by Mark Pitstick MA, DC
Note: If you already know the following information scroll down to the article title in maroon below the seven asterisks. However, I strongly recommend reading this introduction until you really ‘own’ it. In addition, post The Great News where you’ll see it every day.
Over the last 15 years, and especially during 2019 – 2024, data from a series of experiments at the University of Arizona have definitively demonstrated scientifically that life continues after physical death. This research was conducted by Gary E. Schwartz PhD, former professor at Harvard and Yale, and pioneer in the fields of behavioral medicine and energy healing.
Dr. Schwartz is assisted in this work by a team of electrical engineers, software developers, research assistants, evidential mediums, and postmaterial luminaries at the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health. (To learn more about the SoulPhone Project and lab, visit LACH.Arizona.edu. To learn about postmaterial luminaries, see article #31 at SoulProof.com)
The Demo SoulSwitch is a binary (Yes / No) SoulSwitch device that postmaterial persons (the so-called ‘deceased’) can use to answer questions, verify their identity, and begin providing information to help many people and our planet. This device should be ready for beta testing by the summer of 2024. After sessions with project volunteers and larger donors, we will share data that scientifically demonstrates life continues after bodily death. However, this ‘reveal’ will initially occur as an ‘incremental trickle’ versus a ‘sudden splash’. Over time and under optimal conditions, we will gradually amplify how widely this news is shared.
Likewise, demonstrations of this technology will occur in a stepwise fashion. We anticipate, but cannot guarantee, that full announcements and demonstrations will occur by spring 2025. These decisions were made in April 2024 after many strategic planning discussions with core project team members. The many factors involved are much more complex than you might imagine.
See articles #1, 60, and 115 for an overview of the scientific, clinical, and experiential evidence that indicates – with 99.9% certainty – that consciousness survives bodily death. This collective evidence also shows – with very high degrees of certainty – The Great News that you and everyone else:
- continue to live after your earthly body dies.
- can interact with ‘departed’ loved ones now and after you pass on.
- are integral, infinite, eternal, and beloved parts of Source Energy now and always.
- receive guidance and support from angels, guides, master teachers, etc.
- are sacredly interconnected with all people, animals, and nature.
- have special purposes for having this earthly experience now.
- may manifest in other simultaneous time / space realities now and after bodily death.
- have everything you need to enjoy an optimal earthly experience – no matter what your past or current circumstances.
- can find meaning, as well as opportunities for growth and service, amidst your toughest changes and challenges.
- co-create how heavenly your life feels – whether living on earth or elsewhere – by your predominant thoughts, words and actions.
- can likely use SoulPhone technology in the future to communicate with postmaterial loved ones and access wisdom from luminaries who can help us heal our world.
Statements #1, 2, and 11 are based on definitive scientific research. The other statements are based on: (a) clinical research: near-death experiences, past life memories and regressions, perinatal experiences, life between lives sessions, shared crossings, terminal lucidity cases, and deathbed visions; and (b) evidencefrom firsthand experiences: after-death communications, out-of-body experiences, spiritually transformative experiences, electronic voice projection / instrumental transcommunication, and other ways of knowing.
This is, obviously, a new and exciting era for humanity. When understood and internalized – even just a bit – The Great News can help you make the shift:
- FROM thinking, believing, and acting as if your time on earth is unfair, meaningless, cruel, and ends with cessation of consciousness or the possibility of endless suffering.
- TO thinking, believing, and acting as if this earthly experience is a totally meaningful, safe, and magnificent adventure amidst forever.
Conscious language can help you adopt a greater reality perspective and live based on the second bulleted worldview. And that, in turn, can help you create the greatest life YOU have envisioned, fulfill your purposes for being on earth, serve others, and enjoy a magnificent journey. In the pursuit of using more conscious / accurate terms, l:
- Will use the term ‘YOU’ to describe the totality of your energy / being. Your real self may manifest in different spacetime ways simultaneously since only approximately 50% of your consciousness is needed to have an earthly experience. The term ‘YOU’ recognizes both of these possibilities.
