Heat For Healing

I was just having a conversation with a client of ours here at Prana, and she was describing how when she uses effective, healing visuals in meditation, she can feel heat in her body. Likewise, when I share reiki healing with clients, I always feel heat. A couple of days ago, I was sharing reiki with a client who was having a lot of pain in her legs. While my hands were over her legs, I became SO HOT that I almost had to take my hands away. It's made me reflect on how brilliant the field of energetic healing is and also how brilliant the human body is.

Our body often responds to sickness by elevating it's internal temperature, what we know to be a fever. The elevated temperature hinders the activity of pathogens while creating an environment conducive to the proliferation and activity of white blood cells within the immune system. When internal temperature is elevated enough to cause sweating, our body releases toxins via sweat. Inducing sweating by way of an infrared sauna for example, or a very hot bath, is a great way of detoxifying the body with heat.

In cases of energy healing, energy shared by the practitioner creates heat, which is healing and cleansing in nature. Energy released by the client is experienced as heat by the practitioner, which indicates that healing is occurring.

Further, we can use herbs and foods that create heat such as cayenne, jalapenos, black pepper and other peppers as stimulants to create heat in the body. Those with poor peripheral circulation and/or who are chronically cold would likely benefit from eating stimulating foods.

Of course, it's always important to consider balance. For example, it's likely not a good idea to apply heat therapeutically to the person that already experiences an excess of heat in the body. In the practice of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), too much heat in the body can be indicative of liver imbalances, inflammation, anger and irritation. Those with an over-abundance of internal heat may sweat profusely, have spells of dizziness, be uncomfortable, experience rapid pulse and continual thirst. Having said that and in consideration of the fact that every single person's body functions every so slightly differently, perhaps those with lots of internal heat are that way to maintain balance within their unique systems. Still, they may not exactly appreciate using additional heat as a method of healing. Acupuncture is a great application that can help to bring more comfort for those with excessive internal heat. Further, applying plants such as peppermint or aloe vera would be helpful to overly-hot individuals.

If you are not a person with excessive internal heat, try using a sauna, noticing the heat imparted by energy healing, eating stimulating foods or even just appreciating the healing qualities of spending a moderate amount of time in the sun. Try this Summer Heat Meditation For Healing and Relaxing in the Sun and experience the healing qualities of heat.

Roberta Shepherd for Prana Holistic