A complete approach to wellness is at the core of Body & Soul’s philosophy. One part of this is achieved through the provision of complementary therapies. Although doctors do not all agree to their effectiveness for treating people who are living with HIV, they have historically been used by many people in managing the impact of HIV.
It is important to remember that complementary therapies should never be used as an alternative to medical HIV treatment. Treatments such as massage, relaxation and reflexology should be used alongside treatment (to “complement” it) and can help with symptoms and side effects of living with HIV and help to promote an increased feeling of all-round wellbeing.
With the high pressured lives that many of us lead, it is no wonder that we often feel stressed out or out of control of our lives. Stress, however, doesn’t just arise
from unpleasant events. Positive happenings like a new relationship, starting a new job, moving home or being pregnant can also make us tense. We all have to live with stress, but if not managed, it can profoundly affect both the mind and body.
When you are living with HIV, these issues may be exacerbated by the extra health concerns, emotional vulnerabilities and social challenges often faced.
Chronic and long-term exposure to stress hormones can damage the body as they can lower immunity and make people more susceptible to infections. This is why stress reduction strategies, relaxation, breathing and exercise, which have been shown to help reverse this effect (by increasing the number of infection-fighting T cells and feel-good endorphins in the body, and help prevent disease), is so very important.
Body & Soul can offer the following complementary therapies through its team of qualified and experienced volunteer therapists:
Holistic Massage
Therapeutic massage relieves muscle tension and promotes a feeling of well-being, calm and relaxation. A single treatment will improve skin tone and colour, relieve soreness and stiffness in the joints and muscles, and increase energy by invigorating all body systems and reducing fatigue.
In the long term massage will improve skin elasticity and muscle suppleness, boost immunity, lower blood pressure, relieve insomnia, and enable sustained relaxation of body and mind. This kind of massage can also help reduce side effects from medication and helps to promote relaxation and wellbeing.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is completely natural and safe, with no harmful side effects. It is used to treat a variety of medical, emotional, habitual and psychological problems. Hypnosis is a focused state of attention, experienced naturally throughout the day, like daydreaming. It may be experienced as a state of physical and mental relaxation.
Hypnotherapy is an intervention for:
- Helping facilitate change i.e. smoking, insomnia, anxiety, stress
- Increasing health and well being i.e. fatigue, blood pressure, stomach disorders, pain
- Breaking negative thought patterns and behaviour i.e. phobias, fears, procrastination
- Increasing motivation, performance and confidence i.e. low self esteem, creativity, sports performance
- Processing and healing traumas i.e. abuse, post traumatic stress disorder, grief
Reiki
Reiki is a hands-on energy healing therapy that promotes relaxation and healing of both the body and the mind. It can help promote natural sleep and ease painful or tense muscles. Reiki is non-intrusive and can work alongside other therapies & medication.
Pregnancy Massage
As well as helping to reduce relaxation and stress, massage during pregnancy can help to relieve some muscular complaints that occur frequently such as back
pain and muscle cramps, as well as improving blood circulation and muscle suppleness.
Shiatsu
A combination of massage and manipulation of pressure points on the body, shiatsu can increase blood flow and energy. Shiatsu can be beneficial to people suffering from sleep disorders and stress.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a safe, non-invasive therapy that treats the underlying causes of health problems. Blocked energy and imbalances are released; activating the body’s natural healing process. Reflex points on the feet which correspond to the body’s anatomy are stimulated by pressure massage.
Yoga
Yoga aims to improve both physical and spiritual well-being and is one of the most widely-used alternative therapies. It is an ideal way to maintain muscle tone and strength, as well as to focus relaxation and reduce stress.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicinal practice dating back over 2,000 years. During treatment, fine needles are inserted into the skin in order to enhance and balance the flow of Qi (pronounced Chee), or energy. Acupuncture is used as a complementary treatment for lots of different physical and mental conditions; headaches, migraines, digestive and menstrual problems, aches and pains, asthma, hayfever, stress, tiredness, depression and anxiety. It can also be used to treat chronic conditions; arthritis, back pain, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, high blood pressure and repetitive strain injuries.
Acupuncture can be effective with specific conditions, but the treatment focuses on the person rather than the illness, and aims to achieve a restoration of general health and wellbeing. Acupuncture helps reinstate our own innate healing capabilities which often become exhausted.
The treatment involves an initial consultation and we will take a medical history. During treatment, needles will be inserted into specific points on the body, and will either be removed immediately or left in for a short period. The needle may initially cause a dull ache or sting, but this doesn’t last for long. At Body & Soul we only use sterilized disposable needles.
