by J. Silman
Imagine a drop of honey dripping on a painful spot in your body and chasing the pain away. Such healing experiences are made possible by Dr. Jackie Schiff, a clinical psychologist who practices in Katonah and in Stamford. Dr. Schiff has devoted her practice to Imaginal Education - a therapeutic method based on an ancient kabalistic notion.
Imaginal Education uses a whole-person approach to healing. The inner knowledge and power of each individual is released through images that are uniquely meaningful for each person. It is based on our understanding that images can influence our physical responses and that if we change our internal images, we can change their physical manifestations. In the words of Dr. Schiff’s mentor Dr. Gerald Epstein, images are the universal language of the soul.
Imaginal Education is utilized to treat various ailments, such as arthritis, headaches, ulcers, back pain, anxiety and depression. For example, when Dr. Schiff asked a patient with an esophageal ulcer for an image that best describes her pain, she saw jagged edges. Dr. Schiff suggested to her patient to image of a drop of honey dripping through her intestinal system, warming, soothing and smoothing the jagged edges. This image offered the patient increasing relief. After four months of sessions coupled with work at home with the image of the drop of honey, the patient dropped her ulcer medications. “We used the image of the honey drop because it’s soft, warm and soothing and its color brings in the natural healing of the sun” said Dr. Schiff. She added that many people find the image of the sun to bring relief and healing.
Another patient who suffered from anxiety saw her anxiety as curtains ruffled by wind. Dr. Schiff used a technique called “reversing”. She started with the patients image of the curtains billowing and then reversed it by closing the windows and seeing the curtains straighten and the rays of the sun reflecting through the curtains, bringing her warmth and healing. This image allowed the patient to feel soothed, calm and increasingly more centered.
In addition to treating physical and mental ailments, Dr. Schiff uses imagery to help people who are at cross-roads in their lives. “People often stay undecided because they are afraid” said Dr. Schiff, “with imagery people can quickly see their true path which brings relief and motivation to make decisions and move forward out of the quagmire”.
Recently, Dr. Schiff has had success with infertile couples by using imagery to increase egg count for IVF. She helped turn the technical event of insemination into a moment of spiritual union, and bring the couple and God back into the space of conception and pregnancy.
Clearly, an Imaginal Education practitioner needs to be not only imaginative and creative, but also extremely intuitive to be able to come up with images that are appropriate for each individual.
Dr. Jackie Schiff, Psy.D. is a licensed Clinical Psychologist. She offers workshops to Fortune 500 companies, medical schools, hospitals, Synagogues and Churches.
Dr. Schiff combines proven mind/body techniques and intuitive healing skills to extend beyond the framework and discipline of traditional psychotherapy. She has two areas of specialization. The first is, helping people to unlock the power of the mind to feel grounded, centered and aligned with their life’s mission and purpose. Her clients learn to discover inner freedom, make decisions, and implement change with confidence. The second area of expertise involves applying these techniques to harness the mind’s healing energy to self-heal chronic pain, ulcers, arthritis, Lyme disease and to prepare for surgery and heal faster.
Jackie maintains a private practice in Stamford, CT and Katonah, NY.
You can reach Dr. Schiff at Sjschiff@aol.com.
By J. Silman
I woke up this morning overwhelmed by a piercing, migraine-like headache that drew me back to bed. The pain was too intense to respond to pain killers. I dragged myself to the bathroom, stuck my head under the faucet and turned on the cold water. Then I set in bed for the next half hour with a cold compress over my head and forehead. The pain started subsiding the minute I poured water over my head. After half an hour, I was almost pain-free.
The healing properties of water have been known to human beings since at least ancient times. We seem to be drawn to water intuitively when we experience discomfort. Water has been used in various ways including, hot or cold showers, baths, “sitz” baths and foot baths, saunas, steam showers and hot or cold compresses. All these various therapies come under the term hydrotherapy.
Some aches, like the headache described above, respond to cold water. Other aches respond to warm water. When my son experienced a muscle spasm in his leg, I treated his leg initially with ice and then with compresses of warm water. The warm compresses provided immediate relief from the pain. Warm compresses are also useful during a cold. I put them over my face and chest to help relieve the congestion.
These forms of hydrotherapy provide immediate and obvious relief. Less obvious but no less crucial is the healing power of drinking water. Although you may not see results immediately, after a short period of time there will be improvement in various aspects of your health and appearance, including a smother and radiant skin, easier digestion and increased energy.
The institutional utilization of water for healing and relaxation has had a long tradition in Europe. During Roman times, the bath house was a central institution. According to Brooks and Brooks 1, the average person in Rome used 300 gallons of water a day, which is equivalent to the usage of a contemporary family of four. The Brooks’ mention several examples from Roman times, including Hippocrates, who used water and friction to treat muscle and joint pain and Homer, who used warm baths to heal fatigue, injuries and depression.
Hydrotherapy is helpful for muscle spasm, rheumatoid arthritis, soft tissues injury, tension, anxiety, pressure ulcers and many more ailments, according to the Brooks’.
Warm water is relaxing, causes blood vessels to dilate, and removes waste materials from body tissues. Alternating hot and cold water also improves waste elimination, decreases inflammation, and stimulates circulation. In addition, the elevated temperature of warm water acts to increase blood flow to muscles and enhances the elasticity of soft tissue, all of which contribute to increased mobility. The Brooks’ explain that the buoyancy of water mitigates the effects of gravity and protects affected joints. And the decrease in pain often affected by immersion in water is probably due to the rise in pain threshold.
