the soul.

Meanwhile, the

field

of psychotherapy was beginning to

shift

from the

Whole Mind

The

436

cognitive oretical

and

more

interpretive "talk therapy" to

developments validated what past

work with

experiential forms.

These the-

were seeing

therapists

life

in their

Hypnotherapists, for example, had discovered the use of

clients.

spontaneous images of other

lives to release

emotional and physical traumas to

help clients overcome mental and physical health problems.

Hazel Dening, Ph.D., one of the founders of the Association for Past Life

Research and Therapy (APRT),

coming

regression therapist

an accident.

A client's

neously landed in a

is

a quintessential

Her

to the fore.

first

example of the kind of

regression into a past

life

was

hypnotic regression to childhood overshot and sponta-

life

during the Civil War. Like most hypnotherapists

who

have experienced a similar surprise, Denning used the imagery therapeutically

with her

client,

achieving positive results. She did not talk about

time, but she did use the technique with success

The APRT was er

and share experiences,

research,

ferences, publishes the Journal interested in incorporating past

HOW Past

IT

life

itself to

1980

established in

and

for past

expertise.

on other life

clients.

therapists to

The APRT

come

togeth-

holds annual con-

of Regression Therapy, and

life

for a long

it

trains clinicians

therapeutic techniques into their practices.

WORKS therapy builds upon the

many

have lived

common

experience that the psyche imagines

times, a fantasy that has been rationalized variously as

the doctrine of reincarnation or metempsychosis, the transmigration of souls.

One

could say that past

brain consciousness

life "stories"

— much

like

are the

spontaneous products of right

dreams or memory images

carnation" or "metaphor" are theories constructed by the

and organize the experience

logically.

in the philosophy to benefit

believe in reincarnation, the

moving

further

One

left

— while

brain to explain

does not, therefore, need to believe

from regression material. But

work they do on themselves

for those

in this life

is

is

part of

part of spiritual growth.

Stanislav Grof, a leading researcher in experiential psychology,

known

who do

along their particular evolutionary or spiritual path.

Psychological healing

larly

"rein-

for his theoretical

on personality and

health.

He

work on

is

particu-

the influence of the birth experience

has found that

we humans

carry major uncon-

scious imprints of physical accidents and emotional traumas, including the birth experience.

ence" or a

Grof called such an imprint

COEX;

a "system

of condensed experi-

Jung used the term complex, now widely used

to describe

437

Past Life Therapy

the

same phenomenon. The new psychologies recognize

complexes

—

express

has six aspects to Figure

it,

them through many

which

are

that

we "embody" our

parts of ourselves. Every

complex

available to consciousness, as illustrated in

all

1.

Archetypal

Figure 1

Traumatic influences can show up

as a physical

symptom,

a neurotic

plaint or behavior, a dream, or even a secondary personality. Past

extends these concepts to past plexes" as well as current

There first level it

were a

life

are three levels

lives.

life

therapy thus treats "past

therapy

life

com-

ones.

of processing the material in past

involves reliving the story, "real" lifetime

Past

life

com-

and not

life

therapy.

and asking and answering questions

The

"as

iP

a free-floating fantasy. In order to clear nega-

tive past life patterning, the client

must

fully experience the

body

sensations as

well as the emotions until they are completely released. This might involve actual pain as the events

from the past

bolic or metaphorical content

were life.

first

is

are actually experienced. Next, the

explored. For example, pains in the neck that

may indicate

experienced as beheading

a feeling of being cut off from

Feeling crippled and being starved for love in a past

to be

metaphors for our current

life

life

may now

be seen

patterns. Full mental understanding of the

karmic or symbolic meaning of the patterns must occur or will

sym-

else the

symptoms

simply recur in physical and/or emotional form. The client begins to see

that he or she

no longer needs

martyrdom), or crippled by a tion), or that

to live life "as a constant sacrifice" (past life fear

he or she has to

of public humiliation (past

live in terror,

life

of

of persecu-

"without any guts" (past

life

of

disemboweling). Then, interest

now

the insights are applied to daily living, in the

finally,

service. Transformed rage at injustice may new political organization; chronic performay produce a fine teacher; grief at devastating

of creative productivity and

be channeled into starting a

mance loss

Whole Mind

The

438

anxiety,

may

when

lead to

work

reversed, as

counselor with the bereaved.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS The most thorough

research

on

past lives as

memories has been conducted by

Dr. Ian Stevenson (1987, 1974). For over thirty years from

world, he collected the spontaneous past

life

many

parts of the

memories of children,

details

which were meticulously followed up and examined. Research on past regression as therapy, however, remains scant, largely

getting scientific funding

and backing. In Holland,

due

of

life

to the difficulty of

a recent study took

two

groups of clients with similar symptoms and randomly selected half of the

group

for past life therapy

Measured by standard

tests,

about twice the speed

and the remainder

for conventional therapy.

those undergoing past

as the control

life

therapy recovered at

group. In the U.S., the American

Psychological Association has not yet formally recognized parapsychology and

transpersonal psychology as genuine disciplines. This to serious research

on

is

a

major impediment

these topics.

REAL PEOPLE AND PAST UFE THERAPY

A woman of thirty-four,

a professional painter, sought therapy for a

num-

ber of problems related to her marriage and her overly involved relationship with her mother.

During the relaxation part of the induction

procedure, she had great difficulty letting go.

were very tell

tense.

As we worked to

the story of a

life as

seventeenth century.

relax

Her shoulders and neck

them, she spontaneously began to

an impoverished male Dutch painter during the

The painter had

a wife

and a very young baby,

whom

he could barely support. In his obsession with finishing a certain painting, sick.

he severely neglected both wife and baby, even when the baby became

To

his horror, the

deserted him.

baby grew worse and

The key scene

in

died,

our work was

and

his embittered wife

as follows:

Past Life Therapy

THERAPIST:

439

Where

you now?

are

CLIENT: I'm wandering along the canals.

can't find

I

my wife.

She's left

me

for good.

THERAPIST: CLIENT:

I

Where do you go now?

think, back to the house.

Oh,

no!

I

don't

want

to

go back

there.

(Her shoulders begin to tense up very noticeably.) THERAPIST: Breathe deeply and go back to the house and see what happens. (At this point, the

couch to a THERAPIST:

sitting position,

What

we worked on

and the emotions connected with the

move forward

in time, she

riencing her birth in this

life

letting loss

know why

THERAPIST:

CLIENT:

of wife and child. Then,

the umbilical cord

came moments

looked up at her mother, having survived I

go of the death experience

when

spontaneously found herself re-expe-

— with

her neck! Full understanding

CLIENT:

on the

grabbed her neck, and began to scream).

hanged myself (sobs deeply).

For a short while

asked to

lying

has happened?

Oh God! I

CLIENT:

young woman shot up from

this

later

wrapped around

when,

as a baby, she

second trauma.

I'm here.

Why are you here?

To be

the baby

close to

who

my mother

died.

I

(sobs).

I

know who

see that I've been trying to

she

make

is

it

now. She

up

to her

is

all

these years.

In subsequent sessions, she was able to release the guilt that

become locked

in

her neck and shoulders. She also

felt

had

that the pressure

had been taken off her marriage.

Melinda had consulted relationships with

several therapists about her failure to

men and

form

close

when it came to sexual conFor a period she had been in a lesbian relationship, which helped her somewhat, because her lover wanted companionship more than physical her near frigidity

tact.

contact. Yet the root issue remained untouched.

She reported a clear

mem-

1 1 years of age. A 12-year-old boy from the neighborhood had enticed her into an unused garage and had fondled her

ory of sexual molestation at

Whole

The

440

though he had not attempted penetration. Her

genitals,

story was cold told

it.

and detached; she seemed

Apparently she had talked about

retelling

Mind

of the

to hold herself clenched as she

many

this event

times with her

previous therapists and, though she had also beaten out her rage on

lows and mattresses, part of her was

When more

invited her to

I

lie

pil-

holding unfinished anger.

still

down on

a mattress to recall the event in

her clenching became even more pronounced:

detail,

want to do

"I don't

this,"

more anger

she said, with markedly

in her

voice.

down anyway and keep

"Lie

applies to,"

es

monologue emerged with very

eyes closed, the following

me other than

prompting from

and

it

urged gently.

I

With her little

repeating that phrase to whoever

to direct her to repeat certain phras-

to exaggerate her bodily posture:

"I don't

want

to

do

this. I

don't

want

to

do

this.

Don't make me.

DON'T MAKE ME. NO! NO! NO! You're hurting me.

Get away."

She started to kick, shake her head, and writhe. "Get away. Get away.

No. Don't make me." For a while she continued

this

way, her body becom-

more pronounced.

ing

more and more

she

must be re-experiencing the incident from her childhood. Then sud-

denly, her

tense, her outrage

words indicated that we had slipped into another

"They're raping me. They're raping me. Help! Help! are six or seven of them. They're soldiers. I'm in a barn. It's

Russia somewhere. I'm a peasant

awful.

They

LEAVE

imagined that

I

don't stop ...

I

don't

girl

want

lifetime:

HELP! There

My arms are tied.

about eleven or twelve. God,

to

do

this. I

ME ALONE. I'm not going to feel this.

I

don't

won't

want

it's

to be here.

feel this. I

won't

show them anything."

Her side.

I

pelvic area was

urged her to

let

stiff,

her legs taut, her head turned from side to

those parts of the body speak and express what was

going on with them. "I'm not going to

feel this,

I'll

never show you

I

like it" (pelvis

and

genitals).

"Don't touch me! Get away! kick you"

(legs).

I'll kill

you.

I

hate you

.

I

hate you.

I'll

441

Past Life Therapy

"I'm not going to see

this. It's

not happening" (head).

For a while, we worked through her to

and

let

her legs kick, to

to allow her

let

this

awful scene, and

her genitals record exacdy what they

head to see and understand

all

There was kick-

as,

for a while, her

both pleasure and pain. Gradually,

as these sensa-

and movements surged through her body, she seemed to experi-

tions

ence a huge releasing and letting go of the earlier clenching,

which culminated ments

bout of intense sobbing and convulsive move

in a

"I'm in that garage.

Dont make me.

gentle, I

of

all

in her pelvis.

Suddenly she was no longer with the

this.

felt,

it.

of

ing and weeping and rage and terrible confusion genitals registered

encouraged

I

but

I

I

don't

want him

rigid

to touch

me.

dont want

I

to

do

but he doesn't hurt me. He's quite

just freeze up,

my thighs just go

soldiers:

and I'm not

really there."

urged her to breathe deeply and see the similarity to the

earlier rape

scene.

"Oh,

yes!" she says.

"My body was remembering something else.

was like a flashback, a nightmare, but

As Melinda surveyed the two see

them, she had

all

I

didn't

stories

men, and story:

how

young from

avoided contact with

in the previous life

The

1 1

had

men from

is

led her

terror,

a

boy

—

girl's

alone,

then onward, dying quite

were clearly

Her unconscious compulsion

laid

— unconsciously of course — trauma in

porary trauma served to reawaken the latent past

was with

—

crucial events, however,

or 12.

repeat a similar but far less violent sexual

it

how just being always somehow

more of the Russian

pregnant, raised the child

a wasting disease.

plex, fraught as

to

she has always had fantasies of wanting to kick

locked into the rape scene at

down

how she

so on. In a later session she reclaimed

bitterly

It

it."

kinds of spontaneous recognitions:

how she had become

and had

to see

and gave herself permission

touched always leads to a kind of freezing, not present in sex,

want

The contemlevel of the com-

this life. life

to

humiliation, and rage.

Whole Mind

The

442

WHAT TO EXPECT Past

life

therapy work generally consists of a series of two-hour sessions. Most

patients complete their

The

work

in

about

five to

ten of these intensive experiences.

therapist will usually start with a detailed personal history

through the present time, noting

illnesses, accidents,

from birth

or impairments such as

deafness, the need for glasses, high blood pressure, etc.,

and any emotional

upheaval that occurred shortly before or around the same period of life.

Actual regression

starts

either a light state, such as identified with hypnosis.

a current issue

lead

you

and

to a past

ple, if you suffer

"I've got to get

when doing

You may be asked

to

fear

lie

down. The

of crowds, you

bridge to imagery that will

as a

may be

issue.

For exam-

asked to repeat the phrase,

out of here," until images surface of crowds and panic and pos-

sibly violent death in a past life scenario.

place, the therapist will probably ask

roundings and other people, your

When

you

own

you have

to describe

see images, hear

arrived at a time

what you

see,

and

your sur-

body, and what you are feeling. This

helps anchor the images or impressions and bring

us has our

therapist will use

and amplifies your

that directly mirrors

from a

This can be

state.

visual imagery, or a deeper state, often

emotional charge to act

its

life

with induction into an altered

them

into focus.

You may

sounds or voices, smell odors, or simply get thoughts; each of

own way of seeing and knowing. You should keep up communica-

tion with the therapist so she can guide

you and help you

if

the experience

is

confusing or frightening. You do not necessarily have to dramatize or act out

what you

are experiencing, but letting out the tears, laughter, or anger

very therapeutic.

The

therapist

may

and during the moment of death, learn

in

ask you to look at the times just before

an effort to determine what you might

by the experiences. This might help you capture the meaning of that

and death, seeing tive feelings

Bear in

that emotional decisions,

and assumptions were locked

mind

that the therapist

is

You can come out of the

The

in at the

you

altered state

life

judgments made, and strong nega-

moment

there to watch over

ence, creating a safe environment for tions.

may be

to explore

of death.

you and your

experi-

deep images and emo-

whenever you choose

following kinds of clients are not well suited to past

life

to.

therapy: peo-

ple with schizophrenic tendencies, people with strict religious upbringings for

whom

the idea of reincarnation

is

offensive, people

who

are vulnerable to

intense or overwhelming feelings, and overly intellectual people. All people

should be aware that

this

kind of work can bring up painful feelings about the

Past Life Therapy

443

darker sides of ourselves, and there

dramatic fantasies of past

lives in

knowing

yourself.

HOW TO

FIND A PRACTITIONER

The

following organizations can

had training

a natural

is

tendency to get caught up in

an effort to avoid the

make

in past life therapy. It

is

real

therapeutic

referrals to psychotherapists

best to

work with

a past

life

who

He

have

therapist with

extensive psychotherapy training in addition to in-depth study of past apy.

work of

life

ther-

or she should be licensed or certified as a psychologist, psychiatrist,

counselor or social worker.

Woolger Training Seminars

Association for Past-Life Research

and Therapies,

Inc.

(APRT)

1

Box 20 1 5

P.O.

26 Boggs

Hill

Woodstock,

NY

1

2498

Riverside,

CA 92516

Tel: (914)

679-7823

Tel: (714)

784-1570

Fax: (914)

679-6491

HOW TO LEARN MORE Bernstein,

M. The Search for Bridey Murphy. New York: Doubleday,

Cranston,

S.

Society.

Fiore, E. You

Hall,

J.

and C. Williams. Reincarnation: A

New York: Julian

Press,

Have Been Here Before.

Past Life Therapy.

Moody, R.

Life After Life.

Netherton,

M. and N.

Stevenson,

I.

Children

New Horizon

1965.

in Science, Religion

and

1984.

New York:

Ballantine,

1

979.

London: Element, 1996.

New York:

Bantam, 1981.

Shiffrin. Past Lives Therapy.

Who Remember Past Lives.

New York:

William Morrow, 1978.

Charlottesville: University Press

of

Virginia, 1987.

Stevenson,

I.

Twenty Cases Suggestive ofReincarnation. Charlottesville: University Press

of Virginia, 1980. Weiss, B.

Many Lives, Many Masters. New York: Simon and

Woolger, R. Other

New York:

Lives,

Other

Selves:

Shuster, 1988.

A Jungian Psychotherapist Discovers Past Lives.

Doubleday, 1987.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Roger Woolger, Ph.D.,

Jung

is

a British-born Jungian analyst trained at the C.

Institute in Zurich, with degrees in psychology, religion,

G.

and philosophy

Whole

The

444

from Oxford and London

Open Center and

Universities.

He

leads

workshops

He

is

Association for Transpersonal Psychology, the Scientific

Lives,

New York

Esalen Institute, has taught at Vassar College, the University

of Vermont, and Concordia University, Montreal.

work

at the

Mind

a

member of

the

and Medical Net-

(U.K.), and the British Society for Psychical Research. His book, Other

Other Selves (Doubleday, 1987), a definitive work on past

has been translated into six languages.

He

is

also the

life

therapy,

author with Jennifer

Barker of The Goddess Within (Ballantine, 1989), and articles on dream

work, meditation, and mysticism.

and

regression therapy in

Woodstock, NY.

He runs professional trainings

in soul

Europe and North America and currently

drama

lives

near

John Beaulieu,

32

WHAT

N.D., Ph.D.

Polarity

POLARITY THERAPY?

IS

Polarity therapy

a holistic healing art based

is

heart of polarity therapy versal life energy.

and emotional the result apist

is

ance,

Therapy and Mental Health

is

is

on balancing

the view that each individual

is

At the

animated by a uni-

Imbalances in the circulation of life energy lead to mental

distress

a healthy

and physical

body and

trained in different

illness.

clarity

When

our

life

series

energy

of thought and emotion.

methods of finding and correcting

which include hands-on bodywork, counseling on

guidance in a

energy.

life

balanced,

is

A polarity ther-

life

energy imbal-

and

diet

nutrition,

of exercises called polarity yoga, and counseling that

emphasizes the importance of positive thinking.

and pain

Polarity teaches us that distress

and

realign our lives. Dr.

are signals for us to learn, change,

Randolph Stone, the founder of polarity

quoted the old saying: "Obstacles are God's design

to

make man

with a spine." Through understanding, meeting, and resolving

and cal

challenges,

we

evolve and

grow

stronger. Polarity

is

or

life's

for cultivating

and expressing the energy necessary

Webster defines mental health

woman

obstacles

a comprehensive

system for understanding the energy dynamics of a challenge,

methods

therapy,

to

clini-

as well as

meet

challenges.

and

satisfactory

as "psychological well-being

adjustment to society and to the ordinary demands of life." Polarity therapy expands

this definition.

ual to maintain an

We say that

mental health

is

the ability of an individ-

ongoing harmonious interrelationship of body, mind, and

Whole Mind

The

446

emotions

in resonance

by creating an internal Polarity therapy

is

with the requirements and challenges of daily

therapy works very well with mild to

field, polarity

severe depression, especially is

there-

a great integrator of different therapeutic modalities.

Within the mental health

py. Polarity

life,

of mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

state

when combined with

cognitive

and Gestalt

thera-

exceptionally effective in resolving traumas from accidents and

helping with unexpressed emotions.

The deep

relaxation of a polarity session

works very well with guided visualization and shamanic journeying. Polarity therapy enhances

all

twelve step and recovery programs. Polarity therapy

com-

bined with cranial therapy works well with learning disorders and autism. In general, polarity supports

and adds an extra dimension

existing psychotherapeutic processes.

therapy

ity

is

It is

many

to the

already

important to keep in mind that polar-

not a panacea. Severe depression usually requires a multidiscipli-

nary approach.

HOW

IT

BEGAN

Polarity therapy

was founded by Dr. Randolph Stone, D.O., D.C., N.D.,

(1890-1981) who traveled around the world studying and integrating many healing arts including chiropractic, osteopathy, naturopathy, homeopathy, ayurveda, and Chinese medicine. Dr. Stone believed that

life

was much more

than chemistry and that healing was greater than freedom from symptoms.

saw as

life as

our

a spiritual journey based

total

on

life

He

energy principles and he saw healing

alignment to that journey.

In 1972, Dr. Robert Hall discovered Dr. Stone and Polarity Therapy while visiting

ashram

an ashram in India. clinic,

He watched

including his wife,

who was

Dr. Stone treat very

sick.

many

people

at the

Dr. Hall was so impressed

with Dr. Stone and polarity therapy that he organized polarity therapy seminars in the San Francisco area.

From

these

humble beginnings,

polarity thera-

py has grown into a profession under the guidance of the American Polarity Therapy Association (APTA). Today there are over 600 registered polarity practitioners in the

United States and many more throughout Canada, Mexico,

Europe, Australia, and Asia.

HOW

IT

WORKS

Polarity practitioners life

energy

work from

made up of specific

the premise that people are fields of pulsating

qualities

known

as the five elements: ether, air,

Polarity Therapy

fire,

water,

and Mental Health

447

When

our thoughts, emotions, and physical body are

and

earth.

aligned with the elemental energy necessary to meet a

well-being result.

When we are out of alignment,

life

challenge, health

and

energy imbalances result that

appear as mental and emotional distress and physical symptoms. Polarity teaches us that

mental, emotional, and physical distress are signals for us to learn,

change, and realign our

To begin

lives.

model of holistic

to understand the polarity

pyramid inside a

health, imagine a

circle.

Figure 1 by John Beaulieu)

(Illustration

The

circle represents

all-encompassing Universal Energy. This energy

source of life and healing.

Our individual

life

is

the

energy can be visualized as a drop

of water in an ocean of Universal Energy. Dr. Stone created the term ultrasonic

own unique and

core to describe our believed that

all

true healing

individual animating

life

must resonate with the fundamental

energy.

He

qualities

of

our ultrasonic core.

Our mind

is

"right thinking"

located at the top of the pyramid. Dr. Stone believed that

was the highest aspect of polarity. Right thinking

aligning our thoughts

and actions with Universal Energy.

with the right or wrong judgments of daily are out of alignment with

life.

our energy source,

It

is

the art of

has nothing to do

When our thoughts and actions

we

experience mental, emotional,

and physical dissonance.

Our physical body is located at the bottom of the pyramid. The physical body is

our vehicle for expressing life energy.

laser light that shines

One can imagine Universal Energy as a

through a prism (our mind) creating a three-dimensional

The

448

holographic form

we

call

Whole Mind

our physical body. For a polarity practitioner, touch-

body

ing and aligning the physical

method of communicating with our

a

is

emotions and thoughts to help an individual receive and express

Emotions

are located

between the mind and physical body.

thoughts and physical body are aligned, emotions serve

with universal

spirit.

life

These

are called

energy.

When

our

as a force that fills us

our higher emotions or passions.

When

our thoughts and physical body are not aligned, our emotions become sand-

wiched between the mind and body and they build up it is

a

a well-known fact that laughter

tremendous healing

ability.

This

pressure. For example,

emotions and has

is

an excellent

is

because the act of laughing distracts us

release for

from negative thinking, allowing our physical body

to loosen

and

release

emo-

tional energy.

The

following story illustrates the polarity relationship between mind,

emotions, and body. rains every

on

came

Tuesday although he

his raincoat

and

rainy day. Because

nance in

A man

his

life,

liant therapist

to his therapist's office believing that

lives in

an arid climate. Every Tuesday he puts

adjusts his physical posture, emotions, all

his friends

that

it,

From Wednesday through Monday, he expect rain.

When Tuesday

and thoughts

for a

began making fun of him, creating disso-

he decided to seek a therapist.

and he discovered

it

arrives, his

On Wednesday,

he saw a

bril-

in fact, does not rain every Tuesday. is

ecstatic

body

and

tells

everyone not to

automatically adopts the posture

of a rainy day and he finds himself having thoughts of rain and walking

around

in his rain coat.

Polarity therapists say that

with the mind. The

in balance

and body, creating emotional relief

came when he chose

raincoat.

to

when Tuesday came, result

was a

state

the physical

body was not

of disharmony between mind

pressure. In this case, a dysfunctional sense of

go back to an old pattern and walk around in

Even though he had mental

insight,

he lacked the physical repattern-

ing and emotional flexibility to holistically "embody" his

A polarity practitioner would help this person

new

thought.

by evaluating

his posture in

relationship to thought and, through gentle touching, repattern the

accept the

new

thought.

A polarity practitioner accomplishes

this

knowledge of body structure and a highly refined sense of touch energy.

When

tissues

and symmetry of

change

in

the

how the

mind and body

align, there

hips, shoulders,

person stands and walks.

his

is

body

to

through a

related to life

a sense of resonant tone in the

and neck. One can

literally see a

449

and Mental Health

Polarity Therapy

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS The American Polarity new research. Large scale

Research studies on polarity therapy are in progress.

Therapy Association

is

sponsoring and promoting

polarity therapy studies have

begun

yet available. Until these studies

the

many

in

America and England. Results

and others

are published,

we have

are not

to rely

testimonials of satisfied clients.

REAL PEOPLE AND POLARITY THERAPY

Susan came to her polarity session wanting help with recurring back pain.

During the history

taking, she talked about the specifics

said her life

was otherwise

around her

joints

fine.

slightly

to relax

process, the tissues

were found to be contracted and shaking, and her back

muscles were tense and hard.

and

During the evaluation

of her pain and

I

gently placed a

decompressed her hips, allowing the

and unwind. As the

tissues softened,

hand on her lower back tissues

of the lower back

Susan began to cry and she

talked about losing her father to cancer over a year ago.

wave of grief moved

effortlessly

As she

through her body, causing her

talked, a tissues to

elongate and than relax.

When

Susan got up from the treatment table she looked

ent person.

lowered

Her

face

down and

was relaxed and her eyes glowed. Her shoulders were her breathing was

thought she had worked through her her

own

response.

body just needed

1

told her that she

to let go.

full

and

father's

how much

Susan said she

death and was surprised

During the week Susan reported I

a lot

at

and her

that her

back

continued to work with

and she talked about how her father had supported her and

she missed him. Susan then talked about

take responsibility for her

Mike came

natural.

had worked through

pain disappeared. During follow-up sessions, Susan's spine

like a differ-

life

and support

to his session feeling depressed

a recovering alcoholic

new ways

she could

herself.

and confused.

and he often went through

He said

"feeling

he was

down." As he

on

Whole Mind

The

450

body appeared pulled

sat in the chair, his

in

and compressed. During the

evaluation, the tissues of his

cranium were tense and

and hips were contracted.

slowly began to loosen his lower back, fol-

I

lowed by his shoulders and neck.

I

finished the session gently holding his

Mike got up from

head, allowing the cranium to unwind. said

he

felt

very relaxed.

The

next day

he could think clearly for the

first

his neck, shoulders,

Mike

me to let me know that He wasn't sure what had

called

time in weeks.

happened, but he was happy with the

results.

In the twelve step addiction recovery program the second step

"We came to sanity."

to believe that a

When

.

his tissues relaxed, the is

a

any addictive pattern. Mike opened himself to the

greater than

energy and was willing to express stand

body and

states:

restore us

moving through him. The Universal Energy

Universal Energy began

power

Power greater than ourselves could

aligned Mike's

I

and

the table

it

in his

life,

although he did not under-

how polarity worked. .

.

.

.

.

.

WHAT TO EXPECT Polarity practitioners

work from

The

client

practitioner

and

ing response to emerge.

the premise that healing

work together

to allow the client's

By developing an understanding and

energy, a polarity practitioner can systematically evaluate

the process of a polarity

ence emotions and/or

when

comes from within.

bodywork

feel

session, clients

may

the need to talk about their

tense and/or compressed tissues begin to relax

practitioner then reflects back a client's thoughts

its

session then

Polarity

nication

is

moves naturally back

bodywork

is

sensitivity to life

movement. During

life.

This often happens

and unwind. The polarity

and emotions while continu-

to silent

may stop

very gentle and painless, and polarity verbal

A

polarity practitioner

talking

bodywork.

non-directive, with the intention of helping a client

of his or her process.

inner heal-

spontaneously experi-

ing to facilitate the unwinding process. At any time the client

and the

own

commu-

become aware

may also recommend simple

nutri-

tional changes and/or exercises to support the energy balancing. Polarity ses-

sion times vary from thirty minutes to one hour, based on the issue being addressed. Clients are asked to wear loose-fitting cotton clothing.

The number

Polarity Therapy

451

and Mental Health

of sessions a client receives

is

based on individual needs and progress. Most

polarity clients have sessions every

week or every other week. However,

differ-

ent clients require different interventions.

A polarity practitioner's ment

table.

Usually the practitioner begins by asking the

coming. This utes.

The

is

client

followed by taking a history, which is

then asked to

energy and structural evaluation.

and the

client

reasons for

may become make

lie

The

table

may take

treat-

reason for

ten to thirty min-

and the practitioner does an

evaluation touch

is

gentle

and soothing client's

overall evaluation, the polarity practitioner

may

nutritional recommendations, give exercises, and/or

enter into verbal counseling.

