PHILADELPHIA – In the late 1700s, Italian anatomist Luigi Galvani made a dead frog's muscles twitch when struck by a spark, a discovery that paved the way for the modern understanding of electricity's role in living things. It is the basis for countless medical technologies like the pacemaker.
But electricity does not travel easily through the skull to the brain, the organ responsible for every purposeful twitch and altered mood. So when a group of British scientists in 1985 used magnetic pulses from outside the head to induce an electrical field inside the brain – and got a subject's hands to move – their colleagues clamored for a chance to zap themselves.
That breakthrough, known as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), led to the Food and Drug Administration's approval last month of the first noninvasive, non-pharmacological treatment for depression.
As a practical matter, approval of the device made by Neuronetics Inc., a five-year-old Malvern, Pa., company, is intended for patients with major treatment-resistant depression who do not respond to any one medication. Millions of Americans fail to benefit from antidepressants, and millions more quit because of side effects.
Symbolically, the federal action is a big deal – another advance in a group of emerging fields that involve electrical stimulation of the brain.
"Our view of the brain is changing," said Mark S. George, a professor of psychiatry, radiology and neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Just 10 or 15 years ago, scientists thought of the brain as a single entity – what he called "the brain-as-soup" model. "But really you want to treat specific regions in the brain."
George is editor in chief of a year-old journal named Brain Stimulation, and he is a champion for the cause. After decades of success with psychiatric drugs, he said, "we had forgotten that the brain is really an electrical organ."
Researchers worldwide are testing therapies ranging from highly invasive electrical implants to hardly noticeable magnetic fields on dozens of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Success has been limited – but so are current treatment options.
When a major depression enveloped Ernie Mercer in the late 1980s, Prozac had just come on the market, and it worked. When depression struck again five years ago, it didn't. Neither did Effexor or a third drug. Worse, they made him nervous and constipated.
For Mercer, a retired engineer who lives near Atlantic City, depression was withdrawal from life. "Nothing was fun anymore," he said.
He answered an ad seeking research volunteers for an experimental treatment in 2005.
The clinical trial of transcranial magnetic stimulation went like this: He'd show up at a University of Pennsylvania clinic five times a week, answer the same set of questions about his mood, and then sit in what resembled a dentist's chair for 40 minutes with earplugs in his ears and an apparatus strapped to the top left of his head. He heard loud clicking sounds but felt nothing.
After four weeks, a sensation suddenly matched the clicking – "kind of like somebody tapping on your scalp like 10 times a second," he said – and his depression began to lift. He had been initially assigned to the sham (placebo) group; now he was getting TMS. After several weeks of the real thing, he felt fine. He still does.
Mercer, 65, paid nothing for either the treatment series or twice-monthly maintenance sessions ever since. The research grant ends this month, however, and the clinic will charge him $150 on its sliding scale if health insurance doesn't cover it; most of the clinic's patients are likely to pay at least $200. Insurers are just now beginning a review.
The new treatment is not a panacea. An unrelated study two years ago found that, of patients who failed to benefit from one antidepressant medication, just one-third responded adequately to a second. TMS produced a similar response rate (as does talk therapy, according to other studies), although the effect was described as greater.
The biggest difference is side effects, which cause many patients to stop taking antidepressants. The most commonly reported side effects to the brain stimulation were headaches and scalp irritation, both temporary.
TMS poses a slight risk of seizure. No incidents were reported in data on 10,000 sessions submitted to the FDA.
Neuronetics didn't seek approval to treat all major depression; when antidepressants work well, they are hard to beat. Still, the FDA rejected the initial application last year to use the NeuroStar TMS device for treatment-resistant cases generally.
A reanalysis of data on the 301 patients in the multicenter trial found the strongest response among those who had tried and failed with just one drug, and that's what the agency approved. Patients like Mercer, who gave up on three, can be treated "off label," which may be less likely to qualify for reimbursement.
Psychiatrist John O'Reardon, who ran the Neuronetics-funded trial at Penn and is beginning to study TMS for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in adolescents, believes that many people who can't tolerate antidepressants will find this easier despite the inconvenience of 20 to 30 daily sessions.
"They come in and sit in the chair, we slap a magnet on their head for 30 minutes, and afterward they can go home," said O'Reardon, director of Penn's Treatment Resistant Depression Clinic.
Magnet therapies have been advertised for years, usually to relieve pain, but have not been proved to work in rigorous trials. Most rely on simple, static magnets. The electromagnet in the new device is thousands of times more powerful, similar to that of an MRI, said Neuronetics chief executive officer Bruce Shook.
In repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), rapid series of pulses pass through the skull and induce an electrical field on the surface of the brain, exciting the neurons below.
For depression, the target is a postage stamp-size part of the left prefrontal cortex that is less active in depressed people. Scans confirm more activity after successful treatment of any kind, although the exact mechanism is not known.
The therapy is being studied for post-traumatic stress; obsessive-compulsive and panic disorders; fibromyalgia; and other conditions.
Showing posts with label Headaches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Headaches. Show all posts
07 February 2009
20 December 2008
Health Sense: Three important questions can reduce your risk of stroke
Strokes are both common and preventable: 80 percent of strokes are preventable. Recognizing the symptoms and acting fast to get medical attention can help save lives and limit ensuing disabilities a stroke victim may suffer.
In medical jargon, a stroke is a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and it occurs when a blood vessel in the brain suddenly becomes blocked or bursts. When this happens, blood fails to flow to that area in the brain, cutting off oxygen and nutrients to the brain cells there.
With no blood supply, the brain cells and nerves will die and the capacities that area of the brain controls will be lost, temporarily or permanently. When strokes are severe the sufferer can become paralyzed, unable to speak, or even go into a coma, depending on where the stroke occurs and how much of the brain is damaged.
Strokes can strike anyone at anytime, regardless of sex or age. Typically, stroke symptoms start suddenly, within seconds to minutes, and in most cases do not progress further. On average, two million brain cells die every minute following a typical stroke, which increases the chance of permanent damage, disability or death.
Stroke is the leading cause of disability among adults in the world today and one of the leading causes of death after cancer and heart disease. Disability affects 75 percent of stroke survivors, which can hamper their ability to work.
"The effects of stroke often place a significant burden of care on the patient's family because the stroke survivor often needs assistance in everyday activities we take for granted -- walking, eating, going to the toilet, talking," said Dr. Keith Goh, consultant neurosurgeon at International Neuro Associates, part of Novena Medical Centre and East Shore Hospital in Singapore.
"In addition to physical disabilities, 30 to 50 percent of stroke survivors suffer post-stroke depression -- they may be irritable and withdrawn, have trouble sleeping, and their self-esteem may suffer. In some cases, depression can reduce motivation and worsen patient's condition," he said.
With the effects of stroke being so often drastic, it's good news that they can be prevented. Three vital facts about stroke can help those at risk prevent them from occurring. First, what are the risk factors? Second, what tests can be done to assess an individual's risk? Third, what can be done to prevent a stroke?
Risk factors
Stroke occurs more often in people who fit the following categories. Strokes are more frequent in men than women, more frequent in the over-50 set. Habits and lifestyle choices mark other higher risk groups, including people who are overweight; have high blood pressure or diabetes; smoke tobacco, drink alcohol, and are under stress; do not exercise; and eat a diet high in salt and fat. Anyone with a history of heart disease in themselves or their families has a higher risk of stroke as well.
Signs, symptoms and medical tests
If you have one or some of the following signs or symptoms, even for a short time, you may have experienced a stroke. These include: sudden loss of vision; weakness in the face, an arm or a leg; difficulty talking or understanding speech; or severe headaches, dizziness or loss of balance. Your doctor may advise testing such as computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which provide images of the brain so she or he can look for signs of a stroke. Often the doctor will also ask for an angiogram, to study the blood vessels, or a perfusion scan to assess the pattern of blood flow. Several blood tests are commonly ordered to assess the overall risk of stroke.
F.A.S.T is a simple test for detecting stroke symptoms early. This will allow for immediate and appropriate medical care, which can help prevent death from strokes, and reduce the severity of disability after one occurs.
F = FACE
Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A = ARM
Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = SPEECH
Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T = TIME
If a person has trouble with any of these simple commands, emergency services should be called immediately.
Stroke prevention
If you have any risk factors described above, your doctor will advise you on how to reduce the likelihood of a stroke. Regular medical check-ups to monitor and treat high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol and heart disease; leading a healthy lifestyle, regular exercises, stress reduction and not smoking will help to prevent an onset of stroke.
"Sometimes medication will need to be given, such as anti-platelet drugs or anti-coagulant drugs, to prevent blockage of a blood vessel. And if there are blood vessel abnormalities, which may lead to bleeding in the brain, then surgery may be needed," said Dr. Charles Siow, a consultant neurologist, also on staff at International Neuro Associates.
