My mother, who lived a long life, true to her British heritage of keeping a "stiff upper lip," rarely complained but would sometimes remark that she wished she could wake up and have just one day completely free of any aches or pains. Now that I am entering my eighth decade, I am beginning to understand what she meant.
While I think of myself as a basically very healthy individual and even feel a little smug and superior when asked to check off past illnesses and operations on those lengthy questionnaires at the doctor’s office, I am aware of some new twinges in the hinges and an occasional sudden ouch, which seems to come out of nowhere.
I decided, therefore, to take a look at just a few of the many alternative therapies that are becoming more popular, especially with seniors like myself whose various body parts are complaining about how long they have been in service.
While many of these therapies are said to be effective in conditions which don’t respond to conventional approaches, I have no medical background or knowledge and what follows is a completely unscientific and personal account and not an endorsement of any kind.
Several therapies are based on the power of a healing touch. Reiki, which is a Japanese word for universal life energy, attempts to integrate spiritual, mental, emotional and physical bodies. Since my cousin is a Reiki practitioner, I tried that first.
Lying fully clothed on the couch at home, my cousin Maureen Richards, spoke softly as she placed her hands on various parts of my body. The Reiki hand positions broadly correspond to the seven major energy centers of the body known as chakras. The treatment’s purpose is to realign, rebalance and recharge the body’s energy system.
This ancient method is designed to help the person being treated to draw healing life energy through the practitioner to themselves.
The next therapy I investigated is called CranioSacral which was designed by Dr. John Upledger, an osteopathic physician who was a professor of biomechanics at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University. My therapist was Elizabeth Santoro, a member of the American Massage Therapy Association who also teaches the popular BodyWise classes at the Guilford senior center.
Treatments are given in a very private and soothing atmosphere at her home. Again, gentle touch is used to release the tensions that can build and compromise the function of the central nervous system. It may eliminate pain and stress, strengthen resistance to disease and enhance health and well being.
CranioSacral is, in some ways, the opposite of reflexology which generally works on the feet to relieve body imbalances and clear vital energy pathways. However, many practitioners use a combination of several modalities in their therapy.
My next appointment was at the New Beginnings Spa and Wellness Center in Guilford. Available are a wide range of cosmetic services, massage therapies and some holistic medical services, as well.
Katie Murray gave me an energy medicine session, prior to a planned hospitalization for minor surgery at Yale. Energy medicine works with the physical body as well as the energy field surrounding the body (aura). It believes that we have rings around our bodies that are physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
Lastly, I had an appointment with an acupuncturist, Dr. Steven Jacobs. This 5,000-year-old method of healing which originated in China, now has more than 8,000 practitioners in America. The insertion of thin needles was surprisingly painless and was combined with deep-tissue massage and heat.
While all of the therapies mentioned should in no way replace doctor visits and traditional medicine, they do, apparently, offer some alternative and even complementary treatment to regular medicine and have helped some people.
As we age and develop some inevitable aches and pains, it is helpful to be aware of the many avenues that offer hope for relief. As in any field, it is important to check on the reputation and skill of the therapist you choose. I found all of the treatments relaxing and soothing, but I have no way of knowing at present whether they might offer long-term results.
Jean Cherni
is founder of Senior Living Solutions, a retirement advisory
service. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or
15 The Ponds, Branford 06405.
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