During subsequent

on continuing energy evaluation

HOW TO

FIND A PRACTITIONER

Polarity

Therapy

is

on the

client's

very relaxed during the process. Based on a

coming and the

begin bodywork,

es

normally contains two chairs and a

office

to

sessions the practitioner focus-

monitor progress.

under the guidance of the American Polarity Therapy

Association which oversees educational standards, professional registration and ethics, national

and international networking, and conferences. Two

training are accredited

by APTA: Associate Polarity

Practitioner,

60 hours of training; and Registered

Polarity Practitioner,

hours. Accredited trainings are based

on the

which

which

APTA Standards

levels

of

requires

requires

615

For Practice and

include studies in Polarity theory, evaluation, bodywork, nutrition, exercise,

and communication.

When first

make

seeking a Polarity practitioner for mental health reasons, one should sure the practitioner

is

APTA Registered

(RPP). RPP-trained practi-

However they

tioners are trained to be verbally supportive.

are not trained in

psychotherapeutic or counseling methods. RPPs can work very well in conjunction with a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, or social worker.

many RPPs social

However

are also psychotherapists with degrees in psychiatry, psychology,

work, or counseling. You should always ask prospective Polarity practi-

tioners about their training in the mental health field. tioners

work with

a supporting therapist

who

Many

can focus on the verbal aspect of

therapy while the Polarity work focuses on the bodywork. inquire about

how a given

Polarity practi-

It

might be wise to

Polarity practitioner handles this.

You can contact the American

Polarity

Therapy Association

Registered Polarity Practitioners at the following address:

for a

list

of

Whole Mind

The

452

American Polarity Therapy Association 2888 Bluff St.,

Suite 149

CO 803301

Boulder,

545-2080; Fax: (303) 545-2161

Tel: (303)

HOW TO LEARN MORE Beaulieu,

J.

Music and Sound in

the Healing Arts:

An Energy Approach.

Barrytown, NY:

Station Hill Press, 1987.

Beaulieu, Sills, F.

J.

Polarity Therapy Workbook.

The Polarity

Process:

New York:

BioSonic Enterprises, Ltd., 1994.

Energy as a Healing Art. Longmead, England: Element

Books, 1989.

Stone R. Health Building: The Conscious Art of Living

Well.

Reno, NV:

CRCS

Publications, 1987.

Stone R. Polarity Therapy: The Complete Works.

Vol. 1.

Reno,

NV: CRCS

Publications,

Vol. 2.

Reno,

NV: CRCS

Publications,

1987.

Stone R. Polarity Therapy: The Complete Works. 1987.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR John Beaulieu, N.D., Ph.D.,

is

a registered polarity practitioner

practicing and teaching polarity for twenty years. University, Indiana University,

Westbrook

He

has been

a graduate of

is

University,

who

Purdue

and the International

College of Naturopathic Medicine. John has served as a supervising therapist

and research coordinator

at Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital

fessor at City University of

New York

and worked

as a pro-

and Fairleigh-Dickenson University.

Currently he maintains a private polarity practice in

New York City and directs

the International Polarity Wellness Network.

a

Polarity

is

member of the American

Therapy Association and the American Naturopathic Medical

Association and

Sound in

John

is

the author of the Polarity Therapy Workbook and Music

the Healing Arts:

An Energy Approach.

and

Jeffrey

Maitland, Ph.D.

Rolfing:

33

WHAT

The Whole Body Approach

to

Weil-Being

ROLFING?

IS

Rolfing®

is

one of the twentieth century's most

tated forms of soft tissue manipulation.

As

and most often imi-

influential

a direct result of

its

ability to dra-

matically alter posture and structure, Rolfing can create greater ease of

movement and enhance imagine

it

stress, at ease

with

body

body

free

Olympic champions, movie

tation, business people, musicians,

ages have sought the benefits of Rolfing. to ease pain

and chronic

in their profession

and

stress,

but also

as a is

way

to

seek Rolfing as a

improve performance

useful in

as the overall structure

and medi-

walks of life and of all

Not only do people

daily activities. Rolfing

of emotional problems because

all

you

NBA super-

dancers, students of yoga

and people from

can

stiff-

the gravitational field, then

itself in

stars,

If you

of pain,

understand the purpose of Rolfing. Professional athletes from

stars to

way

balanced

feels to live in a fluid, light,

and chronic

ness, will

how

the overall functioning of the whole

overcoming a variety

of the body

is

improved,

old patterns of emotional distress that have been held in the body are released.

This enables people to move beyond their habitual patterns of painful emotions

and maladaptive functioning.

Rolfing was

named

But Rolfing

structural integration

nickname

by

its

many

founder and creator, Dr.

Ida

P.

this

pioneering system of soft tissue manipulation, and

Rolf.

is

the

that

clients it is

spontaneously gave the

name that stuck.

The

454

HOW

IT

Whole Mind

BEGAN

Ida Pauline Rolf was born in

She earned her Ph.D.

1

896

in Biological

in

New York.

Chemistry

in

1920 from Columbia University. Later she became an

associate in the Rockefeller Institute's

Department of Organic Chemistry, where she did research and published

many articles

over a decade. For most of her

nated with and studied tive healing,

and yoga.

life,

for well

she was fasci-

many forms of alterna-

including homeopathy, osteopathy,

Of

the systems of manipulation

all

she studied, Dr. Rolf was most influenced by

power of osteo-

osteopathy. She experienced the

when

pathic manipulation

pneumonia by one

she was cured of

practitioners.

its

From

Figure 1

that

(The Little Boy Logo®

time on, she remained convinced of one the

first

fessional

life,

fifty

registered

Structural Integration.)

principles of osteopathy, that structure deter-

mines function. For almost

is a

trademark of the Rolf Institute of

years of her pro-

she studied and worked with osteopaths and chiropractors.

Dr. Rolf had an uncanny ability to see whole body alignment and mis-

alignment

as

they were displayed in the soft tissues of the body. Driven to find

a solution to her

own

problems,

as well as those

of her two young sons, she

spent years exploring and experimenting with different systems of healing and

manipulation. ers

When

she combined her discoveries with her remarkable pow-

of observation, Rolfing was born.

Her

original vision

work from

Her

life's

was broad and deep. She saw the need

to explore her

the points of view of philosophy, medical science, and psychology.

work was devoted

into the conditions that

to the philosophical

must be

fulfilled in

and

scientific investigation

order for the person as a whole to

function optimally. Recognized around the world as the leader and pioneer in

whole body alignment through

soft tissue

manipulation, she died in 1979 at

the age of 83. Since Dr. Rolf's death, the philosophy, science, and art of Rolfing

have continued to evolve significantly and profoundly. In 1972, Dr. Rolf founded the International Rolf Institute in Boulder,

The Rolf Institute

is

CO.

the education and research center and professional associ-

ation for Certified Rolfers® worldwide.

455

Rolfing

Figure

1

traced from an actual photograph of a

,

ten sessions of Rolfing, has

logo

is

IT

The

logo of the Rolf Institute.

is

known.

WORKS known

Science has tion,

official

boy who underwent

an excellent representation of the remarkable postural and structural

changes for which Rolfing

HOW

become the

little

for years that proper

and anatomical structure

body alignment, physiological funcOther systems of manipulation, such

are related.

osteopathy and chiropractic, were created and based on this insight. But Dr.

as

Rolf pioneered the discovery that a long-lasting improvement in alignment

and

overall sense

of well-being required a deeper understanding of the impact

of gravity on our bodies. system.

cial

The

myofascial system

connective tissue called

to this deeper understanding

composed of muscle

is

tissue

is

the myofas-

and

form of

surrounds and penetrates the muscles and

fascia. Fascia

largely responsible for the

Everyone cia. It is

who

has either skinned an animal or cut a piece of meat has seen

be a perfect three-dimensional blueprint of the entire body

web of connective

something see

like a

where every

At every

tissue in the

huge loofah sponge

single bone, nerve,

level,

form of a

fascial

in the shape of

blood

vessel,

if

—

body.

the expression of injury,

and emotional

would

in essence, It

an

would look it,

we could

organ, and so forth belongs.

much

a function of the

and balance of the myofascial

system within gravity. Distortions and patterns of strain within the

work can be

everything over

left

our body. In

our health and well-being are very

architectural integrity of our body, of the span

logical

fas-

the white, filmy substance that compartmentalizes and binds every-

but the fascia could be removed from the body, what would be

intricate

it

unique form that each of our bodies displays.

thing together in the body. Although a practical impossibility,

if

a

other structures of the body. In conjunction with the bones and muscles,

all is

The key

illness, stress,

conflicts. Just as a tent will

fascial net-

and long-standing psycho-

be dragged

down by

gravity

the guy wires and the fabric lose their appropriate stretch and span, our

body

become too

tight

will lose

its

architectural integrity as

and others too

strain within

out the entire

fascia

flaccid.

Since the entire

and

some muscles and

body is connected through

its fascial

network, lines of stress

any section of fascia can be immediately transmitted through-

fascial

network much

in the

same way snagging part of a sweater

can distort the shape of the entire sweater. These patterns of strain in the

fascial

The

456

Whole

network contribute to the unique form that each of our bodies our unique ways of standing,

as to

worn

sitting,

Mind

displays, as well

and moving. Like

a pair of well-

shoes, these patterns of fascial strain display our unique struggles with

gravity.

Fascia give

it

is

made up of a

strength. Fascia

is

ground substance and collagen

colloidal

a highly adaptive tissue that shortens

fibers that

and thickens

in

response to injury, sustained or traumatic emotional conflict, imbalance, and diseases. In this process

of shortening and thickening, the ground substance of

fascia loses its elasticity

and

fluidity.

Dr. Rolf discovered that the ground sub-

stance of fascia could be softened and lengthened by the intelligent priate application of pressure through her hands. sessions look like a

form of body sculpting. Using

elbows to ease and lengthen the whole

body from head

To most

Through

people, Rolfing

their fingers, knuckles,

fascial strain patterns, Rolfers

to toe.

and appro-

a careful

and

reshape and reorder

and systematic applica-

tion of pressure coupled with keen observational powers, Rolfers bring the

human body

to a higher level of flexibility, balance, organization in gravity,

and economy of function. As report shedding their aches

and attaining

ties,

a

much

clients

and

approach an easy upright posture, they

pains, performing better in their daily activi-

Some even

higher state of well-being.

experience

life-transforming changes as they release deeply repressed patterns of trauma

and emotional

conflict.

Metaphorically, Rolfing attempts to transform the sky, not push the

Any

stars.

manipulative system that symptomatically adjusts bones back into place

in order to release local joint fixations, or manipulates local areas of tight fascia

or muscle,

is

a star

model of manipulation.

fascial release often

Rolfing holistic

is

a sky

is

provide people with effective and beneficial help. But

model of manipulation and somatic education. As such

it is

its

a

local

but to transform the whole person. The sky that Rolfing works

the myofascial system of the

forming the stars

and myo-

system that has the potential to not only release the body from

aches and pains,

with

Star models of therapy

fascial

body

in

its

relationship to gravity.

By

trans-

sky and organizing the whole body in gravity, the various

of the body not only find their appropriate place, but they also function

better. Rolfers

understand that symptomatically releasing local areas of dysfunc-

tion rarely creates integration

and

lasting

change

—

if

the whole

body

is

not

properly prepared to receive the effects of local manipulations, either the change will

not be maintained or strain will show up in other

areas.

By transforming

457

Rotfing

the sky, Rolfing can and does release the

Symptoms tend

restrictions.

body from

aches and pains and

its

body has been

to disappear, not because the

manipulated symptomatically and piecemeal, but because the whole person has been engaged and educated to find optimal balance in the gravitational field.

Rolfing has continued to evolve in rather significant ways. Rolfing began as a rather painful style

reputation in the ative efforts

of manipulation and over the years sustained

mind of the

this

public. Fortunately, however, through the cre-

of some of the Rolf Institute's teachers, the techniques of Rolfing

have broadened to include a softer and more discriminating sense of touch.

The new

Rolfing

is

both

and organize the body

less

invasive

at every level.

and more

Many

precise in

clients

who

its

ability to release

have

felt this

gentler

approach are often surprised to discover that their experiences of massage are actually

more uncomfortable than

The advanced

Rolfing.

Rolfing faculty have also evolved

easily release joint fixations in the spine

much

new

techniques that can

and other bones of the body with

as

precision as any other system of manipulation. But unlike other systems

of manipulation, Rolfing can accomplish these results without resorting to thrusting techniques which typically "pop" bones into place by forcefully releas-

ing joint fixations. As the strain patterns in the fascia and ligaments that are responsible for the joint fixations are gently

and systematically eased under the

intelligent pressure applied

by the Rolfer, bones and the other structures of the

body

quietly shift back to

where they belong

levels

of the body dissolve.

Some of the advanced

as

motion

restrictions at

Rolfing teachers also pioneered a

way of teaching

and performing the work of Rolfing. Dr. Rolf had developed a ten tocol she called "the recipe," her notion of ideal

among

people.

process of discovery in which Rolfer to

As

and

session pro-

body alignment. Today's

advanced teachers have replaced the recipe with an approach that the unique differences

many

a result, Rolfing has client explore the

is

tailored to

become more

most

effective

a

ways

enhance the inherent being of the whole person.

The new

Rolfing program of instruction has been broadened and expand-

many ways. Along with the principle-centered decision-making process, the new understanding of how to release joint fixations, and the introduction of gentler techniques, it now includes, for example, a rich and diversified training in how to enhance our inherent potentials for free, fluid movement. These ed in

The

458

and other advances

in Rolling are continually

many of the

as

new

insights

and

is

a

growing body of research

(Hunt and Massey,

1

977) showed that Rolfing

There

discoveries are integrated into the work. that supports

being refined

Whole Mind

claims of Rolfing.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Research conducted creates a

and

more

creates

at

UCLA

of the muscles, allows the body to conserve energy,

efficient use

more economical and

refined patterns of movement.

research conducted at the University of

Richmond, 1988) demonstrates and changes body structure ly

More

recent

Maryland (Cottingham, Porges, and

that Rolfing significantly reduces chronic stress

for the better. In these studies, Rolfing significant-

reduced the spinal curvature of subjects with lordosis (sway back). The

research also indicates that Rolfing enhances neurological functioning.

and function

Surprisingly, these changes in structure

are long lasting

and

rarely

require further maintenance sessions.

REAL PEOPLE AND ROLFING

Like

many people who

collapsed,

seek the benefits of Rolfing, Marcie's body was

round shouldered, and much too

suggested she try Rolfing as a

way both

to

improve her posture and deep-

en her therapy. Marcie complained that she was to the point of being

too sensitive, often

the appearance of a fearful person. Until she

began Rolfing, however, she felt

much

overwhelmed by the negative aspects of her world.

Her comportment gave she

Her psychotherapist

soft.

rarely experienced her fear directly.

She said

insecure, needy, ineffectual and, at times, experienced a kind of

inner vacancy. Because she did not like her posture and believed herself to

be too

programs

soft as

and skinny, she

programs were for After a

and

lift

tried

weight

lifting

and rigorous

counter measures. She was frustrated by

exercise

how ineffective

these

her.

number of Rolfing

sessions, Marcie's

out of her collapse. But she

still

body began

carried her head

to lengthen

and neck too

459

Rolfing

forward of the as if she

rest

of her body. Her shoulders were

were frozen in

fright.

During a

pulled up and

still

session devoted to balancing

and

organizing her shoulders, neck, and head, Marcie began to shiver uncontrollably

on the

table as if she

rassment she tried to control

made

her

feel

worse.

On

were suddenly freezing cold. From embarherself.

Soon she

realized this strategy only

the advice of her Rolfer, she

let

herself go into

the shaking. Almost immediately, she complained of a constriction in her

Her jaw began

throat.

and she trembled even more

to quiver

intensely.

These actions were followed by whimpering and then what sounded

like

a series of muffled screams.

After the trembling and whimpering subsided, Marcie reported that she had relived the fear she rage

felt as

a toddler when her mother went into a

and yanked her around the room by her hair. The constriction she felt

in her throat

was both the repression of her screams and the expression of

being invaded by undeserved and powerful forces that threatened the integrity

of her developing self. Reliving these experiences on the Rolfing

table proved to be a significant turning point for Marcie. In therapy, she finally

was able to explore these traumas and begin the lengthy process of

overcoming and resolving her repressed

By

the

end of her Rolfing

dramatically.

She stood

the attention of

all

taller

her.

much

body in

gait

legs

came

the ground.

lifted elegantly

directly

As

changed

that caught

under

her,

a result, she felt

upward. She looked and

began to change. She found a better job, which brought

more money, required

regular hours,

She took up karate and

satisfaction.

finally

and demanded more interpersonbegan

to firm

up her body

to her

Karate also allowed Marcie to explore and enhance her newly

discovered sense of power and bodily integration. ing

and

less fearful. Marcie continued to integrate the changes in her

as her life

al skills.

As her

more squarely on

more secure and her upper body felt

Marcie's posture

and moved with a sense of grace

who knew

she experienced her feet

series,

fear.

up her personal

Trudy came her therapist

life

which had been a mess

to Rolfing after a felt

And

she began clean-

for years.

number of years of psychotherapy. She and

that Rolfing could help speed

up her therapy which had

Whole Mind

The

460

begun to bog down. Her body was dense and scoliosis.

and had trouble looking

lot,

they talked. She reported that, as a child, she hardly even

making her less

mild

a

She gave the appearance of great sadness and her eyes expressed

confusion. She blinked a

as if they

and she had

tight,

knew or

feel invisible,

at her Rolfer

when

to her parents,

felt invisible

cared whether she was there. In addition to

her parents never protected her from the relent-

beatings she received from her brothers. She said that she did not trust

men and

often

self and often

felt

anxious. She also

she had never been seen for her-

felt

experienced a desperate need to be.

Before beginning Rolfing, Trudy effectively blocked awareness of her

making her musculature dense and

sadness by

tight.

Unfortunately, the

had the unwanted consequence of sup-

act of suppressing her sadness

pressing her joy, her exuberance over simply being present. Trudys density

was the armor she needed

to protect herself

from her brothers, from

her anxiety, and to block awareness of her sadness.

Her dense musculature tion in her

life.

also served another

important and

vital

She said that when she experienced anxiety,

though she were losing herself

—

as if she

func-

it felt

as

were vanishing into nothing-

ness. In response to this ever-present threat to her being, she tensed the

musculature of her body sent. Since her parents

sense of self in a

as a desperate

way of forcing

were never there for

vacuum of neglect

filled

her,

Trudy was forced

and

alone.

to develop her

Thus, she worked hard

at

own

which

at

me,

I

am

During her

not

invisible.

I

sense of self and grew

of her desperate need to

be.

Soon

Not

up sad

Her body

said,

am here!"

early sessions, she often tensed her

the manipulations of Rolfing.

to see her-

being present by tensing her muscu-

lature in a desperate attempt to force herself to be here.

"Look

to develop her

with her brothers unpredictable

beatings. Lacking a healthy parental mirror of love in self,

herself to be pre-

Trudy had

it

became

body

in response to

clear that tensing

was part

was

afraid to

surprisingly, she said she

give in to the profound relaxation that Rolfing produced, for fear that she

would become body and

a "blob." She said that this strategy of tensing her whole

for the purpose of being seen felt like she

that she

had trouble coming down

was taking amphetamines,

at night.

No wonder she

resisted

461

Rolfing

the pressure of Rolfing

—

down" or "becoming

the feeling of "coming

making her

blob" brought her too close to her anxiety,

feel as if

her pres-

ence were vanishing into nothingness.

Trudy continued ly after a series

Her

eyes

to

work on her

anxiety with her therapist, and final-

of Rolfing sessions, her dense musculature began to

became bright and

clear

and

much

lost

body looked longer and she moved with

a

ease.

of their confusion. Her

more

graceful ease. She said

she was finally hired to do the job she had trained for in college and loved

her work. Because she was able to trust her male Rolfer, she was more trusting of men

and now, a couple of years

after a difficult marriage

and

painful divorce, she was looking forward to a relationship with a man.

She

also said she

used to hate being alone, but

and enjoyed the time she could spend by

meant being lonely

know

happiness.

defending against

to her.

And

her

life

herself.

really appreciated

Being alone no longer

best of all, she said she was beginning to

Her sadness and the all

now she

loss

of presence she had been

were dissolving. In

beginning to experience the joy of life

its

— her own

place she was just

sense of exuberance

over just being present.

WHAT TO EXPECT Rolfing

and to

is

designed not just to restore function and help you with your aches

pains, but to systematically align

enhance

how you

function at

and organize your body

many

the ten session protocol, while others client

ate

is

levels.

work

Some

in a

in gravity in order

Rolfers

still

work within

more individualized way. The

usually clothed in underwear, shorts, or a bathing suit. In order to cre-

an effective strategy for organizing the

client's

body, the Rolfer usually

begins the session by observing and evaluating the client standing and walking.

The

begins.

client then lies

A typical

on

a specially

designed padded table and the work

Rolfing session takes between an hour to an hour and a

and includes hands-on manipulation coupled with movement rective suggestions. Prices for a Rolfing session vary session can cost

anywhere from $80 to $130.

analysis

and

around the world.

half,

cor-

One

The

462

Whole Mind

HOWTOFINDAROLFER Only

practitioners certified through the Rolf Institute can call themselves

and perform Rolfing.

Rolfers

A candidate desiring to

train as a Rolfer

must

have a college degree.

Upon

the student must

complete the basic program of instruction. Within four

first

of graduating from the basic

to seven years

complete the advanced sure that a practitioner

The Rolf

acceptance into the Institute's training program,

level

level,

every certified Rolfer must

of instruction. To find a qualified Rolfer or make

a certified Rolfer, contact:

is

Institute

International Headquarters 205 Canyon Blvd. Boulder,

CO 80302

Tel: (800)

HOW

530-8875; Fax: (303) 449-5978

TO LEARN MORE

Cottingham,

J., S.

Porges,

and K. Richmond.

"Shifts in Pelvic Inclination

Angle and

Parasympathetic Tone Produced by Rolfing Soft Tissue Manipulation." Physical Therapy 68 (1988): 1364-1370.

Cottingham,

Healing Through Touch:

J.

Evidence. Boulder,

CO:

Hunt, V. and W. Massey. Field,

Maitland,

A

History

Physiological

A Study ofStructural Integration from a Neuromuscular Energy

and Emotional Approaches. Boulder, J.

and Review of the

Rolf Institute, 1985.

CO:

Rolf Institute, 1977.

Spacious Body: Explorations in Somatic Ontology. Berkeley,

CA: North

Atlantic Books, 1995.

Oschman,

The Connective Tissue and Myofascial Systems. Berkeley, CA: Aspen

J. L.

Research Institute, 1981.* Rolf,

I.

Rolfing:

The Integration ofHuman

Structures. Boulder,

CO: The

Rolf Institute,

1977.* Rolf,

I.

Ida Rolf Talks About Rolfing

New York: *

These

titles

and Physical Reality. Edited by Rosemary

Feitis.

Harper and Row, 1978.*

are available

through The Rolf Institute.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeffrey Maitland, Ph.D., Certified is

Advanced Rolfer and Advanced

one of four advanced Rolfing instructors worldwide.

He

is

Instructor,

faculty

chairman

463

Rolfing

and Director of Academic Maitland

is

also a

Affairs for the International Rolf Institute. Dr.

Board Certified Diplomate

Management. He was

a

in the

American Academy of Pain

member of the Council of the

National Certification

Program, which helped to establish standards in somatic education and massage therapy by creating a national certification exam. Prior to Rolfer, Dr.

Maitland was a professor of philosophy

at

becoming

Purdue University

a

for

thirteen years. After experiencing the dramatic results of being Rolfed for a debilitating

back problem, he gave up

in Rolfing.

He

his

tenured position to pursue a career

has published and presented

many

papers on Rolfing, on the

theory of somatic manual therapy, and on philosophy. Spacious Body: Explorations in Somatic Ontology (1995,

Rolfing®

The

is

a service

He

is

North Atlantic Books).

mark of the Rolf Institute of Structural

case studies used in this chapter

Jeffrey Maitland's book, Spacious Body.

the author of

Integration.

were abbreviated and excerpted from

liana Rubenfeld

34

WHAT

IS

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method

THE RUBENFELD SYNERGY METHOD?

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method

is

a

contemporary form of body-centered

psychotherapy and education that integrates the body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Its

goal

to teach people

is

how

to recognize, understand,

and deal with

their physical, emotional, and mental problems. This dynamic system uses gentle,

and movement simultaneously.

noninvasive and nonsexual touch,

talk,

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method

has a beneficial impact on people's

image, health,

who

spirit,

and personal and family

can benefit from

people

who

it

relationships.

Among

self-

the people

are:

are anxious, depressed, phobic, or

survivors of war, displacement,

nosed with post-traumatic

sudden

stress

who

suffer panic attacks

violence (including those diag-

loss,

syndrome)

those with addictive behaviors such as eating disorders and substance abuse

people in high-stress occupations, such

as

performing

arts, business,

gov-

ernment, and education people dealing with debilitating health problems couples and families suffering from dysfunctional patterns

There Its

are

no known contraindications

practitioners

—

called

for the

Rubenfeld Synergists

Rubenfeld Synergy Method.

—

are trained to recognize

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method

when

465

they need to refer clients to other professionals.

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method and emotional

issues in

is

unique in

its

ability to address physical

an integrated way. The original creators of Rolfing,

Alexander, Trager, Feldenkrais, and Swedish massage focused on clients' physiconditions and intentionally did not include verbal processing of emotional

cal

body work. The Rubenfeld Synergy Method

experiences that arose during the is

Many psychiatrists and

a useful adjunct to other approaches.

with emotional material also

refer clients for

Clients remain fully clothed at

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method deep

IT

Rubenfeld Synergy.

times in a Rubenfeld Synergy session.

of oils and lotions, hydrotherapy, or adjust-

joints.

BEGAN

In the 1950s,

was a conducting student

I

a debilitating

back spasm changed

Leibowitz, a teacher of the

use

all

F.

my body efficiently and

at the Juilliard

my

life.

Leibowitz suggested that I

I

saw him, the intense

Leibowitz,

who touched

wouldn't touch.

I

M. Alexander Technique, who avoid re-injury. During

do both —

talk

see a psychoanalyst. feelings

it

I

talk,

me

when

found Judith

taught

me how to

my Alexander in processing

lessons,

I

emotions,

took her advice but by the

and the

analyst,

was her touch that accessed

helped

I

were gone. For the next few

but wouldn't

realized that

his verbal processing that

School of Music

Seeking help,

sometimes expressed intense emotions. Untrained

time

are not trained to deal

does not include massage techniques, such as

tissue manipulation, the use

ments of spine and

HOW

who

Rubenfeld Synergy. Body therapists

refer clients for

talk therapists

understand them.

I

years,

who

I

saw

talked but

my memories and

wanted someone

to

and touch.

This yearning marked the conception of the Rubenfeld Synergy Method. Its

gestation took

many years of research,

study,

a master teacher of the Alexander Technique

and experimentation.

I

became

and trained extensively with Moshe

Feldenkrais in the Feldenkrais Method®. For years,

I

taught both of these body-

mind methods, but found that they missed what for me was the most vital element processing the emotional material that emerged during lessons. I

—

longed to

know

the emotional history, stresses, and

physical dysfunctions in the

laborate with Dr. Peter Perls (co-founders

first

Hogan

place.

life

problems that created

This curiosity led

(an Adlerian psychiatrist)

me and

to train Fritz

and

col-

and Laura

of Gestalt therapy), and to further refine the integration of

Whole Mind

The

466

methods and psychotherapy. These

these somatic

ments formed the harmonics

in

theoretical

my orchestration

of a

and

new

practical ele-

therapeutic and

educational paradigm.

Buckminster

Fuller, the creator

of the geodesic dome, suggested the word

me demonstrate my work, which was He said "integration" did not accurately express what

"synergy" at a conference after watching still I

nameless at that time.

was doing and explained that "synergy" would be a more appropriate name.

(With synergy, the the results of the

results are greater

component

the dynamics of my method.

In 1975, train

them

bodywork

in the

At

parts.)

— and

than

last I

different

from

had found a word

—

sum of

that expressed

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method was

practitioners

the

born.

and psychotherapists approached

How would

Rubenfeld Synergy Method.

individual elements while also teaching

them how

organic whole? This was the challenging puzzle

I

teach

I

them

to integrate

had

to solve.

me

to

them the all

into an

My training as a

music conductor rescued me. Keeping track of twenty or more simultaneous activities,

while retaining the entire gestalt of a composition,

conductor's education and daily practice. in

1977 and designed the program

individualized supervision,

accepted the

I

first

is

part of every

group of trainees

to be highly experiential, with discussions,

body-mind

exercises, demonstrations,

and

lectures.

