The human body is a miracle. It is miraculous in the way it moves, the way it works together, and the way it can recover from trauma when we give it what it needs. Trauma that can include starvation, obesity, alcohol and drug abuse, heart disease, cancer, birth defects, environmental toxins, gunshot wounds, amputations, depression, anxiety, grief and sleep deprivation. Some are self inflicted and others are inflicted by outside forces. Regardless of the source, I am hoping that this article will inspire you to look at the field of energy medicine as a powerful means by which you can assist your body in healing itself through its subtle energies.

I have been in awe of this miraculous creation since my days of studying human cadavers as a young occupational therapy student. I was privileged enough to see, touch and feel the muscles, nerves, organs, blood vessels, bones and tissues. Nothing was left to the imagination, except the life and the essence of the person that so valiantly sacrificed for the progression of medicine. The magical force that once animated the body was gone. What was this life force and if it had been cared for in a different way, would the person have lived longer? Writing the word cadaver seems awkward and risky, however, it seems relevant to create a visualization that will evoke emotion around the important topic of energy medicine and the critical role it plays in living a healthier life.

Mehmet Oz, M.D., the director of the Cardiovascular Institute at the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and a frequent guest on Oprah has stated, “The next big frontier in medicine is energy medicine.” Donna Eden, a pioneer, practitioner and teacher in the field of energy medicine states “This medicine, this energy” medicine, feeds body and soul, and attending to it restores your natural vitality. Energy medicine is the science and the art of optimizing your energies to help your body and mind function at their best.” I have been privileged to work with some of the best teachers in the field of energy medicine, such as Caroline Myss. As a result, I have been able to integrate my conventional medical and therapeutic practices with energy medicine for a broader, multi level healing which allows the body to participate in its own health. Energy is our life force and, simply stated, if we don’t have it, we have no life.

The energy that flows throughout the body can be compared to the blood or circulatory system and is as critical as the flow of blood. Energy flows through meridians, which are pathways that carry it to every part of our body, even the smallest of cells. These meridians emit light, which can be recorded with infrared photography, and they connect hundreds of tiny electromagnetic points along the surface of the skin known as acupuncture points. We need a healthy strong flow of blood and energy to sustain all of the body’s components. If either is impeded, an environment for disease is created. When this environment that supports disease is created, illness can occur, which is one of the means by which the body gets our attention. It is saying, “Hey, help me out here”.

There are many things that stop or impede the flow of energy throughout the body. A short list includes an excess of foods, alcohol, tobacco, TV, prescription medications, toxic products, anxiety, behaving in an unloving manner, not managing our own “shadows” and staying connected to events of our past, just to name a few. With that said, we can and need to be good stewards of our energy by learning techniques that align the body’s subtle energies and improve blocked energy flows in ourselves and others. Although there are many practitioners of energy medicine and sophisticated devices available, our hands are powerful healers. There are many resources available that can provide the direction desired to help elevate you to a more vibrant health. 

Paula Neys