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Acupuncture is a method of energy work developed more than 2500 years ago in China. This method seeks to affect the flow of energy, or Qi (pronounced chee), in the body, through the insertion of needles into the skin at specific points. Qi circulates along a system of conduits, the principle ones being channels or meridians. There are twelve principle bilateral channels of Qi, each intimately connected with one of the viscera of the body, and each manifesting its own characteristic Qi (e.g. Liver Qi, Gallbladder Qi, etc.). When the flow of Qi becomes unbalanced through physical, emotional, or environmental insults, illness may result.
The practice of acupuncture also draws upon the Five Element Theory, which holds that everything in the universe, including health, is governed by the natural elements of water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. In addition, each of the five elements has a corresponding flavor, sound, season, color, and weather condition associated with it.In an acupuncture session, acupuncturists may insert and remove the needles quickly or leave them in for longer periods of time, sometimes with the application of heat or electrical impulses. Acupuncture has been used in China as the only anesthetic during surgery and in which patients are fully conscious. Although Chinese acupuncture has been the most widely practiced type of acupuncture in the United States, there are also Japanese and Korean styles that are practiced. Acupuncture is used to treat a variety of conditions, but is believed to be particularly effective in relieving pain and chronic conditions, such as allergies.
Acupuncturists must be licensed to practice in the United States by individual states. The degrees received vary, from L.Ac. (licensed acupuncturist) to O.M.D. (oriental medical doctor). When selecting a practitioner, it is important to find one who has been certified as "Dipl. Ac." (diploma in acupuncture) through a qualifying exam administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
Because of the breadth of the practice of acupuncture, a separate more comprehensive resource guide has been developed (see Acupuncture Resource Guide).
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NOTE: The following resource listings are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to be used as a guide for treatment. They are provided for information only. The resources are selected and categorized to help you with your own research.
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Harriet Beinfield, L.Ac., and Efrem Korngold, L.Ac., O.M.D. Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine Ballantine Books, 1992 This is a popular and clearly written book on Traditional Chinese Medicine by two early American practitioners. The book contains a detailed and easy-to-read discussion of the Five Element Theory, the practice of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and dietary recommendations based on the five elements. |
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Dianne M. Connelly, Ph.D., M.Ac. Traditional Acupuncture: The Law of the Five Elements The Center for Traditional Acupuncture, 1994 Connelly provides an easy-to-read introduction to the Chinese system of the Five Elements, which is the underlying theory for the practice of acupuncture. |
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David Eisenberg, M.D. Encounters with Qi: Exploring Chinese Medicine WW Norton & Company, 1995 Eisenberg explains Chinese medicine from the perspective of a Western-trained physician. The book recounts his experiences and efforts to understand Chinese medicine during trips to China from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. |
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Ted Kaptchuk The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine Contemporary Books, 2000 One of the earliest (now in reprint) and most comprehensive guides to the theory and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kaptchuk’s book includes a detailed explanation of the Chinese view of organs and disease, and developments in scientific research in the West. |
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Professional Organizations and Training Centers
American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM)
http://www.aaom.org/
433 Front Street
Catasauqua, PA 18032
Toll-Free: (888) 500-7999
Phone: (610) 266-1433
Fax: (610) 264-2768
Email: aaom1@aol.com
The AAOM is a professional membership association for American acupuncturists committed to high ethical and educational standards. The AAOM website provides a referral list, publications, and an introduction to Oriental medicine.
http://www.tai.edu
American City Building
10227 Wincopin Circle, Suite 100
Columbia, MD 21044
Toll-Free: (800) 735-2968
Phone: (410) 997-4888
Email: webmaster@tai.edu
Founded by Dianne Connelly, the TAI provides degree programs for acupuncturists and courses for non-practitioners. They publish a quarterly wellness magazine called Meridians.
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See our Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource Guides for acupuncture web resources.
[Back to Acupuncture Contents]
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Shiatsu is a form of energy work that uses the thumbs, hands, forearms, knees and feet to apply pressure to the body in order to stimulate the flow of energy and restore balance. Shiatsu, which literally means "finger pressure," is a type of acupressure, and the terms are often used synonymously.At the beginning of a shiatsu session, practitioners (often called givers) palpate the client's hara (the area between the rib cage and pelvis) to determine which areas of the body need work. During the session, practitioners assist the clients (called receivers) in a variety of stretches and hold points along the body that are out of balance.
