Alternative Therapies

Holistic Therapy

What is holistic therapy?

Holistic therapy is a non-invasive treatment, which acts as an alternative to western medicine. This method of ‘hands-on healing’ has been effectively used for centuries. Its name derives from the Greek term ‘holos’, which means ‘whole’.  Here at Kings Lodge, we are continuously looking at ways to improve the lives of all our residents and we recognise the importance that Holistic Therapies can play in the day to day management of care.  Holistic therapies can be used side by side with more traditional methods of treating neurological disorders and our multidisciplinary team work together to ensure that each resident has a care plan that is tailored to their needs. 

Kings Lodge can provide the following holistic therapies in consultation with families wishes and with consent from the medical team looking after the resident.

Reiki is a traditional Japanese holistic technique used for reducing stress, promoting relaxation, and encouraging natural healing. While the treatment involves touching the client’s body, it is not a massage. You stay dressed during the treatment and the therapist places their hands gently and lightly on the body in a certain sequence.
 

Reflexology focuses on certain pressure points or ‘reflex zones’ to improve circulation, achieve relaxation and even promote natural pain relief. Many people think reflexology is just about the feet, but reflex zones can also be found on the hands and ears. The idea is that these zones correspond to organs in the body, so applying pressure externally produces positive effects internally.

Massage uses touch and manipulation to balance and heal the whole body. There are lots of types of massage treatments available which target different areas of the body in different ways, using specific techniques and pressures.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine. Fine needles are inserted at certain sites in the body for therapeutic or preventative purposes.

It is used in many NHS GP practices, as well as in most pain clinics and hospices in the UK.

Western medical acupuncture is the use of acupuncture following a medical diagnosis. It involves stimulating sensory nerves under the skin and in the muscles.

This results in the body producing natural substances, such as pain-relieving endorphins. It's likely that these naturally released substances are responsible for the beneficial effects experienced with acupuncture.