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For enquiries about our service of Complementary Therapies
please ring BMCH Office 02 4782 4866
Treasure Chests
An informal, fun and friendship group for women who have experienced the diagnosis of breast cancer.
Sessions held Thursdays monthly by Helena, qualified and experienced counsellor. 10am - 12md. Refreshment provided. Gold coin donation.
Refer to Support Groups section on our Home page for more details.
Music Therapy
by Samantha Scheoler-Jones
Here is your chance to make as much noise as you like or find a melody that reflects how you feel! People can experience a relief from pain and physical distress and transform adversity into positive experiences. These are just a few of the benefits of participating in music therapy.
My name is Samantha Schoeler-Jones and I am a music therapist. I trained in Berlin, Germany, and returned to Australia in 2004. In 2006 I received my professional accreditation and registration from the Australian Music Therapy Association Inc.
What happens in a music therapy session?
To those of you who are not familiar with music therapy , I would like to give you a brief explanation and invitation to come along one Friday and join in for 2 hours of musical activities. Some people might say, "Oh...I can't do that, I can't play an instrument", or, "I can't sing.. this is not for me!" Music therapy is not about being able to do something...you can participate in music therapy even if you have never touched an instrument or think you sing out of tune!
First of all, here is a list of just some of the activities you can participate in:
Listening to music: Would you like to share your favourite CD? Sometimes I shall select music for listening to that later shall be used for discussing within the group.
Improvisation: The Blue Mountains Cancer Help Inc. has purchassed some wonderful percussion instruments including chime bars, ocean drums and thunder makers that we can use to create & explore sounds, feelings & emotions. We can also improvise using our own bodies! Think of all the sounds you can make just with your body!!
Singing: This can be a very enjoyable experience. Sharing favourite songs, learning new songs or revisiting songs of the past allowing people to reminisce about these special songs. As a flute player, I might be able to play along or strum a few chords on the guitar.
Song writing: This can involve taking a favourite song and re-writing your own special words, or composing from the beginning a song. I would asssist you in this process. We could even record a CD for you to give family or friends.
Painting to music: This is a crossover to Art Therapy. Explore your inner thoughts and feelings or creativity using music to guide your crayon or paintbrush.
Movement to music: We can improvose or play a CD, creating a dance or movement.
Benefits of music therapy
It is well documented that music therapy can benefit people in many ways, not to mention the enjoyment and fun it brings to share and be creative with others while being a tool for reflecting on issues such as health and relationships etc.
In my experience as a music therapist, clients have often commented on how their self-esteem improved, their feeling of anxiety or tension reduced and their social network opened. Music therapy can also assist you to connect to inner feelings and thoughts and to express these through music. Here is your chance to make as much noise as you like or find a melody that reflects how you feel! Studies here in Australia, have also shown that people experienced a relief from pain and pyhsical distress and transformed adversity into positive experiences. These are just a few of the benefits of participating in music therapy.
Reflexology
Professionally applied reflexology can be complementary in supporting the treatment of major conditions such as cancer. All the systems of the body - circulatory, lymphatic, muscular skeletal, hormonal, nervous, excretory, reproductive and digestive - can be supported and stimulated to work more efficiently.
Historical Background and General Clinical Benefits of Reflexology
by Reflexologist, Penny Henderson
Reflexology is a branch of clinical medicine which has been in use for more than 2000 years by a number of civilations including those in the Middle East, China and South America.
In more recent times, it has developed to become widely practised today in Western countries as a precise and specialised form of wholistic treatment.
How a treatment works
Although it is carried out on the feet, it is much more than a foot massage. This is because through local stimulatiion on specific points of the foot, it can bring about a healing affect and improvement in the functions of disordered parts of the body.
The feet are a mirror of the seated human form. Precise areas that relate to all organs and structures of the body are found on the feet. These are called reflex points. For example, the big toe corresponds to the head, and the inside arch of the foot corresponds with the spine.
Benefits of reflexology
Reflexology is a modality which when practised even in its simplest form can be incredibly effective. Professionally applied reflexology can be complementary in supporting the treatment of major conditions such as cancer. It is also a safe way to alleviate everyday general complaints such as:
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Insomnia
- Colic
- Constipation
- Back pain
- Period pain
Existing treatments - medical and complementary - are enhanced.