Reference
Brooks, Paul, V. MD; Brooks, Denis ML, RN, BSN, MSN. eMedicine Journal. http://author.emedicine.com/pmr/topic202.htm
Prince Charles- an advocate of complimentary medicine
About a month ago, Prince Charles of Britain came out in support of government funding for alternative medicine during his address at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. This came in spite of the opposition of some 13 leading British scientists, who wrote a letter, opposing National Health Service funding of alternative medicine.
The prince mentioned the evidence indicating that acupuncture is effective in treating arthritis of the knee and in relieving nausea caused by chemotherapy.
According to the Times of London, he said: "It seems to be that in our ceaseless rush to modernize, many tried and tested methods which have shown themselves to be effective have been cast aside as old-fashioned or irrelevant to today's needs." According to the London Telegraph, the Prince advocated combining alternative medicine with conventional modern medicine.
JUNE 30-JULY 10: MASTERING NATURAL HEALING AT SEA – Mediterranean cruise onboard Holland America's Noordam. Sponsored by Texas Chiropractic College, Standard Process, the Miller School of Medicine, and the American Chiropractic Association. Courses with Michael Dobbins, DC; Janet Kinefal, PhD, AP; Joel Robbins, DC, ND, MD. CONTACT: Continuing Education, Inc, 800-422-0711; http://www.continuingeducation.net
JULY 5-8: AMERICAN BIOLOGICS 18th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ––"Integrative Medicine" in Corfu, Greece. Post-conference Mediterranean cruise available. CONTACT: Brigitte G. Byrd, 619-429-8200 or 800-227-4473; fax 619-429-9828; brigittebyrd@americanbiologics.com; http://americanbiologics.com
JULY 8-9: DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT OF HEAVY METAL TOXICITY in Issaquah, Washington. Taught by Andrew Hall Cutler, PhD. CONTACT: 425-557-8299; AndyCutler@aol.com
JULY 8-9: DESIGNS FOR HEALTH presents OVERCOMING WEIGHT LOSS RESISTANCE in Houston, Texas. With weight loss resistance experts JJ Virgin, CNS, and Linda Lizotte, RD. CONTACT: Designs for Health, 800-847-8302; www.designsforhealth.com; info@designsforhealth.com
JULY 9-16: GERIATRICS/ELDERCARE on Celebrity Infinity to Alaska. CONTACT: 888-523-3732; http://www.cmeatsea.org
JULY 12-16: CRAYHON RESEARCH presents BOULDERFEST 2006 – Integrative Medicine Conference @ Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, Colorado. Topics include Antioxidant Nutrients in Clinical Practice; Healing Our Bodies, Healing Our World; Exercise, Endocrine Balance and Female Wellness; Spiritual and Nutritional Healing; and an optional Advanced Nutrition Intensive. CONTACT: 775-823-5333; http://www.CrayhonResearch.com
JULY 14-16: A4M (American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine) INTENSIVE WORKSHOPS & CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS in Chicago, Illinois. CONTACT: 800-558-1267; 773-528-4333; event@worldhealth.net; http://www.worldhealth.net/event
JULY 15-16: 70th ANNUAL TRADE SHOW & CONFERENCE @ Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Professionals only) Sponsored by National Nutritional Foods Association. CONTACT: 800-966-6632, #247; http://www.nnfa.org
JULY 21-23: FAMILY CONSTELLATIONS-SYSTEMIC ENERGY PSYCHOLOGY with Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD @ Courtyard by Marriott in Bellevue, Washington. This method explores the effect of transgenerational trauma and suffering with the help of systemic family constellation work. This three day seminar leads into a hands-on 1-year training workshop series. Cost $450. CONTACT: 425-637-9339; fax 425-637-9669; aant@neuraltherapy.com; http://www.neuraltherapy.com
JULY 21-23: INSTITUTE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE SEMINAR – PRIMARY CARE FOR WOMEN in Portland, Oregon. CONTACT: 503-222-2322; fax 503-222-0276; womanstime@aol.com
JULY 22: PERSONALIZED METABOLIC NUTRITION SEMINAR taught by James M. Haig, NC, CNE in Seattle, Washington. This seminar teaches health professionals the theory and practice of Metabolic Typing, a revolutionary nutritional system based on the observation that one of two fundamental homeostatic control mechanisms dominates the metabolism of any given individual. CONTACT: Ken Malik, 800-772-0646; pmn@bloodph.com
JULY 22-23: NW HERB FEST @ Wise Acres Herbal Educational Center in Pleasant Hill, Oregon. Advanced classes available such as 'Pharmacology & Uses of Flavonoids & Lectins,' 'Aromatherapy,' and 'Estrogenic Influences of Herbs & Nutrients'. CE available for some professions. CONTACT: 541-736-0164; class@herbaltransitions.com; http://www.herbaltransitions.com
JULY 24-AUGUST 12: 19th SUMMER CAMPUS in Abano Terme, Italy (near Venice). Training in NLP; Ericksonian hypnotherapy; neuro-energetic coaching: kinesiology; systemic structure constellations and more. CONTACT: http://www.metaforum.com
JULY 28-30: AMERICAN NATUROPATHIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 25th ANNUAL CONVENTION @ the Rivera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. CONTACT: ANMA, PO Box 96273, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193; 702-897-7053
JULY 29-31: SPAGYRICS & ALCHEMY – Plant Medicines & Intiatics in Eugene, Oregon. An in-depth seminar presenting teachings about Alchemy, Spagyric medicines, the Hermetic lineage from which Alchemy derives its philosophy.
CONTACT: Al-Kemi, 541-345-3456; http://www.al-kemi.com
more upcoming conferences at http://www.alternativemedicineconferences.com
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