Hands-off therapy: No-touchy, no-feely approaches to healing

By Wendy Underhill

      Few practices can compare with a good, strong massage for stress-relief and relaxation. But being kneaded and squeezed isn't the final word in bodywork. In fact, some of the more trendy bodywork practices these days don't even involved skin-to-skin contact-but practitioners and their enamoured clientele say they are effective approaches to healing.

      Evidently, spas have learned about the hands-off trend, and have added new offerings to the standard mudbath-and-massage menu. Perhaps this move has to do with the novelty factor-seasoned spa-goers seeking new and different experiences-and with economics. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, spa owners say it costs less to train a staff member to use non-touch techniques. And in today's over-stimulated, hyperstressed world, many customers are willing to pay for quiet in any form at all.

      If quiet is what you want, then retreat for an hour, a day or a week. If novelty is what you want, try a chocolate bath or find a motel that still has magic fingers beds. But if you're looking for a clothes-on therapeutic practice, here are some to consider:

. Dahn hak. Dahn (energy) hak (study of) is a 20th century Korean technique that blends a variety of ancient Asian healing techniques. It's part of a spiritual practice that includes stretching, but the energy work can be done with or without the rest of the package. The practitioner first focuses himself, and then draws energy into the top of his head and down to his palms. Then he "sweeps" the energy of the recipient by moving his hands downward over the body, not touching the body itself but instead the "energy field." He can then "massage" the energy, move the energy, add energy or get rid of excess energy. You'll find this service at the 50 or so dahn hak centers in the United States.

. Holographic sound healing. As with dahn hak and many other modalities, this form of healing is based on allowing energy to flow unimpeded. With "holographic sound healing" the practitioner's voice is the instrument. She brings herself into a "state of unconditional love" and then produces vocal sounds that help bring the energy of the client into a pattern of health. Other forms of sound healing may include vibrating crystal bowls placed close around your body, each pitch connecting with a different chakra. Drums can be used, too.

. Crystal therapy. Here's one more way to affect your energy field: with crystals, which are believed to possess healing life energy. Many practitioners work with crystals in conjunction with chakras, auras, or acupoints. Crystals may be placed on your body at strategic points, or surrounding your body. Don't be surprised to find yourself wearing a crystal, too!

. Aura-cleansing. First, what's an aura? It's a "delicate and floating mesh of a lot of colors shifting and changing with each new state of thought and consciousness of a person," according to one aura-cleansing website. Some people can see them, and from there it's a short hop to adjusting them. A treatment might take 20 minutes or significantly longer. Healers often feel heat in their hands, and the client might experience heat or tingling too. Since auras are often perceived in colors, it's no surprise that color therapy is closely related.

. Hypnotherapy. You probably already have an image of hypnosis, a mechanism for bypassing the conscious mind and accessing the subconscious, and you probably know it can be used for all kinds of healing: weight loss, addiction control, pain relief, etc. It can also be used for healing of physical and psychological ills by letting your subconscious explore the mind-body connection and put things right. Often a series of sessions are needed. This is the wrong healing avenue for those who suffer from psychosis.

. Aromatherapy. Being surrounded by lavender induces a peaceful state, and smelling peppermint is enlivening, right? So, the thought that aromas can be used to heal shouldn't be too hard to accept. With aromatherapy, the idea is to strengthen the self-healing processes of the body. Some aromatherapy, of course, is hands-on: essential oils made from plant material can be massaged into the skin or added to a bath. But inhalation is often recommended, depending on the presenting symptoms. An aromatherapist might mix essential oils for your particular need and then instruct you on how to use them at home. Pay attention; many of these oils can be irritating if used improperly.

      All of these techniques leave room for doubt, and room for quackery. Doubt you'll have to evaluate based on results, but quackery you may be able to avoid. It's to your advantage to ask about training, professional association memberships, and references before plunking down any cash. If the practitioner isn't well-connected, it might (or might not) mean something.

      On the other hand, all these modalities do respect the tenet of "First, do no harm," and all have successes to their credit. You won't know what works for you, though, until you've experienced the treatment.

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