Complementary Medicine’s role in Healthcare

A common misconception about complementary therapies is that they are somehow in competition with Western medicine. Some of this may be due to confusion about the role both play within the healthcare system. Complementary medicines, including Kinesiology, fit together with Western medicine like puzzle pieces. One is a preventative and is focused on maintaining wellness (complementary therapies), whereas the other intervenes when you’re overtly sick (Western medicine).

Western medical doctors are trained to identify diseases and disorders because it is a disease-based model. Their number one priority is keeping patients alive, on the other hand a complementary therapist is trained in preventative practices and wellness. This means a doctor may only be looking at one piece of the puzzle when in reality, all the pieces affect each other. In saying this, there are times when a medical doctor is the best option. Such as when you’re seeking a disease diagnosis or in need of urgent medical intervention. You wouldn’t see a complementary therapist for a broken leg or for treatment of a stroke, for example.

Complementary therapies are concerned with the whole puzzle and will intervene in the early stages when you’re just starting to feel less-than-great. The purpose is to move the person towards an optimal state of health and wellbeing, while maintaining this long-term so you won’t necessarily need as much medical intervention down the track.

It is important to stress that it isn’t a case of Western medicine versus complementary therapies. It is not a battle, rather it should be a respectful, supportive, and interactive therapeutic relationship.

The secret is balance

Kinesiology is focused on restoring homeostasis. This word is derived from two Greek words: homeo meaning ‘similar’ and stasis meaning ‘equilibrium’ or ‘no change’. So homeostasis means keeping the body’s systems balanced and maintaining a constant internal environment. We don’t stay unwaveringly stable all the time, because the body is continually reacting to different stressors and taking steps to hold this equilibrium.

You might recognise some of the systems that depend on balance:

  • Body temperature
    Our temperature must be kept at approximately 37 degrees Celsius and the body has several mechanisms to do so (e.g., sweat or shiver, surface capillaries construct or dilate, and metabolism increases or decreases).
  • Digestive acids
    There is just the right amount of acid in the stomach to digest food but not enough to harm the stomach lining.
  • Glucose (blood sugar)
    The body balances insulin and glucagon to keep blood sugar stable. Diabetes is the result of when blood sugar levels are constantly too high.
  • Fluid
    When water levels are high (say, you’re drinking a lot), you’ll find yourself visiting the toilet more and urine will be more diluted. However, when water levels are low (e.g., if you’ve been exercising), more water is reabsorbed and you’ll visit the toilet less and urine will be more concentrated.

The three stages of health

The body’s number one priority is to stay alive so it doesn’t immediately fall in a heap when things are off balance, rather it compensates. Even though you might still feel and look great because the body is doing its job to keep you functioning. The body is so efficient at compensating, sometimes you don’t even realise your health has been going downhill gradually. We see this all the time in our clinic and, sadly, this is the stage that most of the Western world lives in. You’re not overtly sick but you don’t feel great. This state isn’t good enough but it’s something people somehow accept as normal.

There are several common ways we get ourselves into this state:

  • Lack of (or poor) sleep
  • Little exercise
  • Poor food choices
  • Stress

Have you ever noticed when you’re eating well and taking care of yourself, you feel wonderful? But then you have a few days – maybe after Christmas or holidays – where you eat bad food continually and you feel horrendous? The difference is incredible. The trouble is, if you keep eating awful food your body will eventually compensate and you will simply get used to feeling this way and carry on unaware. But the problem hasn’t gone away. We are slowly walking ourselves toward an unhealthy, unhappy life and even an early grave.

Most of us don’t realise that there are three stages of health. The ideal time to see a complementary therapist is in the first and second stages.

Stage 1: Stage of Alarm

This is the stage where you move from feeling good, to the body being in distress from various physiological functions that have been driven outside normal homeostatic limits. We are all subjected to this and it’s a normal part of life.

Stage 2: Stage of Resistance

If the stressors from Stage 1 persist, the body adapts and develops a resistance. This is not to say all is well. In fact, compensation requires additional energy expenditure and efficiency is reduced.