Everyone has some stroke risk. While some factors are beyond your control, regular check-ups and early detection can help reduce the likelihood and reduce the severity of any stroke you do experience. The Neurosurgery and Neurology Specialists of International Neuro Associates provides a stroke risk assessment consultancy service, where a panel of blood and radiology tests are performed to assess a patient's risk of stroke. Costing S$1,500 (US$1,015), the stroke risk screening package includes; MRI and MRA scans; blood tests (FBC, renal panel, HBA1C, lipid panel, CRP, PT/PTT); ECG; clinical assessment and consultation with a neurologist or neurosurgeon.
In medical jargon, a stroke is a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and it occurs when a blood vessel in the brain suddenly becomes blocked or bursts. When this happens, blood fails to flow to that area in the brain, cutting off oxygen and nutrients to the brain cells there.
With no blood supply, the brain cells and nerves will die and the capacities that area of the brain controls will be lost, temporarily or permanently. When strokes are severe the sufferer can become paralyzed, unable to speak, or even go into a coma, depending on where the stroke occurs and how much of the brain is damaged.
Strokes can strike anyone at anytime, regardless of sex or age. Typically, stroke symptoms start suddenly, within seconds to minutes, and in most cases do not progress further. On average, two million brain cells die every minute following a typical stroke, which increases the chance of permanent damage, disability or death.
Stroke is the leading cause of disability among adults in the world today and one of the leading causes of death after cancer and heart disease. Disability affects 75 percent of stroke survivors, which can hamper their ability to work.
"The effects of stroke often place a significant burden of care on the patient's family because the stroke survivor often needs assistance in everyday activities we take for granted -- walking, eating, going to the toilet, talking," said Dr. Keith Goh, consultant neurosurgeon at International Neuro Associates, part of Novena Medical Centre and East Shore Hospital in Singapore.
"In addition to physical disabilities, 30 to 50 percent of stroke survivors suffer post-stroke depression -- they may be irritable and withdrawn, have trouble sleeping, and their self-esteem may suffer. In some cases, depression can reduce motivation and worsen patient's condition," he said.
With the effects of stroke being so often drastic, it's good news that they can be prevented. Three vital facts about stroke can help those at risk prevent them from occurring. First, what are the risk factors? Second, what tests can be done to assess an individual's risk? Third, what can be done to prevent a stroke?
Risk factors
Stroke occurs more often in people who fit the following categories. Strokes are more frequent in men than women, more frequent in the over-50 set. Habits and lifestyle choices mark other higher risk groups, including people who are overweight; have high blood pressure or diabetes; smoke tobacco, drink alcohol, and are under stress; do not exercise; and eat a diet high in salt and fat. Anyone with a history of heart disease in themselves or their families has a higher risk of stroke as well.
Signs, symptoms and medical tests
If you have one or some of the following signs or symptoms, even for a short time, you may have experienced a stroke. These include: sudden loss of vision; weakness in the face, an arm or a leg; difficulty talking or understanding speech; or severe headaches, dizziness or loss of balance. Your doctor may advise testing such as computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which provide images of the brain so she or he can look for signs of a stroke. Often the doctor will also ask for an angiogram, to study the blood vessels, or a perfusion scan to assess the pattern of blood flow. Several blood tests are commonly ordered to assess the overall risk of stroke.
F.A.S.T is a simple test for detecting stroke symptoms early. This will allow for immediate and appropriate medical care, which can help prevent death from strokes, and reduce the severity of disability after one occurs.
F = FACE
Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A = ARM
Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = SPEECH
Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T = TIME
If a person has trouble with any of these simple commands, emergency services should be called immediately.
Stroke prevention
If you have any risk factors described above, your doctor will advise you on how to reduce the likelihood of a stroke. Regular medical check-ups to monitor and treat high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol and heart disease; leading a healthy lifestyle, regular exercises, stress reduction and not smoking will help to prevent an onset of stroke.
"Sometimes medication will need to be given, such as anti-platelet drugs or anti-coagulant drugs, to prevent blockage of a blood vessel. And if there are blood vessel abnormalities, which may lead to bleeding in the brain, then surgery may be needed," said Dr. Charles Siow, a consultant neurologist, also on staff at International Neuro Associates.
Everyone has some stroke risk. While some factors are beyond your control, regular check-ups and early detection can help reduce the likelihood and reduce the severity of any stroke you do experience. The Neurosurgery and Neurology Specialists of International Neuro Associates provides a stroke risk assessment consultancy service, where a panel of blood and radiology tests are performed to assess a patient's risk of stroke. Costing S$1,500 (US$1,015), the stroke risk screening package includes; MRI and MRA scans; blood tests (FBC, renal panel, HBA1C, lipid panel, CRP, PT/PTT); ECG; clinical assessment and consultation with a neurologist or neurosurgeon.