- Won’t use the terms ‘die, departed, deceased, or dead’ without single quotation marks since those have strongly entrenched and erroneous meanings indicating an end of life.
- Will use the terms ‘bodily death’ and ‘death of the earthly form’ to remind you that only the earth-suit dies. The rest – all the intelligence, love, personality, memories, preferences, sense of humor, and much more – continues living in other parts of the field of all possibilities.
- Will use the terms changed worlds, passed on, transitioned and others that aptly describe a continuation of consciousness after bodily death.
- Will primarily refer to those who have passed on as postmaterial persons. That term recognizes the points in #3. I also will use soul, consciousness, essence, and awareness.
- Will primarily refer to ‘physical humans living on earth’ as material persons. Why? Because those terms within single quotation marks may apply to postmaterial persons. That is, they can have physicality, visit earth, and are still human in meaningful ways.
- Will use the terms lower versus higher energies, emotions, and ways of being. These descriptors are not critical, judgmental, or subjective; rather, they are based on objective measures by, for example, David Hawkins PhD, MD author of Power Versus Force. He and other researchers found that higher-energy emotions of peace, joy, and love calibrate at 600, 540, and 500 respectively. Conversely, lower-energy emotions of anger, fear, and guilt calibrate at 150, 100, and 30. To be clear, energy / consciousness is who and what you really are, not just how you are feeling. Your predominant energies create the quality of your life and the nature of your earthly or other time-space experience.
- Will use single quotations marks with words such as ‘lose and fail’. The Great News and collective afterlife evidence can expand your worldview about what seem to be losses and failures. We can’t accurately judge the big picture of life – what is lost or how we failed – with our limited human senses.
Note: To recognize and respect different genders and sexual identifications, I will alternate using ‘he’ or ‘she’ and related pronouns. Depending on a person’s orientation, one, both, or neither of those may apply.
The free articles and radio shows mentioned are available at SoulProof.com. To learn more about the collective afterlife evidence and The Great News, read Soul Proof, The Afterlife Evidence, Greater Reality Living (co-authored with Dr. Schwartz) and The Big Picture of Life (for ages 10 – 16 written with Schwartz and Katta Mapes MA, MEd). To experience expanded states of consciousness to optimally heal and transform your life, use audio sessions under Shop at SoulProof.com.
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Natural Health Care
‘Dean’ suffered with numbness and pain in his left hand and forearm. He consulted his medical doctor who referred him to a neurologist. That specialist ordered x-rays and an MRI of the neck that showed arthritis but no apparent cause of Dean’s symptoms. Next, an electromyography test was performed that showed abnormal nerve transmission in the hand.
While he was waiting for the recommended medical treatment – probably carpal tunnel surgery – Dean came in for his scheduled chiropractic appointment. He told me about his symptoms and I checked for misalignment of the bones in his wrist. Several were out of normal alignment. I adjusted them and taped his wrist. I told him to take it easy with the wrist for a few days and let me know if he needed any follow-up care. No extra charge over the $35 fee for a spinal and skeletal tune-up.
A month later, I saw Dean and asked how his left hand was doing. “Oh, you fixed that right away. I didn’t have any more symptoms after you adjusted it.”
If he had sought natural health care first, he would have saved a lot of time and pain. And taxpayers – he was a state employee – would have saved a lot of money. If conservative measures didn’t help, then the expensive tests and invasive surgery could be done. I see this situation nearly every day. Is there any wonder there’s a national health care cost crisis? For a number of good reasons, more and more people are using natural health care to become radiantly well.
These approaches are more conservative and noninvasive than traditional medical ones. As such, natural methods have significantly fewer side effects and complications. They work with the body to restore normal function and are often very effective and less expensive.
Wise individuals take responsibility for their own health and make it a priority. They recognize that health is a precious commodity and do everything they can to maintain it. Those interested in wellness recognize that symptoms are messages from the body that something is awry. They seek to address the core causes of these symptoms with natural means whenever possible.