Shiatsu draws upon the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which state that energy in the body (Qi, pronounced "chee") flows through channels called meridians that correspond to organs in the body. According to TCM, a person’s health--both physical and psychological--is governed by the Five Elements: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. This mind/body approach is also followed in Shiatsu.
While shiatsu has its roots in TCM, the practice of shiatsu was developed in Japan by Tokujiro Naimkoshi in the 1920s and later refined by Shizuto Masunaga. Masunaga's student, Wataru Ohashi, popularized shiatsu in the West by training practitioners in his New York-based Ohashi Institute. His style, known as Ohashiatsu, and Masunaga's zen shiatsu, are among the forms of shiatsu practiced today.
No national organization certifies or licenses shiatsu practitioners. A number of schools around the country teach practitioners of shiatsu. In addition, traditional massage schools have begun to offer training in shiatsu.
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NOTE: The following resource listings are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to be used as a guide for treatment. They are provided for information only. The resources are selected and categorized to help you with your own research.
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Chris Jarmey and Gabriel Mojay Shiatsu: The Complete Guide Thorsons Publications, 1992 A book for the more advanced student of shiatsu, the book gives a good explanation of the link between Traditional Chinese Medicine and the practice of shiatsu. Also contains good illustrations of the meridian system and practitioners at work. |
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Paul Lundberg The Book of Shiatsu Fireside, 1992 Lundberg, the founder and director of the Shiatsu College in London, provides a good introduction to the theory and practice of shiatsu for the lay person or beginning student, with more than 260 illustrations. |
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Shizuto Masunaga, with Wataru Ohashi Zen Shiatsu: How to Harmonize Yin and Yang for Better Health Japan Publications, Inc. 1977 An excellent resource for professional Shiatsu practitioners or beginners. Masunaga includes clear and concise descriptions of the theories of Oriental medicine, energetic diagnosis, Shiatsu stretches, and more. |
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Toru Namikoshi The Complete Book of Shiatsu Therapy Japan Publications, 1994 An comprehensive, scientifically oriented text and step-by-step guidebook. Namikoshi teaches which trigger points can be used to heal headaches, insomnia, sinusitis, etc. |
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Wataru Ohashi The Ohashi Bodywork Book: Beyond Shiatsu with the Ohashiatsu Method Kodansha International, 1997 Founder of the Ohashi Institute and the Ohashiatsu method, Ohashi describes in detail his unique body-massage program that facilitates the exchange of energy between giver and receiver. This book includes over 600 illustrations. |
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Professional Organizations and Training Centers
The Acupressure Institute
http://www.acupressure.com
1533 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94709
Toll-Free: (800) 442-2232
Phone: (510) 845-1059
Email: info@acupressure.com
The Institute offers training programs in bodywork, Shiatsu, and acupressure. This website also provides articles on acupressure.
American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA)
(formerly American Oriental Bodywork Therapy Association)
http://www.aobta.org
1010 Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Suite 408
Voorhees, NJ 08043
Phone: (856) 782-1616
Fax: (856) 782-1653
E-mail: AOBTA@prodigy.net
AOBTA is a professional membership association of practitioners of Asian bodywork, including all styles of shiatsu. It runs workshops and conferences and provides referrals for practitioners.
http://www.shiatsubo.com
10 South Clinton Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: (215) 340-9918
Fax: (215) 340-9181
Email: info@shiatsubo.com
Offers training in traditional and zen shiatsu, with affiliate schools worldwide.The Ohashi Institute
http://www.ohashiatsu.org
147 W. 25th Street, 8th floor
New York, NY 10001
Toll-Free: (800) 810-4190
Phone: (646) 486-1187
Fax: (646) 486-1409
Email: ohashiinst@aol.com
The Institute is an international school that trains practitioners in the Ohashiatsu method of shiatsu, the method trademarked by Wataru Ohashi. It offers courses and training programs to practitioners and non-practitioners worldwide, as well as referrals.