31 August 2008
Rain the Salon and Day Spa
CranioSacral Therapy: Discover Healing in A Gentle Touch
Candi Sparks, Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT #3465) for Rain the Salon and Day Spa participated recently in the CranioSacral Theraopy workshop offered by The Upledger Institute, Inc. of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, an innovative healthcare organization that offers continuing education courses to medical professionals worldwide. This technique has been taught internationally and to be able to offer these services to the Monroe area is a big plus. CranioSacral Therapy was developed by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger in the early 1970's.
CranioSacral Therapy is a light-touch approach that helps alleviate pain from the body. This technique is used to detect and correct imbalances in the craniosacral system. These imbalances may lead to sensory, motor and/or neurological dysfunctions. The CranioSacral system is made up of membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. From the top of the bones of the skull, face and mouth-which make up the cranium-all the way down to the tailbone.
The Central Nervous System has a large impact over a body's health and well-being but most importantly, the CranioSacral System has more influence over the Central Nervous System. With everyday tensions and stresses in life, the body absorbs them and eventually can hinder other systems from performing effectively. The muscles and tissues tighten over time causing pain and tension in the body. CranioSacral Therapy helps to eliminate the pain and tension naturally and strengthens the body's resistance to disease and promotes a sense of well-being.
This therapy is also used to release tension deep in the body to improve whole-body health and performance. It also allows the body's self-healing mechanisms to correct the body and relax. Anyone at any age from adults to infants can benefit from CranioSacral Therapy because it is so gentle. It has been proven successful relief for a wide range of medical problems associated with neurological dysfunction-conditions include: headaches, migraines, chronic neck and back pain, TMJ Dysfunctions, chronic fatique, stress and tension-related disorders, motor-coordination impairments, brain and spinal cord injuries, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, depression and many other conditions.
Each CranioSacral therapy session is highly individual and results will vary. Clients remain fully clothed during each session and relax on a comfortable heated table. Most sessions last about an hour and can be deeply relaxing. Experience how you can feel better now and eliminate the pain. Call and schedule your reservation today with Candi at Rain the Salon and Day Spa, 318-651-8088.
Candi Sparks, Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT #3465) for Rain the Salon and Day Spa participated recently in the CranioSacral Theraopy workshop offered by The Upledger Institute, Inc. of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, an innovative healthcare organization that offers continuing education courses to medical professionals worldwide. This technique has been taught internationally and to be able to offer these services to the Monroe area is a big plus. CranioSacral Therapy was developed by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger in the early 1970's.
CranioSacral Therapy is a light-touch approach that helps alleviate pain from the body. This technique is used to detect and correct imbalances in the craniosacral system. These imbalances may lead to sensory, motor and/or neurological dysfunctions. The CranioSacral system is made up of membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. From the top of the bones of the skull, face and mouth-which make up the cranium-all the way down to the tailbone.
The Central Nervous System has a large impact over a body's health and well-being but most importantly, the CranioSacral System has more influence over the Central Nervous System. With everyday tensions and stresses in life, the body absorbs them and eventually can hinder other systems from performing effectively. The muscles and tissues tighten over time causing pain and tension in the body. CranioSacral Therapy helps to eliminate the pain and tension naturally and strengthens the body's resistance to disease and promotes a sense of well-being.
This therapy is also used to release tension deep in the body to improve whole-body health and performance. It also allows the body's self-healing mechanisms to correct the body and relax. Anyone at any age from adults to infants can benefit from CranioSacral Therapy because it is so gentle. It has been proven successful relief for a wide range of medical problems associated with neurological dysfunction-conditions include: headaches, migraines, chronic neck and back pain, TMJ Dysfunctions, chronic fatique, stress and tension-related disorders, motor-coordination impairments, brain and spinal cord injuries, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, depression and many other conditions.
Each CranioSacral therapy session is highly individual and results will vary. Clients remain fully clothed during each session and relax on a comfortable heated table. Most sessions last about an hour and can be deeply relaxing. Experience how you can feel better now and eliminate the pain. Call and schedule your reservation today with Candi at Rain the Salon and Day Spa, 318-651-8088.
11 August 2008
Holistic living
Changing the Landscape of our Bodies
by Karin Twohig
As a veteran body worker of over 25 years, I have discovered that it is completely possible to change the patterns of our bodies. Bowenwork, a revolutionary healing modality (named in July 2004 as one of “the most innovative body therapies” by O The Oprah Magazine) transforms the landscape of the entire body by reminding us of its original blueprint of perfect health. Bowenwork adjusts tension levels by working through the nervous system and releasing tissue memory that holds the structure restricted or frozen. This allows the structure itself to change its holding patterns that determine what the body landscape looks like.