Julian Whitaker MD, who has promoted natural healing methods for decades, states: “Getting sick is neither natural nor unavoidable. We know that disease is often caused by the way we live, and by the food, water, and air we put into our bodies …And we’re finding that there are things we can do to not only avoid illness, but actually reverse it! Your body is designed to heal itself naturally and then keep you healthy—IF you know how to help it!”
You only have one body during this earthly experience so it’s smart to optimally care for it and hold onto the original parts. Once organs have been cut out, certain processes don’t function normally. For example, the tonsils and adenoids are important parts of the immune system; the appendix houses beneficial intestinal bacteria; and the gall bladder stores and releases bile in a timely manner to break down ingested fats. Removing an organ often has adverse effects on other organs and systems.
Medications also change the function of bodily systems. Blocking acid production in the stomach interferes with mineral utilization and may lead to fragile bones. Weaker gastric juices can also allow ‘bad’ or pathogenic bacteria to over-colonize and cause inflammation of the intestines.
Drugs to decrease cholesterol to absurdly unhealthfully levels can adversely affect metabolic pathways that injure muscles and the liver. Increased deaths from cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle, have been reported since the introduction of cholesterol lowering drugs.
‘Davis’ was healthy and active but was prescribed a cholesterol lowering drug by his medical doctor. This was done to supposedly protect his heart because of even though his levels were barely high by the new standards and perfect by norms used for decades.
His doctor didn’t tell him that serious liver and muscle damage were two of the potential side effects. Soon, his heart muscle was severely damaged. Davis was told he would need five medications and probably a pacemaker. If that didn’t help, he would need a heart transplant.
(Keep in mind that Davis was very healthy with no problems before following his medical doctor’s advice. Critics of the disease care system charge that it has become a self-perpetuating industry because the harm done in the name of health care.)
Davis had been a chiropractic patient of mine for many years, but I hadn’t seen him for several months. I was shocked when his wife and daughter helped drag him in. His color was horrible and he could hardly talk. Not the strong and hardy Davis I had known. His ejection fraction, the percentage of blood pumped out of the heart with each beat, was only 25 percent, below the number required for hospice care.
I explained that his body might be able to repair itself if we removed the stressors and provided optimal nutrients. Davis and his family trusted me implicitly and had no other good options so they started the real food way of eating and whole food supplements.
Here’s what happened in Davis’ own words: “Now 3 months later, my heart function is within 5 percent of normal and I don’t need a pacemaker. I can now work like I used to and even started an exercise program at the YMCA. I feel better than I have in years. As an added benefit, I am losing weight and got off all those drugs. My cardiologist couldn’t believe how much better my tests were and said he had never seen or heard of this happening.”
That’s the potential power of natural care.
The healthiest patients I see are those who take no prescription medication. Here’s an example. “Don and Mildred,” a couple in their early 90s, looked like vibrantly healthy people in their late sixties. They had very few symptoms, wore big smiles and, after 65 years of marriage, still held hands like two love birds. I asked when their last medical exam was. They looked at each other and started laughing. “We haven’t seen a medical doctor since our last one died,” one said. “How long ago was that?” I asked. “1958!”
To be clear, I’m not recommending this for anyone. I believe we each should have an excellent integrative medical doctor as well as a natural health care team. Both are important when used judiciously.
As I questioned this couple further, I discovered that they had never been inside a fast-food restaurant. They did yoga and walked each day and grew a big garden. They loved each other and their many family and friends. Their lives reflected the quality of their self- care.
Don died several years later when he fell on the ice and hit his head. Mildred passed on peacefully in her sleep just a few months later. That’s radiant wellness.
If you want that for you and your loved ones, choose natural health care approaches whenever possible. Lovingly care for your body and educate yourself about self-care strategies. Recognize that your body has an inner wisdom and work with it to reach and maintain well being. By doing so, you may prevent serious health problems that require crisis care treatment.
