Exploring Alternative Therapies.

2 minute read time.

FormerMember

30 Oct 2013

Those who follow my blog probably have already picked up that I am heavily into yoga and meditation. This has helped me considerably through coping with diagnosis and treatment. I am also a big fan of alternative therapies so I have recently begun exploring how they can help me with my recovery.

Before I go any further I would just like to make a general comment about alternative therapies. I strongly believe that they can help with minor ailments and recoveries, but I am certainly not suggesting that they can do anything to help treat any serious illness. Any alternative therapy should only be undertaken with the permission of a Doctor. It should be used alongside traditional medicine, not instead of it.

So what have been up to since my last post? Well first of all I had an aura reading. This showed up that I had several areas of blocked energy which could be inhibiting my recovery. With this knowledge I was then able to commence chakra meditation and healing in order to get my chakras back into balance and free these blocks.

I can see eyes glazing over at this point and I can visualise people running away from their computers muttering things about twaddle and mumbo jumbo. It's fine, I'm not easily offended and I'm not convinced it works either. What I do know though is that there has been a very rapid progress in my recovery ever since. Now whether this is down to my chakras or whether it would have just happened anyway, well I have absolutely no idea. This is the frustrating thing about alternative therapies. There is never any proof that they work.

So what else have I got planned assuming I get the permission of my medical team? Well this is where I would like to start first.

Hopi Ear Candling - To try to clear the fluid from my middle ears and restore my hearing.

Reflexology and Acupuncture - To help restore damaged saliva glands and taste buds.

Indian Head Massage - To clear sinuses and make my hair healthier.

I expect I am just talking to myself by now but that does not bother me. If you have a congested fifth chakra you worry about expressing yourself freely. You feel anxious about how others will react to your views which makes you likely to censor your opinion. I have a clear fifth chakra, and I'm off now for some more meditation.

FormerMember over 11 years ago

I'm glad you've found meditation and yoga helpful. Head massage sounds nice! I'd really avoid ear candling, though - they don't produce enough suction to remove anything, and can drip ash and occasionally hot wax into ears. I think you mentioned enjoying Northern Soul music, too? I'd really avoid the risk involved in sticking anything that's on fire into your ears!

It's your call, of course - your ears. But it's not something I'd consider (and I *really* hate having my ears syringed - to the extent that I almost ended up paying £100+ to have them micro-suctioned, before I persuaded my GP to refer me on the NHS). Ear candling's a treatment with real risks and no benefit (as opposed to things like meditation which can bring real benefits and - except in some pretty uncommon situations - has very low risks).
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FormerMember over 11 years ago

I was chatting to a friend of mine today who is a nurse and she felt that any relaxation method is worth exploring. There are so many of them and not everything works for everyone but she suggested my husband (and myself) give some a try and see how we feel. She said it's one time in our lives that we are entitled to think about ourselves and putting energy into relaxation was a very positive thing to do.

I tried Reiki some years ago but it didn't suit me, I felt too emotional but I found the reflexology very beneficial and have resorted to it many times over the years.

Any therapy is also a form of meditation anyway, focusing on our own well being and living in the moment and the experience. It provides us an opportunity to put down the weight we carry, refresh ourselves and move on again.

I've had an Indian head massage too which was just lovely. I do give my husbands feet extra attention now which he finds relaxing. A foot soak, then a foot scrub followed by moisturising and massage ! It all helps.

xx
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FormerMember over 11 years ago

Thank you both for your comments, Summerleaze, I will have to train my husband to attend to my feet, that sounds lovely! Ground, thank you for your concern about my ears. Yes I'm the one who likes Northern Soul. Please don't worry. I won't be going without the permission of my ENT Consultant. I did bring up the subject with my nurse this morning and she says the chances of him agreeing to ear candling are zero!
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FormerMember over 11 years ago

Good - hope you enjoy the foot-attending!
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FormerMember over 11 years ago

I can recommend the acupuncture for the taste and glands. My GP referred me. The drugs then affected them and I'm back to square one. I've still got my sense of smell and they say eyes and nose are 80% taste Good days to you
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