Ki Center Blog

Old school is sometimes the best school for achieving results. If anything can be said about the work I do in the clinic it would have to be that we are results driven. I have been doing natural health care now for 11 years and the best and most valuable tool I have is Kinesthetic body analysis. Also known as Applied Kinesiology, or contact reflex analysis, it is a way for me to determine the imbalances that are present in your body at this time. It is highly accurate and using the body's own innate intelligence, can and will find things that even western medicine with all their technology can't find or just plain miss. And mis-diagnosis is a real problem with allopathic medicine.

It works simply by measuring the energy in the body through and indicator muscle as a "circuit breaker" that will trip when there is an imbalance that the body recognizes as detrimental. It will not tell me what the problem is but where the problem or cause is. As an example, the muscle testing will tell me there is a problem with the liver but not exactly what the problem is. But again using the advanced techniques of applied kinesiology, I can then test with specific clinical nutritional products to find what will fix the problem. I may have five different products that will alter the liver function but only one of them may be the exact fit for your particular problem. It takes the guess work out of knowing what specifically will help you. Be it herb or phytonutrient, your body will tell me exactly what it needs to repair.

Not only will the kinesthetic body analysis be able to determine cause and need from a chemical standpoint, but it is perfect for determining structural problems whether they be skeletal or soft tissue related. There have been many examples of people coming to me for a structural problem that has not been helped through chiropractic care or any other care for that matter, that through kinesthetic analysis, determined the specific muscle involvement that may have not been any where near the site of pain.

Old school or technology based diagnostics? Both are appropriate and can be helpful. But what happens if the technology based diagnostics are not available? How will practitioners determine treatment if all they know is blood work, MRI's, CT scans and the like? Ask the body, as it (your body) is the smartest doctor for you there is.

Some of my favorite clients are the four legged variety. At the Ki Center we not only help people achieve health, but animals as well.

Function specific not species specific

All of the techniques and products we use have proven to be effective on dogs, cats, horses and any animal, as what we do to achieve balance is function specific not species specific. By that I mean that the liver functions the same in a human as it does in a dog or cat, and will respond to therapy and treatment in the much the same way. As we do not use drugs or chemicals, but natural whole food products and herbal medicines, the body, be it human or animal, responds predictably and quickly to natural methods of healing.

Good food is important

One of the key factors for health of a pet is the type of food you are feeding them. There is an old phrase in computer repairman have that states, Garbage in garbage out. What this means is if you put bad things in, you will get bad things out as a result. I cannot emphasize enough that poor quality pet food is a primary cause of health problems in our four legged family.

What do you think would happen if all you ate was dry, nutrient deficient cereal for every meal? You certainly wouldn't thrive and be the picture of health. Arthritis, allergies, poor hair quality and lack of energy would probably be the least of the health concerns you would experience. And yet so many pets are fed a dry kibble for every meal, and even more are fed the cheapest brands or whatever is on sale. It is no wonder that our pets suffer with many of the same afflictions that we do, and have such short lives.

Fortunately, as in humans, animals respond quickly and successfully to proper nutrition and the healing protocols that we use at the clinic. There are many quality organic foods available today for pets. They are more expensive of course, but if a healthy happy pet is your goal, I encourage you to look around and do some research. One of the best feeding methods for dogs is the BARF diet. I know this sounds terrible but what it stands for is bones and raw food. Genetically, animals are wired to digest raw natural foods found in nature. Feeding them quality raw foods designed for them, chicken, turkey, vegetables and raw meaty bones will in fact alleviate many of their health problems quite quickly. If a raw diet is not practical, at least consider giving them raw meaty bones as a treat. A good source of this type of food and other organic foods is the Exclusive Pet Food store in Troutdale. The owner is dedicated to pet health and very knowledgeable. Their phone number is (503)491-1111.

Once a pet is on a good diet, we can then evaluate their imbalances using the same testing methods I use on my human clients, and then make recommendations based on the findings. I am happy to report I have seen many a pet return to health in a relatively short time. Follow up with a proper maintenance program and your pet will stay healthy for as long as possible.

I have noticed that pets respond very well to the energy work we do at the clinic. They enjoy the healing touch of Reiki and will calm them down and almost go to sleep during the treatment.

They have feelings too

There are emotional and behavioral problems in animals that are a direct result of emotional trauma. Just look at all the pets abandoned, abused or ignored, and how they respond to humans afterward. Rehabilitating these animals is often time consuming and frustrating. To address emotional problems of all types in our human clients, we have Rapid Eye Therapy as part of our healing protocol. Fortunately, this type of therapy will work for animals as well and is now available at the Ki Center. Call us for more information on this therapy and how it works. The animal doesn't have to be present, which is good, because horses would present a problem in the office.

I would like to emphasize that holistic healing is not exclusively alternative practices, but a combination of traditional medicine and alternative medicine. Both have their strengths and weaknesses and are most effective when combined. Having a good veterinarian that you trust is essential, just as having a good family practitioner is important.

I frequently mention that chasing symptoms is not the way to help people heal. In order to effectively help a person attain balance in their health, you must find the cause of the illness, correct the imbalance and the symptoms will disappear.

The tool I use the most is applied kinesiology. There are many forms of muscle testing such as touch for health, or contact reflex analysis, which all have their basis in applied kinesiology. It is a very reliable tool that enables me to ask the body where the imbalances are and what will correct the problem. I have observed the accuracy of this method of diagnostics time and again, in people and in animals. I have verified this information with standard western medical diagnostics such as blood tests, x-rays and physician verified diagnosis. What amazes me, and my clients, is that it is done completely without the aid of any technology, and still remains accurate and repeatable.