After 13 years as a deep tissue massage therapist, I discovered that Bowenwork not only could change the body using no force, but could also integrate the information on a deeper level. This has changed my life. Now, 14 years later, I use Bowenwork exclusively and have been teaching it for the past eight years to chiropractors, physical therapists, nurses, massage therapists, MDs and lay people alike.
Tom Bowen developed the unique healing system of Bowenwork in Australia about forty years ago. He developed his technique without having previous formal training in any modality or discipline. He saw his work as “a gift from God.” Bowen continued to develop and refine the technique throughout his lifetime by performing about 13,000 treatments a year.
Bowenwork involves gentle, yet powerful movements on muscle and connective tissue, and may be done through clothing. These movements prompt soft tissue release, sending neurological impulses to the brain. Because the impulses travel through the internal nervous system pathways, they stimulate whole brain responses which address every system in the body—internal organ systems, as well as musculo-skeletal structure.
By selecting appropriate combinations and sequences of moves, the Bowen practitioner is able to address the body as a whole while targeting more specific problems. Healing occurs by affecting the body’s autonomic nervous system, which creates homeostasis at the cellular level.
Pauses are inserted between sets of these moves, which allow the brain to process and send messages to realign the body. It is thought that because the entire brain is stimulated, the original genetic pattern is re-awakened, releasing more recent injuries and compensation patterns even years after the original injury.
Respecting these pauses is an essential component of Bowenwork because they give the body sufficient time to remember and restore its own healthy, natural balance. They also allow the practitioner to work on multiple clients simultaneously. The gentleness of the Bowen Technique protects the therapist from overuse injury, while providing positive results and lasting effects for the client.
Treatments are individualized, generally lasting 60 minutes. Traumas, old injuries and chronic pain begin to unwind. Typically there is rapid change after addressing acute conditions and a steady improvement of chronic conditions. Bowenwork frequently triggers surprising and unexpected recoveries, even when nothing else has been successful.
Often only a few sessions are needed to alleviate long-standing complaints, whether they are structural or functional. Many people choose to have monthly or quarterly maintenance sessions once their initial complaint is addressed. It is ideal to have a session as soon after an injury as possible, before the body begins to compensate.
Dr. Robert Rowen’s Second Opinion Newsletter headlined Bowenwork therapy in July 2003 as “the gentlest, most effective pain therapy ever.” People throughout the world have found lasting relief from lower back pain, sciatica, sports injuries, sprains, knee pain, shoulder restrictions, carpal tunnel, whiplash, migraines, headaches, TMJ, chronic sinus infections, fibromyalgia, chronic stress, neurological and digestive problems and countless other conditions.
Bowenwork is completely safe and appropriate for everyone—from highly trained athletes to newborns, pregnant women, the elderly and the chronically ill. The most common reaction to Bowenwork is a deep sense of overall relaxation, relief from muscular tension and pain, and a heightened sense of well being.
Karin Twohig is a Bowen Practitioner and Instructor. Contact her to learn this unique Australian healing system at 831.238.2228 or visit www.bowenworkschool.com. Or visit the international website of the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia www.bowtech.com.
by Karin Twohig
As a veteran body worker of over 25 years, I have discovered that it is completely possible to change the patterns of our bodies. Bowenwork, a revolutionary healing modality (named in July 2004 as one of “the most innovative body therapies” by O The Oprah Magazine) transforms the landscape of the entire body by reminding us of its original blueprint of perfect health. Bowenwork adjusts tension levels by working through the nervous system and releasing tissue memory that holds the structure restricted or frozen. This allows the structure itself to change its holding patterns that determine what the body landscape looks like.
After 13 years as a deep tissue massage therapist, I discovered that Bowenwork not only could change the body using no force, but could also integrate the information on a deeper level. This has changed my life. Now, 14 years later, I use Bowenwork exclusively and have been teaching it for the past eight years to chiropractors, physical therapists, nurses, massage therapists, MDs and lay people alike.
Tom Bowen developed the unique healing system of Bowenwork in Australia about forty years ago. He developed his technique without having previous formal training in any modality or discipline. He saw his work as “a gift from God.” Bowen continued to develop and refine the technique throughout his lifetime by performing about 13,000 treatments a year.
Bowenwork involves gentle, yet powerful movements on muscle and connective tissue, and may be done through clothing. These movements prompt soft tissue release, sending neurological impulses to the brain. Because the impulses travel through the internal nervous system pathways, they stimulate whole brain responses which address every system in the body—internal organ systems, as well as musculo-skeletal structure.
