Complementary Therapies

1. Complementary Therapies

2. Traditional Chinese Medicine*What I am studying • Origins of Acupuncture • Not definite! TCM is around 3,000 years old, but the theory is that the Chinese were the first to formalize and document it • Origins are a mystery because a 5,000+ year old mummified man was found in central Europe with tattoos of therapeutic acupuncture points in his skin.

3. Main Philosophy of TCM • The first thing we were taught about TCM belief is: We are an energy field that happens to have a body in it. • That energy is referred to in acupuncture as Qi (prounced Chi), or has other names such as prana, aura, chakras, vibes, intention, etc.

4. Acupuncture Goal is to: Balance an energy field that has established a pattern of disharmony Instruments of acupuncture • Needles – inserted in points along energetic pathways we call meridians in the body, the needles are thinner than the shaft of your hair (No need to be scared of the needles). The needles move Qi (Chi). • Moxibustion – An Herb that is burned on an acupuncture point or on the end of a needle to enhance a change in Qi. • Herbs • Exercise – You move stagnant energy during exercise, very helpful with anxiety that is often due to too much mental activity, needs to be balanced with the physical. • Nutrition – TCM belief is that food is medicine, change your diet and change your life. Eat with the seasons, eat whole unprocessed foods! Your energy system ebbs and flows with the energy of nature.

5. Interesting Western Medicine and TCM fact • After a laparoscopy patients often complain of pain in the clavicles and shoulders post-surgery. This is a result of the air pumped into inflate the abdomen • Why? – viscera of lower abdominal organs are low in nociceptors and can not communicate pain as a result of pressure from the trapped air. That air pushes up against the diaphragm and gallbladder. The shoulder pain is a result of the body communicating the discomfort along the gallbladder meridian. This phenomena is called referred pain

7. Foundation of TCMYin and Yang • This symbol is YOU! This is symbol represents EVERYTHING you encounter! This symbol represents BALANCE and HEALTH, it is HOLISM, and INTEGRATION. Most importantly this is where the health care system is heading, this is western medicine and complimentary therapies coming together to assist the sick together. • In China MD’s and TCM Doctors work together under one roof.

8. Yin and Yang

9. Balance and Harmony • Results when we are able to equally incorporate our yin and yang aspects or a.k.a our left and right brain thinking • America typically is a left brained society and often overlooks of dismisses the importance of yin activities and qualities in life

10. Left and Right Brain cont: • There are 4 brain wave patterns: Beta – Brain wave cycling at full alert wakefullness Alpha - Brain waves during reading, relaxing, daydreaming Theta – Brain waves a deep relaxation and light sleep Delta – Deep sleep * The first two wave patterns are yang (left brain activities) the last two are yin (right brain activities)

11. Brain Waves • The division between upper two brain waves and the lower two is the place where our conscious and subconscious minds meet. • People that meditate train their brains to reach this light theta level easily and it has been measured that disciplined meditators can reach deep theta and light delta while fully awake. * The reason I bring this up is to convey why meditation is soo good for stress relief and often helps us reach a deep state of relaxation in spite of external circumstances aka STRESS!

12. Brain Waves and Energy • Not known why but it has been measured that the brains waves of energy healers cycle between Alpha and Theta, the place between Yin and Yang, this happens to also be the same frequency as nature. *Is that a coincidence? What do you think?

13. The Human Energy Field • You are PURE energy, and can affect the energy of others with your thoughts and intentions, especially with positive emotions • We can all move Qi, with practice we can sense, direct and effect our energy and the energy of others

14. Observe for yourself • As an example have you ever noticed when you walk into this school how you feel? Seriously! Notice how you feel when you walk in the front door, you can pick up on the energetic anxiousness of students learning and testing! What about the hospitals you are doing clinicals at, test it out anywhere you go, Target, Starbucks etc. even your own home • Notice how you feel when you stand next to someone who is worried, anxious etc. Lean into their space a little and just feel. You will often pick up on their emotions. Or when someone is in your personal space, they are literally standing in your energy field and it feels intrusive. • Pay attention to your body as you talk to patients, you may even notice if their knee aches so will yours slightly etc.! This is a result of your energy field communicating with theirs

15. Observe for Yourself cont.: • When your teachers are up front lecturing, defocus your eyes a little, and look around them, do you see any colors? Or maybe a slight brightness that extends maybe 3-5 inches out? Do this when they are against a white background! You will be surprised to see a little glow. That is energy

16. Painting by artist Alex GreyAlex sees energy fieldswww.alexgrey.com*Notice the Meridians he sees

17. New Science in Cell Biology • Who’s in Charge? Our DNA? or our Minds? Bruce Lipton, a cell biologist recently wrote Biology of Belief www.brucelipton.com summarizing that our genes do not randomly fire codes, we are in control with our thoughts. His findings are that DNA becomes activated by cell receptors! That DNA can not be decoded until a specific cell receptor on the cell membrane surface is triggered chemically, triggering the RNA sleeve to activate specific DNA codes. Meaning: We send specific chemical responses to our cell membranes to decode our DNA from our thoughts and feelings *Thought: What effects do our positive and negative thinking have on our DNA? Do we trigger our genetic predispositions and illnesses? Just something to ponder

18. Energy Field as seen by: Barbara Brennan

19. Intuition • Again we all have it! No matter what you do in life you can use it, don’t ignore it, especially as nurses • Kelly’s in admissions mother in law went in for her yearly exam, her nurse practitioner sent her for an unroutine chest X-ray on a hunch. It was discovered Karen had a malignant tumor on her lung. Karen was asymptomatic at the time she went in for her check up. That nurse practitioner’s hunch saved Karen’s life.

20. Other Modalities • Healing Touch – Very popular with nursing community, teaches you how to effect a patient’s energy system with your healing energy and touch. • Chiropractic – Foundation is spinal health, aligns spine to make sure nerve function is optimal and communicating to rest of the body, particularly vital organs. • Hypnotherapy – Helps clients cycle brain waves to Theta and tap into subconscious mind. • Massage therapy and Rolfing – Manipulation of soft tissues to move energy and stimulate deep relaxation • Ayurveda • Homeopathy • Many more! Check out Nexus Magazine

21. This is an Exciting Time! • To be in your field and mine! • It will be interesting to see what happens to health care over the next few decades, I hope the future brings different modalities of healing together, it is only a win-win situation for all • Just an FYI: Next to California, Colorado is one the top place to be in to learn complimentary therapies

22. If you want more info: • Book: Anatomy of The Spirit www.myss.com • Book: Hands of Light www.barbarabrennan.com • Book: Wheels of Light http://www.rosalynlbruyere.org/ • Healing Touch http://www.healingtouch.net/ • Acupuncture Book: Web That Has No Weaver

23. Let’s Measure Your Energy Field! I need a volunteer!!!!!!