I was asked a few days ago about what options are available for people who felt they consciously didn’t know which way forward to go. Life coaches can give you tools but I interpreted the question as one that wanted to know about what else was on offer. Obviously, there are techniques such as Hypnotherapy but that is now quite mainstream so I thought I would answer by providing a little information on less well known complementary therapies that originated from the East but have their place in the West.
For those not acquainted with Meridian Psychology, meridians are channels through which vital energy (life force) circulates round the body/lie. There are specific points called acupuncture points where the flow of C’hi travels where C’hi is the life force energy that exists in everything. In its purest form it is light and in its densest form, it is granite. C’hi flows across the body via meridian pathways and can be balanced by either sedating or stimulating meridian points. There are 12 major meridians each flowing through specific organs, glands and tissues. Such a system is closely linked to the Central Nervous System. All meridians are classified as either Yin or Yang depending on the direction of flow. Yin refers to that which is dark, cool, moist, soft, receptive, feminine, passive and sinking. Often referred to as the dark negative female principle in Chinese dualistic cosmology. Whereas Yang corresponds to that which is light, hot, dry, active, masculine, positive and rising. Often referred to as the bright positive masculine principle in Chinese dualistic cosmology. Yin and Yang are said to balance one another.
Such energy psychologies focus mainly on balance and harmony by avoiding energy disruptions in the system. It has been shown that body consciousness and brain consciousness mutually inform and condition each other harmonising brain to body. In turn, the balancing of the meridian system affects the body’s central nervous system as both systems are closely linked.
There are two main types of meridian therapy that apply here Acupressure and meridian tracing. Acupressure is a gentle method of placing pressure along the meridian to sense soreness or discomfort. This, in turn, relates to which organ is experiencing a problem. For example, if the organ is diseased, most points along that meridian will be sensitive. I have not addressed this in more detail as I would like to concentrate on meridian tracing as there is less information around about it and it directly answers the question I was asked.
Meridian Tracing
Meridian therapy as discussed above can also be done by tracing the meridians. This can be carried out several times a day and does not require actual touching. It can even be done by holding the hands close to the body or through clothing. Meridian therapy is extremely versatile and can also be done by mentally tracing an energy meridian through awareness and controlled breathing. This typically requires a greater depth of experience and understanding of meridian points and energy fields.
It can be done in many forms for example, magnets may also be used for tracing meridians. One can move the appropriate pole of a magnet close to the skin along a meridian. The benefit of this is that is has a much stronger balancing effect than using your fingers. It also has a dual function as for strengthening one can use the north-pointing pole and for sedating use the south-pointing pole can be used by keeping that end in contact with the skin.
With muscle testing the practitioner can often detect a strong preference of a meridian for one of the magnetic poles. This in turn can be used to diagnose the condition of the associated organ (if weak or inflamed). If muscle testing is not possible or successful, use the south-pointing pole on the body side that shows more inflammation or more tender acupressure-points; the practitioner then traces the opposite meridian with the north-pointing pole. Some clients feel immediately which pole and direction of tracing is beneficial, while the opposite pole and direction may feel unpleasant. The most powerful sedating and pain-relieving effect and the one most commonly used by practitioners is the south-pointing pole traced against the meridian flow.
The tracing of meridians associated with painful conditions 20-50 times has sometimes provided almost immediate relief from pain, while similar quick results have sometimes been achieved using the north-pointing pole for improving the mobility of impaired limbs.
For those who do not have magnets handy or wish another form of tracing, mental tracing is also an effective means of treatment achieved simply by tracing a meridian mentally – i.e moving the awareness along the meridian. In some cases clients are asked to imagine a warm or orange energy stream moving in the normal flow direction for stimulation, while other clients to imagine a cool or blue stream moving either in the normal direction or against it for sedation.
Emotional and Mental Balancing
Emotional and Mental balancing is best controlled or influenced by the acupressure point for psychological reversal, as such neuro-vascular point stimulation is a valuable treatment for emotional stress.
As we have seen in my previous articles psychological reversal is when the subconscious mind does not perform as the conscious mind requires. For example a client who says they want to lose weight or stop smoking but no matter how hard they try they continue failing in the attainment of their goal. Such a client who says they want to lose weight is likely to have a secondary gain embedded in their subconscious that prevents them from carrying out their conscious will. This could be all manner of unhelpful belief systems from the love of food to the belief that losing weight will harm them in some way.
