Mind And Body

By Steve McPherson

In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in alternative therapies. Once relegated to the fringes of health care, a holistic, mind-and-body approach to well-being is now embraced by many in the mainstream. I've found holistic therapies very helpful in my own life, especially in the past few years.

I was in good physical shape before my spinal cord injury 24 years ago, and I believe that helped me to initially avoid a number of illnesses, such as pneumonia, frequently associated with this type of injury. Nowadays, I like to stay active and eat healthy, but I am starting to get recurring bladder infections. I am 44 years old, middle age - how did that happen so fast?! I feel like a teenager (most days)!

I do know things have changed over time. My resistance is down in part, I believe, because of a major dose of antibiotics I received when my appendix ruptured in 2001, so I do everything I can to strengthen my immune system. I seek alternative medicine as much as possible. I believe it's gentler on the body, and I worry about the side effects of Western medicine and the overuse of antibiotics.

Modern medicine has saved my life several times, and it definitely has an important role in trauma, illness and many other areas, especially for those who have a physical disability, but I believe that holistic therapies can be very helpful and, in many cases, complement traditional Western medicine.

I believe that people should consider any therapy that can improve their well-being because energy, also called "Qi" (chi) is our life force and the body depends on it to function and to heal itself.

I'll tell you about some of the therapies that have worked for me. I'm not certified in any of the holistic therapies, so I recommend that you consult your doctor and see a naturopath before trying any alternative or complementary therapy, including over-the-counter herbal medicines.

THE WHOLE PICTURE

I've talked to many experts in the field, and learned that holistic medicine is a system of health care that fosters a co-operative relationship among everyone involved, leading towards optimal attainment of the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of health. It emphasizes the need to look at the whole person, including analysis of physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, social, spiritual and lifestyle values. Holistic medicine focuses on education and responsibility for personal efforts to achieve balance and well-being.

Holistic medicine treats the entire person from a wellness point of view, not based only on the symptoms and lab tests from one illness the way traditional medicine frequently does. There are many different treatments that fall into the category of holistic medicine, including naturopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, supplements, Chinese herbs, many types of massage, tai chi, yoga and meditation.

My interest in holistic health started about 20 years ago. I was getting a lot of cold sores, especially when I used regular lip balm, so a volunteer with West Park Health Care Centre in Toronto (my place of residence at the time) suggested that I try peppermint foot lotion on my lips-it worked and I still use it today, and it has made me curious about other natural products, including supplements. The same volunteer introduced me to a doctor who was also a chiropractor and acupuncturist, which made me realize that traditional and alternative therapies could complement each other.

This doctor suggested I take evening primrose oil because I had dry, itchy eyes, and it has worked very well. I also learned that not every therapy is suitable for me, and I should be careful what I try. Some acupuncturists, for example, use low-voltage electricity with the needles, which I believe might interfere with the phrenic pacers I require for my breathing.

When choosing an alternative health practitioner, exercise the same caution you would when hiring any professional - check the person's credentials, and ask if they have any experience working with people with disabilities similar to yours (ask for references). If the person does not seem very knowledgeable or won't answer your questions, or if you aren't comfortable with the situation, consider looking elsewhere.

Here are a few of the most popular alternative therapies:

Massage can relax you, help heal sore muscles and injuries, and even detoxify the body. There are various massage traditions - one of my favourites is shiatsu, a manual therapy from Japan. Literally translated, shiatsu means "finger pressure." The therapy involves the application of pressure, using the thumbs primarily, to different points on the body's soft tissues to assess and treat a variety of conditions.

I've been seeing Guiomar Campbell, a certified shiatsu therapist and acupuncturist in Toronto, for a couple of years. She has extensive experience treating people, including children and infants, with many conditions and disabilities. She knows just how far to stretch my neck, and her face and scalp massages are totally relaxing.

Campbell explained some of the benefits of the techniques she uses. ""Shiatsu and acupuncture therapy are based on Oriental medicine, an ancient form of healing that uses the body's own mechanisms to heal itself and helps the patient to be aware of his body," she says. "From the Western view, shiatsu is explained through its effect on the autonomic nervous system, which relaxes the internal organs and improves body functioning. If you are healthy, shiatsu helps to keep your body balanced and to increase your resistance to disease."

Massage and shiatsu generally cost $50 to $70 an hour. An affordable way to have massages is to visit clinics run by massage therapy schools, such as Sutherland-Chan in Toronto (www.sutherland-chan.com).

Reflexology is known to be more than 4,000 years old. It has its origins in the study of zone therapy, which uses the lines of energy running through the body from the feet to the brain. Jennifer Edwards, a reflexology therapist in Toronto for over 13 years, says, "The feet are a pathway to the entire body going up to the brain and directly to every part of the body, so people with spinal cord injuries should be able to see positive results, especially with common problem areas like urinary tract infections."

Reflexology creates an environment in which self-healing can occur. It also feels great - basically, you're getting a hand and foot massage! Anyone can learn the basics of reflexology, and a good way to start is reading The Joy of Reflexology: Healing Techniques for the Hands & Feet to Reduce Stress by Ann Gillanders (Little, Brown and Co., $19.95). The cost of reflexology by a professional is similar to that of massage, about $70 an hour.

Meditation can relieve stress and help you unwind after a difficult day, and it's free! I do it at least twice a week - it helps me relax and recharges my energy. There is no "right" way to meditate, but if you are a beginner or have a short attention span like I do, the second of three CDs in Personal Meditations by Richard F.X. O'Connor ($26.95) is a great way to start. The meditations are short and help relieve everyday stress without difficult breathing or chanting patterns.

North Americans live a fast-paced life, and we often don't take care of ourselves the way we should in terms of diet and exercise. Many of us live in an environment where the air quality is getting worse. We're beginning to question the quality of food produced by distant factory farms and choosing to buy locally grown organic produce instead. I try to eat healthy, but my disability doesn't allow me to exercise the way I used to, so I choose holistic alternatives - reflexology, shiatsu, acupuncture and meditation - and boost my health with Chinese herbs and other supplements. I believe these therapies have helped prevent recurring infections and other problems commonly associated with quadriplegia.

I encourage others to explore alternative therapies, but to do so safely and patiently. Remember, chronic conditions don't develop overnight, and it usually takes a while for holistic therapies to help the body heal.

Steve McPherson (s.mcpherson@interbiz.ca) is a writer in Toronto. Please consult your physician before beginning any new therapy.