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Cyprus Shiatsu Centre
http://www.shiatsu.com.cy/english.htm
Detailed information on shiatsu, including uses, a definition, and treatment.
Shiatsu: Japanese Massage
http://www.rianvisser.nl/shiatsu/e_index.htm
Brief descriptions about shiatsu, the theory of yin/yang and the five elements (on which shiatsu is based). Also included is an interactive "Do-in" link, where you can learn do-in exercises.
Shiatsu: Therapeutic Art of Japan
http://www.doubleclick.com/shiatsu.html
Detailed introduction to the history of shiatsu and Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as a description of the practice of shiatsu.
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Therapeutic touch (TT) is a form of energy work that seeks to correct energy imbalances by affecting an invisible human energy field that surrounds the body. Practitioners restore balance by assessing the client's energy field, clearing it, and transferring their energy to the client.Practitioners do not actually touch the client, but hold their hands several inches from the body as they work with its energy field. Centering of the practitioner-the inducement of a calming stillness-is a critical element to the practice.
Therapeutic Touch was developed by Dolores Krieger, Ph.D., R.N., and Dora Kunz, a spiritual healer as a contemporary interpretation of ancient healing arts, such as the laying on of hands. It draws upon the ancient Indian belief in prana, the vital energy force that surrounds the body and circulates through 7 chakras.
Dr. Krieger, a trained academic and professor at NYU's School of Nursing, and others were interested in subjecting therapeutic touch to rigorous scientific research. Different studies have been conducted to demonstrate that TT induces a relaxation response, alleviates pain, and speeds the healing process.
Dr. Krieger estimates that Therapeutic Touch is now taught at more than 80 colleges around the country and internationally, with more than 40,000 practitioners trained around the world.
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NOTE: The following resource listings are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to be used as a guide for treatment. They are provided for information only. The resources are selected and categorized to help you with your own research.
BOOKS
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Dolores Krieger, Ph.D., R.N. Accepting Your Power to Heal: The Personal Practice of Therapeutic Touch Bear & Company, 1993 Krieger, the co-founder of Therapeutic Touch, discusses its theory and practice. |
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Dora van Gelder Kunz The Personal Aura Theosophical Publishing House, 1991 An in-depth analysis of the emotional energy field, with 19 color plates. |
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Janet McCrae, Ph.D., R.N. Therapeutic Touch: A Practical Guide Knopf, 1988 A basic but thorough guide on how to perform Therapeutic Touch--an increasingly popular and effective healing technique used both inside and outside the medical profession. |
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Susan Wager, M.D. Introduction by Dora Kunz A Doctor's Guide to Therapeutic Touch Perigee, 1996 Introduces an innovative approach to whole body healing that promotes the body's natural healing process and can be used to treat asthma, cardiac problems, and depression, it enhances the immune system, relieves chronic pain, and detects illness. |
ARTICLES
Wirth, Daniel P., M.S., J.D.
The Effects of Non-Contact Therapeutic Touch on the Healing Rate of Full Thickness Dermal Wounds.
Subtle Energies, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1990, pp. 1-19.
This article reviews a double-blind controlled study in which subjects received a wound to the arm. TT was administered to half the group, while the other half received a placebo treatment. Those who were treated with TT healed faster than those who were not.
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Professional Organizations and Training Centers
Healing Touch International
http://www.healingtouch.net/index.shtml
12477 W. Cedar Dr., Suite 206
Lakewood, CO 80228
Phone: (303) 989-0581
Fax: (303) 985-9702
Email: ccheal@aol.com
The Center provides referrals for practitioners, as well as publications and information.
Nurse Healers-Professional Associates International (NH-PAI)
http://www.therapeutic-touch.org/
Email: NH-PAI@Therapeutic-Touch.org
Dolores Krieger established the organization in 1977, providing her works on teaching, case studies, and procedures. As the official membership organization of Therapeutic Touch, it sets standards for practice and teaching, and provides information and practitioner referrals.