Achieving total wellness is not that difficult. As Norman Cousins, author of Anatomy of an Illness, stated, “Plainly, the American people need to be reeducated about their health. They need to know that they are the possessors of a remarkably robust mechanism. They need to be de-intimidated about disease… We are much stronger than we think. Much stronger.”
Why Natural Care?
Natural healing approaches are often very safe, affordable and effective. That’s why, whenever possible, it’s wise to consider natural health care before drugs and surgery.
I’m well aware of the importance of orthodox medical care. I worked in hospitals for six years and have had numerous family and friends in the medical field. Medical care is very important for crisis or emergency care, for example, a broken bone, ruptured appendix, severe trauma, or potentially fatal illness. Many very intelligent and committed caregivers provide medical and surgical treatment. I wouldn’t want to practice natural health care without that backup.
For example, my brother’s neighbor nearly had his arm cut off. Even though it was dangling by just a few nerves and blood vessels, medical specialists helped him regain full use of his arm. His father- in-law had a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and, thanks to emergency treatment, lived to see his grandchildren grow up and two great-grandchildren born. My dad developed lung cancer. Half of one lung was removed and he lived another 12 years to 80 years of age.
All of this is very impressive.
However, drug and surgical treatments have little to offer for many common ailments. What’s worse, the side effects of those approaches can be worse than the original symptoms. That’s not just my opinion. Many medical doctors and natural health experts have come to the same conclusion.
Andrew Weil MD, author of Spontaneous Healing and 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, recognizes the importance of medical treatment for emergency situations, but states: “Although allopaths (orthodox medical doctors) give lip service to the concept of preventive medicine, for practical purposes they are unable to prevent most of the diseases that disable and kill people today.”
As mentioned, drugs and surgery often interfere with normal body functioning, have serious potential side effects and are expensive. In addition, these invasive approaches don’t address the underlying causes of disease.
Here’s an example of the last point. Thirty-year-old Frank consulted me for his headaches and neck pain. During the history, I found he had been on blood pressure medication for two years.
His medical doctor put him on those drugs after just one high blood pressure reading.
Frank was moderately overweight, didn’t exercise, ate a poor diet, smoked cigarettes, and was very stressed after a recent divorce. His doctor did not ask about any of these details, but just put him on medication. That’s a classic example of misusing prescription medication and not addressing the underlying causes of the problem.
Historically, about 95 percent of health problems in China have been addressed with natural methods—primarily acupuncture, nutrition and herbs, spinal manipulation, and massage. Only about 5 percent required drugs and surgery. In the U.S., it has been the reverse, but that trend is changing and for good reason.
Deepak Chopra MD states, “About 80 percent of all the drugs that we use in western medicine are `optional’ or of marginal benefit, which means that if we didn’t use them, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference to the person except save money and prevent side effects …When we use drugs as indiscriminately as we do currently, we see some problems.”
Major problems. In fact, orthodox approaches can make a person much worse or dead due to side effects, errors and complications. I’ve seen this many times and numerous medical studies document the severity of this issue. A large number of my patients have suffered new and serious problems after surgery or taking medications for relatively minor ailments.
An attempt by the medical system to put everyone into a contrived norm is part of the problem. Remember the 90-something patient named Mildred? Her blood pressure was 180/100, had been for many years, and she felt great. Since I was her only doctor, I encouraged her to see a medical doctor about her blood pressure. He put her on blood pressure lowering medications and, within a few weeks, her blood pressure was closer to normal. But Mildred felt horrible.
“I feel weak, dizzy and tired all the time,” she said. “I’d rather feel great and die sooner than take that medication, feel horrible, and live longer.” I couldn’t argue with her logic. She quit the drugs, her blood pressure elevated, and she felt and functioned great.
Years later, I read that the “normal” 120/80 blood pressure value was created by a medical study involving a few dozen people. That was their average blood pressure, and that’s been the norm ever since. But is that blood pressure the optimal reading for everyone?