Trainees learn to practice self-care and maintain high standards of integrity,

competence, and ethics (the Synergists' code of ethics deals with respect and confidentiality, avoiding personal relationships, maintaining clear boundaries,

and more. Copies of the code Since that I

first

are available

—

see Resources.).

professional certification training program,

my faculty and

have certified over 350 Rubenfeld Synergists. After certification, they have

additional opportunities to continue their education, training, therapy, and supervision.

HOW

IT

WORKS

Rubenfeld Synergy works by addressing the

client's

current complaints or prob-

lems, such as anxiety, inability to concentrate, or aches sions, clients

source of the

and

pains.

During

ses-

may become more self-aware and discover for themselves the complaints. What is the body doing that contributes to the ten-

sion, anxiety, or pain?

The

Synergist-client relationship

the body's

wisdom and

is

one of partnership

self-healing. Safety

and

trust

in the unfolding

between

client

of

and

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method

467

Synergist are key to the development of a successful healing partnership. If an

emotional issue emerges during a session, the Synergist

is

qualified

and trained

to deal with this material, as well as the physical.

The

following principles, philosophies and theoretical foundations

(Rubenfeld, 1996) guide Rubenfeld Synergy sessions: 1

Each individual

unique: Rubenfeld Synergy respects the uniqueness of

is

each individual. Synergists approach each session with no pre-determined agenda, choosing instead from options of touch, verbal interaction, imagi-

and movement ways

nation,

to support the client's

unique path to growth

and change. 2.

The body, mind, emotions, and spirit are part ofa dynamically-interrelated system:

Each time

change

a

introduced at one level of a person's being,

is

it

has a ripple effect throughout the entire system, changing the equilibrium

of the whole person. For example, changes in the posture and breathing affect the person's 3.

Awareness

is

we

we need

to

spirit,

the first key to change:

habit patterns.

because

mood and

We may

learned

and

vice versa.

Each of us has physical and emotional

not be aware of them and

how

them unconsciously. To change

become aware of them. Through the

they affect our

life

these habit patterns,

Synergist's use of

move-

ment, touch, verbal intervention, and creative experimentation, clients

become aware of their habit

and can begin

patterns

make

to

different

life

choices. 4.

Change ries

occurs in the present

of the past and fantasize about the future, but change

only in the present. a

moment. Clients may experience their

When

Rubenfeld Synergy session,

visualization.

They can

them from another vantage ness 5.

and integrate

The ultimate a therapist

their

can occur

memories of painful past experiences emerge clients

review the experience in the present

and

itself

memo-

new

have the opportunity to

moment through

re-script the

point.

relive

also resolve unfinished busi-

change

rests

with the

client.

There

is

no way

can force an individual to change. Sometimes the very

dysfunctional.

is

what keeps the

The

at

insights.

responsibility for

tance to change

and

active imagination

remembered events and look

They can

in

client together, even

though

it

resis-

may be

Synergist can help clients recognize the dysfunction,

Whole Mind

The

468

emotionally and physically, and slowly guide them to try a

new

behavior.

Eventually this newly learned behavior can replace the old habits of the past.

6.

People have a natural capacity for self-healing and self regulation:

innate healing ability already doesn't "correct" 7.

The

it

but

body's life force

exists,

facilitates its

waiting to be actualized.

The

client's

Synergist

development.

and energy field can

many ancient become known in the West.

be sensed: There are

energy systems, in use for millennia, that have

The

The

many names. Chakra

word

that

describes swirling circles of energy (prana) at various locations in

and

around the body, from the base of the spine

The

body's energy has

Japanese qi and Chinese chi refer to the

is

a Sanskrit

to the top of the head.

life

force that circulates along

meridians in the body. "Orgone" was Wilhelm Reich's term for the force. Synergists often sense a

pulsations

marked change

in the quality

and movement, when tense holding patterns

of energy,

in the

life its

body-mind

are released.

8.

Touch ful

is

a

viable, accurate system

of communication: Since touch

is

power-

a

language that communicates, Synergists develop "listening hands."

They can hear

body and convey

the story of the

the client. This specific touch opens

trust

new gateways

and

safety

to clients'

back to

mental and

emotional awareness and creates dialogues with the unconscious mind. 9.

The body

may

is

Our

a metaphor.

postures and other physical manifestations

mirror mental and emotional problems. Complaints of "She's a pain

in the neck," or

"He makes me

the burden anymore" are often 10.

The body

may

tell

tells

the truth:

another

and authentic

1 1

state.

or "I can't shoulder

for real life issues.

people communicate verbally, their bodies

The body's story usually reflects The Synergist's listening hands are it

as a

in this situation,

is

their

unconscious

able to detect this

guide for questions and other explorations.

for the

body and mind

to "talk to each other."

— from the most complex systems of the universe — embody

The body ture to

my stomach,"

story.

incongruence and use

The goal,

When

sick to

body metaphors

is

the sanctuary

of the

soul: All

beings

Rubenfeld Synergy sessions may progress toward a

the smallest crea-

spiritual

spirit.

dimension

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method

when

clients deal

469

with their "soul" issues

relationships, families,

— questioning

their life values in

communities, and the world.

12. Pleasure needs to be supported to balance pain: Grief, anger, pain, joy,

laughter are

all

housed

in the body.

Some

and

people have become addicted to

repeating their most painful stories and thereby ignore opportunities to experience joy and pleasure in the present. Pain-addicted clients can grow

and joyous playfulness

to recontact their long-forgotten strengths

childhood, and learn to use 13.

Humor can

heal

them

to create a

and lighten: When

tionally in a painful

and

more well-balanced

emo-

clients get stuck somatically or

repetitive loop, using appropriate

sarcasm

—

make

possible for clients to deal with past emotional

it

lost since life.

humor

— not

interrupts their habitual pattern. Laughter can dissolve fear

wounding

and

that

is

otherwise too painful to bear. Laughter can free tight holding patterns, invite deeper breathing,

enhance

creativity.

14. Reflecting clients verbal expressions validates their experience.

Hearing their

by the Synergist confirms that they are being heard and

stories retold

understood. Clients often use this opportunity to reflect on their statements and take

them

to a deeper level.

15. Confusion facilitates change: terns.

During

this

initial

Confusion interrupts dysfunctional habit pat-

window of opportunity,

to experiment with nonhabitual behavior,

the Synergist invites the client

which then needs

to be integrat-

ed emotionally and somatically. 16. Altered states

of consciousness can enhance

consciousness, the client's attention

may

healing.

During

focus acutely

altered states of

on

certain sensory

modalities and internal states of being. Altered states can facilitate the client's ability to

present in the

contact old physical and emotional memories that are

body and can expand the

Synergist's ability to dialogue

still

with

the unconscious body/mind. 17. Integration

is

necessary for lasting results:

Many physical

habit patterns can

be changed and integrated only when their associated emotional material is

processed. Unless clients incorporate their

new

insights

and behaviors

into their daily lives, they are likely to revert to old, habitual patterns.

Integration within a session can take place

on many

levels:

The

client

Whole

The

470

words and movements, sensation and emotion, memories and

integrates

The

images.

new

Mind

"re-entry" phases of a session allow the client to integrate the

awarenesses physically, mentally, and emotionally.

18. Self-care selves

is

the first step to client care. Synergists are trained to protect

from "burnout." They

identify with clients, they

them-

learn to maintain personal boundaries. If they

do so without merging with them. This

clarity

keeps Synergists from transmitting their problems and tensions to the client

through their hands and

also

from taking on the

client's

somatic aches and

pains.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Much

research has

documented the therapeutic

effects

of touch in general on

self-healing (for example, Pert, 1985; Field, 1986; Weil, 1995).

sertation (Junglas, 1994)

One Ph.D.

dis-

documents the experiences with Rubenfield Synergy

common

of eleven adults, and elucidates eight themes

to

all.

Although no other studies about Rubenfeld Synergy have been published,

many unpublished

pilot studies

These include studies of the

have been conducted by Rubenfeld Synergists.

effects

of Rubenfeld Synergy on self-esteem, body

image, eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, anxiety, panic attacks, depression in cancer patients and their caregivers, migraine and chronic headaches, fibromyalgia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, fibrocitis, stuttering, creativity, and self-expression.

More information about

these studies

may be

obtained from

the Rubenfeld Center.

REAL PEOPLE AND THE RUBENFELD SYNERGY METHOD

Susan came to

me

because of unremitting anxiety.

By

the end of a ses-

sion,

Susan successfully released her bound-up shoulders and allowed

them

to

drop down, but the following week, she again

with her shoulders hunched up toward her

ears.

sat in the chair

In one session, she began

to sob in a very high-pitched voice. Recognizing the significance of that

moment,

"Two

I

quietly asked her

how old she

felt just

years old," she replied, crying.

then.

With my hands touching

her

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method

471

upper back and right shoulder, to that time.

There was

pulled her knees

up

a

I

asked her to close her eyes and go bac

sudden shudder

as she

squirmed

and

in the chair

to her chest so tightly that she resembled a small ball.

She opened her eyes briefly to check that ory surfaced — of her hands being

I

was

tied with

still

genitals.

A distant mem-

brighdy colored ribbons to

the bars of her crib. Slowly her story unfolded: her

baby Susan from touching her

there.

mother wanted

to keep

This position was frozen in her

body even while the memory had been repressed

for so

many years.

In successive sessions she continued to release her shoulders further.

Now

her arms

genitals.

moved more

freely,

This new position scared

to their old position. After

trauma and

its

allowing her hands to be closer to her

and her shoulders often returned

her,

months of working through

this

emotional

somatic implications, she was able to express anger, resent-

ment, and pain about her mother's behavior. Later, Susan was able to reclaim her sexual feelings in a healthy

way and

She

forgive her mother.

had integrated her relaxed shoulders and open chest into her present

and

relationships.

John, a depressed and sad young man, lay motionless on the gently to his

life

back

move

it

his head. It

felt like

When

was stuck.

a sheet of steel.

I

slipped

He explained

him suddenly and he was confused.

I

table.

my hands

that his fiancee

I

tried

under

had

left

asked him to imagine his fiancee

and speak to

her. In a soft, placating voice

As he spoke,

his

he

back tightened even more,

said, "Joan,

as if it

I

forgive

you

." .

.

were saying, "You must

be kidding! I'm furious!"

His back clearly contradicted what he was saying. "If your back had a voice,

what would

it

say?"

I

asked.

He

began to pound the

table, yelling,

"I'm so angry at what you've done!" Even though he thought he should forgive her, his sions,

body was expressing

his inner emotions. After several ses-

he was able to contact and express

ing and feeling

more

relieved,

his grief and sadness.

Then, look-

he was genuinely ready to forgive

body, mind, and emotions were

now congruent.

her.

His

The

472

Whole Mind

WHAT TO EXPECT Sessions usually begin with verbal conversation about issues the clients present

and may move

to the past

made nor

noses are

lie

down

fully clothed

on

honors and responds to their pace and focus. is

introduced

can stop the session

Once

No

diag-

at

clients are

when

A

a

padded

table. Sessions

and moving. The Synergist

take place with the client sitting, standing,

intention,

clients' needs.

cures promised.

Clients are invited to

may also

and future depending on

gentle touch, with healing

they are ready. Clients are reassured that they

any time,

for

any reason.

aware of how their dysfunctional habit patterns have con-

may invite them

tributed to their issues, the Synergist

to experiment with

some

nonhabitual behaviors. As each session comes to a close, clients usually integrate

some

insights

and learning from the

session

and prepare

to re-enter the

outside world.

Single sessions, usually forty-five minutes long, are

once or twice weekly.

When

(ninety minutes long)

may be

long distance travel

is

most often scheduled

required, double sessions

appropriate. Although Rubenfeld Synergy

may

bring life-changing insights in a short time, weekly sessions for at least several

months, and perhaps for

and

several years, are advised to allow for fully integrated

lasting benefits.

When Exercises,

appropriate,

the Synergist

which develop strength,

physical flexibility,

may

and teach "inner

— which may contribute

more life-enhancing ways

HOW

to

Bodymind

ease specific tensions, foster mental listening."

practiced between sessions anywhere. Practicing

patterns

teach Rubenfeld

These simple

them

and

exercises can be

helps to replace old habit

to the presenting problem

— with new,

move.

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

In the U.S., the Rubenfeld Center can provide referrals to a Certified Rubenfeld

Synergist in your in area. In Canada,

you can

call

or write to the Canadian

Association of Rubenfeld Synergists.

The Rubenfeld Synergy Training Program gram.

It is

is

currently a

1

600-hour pro-

the only source of training and certification of Rubenfeld Synergists.

Take your time

to interview

and consult with

several Synergists.

They

will

probably see you one to three times before agreeing to an ongoing weekly process. If you

do not continue

together, the Synergist

may refer you elsewhere.

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method

473

RESOURCES

The Rubenfeld Center can provide more information about Synergy Method and the Rubenfeld Synergy Training Program, videotapes, reprints of articles, ferences.

You can contact

and

the Rubenfeld

audiotapes and

a current schedule of workshops

the Center

and con-

at:

The Rubenfeld Center 115 Waverly Place

New York, NY Tel: (800)

10011

747-6897; Fax: (212) 254-1174

E-mail: [email protected]

For information about the Synergists Code of Ethics, contact:

National Association of Rubenfeld Synergists

8H USA

1000 River Rd., Suite Belmar,

NJ 07719

Tel: (800)

For

484-3250, code 8516

referrals to Synergists in

Canada and the Canadian

Synergist's

Code of

Ethics, contact:

Canadian Association of Rubenfeld Synergists 112 Lund Street Richmond Hill, ONT L4C 5V9 CANADA Tel: (905)

883-3158

E-mail: [email protected]

All of these associations support their

members' professional growth and

promote high standards of professional public about the Rubenfeld Synergy

ethics. They also seek to educate the Method and to protect their members'

right to practice.

HOW TO LEARN MORE Claire, T.

"Rubenfeld Synergy Method: Touch Therapy Meets Talk Therapy." In

Bodywork. Field,

T,

New York:

William Morrow and Company,

et al., "Tactile/Kinesthetic

Pediatrics?, no. 55 (1986):

Junglas,

M. D. "The

Inc.,

1995.

Stimulation Effects on Preterm Neonates."

654-658.

Experience of Becoming an Integrated Self Through Rubenfeld

Synergy." Unpublished doctoral dissertation,

The Union

University Microfilms International #9516505, 1994.

Institute.

Ann Arbor:

Whole Mind

The

474

M.

Knaster,

— Our Lady of Synergy." Massage Therapy

"liana Rubenfeld

30, no.

1

(1991): 36-45.

Markowitz,

"Minding the Body, Embodying the Mind: Therapists Explore Mind-

L.

no. 5 (1996): 20-33.

body Alternatives." Family Therapy Networker 20, Mishlove,

— Mind-Body

"liana Rubenfeld

J.

Integration:

tape with Dr. Jeffrey Mishlove." Berkeley,

1992. Pert,

C.

An

Inner

*

Work™

Video-

CA: Thinking Allowed Productions,

*

B., et al.,

"Neuropeptides and Their Receptors:

A Psychosomatic Network."

Journal ofImmunology 135 (1985): 820-826. Rubenfeld,

"Alexander Technique and Innovations." In "Dance Therapy: Roots and

I.

Extensions." American

Rubenfeld,

Dance Therapy Association

5,

no. 2 (1971): 45.

"The Rubenfeld Synergy Method, Formerly

I.

Gestait Therapy."

Unpub-

lished paper, 1973.*

Rubenfeld,

Rubenfeld,

"Rubenfeld on the Road"

I.

New York: The Rubenfeld Center,

"Self-Care for the Professional

I.

Woman: Beyond

Physical Fitness." In

Women and Work, edited by L. Knezek, M. Barrett, and S. Collins, Women and Work Research and Resource Center, 1985. 9-14. Rubenfeld,

I.

1973.*

Inc.,

Arlington,

TX:

"Beginner's Hands: Twenty-five Years of Simple; Rubenfeld Synergy

—

The Birth of a Therapy." SomaticsA, no. 4 (1988): 4-11* Rubenfeld,

"Ushering in a Century of Integration." Somatics

I.

8, no.

1

(1991):

59-63.* Rubenfeld,

"Gestait

I.

Therapy and the Bodymind:

Synergy® Method." In

New York:

C. Nevis, Rubenfeld,

I.

An Overview

Gestait Therapy: Perspectives

Gardner

"liana Rubenfeld

-

Press, Inc.

of the Rubenfeld

and Applications,

edited by E.

1992.

Growing Old Means Forgetting

to Retire."

A video-

taped presentation by liana Rubenfeld. In the "Time for Spirit" Video Series pro-

duced by W. Whipple. (Copyright jointly by the

Omega

Institute,

New Age

Journal and MetaMedia Arts.) Distributed by MetaMedia Arts, (770) 455-0126.*

Rubenfeld,

I.

"Healing the Emotional/Spiritual Body: The Rubenfeld Synergy

Method." In Getting

in Touch:

by C. Calswell, Wheaton,

IL:

The Guide

to

New Body-Centered Therapies,

edited

Quest Books, 1997.

Simon, R. "Listening Hands: The Healing Power of Touch." Family Therapy Networker 21, no. 5 (1997):62-73. Weil, A. Spontaneous Healing.

Werblin,

*

J.

M.

"Sing the

New York: Alfred A.

Body

Asterisks indicate availability

Electric."

Knopf, 1995.

Changes 10, no. 3 (1995): 30-35.*

from the Rubenfeld Synergy Center.

The Rubenfeld Synergy Method

475

ABOUT THE AUTHOR liana Rubenfeld, a pioneer in integrating

been an influential healer for the past 35

bodywork with psychotherapy, has

years. liana originated the

Synergy Method in the early 1960s and started

gram

in 1977.

Formerly on the

Work and New and Esalen

faculties

of the

its

professional training pro-

NYU Graduate School of Social

School for Social Research, she currendy teaches

institutes

Rubenfeld

at the

Omega

and the Open Center.

Author, humorist, and musician, she has conducted thousands of workshops. She was awarded the 1994 Pathfinder

Humanistic Psychology field

for outstanding

of humanistic psychology.

Award by

the Association of

and innovative contributions

to the

Stanley Krippner, Ph.D

r)

^

Shamanism and Healing:

^J lJ New Light on the Oldest Profession

WHAT The

IS

SHAMANISM?

label

"shamanism"

refers to a

body of techniques and

practices used to

obtain power and knowledge for healing purposes by interacting with "spirit guides," "power animals," "forces of nature," and/or "ancestral entities." qualify as a shaman,

"shamanic ing,

state

one must voluntarily enter what Harner (1988)

of consciousness" using such technologies

as

To

calls a

drumming, danc-

dreaming, and drugs (what have become, in the English language, the

"four

Ds of shamanism").

Shamans were the

world's

first tricksters

and magicians,

as well as

human-

kind's initial storytellers, healers, psychotherapists, weather forecasters,

performing Personally, tioners

artists.

shamanism

only use the term shaman

I

who

In other words,

is

the world's oldest profession.

to refer to socially sanctioned practi-

bring back power and knowledge from what Kalweit (1988)

an "alternative domain of consciousness," using poses. This

is

and

calls

this material for beneficial pur-

who may lead rituals but may enter altered states capable. Sorcerers may enter

contrasted with priests and priestesses,

rarely enter altered states:

Mediums and

spiritualists

but rarely exert the control of which the shaman

is

exert a degree of control, but they are devoted to the interests

altered states

and

of individual

clients,

not the community

In psychological terms, shamans

as a

whole.

self-regulate their attention, accessing

information not ordinarily available to their peers, using

it

for the benefit

of

Shamanism and Healing

477

the group that conferred

and maintains

for the well being of his or her

their social role.

community and

itually oriented services that other

its

The

practitioner

members by

works

delivering spir-

people are unable to provide (Heinze,

1

99 1

Walsh, 1990).

The shamanic model of healing resembles Western medicine and chotherapy in many ways, but it also differs from the allopathic model currently accepted medical practice in the United States) in that affinity

it

psy(the

involves an

with the well-being of nature, of one's body, and of the community's

Moreover, shamanic healing encourages people to make

spiritual growth.

decisions in a

way

that reflects the ideals of harmony

life

and knowledge. Shamanic

models represent a structured and thoughtful approach to healing that attempts to

mend

the torn fabric of a person's (or a community's) connection with the

earth, as well as the splits that frequently occur social group, or

between the

spiritual

and the

between the individual and the

secular.

As

a result,

shamanism

is

used for conditions that Western psychotherapy would label depression, alienation, anxiety, irritability, or

traumatic

HOW

IT

stress

mind/body

ailments, as well as addictive

and post-

problems.

BEGAN

Shamanic

practices date

back some 35,000 years and seem

to have

been ubiq-

uitous in the early hunting, gathering, and fishing societies around the globe. In the cultural myths of these tribal societies, there are accounts of three zones:

the

Upper World, the Middle Earth, and

Golden Ages, there

was no

it

the

Lower World. In

these societies'

was said that people traveled between these worlds with

rigid division

between wakefulness and dreams.

If someone

ease;

could

imagine or dream an event, that action was considered to be, in some sense, "real."

These

an arrogant

cultural act.

The

myths held that a

"fall"

took place, triggered by a sin or

bridge connecting these three zones collapsed; travel

between the Middle Earth and the Upper and Lower Worlds became the nearexclusive privilege of deities, spirits,

and shamans. Other

an original Great Shaman, one selected by the powers. flying,

The Great Shaman was supposed

deities

cultural

and bodily transformation or "shape-shifting." These

human

divine displeasure. Using illusion and sleight of hand, feats

tell

of

and possessing incredible

to have been capable of levitation,

repeated by later shamans, supposedly because

attempted to duplicate the

myths

of the Great Shaman.

feats

were rarely

behavior had evoked

many

later

shamans

Whole

The

478

Mind

Western anthropologists have commented that second only to the diversity of approaches to health, healing, and sickness around the world are the resemblances of these approaches. Despite diverse languages, cultures, and concepts

about the nature of reality,

spirituality,

are some remarkable similarities in

humanity, and the

how both

aspects of their legacy

bona

fide

shamans

body, there

traditional healing practices

allopathic biomedical practices approach wellness

there are relatively few

human

and

illness.

world today, there

in the

and

Even though are

still

worthy of study.

The psychology of shamanism

is

a

growing

field as

is

evidenced by the

acceptance of symposia on the topic at the 1987, 1991, and 1994 conventions

of the American Psychological Association, the creation of the Society for the

Anthropology of Consciousness Association),

HOW

IT

(a division

of the American Anthropological

and the publication of a popular magazine

called

Shamans Drum.

WORKS

Over the

years,

I

have visited several indigenous shamans and shamanic healers

(of approximately equal gender distribution), principally in

North and South

America, and have adapted two models to study and explain their healing practices

from a Western perspective. The

Osmond

(1974).

I

have used

it

to

first

model was developed by

Siegler

compare and contrast Pima Indian shaman-

ic

treatments with Western allopathic treatments, concluding that the

ty

of the Piman model was apparent during the

Europeans (Krippner, 1995.)

and

When

it

tribe's first

flexibili-

confrontations with

was observed that the newcomers

violat-

ed sacred objects without dire consequences, the Pima Indians concluded that the Europeans had their

own

by the Piman ordinances.

and communicable

deities

Later,

diseases, they

and

restrictions,

hence were not affected

when Piman shamans were simply subsumed

this

told about germs

knowledge under

their

category of "wandering sicknesses" in which invisible forces "wander" through the body, leaving afflictions in their wake. This flexibility and eclectic stance characteristic of shamanism generally

and may be

a principle reason for

its

is

pur-

ported effectiveness over millennia.

My second model ing

is

for studying the possible effectiveness of

shamanic heal-

based on the work of Torrey (1986). Torrey surveyed numerous indige-

nous psychotherapists.

He

holds that the nature of any effective treatment,

whether conducted by shamans or other practitioners, inevitably or

more of four fundamental

principles.

reflects

one

Each of Torrey's categories accurately

Shamanism and Healing

describes

1

my own

479

encounters with shamans:

A shared world view. The naming process is one of the most important components of all types of treatment. Reaching an agreement on the name of a condition

client's

understands the condition, that he or she

had the condition, and that there the offending factor belief system

may

Depending on the

ical events.

to get well.

culture, illness

is

equivalent for is

The

who

must

has ever

identification

of

reflect the

catharsis.

thought to be caused by one or

The third, downgraded by allopathic

client in order to

and

way

and metaphys-

factors: biological events, experiential events,

the diagnosis

thy,

a

not the only one

activate a series of associated ideas in the client's

dation of many other traditions.

Japan that

is

is

producing contemplation, absolution, and general

more of three

someone

persuasive in convincing the client that

is

Not only must

medicine,

is

the very foun-

the ailment be

named, but

shared world view of the practitioner and

be maximally

effective.

wagamama, an emotional

There

is

no North American

disorder reported in

some

parts of

characterized by childish behavior, emotional outbursts, apa-

negativity.

Nor

certain parts of Latin

is

there a counterpart to susto,

America thought

to be caused

a.

by

"loss

of soul" in

a shock or fright,

often connected with breaking a metaphysical precept, with a sorcerer's curse, or with a physical accident.

Even within a

specific culture, there

be different world views that interfere with treatment, class practitioners

and

e.g.,

can

between upper-

lower-class clients, between practitioners

whose gen-

der or ethnic backgrounds differ from their clients. 2.

The practitioner's personal

shaman may often be [or her]

qualities:

Rogers (1982) points out that "the

a superior individual, in relation to the people of his

community." The shaman's imaginative resources have been

who considers dreams and human health and sickness.

emphasized by Achterberg (1985) source of vital information on

Among "wounded

a

shamanic

healer,"

society's

i.e., if

symbols and metaphors

shaman has overcome

a potential

tragedy, sickness, or debilitating condition, his or her will

bestow respect and deference for

There tors that

is

a consensus

some

is

visions a

that of the a personal

community

often

this impressive feat.

among healers,

psychotherapists,

and medical doc-

practitioners have personality characteristics that are thera-

peutic while others do not.

Not only

are the actual personal qualities of

Whole Mind

The

480

the practitioners important, but those projected onto are crucial. This process of projection often

is

them by

the client

termed "transference" by

psychotherapists and can be a salient factor in a treatment's success.

may differ from The shamanic claim to communicate with "spirits," by members of their own tribes, would be considered deviant in

Personal qualities that foster recovery from sickness culture to culture. respected

most Western

cultures.

However, Boyer, Klopfer, Brawer, and Kawai

(1964) reported that Apache shamans received higher scores on mental health than the average members of their 3.

Positive client expectations:

There

is

abundant evidence from many studies

that demonstrate the importance of client expectancy; expects to

happen

in healing often will

enough. Such remedies medicinal property, but patients expected

the state of

them

as lizard

if they

mind conducive

happen

if the

what

a person

expectations are strong

blood and swine teeth have no known

have worked over the centuries,

to work.

it is

to healing

As

and strengthen

because

Frank and Frank (1991) conclude that depends on a

practitioner's ability

to "arouse the patient's hope, bolster his [or her] self-esteem, stir her] emotionally,

of

tests

society.

his [or her] ties

him

[or

with a supportive group."

a result, efforts to heighten the patient's positive expectations

may

be

as

genuinely therapeutic as specific therapeutic techniques. Torrey (1986) has identified several factors that trust,

and emotional

arousal.

produce

client expectations

— hope,

faith,

Frank and Frank (1991) have noted that most

psychotherapies use emotional arousal as part of the treatment, either at the beginning of therapy, followed by systematic reinforcement of newly

developed

skills

and

attitudes, or in the latter parts

of therapy, crystallizing

gains of the preceding therapeutic sessions. 4.

A

sense

of mastery. Frank and Frank (1991) claim that the heightening of

the patient's sense of mastery therapies.

Shamans have used

clients, e.g.,

symbolic

is

a direct or indirect effect of all successful

a variety of

methods

to

appearing to remove disease-causing objects from

the body, placating appeasing spirits, interpreting dreams,

ing herbal remedies (Rogers, 1982).

life's

their

pronouncing incantations, singing sacred songs, carrying out

ritual acts,

tery equips

empower

him

adversities.

The

client's

and administer-

emerging sense of mas-

or her with knowledge that can be used to cope with

The

client

may

learn self-regulation, dietary

and

exercise

481

Shamanism and Healing

regimens, and other disease prevention techniques to prevent a recurrence

of the ailment. If there are psychological

problems, the client

proper prayers to counteract malevolent

may have

"spirits," the

learned the

healthy attitudes that

counteract depression and anxiety, or the dream interpretation procedures

empowerment. Each of these

that provide for personal

and

potential to bolster clients' sense of mastery

them with

a personal

myth

symptoms, and supplies a

myths and

rituals

practices has the

self-efficacy

by providing

or conceptual scheme that explains deleterious

ritualistic

procedure for overcoming them. These

combat demoralization by strengthening the therapeutic

relationship, arousing hope, inspiring expectations of assistance, and

affording opportunities for rehearsal and practice (Feinstein and Krippner,

1997).