3760 South Highland Dr., Suite 429
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Phone: (801) 273-3399
Fax: (801) 273-3352
or
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 8
Reston, VA 20190
Phone: (703) 234-4149
Pumpkin Hollow Farm
http://www.pumpkinhollow.org
1184 Route 11
Craryville, NY 12521
Phone: (518) 325-3583
Fax: (518) 325-5633
Email: pumpkin@taconic.net
Doris Kunz was one of the founders of Pumpkin Hollow, a theosophical retreat center that offers beginning through advanced classes in Therapeutic Touch year-round.
Therapeutic Touch Network (Ontario)
http://www.therapeutictouchnetwk.com/index.html
P.O. Box 85551
875 Eglington Ave. West
Toronto, Ontario M6C 4A8
Phone: (416) 65-TOUCH
Email: hawk145@idirect.com
The Network is a non-profit organization that promotes the practice and acceptance of Therapeutic Touch. This website has several links to published papers, articles, and practice groups.
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About.com: Therapeutic Touch
http://search.about.com/fullsearch.htm?meta=rs&terms=Therapeutic+Touch+Research
Scroll down to view results from search on "therapeutic touch research".
Healing Arts
http://www.healing-arts-tt.com/Index.htm
Offers programs in therapeutic touch that work alongside conventional medical treatment, taking advantage of all the benefits of modern science. Click on "Therapeutic Touch" to learn more about this healing modality, or "Spirit of Touch Newsletter" to view past articles.
Manitoba Therapeutic Touch Network
http://www.escape.ca/~mttn/
Provides basic information on therapeutic touch.
Therapeutic Touch
http://bdenison.sbcusa.com/
This site offers information on therapeutic touch programs, for the beginner, intermediate, or advanced healthcare professional.
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Polarity Therapy is a comprehensive health system that works with the human energy field to restore a balance of energy to the mind and body. Polarity therapists employ energy-based bodywork, dietary and nutritional counseling, polarity yoga, and psychological counseling that all emphasize positive thinking and self-awareness. Polarity therapy is based on the belief that the whole of nature, including the human body, consists of a polarity between positive and negative energy charges that must be in balance in order to prevent illness and pain.
Dr. Randolph Stone, a chiropractor, osteopathic and naturopathic physician, developed polarity therapy in the mid-1900s. Born in Austria, he came to the United States at a young age and traveled the world to learn about different healing systems. Polarity therapy blends his understanding of Western practices, such as osteopathic and chiropractic medicine, and Eastern practices, especially Ayurvedic medicine from India. The Ayurvedic system emphasizes that the universe’s energy is expressed through five elements--ether, air, fire, water, and earth, and flows through chakras, or energy centers, in the body. Like Traditional Chinese Medicine, each element has emotions, physical organs, and types of food associated with it.
When Stone retired in the 1970s, he turned over the training of polarity therapy practitioners to Pierre Pannetier, who started his own center in California. When Pannetier died in 1983, a number of his students formed the American Polarity Therapy Association.
Because Stone's writings are somewhat dense and eclectic, the practice of polarity therapy is open to interpretation in how it is implemented. As a result, some practitioners use deeper pressure than others, and some emphasize bodywork more than diet and counseling.
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NOTE: The following resource listings are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to be used as a guide for treatment. They are provided for information only. The resources are selected and categorized to help you with your own research.
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Maruti Seidman Guide to Polarity Therapy: The Gentle Art of Hands-On Healing North Atlantic Books, 1999 Explains the polarity system of healing, which combines diet, exercise, hands-on techniques, and positive attitudes to tap into spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional energies. |
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Alan Siegel Polarity Therapy: The Power That Heals Prism Press, 1987 Each of us has the innate ability to heal ourselves, our relationships, and our environment. To awaken this power we need to realize at the deepest levels of our being that matter and energy are two expressions of the same reality. Polarity therapy applies this fundamental truth to the release of blocked energy through energy balancing, nutrition, yoga, and positive attitude. A comprehensive resource for Polarity therapy professionals as well as an excellent introduction for the layperson. |
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Franklyn Sills The Polarity Process: Energy as a Healing Art Element Books, 1990 An introduction to polarity therapy by a renowned teacher, the book blends the principles of polarity therapy with Eastern thought and quantum physics theory. It provides a good section explaining the Ayurvedic roots of polarity therapy. |
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Randolph Stone, D.C., D.O., N.D. Polarity Therapy: The Complete Collected Works Book Publishing Co., 1999 These two volumes contain the collected writings of Dr. Randolph Stone, the founder of polarity therapy. Volume I includes reproductions of his original first editions of "Energy: The Vital Polarity in the Healing Art" and "The Wireless Anatomy of Man and Polarity Therapy." |
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Phil Young The Art of Polarity Therapy: A Practitioner's Perspective Prism Press, 2000 A clear concise, and well-illustrated guide that traces the practice of polarity therapy from first contact with the client to the natural ending of therapy. Describes the art of structuring, balancing, and the realigning of the physical body in relation to gravity and explores the theory of energy fields. |
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Professional Organizations and Treatment Centers
American Polarity Therapy Association (APTA)
http://www.polaritytherapy.org
122 North Elm Street, Ste. 512
Greensboro, NC 27401
Phone: (336) 574-1121
Fax: (336) 574-1151
Email: APTAoffices@polaritytherapy.org
APTA is the professional association for polarity therapists in the U.S. In addition to setting standards for the practice, it provides educational information and lists of schools and practitioners.