Finding the cause

When I test a person and find an imbalance, it tells me specifically where the problem is but not what the problem is. Your body can definitively tell me there is an imbalance in a particular gland, organ or body system and using the same testing method, find the nutrient or herb that will strengthen it.

Each and every muscle in the body has a corresponding relationship with acupuncture meridians, or energy pathways of the body, and consequently an association with every gland, organ and body system. As an example: I will have you raise your arm parallel to the floor, ask you to hold your arm steady and press down on the wrist to test for a good lock of the muscle. I then touch a corresponding point on your body that correlates with the liver, test the arm again, and if the muscle is weak and is easily pushed down, then I know we have an imbalance in that organ. I can then have you hold a particular liver glandular nutrient, retest the arm while touching the liver point, and if the arm is then strong, I know we have found what your body needs to heal the imbalance. It is quite a bit like tripping circuit breakers in the body.

This type of muscle testing can be used for behavioral or emotional issues as well. Your emotions play a huge part of the overall physical health of your body. Here is something you can try yourself to prove this, and see just how easy it is to test someone:

Trying it for yourself

Have a partner hold their arm out to their side and parallel to the floor. Using two fingers, press down on the wrist and ask your subject to resist the downward pressure. Feel how the muscle is locked in place. You do not have to use a lot of force; you are looking for a good muscle lock not how strong they are. Now, ask them to think of someone they love or at least have good positive feelings for and retest the arm. You should have a good muscle lock and find the arm resists the downward pressure. Now ask them to think of something negative such as Adolf Hitler and retest the arm. You will find that the negative emotion this brings up will instantly make the arm go weak and be easily pushed down.

The body never lies

This type of testing elicits only a yes or no type of answer. However when you ask the right questions, a simple yes or no can give you a wealth of information. Any negative stimuli will affect the body the same way. A good indicator muscle will go weak when subjected to any negative stimulus whether the stimuli is chemical, structural, emotional or energetic in nature. Let me see western medicine produce a machine that can duplicate those types of test results with the accuracy that your own body can every time. The really amazing thing is that however slight the imbalance, the body will still register it and give you an accurate response. Most diagnostic equipment will only report what it has been programmed to report. And of course being a machine, it can break down and can give false positives.

Your body is such an amazingly intricate work of art that surpasses even the most sophisticated computer ever built. If you know how to ask the right questions, the body can and will tell you all you need to know to regain your health.

If you would like more information on how applied kinesiology can be used, how it was scientifically tested and verified, I recommend the book- "Power vs. Force The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior" by David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.

Of all the conditions that people come to see me for, headaches have got to be the most troublesome. So much like a puzzle, and I am not real fond of puzzles, finding the cause can be frustrating and very time consuming. There are many causes of headaches and they can be a single source cause or a combination of imbalances and may change with each occurrence. I know people who have spent thousands of dollars on trying to treat them conventionally and are still afflicted with them on a regular basis.

Finding the Cause

Fortunately the type of muscle testing we do at the clinic can identify the source of the headache at the time, and the general imbalances associated with them. However, because these headaches can be caused by one or more different issues, narrowing them down can be difficult, but not impossible.

Headaches are a symptom of imbalance within the body. They are not in my opinion an illness in and of themselves. Medicating the pain only tends to hide the cause and can create a rebound headache worse than the original. But for anyone who has dealt with this problem, and the sometimes excruciating pain, drugs are the only thing that works to help them feel better.

From an alternative standpoint you must find the basic imbalance in the body that is creating the symptom of a headache. There can be several, and it may take upwards of several months to correct the problem. But patience pays off in the long run, and in the end the headaches have improved if not totally disappeared, and you are much healthier as a result.

Headache Types

Lets discuss some common types of headaches and their patterns.

The Ovarian type: Tends to occur around the menses cycle and can be accompanied by hair trigger mood swings. The Thyroid type: Often a dull headache upon rising and which wears off during the day. The Capillary Fragility type: One of the only types that can wake you out of a sound sleep with a crushing feeling. In this type, look also for signs such as bruising that heals slowly, bleeding gums and GI tract ulcers. The Fatigue type: Typically will start in late afternoon and can be accompanied by exhaustion. The Liver Toxicity type: Nausea and a general sick feeling with a metallic taste in the mouth are signs of this type of headache. The Pituitary type: These are recurring random type of headaches with no distinct pattern, and that is its primary signature. The Gallbladder type: This one resembles the liver toxicity type and can have pain between the shoulder blades or tenderness over the gallbladder. The Environmental Allergy and Sensitivity type: These can be traced to exposure of man made chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and new house syndrome. The Chiropractic type: Caused by a subluxation of vertebrae and usually will be alleviated by spinal manipulation. Recurring headaches of this type may be from ligament weakness and lack of good organic minerals.

There are more types of headaches of course and as I said earlier, you can have one or several of these conditions that can be the cause of the headache. Remember, headaches are a symptom of imbalance, and this must be corrected to get rid of the headaches.

How to treat

When a headache case comes in to the clinic, we start with an extensive history. I will want to know how often the headaches occur, where they start and what kind of intensity they bring with them. I will usually recommend dietary changes to eliminate triggers and specific nutritional supplements to correct the imbalances.

I would like to recommend an outstanding book I use as an informational source that may help you to better understand headaches and their causes, "Alternative Medicines Definitive Guide to Headaches" by Robert Milne and Blake More. You can find this book at many bookstores and of course on Amazon.com.

If you suffer from chronic headaches and have not found any relief, consider an alternative practitioner who is trained in finding the imbalances in your body, and understands the complicated nature of headaches. But please be patient, it will take some time to correct everything that may be causing the trouble.