Reflexology stimulates the lymphatic, circulation and nervous systems without adding strain to the heart.
Other benefits include the development of much better bodily functions. All the systems of the body - circulatory, lymphatic, muscular skeletal, hormonal, nervous, excretory, reproductive and digestive - can be supported and stimulated to work more efficiently.
Reiki
The Universal Life energy
Pure spiritual energy
Feel its gentility, comfort and support. Reiki is safe, natural and simple. It may benefit an individual's physical, emotional, mental or spiritual energies. Reiki is becoming part of modern health care and is offered because of its ability to promote wellbeing in clients with cancer or their carers.
What is invloved in a reiki treatment?
- Reiki is given by a series hand positions gently placed on the head, torso and any other areas requiring treatment.
- Rest on a treatment table wearing comfortable clothing.
- Reiki energy is drawn to the charkras and major organs to help promote an energy balance in the body.
- It is non-invasive, and is not a massage.
- The energy can pass through bandaging, casts, or blankets.
- Reiki practitioners do not offer a diagnosis unless they are qualified in health assessment.
- You can feel warmth or tingling sensations.
Some situations and conditions that can benefit from reiki
- Pain, headaches or nausea
- Feeling overwhelmed or distressed
- Recovery from an operation
- Healing scars and injuries
- Ability to cope with life's challenges
A practitioner might recommend a series of treatments according to individual needs.
Who can have a reiki treatment?
Any person can choose to have a reiki treatment at any stage of life. Babies and young children as well as adults, benefit from the soothing and calming reiki energy. Animals can also benefit greatly from reiki.
How long is a reiki treatment?
Generally, a treatment lasts from one hour to one and a half hours. A shorter time may be appropriate in some cases.
What are the effects of reiki?
A feeling of relaxation can be experienced by many people, however, other benefits relate to our individual needs.
Reiki is able to promote improvement in:
- Relief from pain, nausea, headache and distress
- Relaxation and a feeling of peace
- Wellbeing on an individual basis
- Positive feelings, opening up to positive thoughts and intuition
- Ability to cope with challenges such as illness, a serious situation or problems
Benefits can often be noticed some time after a treatment. It is helpful to reflect on improvements in wellbeing over time.
Massage
Massage is a healing art and a science available in ancient and modern forms. The Cancer Council NSW has recently acknowledged the benefits of therapeutic touch through the use of gentle massage. The special technique of a gentle lymphatic/lymphoedema massage has made significant improvements for Lymphoedema patients.
Current studies support the use of massage therapy for cancer patients and patients with serious chronic illnesses, or recovering from serious illness. The many types of massage can be adjusted by a qualified therapist to suit a person's medical history, age, constitution and individual requests.
The Cancer Council NSW has recently acknowledged the benefits of therapeutic touch through the use of gentle massage. For example: to alleviate the side effects of cancer treatments, improve and individual's immune health, and develop a greater sense of well-being.
The gentle masssage techniques do not contribute to the spead of cancer and can be safely given to people at all stages of their cancer journey.
Some benefits of massage are the relief of:
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Anxiety and depression
- Anger
- Nausa
A soothing massage can release neuro-chemicals to decrease the physical effects of stress and tension, and reduce muscle spasms, muscle restrictions and tightness in the back.
Other benefits can include improvements to:
- Sleep
- Nerve damage or disturbance
- Quality of life
- Mental clarity and alertness
Lymphatic drainage massage is a gentle technique for releasing inflammatory materials and toxins from the connective tissue, and boosts the activity of the immune system. The special technique of a gentle lymphatic/lymphoedema massage has made significant improvements for lymphoedema patients. Some massage therapists are now trained in the lympheodema method.
Discuss your health and treatments with your massage therapist so adjustments to the massage technique can be made to suit your individual condition.
Sources:
The Cancer Council NSW 2008
Association of Massage Therapists 2008
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Flannel flower - emblem for Blue Mountains Cancer Help.
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