Healing Journeys with Suzie Daggett
Animals, especially dogs, are live savers for so many people – they love us unconditionally and are always there for us. With all the advances in health and wellness products for people and, now animals, there are many new and more complete ways for your animals health and well-being. I interviewed three experts about holistic animal health – Tom Wilson works with energy with his animal clients, Dr. Peggy Roberts uses both traditional and alternative methods of healing, and Julianna Andersen uses massage as a healing practice. The question I asked them to address is:
How does the work you do keep pets healthy or help during a health crisis?
Tom Wilson:
My work is called Healing Touch for Animals. It’s a holistic approach that employs the hands-on energy healing modalities of acupressure, massage, Jin Shin Jyutsu, and CranioSacral—all of which have roots in the traditions of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. These traditions have proven their efficacy over the centuries in treating the whole person or animal. When you contribute to harmonizing the whole being, you promote wellness and prevention. In a session, I teach the pet’s guardian how to use healing touch. Most illnesses begin with some imbalance or disharmony in the body, for animal or humans. A symptom of that disharmony appears early in the progression of an illness, the cause of which may be physical, emotional, or spiritual. If we address the disharmony early on, we have a good chance of keeping it from going deeper into the body. That is one way of keeping our pets healthy—the old ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure. I also work with diet because allergies and lowered immunity are often related to low quality pet foods. When an illness goes deep, such as arthritis, healing touch stimulates the immune system, stimulating blood flow to the affected part of the body. Think of themany animals who have been abandoned or abused, and by the time they come to live with us, healing touch helps bring them back to knowing the joy of being alive, and with that, their health and vitality are restored.
Tom Wilson, Healing Touch for Animals, 530-913-1309, tomasso@pobox.com
Peggy H. Roberts, DVM:
At Sierra Animal Wellness Center we practice Western Veterinary Medicine (WVM) as well as Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). Generally, the goals of TCVM and WVM are the same; both hope to promote health and prevent disease. They are merely two different ways of viewing the world, and each system has its own strengths and weaknesses. Western medicine deals well with acute diseases and can utilize advanced surgical techniques. TCVM can be beneficial for chronic diseases, especially those that Western medicine can only partially control, but not cure. Some examples of the types of conditions we can treat more successfully with TCVM are chronic pain, epilepsy, liver disease, kidney disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Although Western veterinarians promote disease prevention through yearly physical exams and vaccines, TCVM is highly beneficial for identification of potential problems and preventing disease through dietary modification, acupuncture and the use of Chinese herbal combinations. Those who practice and understand TCVM believe in helping an animal to heal by correcting imbalances in the body. The practitioner seeks to discover the true basis of the disorder that is affecting an animal, not just how to suppress the symptoms. Eliminating the symptoms is the goal of WVM when a definitive, causative agent or problem cannot be identified. Correcting the imbalances of the body allows the animal to heal itself. Balance is the key and the best of both worlds.
Peggy H. Roberts, DVM, Sierra Animal Wellness Center, 530-389-8267
Julianna Andersen:
I believe canine massage should be considered essential care, like grooming, feeding and exercise. Massage is physical therapy, as well as mind/spiritual therapy. It helps to rebalance the body to live and move in harmony and grace. Massage relieves pain and discomfort naturally by releasing the naturally produced chemicals (endorphins) in our dog’s bodies. Massage is the manipulation of muscles and skin to promote increased circulation to all the organs and tissues in your dog’s body. Even before language, the power of touch made contacts between humans and animals, both physical and spiritual. Deep levels of conscious and unconscious conversations can transpire with the simple touch. It is a way of expressing ourselves, both profound and elemental. The sense of touch brings a oneness, comfort and tranquility. Psychologists have proven that touch is a “need”, just as important as food or water. For your dog, massage reduces stress, aids in healing and provides ongoing health care. Massage is much more than petting or play. While petting is always a wonderful exchange, massage is a deliberate and focused technique of touching your dog. Each stroke is controlled in pressure, direction and intention. This is the language of “conscious touch”, where human and dog will form a true bond for life.
Julianna Andersen, CCMT, Canine Massage Training Workshops 530-852-4943 caninemassagetraining@yahoo.com
Healing Journeys is a column written by Suzie Daggett for the Grass Valley Union newspaper. Suzie interviews a variety of health practitioners most Fridays in the Wellness section. Click here to read past articles. Enter "Suzie Daggett" in the search box to get listing of all articles. |
