Creating peace 

Suite Marigold offers a broad range of modalities that we have selected from our experience of what works best for most people we have treated. We invite you to explore these methods. If you are in pain, emotional or physical, we will do all we can to improve your comfort and capacity.

This is a non-medical practice based on complementary health modalities. As in all areas of medicine, the desired results cannot be guaranteed for every person. The methods chosen are generally regarded as  safe, and  great care is taken to ensure your comfort and satisfaction.

These modalities can be used alone or in combination. Most people who have experienced these methods tell us that they feel better and function better. All of these methods tend to create a state of deep physical and mental relaxation. It is now well-known and reported in formal research that states like stress or relaxation have a physical and chemical parallel in the body. Analysis of presenting complaints to medical services conclude that a large percentage is attributable to chronic stress and to musculoskeletal pain. This translates to significant cost for the health budget, loss of productivity in the economy and compromise of personal capacity and happiness. By engaging the range of modalities available at Suite Marigold, we hope and expect to add to your peace, wellbeing and resourcefulness. 

REFLEXOLOGY

Reflexology has been found in many cultures around the world from ancient times. Reflexology is even depicted in pictograms in ancient Egypt and parts of Asia. In the 20th. Century, the basic method was re-discovered by Dr. William Fitzgerald in the USA in the early 1900s: he named it Zone Therapy. The system was later formalised and expanded by Eunice Ingham, a student of Fitzgerald, by mapping the relationship between the reflexes on the foot and the anatomy of the body. Reflexology now has a history of modern use – in clinical settings, in the workplace and the home.

Reflexology rests on the hypothesis that certain points on the body are reflexly related to organs and systems of the body. The treatment consists of manually sequentially stimulating those points-ideally, without pain. The treatment is usually applied to the feet but may also be applied to hands or ears. The method aims to increase circulation to under functioning areas, bringing nutrients and healing factors to the aid of the body’s repair system.

The treatment occurs in a context of profound relaxation on a massage table in peaceful and secure surrounds. Most people fall into a deep state of sleep before the session is halfway through. Treatment takes about 50 minutes. The number and frequency of treatments will depend on upon the presenting symptoms and the person’s response to the treatment. It can also be used to excellent effect as a means of recovering from stress or maintaining a good state of function, comfort and resilience.

Most of the published research on reflexology comes from the UK, China and Denmark. Positive results have been reported in conditions as diverse as diabetes, pain, respiratory disorders and musculoskeletal problems. Put your feet in our hands.

SCAR TISSUE RELEASE TECHNIQUE

Alastair McLoughlin is one of the stand-outs of the international Bowen field.

After three decades of bodywork- including more than twenty years as a full-time Bowen practitioner and seven as a senior instructor for ‘The Bowen Therapy Academy ‘in the UK, he branched out to teach his own distillation of his experience. Now known and taught as ‘The Art of Bowen’, Alastair pioneered an original approach to the practice of Bowen therapy.

In the course of his long clinical experience, the scar tissue release work evolved and developed into its current form. McLoughlin Scar Tissue Release technique is simple, gentle and elegant. Through Alastair’s keen observation and persistence, many practitioners have been able to learn and apply his technique for dealing with scars.

Some of the reported experiences from application of the method include:

• softening of scar tissue
• observable increase in blood flow to the area
• apparent improvement in lymphatic function
• improved (restored) sensation
• aesthetic improvement
• less restriction of movement

It does not seem to matter how old the scar tissue is: significant response has been observed even in scars that are more than thirty years old. * Usually, only one brief treatment is needed. A few people need two or three treatments. Not all scars will be suitable to treat. There is no guarantee that every person will have the positive and interesting outcomes observed and reported by those who work with this method. 

*Preliminary investigation of the physical effects (through scans immediately before and after application of the technique in three cases involving caesarian scars) show improved vascularity and reduction in scar tissue volume. Further investigation with more participants is expected to follow.

BOWEN THERAPY

Bowen Therapy is fast, effective, safe – and ‘Made in Australia’.  Bowen Therapy is named after Tom Bowen (Thomas Ambrose Bowen) – the originator of the method and an original healer who established his first clinic in Geelong in 1959. He became something of a legend in his own time due to the huge demand that developed for the therapy he devised and with which he continued to experiment to the end of his life in 1982. The treatment is usually carried out on a massage table through light clothing. It has earned its reputation as a gentle non-invasive therapeutic system for soft tissue.

Tom Bowen’s therapy stood out at the time in that it is a cross-fibre method unlike standard massage techniques of the day that largely worked along the length of the muscles. It did not use manipulation of structure and was- and is- considered generally safe for all ages. While its main application has been in musculoskeletal pain conditions, many who have experienced Bowen treatments have reported beneficial effects on a range of conditions – both acute and chronic.

Tom Bowen did not have access to modern research about the Fascia in developing his soft tissue therapy. Little was known then about the full dimensions or function of the Fascia of the body- a three-dimensional web of connective tissue that surrounds and probably ‘communicates’ with all organs, muscles, bones and nerves. Instead, he relied on his intuition, his prodigious experience and his determination to find solutions for people who were suffering pain, injury, illness or disability. What is now known about the many and varied functions of the Fascia (the subject of regular international conferences) may go a long way to explaining the huge success of his work then and its potential now.

The Submission of the Bowen Therapists Federation of Australia (BFTA) to the Review of the Australian Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance (January 2013) cites some 250 published studies on the Fascia that either directly or indirectly provide some explanation as to how Bowen Therapy might be working and has been able to benefit a range of debilitating conditions.