Columbus Polarity Therapy Institute (CPTI)
http://www.columbuspolarity.com/
Phone: (614) 299-9438
Email: maryjo@columbuspolarity.com
A center for natural healing therapies and bodywork. Practitioners are certified by the APTA. The CPTI offers courses in polarity therapy and other types of energy work.
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APTA Approved Training Centers
http://www.humboldt.net/~bruce/Resources.html
Scroll through these polarity resources to names and phone numbers for "American Polarity Therapy Association Approved" training centers, offering Associate Polarity Practitioner (APP) level and Registered Polarity Practitioner (RPP) level trainings. This site also lists names and numbers for "Workshops & Other Trainings."
Energy Medicine
http://www.eclipse.co.uk/masterworks/Polarity/Polarityhome.htm
Detailed history of polarity therapy and its applications. Includes case studies, analysis of the importance of chakras, and references.
Polarity Therapy
http://www.nursehealer.com/Polarity.htm
Offers extensive links to organizations, articles, history and practitioners. Includes web directories and search tools.
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Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a type of energy work that makes use of touch and visualization to access the universal life force and restore health. Practitioners, called Reiki Masters, place their hands on areas of energy called chakras, as well as the major organs and glands of the body, in order to balance the energy of the body, mind, and spirit. Reiki is Japanese for "universal life energy" and underscores the belief that Reiki Masters transfer energy that is universal, rather than personal, during their sessions.
Reiki is based on ancient Tibetan Buddhist teachings, said to date back 10,000 years, which were uncovered in the mid-1880s by Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese professor of theology. Usui incorporated the Tibetan healing practice of laying on of hands for healing purposes and the concept of a universal life force. He believed that energy was channeled through chakras in the body, an Eastern concept, as well as through the major organs and glands of Western anatomy.
After Usui's death, Dr. Chujiru Hayashi continued his work, opening the first Reiki clinic in Tokyo. A woman named Hawayo Takata, a student of Hayashi, is credited with promoting the practice of Reiki as it is known today.
To become a Reiki practitioner, one must be trained by a Reiki Master. Training involves a series of initiations to activate the practitioner's healing power. Three levels of training are given, the third level teaching the ability to access universal energy through visualization or from remote distances. Reiki centers operate around the world, and it is estimated that there are more than 1000 Reiki practitioners worldwide.
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NOTE: The following resource listings are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to be used as a guide for treatment. They are provided for information only. The resources are selected and categorized to help you with your own research.
BOOKS
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Pamela Miles Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide Jeremy P Tarcher/Penguin, New York 2006 Written for students and practitioners, this book illustrates how this traditional form of practice has a place in contemporary society. |
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Bodo J. Baginski and Shalila Sharamon Reiki: Universal Life Energy Life Rhythm, 1988 This book offers a good introduction to Reiki, a history of the Reiki Master lineage through Hawayo Takata, and a section on the correlation of physical disease with emotional states. |
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Paula Horan Empowerment through Reiki: The Path to Personal and Global Transformation Lotus Light Publications, 1998 This book is an easy-to-read introduction to Reiki-–its origins, what it is, and its uses–-although it does not go into the techniques of Reiki. These techniques must be received from Reiki Masters. |
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Janeanne Narrin One Degree Beyond: A Reiki Journey into Energy Medicine Little White Buffalo Publishing Cottages, 1998 An excellent introduction to Reiki that is also a personal journey by the author. Narrin provides an easy-to-read guide to the methodology and practice of Reiki, with a good description of the concept of energy (ki). |
ARTICLES
"Reiki Healing: A Physiologic Perspective," Journal of Holistic Nursing, Volume 7, No. 1, 1989, pp. 47-54.
