FRANÇAIS TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE RELATED LINKS A Practical Guide to Complementary Therapies for People Living With HIV
Wellness Strategies
Touch Therapies
Touch therapies are based on the belief that people have their own vital energy. This energy field flows through and surrounds the body. Blockages or imbalances in the body cause ill health. This notion is similar to the Chinese concept of Chi. (See section on traditional Chinese medicine.) Touch therapists modify imbalances in the energy field by using their energy to redirect the energy of others.
Therapeutic Touch
Therapeutic touch is based on the idea that "the human body, mind, emotions and intuition form a complex, dynamic energy field." This energy field encompasses the body. When a person is ill, the energy field is out of balance. Therapeutic touch practitioners modify imbalances using their hands but they don't actually touch you. Rather, they believe the energy field extends beyond the body. Although therapeutic touch was derived from the spiritual healing practices of several cultures, practitioners do not require you to hold any particular religious faith. Therapeutic touch is often used by chronic-care nurses to relieve pain and promote relaxation. A small study on the use of therapeutic touch with HIV-positive children found that it effectively reduced anxiety.
Sessions with a therapeutic touch therapist usually last about half an hour and cost between $25 and $50. Some practitioners offer a sliding scale.
Reiki
Reiki means universal life energy. Ki is the Japanese form of Chi, the Chinese word meaning vital energy. (See section on traditional Chinese medicine.) Reiki is similar to therapeutic touch but was developed in Asia. Like therapeutic touch, reiki is based on the belief that living things share life energy. When that life energy is blocked, it creates an imbalance that may appear as illness. Unblocking the energy helps get a person back into balance. During a reiki massage, the practitioner's hands are placed on the body to channel this energy. The client remains fully clothed. Reiki massages generally take 60 to 90 minutes and cost $40 to $60. Reiki practitioners are trained by reiki masters, who are more experienced practitioners. Reiki practitioners are not regulated in Canada and there are no provincial or national associations for Canadian practitioners.
Pranic Healing
Prana is the Ayurvedic word for the life force on which all life depends. (See section on Ayurvedic medicine.) In pranic healing, several methods are used to balance, enhance and increase prana. Pranic healing often involves the intervention of another person, but self-healing techniques are also used. Spiritual healing techniques, such as prayer, visualization and meditation, are used to remove blockages. Like the other touch therapies addressed in this guide, the use of hands is a central component. Breathing techniques, known in yoga as pranayam, are also used to enhance prana.
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