The Integrated Bowen Therapy (IBT) site states in part:

“Regular Bowen Therapy treatments can be an effective form of preventative healthcare. We use it to bring relief to pains and aches and also raise the quality of health and life of our clients.”
(https://www.integratedbowen.com/)

HOMEOPATHIC MERIDIAN SCIENCE (HMS)

This modality combines aspects of kinesiology, the acupuncture system and homeopathic principles. Given this base, it may be regarded as esoteric in nature. The treatment was devised by Dan McNair, Prof. Dr. H.M.Sc., Ph.D. (Hom.Ac), VP. – founder of the Homeopathic Meridian Science Institute, and was taught from 1990 onwards. HMS uses small round adhesive patches (like a band-aid), which have a sliver of optic fibre at the centre onto which a homeopathic of vegetable origin is imprinted (formerly held Patent No 661335). The patches, known to the earliest students  as ‘Kinetic Energen’, are applied to particular acupuncture points – usually, but not exclusively, on the forearms. Kinesiology methods (e.g., muscle-testing) are used to select the appropriate locations and combinations of acupuncture points. A small group of Adelaide practitioners of this method continued to meet for years to discuss outcomes and further develop skills. Clients report changes from improved structural function and better pain management to subtle, steady increase of feelings of stability and well-being.

NEURO-LINGUISTIC THERAPY (NLP)

NLP is the study of how we think and how we process emotion and memories. Each of us has a unique way of processing experience and a singular learning style. For example, we may be more comfortable and adept with visualizing, or auditory methods of learning, or kinesthetic methods. Most people use all these methods but we tend to develop a preferred pattern in childhood. Sessions consist of exploring and becoming familiar with these patterns and then experimenting with changing our usual way of storing memories or dealing with experience. Experience shows that this can bring about change for the better in the way we cope with past grief or trauma or the ordinary stresses of day-to-day life. NLP provides tools to improve our ability to communicate effectively and to enhance performance in skill areas. Learning some of the skills also lends itself to self-help and thus increases confidence and self-reliance.

NLP also offers a creative and dynamic way of accessing and negotiating with parts of ourselves that reflect our inner resources. For example, we might call upon our Inner Healer to help us with particular health goals; or our ‘Creative Part’ when we are trying to devise a new and better approach to something we want to achieve.  Various parts might co-operate with one another for the benefit of a higher goal. Sometimes those parts may also seem to be tripping us up, or holding us back in some way. NLP holds that such trends in the inner world are usually trying to meet some important higher level need for us. The key is to help those ‘parts’  work out a win/win strategy that serves us best. With this approach,  it becomes easier for us to work out and support our values, priorities and strengths.

TAPPING MERIDIANS

Perhaps the earliest formal tapping method was ‘Thought Field Therapy’, developed by Roger Callahan. It employs rhythmic tapping with the fingers on a collection of acupuncture points on the body in a specific sequence. Most of these points are found on the face, upper chest and hands. Usually, the practitioner will demonstrate the patterns of tapping and the client will copy this -doing the tapping themselves. The purpose and the usual outcome is to neutralize strong emotions around memories – whether of recent events or events from long ago. This process occurs entirely in the privacy of the client’s mind – the practitioner does not need to know the details about the incident or memory the person is choosing to address. Common targets are trauma, anger, sadness, guilt or fear.

This method was later revised into a simpler method known as Emotional Freedom Therapy (EFT) and the principle developer was Gary Craig. There have been many further developments and applications of the method as a quick search of the internet will reveal. The result of these methods is an increase in confidence and decrease in feelings that may prevent us from resolving emotional pain. People who have used the tapping methods report rapid change in habits of thinking and feeling that have stood in the way of realizing their own gifts and talents, or maintaining satisfying relationships at home and at work. Clients learn relevant parts of the protocol to apply in any troublesome new situation in the future. In this way, it becomes a personal resource they can use and develop. Having a reliable means of managing our emotional states also tends to reduce feelings of helplessness and the resulting anxiety. It is portable and accessible in most situations – a great companion for subtle application on a bus ride or plane trip. Workers in frontline jobs like crisis counselling or emergency services may find it particularly useful for its speed and reliability. Clients have also reported finding it very useful in conventional psychology sessions to aid them in maintaining a calm state and managing trauma.

IMMUNO-KINESIOLOGY

Immuno-kinesiology uses a model that regards illness and dysfunction as a learning disorder. It operates on the premise that the central nervous system has made a mistaken association that leads to innumerable small changes in the body. It is hypothesized that this pattern may eventually lead to dysfunction or compromised health. Immuno-kinesiology uses kinesiology methods to identify the error and neutralize its effects. The theory is that the body can then integrate the new, correct information into immune system function for improved function and well-being. On the one hand, this is an esoteric practice; on the other hand, it is a useful model to reframe a problem and support a person to find priorities to adopt in order to feel better.

REIKI

Reiki is a form of hands-on healing which aims to bring about resonance between the physical body and the subtle electrical fields that inform the body. This treatment works through the chakra system – an ancient Eastern description of the way the body makes use of and transforms energy. The experience is one of deep stillness, and the effect is warming, profoundly relaxing and restoring.

MEDITATION TEACHING AND STRESS REDUCTION

The purpose is to expose interested people to all kinds of meditation styles and strategies so that they can explore what best suits them. Information about the benefits – physical, psychological and spiritual –is provided. We organise teaching of some of these methods one-to-one or in small groups or provide appropriate referrals for people to continue exploring their preferences.

“People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.”

St Augustine