Pain Relief, Relaxing Reading and Calmly Encouraged Labour

Professor Kathy Sykes’ programme on BBC2 about alternative therapies got off to an excellent start with a positive look at the power of hypnotherapy and visualisation to help manage pain, relieve IBS and deal with psychological issues and addictions. My students as well as anyone studying Paul McKenna’s techniques or discovering NLP will know just what a powerful tool these techniques can be. I am really looking forward to next weeks programme. Massage or aromatherapy are excellent ways to facilitate an intense state of relaxation which enables the client to easily engage in the visualisation techniques needed to enhance their physical and mental health and overcome problems such as fear, anxiety or addiction.

As Professor Sykes explained there is inadequate scientific understanding of why these techniques work, but they do. In my practice at the Academy of Health and Beauty the top ten conditions treated are: anxiety, arthritis pain (knees and hands), migraine, low self esteem, neck and shoulder pain, overeating/smoking, exam stress, IBS, pregnancy niggles and family stress. If anyone would like to know more about using visualisation and hypnotherapy techniques with massage then please contact me at julie@potions.co.uk.

As well as watching the occasional bit of quality TV I relax by reading poetry. At the moment I am sharing my childhood favourites with my five and seven year olds. The vintage book most enjoyed is A.A. Milne's "Now We Are Six". I have included a poem which I think it is about enjoying your own company. The ability to be comfortable and occupy oneself, on ones own, is a valuable skill and important to pass on to my small children.

I think to myself...

And nobody knows what I say to myself....

What is it going to be

I can think whatever I like to think

I can play whatever I like to play

I can laugh whenever I like to laugh

There's nobody here but me.....

When I am reading poetry I like to maximise the relaxing effect by using my burner with a few drops of essential oil. Clary sage, green mandarin and frankincense have got to be the oils of choice for that spaced out, meditational, almost alcoholic feeling (without the alcohol or the hangover of course!). Try that blend in the bath too.

Please be aware you must not use clary sage if you are pregnant, it can bring on labour. As a trained professional, I have previously had a strange request for a massage treatment from someone who was past their due date and desperate to start labour. Although there is no clinical evidence to show that it should work, only anecdotal, I have had some success! The massage blend that I use is one tablespoonful of almond oil containing four drops of clary sage to bring on labour, four drops of cedar wood for courage, two drops of may chang, the oil of tranquillity and two drops of chamomile, in the language of flowers chamomile means patience in adversity. Please make sure you seek professional assistance from a trained professional before undertaking this type of massage.

If you have any questions about blends or techniques please email me at julie@potions.co.uk.

Julie Foster, MD Potions and Possibilities Ltd, www.potions.co.uk

01394 386161