Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

What is energy medicine?
What is EFT?
What is EMDR?
 

 

 

What is energy medicine?
Energy medicine is based on the concept that human beings are infused with energy, including electric, magnetic, electromagnetic fields and more subtle forms of energy. When these energy fields are disturbed and out of balance emotional and or physical symptoms result. By balancing these energies health can be restored and maintained. Although there are many different ways of working with these energy systems, including yoga, meditation, reiki, EFT, massage, acupuncture and  polarity therapy, energy medicine refers more specifically to the work of Donna Eden. She has put together various techniques to balance the energy fields. Most importantly, her techniques are simple skills that can be taught thus empowering the client to monitor and balance his or her own energy pathways to promote wellness.
  

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is an emerging therapy and self-help method based on the ancient principles of acupuncture and is used successfully by executives, athletes, professional speakers and health professionals worldwide.  It can be used to relieve symptoms of anxiety, fear, depression and a host of other common issues that hold us back. One of the biggest benefits of EFT therapy is that it is natural, drug-free and you can learn to practice it on your own.

  

Also referred to as acupressure, EFT involves tapping on specific acupuncture points to realign the body's energy system without the use of needles. EFT reduces stress and improves emotional and physical health by harnessing the energy of the body and mind. The technique addresses unresolved emotional issues that cause psychological dysfunction, physical symptoms and limitations on personal performance. By focusing on a variety of "tapping points," mainly on the torso, face and hands, EFT works to realign the energy meridians, removing the causes of physical or emotional discomfort.

  

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective way of reducing the intensity of disturbing thoughts and is often used to help those struggling with traumatic memories. This non-invasive method of psychotherapy has been found to alleviate distress faster and through fewer visits with a practitioner.

 

Rather than having to fully describe the details of an event to a practitioner, with EMDR, the individual is guided through a process in which they call to mind the disturbing issue or event, what was seen, felt, heard, etc., and what thoughts and beliefs are currently held about that event. The therapist facilitates the directional movement of the eyes or other dual attention stimulation of the brain.  The practice helps the mind to reprogram the memory so that it becomes less disturbing and is associated with positive thoughts and beliefs about one’s self. For example, a patient will reprogram the memory to be associated with the feeling that “I did the best I could.”

 

Not all foods are right for every body type. Whether you are struggling with food allergies or trying to lose weight, a nutrition coach can help you find your way.

 

Nutrition coaching can educate you on healthy eating choices and how to eat for your body type.  You’ll learn what to look for, how to read labels and receive the necessary tools to make healthy choices.  The coach will teach you how to analyze the nutritional claims made on food packaging; something critical for those dealing with food allergies, diabetes, hypoglycemia and high cholesterol.

 

The focus is on designing a balanced meal; not on calorie count. Clients will be taught how to select the right portions of protein, fat, carbohydrates and vegetables to create balance.  Food is fuel for the body, but not everyone is putting the right “fuel” in.  Clients may also be taken on trips to local grocery stores to help them make the food choices that are right for them.

  

Absolutely!  Food allergies can be responsible for many symptoms, ranging from headaches, joint pain, sinusitis, irritable bowel, to fatigue, depression, anxiety, ADHD.

 

No.  Reactions to foods can be immediate or delayed.  People are most familiar with “immediate” sensitivity food reactions.  Common offending foods include peanuts, strawberries or fish.  Reactions will occur within seconds to hours after contact with the offending food.  Common reactions are hives or a skin rash, but some people may develop life-threatening anaphylactic reactions such as inability to breathe or internal swelling which may require immediate medical attention.  However, there is another kind of food sensitivity which occurs on a delayed basis.  Many patients and physicians are not as familiar with this kind of allergy, nor the testing, which is done through a blood test.  In this case, symptoms may not develop until several hours up until a few days after contact with the offending food.  Delayed food allergies may results in symptoms which are commonly regarded as arthritis, asthma, migraines, irritable bowel, eczema.

 

That may be helpful for some people, but it is also quite stressful for many.  Consider the following as a better way to improve your nutrition.  Focus on the amount and types of carbohydrates that you eat.  Make sure to include protein, healthy fats, and vegetables as much as possible.  Balance is key.

 

No, quite the contrary.  Skipping meals can actually cause you to gain weight because more of your intake will be stored as fat.  It is best to eat 3 meals and 2-3 snacks per day, or 5-6 small meals throughout the day.  Grazing on the proper types of foods can be a great practice.

 

Yes. We go beyond the typical diet mentality to the whole person addressing emotions, biological function, behavior, thoughts and belief systems about food and our bodies to name a few.  The integrative approach will address all aspects of our relationship with food and body through various modalities. Rather than a quick fix, you will heal deeply and make lasting health changes that go beyond a size and weight change alone.

 

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture began to become better known in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery.  It has become accepted as an integrative option in health care in the United States.  The practice involves placing hair-thin needles into areas of the skin. It is believed that these needles stimulate the movement of energy called Qi (pronounced chee).  Acupuncture is used to balance the energy in the body to stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal.

 

Acupuncture needles are so fine that the experience is vastly different from the hypodermic injections so many people fear. Insertions usually cause minimal, if any, discomfort. Should any momentary sharpness occur, it will commonly disappear at once as the needle quickly passes the superficial skin layer. A variety of "needling sensations" may then arise, such as tingling, a sense of energy flow, heaviness, or numbness. These are signs that the treatment is doing what it is supposed to do – activate, strengthen, and regulate the body's energy system. Beyond any local sensations, treatment very often elicits a profound sense of calm and relaxation, as the body's disordered energy moves back into balance. This sense of general well-being tends to occur even when the focus of the treatment is something as defined and targeted as pain from a local injury.

 

Many people rightly associate acupuncture with pain therapy but are surprised to learn that it treats a wide variety of other conditions as well. Acupuncture treats a broad spectrum of internal medicine problems, including gynecological, digestive, respiratory, urological, and circulatory; emotional and psychological conditions such as anxiety, panic attacks, depression, obsessive thinking and intractable grief or anger; and tobacco, alcohol, and drug dependence, as well as weight management difficulties. Acupuncture also can be used to relieve stress, boost immunity, and simply "tune up" the body's energy for better performance and enhanced vitality.

 

No, both acupuncture and traditional medicine complement each other.  In China, it is routine to treat patients in the hospital with western medicine and acupuncture at the same time.  They complement each other.  Acupuncture has virtually no serious side effects, and under your doctor’s care and advice, can reduce the need for prescriptions medications in some cases.

 

 

 

The act of moving our bodies mindfully while practicing pranayama, or breath work, immediately settles the sympathetic nervous system which drives feelings of "stress."  As the body moves and relaxes the "vritti” or whirling mind, it becomes calm, creating peace, clarity and positivity rather than anxious energy.  Meditation, which is a core part of yoga, deepens this inner serenity making us self-sufficient in handling the rigors of daily life.  These effects stay with us off the yoga mat and intensify with consistent practice enhancing every aspect of our lives.