Learning and mastery are important components for both "curing"

(removing the symptoms of an ailment and restoring a client to health)

and "healing" it).

Some

mind, emotions, and/or

(attaining wholeness of body,

clients

might be incapable of being cured because

terminal. Yet those

same

spir-

their illness

is

could be healed mentally, emotionally,

clients

and/or spiritually as a result of being guided by the practitioner in a review

of their Clients

life,

who

finding meaning in

it,

and becoming reconciled

have been "cured," on the other hand,

that will prevent a relapse or recurrence of their

may

to death.

learn procedures

symptoms.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS For

many

centuries,

Western investigators had

shamanic healing, for native

rituals,

little

respect or regard for

or for altered states of consciousness. In

recent years, however, such prominent psychotherapists as Achterberg (1985),

Frank and Frank (1991), andTorrey (1986) have found to contain elements instructive for

many

native practices

Western practitioners, including the use of

imagination and altered states of consciousness for health maintenance and personal growth.

Kleinman (1985) observed

when

that Taiwanese

dealing with what Westerners

shamans were most

would term

successful

acute, self-limited sicknesses,

secondary somatic manifestations of psychological disorders, and chronic ailments that were not life-threatening; Finkler (1985) observed that diarrhea,

simple gynecological disorders, somatic manifestations, and psychological

The

482

disorders were

most amenable

to treatment

Laderman (1991)

description of Malay shamanism, ers use ritual, dialogue,

immune

mobilize the tories

and music

system.

by Mexican

Whole

Mind her

spiritualists. In

how

describes

practition-

to provide intense personal experiences that

Thong

(1993) published a collection of case his-

of Balinese clients successfully treated by shamans for mental health prob-

lems. Torrey (1986) stated that the shamans he observed appeared to have an

approximately equal rate of success erature.

He

as that

found

concluded that "many of them are

produce therapeutic change in

in the psychotherapeutic

effective psychotherapists

lit-

and

their clients."

REAL PEOPLE AND SHAMANISM

As examples of people who have visited shamans, viduals,

both living

in

Nevada,

who were

I

have selected two indi-

helped to overcome substance

abuse by Native American "medicine people." In 1979,

I

visited Rolling

living in a healing

Carlin, Nevada.

Thunder, a Cherokee-Shoshone shaman

community named Meta Tantey

He

introduced

had sought treatment

me

("go in peace") in

to William, a 25-year-old

for his alcoholism. Rolling

man who

Thunder had placed

William on a "cleansing diet" for three months, supplemented by herbal medicines and community support.

ceremony

that

had been

arranged for William. For ninety minutes, the more than

fifty

members

That evening,

I

participated in a healing

of Meta Tantey sang and chanted to the accompaniment of drums. the

drumming

asking

me

stopped, Rolling

to give William

Thunder introduced me

my personal

support.

I

When

to the group,

did this by means of a

short guided imagery session reinforcing his desire to abstain from alcohol, the substance that

After

I

had come

close to destroying his

life.

rejoined the circle, Rolling Thunder stepped forward. Resplen-

dent in a white buckskin suit and a feather headdress, the shaman asked the group

members

if

they had heard the hooting of an owl during

my

guided imagery session. Various people nodded their heads affirmatively,

and Rolling Thunder commented that the owl

is

a

symbol of death or

483

Shamanism and Healing

transformation, so William was engaged in a

or death struggle with

life

alcohol.

Rolling

and

Thunder then remarked

that seven

is

that the owl

On

a lucky number.

had hooted seven times

encouraging note, the shaman

this

began to probe William's body with an eagle

feather.

When

he found a

spot which was especially sensitive, Rolling Thunder cupped the area with his

hands and seemed to suck a dark

into a pail.

At the end of the

to an assistant to

bury the contents of the

William was

morning he gave Rolling

from William's body,

fluid

session, Rolling

now

and

"purified"

the

pail in a

slept

a positive report and,

Thunder and

Thunder gave remote

spitting

it

instructions

area.

soundly that night. The next

with tears in his eyes, thanked

community members. The following month he

left

Meta Tantey and, two

was

still

years later, let Rolling

Thunder know

that he

sober.

Stella, in

her late thirties

when

she

first

any number of therapeutic programs

contacted a shaman, had

trie

for cocaine addiction, a habit she

had wrestled with since the age of eighteen.

I

put her in touch with Fawn

Journeyhawk-Bender, a Metis Indian shaman living in Carson City,

Nevada where she has created an

intertribal healing ranch. Stella's initial

regimen involved purification through sweat lodge sessions, an individually tailored diet,

and various chants and

the spirit world

on

a campfire while the

Stella's behalf.

the "spirit of cocaine" that

Journeyhawk-Bender

had

While

there,

group that was present told frightening grimaces

on the

now owned

evil,

Stella's soul,

daily to satisfy both of them.

Journeyhawk-Bender engaged

me

to

Journeyhawk-Bender met

tried to cajole this frightening spirit,

consume cocaine

the

"stolen" Stella's soul.

"cocaine spirit" insisted that she to

liv-

shaman "journeyed"

the appearance of a seductive and beautiful, but terribly

needed

had been

healing ranch for two weeks,

ing on Journeyhawk-Bender's

community gathered around

prayers. After she

in

who took

woman. The

and that

At

combat with the cocaine

Stella

this point, spirit.

The

of screams, expletives, strange smells, and

faces

of both Journeyhawk-Bender and

Stella.

Whole Mind

The

484

After about twenty minutes, Stella appeared to pass out.

Journeyhawk-Bender regained her composure, announcing that she

had been victorious

and that

in her struggle

Stella's

returned. Indeed, after sleeping around the clock, Stella

energy and a cheerful

mood

that she

teenage years. Three years

later, Stella

other addictive drug, and

felt

soul had been felt

a renewal of

had not experienced since her

had not returned

to cocaine or

any

that Journeyhawk-Bender's "soul recovery"

treatment had been effective.

The

following case

is

described in Ingerman (1991):

Edward, a carpenter, sought help from a shamanic

Sandra

healer,

Ingerman, trained by anthropologist Michael Harner. Edward revealed

had never

that he

a result,

lating

comfortable at any location where he had

he had moved

many

times, always feeling unsettled

go to

making

his behalf, setting her intention to travel

retrieve it

lived.

retrieval"

wherever she needed

any part of the soul that had "wandered" or been

difficult for

Edward

to feel at

As

and specu-

about other places he could go. Ingerman began a "soul

journey on to

felt

"lost,"

home.

Ingerman followed the sound of the beating drum, finding

herself at

a house near a beach. She passed through the hallway into a cheerful yel-

low kitchen, seeing Edward

at play in the

back yard pitching

his tent.

He

appeared to be about nine years of age. Approaching the younger Edward,

Ingerman explained that she was sent

Edward

moved

protested, "But

on.

He was no

I

am

at

to bring

him home. The younger

home." Ingerman told him that time had

longer a boy of nine but a

younger Edward broke into

tears.

"But

I

man

of forty-three. The

love this place, please don't

make

me leave." Ingerman asked the younger Edward where told that they

had moved. "But they

younger Edward left this

can't

his parents were,

make me move from

insisted, revealing that part

and was

here," the

of the soul that had never

happy boyhood home. Ingerman conveyed the importance of

joining the adult

Edward and

that, until there

was a reunion, neither

Shamanism and Healing

would

485

truly be happy.

The younger Edward reflected, "Edward really wants me back, does he?" Ingerman assured him that this was the case, and the younger Edward asked how to get back. Ingerman placed his hand in hers and waved goodbye

together they

nary

to the

childhood house, returning to ordi-

reality.

When his father

Ingerman shared her journey with Edward, he told her was transferred when he was nine. As

home

the only

he had ever known.

stayed at the one

home he had

a boy,

he hated leaving

sure a part of his soul

had

truly loved. This soul retrieval exercise

was

the critical factor in instigating a into Edward's

He was

that

new

sense of security and rootedness

life.

WHAT TO EXPECT In shamanic systems of healing, is

no sharp

body and mind

division between "physical"

1991). Pain and other

symptoms

are

viewed

can be used in diagnosis,

as are the client's

and unusual

a result, Westerners

ic

healers

tory,

life

events.

might expect

As

to be asked

illness

as sources

hence there

(Frank and Frank,

of information that

dreams, "aura" or "energy

who

visit

field,"

shamans and shaman-

about their dreams, their past medical

and misfortunes where sorcery or witchcraft might have been

The shaman may

at

his-

work.

explore the client's "energy field" in several ways, staring at

the client's body, smelling the client's breath,

and

are seen as a unity,

and "mental"

and even

tasting the clients' feces

urine.

Treatment procedures used by shamans and shamanic healers

vary,

but

may

include suggestions regarding diet, exercise, herbs, relaxation, mental imagery, prayers, purifications,

and various

Specific treatment procedures ditions. In loss

many shamanic

of one's

soul.

to determine

rituals (Villoldo

and Krippner, 1987).

depend upon the diagnosis and the

societies, serious illnesses are felt to

cultural tra-

be due to the

A diagnosis of "soul loss" will be accompanied by an

whether

it

has been stolen, "spooked"

attempt

away from the body, or has

simply "strayed" during some other activity (Ingerman, 1991; Kleinman,

Whole Mind

The

486

1995). Treatment will aim to recover the soul through "soul catching" or similar

procedures.

The

client

might be provided with such "power objects" with directions

feathers, or stones, along

tals,

as to

how

as crys-

perform a healing

to

keep the soul from meandering in the future.

ritual to

Some Western

clients are surprised

mins or recommends a

when

a

shamanic healer prescribes

an osteopath. However, shamanism

visit to

is

vita-

basically

an open-ended system that can be modified, altered, revised, or changed due to the

demands of

There

are

historical circumstances

and community requirements.

shamanic methods of healing that closely

parallel

contemporary

behavior therapy, hypnotherapy, family therapy, milieu therapy, psychodrama,

and dream

interpretation. Torrey (1986) concludes that

more

psychotherapists demonstrate

similarities

shamans and Western

than differences in regard to

their healing practices.

Symbolic manipulation plays a major

may

serve as the vehicle with

world."

role in

shamanic healing. The drum

which the shaman "journeys" into the

The blowing of smoke toward

the four directions

may

"spirit

represent an

appeal to the "guardians" of the universe's "four quarters." For the shamans

and

their

"reality."

in

communities, any product of the imagination represents a form of

As a

result,

shamanic healing,

Toba shaman

mental imagery and imagination play an important role as

when

Navajo

a

"sucks" the poisons

client

from a

is

client's

seated

on

a sand painting or a

body (Achterberg, 1985;

Noll,

1986).

The

healing

community

is

a part of

most shamanic healing, and involves

the client's family and friends. Katz (1981) sees rituals of transformation as the essential link in introducing "transpersonal als to fulfill their

communal

bonding," which enables individu-

responsibilities.

Even when

a client

must be

iso-

lated as part of the healing process, this drastic procedure impresses the

community with It is

the gravity of the ailment.

typically necessary to bring a gift to a

not charge for his or her services, the

HOW

if

the

shaman does

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

Because there

is

no organized professional association

that individuals rely

on word of mouth,

involved with practitioners

who

gift is

shaman; even

appreciated as a gesture of good will.

try to

who

for

shamans,

taking care that they

I

suggest

do not become

charge considerable amounts of money, or

manipulate them financially or

sexually.

487

Shamanism and Healing

You can

Foundation for Shamanic Studies (P.O. Box 1939,

also contact the

CA 94942,

Mill Valley,

http://www.shamanism.org) for

referrals to reputable

shamans. Michael Harner, the founder; his wife, Sandra Harner; and their associates at the

Center for Shamanic Studies

who run

shamanic counseling, insure that their graduates clients to receive help

and guidance

who

will

be able to

in "ordinary reality."

assumptions of the counseling service ordinary reality"

the training program in

is

assist their

However, one of the

that there are powerful entities in "non-

can be contacted by the shamanic counselors once they

The

enter their "shamanic states of consciousness" and begin their "journey."

shamanic counselors

who become

trained to use traditional shamanic

Shamans Drum

(P.O.

"certified skills to

Shamanic Counselors" have been

help their clients.

Box 97, Ashland, OR, 95720)

contains advertisements from legitimate shamans, selors

a magazine that

is

some of them

licensed coun-

and psychologists who have gone through shamanic training and Leslie Gray, Ph.D., Larry

G.

Peters, Ph.D.).

initia-

However, advertisements

tion

(e.g.,

also

appear for individuals whose credentials are dubious, not only in Western

terms but in native circles required

fee,

as well. In the author's experience, the larger the

the greater the possibility that the practitioner

is

an opportunist.

Furthermore, potential clients should be wary of practitioners that

someone stop seeing

Shamans enter

their vocations in several ways, e.g.,

through unusual birth conditions or markings, through recovery from

illness,

for apprentice

shamans

who demand

a Western-oriented physician or psychotherapist.

during vision quests, or in dreams. varies

through heredity, "spirit"

The

from one part of the world

mediated

training

program

to another, but typi-

cally lasts for several years. Usually the apprentices will learn their skills

who

master shamans

of deities,

nology

spirits,

teach

them nomenclature

and power animals), history

(e.g., rituals,

(e.g.,

(e.g.,

music, dances), herbology

plants used medicinally

and those used

the

the

(e.g.,

from

names and functions

tribe's

genealogy), tech-

the difference between

for sacred purposes), the location

of

"power places," the identification of "power objects," dream interpretation procedures,

The These

they

tribe's

mythology.

apprentice also

may

obtain knowledge from his or her guiding

spiritual guides often take the

shamans as

and the

as

visit

spirits.

form of a bird or animal, protecting the

they enter potentially dangerous altered states of consciousness, and the

Upper and Lower Worlds. The mastery of drumming, dancing,

chanting, and singing often

is

an important aspect of a shaman's training.

Whole Mind

The

488

RESOURCES on shamanism sometimes appear

Articles

American

in

such scholarly journals

Ethnologist, Current Anthropology, Anthropology

as the

of Consciousness, and

Annual international conferences on the study of shamanism have been

Ethos.

sponsored since 1984 by the Independent Scholars of Asia (Suite 3A, 2321 Russell

Berkeley,

St.,

CA, 94705). There

Shamanic Research; information about

is

an International Society for

this society's Scientific

Committee

for

the United States can be obtained from Ruth-Inge Heinze at the above address.

HOW

TO LEARN MORE

Achterberg,

Imagery in Healing: Shamanism and Modern Medicine. Boston:

J.

Shambhala, 1985. Boyd, D. Rolling Thunder. Boyer, L. B.; B. Klopfer;

New York: Random

F.

B. Brawer;

House, 1974.

and H. Kawai. "Comparisons of the Shamans

and Pseudoshamans of the Apaches of the Mescalero Indian Reservation:

A

Rorschach Study." Journal of Projective Techniques 2% (1964): 173—180. Eliade,

M. Shamanism: Archaic

Techniques ofEcstasy. Princeton: Princeton University

1964.

Press,

Estrada, A.

Maria Sabina: Her

Life

and

Chants. Santa Barbara,

CA: Ross-Erickson,

1981.

D. and

Feinstein,

Therapeutics.

Flaherty,

New York:

and

1997.

of Alternative

Failures

Praeger, 1985.

1992.

D. and

J.

B. Frank. Persuasion

Hopkins University Harner,

New York: Tarcher/Putnam,

G. Shamanism and the Eighteenth Century. Princeton: Princeton University

Press, J.

Krippner. The Mythic Path.

K. Spiritualist Healers in Mexico: Successes

Finkler,

Frank,

S.

M. "Shamanic

Press,

and Healing. Third

Edition. Baltimore: Johns

1991.

Counseling." In Shamans Path, edited by G. Doore, Boston:

Shambhala, 1988. Heinze, R.

I.

"Shamans or Mediums: Toward

a Definition of Different States of

Consciousness." Phoenix: Journal of Transpersonal Anthropology 6 (1982): 25-44.

Heinze, R.

Ingerman,

I..

S.

Shamans of the 20th Century.

New York:

Irvington, 1991.

Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented

Self.

New

SanFrancisco, 1991. Kalweit,

H. Dreamtime and Inner

Space. Boston:

Shambhala, 1988.

York: Harper-

489

Shamanism and Healing

Kleinman, A. Patients and Healers in the Context

Of Culture.

Berkeley: University of

California Press, 1985.

Kleinman, A. Writing at the Margin: Discourse Between Anthropology and Medicine. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995.

Krippner,

S. "Tribal

Shamans and

Dreamwork, edited by Krippner,

S.

and

S.

their Travels into

Dreamtime." In Dreamtime and

Krippner, Los Angeles: Jeremy

P.

Tarcher, 1990.

"A Cross-cultural Healing Comparison of Four Healing Models."

Alternative Therapies

Krippner,

S.

P.

(1995): 21-29.

1

Welch. Spiritual Dimensions ofHealing: From Tribal Shamanism

Contemporary Health Care.

New York:

Laderman, C. Taming the Winds ofDesire:

to

Irvington, 1992. Psychology, Medicine,

and Aesthetics

Malay

in

Shamanistic Performance. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1991. Rogers,

The Shaman: His Symbols and His Healing Power. Springfield,

S. L.

IL:

Charles

C.Thomas, 1982. Siegler, R.

and H. Osmond. Models of Madness, Models of Medicine.

New

York:

Macmillan, 1974.

Thong, D., with

B. Carpenter,

Mental Illness Torrey, E.

Witchdoctors

F.

Future.

in Bali.

and

S.

S.

Krippner.

A Psychiatrist in Paradise:

Press,

1986.

Krippner. Healing

States.

Harper

Treating

1993.

and Psychiatrists: The Common

& Row,

New York:

Villoldo, A.

and

Bangkok: White Lotus

New York:

Roots ofPsychotherapy

Fireside/Simon

and Its

& Schuster,

1987.

Walsh, R. The Spirit ofShamanism. Los Angeles: Jeremy Weil, A. Health

and Healing. New

York: E.

P.

P.

Tarcher, 1990.

Dutton, 1983.

Winkelman, M. Shamans, Priests and Witches: A Cross-Cultural Study Of MagicReligious Practitioners. Tempe, AZ: University of Arizona Press, 1992.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stanley Krippner, Ph.D.,

Graduate School ing

in

is

professor of psychology at the Saybrook Institute

San Francisco.

He

is

the co-author of several books includ-

The Mythic Path and Spiritual Dimensions of Healing: From Tribal

Shamanism Dreamwork.

to

Contemporary Health Care and the editor of Dreamtime and

He

is

a

member of the

Health

and Medicine and

visited

shamans

editorial

board of Alternative Therapies in

the editorial advisory board of Shamans

in Asia, Africa,

Drum. He has

Europe, North America, and South America.

by Lynette Bassman, Ph.D.

36

Sound Therapy: An

WHAT

therapy, also called psycho-physio acoustics, or the

involves

working with the

the emotions, and the

the

mind and body

ness

Don Campbell

interview with

SOUND THERAPY?

IS

Sound

—

Healing with Sound and Music

effects

spirit.

Effect,

of sound and music on the mind, the body,

Music has the power

simultaneously, and to

and balance. Sound therapy

Mozart

move

to reach multiple systems in

these systems toward whole-

helpful for treating a large

is

number of emo-

tional problems, including abuse; accident recovery, pain, Alzheimer's disease,

attention deficit disorder, alcoholism, co-dependence, anxiety, schizophrenia,

and some forms of depression.

The

principles of healing with

chotherapists, nurses, doctors,

and

sound and music

are utilized today

psychologists. (See

by psy-

Chapter 10 and Chapter

13 for more information about music therapy.) There are also practitioners of

imagery techniques

who

principles of healing with

integrate music with insight-oriented therapy.

sound and music can

also

The

be practiced on one's own.

This chapter will focus on self-generated healing with sound and music.

HOW

IT

Music

BEGAN

is

basic to religious experience

Examples include the the

drumming

so

tarantella dances,

common

to

many

Bach's "Goldberg Variations" were

and

to

many

ancient healing

David and the harp

ancient cultures. In

commissioned

to help

in the Bible,

more

arts.

and

recent times,

someone who had

491

Sound Therapy

insomnia.

The

therapeutic use of sound and music has been a part of

cultures throughout history, but so far not

much

many

attention has been given to

auditory stimulus as health care.

Campbell's interest stems from several powerful healing experiences that

he has had with sound. lived in

He was

classically trained in

music in France, and then

Japan and Haiti, where he observed firsthand the

ming, singing, and dancing for healing.

as

ways of inducing altered

ritual use

states

of drum-

of consciousness

So when he was diagnosed with asthma, which caused

life-threat-

ening attacks upon exposure to environmental pollutants in smog-filled Tokyo,

where he then

lived,

he placed himself in the care of a Manchurian doctor.

That doctor used hands-on healing techniques

that he said

would "put the

missing tones" back in Campbell's body. Within two months, the attacks stopped and never returned.

Ten

lump

years later,

enjoyed music and tion,

Campbell developed

in his left lung.

art as

he remembered

sound has the power

and

He

recalls that

he once did.

his experiences in

to transform

to tone, until he arrived at

tone for

many

hours, and

and

a degenerative

One

day, while reflecting

a

on

his condi-

Japan and Haiti, where he learned that heal.

He

spontaneously began to chant

one particular tone that

felt it

bone condition and

he was very depressed, and no longer

felt right.

He

held that

"massage him from the inside out."

He

also

listened to certain powerful pieces of music as he continued toning. This expe-

rience left

him

to describe.

feeling

The

illness

whole and complete

in a

way

that he says

was

difficult

was healed and has never recurred.

Since that time, he has worked at integrating his classical music training

now knows

with what he

He founded

the Institute for Music, Health, and Education as a center for

training, education,

HOW

IT

and research on the healing properties of sound.

WORKS

The primary far

to be the miraculous self-healing aspects of sound.

more than

functions of the ear are balance and hearing. just auditory input.

Our

ears organize

The harmonics and rhythms of music

affect

our emotions. This creates responses in various parts of the brain, including the limbic system (which controls the emotions, vestibular system (which controls balance),

among

and the

other things), the

reptilian or hindbrain

(which controls the basic rhythms of the body including breath, heartbeat, and respiration). In the neocortex of the brain,

we

experience the melodies, the

meanings, and memories that music evokes within

We know that repattern fix,

Whole Mind

The

492

us.

music organizes time and space very

efficiently.

Music can

and recode the body's emotional chemistry. So rather than

quick

a

music and deep listening can transform the whole mind/body awareness. Following are four categories of healing with sound, with brief descriptions

of how they are practiced: 1.

Focused

listening.

upon each

The

music

ability for

and how he or she

individual

and healing depends

to be central listens.

Listening

is

different than

hearing in the sense that, in listening, more focused attention the effects of the music

music

as

is

important

work

healing

is

to orchestrate

the

music

An

itself.

day,

are fresh

when we

important part of mind/body

taking responsibility for one's

own

music into your

to introduce

attentive to the different effects

end of the

if you

as the

receives the

experience and learning

it.

You can begin become

How one

on the body and the mind.

given to

is

close our eyes,

when we

someone

Campbell and

We

well-rested.

sit

on

will

and

be very different than

listen differently

up,

a daily basis

has on you. If you are tired at

your experience of the music

and

are speaking with

it

life

when we

are

when we

lie

down,

moving, or when we

else.

his colleagues

have found that Mozart's music

is

a safe

choice for achieving healthful emotional effects such as stress reduction, increased concentration, and general refreshment. Slower music by

Baroque composers such

and Bach because

such

as

it

as Vivaldi, Corelli, Pachelbel,

Telemann, Handel,

also has very positive effects. Usually vocal

has too

much of an

emotional charge.

New

music

Campbell's album "Essence" and the music of Brian

Halpern

all

create a

background environment that

space and unhurried time.

It is

is

not used

Age ambient music

Eno and Steven

gives a greater sense of

very healthy for relaxation and for lowering

the blood pressure, but may, at times, increase pain perception, so

it is

not

the right music for people in physical pain.

Some music can vated. This includes

serve as a stimulant that helps us stay charged, moti-

many forms of popular music

Steamroller and Fresh Aire, and 2.

Toning and humming. Toning

melody or rhythm.

It is

some is

like that

of Mannheim

forms of jazz and pop music.

the elongated use of vowels without

a fairly continuous, light, relaxed

sound created

493

Sound Therapy

Humming

with a relaxed jaw. sound, because the

The

voice

is

is

very similar but doesn't have a vowel

lips are closed.

our most useful tool to release

stress,

balance our brain

waves, and actually massage our bodies from the inside out. Lower "aaa"

sounds allow the body immediately to begin to "eee"

sound

will charge

relax.

A higher,

elongated

your brain and wake you up.

People can begin with three or four minutes of toning a day. This can

even be done while driving a

There

car.

is

no wrong way

or five breaths, your breathing will naturally deepen. that

you

you

will feel a sense

that

all

are letting

your voice

It

rid yourself of all the stress

do

it.

After four

helps to imagine

of the day. Soon

of great well-being, sending the message to the body

things are well.

Campbell's book Roar ofSilence (1989) ing.

to

There

are also a

number of tapes

is

a seven-week course in ton-

that help people get started with a

program of toning. 3.

Participation in musical events, both vocal participating in bands, choirs, or picking

who do

and instrumental: This

includes

up an instrument. For some peo-

may mean taking fifteen minutes a day as a sound break, simply by sitting down and enjoying music. Chapter 6 of Campbell's book Rhythms of Learning (1991) is all about how to take ple

not play instruments

it

sound breaks, including giving yourself a

lift

in the afternoon or relaxing

yourself before going to bed. This can take as

time and has a big impact 4.

when

little as

three minutes at a

practiced regularly.

The use of imagery in music. The simultaneous use of music and image allows one to

most

move deeper

common

and the

type

listener

is

much

ter regulated.

systems. is

The

enhanced

can learn to regulate different parts of his or her body by

The music

allows us to hold our attention

longer period of time.

It

on an

allows our inner pace to be bet-

Another use of guided imagery with music allows the person

to enter into a lucid dreamlike state

receive symbols, impressions,

Imagery allows one to to appear.

mind/body

guided imagery, where the imagination

being guided with music. issue for a

into the unconscious

and memories from

realize there are always

Music becomes the

periods of time so

where he or she actually begins

we can

vessel that will

his or her

own

to

body.

unconscious messages ready

hold those images for long

begin to learn what our bodies are telling

us.

The

Whole

The

494

work of Helen Bonny has been quite prominent see

Chapter 10

for

Mind

in this area. (Please

more information on the Bonny Method of Guided

Imagery and Music.)

Music

a self-healing device, but

is

work

is

helps

how

orchestra conductor while you learn

majority of guided imagery

it

done

if

someone

to play

in

else acts as

your instrument. The

group or one-on-one

settings.

may

Often the imagery guide can help you rehearse for situations that you face in the future.

At other

times, the

or difficulties from the past and release

Music

is

also

work

you go back

helps

an

to

traumas

them from the unconscious.

an effective aid to meditation. Music holds the thread of

the experience together and helps us induce in ourselves feelings of relax-

ation and well-being. There are

many good

tapes

and books that serve

as

introductions to different forms of imagery and music.

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Campbell has worked with nearly 3,000 students it

allows the

body

to find

its

own

balance.

are balanced, the respiration slows is

released. "This

bring their

is

Within

their

body

way

and has found that

minutes, the brain waves

five

down, body temperature

the most effective, simple

mind and

in toning

increases,

and

stress

for people to center

into balance," says Campbell.

"And

and

costs

it

nothing."

Students Campbell has taught over an eight-year period have kept jour-

The

nals.

he

results are very impressive,

states,

problem with doing research on music and sounding it

and

if a

at different times.

their

For example,

calm them, and

body and

will primarily

relieve

if

is

that

it

affects so

has different effects on different people

systems simultaneously. In addition,

stress, it will

person

is

in a state of high emotional

they are depressed, the toning will help charge

them. For a given individual, on some days the toning

produce imagery, while on other days the experience

tional, or relaxing.

The many

but difficult to measure.

"Our amazing bodies do what they need

to

is

very emo-

do through a

toning experience," says Campbell. Dr. Alfred Tomatis effects

is

a

prominent researcher

of sound therapy on learning

disabilities. In

in France

who

studies the

over 100,000 case studies,

he has learned that charging the right ear with certain kinds of high frequency

sounds allows attentiveness, memory, and communication to improve cantly (Tomatis, 1996, 1991).

A French doctor named Berard (1993)

signifi-

cites

over

495

Sound Therapy

200

cases in

which he

states that over

93 percent were cured of depression

through auditory stimulation.