More recent medical studies have recommended changing the norm for blood pressure over age 60 (if no diabetes or kidney disease) to 150/90. But many medical doctors don’t know about those findings. So many elderly people are given dangerous drugs to lower their blood pressure to unhealthfully low levels that aren’t supported some studies.
Same song, different verse with total cholesterol values. For decades, 260 mg/DL or below was considered normal. Then that number was changed to 240, then 220, then 200 and now many millions of Americans supposedly needed medication. Many astute observers, including medical doctors, have noted that these lab values changed after several large pharmaceutical companies developed new cholesterol lowering drugs.
Probably just a coincidence.
I’ve had numerous patients who were put on bladder medications when their only symptom was getting up to urinate once during the night. Somewhere in antiquity, some genius – probably the same guy who said it’s normal to have one bowel movement per week – said you shouldn’t have to get up at night to urinate.
Let’s examine that one for a moment with a little common sense. Do you go eight hours through the day without urinating? I hope not. Then why should you be able to do so during the night? If you drink sufficient water, you should have to urinate once during the night.
But I digress. We were talking about medical treatment causing new or worse symptoms than the original problem.
John McDougall MD, author of The McDougall Plan, states: “Most medical treatments for long-standing diseases can honestly be called patch jobs and temporary fixes …Simple, sensible, safe, self-help approaches based upon a healthy diet and an equally healthy lifestyle are almost never mentioned by doctors. Instead, almost routinely, life-threatening drugs and dangerous surgeries are prescribed as if no other avenue of treatment were available.”
Other serious side effects from commonly used medications:
- anti-inflammatory drugs: heart attacks, stroke, and gastrointestinal bleeding
- antiosteoporosis drugs: brittle bones and osteonecrosis (bone death)
- pain killers (including over-the-counter ones): liver, kidney, and stomach disease
- antidepressants: increased homicide and suicide
- ADD/ADHD drugs: heart attack, stroke and death.
People who watch a lot of TV may be overly influenced by drug commercials. Ask your doctor…
Abuse of prescription pain killing drugs is another downside of conventional medical treatment. Many people have died from drug addictions. Even more have battled through the nightmare that began because of drugs prescribed for physical or emotional pain that might have been helped by natural health care. But insurance often doesn’t cover natural care so people are economically forced to get the drugs and entire families can be devastated.
In the worst-case scenario, medical treatment for common ailments causes death. That fact has been well documented and makes a convincing case for natural healing approaches whenever possible. A Yale-New Haven Hospital Study in the 1980s estimated that 100,000 Americans die annually from prescription drug reactions. In the 1990s, a USA Today article put this figure at 180,000 deaths, while Ralph Nader’s estimate was 300,000.
Most recently, the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (JAMA) reported that over 750,000 Americans die each year from prescription drug reactions, hospital borne infections, complications from unnecessary surgeries, and outright mistakes. Mark Hyman MD, discusses these figures in his book The Five Forces of Wellness.
Other excellent books that discuss the serious dangers of orthodox medical treatment include What Doctors Don’t Tell You by Lynne McTaggart, and Death by Medicine by Gary Null PhD, Martin Feldman MD, Debora Rasio MD, and Carolyn Dean MD, ND.
In addition to the cost in human lives and suffering, the monetary cost of medical mistakes and side effects are in the hundreds of billions of dollars per year. But don’t hold your breath waiting for the medical system to police itself. Nearly three trillion dollars per year can cause some people to justify needlessly invasive and harmful treatments.
Make no mistake about it. The disease care industry – hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical schools, medical device makers, and insurance companies – is big, big business. Most doctors, nurses, and other caregivers are very caring and dedicated. But a number of emerging studies clearly show that decision makers don’t always have the patient’s welfare as their number one priority.
For example, studies reported in JAMA show that two-thirds of teachers surveyed at U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals have financial ties to pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers. Their biases for drug and surgical approaches is passed on to medical students even though safe and effective natural treatments exist.
