Shiatsu

My first experience of alternative medicine occurred in San Francisco during a medical conference.  I developed a stiff neck which was rather bothersome and decided to have a massage to relieve the pain. I was a poor medical resident at the time and rather than spend money on an expensive therapist in the hotel, I found a Japanese woman who did Shiatsu out of her home.  She was clearly incredibly well trained and talented and after working her magic for about 90 minutes, I found I still had a stiff neck, but I had so much energy and felt so great, I simply didn’t care.  I taught myself a few pressure points on the neck and shoulders and I myself have been practicing this informally since.

Trager Bodywork

Trager was a physiatrist who had an extraordinary ability to use his hands in massage.  He created a form of gentle, rhythmic movements known as “bodywork” which results in profound body/mind relaxation.  I became so intrigued with this approach, that I took a five day course in Northern California just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.  After a week of massaging others and being massaged myself, I felt I could merely float back to Chicago without the help of the airline.   This remains to this day the most relaxing vacation I have ever taken.  I still occasionally teach some simple Trager techniques to patients which they can use for muscle relaxation of the neck or shoulders. 

Rolfing Bodywork

This is actually performed by a Hawaiian energy work practitioner and the two were combined somewhat.  This practice is a form of very deep tissue massage to “rub out”, sometimes forcibly the “kinks” in one’s fascial layer.  The thought is that these areas act as blocks to the natural energy flow throughout our bodies.  Working them out results in significant improvement of one’s posture along with an overall improved sense of well being.   At times the procedure can be unpleasant, in fact downright painful, but release of the “kinks” sometimes results in emotional release as well. 

Foot Reflexology

I found this therapy incredibly relaxing and rather surprising in that working on various areas on the foot can cause distant areas of the body all the way to the head to respond by becoming relaxed and causing a very pleasant sensation.

Qigong Massage

This is a variation of Acupressure and Foot Reflexology.  It is considered part of traditional Chinese medicine and the affect is intended to be more therapeutic with a balancing of one’s internal organ energy for general purposes of health.   It is a rather amazing experience with some pressure points on the toes and elbows being initially quite tender to deep palpation but which are no longer so after some energy work is performed.  This apparently is both diagnostic and therapeutic.  One of my patients who has undergone this, had an interesting experience with the diagnosis made by the Chinese physician of diverticulitis made before the patient was even fully aware of having abdominal pain.

It was an interesting experience whereby both patient and practitioner found themselves sweating profusely resulting in prompt improvement of the condition followed by strict instruction by the practitioner to have the patient follow up with me in the next week.  I ultimately treated the patient’s condition with antibiotics.  It was certainly an interesting example of “East meets West”.