Campbell (1997) reports

that coronary patients

who

listened to classical

music under controlled research conditions reported a happier emotional

improvements

as well as

many others

in their cardiac health. Details

PEOPLE AND SOUND THERA

Jack, a 5 2 -year-old salesman,

had taken years of psychotherapy and med-

ication in an effort to recover

He worked

ed that Jack

hum

after trying

it

from severe depression dating back twenty

with Campbell and learned toning. Campbell suggesta long tone for five minutes in the

again in the evening. At ly,

of these studies and

can be found in Campbell's book The Mozart Effect (1997)

L

years.

state,

first,

morning and then

he was resistant to the idea. Then, sudden-

he began to see the value of doing

this.

He used an

"ahh"

tone to rid himself of tension, "eee" tones to give him energy, and "oooh" tones to increase his ability to concentrate. After three years of this practice,

he was able to stop taking medication and only needs periodic main-

tenance

Carl

is

visits

with his psychiatrist to talk about issues that

a recovering substance abuser. His wife

suffering

from depression, and

felt

that he

arise.

was divorcing him.

He was

needed to work on unresolved

He was in psychotherapy, and anger and fear were emerging in the sessions. He began toning, and found that certain tones helped him to deal with these feelings. He also found that the toning facilissues

from childhood.

itated the meditation

he was doing,

eleventh step of Alcoholics depression had

Olga

is

lifted.

in

conjunction with his work on the

Anonymous. Within

a

few months, the

^^

a middle-aged psychotherapist with years of personal psychother-

apy experience and training

humming

in the insight process.

When

she had been

regularly for six weeks, she recovered a repressed

memory of

Whole Mind

The

496

being in a

bomb

sense of freedom,

shelter in

Germany when

she was young. She

and the headaches from which she had

felt

a

new

suffered for years

completely vanished.

'Sd

HOW TO As

FIND A PRACTITIONER

detailed above,

much

of the health benefit of sound can be derived through

self-help techniques. For referrals to practitioners

ples described here,

and

who make

use of the princi-

to inquire about publications, tapes, workshops,

and

other educational opportunities, contact the following resources:

The American Music

Sound Listening and

Therapy Association 8455

Colesville Rd., Suite

Silver Spring, Tel: (301)

Learning Center, Tomatis 930

MD 20910

USA

Thompson, Ph.D., Director

Billy

2701 East Camelback, Suite 205

589-3300

Phoenix,

AZ 85016

Tel: (602)

381-0086

Open Ear Journal 6717

NE Marshall Rd.

Bainbridge Island, Tel: (206)

HOW

WA 981 10

842-5560

TO LEARN MORE

Berard, G. Hearing Equals Behavior.

Campbell, D. The Mozart Effect.

New Canaan,

New York: Avon

Campbell, D. Music and Miracles. Wheaton,

Campbell, D. Music: Physician for Times

to

IL:

CT: Keats

Publishers, 1993.

Books, 1997.

Quest Books, 1992.

Come. Wheaton, IL: Quest Books, 1991.

Campbell, D. The Roar ofSilence. Wheaton,

IL:

Quest Books, 1989.

Campbell, D. and C. Brewer. Rhythms ofLearning. Phoenix, AZ: Zephyr, 1991. Tomatis, A. The Conscious Ear. Barrytown, NY: Station Hill Publishers, 1991.

Tomatis, A. The Ear and Language. Norval,

ON,

Canada: Moulin Publishers, 1996.

Sound Therapy

497

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A native

Don Campbell

of Texas,

began

his classical musical training at the

Fontainebleau Conservatory of Music in France.

He later was named outstand-

ing graduate in music education from North Texas State University and con-

tinued advanced study at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of

Music.

Campbell

is

the author of seven books including The Roar ofSilence (Quest

Books), Introduction

Times

to

to the

Come (Quest

Musical Brain (Magna Books), Music: Physician for

Books), and Music

contributed chapters to a

and Miracles (Quest Books). He

number of other books

as well.

His

Healing Yourself With Your

cassettes include Essence (Spirit Music),

(Sounds True), and The Power ofMusic (Nightingale-Conant).

umn

regularly for Quest magazine.

CDs

He has

appeared on over

1

and audio

Own

He writes

00

has

Voice a col-

television

and

radio shows.

Over the

years,

forty countries

children and

Campbell's devotion to sound and music has taken

where he studied indigenous

young

adults,

and gave

his

cultures, taught

own

him

to

and worked with

performances. Campbell

is

at the

center of a vast global network of musicians, scientists, therapists, and con-

sumers

who

are using

their daily lives.

Education, which

He is

sound and music

is

to

manage

their health

and enhance

the founder of the Institute for Music, Health, and

presently located in Minneapolis,

MN.

Sally

Blumenthal-McGannon,

37

WHAT

IS

R.N., M.A.

Therapeutic Touch and Psychotherapy

THERAPEUTIC TOUCH?

Therapeutic Touch (TT)

a contemporary interpretation of several ancient

is

healing practices. Practitioners use their hands to facilitate the healing process close to, but not actually touching, the client's body,

and

exchanging energy with the client in an intentional and focused way. In

this

by moving them

energy exchange, the practitioner's state of consciousness and intention to help

and heal

The

are crucial.

help themselves

essence of Therapeutic

effective

is

with almost

ing with loss and resolving old pain.

It

and with AIDS. Therapeutic Touch

On

is

to enable others to

become more whole.

This approach

depression.

Touch

an energetic

level,

all clients. It

can be helpful in deal-

can help clients with marital is

people

especially effective in dealing with

who

are depressed have energy fields

constantly interact-

that are closed, in contrast to a healthy person's field that

is

ing with others and with the environment. For anyone

who

stuck, or depressed, Therapeutic

who

feels a void,

and

or drugs, Therapeutic is

fills it

Touch can expand

with too

Touch

is

an

difficulties

much

feels

shut down,

their horizons. For

anyone

alcohol, work, sex, food, shopping,

effective tool for healing. Therapeutic

compatible with the twelve-step philosophy. Anybody

Touch

who comes from

dysfunctional family can benefit from Therapeutic Touch, and begin to

whole and healed. People who can also learn to

feel

are feeling

burned out or who

are

a

feel

co-dependent

good about themselves without always putting others

first.

499

Therapeutic Touch and Psychotherapy

People with learning disorders benefit from the calming and "organizing" effect

of Therapeutic Touch. Children

who

surfer

from attention

deficit disorder

and

hyperactivity have also been calmed with Therapeutic Touch. Being alone with

someone

(the

TT practitioner) who

is

calm and centered can calm an agitated

or hyperactive individual.

TT can

be combined with psychotherapy and with hypnotherapy.

be done in the

and

last

feeling better

if an

individual

is

is

Or

they leave.

it

clients'

can be used

of the session,

at the start

them calm down while remaining open.

very anxious, to help

own coping mechanisms.

Journal writing

enhanced, dreams are often heightened and remembered. Clients'

and take care of themselves

clients feel safe, as they

seem

healing process. For people

Therapeutic Touch client feels

TT

is

is

are encouraged. Resistance

to feel

who

is

when

part of their

way

to reach out

on an energetic

level.

The

feeling invaded or frightened.

not a substitute for medication, but can be used

has been activated and their medication course

is

as

client's

an adjunct.

own

healing

often shortened. Physicians

prescribe the medication frequently are impressed with the short-term use

of medications by TT

HOW

abilities to

decreased

are not comfortable being physically touched,

a wonderful

embraced without

is

when Therapeutic Touch

Sometimes, with the addition of TT to the sessions, the

who

can

ten to fifteen minutes of the session, so clients are relaxed

when

Therapeutic Touch reinforces

heal

It

IT

clients,

compared

some of their other

patients.

BEGAN

Although contemporary use of TT includes

to

many

basic technique

is

compatible with modern medicine and

innovative scientific processes discovered over recent years, is

been referred to

as old as

human

as the "laying

history.

These ancient healing

practices have

on of hands." In some of the

dwellings, pictures of hands can be

found

its

earliest cave

in positions similar to those used in

Museum of Anthropology in Mexico mural depicting women from all cultures throughout

Therapeutic Touch. At the entrance to the City,

Mexico, there

time, with

is

women on

a

either

end shown with powerful symbols emanating from

their hands, indicating the use

of the hands for healing.

The development of Therapeutic Touch was accomplished through combined

talents

the

of Dora Kunz, a natural healer, and Dolores Krieger, a nurse

with experience in meditation and teaching. Dora Kunz was born with a high sense of perception and the ability to see energy around

all

living things.

She

Whole Mind

The

500

home

left

at age

Leadbeater, and has devoted her

to using her abilities to help

life

who

She has worked with physicians

ers.

in the

and heal oth-

have studied her diagnostic, and

her healing, effects on patients. Her early

documented

book, Breakthrough

work with Dr.

to Creativity

ed to offer a doctoral degree

what she could

feel

sionals in the

HOW

IT

United

first

masters

later

expand-

is

now

taught in over 80

Canada, and around the world.

States,

WORKS Touch

living organisms. Life energy has

This force

that universal

some of the

permeates space and

field

is

is

life

energy sustains

field

more concentrated

in

and around

skin's surface

and slowly moving the hands over the

are five phases in Therapeutic

Centering.

The

practitioner

of consciousness er

living

client's

from head to foot, by holding one's hands 10 to 15 centimeters

away from the There

all

characteristics of a force field.

organisms. Therapeutic Touch involves assessing and influencing the

1

to

practiced by an estimated 20,000 profes-

is

basic premise of Therapeutic

energy

how

and together they developed the healing meditation

30 countries and

universities in

program

able to teach Dolores

named Therapeutic Touch. Therapeutic Touch

they

The

see

Dora was

as well.

is

(1967). Dolores Krieger

New York University. This

in healing while at

later

Shafica Karagulla

studied theosophy, meditation, and nursing, and developed the

program

W.

12 to study with the well-known theosophist, C.

like

client's field.

Touch:

becomes

quiet.

This

stillness

is

a focused state

meditation or prayer. Being centered allows the heal-

and the person being healed

to resonate with each other

which promotes

self-healing within the patient/client. 2.

Assessment/scanning. energy

3.

The hands

are used to assess the patient's

dynamic

field.

Unruffling/clearing.

from head

to foot.

The hands

This helps

are used again,

facilitate a

moving more vigorously

rhythmic flow of energy

in the

patient's field. 4.

Treatment/balancing.

With

intent, the practitioner directs energy to the

patient, helping to restore order. 5.

Evaluation. Treatment

back and to

rest.

is

ended and the patient

Resting allows the

new energy

is

encouraged to give feed-

to be integrated.

501

Therapeutic Touch and Psychotherapy

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Harlow's (1958) research demonstrated the universal need for touch in ani-

The same

mals.

orphans that were fed and clothed, but

left

untouched

due

in beds,

became known

personnel, often died or developed what later thrive."

World War

findings have been seen in infants. During

to lack

II

of

as "failure to

Nursing research has found Therapeutic Touch beneficial

in a

number

of situations: relieving anxiety in hospitalized patients (Heidt, 1981; Parkes, 1986; Quinn, 1984 and 1989); enhancing spousal sharing and emotional support during childbirth, and aiding the mother in labor (Krieger, 1987); decreas-

ing tension headache pain (Keller and Bzdek, 1986); decreasing premature infants' stress response (Fedoruk, 1985); facilitating personal

growth (Sameral,

1992); helping patients to rest (Heidt, 1991); reducing stress in hospitalized children (Kramer, 1990); eliciting relaxation response (Payne, 1989); relieving stress after natural disasters

(Olson

et al., 1992);

and increasing emotional

openness (Heidt, 1990). There also have been a number of studies demonstrating the reduction of anxiety for people with physical illness (Heidt, 1981; Parkes, 1986;

Quinn, 1984 and 1989).

Newshan (1989) passion.

It

reaches

concludes, Therapeutic

Touch

beyond the physical body and

its

parts. It

Touch

the underlying order of the universe. Therapeutic able in the care of the

PWA (people living with AIDS)

to ease the transition in

a manifestation of

is

is

connects one with

a skill that

on many

dying or to ease the discomforts in

com-

is

levels,

invalu-

whether

living. It lies at the

heart of healing.

REAL PEOPLE AND THERAPEUTIC TOUCH

I

once cared for a

woman who was dying from

abdominal cancer. She was

so frightened of dying that she was afraid to go to sleep at night. (This

not an

TT

uncommon

for her, focusing

highest

self.

Each night

on the pain

One morning when

her what was in

occurrence.)

wrong and she

told

in her

she

I

stayed with her,

abdomen.

awoke she

me she

didn't

I

said,

want

I

is

would do

sent energy to her

"Oh

to

shit."

I

asked

wake up. She was

such a wonderful place, she didn't want to come back.

I

smiled, said

Whole Mino

The

502

goodbye, and started to drive

home when what

she said hit me.

back and asked her again about what had happened. She thanked helping her get to a more peaceful place. I

had worked on the pain

in her belly,

of centering, went to her higher died peacefully a few days

Liz

was married to

man

a

self,

I

realized then that, even

I

drove

me

for

though

my energy, coming from my process and she became more

peaceful.

She

later.

with a life-threatening

illness.

Her 12-year-old

son from a previous marriage needed help in dealing with the impending loss

of his stepfather,

as

did the

rest

of the family.

The

stress escalated as

Carlos got sicker. Their three-year-old son Martin tended to act out, accelerating everyone's breaking point.

Doing Therapeutic Touch

helped with his symptoms, especially his pain.

Therapeutic Touch, required

and able

safe place for I

all

them

would do

for her to cry

and

and

to cry, to express themselves,

to feel lighter as a result.

was

It

It

also

terrifying to

It

was

a

to recover. Fre-

TT for Liz to help her relax. This also made

it

easier

helped her cope with

them

to take risks.

left feeling better.

Even though

it

to break through

was painful and

is

part of life

difficult,

Carlos was able to die at home, peacefully,

with his family around him. They have healed well. that death

to time.

about Carlos's impending death, but the fear of staying stuck

prompted them they always

My office became the

members would open up from time

her younger son's tantrums. their denial

relax better after

pain medication, and was more alert

to interact with everyone after treatments.

only place where

quently

less

He could

for Carlos

and can be

dealt with

most

The

children learned

easily

by being open

and honest.

Sandy was

referred to

me for anxiety attacks. Although she was convincec

they had a physical cause, after

many visits

to the medical clinic without

any medical findings, she decided to follow up on her She told

me

about her perfect

life;

referral for therapy.

her family was perfect, her fiance was

the greatest, she loved her job, her future was bright. There was

no reason

Therapeutic Touch and Psychotherapy

for her to have

503

any problems, especially

on the couch, anxiously swinging her

this kind, she

foot, she

thought. As she sat

continued to

tell

me how

healthy she was. She worked out fanatically, wasn't anorexic, but had a

tendency to

while appearing obviously thin. She was planning to

feel fat,

knew

be married in several months but

Once

ety.

she agreed that

it

this

was not related

to her anxi-

was within the realm of possibility that she

could be anxious about her wedding, she began to she was a tiny bit anxious about

realize that

some other things

as well.

perhaps

As

Therapeutic Touch for her, she sighed and sobbed uncontrollably.

of her

fears, rational

and

others,

came flooding

her for several months until she had gained

and had developed

realistic

Jon and Nancy were to leave her ful

and she was ready

environment of my

freedom of being that

office,

did

A lot

I

continued to see

real control

over her concerns

out.

plans to help her with

in a crisis

I

upcoming

events.

He was

when

they

to

him. They responded to the peace-

kill

and

in a safe place

came

to see

visibly relaxed.

me.

ready

They appreciated

the

where they could be honest, knowing

no one would get physically hurt.

breaths while looking at the trees outside

I

asked them to practice deep

my office window. As they start-

ed "doing their thing," and losing control, screaming and threatening each other,

I

would remind them

to look at the trees, take a

and then say whatever they wanted

to

deep breath,

communicate. At the same time,

I

calmly sent peaceful energy to them, encouraging them to be strong and healthy.

jecting

learned I

I

can do

my

field

this

by taking a deep breath myself, and consciously pro-

with calm and peaceful energy to the two of them. They

fair fighting

techniques,

helped them to learn

how

communication

skills,

and how

to take better care of themselves

to listen.

and how

to

when they were tense and fighting. I encouraged them son how to calm down through breathing. This is empow-

relax their bodies

to teach their

ering for

all

ible results.

in the

of them, and has created a task they can accomplish with I

vis-

believe that the additional technique of changing the energy

room allowed them

to respond faster to the therapy.

3C

Whole

The

504

Randy and Jeremy had been together tested

HIV positive. When Randy got sick,

son, both through a support group

Sometimes

who

felt

I

would make house

so sick

I

was

calls to

for

Randy,

him

to relax so

so

he could get some

much about

each other

helped them to reframe their concerns and learn

that

it

how

to put energy into the

of what they

per-

get out of bed. Jeremy was very

when Randy was napping. They worried I

they

main support

do Therapeutic Touch

and weakened he couldn't

was draining.

their

when

and then one-on-one counseling.

anxious and Therapeutic Touch helped sleep

for twenty-three years

Mind

way they wanted

things to turn out, instead

feared.

USD

HOW

TO FIND A THERAPEUTIC TOUCH PRACTITIONER

The Nurse

Healers Professional Associates, Inc.

is

a not-for-profit cooperative

of health care professionals for the promotion of healing,

specifically

ted to the practice of Therapeutic Touch. Although Therapeutic tioners are not licensed or certified, there

is

Touch

practi-

a curriculum that the cooperative

recommends, based on the Kunz/Krieger method of TT chapter. For information about Therapeutic

commit-

Touch

as

described in this

practitioners, teachers,

and

other aspects of the work, contact:

Nurse Healers-Professional Associates, 1211 Locust Philadelphia, Tel: (215)

Inc.

St.

PA 19107

545-8079

HOW TO LEARN MORE Blumenthal-McGannon,

S.

"Laughing, Crying, Living, Dying, Surviving."

tape of a presentation at the

An

audio-

Annual Nurse-Healers Conference, Sacramento, CA.

October, 1993. (Available through the Nurse Healers cooperative.) Boelli,

M.

D., ed. Therapeutic Touch:

A

Book ofReadings.

New York;

Springer, 1981.

Fedoruk, R. B. "Transfer of the Relaxation Response: Therapeutic Touch for

as a

Method

Reduction of Stress in Premature Neonates." Dissertation Abstracts Interna-

tional A6 (1985):

978B.

Harlow, H. "The Nature of Love." The American Psychologist 3 (1958): 673-685.

505

Therapeutic Touch and Psychotherapy

Heidt,

R. "Openness:

P.

A Qualitative Analysis of Nurses'

and

Patients'

Experience of

Therapeutic Touch." Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship 22, no. 3 (1990): 180-186. Heidt,

R. "Helping Patients to Rest: Clinical Studies in Therapeutic Touch." Holistic

P.

Nurse Practitioner Heidt,

5,

no. 4 (1991): 57-66.

"Effects of Therapeutic

P.

Patients."

Touch on the Anxiety Level of the Hospitalized

Nursing Research 30, no.

1

(1981): 32-37.

Karagulla, S. Breakthrough to Creativity: Your Higher Sense Perception. Los Angeles:

De

Vorss, 1967.

and V. M. Bzdek.

Keller E.

"Effects of Therapeutic

Touch on Tension Headache

Pain."

Nursing Research 35 (1986): 101-106.

Kramer, N. A. "Comparison of Therapeutic Touch and Casual Touch in Stress Reduction in Hospitalized Children." Pediatric Nursing 16 (1990): 483-485.

D. Accepting Your Power

Krieger,

Heal: The Personal Practice of Therapeutic Touch.

to

Santa Fe: Bear and Company, 1993.

D. Foundations for Holistic Health Nursing

Krieger,

Practices.

Philadelphia: JP

Lippincott, 1981.

D. Living the Therapeutic Touch: Healing as a

Krieger,

Lifestyle.

New York; Mead

&

Co., 1987.

D. The Therapeutic Touch:

Krieger,

Englewood Macrae,

J.

Cliffs,

to

Use Your Hands

to

Help or

to Heal.

NJ: Prentice Hall, 1979.

Therapeutic Touch:

A Practical Guide. New York: Alfred Knopf,

Newshan, G. "Therapeutic Touch Holistic

How

for

Symptom Control

in Persons

1988.

with AIDS."

Nurse Practitioner^, no. 4 (1989): 45-51.

Olson, M.; N. Sneed; R. Bonadonna; Post Hurricane

Hugo

J. Ratliff;

Stress." Holistic

Parkes, B. S. "Therapeutic

Touch

as

and

J.

Dias. "Therapeutic

Touch and

Nursing 10, no. 2 (1992): 120-136.

an Intervention to Reduce Anxiety in Elderly

Hospitalized Patients." Dissertation Abstracts International 47 (1986): University

Microfilms # 9609563.

Payne,

M.

B.

"The Use of Therapeutic Touch with Rehabilitation

Patients."

Rehabilitation Nursing 14, no. 2 (1989): 69-72.

Quinn,

J. F.

"Therapeutic Touch

as

Energy Exchange. Replication and Extension."

Nursing Science Quarterly!, no. 2 (1989): 79-87.

Quinn,

J. F.

"Therapeutic Touch

as

Energy Exchange: Testing the Theory." Advanced

Nursing Science 62, no. 2 (1984): 29-42. Sameral,

J.

"The Experience of Receiving Therapeutic Touch." Advances

(1992): 651-657.

in

Nursing^

Whole

The

506

Additional bibliographic information about Therapeutic Touch libraries

and

through computerized data bases such

as

Medline

(for

is

Mind

available in

many

medical publications)

CINAHL (for nursing and allied health professionalism publications). The Nurse

Touch and

Healers cooperative has an extensive bibliography on Therapeutic

related subjects.

The

group's newsletter

is

The Cooperative Connection.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sally

Blumenthal-McGannon, R.N., M.A., began studying Therapeutic Touch

twenty years ago,

after

working

master's degree in Counseling

founded the

first

Dolores Krieger. She

is

project.

now

and child counselor. She

charge nurse. She has her

from the University of San Francisco.

Sally

is

She continues to study with Dora Kunz and

in private practice as a licensed marriage, family,

a consultant for hospices,

health care providers and others

sults

ICU

nursing care hospice in Santa Cruz and later helped to found

the Santa Cruz AIDS

surviving.

as a pediatric

who need

AIDS

organizations,

help dealing with living, dying, and

She has taught Therapeutic Touch from Alaska to Hawaii, and con-

with the International Health Consortium, where she teaches people from

around the world.

Deanejuhan, M.A.

The Trager Approach

38

WHAT

IS

to

Psychophysical Integration

TRAGER PSYCHOPHYSICAL INTEGRATION?

Milton Trager once

said:

Trager consists of the use of the hands to influence deep-seated psychophysiological patterns in the mind,

and

to interrupt their projection

into the body's tissues. These patterns often develop in response to

adverse circumstances such as accidents, surgery,

emotional trauma,

stresses

The purpose of my work terns

which

inhibit free

normal function.

is

illness,

of daily living, or poor movement habits. to break

up these sensory and mental

movement and

My approach

is

cation. Patients should receive a treatment.

son, to have

all

is

a

to impart to the client

a

what

it is

like

body-mind.

way of learning and teaching movement re-edu-

come ready to absorb

It is

pat-

cause pain and disruption of

to feel right in the sense of a functionally integrated

The Trager Approach®

poor posture,

way of learning to

a lesson, instead of ready simply to

use yourself well, to be a whole per-

your pieces and parts well integrated and coordinated, to

self connected to the energies that sustain

you.

feel

The practitioner's concern

youris

not

with moving particular muscles or joints perse, but with using motion in muscles

and joints

to

produce particular sensory

that enter the central nervous system

of the

feelings: positive, pleasurable feelings

and begin to trigger tissue changes by means

many sensory-motor feedback loops between

the

mind and the muscles.

The

508

Whole

Mind

Unlike various techniques of deep tissue manipulation, Trager does not use

extreme pressures or rapid thrusts to create structural change, and

produce pain

as a necessary

adjunct to

ment re-education approaches,

effectiveness.

its

Unlike

it

does not

many move-

the client does not need to perform and perfect

strenuous or repetitive tasks. Rather, while receiving the table work, the client

becomes increasingly passive

to the steady, rhythmic, pleasurable

motions

imparted by the practitioner's hands. Then the client learns to reproduce the pleasuring, relaxing,

him

and spontaneous quality of these gentle movements

for

or herself. These mental gymnastics are called Mentastics®. But perhaps

what distinguishes Trager from other

disciplines

intent of the practitioner's manipulations.

Most other methods

attention to one or another of the body's tissues

muscles, the joints, the tionships,

and

so

on

lymph and blood

— and

the particular focus and

is

—

direct their

the skin, the fascia, the

circulation, overall structural rela-

the various properties of these tissues determine

the sort of touch and manipulation required by the practitioner. But even

though

his

hands must inevitably contact them while he works, Dr. Trager's

focus and intent are not specifically directed toward local conditions in any of these tissues.

As Dr. Trager

My work is client.

says:

directed towards reaching the unconscious

Every move, every thought communicates

feel

when

am

interested in.

everything

condition there

I

is

is

am

right.

The mind

is

mind of the

how the tissues should

the whole thing. That

is all I

convinced that for every physical non-yielding

a psychic counterpart in the unconscious mind, cor-

responding exactly to the degree of the physical manifestation.

Dr. Trager did not espouse a specific

list

of emotional, cognitive, or psy-

chological conditions for which Trager assures

the

body and the condition of the mind

one another

relief.

Rather the condition of

are believed to reflect

and influence

complex and numerous ways. The Trager work

in very

many aspects of this

affects the

system simultaneously. Typically, an enormous burden of

negative emotions, dysfunctional beliefs, and compulsive behaviors are dramatically alleviated

movement, and

HOW

IT

when

distorted

the physical manifestations of discomfort, restricted

body images

are resolved.

BEGAN

Milton Trager was born in Chicago in 1908. By the age of 18, he was training

The Trager Approach to Psychophysical Integration

to

509

be a professional boxer. Mickey Martin, his

down

after

Milton

trainer,

said,

"Come and

lay

After he had been working for about two minutes,

him, a

little

Mickey turned around

to

stunned and asked, "Hey, where'd you learn to do that?"

"You taught me, Mickey," Milton in

used to give him a rub-

One day Mickey looked tired, and young down on the table, Mickey. I'll work on you."

each training session.

said. "I've

never done anything like this

my life." never taught you

"I

this, kid.

But

I

don't care. Let

me

tell

you, you got

hands."

Milton was

elated.

When

had been suffering from acute "I

think

session

I

can

fix

and two

They never and down

your

sciatica for

legs up."

him

seek

He

The

two

sciatic

to the beach, looking for aches

out,

who

years.

"Lay down, Dad," he

said,

pain eased considerably that

Mr. Trager was completely

sessions later,

recurred. Milton started going

what he was doing or why

idea

father,

he went home, he approached his

it

around

his

and pains

worked, but he got

free

of his symptoms.

Miami neighborhood

to

work

results.

as

on.

He had no

People began to

and the Trager Approach was born.

quit boxing so that he could take care of his hands.

dancer and

first

an acrobat.

And

he practiced

his

He worked

as a

work. In 1941, he received his

Doctorate of Physical Medicine from the Los Angeles College of Drugless Physicians,

and was

practitioner that

same

found a way to teach

At

certified year.

his

He

work

present, there are well over

by the California Medical Board received his to others,

M.D.

as a drugless

in 1955. In 1975, Dr. Trager

and the Trager

Institute

was founded.

900 students throughout the world, more than

1,000 accomplished practitioners, and 13 instructors. Dr. Trager has demonstrated his

work

in

many hospitals,

medical schools, and training centers in the

United States and Europe.

HOW

IT

WORKS

Every individual

carries

within

er system, a recorder that has

him

no

or herself an exceedingly intricate comput-

erase button.

Whatever experiences have been

recorded will always be there, influencing every function of the

Since

it is

mind and

not possible to avoid a variety of traumas, and since none

body.

may be

erased once they have occurred, help should be directed toward bringing appropriate positive feeling experiences to the client.

to influence the

mind and

These experiences help

directly

body, so that the negative patterns can be alleviated.

Whole Mind

The

510

All degrees of psychological distress

and

its

physical manifestations have the

potential for improvement, as long as the nerve circuits are not destroyed

by

disease or trauma.