By selecting appropriate combinations and sequences of moves, the Bowen practitioner is able to address the body as a whole while targeting more specific problems. Healing occurs by affecting the body’s autonomic nervous system, which creates homeostasis at the cellular level.
Pauses are inserted between sets of these moves, which allow the brain to process and send messages to realign the body. It is thought that because the entire brain is stimulated, the original genetic pattern is re-awakened, releasing more recent injuries and compensation patterns even years after the original injury.
Respecting these pauses is an essential component of Bowenwork because they give the body sufficient time to remember and restore its own healthy, natural balance. They also allow the practitioner to work on multiple clients simultaneously. The gentleness of the Bowen Technique protects the therapist from overuse injury, while providing positive results and lasting effects for the client.
Treatments are individualized, generally lasting 60 minutes. Traumas, old injuries and chronic pain begin to unwind. Typically there is rapid change after addressing acute conditions and a steady improvement of chronic conditions. Bowenwork frequently triggers surprising and unexpected recoveries, even when nothing else has been successful.
Often only a few sessions are needed to alleviate long-standing complaints, whether they are structural or functional. Many people choose to have monthly or quarterly maintenance sessions once their initial complaint is addressed. It is ideal to have a session as soon after an injury as possible, before the body begins to compensate.
Dr. Robert Rowen’s Second Opinion Newsletter headlined Bowenwork therapy in July 2003 as “the gentlest, most effective pain therapy ever.” People throughout the world have found lasting relief from lower back pain, sciatica, sports injuries, sprains, knee pain, shoulder restrictions, carpal tunnel, whiplash, migraines, headaches, TMJ, chronic sinus infections, fibromyalgia, chronic stress, neurological and digestive problems and countless other conditions.
Bowenwork is completely safe and appropriate for everyone—from highly trained athletes to newborns, pregnant women, the elderly and the chronically ill. The most common reaction to Bowenwork is a deep sense of overall relaxation, relief from muscular tension and pain, and a heightened sense of well being.
Karin Twohig is a Bowen Practitioner and Instructor. Contact her to learn this unique Australian healing system at 831.238.2228 or visit www.bowenworkschool.com. Or visit the international website of the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia www.bowtech.com.
Bizarre, but it works brilliantly
When it comes to bizarre therapies, this week's -- the Dawson Program -- is top of the list.
Or rather it was when I first came across it and its Australian originator seven years ago. Armed with an eclectic collection of bells and bowls, horns and pipes, Cameron Dawson was a man you could never forget.
Then in his sixties, the Santa lookalike stunned DJ Gerry Ryan into silence on air -- no mean feat -- by correctly identifying and treating his back and digestive problems and a lazy eye.
Bizarre, it transpires, can also be brilliant and, for me, the Dawson Program, based on ancient traditions originating 5,000 years ago, falls into that category. Whenever something doesn't feel quite right healthwise it is my first port of call, and as a result I haven't needed to attend a doctor since first discovering it.
Developed more than 35 years ago, the technique, which is also known as Vibrational Kinesiology, treats a patient by correcting the malfunctions in their electrical field using sounds, affirmations, intention and semi-precious stones.
It is based on the belief that the human body is a self-creating and self-correcting system, given the opportunity to do so. Pivotal to this is the understanding that all life form vibrates at an optimum frequency of 77.6MHz.
Having trained with the late Cameron, Jill Kenny runs clinics in Kenmare and Kilmoyley in Co Kerry.
"When a client comes for a session it is like bringing their car for a service. Non-invasively, we check every bone, gland and organ in the body and get everything operating correctly again by working with the subconscious mind and sound frequencies.
"It differs from other therapies out there in that there is no manual re-adjustment back into alignment. Instead, when we work with the electrical fields the bodily corrections are carried out by the body itself in response to the sound therapy," explains Jill.
Spine straightening
As odd as this sounds, I remember distinctly feeling as if the curvature of my spine (scoliosis) straightened itself in a few minutes the first time I heard these fairly weird natural sounds being played by Cameron close to my body, as I repeated affirmations. This was followed by an intense heat in my back for two days. Who needs drugs when nature can do such a spectacular job instead?
To ensure the readjustment held I would play a correctional sounds CD once a week.
"The source of illness in the human body, according to the Dawson Program, is a combination of frequency malfunction, water and nutrient deficiency which can be further exacerbated by chemical damage or exposure to unusual forms of irritation to the cells."
On meeting Jill in her Kenmare clinic, she uses kinesiology to run through a set protocol of questions for my subconscious mind to answer. For those unfamiliar with kinesiology, it is also known as 'muscle-testing' and is based on the fundamental principle that the body doesn't lie.