"Reiki Energy: What Is It? How Does It Heal?," Massage, Issue 50, July/August 1994, pp. 86-88.
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Professional Organizations and Training Centers
American Board of Reiki
http://abreiki.org/home.energy
A membership and certification organization - contact information on web site.
Awareness Institute
http://www.awarinst.com
110 Smith St., Suite A
Mount Shasta, CA 96067-2636
Phone: (530) 926-0260 or (530) 926-1236
Fax: (530) 926-0981
Email: awarinst@gate.net or awarinst@target.net
Reiki practitioners trained through the Awareness Institute are trained, certified, and registered through the Institute's Alternate Healing Methods Department, and inherits the Reiki force and fifth generation Takata-USUI Standard Reiki method.
American Reiki Masters Association (ARMA)
http://www.atlantic.net/~arma/
P.O. Box 130
Lake City, FL 32056-0130
Phone: (904) 755-9638
Email: arma@atlantic.net or reikirus@atlantic.net
Arthur Robertson, a student of Takata, started ARMA to provide affordable training of Reiki practitioners. It also provides a referral service.
The International Center for Reiki Training
http://www.reiki.org
21421 Hilltop Street, Unit #28
Southfield, MI 48034
Toll-Free: (800) 332-8112
Phone: (248) 948-8112
Fax: (248) 948-9534
Email: center@reiki.org
The Center offers classes in Reiki and other healing techniques worldwide and publishes a free newsletter.
The Reiki Alliance
http://www.reikialliance.org
E-mail: ReikiAlliance@compuserve.com
The Reiki Alliance is the oldest international association of Reiki practitioners and is headed by Hawayo Takata’s granddaughter, Phyllis Lee Furumoto. The Alliance provides lists of practitioners, publications, and information on the practice of Reiki.
Cataldo, ID 83810-1041
Phone: (208) 783-3535
or
Postbus 75523-1070 AM
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Phone: (31) 294290022
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Energy Healing Systems: Reiki Internet Resources
http://www.holisticmed.com/www/energy.html
A categorized listing of various types of energy healing method web resources, including reiki.
Nurse Healer: Reiki
http://www.nursehealer.com/Reiki.htm
An extensive alphabetized list of reiki web resources, classes, practitioners, books, and other literature.
Reiki
http://www.talamasca.org/avatar/reiki.html
An informative site, including an introduction on reiki, and links to its philosophy, fundamentals of the different levels, choosing a teacher, recommended books, and more.
ReikiAloha.com
http://www.reikialoha.com/
Click on Member List for an international directory of Reiki practitioners.
Reiki Friend
http://www.reikifriend.com/
Reikifriend.com provides a marketing and networking channel for teachers and practitioners of Reiki in the UK and a resource for those seeking treatments and attunements.
The Reiki Pages
http://reiki.7gen.com/
A very comprehensive collection of information about all aspects of Reiki.
Total Reiki Mastery
http://totalreikimastery.com/
Site of blogger Duane Flowers, a Reiki Master who lives and teaches in Japan; includes indexes of blog posts plus additional articles, and a newsletter to which visitors can subscribe.
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Reflexology is a type of bodywork in which practitioners apply pressure to the foot (and sometimes the hand) in order to improve circulation and relieve congestion and pain. Reflexology is based on the theory that the foot represents a microcosm of the body and that specific parts of the foot-reflex zones-–correspond to organs and other body parts. By pressing on these reflex zones, practitioners can help alleviate problems in the corresponding body parts.The reflex zones identified and used in reflexology, although similar, do not correspond to the meridian systems of acupuncture, shiatsu or other ancient energy systems. Many practitioners of reflexology believe that these reflex zones represent areas of energy that get congested and thrown out of balance, the same as in other forms of energy work. They also believe that this congested energy is the cause of pain and illness.