Emotional

stress

neering studies on

and the mind.

as has

stress

been demonstrated by Dr. Hans Selye in

syndromes

If the appropriate

—

is

his pio-

creates long-term changes in the

manner of stimulating

be released. This

this pattern will

tissue changes,

—

the tissues

to say that rather than

which eventually accumulate

is

working

to influence physical

body

found,

for local

and mental

function, Trager seeks specifically to influence the feeling states in the sensory

and the unconscious aspects of the mind that most and behavioral

response, metabolism, postural habits,

directly control tissue

patterns.

In an hour-long Trager session, there are several thousand light, rhythmic contacts. Every

one of them

is

an opportunity to create and deepen the

ings of lightness, freedom, relaxation, ease, ers

When Trager practition-

and peace.

encounter stiffened limbs or hardened muscles, their response

bear

down upon them,

stretch.

On

lighter,

more

work harder

to

sensitive,

more

searching.

is

to soften them, or to force

the contrary, the practitioner's response

They never

feel-

is

never to

them

to

immediately to become

assert their idea

of how soft

or free an area should be; they deliberately avoid such assertions and instead project, lighter that?"

through the motions of their hands, the questions, "What can be

and

And

There

freer

than that? Yes.

And

lighter than that? Fine.

And

freer

than

so on. are several reasons for this avoidance

of force.

on spasmed muscles or forced stretching of stiffened involved area

is

usually hypersensitive in the

against painful motions. Pain

is

first

heavy pressure

First,

joints

normally hurts; the

place and

already braced

is

the opposite of the desired effect, and

it

seri-

ously interrupts the repetitive rhythmic flow of pleasurable sensations to the

mind. More than

that,

pain automatically tenses the muscles, producing anoth-

than dispersing the ones that are already there.

er defensive pattern rather

Secondly, the feelings of lightness and effortlessness simply cannot be imparted

by means of heavy pressure and hard work on the part of the Dr. Trager holds that the

he or she is

is

doomed

to failure. Trying

quite the opposite.

feelings

The

model upon the

continual questioning.

the practitioner is

effort, effort

is

practitioner's touch, then,

he or she wishes to

structural

moment

instill.

The

client's

"What

is

point

is

practitioner.

tries to relax

the tissues,

tension,

and

must be

as light as the

relaxation

not to impose a preconceived

body, but to transmit a pleasurable and

freer,

what

is

lighter?"

The

point

is

not to

The Trager Approach to Psychophysical Integration

arrive finally at a specified goal

— but

might be

"best"

of the question, "What

—

after

to instill in the

better

is

511

we

all,

mind of the

and what

"freest" or

client the constant renewal

better?"

is

know what

don't

This

is

not the imposition

of a postural or behavioral model, but rather the initiation of an open-ended

growth process, both

for the client

This growth process

is

and the

practitioner.

of primary importance to Trager practitioners. These

questionings and feelings have to be established in their characters, and have to

be a part of their minds and bodies, before they can successfully project them into another person's sensibilities.

have. This calls

why

is

"hook-up"

work.

The

—

state

No

one can give what they do not genuinely

the practitioner's cultivation of the mental state Dr. Trager a relaxed, meditative alertness

of hook-up

is

—

is

crucial to effective Trager

not fundamentally different from a

meditation, even though the practitioner in hook-up

Achieving

of active meditation

this state

Trager's work,

is

is

physically active.

the practitioner's source of the

enriched and relaxed feelings that he projects, his ties

own

contact with the quali-

of gracefulness, effortlessness, and non-intrusive presence.

says, "like floating in a vast

of that ocean that

ocean of pleasantness," and

imparted to the

is

poses

all

matter and

it is

"It is,"

Dr. Trager

the gentle rocking

body. Dr. Trager maintains that

client's

mind and body are holistically interrelated

of deep

not an incidental addition to Dr.

of the essence. Hook-up

it is

is

state

in the energetic force field that

com-

life:

We are surrounded by a force which sustains everything. You don't have to

go beyond the surface of your skin to get

it.

But people are blocked

within themselves, so negative, so tense, that this force cannot enter their consciousness.

Once

this force

comes

people, and will function differently and

into them, they are

much

changed

better than they have

ever

done

It is

the conscious contact with this force, this ocean of pleasantness,

which his

before.

gives the practitioner the pleasurable feelings

motions into the sensations of the

sciousness

opened

is

active source

The

to these feelings

it is

and

this force

he projects through as the client's

con-

which becomes the

of vitality and health.

principle

is

elegantly simple:

gentleness by being treated gently, feeling of grace.

client,

The

We learn to love by being loved, we learn

we

learn to be graceful

goal of a Trager session

is

by experiencing the

no more complex than

this

—

The

512

Whole Mind

to bring to the surface of consciousness an awareness of this force,

pleasurable and positive feelings that are inherent in the

rest.

al for

As the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

the

mind

to

want

to

go to the

it.

These

and of the do

feelings will

said to Dr. Trager in 1958, "It

is

natur-

of greater happiness," toward deeper

field

understanding, toward expansiveness, toward connecting with the sources of

our being. Trager was developed

who

of someone

sensory means of redirecting the footsteps

as a

has lost the way.

Dr. Trager contends very firmly that he

is

not a "healer" or a manipulator

of esoteric energies, and that his successes have nothing miraculous about them.

The

kinds of reflex responses, tissue changes, and behavioral changes he

to elicit are possible because

is

able

of the intimate neurological associations between

sensory stimulation, emotional feelings, attitudes and concepts, and the body's

motor responses ly

how

to

all

of them. At

this

time no one can say with certainty exact-

and actions

these sensations, feelings,

are materially interrelated, but

the fact that they profoundly influence one another is

And it relationships may

abundantly

is

equally clear that the unconscious forces that control their

be turned back from a vicious

clear.

circle into a fruitful one.

Dr. Peter Levine, a neurophysiologist, took one of Dr. Trager's early trainings,

and discussed possible mechanisms of psychophysical integration with

him. Dr. Trager told him that he that

it

was

difficult to explain

it

felt

the

work had

and have

it

sound

a

scientific basis,

accepted. Dr. Levine's response

was, "If an accepted scientific theory cannot explain a particular it is

not because the

phenomenon

is

but

phenomenon,

unscientific, but because science itself

not appropriately refined."

;

'

' '

'

'>';'''

' '

'

;'

REAL PEOPLE AND THE TRAGER APPROACH '3D Elizabeth

ground

is

a survivor of incest.

to an

belonged to

The violation of her body was

enemy. The battle lay

her.

in recapturing

what

like losing

rightfully

Trager assisted in her battle. Through gentle, nonintru-

sive touch, Elizabeth

was invited

to establish a

renewed relationship with

her body. She learned that disconnecting from her body served as a

is

513

The Trager Approach to Psychophysical Integration

defense against painful emotions associated with the abuse. She also found

"waking up"

that

to pleasant

work helped her

acceptance. Trager

what scared her and where

"No, don't touch

and unpleasant

me

it

to discover her boundaries.

felt safe

to be touched.

but here

there,

feelings led to greater self-

okay." She

is

She knew

She practiced saying,

remembered

things,

She wept. She had some bad dreams and some very anxious days.

too.

For months, she recalled events and emotions that had been wordlessly trapped in her muscles, organs, bones, and marrow. she

feels better

life.

was painful, but

now. She knows herself better and accepts herself more

even her long-ago, half-forgotten in her

It

She began to

self.

—

Because of Trager, she made changes

exercise, eat well, relax, enjoy,

and

to love herself

(Mattax, 1990).

Richard, seven years of age, attended a day treatment facility for emotionally troubled children.

He was prone

to destructive tantrums.

Generally, he was a ball of tension, and even his smile was tense

unnatural. session, ly

his

enough ful,

unable to relax and enjoy himself. At his

he constantly asked questions and

on the

and

He was

table. After several sessions,

body began

to close his eyes.

authentic smile.

enough about

to relax.

to feel safe

this incident,

At one

When

he stopped

session,

she

When

commented

tant thing the center could

do

their

to

he actually

that this

for Richard.

down

his

guard

big, beauti-

where he could

relax

work was

The

work

the

most impor-

psychologist in charge of

offered "a

new

lens

through

view children." Disturbed children often communicate through

body language and Trager speaks

their language (Goldstein, 1989).

Alice has multiple sclerosis, and she found her fessional certification

program.

could not even touch her result

let

the consulting psychiatrist heard

the day treatment stated that the Trager

which

behavior

this repetitious

a situation

and

Trager

his fingers nervous-

he opened them, he smiled a

He had finally found and happy.

drummed

first

feet,

When

way

into the Trager pro-

she began, her fellow students

they were so sensitive and painful. As a

of the work she received during the training, the acute sensitivity

in her feet disappeared, the aching that

had plagued her

legs

diminished

Whole

The

514

and she began

dramatically,

ened

thigh.

left

Her

to feel

overall

some spontaneous

symptoms went

for

weak-

and she was

into remission

and treatment

able to postpone the clinical testing

activity in her

Mind

which she had been

scheduled. She states that:

Most of the had

issues that

came up

for

me

during the Tirager

always recur as they had in the past.

I

class

fear that things

would

came away with

a

do with not belonging, and the

to

new

awareness that things do not always repeat as they have in the past.

It's

like the reason

my toes and feet were so painful is because my feet and toes have been in those

every time in the past that positions

I

always got a cramp and

thought that every time

my body

cating

up

in

painful.

My body

not always true, some other things

is

my head.

Nancy was oxygen-deprived mental age of about

was always

my toes pointed they'd cramp. By re-edu-

that this

started loosening

it

at birth.

She

is

39 years

old, but she has a

three. After her first Trager experiences, she

major behavioral changes. Her repetitious chatter ceased, and her

strated

conversational abilities increased noticeably. She began to climb after the other, instead

her

demon-

life,

chew her

to

of one

food.

Her

at a time.

(director of the Trager Institute)

on one

Our daughter has responded ment first

She began, for the

father wrote to Dr. Trager

in so

stairs

first

one

time in

and Betty

Fuller

New Year's Eve as follows:

many ways, showing improve-

in walking more confidently, chewing her food, also for the

time, being able to swallow in a normal pattern, releasing ten-

sions

and

frustrations in actual conversations,

showing determi-

nation to communicate with family members. All of these changes are evident in the ical, all

and

social happiness.

family

Nancy

improvement of skin

members and

tone, hair problems, phys-

These successes have been noticeable to

friends during this holiday season.

has continued to improve. She

and touch people.

©D

/

is

now

learning to reach out

515

The Trager Approach to Psychophysical Integration

WHAT TO EXPECT

A Trager session

takes

from one

to

one and a half hours. The cost of a session

upon

ranges from $40 to $100, depending conditions of the practitioner.

the experience and local market

The optimal number of sessions varies, of course,

depending on the condition addressed and the induced changes. In most instances,

enough headway and

make

five to ten sessions are sufficient to

to impart enough

skill to

the

client's receptivity to

the client's use of Mentastics®

(described below) to insure a lasting positive result.

can be helpful to have

It

new

periodic sessions after that as a "reminder" of the feeling states and the

movement

human

approach and the capacities of the

patterns. Since both the Trager

system are quite open-ended, further areas and

can be pursued

as

long as there

is

interest

on the

levels

of improvement

part of the client.

The gamut

can run from resolving acute symptoms, to rehabilitating chronic conditions, to developing

optimum performance

at the

edge of human

capabilities.

These

benefits are cumulative, the results of a learning process.

No on

a

oils

or lotions are used.

client

wears swim trunks or briefs and

well-padded table in a warm, comfortable environment. During the

sion, the practitioner

a

The

whole and

in

its

makes touch-contact with the body of the

individual parts. This touch-contact

is

and rhythmic way that the person lying passively on the ences the possibility of being able to lessly,

state

and

gracefully

on

his

move each

ses-

both

as

in such a gentle

table actually experi-

part of the

own. The practitioner works

of consciousness called hook-up. This

done

client,

lies

body

freely, effort-

in a relaxed meditative

state allows the practitioner to

con-

nect deeply with the recipient in an unforced way, to remain continually aware

of the

slightest responses,

and

to

work

efficiently

After getting up from the table, the client

is

use of Mentastics, a system of simple, effortless

oped by Dr. Trager

dom, and

to maintain

flexibility that

were

without

fatigue.

some

given

instruction in the

movement sequences

and even enhance the sense of lightness, instilled

by the table work. Mentastics

Trager's coinage for "mental gymnastics," a "mindfulness in

tissue in the practitioner's hands.

erate simple, effortless, non-goal-oriented freely

and pleasurably, reinforcing the

muscular tones that were initiated

The

patient

movements

that

is

Dr.

produced by the is

taught to gen-

bounce

positive feeling states

in the session. It

free-

is

motion" designed

to help his clients recreate for themselves the sensory feelings

motion of their

devel-

his tissues

and the relaxed

a powerful

means of

teaching the client to recall the pleasurable sensory state that produced

Whole Mind

The

516

positive tissue change, tive tissue

and because

response in the

first

it is

which triggered

this feeling state

place, every time the feeling

become more permanent and more

the changes deepen,

is

posi-

clearly recalled,

receptive to further

positive change.

evident, based

It is

upon most

recipients' experiences, that the effects

of a

Trager session penetrate below the level of conscious awareness and continue to

produce positive

clients

results

long after the session

Changes described by

have included the disappearance of specific symptoms, discomforts, or

pains; heightened

of energy and

levels

riage; greater joint mobility;

vitality;

and a new ease

HOW TO

FIND A TRAGER PRACTITIONER

The

must be

certified

posture and car-

by the Trager Institute

Institute has a training

and advanced

effortless

in daily activities.

All Trager Practitioners practice legally.

more

deeper states of relaxation than were previously

possible;

diate

itself.

levels

in order to

program with beginning, interme-

of training, anatomy and physiology specifically

geared to the understanding of the Trager Approach.

It

also requires extensive

periods of practice sessions and private tutorials before certification Practitioners have an

is

granted.

minimum number

ongoing obligation to take a

of con-

tinuing education hours after their certification.

Some Trager

practitioners are licensed health care professionals in such dis-

ciplines as psychology, counseling, nursing, physical therapy,

and massage, and

normally have no difficulty in providing for insurance payments. Others are trained exclusively in the Trager Approach. In

most

states,

and with many major

insurance carriers, there has been no problem with insurance coverage (within

any

limits specified in the individual's policy) as long as a licensed physician

has prescribed Trager treatments. For further information and referrals to Trager

The Trager Institute, 21 Locust Ave., Mill Valley, CA, 388-2688. The best way to assess a practitioner's suitability for

practitioners, contact

94941. (415)

you and your concerns

HOW

is

to talk with

them

directly.

TO LEARN MORE

Demaree,

J.

"A Matter of Trust." The Trager Newsletter 9, no.

1

(1990): 2-3.

Goldstein, B. "Trager and the Emotionally Troubled Child." The Trager Newsletter %, no.

1

Hartsong,

(1989): 4-5.

M.

"Trager and Psychotherapy." The Trager Newsletter 10, no.

1

(1991): 6-7.

The Trager Approach to Psychophysical Integration

517

Juhan, D. "The Trager Approach to Psychophysical Integration." Massage and

Bodywork Quarterly Summer (1994): 29-34. Juhan, D., G. Quasha, and K. Dychtwald. Barrytown: Station Hill Levine,

P.

Job's

A Handbook for

Body:

1991.

Press,

"Guiding Emotional and Physiological Responses

Trager Newletter 9, no.

in Trager

work." The

(1990): 6.

1

Mattax, E. "Reclaiming the

Bodywork.

Self:

Trager as a Gentle Approach." The Trager Newsletter

8, no. 3 (1990): 3.

Ricketson,

S.

"What

Newsletter^, no. Stahl,

Practitioners 1

Should

Know About

Chronic Shock." The Trager

(1989): 6.

C. "Looking for Stress Relief?" Advance (1994): 10-12.

Trager,

M. and

C. Guadagno. Trager Mentastics: Movement as a Way

2nd

to Agelessness.

Edition, edited by George Quasha, Station Hill Press, 1994.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Deane Juhan was born

in

1945

in

Glenwood

Springs,

CO, and

educated

at

the University of Colorado (B.A.), the University of Michigan (M.A.), and at

the University of California at Berkeley, where he was doctoral candidate in

English literature for three and a half years. In 1973, an experience at Esalen Institute in Big Sur

changed

his career,

and he has remained

in residence there

ever since. First trained in Esalen massage, he developed a private practice led

workshops

in massage, as well as seminars in

and

anatomy and physiology

for

bodyworkers. In 1976, he met Dr. Milton Trager, founder of the Trager Institute for Psychophysical Integration,

and he has been a student and

tioner of the Trager approach ever since.

He

is

practi-

presently an instructor at the

Trager Institute and has developed a series of classes on anatomy and physiolo-

gy for Trager students is

all

over the United States, in Canada, and in Europe.

the author of Job's Body:

A Handbook for Bodywork.

He

Gerald E. Wintrob, M.A., O.D.

Vision and Emotions

39

WHAT

VISION THERAPY?

IS

Vision therapy

you use your

is

a

program of activities and

What you do Through

to

your eyes

with your eyes

about their spatial

a result of what

a learned

their relationship to

it.

It

an

efficient

In vision therapy,

make judgments

helps people feel

to their world, so that they can filter out sensations

therapy helps people learn to

feel safe in their visual

way with

we need

a

to slowly

and gently

interpret. Vision

world and to process infor-

minimum amount

defenses so that they can be open to learning

of effort. strip

new ways

people of their visual

to use their eyes. Just as

people seek, through psychotherapy, to integrate different aspects of the vision therapy there

systems.

eyes.

partly a result of your emotional experiences.

unimportant and process those that they choose to

in

is

you do with your

their emotions. It teaches people to

world and

grounded and connected

mation

is

is

vision therapy, people learn to understand the deeper connections

between their vision and

that are

change the way

vision. Behavioral optometrists believe that vision

What happens

behavior.

exercises that can

is

self,

in

the parallel experience of integrating different sensory

As we work with the

kinesthetic, the auditory, the tactile system,

and

the emotions, the patient gains a greater feeling of completeness or wholeness.

When the patient's sight is examined by a traditional eye care professional, an eye chart ity.

If a

is

used to measure the patient's vision, in terms of distance and

clar-

person can't see a certain line on the chart, they are told that glasses are

519

Vision and Emotions

needed.

No mention

made of the patient's

experience of his or her vision. As a

problems often go undetected.

result, visual

cally

is

by prescribing stronger

but does not

treat the cause

then get worse. In contrast,

If a

lenses, this treats

your blurry vision for

a patient undergoes vision therapy for vision

problems, the underlying cause of the problem

My personal to be effective, cessful

when

it

it is

philosophy

far objects,

The vision problem will probably

of your problem.

when

doctor treats you symptomati-

as a visual healer

is

treated so the vision improves.

is

that in order for any therapy

needs to address the whole person. Vision therapy

is

combined with other

have found

modalities.

Other therapies

I

very suc-

compatible in fostering visual healing are massage therapy, nutritional and herbal supplementation, acupuncture, yoga, chiropractic, psychotherapy, expressive arts therapy,

HOW All

IT

movement

and Alexander technique.

WORKS

human

beings have a psychological need to

We develop

feel safe

and secure

in the world.

coping mechanisms that help us create a sense of stability. These

mechanisms take many forms well.

therapy,

in

our psyche and they manifest in our vision

As we grow and develop, we

learn to use our eyes in different ways.

learn different skills that help us to interpret our visual world.

as

We

The emotional

climate to which children are exposed influences the visual adaptations they develop. Children retreat to a al

who come from

emotionally disruptive homes will often

narrower and narrower space in which they can

systems will develop and modify in such a

way

that

it

feel safe.

allows

Their visu-

them

to create

that climate of safety.

As growing children and grab

learn to explore their environment, they learn to grasp

for different objects,

inspection.

They have

and

them toward themselves

to pull

they gather corresponds to expectations, they will

aged to continue exploring. However,

feel

validated

and be encour-

child grasps for an object

if a

appears to be in a different place from where he or she expects child will learn that visual judgments are not reliable. it is

for visual

certain expectations about objects. If the information

it

and

it

to be, the

He or she may learn

that

necessary to use other senses to get the needed information. Such children

learn not to trust their vision. Self-esteem

To determine

is

adversely affected.

the location of objects in space, and in relation to you,

you

must be able

to accurately point both of your eyes directly at the object. This

ability to use

both eyes together

as a

team

is

called binocularity.

A number of

visual ly.

Whole Mind

The

520

problems

result

when

system

this

is

not operating reliably and

These conditions have associated emotional

efficient-

issues.

Overconvergence

Many of us

have a tendency for our eyes to either undershoot or overshoot

we want

the object

So we believe that objects are

to see.

us than they actually are. People

whose

eyes overshoot or overconverge

object they are looking at will experience space as being closer than is. It

be difficult for them to

will

from

closer or farther

on the

actually

it

know where objects are in space. They will may then affect interpersonal rela-

not be able to trust their visual system. This tionships.

They may develop

the feeling of being closed

in.

increases, they will tend to overconverge their eyes even

to shut out their peripheral vision,

more. They will tend

own

is

nearby.

personal space and will decrease

may develop a type home lives may develop

of comfort with the world around them. They

their level

of "tunnel vision." Children these behaviors. life

their stress level

paying attention only to what

This, in turn, will cause a retreat into their

ence

As

They

where they

who come from

close in.

feel

They want

comfortable and

overfocus on things, paying too

comes into the room while they

much

are

chaotic

to shut out the chaos, safe.

The

and experi-

may

overconverger

When someone

attention to detail.

doing something,

like reading, they

not notice. They tend to be perfectionists, not seeing the forest for the People with this visual adaptation tend to hold a lot of their

they tend to be very diligent, spending too task.

They

much

also

stress in.

may

trees.

In school,

time on the same topic or

are physically tight.

Underconvergence People whose eyes tend to undershoot their target tend to pay more attention to their surroundings. Everything has the find themselves constantly changing

from

same

level

of importance. They

activity to activity.

Underconvergers

tend to be scattered, unable to hold their attention on any one item or topic.

They are unable to

often unable to finish one project before the next one begins. filter

out what

is

most important. Things

feel

overwhelming

They are to them.

Strabismus Strabismus

is

a condition in

which one or both

bismus are unable to point both eyes

at the

eyes turn. People with stra-

same object

at the

same time. This

521

Vision and Emotions

condition

is

obvious to anyone that looks

tremendous embarrassment. People with

at the

person and

problem often cover

this

turn their heads, or shield themselves from the viewer. will hear the question, "Are

often a source of

is

you paying attention

The

their faces,

strabismic often

what I'm saying? You're

to

not even looking at me." Children with this condition

may

be teased and

ridiculed by their peers.

Strabismus

is

a condition that clearly causes emotional problems, but

may have emotional

also

ioral optometrist,

months and

strabismus most often develops between the ages of eighteen

1985). This

five years (Kavner,

is

explore their environment and to find their

the age

own

not

when

is

their sense

feel safe in their

mechanism.

If one

a spot within a

of reality

is

formed.

of the eyes turns

in,

from

develop an eye turn as a coping

.

.

and

to "unresolved anger

a giving

the safest.

feels

ening of the ego defense." For the patient whose eye turns out, .

.

.

and

.

we

find "an atti-

up of the defenses

in a reality

which appears hopeless" (Groffman, 1978). Heaton points out

children

who

They

1968).

may have

It

a tight-

situation

develop strabismus

are

then both of the eyes will be pointed to

may be due

tude of resignation and apathy

They

environment.

their

few inches away. This may be the place that

has been suggested that this

children begin to

We also find that children who do

may

emotional world

when

identity in space.

establishing an awareness of their bodies as separate

This

it

According to Dr. Richard Kavner, a behav-

causes.

that

"conflict in the family" (Heaton,

turn their eyes away from what they don't want to

see.

Amblyopia

When

the two eyes are not pointed at the same target at the

one of the eyes may not be stimulated to develop result,

The

its

the brain learns to ignore the information that

"sight" as

is

only coming in through one eye.

feeling of imbalance side of their If the

body

is

— both

shut

physically

I

should. As a

comes through

patient often has a feeling of not being complete or

mation

it

it.

whole because

and emotionally. They

infor-

feel that

one

may be

dif-

off.

information coming into the system

Twenty percent of the

and orientation. As a

that eye.

have often heard patients report a

is

distorted, then

it

ficult for a person to get a stable sense of his or her place in space

safe in

same time,

result,

visual center in the brain

is

and

to feel

used for balance

people with certain visual deficits will have prob-

lems navigating their way through space.

Whole

The

522

Hind

Myopia

Myopia

is

a condition in

which the eyes

than the object being viewed. at

They

are too strong.

They

focus closer

amounts of time

focus for such extended

near distances that they are unable to relax at far distances, making distant

objects appear blurred.

Myopes tend

to be introverted

attention to detail

and read

of the intellectual or

and sedentary. They tend

voraciously.

scientist,

glasses

television

image

they are always shown holding their glasses. Clark

Kent was meek, mild-mannered, and bookish. took off his

pay enormous

to

When we think of the

He became Superman when

he

and went out into the world.

Dr. Frances Young, a psychologist, points out that

myopes tend

to be

achievement-oriented (Young, 1967). Myopes tend to process information centrally.

Their awareness of their periphery

and have pist,

is

reduced.

They keep

their feelings in

a difficult time expressing them. Janet Goodrich, a Reichian thera-

move through

has observed that "myopes

space with chronically stiff

shoulders and necks, frozen in a flinching posture." She also points out that "they have limited eye contact

.

.

.

[and] cut off their feelings in their eyes"

(Goodrich, 1986). According to Dr. Robert Kaplan, a behavioral optometrist,

myopia

"a fear

is

what's out there'

of seeing the future, pulling inward to "

ed.

to

did his doctoral dissertation on the psychological if

was particularly interested

the causes of myopia were emotionally relatin

whether he could cause a

change using relaxation and visualization techniques.

when al

who

of myopia, wanted to see

He

mood

the

acuity

.

.

.

afraid to see

(Kaplan, 1987).

Charles Kelley, effects

am

self: 'I

patient's

He

that he attempted to induce "could be preserved

improved

myopia

reported that .

.

greatly" (Kelley, 1962). In vision therapy,

.

the visu-

we

try to

help the patient to achieve these levels of visual relaxation as ways to improve

myopia.

Accommodative Spasm

Accommodative spasm

is

when

ing system of the eyes. This

is

the only visual condition that

the patient

is

unable to control the focus-

traditional medicine accepts as being related to emotions.

I

am

The

aware of that

patient experi-

ences a severe blurring of vision alternating with periods of clearing. Patients

with

this

condition will show an increase in nearsightedness.

of as an anxiety attack of the eye.

It

can be thought

523

Vision and Emotions

Visually-Related Learning Disabilities

A learning disability

defined as an "extreme difficulty in learning, with

is

no detectable physiological abnormality" (Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman, 1990).

many

There

are

vision.

They can cause

may

different types of learning disabilities that

be related to

the patient improperly to judge spatial relations. Also,

they can affect the ability to integrate information from different senses vision, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile).

They can

their bodies in space. Finally, they can cause

symptoms when

headaches and/or double vision, blurred vision, skipping

same

the

line.

This

sented in school.

affects the patient's ability to

make

who

sense out of what

disabilities, as well as

I

how

he or she continues to

hard the child

tries,

the reason for their failure

is

in school.

fail

They may

may

The

standard question that

may

matter

aren't sure

As the

a severe

may

child

Then

blow

to

begin to

never be diagnosed. If they

them

I

ask

to bypass the faulty processing system.

A

when I take a case history from a patient is, "Do when reading?" When I am examining an adult

ever have any discomfort

with undiagnosed learning I

pre-

find other ways to express themselves, such as through art

or music, which will enable

you

is

embarrassed and ashamed. They

feel

learning disability

No

first possibility.

they must conclude that they are not smart enough. This

are lucky, they

is

many of the

They

lack of effort or lack of intelligence.

continues to try harder and harder, they eliminate the

out or withdraw.

with

have mentioned, does poorly in school.

other visual deficits that

act

and rereading

lines,

trying to learn using a faulty processing system.

is

Very often the child with learning

the self-esteem.

reading, such as

These types of problems have far-reaching emotional impli-

cations for the child

if

(i.e.,

affect people's ability to orient

then ask

"Do you

disabilities,

ever read?"

the response

The answer

often hear

I

very often

is

is

"No, never."

"No, never."

REAL PEOPLE AND VISION THERAPY

Susan was 23 years old

when

she

She was a single mother with of high school

at sixteen

sented no real

symptoms

came

to

me for a

routine visual checkup.

a seven-year-old son.

She had dropped out

and had immediately gotten pregnant. She

pre-

that she could connect to her vision. She didn't

Whole Mind

The

524

and

like to read

as a result

never did.