When asked direct questions with no interference from the rational mind, the body clearly answers by its muscle strength -- if the answer is yes the muscle is strong, if no it is weak.
She gradually goes through the 28 main electrical frequencies of my system including the chakras (the energy centres of the body), the 14 meridians (the pathways that send the energy throughout the body) and the seven auric fields around my body.
Each of these systems, the Dawson Program claims, has individual frequencies that can be affected by shock, causing an imbalance to chemical, physical and emotional functions.
As she encounters imbalances -- such as my sacrum, due no doubt to the pressure of the baby or the two bones that were out of place in my neck -- she plays the sounds of cymbals, horns and Tibetan bowls, while I repeat affirmations relating to the associated emotion.
While she treats people for all sorts of issues, a growing area is that of dyslexia.
"Contrary to popular belief, Cameron's extensive study and work found dyslexia to be a visual impairment problem that has nothing to do with the basic intelligence of the individual.
"The eyesight problem, he believed, was caused by an emotional shock that leads to a malfunction of the electrical system and seeing the results achieved in a matter of minutes with child after child who comes in here unable to read and leaves reading, there is no doubt he was on to something."
Verdict: The Dawson Program is non-invasive and natural, albeit totally bizarre at first to realise the extent of the healing power of sound combined intention. Since then it has been my healthcare system.
Highly recommended.
A 60-minute session with Jill Kenny costs €100.
To make an appointment call 086 847 0156
How does it work?
THE FACTS:
THE DAWSON Program combines the ancient knowledge and practices of the Egyptians, Chinese, Hindus, Buddhists and Shamanic healers, the sacred texts — including the Old and New Testaments — with the western knowledge of the body’s anatomy, physiology and pathology.
Some 35 years in the making — 20 years of research and an additional 15 of experience throughout the world — the seed from which it grew was an accident in which one of Dawson’s children fell out of a truck, hitting her head.
Afterwards, her school grades plummeted and he brought her to an elder in Australia who instantly noticed a bone in her head was out of place. On the way home after being corrected, the young child told her dad she could again read the road signs.
This piqued the businessman’s curiosity and, due to his own ill health later, he delved deeper into the ancient understandings shared by all indigenous cultures. The Dawson Program is now practiced worldwide.
THE EVIDENCE:
As a little-known therapy, no studies appear to have been carried out on the Dawson Program as yet. However anecdotally, the evidence shows significant results in relation to specific problems where often all else has failed, such as fertility issues, dyslexia, learning difficulties and autism.
It has also be found to be effective with a variety of more common conditions from back problems, headaches, panic attacks, depression, ME to MS.
- Niamh Hooper
Or rather it was when I first came across it and its Australian originator seven years ago. Armed with an eclectic collection of bells and bowls, horns and pipes, Cameron Dawson was a man you could never forget.
Then in his sixties, the Santa lookalike stunned DJ Gerry Ryan into silence on air -- no mean feat -- by correctly identifying and treating his back and digestive problems and a lazy eye.
Bizarre, it transpires, can also be brilliant and, for me, the Dawson Program, based on ancient traditions originating 5,000 years ago, falls into that category. Whenever something doesn't feel quite right healthwise it is my first port of call, and as a result I haven't needed to attend a doctor since first discovering it.
Developed more than 35 years ago, the technique, which is also known as Vibrational Kinesiology, treats a patient by correcting the malfunctions in their electrical field using sounds, affirmations, intention and semi-precious stones.
It is based on the belief that the human body is a self-creating and self-correcting system, given the opportunity to do so. Pivotal to this is the understanding that all life form vibrates at an optimum frequency of 77.6MHz.
Having trained with the late Cameron, Jill Kenny runs clinics in Kenmare and Kilmoyley in Co Kerry.
"When a client comes for a session it is like bringing their car for a service. Non-invasively, we check every bone, gland and organ in the body and get everything operating correctly again by working with the subconscious mind and sound frequencies.
"It differs from other therapies out there in that there is no manual re-adjustment back into alignment. Instead, when we work with the electrical fields the bodily corrections are carried out by the body itself in response to the sound therapy," explains Jill.
Spine straightening
As odd as this sounds, I remember distinctly feeling as if the curvature of my spine (scoliosis) straightened itself in a few minutes the first time I heard these fairly weird natural sounds being played by Cameron close to my body, as I repeated affirmations. This was followed by an intense heat in my back for two days. Who needs drugs when nature can do such a spectacular job instead?
To ensure the readjustment held I would play a correctional sounds CD once a week.
