The Haven
Healing Centre
The Orchard
Draycott Rd, Cheddar
Somerset
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Healing to Help the Side Effects of RadiotherapyTreatment for radiotherapy patients using Reiki and healingHaving to undergo radiotherapy is one thing, you are already in a place where the treatment is radical and the outcome unsure. But on top of that, radiotherapy can also bring much pain, dysfunction and distortion to various systems of the body, some temporary, some not so temporary. The potential side effects of radiotherapy Any side effects of radiotherapy will likely be dependent on the location of your treatment, as radiotherapy is a very targeted type of treatment. So, the part of your body being treated, the dose of the radiotherapy, and the speed of recovery of your healthy cells will determine the severity and duration of any side effects.  The purpose of radiotherapy is to destroy cancer cells, but side effects occur because radiotherapy also temporarily damages some healthy cells nearby. Because of the focus of the beam, healthy cells receive a very much reduced dose of radiotherapy than the cancer cells that are the primary target. Even so, it is enough for the surrounding tissue and organs to react. Radiotherapy affects everyone differently and it's difficult to know exactly how you'll react to the treatment. For most people, side effects are relatively mild, while others experience more severe effects. These can occur during treatment, shortly after, or even weeks or months afterwards. The duration can be a few days or weeks for mild effects, but tiredness, hairloss, joint/muscle stiffness, fertility, reduced libido, lymphoedema and even secondary cancers can become long-term effects. So why do people with cancer come to The Haven for healing? A few years ago your oncologist would have laughed at you if you came for healing. How times have changed! Now, your average (enlightened) oncologist has one question for you. "How are you feeling after your last healing session?" This is true for radiation therapy and chemotherapy. A study in the USA found that up to 42% of people with cancer used some type of spiritual healing. I'm not sure if it's that high in the UK, but it is certainly on the increase in my practice. Why is that do you suppose? Perhaps it's because after all the uncertainty, the chemicals and expensive machinery, taking back control of the situation is the most empowering thing we can really do. Healing is a natural and positive way to help lower our emotional states of stress, anxiety and depression. It can also help with the physical side effects of pain, sickness and tiredness (fatigue). More and more doctors are coming to the conclusion that healing is a useful complementary therapy to use alongside cancer treatment, and even concede that it is completely safe, albeit reluctantly. They might not like it, but the sheer number of patients who are telling them of the positive benefits, and the way it makes them feel, is difficult to ignore. The bottom line is, you feel better afterwards than you did before. Is anything else more important than that? So what are these side effects that I need to look out for?
What will my healing session involve? Total session time is around an hour, with the healing act taking up about 45 minutes of that time. General discussion is about how you feel now, what you would like to achieve, and to cover any of the practical details that need to be addressed before starting. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. I usually ask you to lie on a couch, but you may sit in a chair as an alternative, it depends on what you find most comfortable. You may want to take your coat and shoes off. You can talk or remain silent, your choice, it won't change the outcome either way. For focus and maximum intention I tend to be silent, but will reply to you if you talk to me. You may opt for 'hands on' or 'hands off' healing. It does not affect the outcome, but most find the comfort of hands on healing the most useful in terms of sensation. You may feel heat, tingling, pressure, movement, throbbing, cold, or you may feel nothing at all. Don't feel discouraged by this, sometimes the most demonstrative patient in terms of heat in the hands and the healing vibrations, produces a lesser result than the most critical sceptic that feels absolutely nothing (I was once one of those!). Sometimes we have our Eureka! moments when the healing is flowing, and patients can feel relaxed, sleepy, full of beans or have a much reduced sensation of side effects. Most often though, improvement is gradual and solid, and sometimes this is the most profound because of the long-term healing that is taking place. I find this all a bit wierd; do I have to believe in healing for it to work? Glad you asked me that! To be fair, there is no scientific evidence that supports healing as a treatment for cancer. The main reason for that is because the research has never been done, and scientific opinion is based on research. This is why it's so difficult to find a doctor that is altogether happy with a patient who says they are going for 'healing'. The dilemma for them is, if you are going for healing, why are you now sat in my surgery talking about treatment? Yes it can be harsh, but things are changing, and more rapidly than you think. Many doctors and oncologists are subscribing to the 5 point plan of cancer treatment and recovery. 1. Diet and nutrition (including detoxfication) 2. Physical activity and exercise 3. Healing and complementary therapy 4. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy 5. Relaxation and a stress free lifestyle So NO, you don't have to believe; healing will do whatever needs to be done and go wherever it needs to go. It requires neither guidance nor conscious acceptance on your part. Other parts of us that take care of our greater good do the talking and the business in that regard, but that's a discussion for another time. Hands on Healing following your Radiotherapy treatment. Healing and Reiki both have a useful side effect of their own. They can bring about profound changes to a body ravaged by the worst that modern medicine has to offer. They can help the body cope with both the cancer treatment and also the side effects of that treatment, while having a marked effect on the overall health and well being of the patient. Visit The Haven Healing Centre in Cheddar for a course of healing and/or Reiki treatments. Appointments and a treatment price list are available by clicking here. I look forward to welcoming you soon. Phil. Please share this page with your friends. Thank you.
Note: DISCLAIMER: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read. It's a small investment in yourself, but could be a life-changing experience you will cherish forever. |
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