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Therapies |
The Complementary Therapy Clinic currently operates three times a week. The clinic is open on Monday and Wednesday between the hours of 10.00 to 3.00 pm, and on Thursday between 2.30pm and 8.30pm..
Therapies currently available at St. Lukes include:-
Reflexology
Is a gentle therapy that combines pressure and massage to feet. A map of the whole body is reflected in the feet.
The nerve endings in the feet are stimulated by specific massage techniques to effect changes in another part of the body helping to promote relaxation, relieve stress and tension, improve circulation and encourage the body to use its own capacity for self healing.
Aromatherapy
Is a gentle massage using pure essential oil extracted from plant materials, flowers, leaves, petals, stems, etc. The oils are added to a fine oil or cream to ensure that they are effectively absorbed through the skin and into the blood stream and therefore benefiting the whole of the body. Some of the benefits, which a patient receives, are: -
It relieves - tension, skin irritations and scar tissue, nausea and headaches
It reduces - emotional stress, anxiety and oedema
It promotes - pain relief and sleep
Reiki
This is a natural form of hands on healing which involves energy channelled through the practitioner's hands from the surrounding area. Reiki means universal life energy and is a holistic treatment treating all levels of body, mind and spirit. It can enhance the effect of other therapies and has four basic effects :-
A deep relaxation
It dissolves blockages of energy
It detoxifies the body
It is a source of universal life force energy and it increases the vibration frequency of the body.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy can help with anything in which the mind has an influence, so its range and potential is far wider and greater than is sometimes thought. In this therapy (treatment), the hypnotherapist leads the client into a deeply relaxed state, during which the client is still conscious of surroundings and in complete control. With hypnotherapy, the imagination rather than the intellect is activated. Typically it involves relaxation, positive thinking and guided imagery (visualization) that can lead to physical and emotional benefits. These include the promotion of fighting spirit, the reduction of anxiety and create feelings of empowerment, thereby improving quality of life.
The Hypno-Chemo programme
The Hypno-Chemo programme was originally devised by Holistic Resources at Rossendale Hospice. It is now a community funded project that has gone England wide. Due to the acclaim this project has received there are currently only a limited number of trained Hypnotherapists available. St. Lukes's is one of the first hospices to offer this service. The principle is that psychological distress is frequently reported following diagnosis of cancer. It is also recognized that some medical procedures can have an impact on quality of life. It is a sad but true fact that many patients receive no psychological help at all.
The Hypno-chemo programme uses the skills from Cognitive behaviour therapy combined with the hypnotherapeutic skills to:
Teach relaxation
Treat emotional issues. Prepare for and treat side effects of chemotherapy.
Reduce anxiety and depression.
Enlarge embedded veins.
Manage pain.
And if appropriate, visualize host defences destroying malignant cells
Note: it is not necessary to be having chemotherapy to benefit from this programme.
Group Work
This includes Hypnotherapy, Yoga, Tai Chi and a Carers' Group.
Physiotherapy
This can offer help in the treatment or management of many different conditions such as:-
Help with pain relief by means of acupuncture, TENS or other electrical treatments
Breathing control techniques to help management of breathlessness
Management of lymphoedema
Specific and individualised exercise programme can be planned with the physiotherapist. |
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