Upon

that as far back as she could remember, she

would

was revealed

it

when

get very tired

she

continued to read, she would get headaches. She'd had her

read. If she eyes

questioning,

examined

but no problem was ever picked up.

as a child,

My exami-

nation revealed that she suffered from a learning disability and a severe binocular problem.

When

I

told her that this condition was the cause of

her symptoms, she started to she wasn't smart enough to

was no point of succeeding

cry.

She told

me that she had always thought

remember what she

in pursuing academics, since she at

read,

and

thought she was incapable

She never dreamed that there was a

it.

that there

felt

specific cause for

her problem.

Jonathan ly

is

a 35-year-old accountant. His nearsightedness

worsened since he was a

child.

He wanted

do

to

had continual-

vision therapy to gain

a sense of control for himself and his eyes. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to find time to

months.

He was

He also

do

his vision therapy adequately

chose instead to

start

and decided

to wait six

doing a yoga program on a daily

being seen by a psychotherapist.

One

basis.

of the aims of his psy-

chotherapy was to make him more aware of his physical body. This was important work for Jonathan because he experienced his I

mind and was disconnected

examined him again before we

much

of his

life in

months

to his physical feelings. Six

later,

started a formal vision therapy program.

His prescription had dramatically reduced.

He

realized that the

yoga and

psychotherapy had given him a body awareness that he did not have before. It enabled

the world

him

and within

tion with the yoga

more

to feel

his

relaxed, grounded,

own space. We began

and psychotherapy with

We find that unresolved

issues

therapists as the father eye

was a ten-year-old

girl

and the

who

The

left

in

excellent results.

with one parent

visual awareness in the affected eye.

and centered

vision therapy in conjunc-

may cause

right eye

is

restrictions in

referred to

eye as the mother eye.

by vision

Ann Marie

presented with a dramatically increasing

525

Vision and Emotions

prescription in her crisp 20/20.

Her

left eye.

Ruling out

tion, her relationship

all

right eye's sight

was perfectly normal

—

a

the possible physiological causes of this condi-

with her parents was explored and

I

enlisted the help

of a psychotherapist. Psychotherapy revealed that her mother was very restrictive

and controlling. Ann Marie had

a difficult time relating to her

mother. She wanted to block her maternal images. Her

want

to see.

fice for a

eye did not

left

So no matter what prescription she was given,

it

would

suf-

while and then she needed more. In addition to vision therapy

and psychotherapy, she was

treated for her visual

problem with a colored

light therapy called syntonics (described later in this chapter).

As

a result,

her prescription eventually stopped increasing and even began to reverse.

Alison was a 30-year-old art student. Her eyes had difficulty working together but they were cosmetically straight. At the age of three she devel-

oped

a constant

at the age

inward turn of her right

of five.

It

eye.

should be noted that a

She had surgery on her eyes

common

orthodox medical community for a strabismus eyes by cutting the muscles. Alison told

had

and chaotic home

a very painful

ing to her father and for her eye turn

felt

was

life.

me

to surgically realign the

that, as a

She had a

very conflicted about

this

is

it.

treatment by the

lot

She

young

child, she

of difficulty

felt

relat-

that the reason

underlying conflict. As Alison gained more

awareness into her emotional problem, she was able to heal her visual deficit.

Billy

He

was an eight-year-old boy with

answered

all

a right eye that constantly turned in.

him with one word answers. He When asked how he felt, he always

questions directed to

rarely turned his

head to the

answered

His school was very happy with him.

"fine."

plained and never

side.

never com-

trouble. He was perfectly happy to sit quietly, He hated all sports and any physical activity. When

made

staring straight ahead.

he began to work with us in vision therapy,

him

He

to maintain his balance while

we

did exercises requiring

performing other

activities, in

order to

Whole Mind

The

526

make him aware of the two grated with

We

his vision.

sides

of his body and

had him stand on

square piece of plywood with a

much

how

his

body was

a balance board (an

smaller block of

wood

1

inte

8-inch

attached

underneath) and pass a bean bag from hand to hand while watching a swinging

ball.

In this exercise, he

is

forced to

become aware

that the

two

sides of his body are different but, that in order to maintain his balance,

he must have everything work in unison torso,

and

—

i.e.,

his eyes, his hands, his

We were working on his visual problem by addressing relationship to space. We wanted him to feel comfortable

his legs.

his physical

relating to objects

and people away from

his

own

personal space.

be frightening to be asked to process visually with an eye that

is

It

can

not nor-

mally used. Billy was asked to perform exercises while wearing a patch covering his "good" eye.

our

Without

office.

Billy,

It

was of utmost importance that he

a feeling

together.

By

the end of vision therapy, both of his eyes were working

But of greater importance, he achieved a greater sense of emo-

tional stability.

We

taught

him

He became very engaging and in many different ways.

Sandy had a tendency and had

a

work

to

to take risks in a nurturing environment.

He

outgoing.

underconverge her

learned

eyes.

difficulty concentrating

months

imagined. Six

had been asked

idating to her. She

felt

that she

the different things that she

would not be

would have

form adequately. However, she told

As

was

much more

into vision therapy, she

me

that the previous

to be a disk jockey at a dance. This

thing she had always wanted to do but which she

fully.

as a printer

when working. As we began

into the office feeling very happy. She told

night, she

to take chances

She worked

together, she realized that her visual condition

far-reaching than she had

all

how

myriad of symptoms. She suffered from headaches, occasional

double vision, and a

came

my staff and

he would not have been willing to attempt anything that was poten-

tially risky.

to

of trust established between

felt safe in

me

a peripherally oriented person,

would be very intim-

able to keep visual track of

to be aware

that she it

felt

was some-

of in order to per-

had done

it

very success-

had been overwhelming

for her

527

Vision and Emotions

to organize herself and her

was

environment.

to enable her to process visually

oriented tasks.

An example

The

by paying attention

of exercise

this type

tasks at the

is

more

to

wall, to the beat

on

same time, she must

a

beam, and

call letters

be able to perform so

learn to allow herself to let go all

of them together.

Using exercises such

been established

in

much

many

and process

important for

It is

the reader to realize that an exercise of this level of difficulty after proficiency has

off

of a metronome. The purpose of

that, in order for her to

each task individually, as well as

formed

detail-

of an exercise she performed was to wear an

eye patch, keep her balance while walking

two eye charts on the

goal of her vision therapy

is

only per-

simpler tasks.

as these, she learned to organize her visual space so

that excessive stimulation did not feel so overwhelming. -~-—

Many people

learn

otherwise normal

ways to compensate

However

lives.

for their difficulties

the choice of a profession

and may lead is

often influ-

enced by an undiagnosed visual problem.

Maria was an adult

who came

into

She suffered from headaches, double trate at near tasks for

had been

ever experienced

since she

a binocular instability.

as a

team.

she was a

and write

like this before.

in school.

had

It

and an

for

Upon

examination,

asked her

I

She told

concen-

me she

I

if

she had

had, but not

discovered that she

She had a problem using her two eyes together

was apparent that she suffered from

little girl.

inability to

extended periods of time.

a free-lance photographer.

symptoms

had been

vision,

extended periods of time. She had just begun an

office job that required her to read

Previously, she

my office with many symptoms.

To compensate,

this

problem ever since

she went into a profession that did

not require her to use her two eyes together. She became a photographer.

This way she could make a

living,

always closing one eye.

Carla came in with no apparent symptoms. She only needed a checkup.

Upon

examination,

it

was revealed that she had

a constant strabismus.

She was unable to point her two eyes together toward the same target in

Whole Mind

The

528

space. I

asked her what she did for a

I

asked her

read.

if

living.

She told

me

she was a lawyer.

she ever had a problem reading and remembering what she

me that she never really read

She told

anything.

asked her

I

how she

me

could have gotten through law school with such a handicap. She told she would tape

them

to

all

of the lectures, play them back to

memory. She would remember her

texts

herself,

and commit

by reading them out

loud so that she could hear what she was reading. Relying on her audito-

own lecturer so that she could remember She was very surprised when I explained to her that her strawould

ry system, she

the material.

act as her

bismus was the cause of this problem and that she did not have to continue this way.

This patient had learned that using her visual system required too

much

energy and that

it

was

in one's visual system after so

unreliable.

It is

hard work to establish trust

many years of relying on

adaptations. First,

more

the adaptations need to be removed in order to allow for a

use of the visual system. This creates

more symptomatic

efficient

behavior, as

it

brings into question patterns which the patient has internalized as just

being "me." This creates a great deal of vulnerability.

The

patient

must

allow his beliefs to shift from one system to another.

f2D

WHAT TO EXPECT

A thorough vision analysis should should assess a number of visual

take approximately forty-five minutes, and

skills,

eye movements, and visual perception.

apy sessions forty-five es.

differently. In

minute

Each patient

is

room

tant. If the patient

twenty minutes per day.

in a group. Patients

who

times and occasionally

a daily basis.

group perform

we

for

The indi-

their exer-

The doctor

is

in the

aided by a vision therapy

needs to be alone during a session,

the office for that purpose.

week

to three exercis-

We see some patients

are in a

is

two

home on

but in a room with other patients.

at all

structure their ther-

patients are seen once or twice a

assigned exercises to perform at

and others

cises individually,

therapy

Many practitioners

sessions. In each session, they are given

exercises require less than

vidually

my office,

such as accommodation, binocularity,

use other

assis-

rooms

in

529

Vision and Emotions

The

patient

is

also given a syntonics treatment. In syntonics, varying col-

ors,

or frequencies of light, are viewed by the patient to help stimulate the inter-

nal

balancing of the patient's autonomic nervous system. Because the

functioning of the eyes

is

directly affected

by the functioning of the nervous

system, syntonics has been effectively used to improve the performance of the

A syntonics treatment requires the patient to look into a machine and view a colored light for up to twenty minutes. We find that the syntonics

visual system.

treatment enables the patient to achieve greater gains in vision therapy than

would otherwise be expected. As the

patient's

ance, underlying emotional concerns

may surface. Often

deep sense of emotional release

such a session. In certain cases,

the patient

come

apy program

The months

put into bal-

patients experience a

we have

for a series of syntonic treatments before a formal vision ther-

initiated.

two or three

to is

years. Currently the fee

is

approximately $50 per group

reimbursable by most major medical insurance plans.

ent fee structures

HOW

is

length of therapy differs widely from patient to patient from a few

and

visit

is

after

nervous system

Some

differ-

exist.

TO FIND A PRACTITIONER

A practitioner etrists

of vision therapy should be a doctor of Optometry.

Optom-

complete a four-year postgraduate doctoral program. All optometrists

are licensed to practice vision therapy,

however philosophies regarding vision

therapy varies greatly.

The

all

work on

more

the

I

who mem-

practitioners

However, the reader should be aware that not

the techniques that

bers will use

it is

member

following organizations have listings of

practice vision therapy.

all

have mentioned, nor will they necessarily

subtle relationships between

emotion and

vision. Therefore

suggested that you interview the practitioner regarding his or her philoso-

phy and techniques before attempting

a program.

The Optometric Extension Program

The College of Syntonic Optometry

1921 E. Carnegie Ave., Suite 3-L

Secretary of the College

Santa Ana, Tel: (714)

CA 92705-5510

250-8070

http://www.healthy.net/oep

Solomon

Slobin,

1200 Robeson

O.D.

St.

Fall River,

MA 02720

Tel: (508)

673-1251

Whole

The

530

Mind

COVD International Office

The College of Syntonic Optometry

Stephen Miller, O.D.

David J. Luke, O.D.

Executive Director

121 North Allen

243 N. Lindbergh St.

Louis,

Blvd., Suite

Box 82

310

MO 63141

Centralia,

MO 65240

268-3770

Tel: (314)

581-3848

Tel: (888)

The College of Optometrists Development

in Vision P.O.

Box 285

Chula Vista,

CA 91912-0285

425-6191

Tel: (619)

HOW

TO LEARN MORE

Bates,

W.

Berne,

S.

Better Eyesight Without Glasses.

New York: Henry Holt

Creating Your Personal Vision. Santa Fe,

Goodrich,

J.

Groffman,

NM:

and Company, 1981.

Color Stone

Press,

1994.

Natural Vision Improvement. Berkeley: Celestial Arts, 1986.

S.

"Psychological Aspects of Strabismus and

Amblyopia

— A Review of

the Literature." Journal of the American Optometric Association

49 (1978):

995-999. J. M. In Phenomenology and Psychology ofFunction and Disorder, edited by R. D. Laing, London: Tavistock Publications, 1968.

Heaton,

Kaplan, R. Seeing Beyond 20/20. Hillsboro: Beyond Words, 1987. Kavner, R. Your Child's Vision.

New York: Simon

Kelley, C. "Psychological Factors in

Association

and Schuster,

Inc.,

1985.

Myopia." Journal of the American Optometric

33 (1962): 833-837.

Leiberman,

J.

Light Medicine of the Future. Santa Fe: Bear and

Leiberman,

J.

Take Off Your Glasses

and See. NY: Crown

Company, 1991.

Publishers, 1995.

American Journal of Optometry and Archives of American Academy of Optometry 44 ( 1 967) 1 92-20 1

Young,

F.

"Myopia and

Personality."

:

Zastrow, C. and K. Kirst-Ashman, eds. Understanding

Human

Behavior

Environment. Second Edition. Chicago: Nelson-Hall, 1990.

and the

Social

531

Vision and Emotions

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Gerald E.

Wintrob has

his

Doctor of Optometry degree from the State

University of New York College of Optometry, and a Master of Arts and B.A.

He is currently in private practice in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, NY. He specializes in vision therapy, vision enhancement, visually- related learning problems, and syntonics (color healing). He is currently a member of the faculty at the New York Open Center, the largest urban holistic learning center in the U.S. He has lectured widely. from Brooklyn College.

Richard Rosen

Yoga

40 WHAT Yoga

YOGA?

IS

a Sanskrit word, a distant relative of our English

is

very evocative word,

on at

for

its

definition in

my Sanskrit-English

hand,

it is

Most

usually translated as both "application"

or religion with nothing

phy and

is

and what

uninitiated Westerners dismiss yoga as

much

Nothing could be further from the

and

religion,

though not

to offer

It is

a

dictionary running

way

where we came from, who we

and psychology,

all

are,

it

and "union." This dual

aims to do.

some

exotic Eastern philoso-

them of any

practical value.

Yoga indeed has elements of philoso-

truth.

in the

that

religion in the West. You'll also find

tions,

"yoke."

an entire column of eight-point type. But in the context of the subject

meaning neatly summarizes what yoga

phy

word

we

typically think

some metaphysics

and where we're

rolled into one.

all

of philosophy

(speculations

on

headed), ethical injunc-

But more important, yoga

is

a prag-

matic, experimental application of a variety of time-tested techniques for self-exploration I

and self-understanding.

should quickly point out that

mind, with potentials,

we might

its

conscious and subconscious contents,

and

call

this "self," in yoga,

its

often

its

is

not limited to the

various capacities and

squabbling community of structures. Yoga

today a holistic view of the

self that incorporates,

has what

along with our

mind, our physical and "breathing" bodies, a "higher" mind or wisdom

and a superconscious principle that embraces and

at the

faculty,

same time transcends

533

Yoga

all

of this.

The

However

yogis call

rational

niques — which ical

it

the atman, or soul.

and sophisticated we

like to

imagine ourselves, yoga tech-

include behavior modification and positive affirmation; phys-

and breathing

exercises; the repetition

phrases; visualizations;

and meditation

centuries ago in the "mystical" East.

—

The

of significant

syllables,

are just as valid

today

as

and

they were

goal of the practice, simply stated,

the union or integration of all these often-fragmented parts of our direct

words, or

is

and the

self,

joyful experience of our authentic identity.

Most yoga

teachers are not, of course, licensed mental health care providers,

although experienced teachers have a wealth of on-the-job training with both physical stress

and emotional

difficulties,

from bad backs and knees

to job-related

and depression. But yoga can be remarkably thereapeutic;

people nowadays

plement

to,

start

yoga on the recommendation of their doctor

or a continuation

helping people

who

in fact,

of,

a therapy program.

Yoga has been

as a sup-

effective in

have depression, anxiety, addictions, learning and

problems, personality disorders, confusion and brain fog, and

many

memory

irritability. It

can also help people achieve better overall health, spiritual growth, and

self-

actualization.

HOW

IT

Nobody

BEGAN really

knows how or when yoga began. Scholars have debated

long time about the age of yoga and

its

antecedents, but have yet to reach a

consensus. But most everyone will agree that yoga years,

and

that

it is

While

there

is

by the word yoga

very old, at least 3,500

is

rooted in the ritual practices of people

a riverside civilization in

what

is

now

who once

inhabited

Pakistan and northern India.

quite a wide range of beliefs and practices that are blanketed

—

I

have a

list

with over thirty distinct schools, including

something called samrambha-yoga, the yoga of "hatred" six

for a

—

there are only about

or so schools that could be considered historically important.

The

first sys-

tematic written exposition of yoga, the Yoga-Sutra by the sage Patanjali,

appeared about 1,700 years ago. This school,

known

as raja-yoga, the "royal"

yoga, affirms a stringently ascetic, meditative discipline that, with

theme of "all

is

suffering,"

is

its

central

not likely to capture the hearts or minds of many

people nowadays.

What tioners,

is

is

popular today in the West, however, with several million practi-

hatha-yoga, the "forceful" yoga,

which

first

appeared in India only

Whole Mind

The

534

about ten centuries ago. This school has, over the bewildering

number of

few

last

years, sprouted a

Some of the better known subschools or name of the founder, or leading

branches.

related approaches include (along with the

modern

teacher, in parentheses): ashtanga

yoga (K. Patabhi

Jois);

hidden lan-

guage yoga (Swami Sivananda Radha); integral yoga (Swami Satchidananda); Iyengar yoga (B.K.S. Iyengar); kripalu yoga (Yogi Amrit Desai); kundalini yoga

(Swami Vishnudevananda); viniyoga (T.K.V.

(Yogi Bhajan); Sivananda yoga

Desikachar).

Hatha-yoga

with

its

is

probably most closely associated in the minds of Westerners

curious physical exercises, called asanas, or postures; unfortunately,

this has led to a perception,

approach

is

body and

among many of

its

its

forceful training with asanas

and breathing

HOW

WORKS

In this section, ture or asana,

I'll

limit

my comments

to

two uniquely yogic

practices: pos-

and controlled breathing or pranayama (though these

appear, in various forms, in other spiritual disciplines).

yogic practices

may have many

and mental, these

able to be sure, but

Georg

exercises, hatha-yoga

forms of yoga, a spiritual context and intent.

all

cal

adherents, that this

merely a kind of calisthenics. Despite the emphasis on the physical

has, like

IT

even

Remember

practices

that,

while

hygienic and therapeutic benefits, both physi-

are traditionally considered to be only side effects, desir-

secondary to the primary aspiration of spiritual union.

still

Feuerstein, a

well-known yoga

scholar, has described

yoga

as a "tech-

nology of consciousness transformation." The yogis believe that the mind, or our normal consciousness, with

its

often alienating ego-centeredness,

is

constant turmoil, conflicting desires, and

one of the major stumbling blocks to

self-understanding. This habitually limited

wish to transform. Their ideal

is

a

old Bhagavad-Gita, the so-called still"

mind

mind

and limiting mind

that

is,

in the

New Testament

is

full

what the yogis

words of the 2500-year-

of Hinduism, "steadfast and

under the divine guidance of the atman. For most people, however, the is

slippery as an

asana and pranayama

The

eel,

come

almost impossible to grab onto, and

this

is

where

in.

yogis have long recognized,

and based

their teachings on, the intimate

connection between the body, the breath, and the mind.

The body and

breath

incarnate or "flesh out" the mind, so that the state of the mind, whether positive or negative,

is

expressed in the bearing, the physical posture, and the

535

Yoga

body and the rhythm of the

general behavior of the also true: If you, for

sion

— go ahead and

try this,

—

more

The

this

can exert a powerful influence on the mind.

first to stretch,

releases habitual tension in the

which cal

is

body

fingers,

but

we

certainly can lay our

tangible "sheaths," as the yogis call them, the

postures act

strengthen,

is,

and

as Patanjali notes,

body and the

hands

breath.

align the physical body; this

muscles and joints and

further balanced or "tuned" that

is

by slumping forward and purposefully making

The mind may slip through our its

But the reverse

example, outwardly mimic the physical signs of depres-

your breathing shallow

on

breath.

frees

bound

by the postures. The yogis want

energy, a physi-

both "steady and comfortable" (and so pre-

pared for the challenges of pranayama and meditation). Next the breathing exercises help to direct awareness inward,

ruptions of the world, and toward the

away from the

mind (and

distractions

the soul).

By

and

rhythms and timing of our breath, we can purge ourselves of toxic "bad

and further expand our

store of energy. Moreover, the

the breath calms the turbulent

awareness.

And

finally,

mind and

so turns

dis-

controlling the air"

rhythmic pulsation of

up the inner

light

of our

self-

the postures and breathing exercises (along with other

techniques such as meditation) open us up to the "true knowledge," to quote the Gita again, "established in the heart of all."

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS Yoga

is

now

being used in a surprisingly wide range of preventative and thera-

peutic applications in the mental health (usually yoga breathing exercises

field.

The

research shows that yoga

and yoga-based stretching

exercises)

is

being

used with a moderate to high degree of success in the treatment of various psy-

chosomatic and psychiatric disorders (Balodhi, 1986; Goyeche, 1979; Norton, 1983; Shannahoff-Khalsa and Beckett, 1996; Singh, 1986;

Wood,

1993), drug

and alcohol addiction (Nespor, 1991 and 1993; Sharma and Shukla, 1988), and epilepsy (Panjwani geriatric

mental

children,

who

et al.,

1995). Yoga

clinics (Allen

is

being taught to elderly patients in

and Steinkohl, 1987) and

to mentally retarded

have demonstrated improved I.Q. and social adaptation (Pathak

and Mishra, 1984;

Uma et al.,

1989).

Yoga has a positive impact (when performed by "normal" volunteers) on such

mood

states as anxiety, depression, anger,

concentration, memory, learning energy,

and aggression, and improves

ability, self-confidence,

and contentment. For example,

in a study

physical

and mental

comparing the

effects

of

The

536

Whole

Mind

yoga, relaxation techniques, and visualization on physical and mental energy

and on positive and negative moods, yoga proved most

effective

(Wood, 1993).

effect

It

was reported

to have

an "invigorating"

of the three

on perceptions

of both mental and physical energy, and increased high positive mood. Interestingly,

yoga

is

also credited

with being a "suitable element of pre-

vention" of professional stress and burnout for workers in the health services (Nespor, 1993).

REAL PEOPLE AND YOGA

Emma,

a female in her

mid

holic," always "on the go."

thirties, characterized herself as a

The most important

position with a large investment firm. But she ied," trapped inside her "racing brain,"

she give yoga a

At

and

thing in her

felt

life

"worka-

was her

strangely "disembod-

a friend

recommended

that

try.

first, like

many newcomers,

she had a difficult time in

class.

Because her sense of balance was poor, she was always tipping over in the postures, unable to keep her feet

on the ground; and because she

couldn't

stop thinking about her job-related responsibilities and deadlines, she often lost the thread of the teacher's instructions, and

— confusing

right

and

left,

front

became disoriented

and back.

Over time, though, through her work in the various postures and with the breath, she learned to slow

down

with her body and improved her

pening

in the present

When she first came ture in

her brain. She reacquainted herself

ability to concentrate

on what was hap-

moment. One dramatic change was to class, she

was

terrified

in her balance.

of the shoulder stand pos-

which the student balances on her shoulders

blankets) with the feet pointed toward the ceiling

on a

(lifted

stack of

and the back of the torso

braced by the hands. After a few months of practicing the posture near a wall, for

both physical and moral support, she was able to move into the

center of the ders.

room and perch

confidently and even happily

on her shoul-

This newfound physical balance was reflected in her mental

was able to create more room

in her life for activities outside

life.

She

of her job.

537

Yoga

Alan, a male in his late forties,

came

first

to

yoga

way

class in a

that

is

men of his age. He was dragged in, mumbling under his breath, by his wife. Like Emma, Alan was also "in his head," abstracted, and didn't much like yoga to start. He had always been athletic, active, quite typical for

but over the years had stiffened up

remarked, in his outlook too

—not

— and experienced moderate He

pain during the stretching exercises. sports like tennis

and

was a

perfectionist, highly critical

When

ented." strength

and

man

down.

seemed

to these stumbling blocks, Alan

of himself and others, and "result-ori-

own

physical limitations, in both

and when "nothing happened"

way through

men

like

surprisingly,

obstinate to give self

his

sometimes slower,

at the

in class right away,

the exercises, grunting and groaning

carrying a heavy weight in a race to the finish

Quite often

many, but

To add

forced to confront his

flexibility,

he tried to "bull" like a

class.

He

up

Alan don't

he persisted

— and

to extreme

was also used to fast-moving

and chafed

basketball,

more meditative pace of the

only in his body but, as his wife

last

—

more

his wife

gradually, like

line.

that a few classes, if that

claimed that he was too

Emma, he learned

to slow

him-

was especially helped by some breathing exercises that

to soften the tension in his body.

At

least in class,

he became

less

concerned with "getting somewhere" and "doing things right," and more willing to accept

and work within

rience of the postures practicing at

injury

and

became

his limitations.

less

home, using yoga

to

and

work

Over

less painful,

time, Alan's expe-

and he even began

therapeutically with an old back

to relieve the pressures of his job with a

computer manufac-

turing firm.

WHAT TO EXPECT Though

there are a

good number of instruction manuals and audio and video

tapes available, the best

way

to learn

yoga

is

from

a teacher.

Most students

attend public classes held at local yoga schools, health clubs, or colleges.

I

have provided some

tips

below

to help

you

community

find a capable teacher.

Occasionally, a student this case,

is

class

largely

is

unable or unwilling to attend a public

possible to hire a teacher to give

it is

pay considerably more for

to

Whole Mind

The

538

what you can

this

afford.

or so anyway, go once a week; after that,

your weekly program

and

effort

skill

begin to realize tangible

often

is

that students, for the

you can always add

first

a class or

or art you're interested in learning, the

you put into your you should

(or classes),

to a

month two

to

if you like.

any other

Just like

How often you go

time you have on your hands and

recommend

generally

I

private lessons, but expect

at-home instruction.

how much

determined by

you

class; in

practice, the

results.

try to

"regular"? Start with

more quickly

This means

improve and

along with your weekly

that,

commit yourself to

you'll

more time

once or twice a week for

class

home practice. How

a regular

fifteen to

twenty minutes

a day.

Ask your teacher

that's

enjoyable and appropriate for your physical capacities and emotional

needs.

Then

to help

you devise

see if you can, over a

a reasonable routine,

something

few months' time, add a day here and ten

minutes there, until you're practicing pretty

much

every day for thirty min-

utes.

Remember, though,

that yoga

is

what we would

that while regular class attendance

admirable,

—

like

call

lifestyle,

and

are necessary

and

today a

and home practice

important to apply what you learn in these controlled situations

it's

equanimity,

flexibility,

and courage

—

to

your everyday, sometimes

out-of-control existence. Aurobindo Ghosh, a famous twentieth-century yogi,

once

said, "All life

HOW

TO FIND A YOGA TEACHER

There

are several

Pages will uals

who

list

is

yoga."

ways to find the right yoga teacher

teachers

are listed

and schools

and ask them

in

your

to mail

area. Call

you

for you.

most widely read yoga magazine

"Yoga Teachers Directory," usually in

by

state in the

United

its

new

issue,

which

States, as well as in other countries.

www.yogajournal.com. Ask your friends or associates

a teacher or school. I'd be surprised if you didn't

who knows someone, who

takes a yoga class.

Yellow

individ-

and any

student. Yoga

in this country, publishes a yearly

August

Journal at (510) 841-9200 for information, or look for the at

local

a schedule of classes,

other information they have that might be useful to a Journal, the

Your

up the schools or

at

lists

teachers state

You can

call

Yoga

YTD on its Website work

to

know someone,

recommend or

someone

539

Yoga

You'll

probably want to

start

with a beginners'

consider yourself to be "in good shape." Don't little

you begging

that will have

which means that

ing,

remember

if

"application"

—

classes

Most beginning

can be a

classes are

real

ongo-

be joining a more experienced group of students.

you have concerns about looking

that just about everybody in the

stood in your shoes

own

you'll

seems intimidating,

If this

for mercy.

may

even though you

— some

yogi sitting placidly in Pretzel Pose fool you

workout

class,

the stereotype of the skinny

let

or your bare feet

and (though there

room

— and

"foolish," try to

(including the teacher) once that they're

are exceptions)

all

fixed

no longer

on

their

interested in

judging yours.