The idea of working with the feet to promote health is rooted in many ancient medical systems, but the modern practice of reflexology was developed in the early 1900s by William Fitzgerald, M.D., who encountered the practice of reflex or zone therapy while working in England. Eunice Ingham, a physical therapist, further refined his techniques through her clinical experience and founded the modern practice of foot reflexology. Ingham focused on the foot because of its concentration of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and nerve endings.
Ingham created the International Institute of Reflexology to train practitioners in reflexology and has trained nearly 100,000 practitioners around the world. Although there is no national licensing for reflexology, practitioners can receive a national certificate. Reflexology continues to be a popular form of nontraditional healing that is incorporated by other health care practitioners, including chiropractors, podiatrists, nurses, and massage therapists.
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NOTE: The following resource listings are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to be used as a guide for treatment. They are provided for information only. The resources are selected and categorized to help you with your own research.
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Dwight C. Byers Better Health with Foot Reflexology Ingham Publishing, Inc., 1991 This book provides an introduction to Eunice Ingham’s reflexology method, including detailed illustrations and reflexology charts of the feet and hands. |
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Beryl Crane Reflexology: The Definitive Practitioner's Manual Element, 1998 Crane details how reflexology works, how to apply the therapy, how to set up a practice, and more. This book is recommended and endorsed by the International Therapy Examination Council (ITEC). |
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Laura Norman Feet First: A Guide to Foot Reflexology Fireside, 1988 Norman explains how to relieve physical problems with reflexology. Includes an introduction to the theory and practice of reflexology, 250 illustrations, a chart of ailments and reflexology aids, and more. |
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Professional Organizations and Training Centers
American Reflexology Certification Board (ARCB)
http://www.arcb.net/
P.O. Box 620607
Littleton, CO 80162
Phone: (303) 933-6921
Fax: (303) 904-0460
Email: arcbnet@aol.com
The Board provides reflexologists with information on certification and also provides the names of practitioners in a given area.
http://www.reflexology-usa.net
P.O. Box 12642
St. Petersburg, FL 33733-2642
Phone: (727) 343-4811
The oldest membership organization and school for the study of reflexology, the Institute offers courses throughout the world in the Original Ingham Method of Reflexology. It also provides lists of practitioners and publications/information.
Reflexology Association of America (RAA)
http://reflexology-usa.org/index.shtml
4012 Rainbow Ste. K-PMB#585
Las Vegas, NV 89103-2059
Email: reflex@chazlo.com
Click on "Reflexology Associations" for links to related state and national associations.
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Geocities: Reflexology
http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/2821/reflexology.htm
An introduction of reflexology, including a brief history and a description of how it works.
Home of Reflexology
http://www.reflexology.org/
Provides details of reflexology organizations together with information on reflexology and other related links.
Reflexology Booklist
http://homepages.iol.ie/~footman/booklst.html
A comprehensive list of reflexology books available world wide.
Reflexology Links
http://www.fdz.dk/english/links.htm
A list of international reflexology associations, research, schools, and general resources.
Reflexology Research Project
http://www.reflexology-research.com/
Numerous links to reflexology books, charts, research, and newsletters.
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Introduction |
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Books |
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Professional Organizations and Training Centers |
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Web Resources |
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Bioenergy is a type of therapy that seeks to free up blocked energy that has been restricted by suppressed emotions and behaviors, which manifest themselves physically as muscle tension, pain, and illness. Bioenergy practitioners use a combination of psychotherapy, grounding exercises, and deep breathing to re-establish a normal energy balance.
Bioenergetics is based on the work of Dr. Wilhelm Reich (1897-1957), a German-born psychiatrist and student of Freud, who believed that various emotions and behaviors created a physical manifestation in the body he called armoring. He believed that armoring, expressed through such physical manifestations as tension and breathing, disrupted the normal energy flow in the body and was the cause of illness. Reich created the term "orgone" to describe the universal energy that flowed through the body.