Stage 3: Stage of Exhaustion

This is when you hear people complain they’re ‘suddenly’ unwell. But as you can see, this is just the final stage. The body has been compromised for so long, it can’t take much more. One small event may be all it takes to tip yourself into Stage 3.

It is important to recognise, that at Stage 1 and Stage 3 stress you have overt symptoms, which makes diagnosis easier to undertake effectively. Whereas at Stage 2, the body’s compensations cause the symptoms to virtually disappear, therefore the diagnostic process needs to be more nuanced and incorporate the patient’s observations together with physiological diagnostic tests. If a patient’s concerns are ignored when they are in Stage 2 stress, they are more likely to need extensive Western medicine treatment in the future when they reach the Stage of Exhaustion. This unfortunately is becoming more common and sometimes it’s too late to reverse the damage when the issue is left until Stage 3. Plus, it is far easier to treat problems in Stage 1 and 2. This is where complementary therapists play an important role in the healthcare system, because they are effective at assisting patients in the Stage 2 phase, helping reverse the physiological deterioration before it reaches Stage 3.

I honestly believe we need to empower people to make the best choices for their own ongoing health. Complementary therapists, especially Kinesiologists, are trained to provide this information to patients and assist in the clearing of stresses that people may or may not be aware they are experiencing. This will have knock-on effects in the healthcare system by lessening the burden on hospitals and medical doctors and saving billions of dollars. I think that’s a win-win for all.

If you’re curious about Kinesiology, please visit www.oneillcollege.com.au. To make an appointment with a practitioner, call O’Neill Kinesiology College on (08) 9330 7443.

10 tips for Menstrual Cycle Syncing from a Kinesiologist

Are you wondering why you have good energy for a week or two, and then you feel flat for the next week or two? Maybe your energy is up and down and you can’t figure out why?

Sometimes you aren’t even aware of what the different parts of your cycle are, apart from the obvious.

Heard of cycle syncing? Simply, it’s aligning activity, sleep, food and self-care with your monthly cycle in a modern lifestyle.

Here are KinesiAlice’s top 10 tips for cycle syncing:
  1. Use natural menstrual products, such as organic cotton tampons or menstrual cups, to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals and reduce waste.
  2. Adjust your sleep schedule to match your menstrual cycle. During the follicular phase, aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night. During the luteal phase, aim for 8-9 hours of sleep per night. Get plenty of sleep during your menstrual cycle to support hormone regulation and improve energy levels.
  3. Adjust your workout routine according to your menstrual cycle. During the follicular phase (days 1-14), focus on strength training and high-intensity workouts. During the luteal phase (days 15-28), switch to low-impact exercises such as yoga and Pilates. Practice gentle exercise, such as walking or swimming, during your menstrual cycle to reduce stress, fatigue and cramping. Avoid strenuous exercise at this time
  4. Track your menstrual cycle using a period tracker app or a paper calendar. You can use this to track fertility windows, libido, plan conception, follow symptoms, track mood, energy, appetite and cravings, and even plan your life!
  5. Adjust your skincare routine to match your menstrual cycle. During the follicular phase, focus on exfoliation and brightening products. During the luteal phase, focus on hydration and soothing products.
  6. Adjust your wardrobe according to your menstrual cycle. During the follicular phase, wear bold colors and patterns to match your energy and confidence. During the luteal phase, opt for comfortable and cozy clothes to match your need for relaxation.
  7. Adjust your haircare routine to match your menstrual cycle. During the follicular phase, focus on volumizing and styling products. During the luteal phase, focus on nourishing and strengthening products.
  8. During the follicular phase, focus on networking and socialising
  9. Incorporate more omega-3 fatty acids into your diet during the luteal phase to reduce inflammation and alleviate PMS symptoms. Good sources include salmon, flaxseeds, and chia seeds.
  10. During the follicular phase, focus on building new habits and breaking bad ones, as the surge in estrogen enhances willpower and motivation.
Want to learn more about cycle syncing and your natural rhythms? KinesiAlice is running a webinar for Natural Medicine Week.

