Finding new ways to heal

November 1, 2001

Finding new ways to heal

By Shana Cohen
ccohen@uwo.ca

After suffering severe back injuries from a car accident three years ago Vicki Tomczyk couldn't return to her normal life. She tried various medications and back institutions but nothing eased the pain. Traditional medicine failed her and Vicki desperately searched for anything that might help. Then she discovered yoga and eventually saw a massage therapist and a chiropractor. With the combination of all three she now maintains a normal lifestyle. Shiatsu and acupuncture have further enhanced her healing process.

Throughout London people like Tomczyk are exploring new ways to cope with health problems. Earlier this month over 800 government employees and health professionals attended the Wellness Fair in downtown London. It offered goers the chance to learn how their health can be improved through less conventional means.

Holistic therapies have gained popularity because they complement traditional medicine by striving to return balance to the body as a whole, says Lesley Harman, a holistic practitioner and professor of sociology at the University of Western Ontario.

Additionally the increased interest and use of holistic healing is partly in response to the limited treatments offered by traditional medicine.

"It leaves people increasingly dissatisfied with the options conventionally available," she says. "There is an incredible interest by the public in finding ways in which they can be more in control of their own health."

The ancient Buddhist healing practice of reiki, which combines spiritual, emotional, physical and mental wellness through touch, is one way people gain greater command over their health. Theresa Griffin, a reiki master in London, feels it is becoming more popular because it combines elements in the healing process not addressed in traditional care.

Photo by Shana Cohen

Theresa Griffin, a reiki master, demonstrates reiki therapy.

"Western medicine isn't really integrated," she says. "I think the spiritual becomes neglected in most of our culture."

Griffin became involved in Reiki after she realized traditional medicine did not have all the answers. After experiencing reiki firsthand, she wanted accessibility to complementary forms of healing but could not afford to pay someone for the care. She wanted the treatment so badly she decided to learn Reiki to heal herself.

At The Lotus Centre, London's largest provider of yoga instruction, class attendance has quadrupled in size since its opening in 1998. Owner Valerie Hobson says there's an increased interest because yoga helps unite the body and mind.

"So much of what we do in our daily lives pulls us in different directions," Hobson says. For Tomczyk, who is a student at the center, yoga improved her quality of life. By working on muscle strength and flexibility she eased the pain from nerve damage caused by the accident.

While many see improvements in their health as result of holistic medicine, Harman warns that it does not offer magical cures. "We do not makes promises about anything nor do we diagnose. That's the job of medicine."

Holistic practitioners including Griffin and Harman are quick to stress that complementary care is by no means an alternative to medical care.

"We help to relieve people of imbalance in their energy field and the techniques work but, what the end result is, is not as important as bringing people to greater balance," says Harman.

But combining both forms of health care could cause some problems. For example, it may be impossible for practitioners to know if their treatments are successful says Tom Overend, a physical therapist and assistant professor at the University of Western Ontario.

"Simultaneous treatment can be a concern," he says. "It is important that they (medical practitioners) know if people are getting two forms of treatment because they may cancel each other out."

Slowly the medical profession is acknowledging the importance of complementary medicine says Harman. Therapeutic touch is currently part of policies and procedures at the London Health Science Centre. Many of the nurses are trained and treat patients before and after surgery. Yet this is an exception.

"It's a social movement which is going to bring greater health to greater numbers of people," says Harman. After finishing another yoga session Tomczyk couldn't agree more. She says, "yoga helps me maintain better health."