"The source of illness in the human body, according to the Dawson Program, is a combination of frequency malfunction, water and nutrient deficiency which can be further exacerbated by chemical damage or exposure to unusual forms of irritation to the cells."
On meeting Jill in her Kenmare clinic, she uses kinesiology to run through a set protocol of questions for my subconscious mind to answer. For those unfamiliar with kinesiology, it is also known as 'muscle-testing' and is based on the fundamental principle that the body doesn't lie.
When asked direct questions with no interference from the rational mind, the body clearly answers by its muscle strength -- if the answer is yes the muscle is strong, if no it is weak.
She gradually goes through the 28 main electrical frequencies of my system including the chakras (the energy centres of the body), the 14 meridians (the pathways that send the energy throughout the body) and the seven auric fields around my body.
Each of these systems, the Dawson Program claims, has individual frequencies that can be affected by shock, causing an imbalance to chemical, physical and emotional functions.
As she encounters imbalances -- such as my sacrum, due no doubt to the pressure of the baby or the two bones that were out of place in my neck -- she plays the sounds of cymbals, horns and Tibetan bowls, while I repeat affirmations relating to the associated emotion.
While she treats people for all sorts of issues, a growing area is that of dyslexia.
"Contrary to popular belief, Cameron's extensive study and work found dyslexia to be a visual impairment problem that has nothing to do with the basic intelligence of the individual.
"The eyesight problem, he believed, was caused by an emotional shock that leads to a malfunction of the electrical system and seeing the results achieved in a matter of minutes with child after child who comes in here unable to read and leaves reading, there is no doubt he was on to something."
Verdict: The Dawson Program is non-invasive and natural, albeit totally bizarre at first to realise the extent of the healing power of sound combined intention. Since then it has been my healthcare system.
Highly recommended.
A 60-minute session with Jill Kenny costs €100.
To make an appointment call 086 847 0156
How does it work?
THE FACTS:
THE DAWSON Program combines the ancient knowledge and practices of the Egyptians, Chinese, Hindus, Buddhists and Shamanic healers, the sacred texts — including the Old and New Testaments — with the western knowledge of the body’s anatomy, physiology and pathology.
Some 35 years in the making — 20 years of research and an additional 15 of experience throughout the world — the seed from which it grew was an accident in which one of Dawson’s children fell out of a truck, hitting her head.
Afterwards, her school grades plummeted and he brought her to an elder in Australia who instantly noticed a bone in her head was out of place. On the way home after being corrected, the young child told her dad she could again read the road signs.
This piqued the businessman’s curiosity and, due to his own ill health later, he delved deeper into the ancient understandings shared by all indigenous cultures. The Dawson Program is now practiced worldwide.
THE EVIDENCE:
As a little-known therapy, no studies appear to have been carried out on the Dawson Program as yet. However anecdotally, the evidence shows significant results in relation to specific problems where often all else has failed, such as fertility issues, dyslexia, learning difficulties and autism.
It has also be found to be effective with a variety of more common conditions from back problems, headaches, panic attacks, depression, ME to MS.
- Niamh Hooper
18 February 2008
Strange things going on in my head
Since a young age probably teens I have always tended to have a weak left arm well always used right arm / hand for things. Before I had my back surgery done always used left arm to hold myself up to hold me up and needed to do things with my right most of the time. Then I had the operation and I slowly started to use left arm and hand for something’s, but still tended to use right.
Anyway recently I came home from work and developed a banging headache as the evening went on, I put it down to busy day and tiredness and went to bed and took a paracetamol slept it off. I woke next morning fine didn't think anything of it went down for breakfast and mum had made me cup of tea and placed it so could get it with strong hand as normal, but for some odd reason I moved my left arm and went to get it with hand and picked it up with no problem and I have never been able too do that without a struggle.
I am wondering if headache was something reconnecting in head because I can still do it and its improving all of the time. I went back to work after the event and was really pleased with myself and people picked up on it. I said I have something to show you and I proceeded to pick up my desk and the response was you can't do that !!!!!!!! I just have I said
Anyway recently I came home from work and developed a banging headache as the evening went on, I put it down to busy day and tiredness and went to bed and took a paracetamol slept it off. I woke next morning fine didn't think anything of it went down for breakfast and mum had made me cup of tea and placed it so could get it with strong hand as normal, but for some odd reason I moved my left arm and went to get it with hand and picked it up with no problem and I have never been able too do that without a struggle.
I am wondering if headache was something reconnecting in head because I can still do it and its improving all of the time. I went back to work after the event and was really pleased with myself and people picked up on it. I said I have something to show you and I proceeded to pick up my desk and the response was you can't do that !!!!!!!! I just have I said
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