In this webinar, you’ll learn:
• What cycle syncing is
• What the different stages of your cycle are
• How to use this knowledge to align your activity, sleep, food, self-care and even work and social schedules with the natural rhythms of your body
• How kinesiology can support you with your menstrual health

Menstruation and hormonal fluctuations are a normal part of life for women. This is part of our feminine power and purpose, and really isn’t supposed to be difficult and a burden to bear. Let me show you how!

You’ll come out of this webinar understanding yourself better, knowing more about what your body is telling you, and feeling empowered to live your life on purpose in alignment with your natural rhythms.

Register now for KinesiAlice’s free webinar on cycle syncing.

Gut Health: How to maintain a healthy gut with Natural Therapies!

What is that fluttering in your stomach? It is the brain communicating with your gut!

The CNS; central nervous system electrical signals encourage messages from the brain to our second brain – the gut. Our gut is connected by the CNS – the central nervous system of the SNS sympathetic nervous system & PSNS parasympathetic nervous system. PSNS is responsible for switching off the adrenal fight, flight and fawn (freeze) response to rest and digest.

Kinesiology can help with locating the layers of imbalance within the physical, nutritive, emotional or spiritual belief. This response can be activated by any layer of imbalance; it can be affected in multiple layers. Continually clients are surprised to learn there is an emotional component related to their gut issue.

Chinese meridians and elements using acupressure points and other techniques can help resolve imbalances, e.g. Each meridian is made up of different element points along, and balancing points can be used with somatic or sensory integration and working with under or over-sensory input for the emotions.

  • The Fire element season is summer, and heat can cause too much inflammation in the body, or scattered energy dispersal leading to melancholy, depression, mania and lack of joy, and feeling like they have no place to rest. Too little fire can lead to poor circulation of the extremities.
  • The Earth element is late summer, but in the Ba Gua theory, all the elements revolve around the earth element. An imbalance in earth elements can lead to problems with digestion, assimilation, diabetes, insulin resistance, worry and overthinking. Clients may have sweets, bread and carbs cravings.
  • The Metal element season is autumn and can affect the lungs and large intestines. The emotional trauma of the lungs as a child is being smothered by their mother causing asthma. Large Intestine energy is to do with holding on or letting go, you would be looking for hoarders or minimalists who throw everything out and keep bare essentials.
  • The Water element season is winter, and when you feel the cold it could act as a trigger, or when a trauma happened in that season. Cold would be the fawn-freeze response.
  • The Wood element season is spring, growth expansion and harmony. If your muscles are inflexible, it’s because your energy from the Liver and Gall Bladder is stagnant, or there is too much anger.
  • Let’s look at yin and yang; yin is internal and inner, and yang is external and outer, e.g., small intestine is fire yang and is about communications, others listening to you or you are hearing others, and pericardium is fire yin, and placing a wall of protection around how our heart feels and can effect the beating of this organ which has its own electrical charge. Abandonment can lead to mental instability, causing sadness, melancholy from loss of love.

Whatever the pattern of trauma that has occurred in your lifetime it can influence our gut, moods and wellbeing. Crystallisation in any area can lead to increases in inflammation. Without addressing the emotional trauma or illness in early stages in the body, it may actively cause more stress.

Diet and nutrition are important key factors in feeding your body what it needs for your health and wellness. Incorporating clean water, clean food, less processed food, pre-biotics, pro-biotics, chemical-free colourful vegetables and fruits, sunshine, daily exercise and, good sleep 7-8 hrs can make a difference in our health.

Kinesiology can help access the Vagus Nerve and switch off an overstimulated chronic SNS – and allow the PSNS to go to rest and digest.

Here are some ways that you can switch on the PSNS to find you bliss or Zen!

Daily practical activities; Walking in nature, deep breathing, meditation, yoga, qi gong, tai chi, listening to music, playing an instrument, singing, humming, reading a book, cooking, sewing, creating, drawing, painting, twirling, and drumming. Whatever gets you into the bliss zone of just being, as others might find some of these practices stressful. This is essential to practice every day. Practice gratitude for 5 minutes every day. Gratitude can help if you suffer from depression. Neuroplasticity can help with activating both sides of the brain or the sluggish side, by doing actions like brushing your teeth with the non-dominant hand.