Psychological reversal is foremost on my mind when a client comes to me presenting with stories of repeated failure in achieving a goal. For those seeking Meridan Therapies over coaching, techniques can be used to ‘Ask the Body’ to reveal the cause, but the correction technique is both quick and simple. There are many different forms, some energy psychologies such as EFT use the “Set-Up Protocol” which refers to the process by which the psychological reversal is solved. It consists of finding one’s sore spot (most likely found on the right or left side of the chest). This point is a pressure point/reflex on the lymphatic system. The sorer the spot is an indication of how strong the PR. Once found we make an opening statement that resonates such as ‘I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself’ Once the set up point has been calibrated the 12 step tapping routing can commence. Then completing with the 9 step Gamut Routine.
Other forms of energy psychology such as kinesiology remedies claim that emotional and mental well being lie in the tapping the acupuncture point SI3 (Small Intestine 3) on the outside edge of the hand near the crease as can be seen when you make a fist. Just as in EFT, The practitioner taps the point in question very rapidly i.e on both of the subject’s hands; a good gauge for speed is approximately 3 times per second for 20 seconds. While doing this the subject repeats a positive statement “I completely love and accept myself the way I am”. The idea here is to change energy patterns in the meridian thereby releasing negativity. Re-testing should then show a strong IM muscle to the stated goal.
However the meridian psychology subject of neuro-vascular points is the one I would like to address as what I find as one of the most helpful procedures in reducing anxiety levels, so much so a lot of us do it naturally.
Although I am trained in these arts, I prefer to work as a life coach because the clients that I attract are keen to take responsibility for their future and don’t necessarily gravitate towards having less conscious involvement in their movement forwards, however this is by no means to say that there is not a place for meridian therapies. quite the opposite, I think that when you want to have someone else guide and help your therapy or forward progression without having to consciously engage, this is a perfect tool. For those who are stressed out, stuck, or don’t know which way to go and want something different to coaching then these are definitely options to explore. For those who need to know there is a little more science to it before they embrace it, here comes the medical connection…
Photo by drweisgerber 
Neuro-Vascular Holding Points
In the 1930′s Dr. Terrance Bennett, a chiropractor, discovered points on the head which seem to influence blood flow to the organs and tissues. He found that he was able to watch the internal effects of holding these points using radio-opaque dye and a moving x-ray machine called a fluoroscope. The points observed became known as neuro-vascular reflexes and later the location and function of these points were discovered.
It has been shown that neuro-vascular points are activated by a very light touch with the pads of the fingers which only need to lightly make contact with the points, slightly stretch the skin and be held there.
Holding these neurovascular points has been shown to relieve stress and anxiety, and can be used to reprogram our emotional responses to stress and trauma. When we get overwhelmed, we commonly put our hands to our forehead, when we do this we are using the electromagnetic energy in our hand to pull the blood back into the frontal lobes of our brain, taking it from the more primal area that is activated when you are stressed out or overwhelmed. We often keep our hands there until we feel better. The longer you hold her points the more the stress will fade. Some people often repeat the story of concern in their head while holding the neurovascular points to change their emotional habits or responses and thereby training the mind not to react stressfully to the situation.
So although not something I often talk about in the press, I did want to answer the question that was raised on social media a few days ago. I hope it answered your queries and inspired others to learn more about complementary medicine.
Sloan Sheridan-Williams
As a Media Personality & International Speaker I get to transform 1000's of lives and as such my work is not a job. I've been in this industry for 15 years. Every day I get to share my message and inspire those who want the best out of their relationships to go out and get it be it through my magazine SLOAN!, my book Slap Fear In The Face, my membership site Get The Sauce, my seminars, social media @sloanloves and also Sloan VIP Club which has exciting things in store for you. I help people reclaim their power, get more of what they want out of life & less of what they don't want. I consider myself an Empowerment Coach. Others refer to me as a - Radio Personality, International Speaker, Editor-in-Chief, Success Coach, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Wellness Consultant, VIP Coach, Freelance Journalist, Brand Ambassador, Author & retired Solicitor. But really I'm just Sloan, a mamapreneur who loves life and loves connecting with others.