A PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN TO ENHANCE COMPASSION AND SELF-ESTEEM AND REDUCE VIOLENCE

Based on the concepts that intentioned touch can be used to enhance self-esteem and foster compassionate feelings for others, we taught kindergarten, first and second grade children in a public school in New Glarus, Wisconsin to intention a healing process between their hands which they place on opposite sides of a body pain. We called this process "Helping Hands." I also believe that compassion and violence are inversely related. Therefore, it is quite probable the touch enhanced compassion may reduce of frustration, anger and violence as well as enhancing self-esteem. There were a rotal of children who have participated in this program. Teachers' observations as well as standardized assessments support the above concepts. Touch can be used to enhance compassion and self-esteem

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY PART III: IN THE FUTURE

In this, the third and final installment of the "perspectives" series on CranioSacral Therapy and its interrelationship with energy medicine, I present my concepts of its potential applications and contributions for the betterment of the human condition. It is my hope that as the human condition is positively affected, so the planet will have a better chance for a high quality survival. In the first and second installments I have discussed the history and development of CranioSacral Therapy, its progeny, its integrations with other therapeutic approaches and the wide range of applications for recipients of this modality as well as its effects upon the CranioSacral Therapy practitioner. What is presented in this last article is a summary of the potential uses and dividends of CranioSacral Therapy as I see them. I am not predicting what will happen, I am predicting what could happen and hoping that it will

A PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN TO ENHANCE COMPASSION AND SELF-ESTEEM AND REDUCE VIOLENCE

Based on the concepts that intentioned touch can be used to enhance self-esteem and foster compassionate feelings for others, we taught kindergarten, first and second grade children in a public school in New Glarus, Wisconsin to intention a healing process between their hands which they place on opposite sides of a body pain. We called this process "Helping Hands." I also believe that compassion and violence are inversely related. Therefore, it is quite probable the touch enhanced compassion may reduce of frustration, anger and violence as well as enhancing self-esteem. There were a rotal of children who have participated in this program. Teachers' observations as well as standardized assessments support the above concepts. Touch can be used to enhance compassion and self-esteem

THE EFFECTS OF UPLEDGER CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY ON POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER SYMPTOMATOLOGY IN VIETNAM COMBAT VETERANS

The Upledger Institute has provided rwo week intensive treatment for Vietnam veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as diagnosed by the Veteran's Affairs (VA) medical division. These patients received psychological evaluation tests at the times of entry and exit into and out of the program. The intensive treatment was about six-seven hours per day for eight full days, with approximately three-four hours on the first and last days of the program. The therapy used was primarily CranioSacral Therapy and its progeny Energy Cyst Release, SomatoEmotional Release and Therapeutic Imagery and Dialogue. The results obtained strongly suggest that PTSD may be more successfully treated when the thetapy includes corrections of the craniosacral system, the release of foreign energies and conscious-nonconscious integration

Cranial osteopathy: its fate seems clear

BACKGROUND: According to the original model of cranial osteopathy, intrinsic rhythmic movements of the human brain cause rhythmic fluctuations of cerebrospinal fluid and specific relational changes among dural membranes, cranial bones, and the sacrum. Practitioners believe they can palpably modify parameters of this mechanism to a patient's health advantage. DISCUSSION: This treatment regime lacks a biologically plausible mechanism, shows no diagnostic reliability, and offers little hope that any direct clinical effect will ever be shown. In spite of almost uniformly negative research findings, "cranial" methods remain popular with many practitioners and patients. SUMMARY: Until outcome studies show that these techniques produce a direct and positive clinical effect, they should be dropped from all academic curricula; insurance companies should stop paying for them; and patients should invest their time, money, and health elsewhere

Development of a taxonomy to describe massage treatments for musculoskeletal pain

BACKGROUND: One of the challenges in conducting research in the field of massage and bodywork is the lack of consistent terminology for describing the treatments given by massage therapists. The objective of this study was to develop a taxonomy to describe what massage therapists actually do when giving a massage to patients with musculoskeletal pain. METHODS: After conducting a review of the massage treatment literature for musculoskeletal pain, a list of candidate techniques was generated for possible inclusion in the taxonomy. This list was modified after discussions with a senior massage therapist educator and seven experienced massage therapists participating in a study of massage for neck pain. RESULTS: The taxonomy was conceptualized as a three level classification system, principal goals of treatment, styles, and techniques. Four categories described the principal goal of treatment (i.e., relaxation massage, clinical massage, movement re-education and energy work). Each principal goal of treatment could be met using a number of different styles, with each style consisting of a number of specific techniques. A total of 36 distinct techniques were identified and described, many of which could be included in multiple styles. CONCLUSION: A new classification system is presented whereby practitioners using different styles of massage can describe the techniques they employ using consistent terminology. This system could help facilitate standardized reporting of massage interventions

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY PART I: ITS ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT

In this, the second installment of a three part series on CranioSacral Therapy, I have discussed the status of CranioSacral Therapy as a treatment modality today. Also included in the discussion are some of the reasons for its current status, political and control issues that have arisen, its clinical applications, its progeny and integration with other therapeutic approaches, and explorations that are currently underway