Doctors Alexander Lowen and John Pierrakos further developed Reich’s work and shaped the practice of bioenergetic analysis. Practitioners of bioenergetics are generally professionals in the field of psychotherapy and psychiatry who receive special training in working with body dynamics.
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NOTE: The following resource listings are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to be used as a guide for treatment. They are provided for information only. The resources are selected and categorized to help you with your own research.
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Barbara Ann Brennan Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishers, 1993 Written from the scientist's perspective of the field of bioenergetic healing, offering specific techniques towards expanding perceptual tools of healing, seeing auras, understanding psychodynamics, and the human energy field, and spiritual healing. |
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Morton Herskowitz, D.O. Emotional Armoring: An Introduction to Psychiatric Orgone Therapy Transaction Publications, 1998 A patient and colleague who was trained by Reich, Herskowitz provides an easy-to-read book that chronicles his 30 years as a psychiatrist and orgone therapist. |
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Alexander Lowen Bioenergetics Penguin USA, 1994 Lowen, a student of Reich’s, developed his own exercises based on bioenergetics. In this book, he discusses how common complaints, such as headaches, can be overcome by releasing muscular tension. |
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Wilhelm Reich, R.D. Laing, and James DeMeo On Wilhelm Reich and Orgonomy Natural Energy Works, 1994 A collection of articles by various authors on the subject of orgonomy, including three out-of-print articles by Wilhelm Reich. |
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Wilhelm Reich, M.D. Selected Writings: An Introduction to Orgonomy Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 1973 This book provides a good introduction to the development of orgone therapy and Reich’s ideas on how emotion is manifested in the body. |
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Professional Organizations and Training Centers
American College of Orgonomy (ACO)
http://www.orgonomy.org/
P.O. Box 490
Princeton, NJ 08542
Phone: (732) 821-1144
Fax: (732) 821-0174
Email: aco@nji.com
A non-profit educational and scientific organization devoted to setting and maintaining standards for work in orgonomy. The ACO maintains a rigorous training program in medical orgone therapy for highly-qualified, board-certified psychiatrists and internists.
Center for Orgonomic Studies
http://www.jps.net/orgstudy/
6823 29th Ave., N.E.
Seattle, WA 98115
Phone: (206) 523-0800
Fax: (206) 523-0800
Email: orgstudy@jps.net
Provides educational opportunities for professionals and the public in the science of orgonomy. The Center offers public workshops on orgonomic topics, a training program in orgone therapy, a speakers bureau, and orgone therapy.
Gentle Bio-Energetics
http://www.gentlebio-energetics.com/
29 Lovers Loop Rd.
Asheville, NC 28803
Phone: (828) 298-5454
E-mail: rcoverly@gentlebio-energetics.com
Gentle bio-energetics is an educational and therapeutic model designed to integrate verbal and body therapies for healing and growth. Provides therapy, training, and education for recovering and healing traumatic life experiences.
The Institute for Orgonomic Science
http://www.orgonomicscience.org
100 Park Boulevard, Suite 49A
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Phone: (856) 482-5444
E-mail: ios@organomicscience.org
The Institute trains physicians in Reich’s orgone therapy, provides a list of practitioners, conducts seminars, and publishes a journal, Annals of the Institute for Orgonomic Science.
International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis
http://www.bioenergetic-therapy.com
144 E. 36th Street
New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 532-7742
Fax: (212) 532-5331
E-mail: iibanet@aol.com
This educational Institute provides training and referrals and runs conferences. Papers from conferences are available, along with a wide selection of books and articles in the field.
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Medical Orgone Therapy
http://www.orgonomy.org/therapy.html
Links to various articles on medical orgone therapy.
Orgonomy
http://www.orgon.com/orgonomy/
A list of international orgonomy websites.
Orgonomy Resources
http://www.orgonelab.org/g_mtrls.htm
Maintained by the Orgone Biophysical Research Laboratory, a non-profit science research and educational foundation. This site links to sources of information, educational programs, professional contacts and publications on Wilhelm Reich, M.D. and orgonomy.
Public Orgonomic Research Exchange
http://www.orgone.org/
An exchange of orgonomic research and information, with several useful links. Click on "Web Sites in Orgonomy" for a list of links to orgonomy web sites, scientific research, and therapy.
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