GAPS – Gut and Psychology Syndrome food we eat can be responsible for addressing digestion and mood swings and has been proven in studies to help with ADD, ADHD, Autism, Digestive Disorders, Autoimmune Diseases and Immune disorders.

Antioxidants are found in colourful vegetables and fruits. Green tea is full of polyphenols and all organic herbal teas, or herbs and spices in your food can help heal the gut.

We are what we eat!

A healthy gut for a healthy life!

 

References:

https://www.tcmworld.org/what-is-tcm/five-elements/

Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) – Natural treatment for autism, ADHD/ADD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression and schizophrenia

The Gut Microbiome | Queensland Health

Our second brain: More than a gut feeling – UBC Neuroscience

Your gut – the second brain? | Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute (stanford.edu)

The Vagus Nerve: Anatomy and Function (verywellhealth.com)

Genetic Trauma: How Trauma is Inherited, Epigenetics, and More (psychcentral.com)

The Epigenetics of Childhood Trauma | Psychology Today

Unleash Your Potential and Achieve Your Destiny with Kinesiology

Hands on woman head
What can Kinesiology help?

Written by Angela Sciberras, The Kineziologist

Many people don’t realise the diverse range of problems that kinesiology can address. In my work I have addressed endless issues faced by the community including but not limited to; Chronic Fatigue, digestive issues – feeling disconnected from life or yourself, pain, aches, anxiety, dis-regulation, mood swings – exhaustion, learning issues, depression, trauma, vagal nerve issues, chronic stress. However, as practitioners, we don’t only deal with stressful issues, we regularly work with people who wish to increase their bottom line, expand their business, or work through whatever is holding them back in an area of their life.

Prolonged trauma or stress can have us living in flight, fight or freeze states which can have long lasting and powerful effects on our nervous system, brain, and ability to function in the world. Short term stress is needed in life, it is when we are exposed to long term unresolved stress that our entire body can be affected in a variety of ways. Trauma and stress can mirror in the symptoms of our gut, organs, and mental health.

Kinesiology is an effective tool to access information about the state of the systems of the body.

A ‘Typical’ Kinesiology Session

I now provide a wholistic experience with the powerful combination of Clinical Biochemical Facial Analysis and Assessment, Iris assessment to discover the blueprint of your genetic, generational tendencies, strengths, and potentials. This knowledge can then be pulled together with a Kinesiology session to balance the body, mind, and spirit to the above and discover the blocks, traumas, patterns, beliefs, and habits preventing you from living a life you love and transforming symptoms. The initial consultation is over 3 hours.

In each session, using muscle testing and the body’s innate bio feedback Kinesiologists can discover the traumas, fears, habits, or self-sabotage patterns that are holding you back from becoming unleashed in your life and creating the health, relationships, freedom, business success and fulfilment you wish for.

Having lived my own personal and powerful transformation, I know what it takes to support you to energise your business, career, relationship, and life journey to the next level.

Benefits of Kinesiology

Using Kinesiology we can gather the pieces to the subconscious puzzle that are the reasons, patterns, and perceptions as to why you may be experiencing symptoms, emotions, and suffering. Kinesiology can identify the blockages in you that prevent the full and unleashed self-expression of your soul, holding you back from achieving your destiny.

Through Kinesiology, my mission is to activate hearts, restore hope and unleash the magic of human potential to inspire on a personal and global level. It is a privilege to empower human beings, assisting them to get to the core of what it is that is limiting them, what they are dealing with, and why it may be preventing them from achieving their goals, dreams, destiny, and aspirations. If we, as humanity, can raise the roof on our lives, find peace, reconciliation and live our greatest potential, imagine the world we will live in in years and generations to come. The outcome I am seeking is to see as many people as possible live a life they love and leaving a legacy that nourishes people for generations to come.