Once

you've gathered

or, if possible,

all

your information,

talk to

someone

the teachers of any of the classes you're interested

find out something about the school's approach:

first

Ashtanga Vinyasa) are notoriously vigorous, while others

much

milder.

go, to avoid

at

Be sure you have some idea of what

any unpleasant

each school

in.

Be sure

to

some

classes (like

(like

Kripalu) are

you're getting into before you

surprises. You'll also

want

to

know

(if possible):

the average size of the class (more experienced and popular teachers usually

have large ers,

classes,

who might

and

be a

so less time to

little

work with

individuals, while novice teach-

rough around the edges, usually have small

classes

but more opportunity to give you personal attention); the length of the (most run between sixty to ninety minutes); the cost of the dress

is

mat or

class;

class

what kind of

recommended; and whether the school provides you with an

exercise

blanket, or if you need to bring your own.

If you

have any physical problems or limitations, briefly describe them and

see if the teacher

seems comfortable working with you. You might ask about

his or her training, certifications,

to sample a

and teaching experience. Next,

few different teachers, try one or more

classes

expect miracles. If nothing seems to "happen" after the

if

you're able

with each one. Don't

first class,

don't be dis-

couraged. Try again, or try another teacher, or another school, until you find the right situation for you. Give yoga a fair chance.

Once you've settled on a teacher, it's best to study with that one person as much as possible, especially if you're working with a particular problem. This gives the teacher time to get to know you so that she or he can tailor postures and

instructions to suit your special needs.

There

are a

few things to be on the lookout

for.

Never perform any posi-

tion in class that generates "bad" pain, especially in the knees, lower back,

and

Whole Mind

The

540

neck. Naturally, at the outset you'll be feeling

—

"heightened awareness"

call

shoulders; and while

it

some pain

—

or what

back of your

in places like the

might be necessary, even honorable,

I

like to

legs, groin,

or

at certain times

and

in certain places to suffer in silence, you're asking for trouble to ignore or

grit

your teeth with "bad" pain in a yoga

you're experiencing

assume

and ask

a rest position until the class

Also, while

on your back

many

to help

teachers

you

is

ready to

move

is

on what you

twist, for

feel to

tell

the teacher what

on.

make manual adjustments

in class

example — always be

comfortable with the contact. If the adjustment

touch

Either

class.

an alternative position, or stop altogether and

for

is

—

pressing

certain that you're

too extreme or harsh, or the

be an inappropriate place on your body, ask your

teacher to please stop.

RESOURCES

The

field

of literature on yoga

is

enormous, though

not of much interest to the average student.

The

much

best

of it

is

scholarly

contemporary writer on

the history and philosophy of the various major yoga schools Feuerstein,

decades.

I

who has written a couple of dozen books on yoga over recommend in particular The Shambhala Guide to

Boston: Shambhala) as a general introduction

more

and

or, if you're

is

Georg

the past two

Yoga (1996,

more ambitious, the

detailed Yoga: The Technology of Ecstasy (1989, Los Angeles: Jeremy

Tarcher).

Once

you're familiar with the background,

an original yoga scripture.

I

can't

you might want

to read

think of any more enchanting and edifying

book than the Bhagavad-Gita, the "Song of the Great Lord," one of the most significant treatises tion.

—

Ask your teacher

There appearing

are all

cleverly cast in poetic to

recommend

form

— of

the entire yoga tradi-

his or her favorite translation.

any number of instructional manuals on the market, with more the time. Perhaps the granddaddy of them

of the most influential,

well-known yoga

is

Light on Yoga (1979,

instructor,

who

is

now

all,

New York:

and

certainly

one

Schocken) by the

nearing eighty, B.K.S. Iyengar.

Two

other excellent primers for beginning to intermediate students are The Runners

Yoga

Bookby Jean Couch (1990, CA: Rodmell

Press),

and Relax

& Renew hy

Judith Lasater (1995, Rodmell Press), both available from their publisher, (510)

841-3123.

Yoga

541

HOW

TO LEARN MORE and R.

Allen, K. S.

P.

Steinkohl. "Yoga in a Geriatric Mental Clinic." Activities

Adaptation in Aging 9, no. 4 (1987): 61-68. Balodhi,

J.

P.

"Perspective of Rajayoga in

NIMHANS JournalA, Goyeche,

J.

Application to Mental Health."

its

no. 2 (1986): 133-138.

R. "Yoga as Therapy in Psychosomatic Medicine." Psychother Psychosom 31

(1979): 373-81.

Nespor, K. "Pain

Management and Yoga."

International]. Pyschosom

38 (1991): 76-81.

Nespor, K. "Twelve Years of Experience with Yoga in Psychiatry." International J Psychosom 40 (1993): 105-107.

Norton, G. R. and W. E. Johnson. "A Comparison of Two Relaxation Procedures for

Reducing Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety." J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 14, no. 3 (1983): 209-214. Panjwani, U.; H. L. Gupta;

S.

H. Singh; W. Selvamurthy; and U. C.

Sahaja Yoga Practice on Stress

Management

in Patients

Rai. "Effects of

of Epilepsy." Indian J.

Physiol Pharmacol 39, no. 2 (1995): 111-116.

Pathak,

M.

P.

and

L. S. Mishra. "Rehabilitation

of Mentally Retarded Through Yoga

Therapy." Child Psychiatry Quarterly 17, no. 4 (1984): 153-158. Schell,

F. J.;

B. Allolio;

and O. W. Schoenecke. "Physiological and Psychological

of Hatha- Yoga Exercise in Healthy Shannahoff-Khalsa, D.

S.

and

Women."

Effects

IntJ Psychosom 41 (1994): 46-52.

L. R. Beckett. "Clinical

Case Report: Efficacy of Yogic

Techniques in the Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders." Int J Neurosci 85 (1996): 1-17.

Sharma, K. and

P.

Singh. "Treatment of Neurotic Illnesses by Yogic Techniques."

Indian J Med Sci 43, no. 3 (1989): 76-79.

Sharma, K. and V. Shukla. "Rehabilitation of Drug-Addicted Persons: The Experience of the Nav-Chetna Center in India." BullNarcAO, no. Singh, R. H. "Evaluation of Some Indian Traditional

Health." Activitas Nervosa Superiorly, no.

Uma,

K.;

1

1

(1988): 43-49.

Methods of Promotion of Mental

(1986): 67-69.

H. R. Nagendra; R. Nagarathna; S. Vaidahi; and R. Seethalakshm. "The Approach of Yoga: Therapeutic Tool for Mentally Retarded Children:

Integrated

A One Year Controlled Study." J Ment Defic Res 33, no. 5 (1 989): 41 5^*21 Wood, C. "Mood Change and Perceptions of Vitality: A Comparison of the Effects of Relaxation, Visualization and Yoga

"

J R Soc Mod 86,

no. 5 (1993): 254-258.

The

542

Whole Mind

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Richard Rosen has been studying hatha yoga since 1980.

He

is

a graduate of

the Iyengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco and, since 1987, has taught public classes in Berkeley

and Oakland. He

pranayama

Advance Studies Program

for the

also leads classes in

regular contributor to Yoga Journal, Richard nist in

1995 and 1996.

year-old daughter.

He

lives in

at the

Yoga

yoga philosophy and

Room

in Berkeley.

A

was the magazine's Asana colum-

Berkeley with his wife and beautiful four-

Index

A abandonment

issues,

434

abreaction. See catharsis

abuse, 122, 363, 400, 434, 490; child, 258. See also sexual abuse accidents, 490. See also

trauma

acupuncture, 151-56, 158-59; adjuncts

to,

159

addiction. See drug addiction aggression, 224, 319, 364,

367-68, 394, 404, 535

alcohol abuse. See drug abuse alcohol cravings,

312

Alexander, Frederic Mathias, 58-59

Alexander Technique, 57-69, 465 alienation, allergies,

477

80, 258; difficulty detecting, 36;

allergy therapy, neutralization,

symptoms

of,

224-25. See

also

chemical

allopathic vs. holistic health, 15-16, 262; diagnosis and, 19; physical-mental allopathic vs. holistic medicine, 303-4, 324, 400, altered states

dichotomy and, 485

402-3, 479; homeopathy and, 262

of consciousness, 43-50; in history of psychotherapy, 45; psychotherapeutic use

48—49, 469; require expanded model of psyche, 46. See alternative medicine, medical politics

and history

of,

also

alternative treatments: concurrent use

inform patients about,

1;

of,

shamanism

22-24

alternative practitioners, guidelines for selecting, 8—9, 67, 397. See also

failure to

sensitivities

227

under specific treatments

of multiple, 11; conditions alleviated by guidelines for choosing

among,

8,

particular,

12-13;

12-13; psychoanalytic per-

spectives on, 122.

anger, 87, 152, 224, 363, 364, 390, 471, 535. See also rage

anorexia, 314-17,

331-32

antibiotics, negative effects of,

226

anxiety, 88, 89, 115, 120, 122, 146, 177, 302, 306, 312,

315-19, 367, 368, 382, 390, 394-95, 405,

434, 460, 464, 470-71, 477, 490, 501, 533, 535. See

also

panic attacks

appetite. See eating disorders; overeating

applied kinesiology (AK), 71-81; emotional recall technique, archetypal psychology,

262

aromatherapy, 83-95 art therapy,

166-71

assertiveness,

187

Association for Past Life Research and Therapy (APRT),

436

74-75

The

544

Whole

Mind

attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity, 109, 112, 115, 217, 224, 267, 314-15, 318, 319, 334,

403-4, 490 authentic movement, 175 autism,

446

Ayurveda, 98-105; Maharashi, 98

B Bach, Edward, 258

bed wetting. See enuresis behavior problems and disorders, 302; in adolescents, 186-87; in children, 217 beliefs, dysfunctional,

508

benzodiazepines. See tranquilizer withdrawal biofeedback, 108-17 bipolar disorder, 154-55, 219; Edgar Cayce treatment of, 216-17; physiological causes

and

treat-

ment, 41 birth experience, 436; reliving of, 46;

trauma

of,

47

body: blocks and denials held in the, 205; coming back to one's, 381; innate healing

ability,

16-17.

See also psychosomatic disorders

body armor and

rigidity,

379-8 1

.

See also Rolfing

body awareness, 168, 205-6, 381 body holding

patterns,

1

76

body image, 379, 470, 508 body odors,

as diagnostic tool,

1

57

bone memory, 176 Bonny, Helen

494

L., 120,

Bonny Method.

See guided imagery

borderline personality disorder,

brain development,

1

and music

04

140—42

brain injuries, 132-33; alternative treatment, 135-40; problems with conventional hospital treat-

ment, 135 bulimia, 113,

314

Busick, Bonnie Sigren, 41

c caffeine,

mental

illness

caffeine-free diet,

and, 31

273-82

Campbell, Don, 490-95 cancer,

266-67

catharsis, 114,

205, 207, 242, 433, 434, 459, 479; in art therapy, 166

Cayce, Edgar, 213-22 Chakras, 468 channels. See meridians

chemical

sensitivities,

also allergies;

224-25, 227, 258, 295; diagnosis

environmental toxins

chi. See meridians; qi

of,

227-29; interventions

for,

229-30. See

Index

545

child abuse, 258. See also sexual abuse

Chinese medicine, 146—61 chiropractic: in applied kinesiology, 76; client guidelines,

8-13, 67, 397. See

cocaine addiction,

Network, 410-21

also

psychotherapy patients

483—84

co-dependence, 490 cognitive functioning,

314

cognitive impairment,

225

cognitive therapy,

446

communication, 187, 191

complementary treatment. See

alternative treatments

complexes, 436-37 compulsiveness. See obsessive-compulsiveness concentration, 495, 535

conduct disorder, 169 confusion, 122, 146, 156, 302, 312-13, 315-17, 390, 449-50, 533; change facilitated by,

469

consciousness. See altered states of consciousness control: needs for, 379, 380; regaining sense of, 194, 380,

conventional medicine. See allopathic cranial therapy,

480

medicine

446

creative arts therapy, creative will,

vs. holistic

164-65. See

also

an

therapy; dance therapy;

drama

therapy; music therapy

382

263, 470

creativity,

criminal rehabilitation, 103 crisis, as

crying

opportunity, 17

spells,

232

D dance therapy, 174—80 death, acceptance of, 205. See also terminal illness defenses,

379-82, 520

depression, 79-80, 87-90, 104, 120, 122, 124-27, 146, 153-55, 177, 224, 245^*6, 258, 274, 302,

307-9, 313, 315-19, 339^2, 363, 367, 382, 390, 394-96, 403-5, 434, 446, 449-50, 464, 470, 471, 477, 494-95, 533, 535; biological causes, 215; body therapies

for,

215; childhood,

318; diet and, 273-82; Edgar Cayce treatment, 218-19; menopausal, 313, 315; spiritual malaise underlying, 215. See also seasonal affective disorder diet:

food

allergies, 36; sugar-

and

caffeine-free,

disorders, optimal treatment for particular, dissociative reactions,

drama

therapy,

273-82

12-13

434

183-88

drug abuse, 98, 102, 104-5, 146, 153, 312, 464, 470, 495; "sudden shock" syndrome, 156 drug addiction, 74, 104-5, 109, 120, 122, 302, 306, 31 1-12, 316, 318, 390, 394, 400, 424, 464, 477, 535; alcohol addiction and alcoholism, 113, 280, 281, 306, 312, 318, 424, 483, 490; drug, 115. See also impulsive behavior

TheWholeMind

546

drug therapy: combined with

holistic approaches,

5-6; role

of,

2-3

226

dust,

dying patients; See death; terminal

illness

E earth, See ecopsychology

eating disorders,

1

13, 266, 302,

313-17, 382, 400, 464, 470. See

also overeating

ecopsychology, 198-206 egocentrism, 368, 534 electrotherapy,

216

emotional experiences, verbal processing technique,

of,

465

74-75

emotional

recall

emotional

release. See catharsis; repressed

emotions

empathy. See role play; role reversal

empty

chair technique,

enuresis,

1

86

112,220,331,334

environmental

illness,

undetected, 224

environmental medicine, 224-38 environmental toxins, 32, 36; pesticides, 39. See

241-52. See

exercise therapy,

also

also

chemical

sensitivities

yoga

F fascia. See

Rolfing

fasting detoxification treatment, fatigue, 224, 226,

35-36

231, 277, 281, 405

87, 265, 390, 434, 437, 458-59. See also paranoia

fear,

feeling,

improved

feminine

identity,

ability for,

416

267. See also yin and yang

feminism, 201-2

Flower Essence Society, 259 flower essence therapy,

food

257-71

5^diet

food.

allergies, 36. See also allergies

forgiveness, spontaneous vs. forced,

freedom, psychological: increases frigidity,

88, 89,

in,

419 263

439

G gender

258. See also feminine identity; yin and yang

identity,

gestalt therapy,

446. See also empty chair technique

Goodheart, George, 72 74, 78, 88, 89, 122, 124-27, 155-56, 258, 264, 438, 449. See also

grief,

shock" syndrome

group

relations,

205

guided imagery and music (GIM), 119-29, 493-94 guided visualization, 446 guilt,

434

loss;

drug abuse, "sudden

Index

547

H Hahnemann, Samuel, 324-25 hallucinations,

225

hallucinogens,

286

Hanh, Thich Nhat, 199 head

injuries. See brain injuries

health care, politics of,

21-24

herbalism, 285-301; allopathic, 303-4; eclectic,

holistic health,

304

302-20

herbal self-care,

15-16

holotropic states. See altered states of consciousness

homeopathy, 292, 304, 323-36 homosexuality, 439 hospitalized patients, 501

humming, 492-93 humor, 469 hyperactivity, 224, 267; in children, 217. See also attention deficit disorder

hypnotherapy, 499

hypnotic regression, 433—34 hypoglycemia, undiagnosed, 275, 375 hysteria, 87, 88,

90

I imagery. See guided imagery

and music

impotence, 88, 89 impulsive behavior, 87. See also drug addiction; obsessive-compulsiveness

informed consent, lack

treatment,

of, inositol

40

insomnia, 146 integration, 191; of disowned parts of self, 262, 533; of opposites,

intimacy, 123, 379, 501; capacity irritability,

for,

146, 224, 274, 276-77, 302, 314, 317, 319, 333, 363, 477,

J Jung, Carl G., 48, 175, 262

K kinesiology. See applied kinesiology

kleptomania, 333 Krieger, Dolores,

499-500

Kunz, Dora, 499-500

L leadership learning,

262

395

skills,

205

315-17,319

learning ability, 535 learning disabilities,

523

learning disorders, 258,

446

(AK)

533

The

548

Whole

Mind

learning problems, 533 lesbianism,

439

changes, 5

lifestyle

339—46

light therapy,

listening, focused, loss,

LSD

492. See

464; spinal response

also

to,

music therapy; sound therapy

412. See also grief

45

therapy,

M 352-61

macrobiotics,

manic depression. See bipolar disorder marital relations. See relationship problems martial arts,

363-74

masculinity. See yin

and yang

massage, 377-87; aromatherapy, 85-86 mastery. See control

medical dogma, 21-22 medical/mechanistic approach. See allopathic

medical

politics,

medicine

vs. holistic

21-22

meditation, 100, 206, 371, 389-98; transcendental, 103

memory, 314-17, 319, 535; bone, 176. See

memory

problems, 533; loss of memory,

1

also

trauma

56, 274,

mental disorders: perinatal and transpersonal roots

302 of,

47; psychological causes, 99-100. See also

psychosis; psychosomatic disorders vs. somatopsychic disorders

meridians,

151,269,468

mirroring,

206

mold, 226

money

issues,

434

mood, 109, 394

mood

disorders, 424. See also bipolar disorder; depression

mood

moodiness and

swings, 88, 232, 276-77. See also irritability

mother-child bond, 270

mourning. See

grief; loss

moxabustion, 159

music therapy, 191-95. See

mutism,

elective,

also

guided imagery and music; sound therapy

334

myofascial release. See Rolfing

N nail biting,

328

narcissistic personality disorder, 104,

National Institute of Mental Health

331

(NIMH): dogma and

nature. See ecopsychology; wilderness experiences

naturopathy,

400^08

Naumberg, Margaret, 167

biases of,

37-38

Index

549

near-death experiences, 50

Network Spinal

Analysis, 4 1 0-2

318

nicotine withdrawal, 312,

400

nightmares,

nonordinary nutrition,

of consciousness (NSOC). See altered

states

states

of consciousness

426-30; yin and yang and, 355-56

o obsessive-compulsiveness, 87, 88, 91, 152, 332-33, 434, 508; inositol treatment, 40 odors, as diagnostic tool,

1

57

orthomolecular psychiatry, 423-31 osteopathy,

454

out-of-body experiences, 50 overeating, 314, 317,

332-33

P pain addiction, 469 pain management, Alexander Technique

for,

61

panic attacks, 87, 109, 112-13, 155, 246, 306, 312, 358-59, 464, 470, 502-3 paranoia,

329-30 433—43;

past

life

therapy,

past

life

trauma, 47

vs.

conventional therapy, 438

patient guidelines, 8-13, 67, 397. See also alternative practitioners; alternative treatments

performance anxiety, Alexander Technique

for,

personality disorders, 104, 314, 315, 331,

533

61, 65

pharmacology. See drug therapy

phlegm, 158 phobias, 74, 77, 328-29, 400, 434, 464; social, 328 physio-medicalists,

304

phytotherapy. See herbalism polarity therapy,

445-52

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 74, 122, 185, 464, 477; "sudden shock" syndrome, 156 posture, 379-80; as diagnostic tool,

power prayer,

issues,

157

434

389-98

preventative medicine,

327

primal mind, 44 psychedelic states. See altered states of consciousness psychiatry: biases of Western, 45, 46; orthomolecular,

423-31

psychoanalytic perspectives on alternative treatment, 122

psychodrama, 433, 434

psychoneuroimmunology, 260, 286 psychopharmacology. See drug therapy psychosis, 104, 219, 225,

329-30, 334;

allergic causes,

35-36; diet and, 31, 33-35; Edgar Cayce

treatment, 216-17; environmental toxins and, 32, 39, 41; fasting detoxification treatment,

The

550

Whole

Hind

35-36; overprescription of antipsychotic drugs, 32-33, 38; physiological problems causing, 41. See also mental disorders

psychosomatic disorders, 93, 258, 264, 268, 394-95, 437, 468, 521, 535; perinatal and transpersonal roots of, 47; vs. somatopsychic disorders,

14-15

psychotherapy: combined with holistic/alternative approaches, 4-6, 364, 372, 446, 460, 465, 490,

495, 499; role past

life

of,

2—4; traditional emphasis on intellectual insight, 48. See

therapy; Therapeutic

also

hypnotherapy;

Touch

psychotherapy patients, guidelines

for,

7

psychotropic medication. See drug therapy

PTSD.

qi,

See post-traumatic stress disorder

150, 154, 157-59, 371, 372. See also meridians

Qigong, 371,372, 374

R rage,

434, 438, 440. See

also

anger

Rank, Otto, 382 123-24, 266, 419, 434, 440-41

rape,

391

rebirth,

recovery programs,

446

regression therapy, 436. See also past

life

therapy

relationship memories, 176 relationship problems, 120, 187-88, 434,

438-39, 471, 490, 503. See

also

intimacy

relationships, 258, 395, 464. See also intimacy relaxation,

264-65, 379

repressed emotions,

446

repressed memories, 176, 381, 456, 459, 465, repression, resistance

and

restlessness,

defenses,

379-82, 520

319

retardation, mental, role play, 186, role reversal,

Rolfing,

495-96

434

177

187

186

453-62

Rubenfeld Synergy Method, 464-73 running, 242

s schizophrenia, 158, 219, 275, 316, 423-26, 490; biological causes and treatment, 41, 216, 375,

424-30; Edgar Cayce treatment

of,

216-17; nutrition and, 426-30

schizophrenic patients, 177, 185; hypoglycemia seasonal affective disorder, 280, 313, 318, 339, seizure self:

problems

in children,

in,

375

34l^i5

217

observing, 392, 393; regeneration of, 263; sense of, 168, 185, 206, 365. See also integration

self-acceptance, 379,

398

self-awareness, 395, 532,

535

Index

551

self-confidence, 109, 166,

535

365

self-consciousness,

self-esteem, 166, 363, 394,

470

470

self-expression, 191,

self-help. See herbal self-care; lifestyle

Selye,

Hans: cumulative

sensitivity,

changes

379

self-image, 88, 93, 102, 109, 206,

stress theory,

17-18

chemical. See chemical sensitivities

separation issues,

434

sexual abuse, 369, 380, 381, 384, 434, sexual desire,

439^0, 512-13;

sexual harassment prevention workshops,

of,

123-24

1

86

258

sexuality,

sexual problems, 328, sexual self-image,

shadow

adult survivors

88-90

part of

330—31

93

self,

integration of, 262. See also integration

shamanism, 446, 476-87; psychology

478-82

of,

shame, 378-79, 434 Shiatsu,

237

shoulders, raised: as "victim" posture, 176 social functioning, 187, social phobia,

395

328

social withdrawal,

357-58

somatopsychic

psychosomatic

vs.

sound therapy, 490-97. See

also

illness,

14-15

music therapy

spiritual experiences: pathologized

by Western

psychiatry, 48. See also altered states of consciousness;

shamanism spirituality. See

ecopsychology

stimulants, herbal, 311

Stone,

Thomas

stress,

17-18, 87, 88, 120, 264, 310-11, 363, 378, 501; Alexander Technique and, 60-61; cumu-

L.,

35

17-18

lative,

substance abuse. See drug abuse sugar, See

hypoglycemia

sugar-free diet,

symptoms, synergy,

273-82

"suggestive therapeutics,"

as therapeutic opportunities,

214

47

466

T temper tantrums, 193 tension,

terminal

513 illness,

193, 258, 470, 501-2. See also death

Therapeutic Touch (TT), 498-516 therapy. See psychotherapy

Thoreau, Henry David, 200-201 tobacco, mental illness and, 31

The

552

Whole Mind

tongue, as diagnostic tool, 157 toning,

492-93 478-82

Torrey, E. Fuller,

touch: memories accessed by, 465; therapeutic use toxins. See

of,

157-58. See

also

Therapeutic Touch

environmental toxins

Trager Approach, 508-16 tranquilizer psychosis,

423 319

tranquilizer withdrawal, treatment of, 312, transference,

480

transpersonal domain, 46-47, 205-6. See also altered states of consciousness

trauma, 122, 266, 363, 378, 392, 400, 414, 415, 418, 433, 436, 446, 456, 459, 464, 467, 471, 501; past-life,

434; uncovered by bodywork,

5.

See also catharsis; loss; post-traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD); repressed memories; sexual abuse trust,

381,460, 461

twelve-step programs,

Type

A behavior,

446

260

u unconscious, need for expanded model

of,

46-47

"victim" posture, raised shoulders as, 176 "vision quest,"

202-3, 206-9

vision therapy, 5

1

8-30

vulnerable feelings, allowing oneself to

feel,

379-81

w Walker, Sydney Walker

III,

41

walk/talk therapy. See exercise therapy

water impurities and

filtration,

wilderness experiences, will, creative,

295

204—5

382

withdrawal, 224

workaholism, 536

Y Yalom,

I.,

382

yin and yang, 148^49, 366; nutrition and, yoga,

532^i0

355-56

About

the Editor

Lynette Bassman, Ph.D. was born in Norwalk, CT, and received a bachelor's

degree in Sociology from Brandeis University. After a brief foray into the food business as a caterer, hospital dietetic aide, health food store produce manager,

and apprentice chology.

and

With

to a Viennese pastry chef, she sought a career in counseling psy-

a master's degree

Ph.D. from

a

and a university

New

faculty

from Columbia University Teachers College

York University, she has worked

member. She

is

as a psychotherapist

currently an Associate Professor at the

California School of Professional Psychology in Fresno,

CA, and

specializes in

health psychology.

Dr. Bassman lives with her husband, kinesiologist,

and her

and reading good

why ships

son.

fiction.

is

a chiropractor and applied

She enjoys running, vegetarian gourmet cooking,

Future publication plans include a book on

how and

people deceive themselves about important things like health, relation-

and the environment, and the global implications of this

She can be reached by writing to Novato, stories

to

who

New World

Library at 14 Pamaron Way,

CA 94949 or via e-mail at [email protected].

from people who have used these and other

enhance

their

self-deception.

She especially welcomes

holistic healing techniques

mental/emotional wellness, and constructive dialogue with

other health professionals.

New World

Library

is

dedicated to

publishing books and cassettes that inspire

and challenge us of our

to

lives

Our books and

improve the quality

and our world.

tapes are available

in bookstores everywhere.

For a catalog of our complete library

of fine books and

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Phone: (415) 884-2100 Fax: (415)

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Catalog requests: Ext. 50 Ordering: Ext. 52

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-

238

$22.95

Psychology / Health

erhaps the biggest change taking place

in health care

and mind are connected. Psychosomatic medicine

mind on the body Unfortunately, there

—

is

somatopsychic medicine Just as

Bill

a

much

is

today

is

the recognition that body

— the recognition of the effect of the

major step toward restoring the holistic view of health. less recognition as yet

about the other side of the coin:

— the effect of the body on the mind.

Moyers's Healing and the Mind and

Dr.

Andrew

Weil's

Spontaneous Healing

presented new syntheses of conventional and alternative medical treatments for the body, The Whole Mind details healing arts that offer help for mental

imbalances

in

ills

by treating

the body.

The Whole Mind collects original writings on thirty-six alternative healing modalities,

all

written by expert practitioners of each method. Also included are introductory essays by

Stanislov Grof on the role of spirituality in psychiatry and psychology, and two essays on the politics of health care by Jamison Starbuck, N.D., and John Steimaier.

The Whole Mind

is

an extraordinary guide to new and vital fields of health.

USE THIS

G

REAT BOOK.

—

JOSEPH PIZZORNO,

Total Wellness:

author of

Improve Your Health by Understanding

LYNETTE'S BOOK.

..IS

WONDERFUL

A

AND MUCH NEEDED RESOURCE.' — BROOKE MEDICINE EAGLE, author of Buffalo

Woman Comes

Singing

LYNETTE BASSMAN, Ph.D., was born

in Norwalk, CT,

and received

a bachelor's degree in sociology from Brandeis University. With a master's degree from a

Ph.D. from

Columbia University Teachers College and

New York

University, she has

worked as

chotherapist and a university faculty member. She associate

and

at

the

Fresno,

CA,

professor

Psychology

in

specializes

California

a

psy-

currently an

School of Professional

ISBN 1-57731-050-0 in

health

52295

psychology.

Cover design: Peri Poloni / Knockout Design Cover photograph: Tony Stone Images

is

9

I

781577"310501