14 August 2008

What is... Bioenergy Healing?

Unblocking your energy circuitry to cure illnesses and sensitivities is the claim of this energy therapy. Angela Kennedy tries a session and finds out just how potent the technique can be

It might sound like a modern buzz word, but Bioenergy Healing is actually based on  a well-established system, relating to the flow of energy through the body. Energy  is moved around the body between conductive points known as  energy centres. But sometimes this flow is blocked – and that's when health problems can start. If you suffer from a chronic problem, such as back trouble, unexplained aches and pains, or perhaps an emotional imbalance like depression, or maybe you're just feeling a tad under-the-weather. Then, Michael Cohen, founder of the Bioenergy Healing Clinic in London, believes this technique could get to the root of the problem and help your body to heal itself. 

The treatment uses hands-on and hands-off methods to scan your body's energy system. “This can access and positively affect your body's physiological and psychological systems pinpointing your primary blockage points, which I believe are the root cause of each of your illnesses, injuries, issues or symptoms,” says Michael. “I don't rely on text books or case histories, instead I use the scanning technique (see the box below) to pinpoint blockages of energy within the body and relate them to emotional or psychological problems”.

But what if you're lucky enough not to have any serious symptoms, perhaps you just feel vaguely fatigued on occasion or can't seem to shake that cold? “Busy lives mean that we often neglect to look after our body,” says Michael “But just as a car needs its MOT, so your body requires maintenance; Bioenergy Healing does this by revitalising your body on a cellular level, even if you don't have any acute symptoms.” Once your blockages have been identified, your body's circuitry system can be 're-wired' to release psychological and physical memory patterns, and to activate your body's healing and repair mechanisms. The practitioner manipulates the blockage points along the scanned line on the client’s skin with a light touch from their index finger to encourage the energy to flow properly again.

Now one of the leading experts on Bioenergy Healing, Michael only found out about this technique  6 years ago. His calling came unexpectedly, when he was running an organic food business;  the person who was to become his teacher simply walked into the shop, started talking and made him see things in a totally new light. “He transformed my life,” says Michael, “it was like he opened up something which was already within me but that I'd been unaware of how to access.” Michael tells me that by using bioenergy techniques on himself, he has overcome the many food allergies and spinal problems which once plagued him, and has even seen his eyesight improve. Sounds great, I can't wait to give it a try!

The treatment:

I arrived at Michael's central London clinic in a slight fluster due to the usual hassle of late running trains but the light and airy treatment area coupled with a few glugs of water soon calmed me down. Never having experienced any energy healing before, I didn't know what to expect, and although I was looking forward to the session, I have to admit I wasn't holding my breath for big results. I mean how could something using no (or very little) physical contact, and with a belief system about which I knew next to nothing, possibly have any effect? Michael certainly looked the part, dressed in loose black clothing, but I began to wonder if I should have thought gym bunny rather than office hack that morning when I got dressed. But I was impressed when Michael said he could just get started without taking a case history from me, after all he was now working from scratch with no clues or guesses to go on. 

He began by connecting our energy channels, holding his palms above mine, and I did indeed feel a slight warmth straightaway, and, no, our hands weren't close enough to generate the heat just by proximity. Then Michael started to 'stretch out' the energy from my body, I must confess to having to suppress a wave of the giggles at this point but this quickly disappeared, when he remotely scanned my body and I began to sway involuntarily, towards the points where he was stretching out the energy. He was talking to me throughout the treatment, explaining what was happening and I didn't have to be in any deep meditative state but I did become noticeably relaxed and more aware of my breathing, taking slow, steady breaths instead of my usual irregular gulps of air. I did not feel that I was given any specific diagnosis but I could most definitely feel the energy being manipulated and flowing, this being most obvious around my head area. 

The most surprising part of the treatment was when my leg went completely numb as Michael was working near this area (but with no physical contact). I do suffer from sciatica and get this sensation when seated or lying down but never before when standing. It was very odd indeed and felt, perhaps, like the symptom was being drawn out and, as Michael suggests 're-wired'. As we neared the end of the one-hour session I felt extremely light-headed and very euphoric, as if I'd been sipping a glass or three of Champagne. Finally, Michael asked me if I had any residual sensations and I did have a slight ringing in one ear (not something which happens very often!), he motioned as if pulling out energy from this area and immediately the sound stopped.

The verdict:

I was very impressed by how easily this energy therapy was transposed from an ephemeral concept to something very physical, which I could most definitely feel. I was initially disappointed by the lack of verbal diagnosis but it eventually seemed like the therapy was doing its own diagnosing, relaxing me, and also activating problem areas, to heal chronic injuries, such as my sciatica. I woke up the following morning with much reduced pain and numbness in my leg – normally it goes totally numb with a fair amount of pain thrown in, a very weird sensation. But I definitely felt an improvement. Unfortunately for me that improvement was not maintained as I injured my back later that day, and negated all the good work. Guess I'll have to book my follow-up session then, in fact Michael does recommend a short course to tackle stubborn problems. Personal calamities aside, I would definitely recommend this treatment, just make sure you go with an open mind and a willingness to be healed.

 

What is scanning?

Bioenergy Healing uses a scanning technique to pinpoint the origin or root cause of your condition. The practitioner uses the eyes and hands to scan the client's body to find your primary blockage points. These energy blocks need to be treated before you can make a full recovery. This method is precise, and tailored to the individual, rather than relying on more general body maps.

Bioenergy healing may...

*Release physical symptoms, such as spasm, pain, tissue damage and restricted mobility

*Activate cellular regeneration to repair and replace damaged cells

*Release the memory patterns on both cellular and psychological levels to prevent the injury re-occurring

*Help purge emotional trauma, imbalance and depression

*Release the underlying weakness currently causing your illness

What to expect

The Bioenergy Clinic treats adults, children and infants. You remain fully dressed, in an upright position, sitting or laying down during the session, which lasts about one hour. No deep meditative state is required, so you can ask any questions and the techniques can be explained.

*Treatments cost from £ 92 per hour, at The Bioenergy Clinic in London W1, call 0845 456 1336 or visit www.bioenergyhealing.org.uk