Tim suffered with nearly constant and significant chest pain for ten years. Medical treatment during that time consisted of five stents and numerous drugs that were all paid for by his insurance company. When he came to our office, I recommended chiropractic adjustments of the sternum and ribs. (Misalignment of those bones can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heart rhythm, and anxiety/ panic feelings.)
Tim’s insurance didn’t cover chiropractic so I adjusted these areas at no extra charge. After just four treatments, his chest pain was gone and didn’t come back. Months later, he said, “Do you mean I had all those stents put in and took all those drugs for nothing?” Maybe.
Isn’t it about time for people to wake up to these issues and take more responsibility for their health? How many more people must suffer and die before we learn that mega-businesses can’t be trusted to know what is best?
Recently released court documents showed that one large pharmaceutical company paid ghostwriters to create 26 scientific papers backing the use of hormone replacement therapy in women. This and similar pending cases point to hidden industry influence on medical research. Sales of these drugs soared until a large government study was halted because of increased heart disease, breast cancer, stroke, and dementia among women taking them.
Patients trust their medical doctors to give the best treatment. Many doctors are caring and intelligent, but they are also influenced by multi-trillion dollar per year businesses. It’s not a good system. I warn my patients to beware that huge profit margins in medical care can influence their recommendations.
I spoke with a retired hospital CEO about the power of natural health care and self-care practices such as eating a chemical-free whole food diet. “When do you think the medical profession will wake up and start recommending that?” I asked him. He didn’t hesitate, “Never. There’s no money in it. Why would they teach about natural treatment when they can do a heart bypass for $100,000?”
Over the years, I have had a number of friends and family in the medical profession. Those who contract with hospitals tell me that they get yelled at if they take too much time with patients and try to educate them.
Urgent care facility managers want the doctors to quickly write prescriptions, then move on to the next patient. These doctors gain or lose staff privileges based on whether they refer more or fewer big money cases: expensive diagnostic tests, surgical cases, and patients who need hospitalized.
Not a good system when a patient’s health and life are at stake.
To be fair, the medical-pharmacological industry is not solely at fault. They provide what many people want: supposedly quick fixes versus changing their lifestyles and being patient for the body to heal itself.
In my experience, only 1 out of 10 people take control of their health and their lives. People often don’t do what it takes to enjoy high levels of health and prevent problems. They wait until they’re in a crisis and then expect doctors to bail them out. Choosing the disease care option can have disastrous consequences. I encourage you to take self-responsibility and choose natural health care for yourself and your loved ones whenever possible.
Common Natural Health Care Approaches
Some people don’t know about natural health care and subsequently can’t enjoy the potential benefits. Others may try these approaches for a while but give up when instant results aren’t forthcoming. Natural healing can take time, especially for chronic cases.
Here’s an overview in alphabetical order of the most common natural care treatments. Additional resources are listed and an internet search will provide more information. I discuss several approaches in further detail since they are so foundational for radiant wellness.
Acupuncture
This millennia-old healing approach uses very tiny needles inserted into specific points on the skin, meridian points that correspond to certain organs and muscles. Acupuncture helps strengthen and balance the flow of energy or chi. In the Orient, acupuncture has long been used as a primary healing modality and even anesthesia during major surgery. The safety and effectiveness of this approach are well documented.
In the U.S., acupuncture can be performed by specially trained health care providers: LAc (licensed acupuncturist), OMD (oriental medical doctor), and DAC (doctor of acupuncture). Chiropractic, medical, and osteopathic physicians may practice acupuncture after additional training. However, that instruction is a fraction of what is required for a LAc, OMD, and DAC.
When healthy, I get at least quarterly acupuncture sessions to ensure optimal balance and movement of energy to all parts of my body. If I develop any symptoms, acupuncture is an important part of my therapeutic program.
For example, during a time of extreme stress, I developed a tremor of my right thumb. My integrative medical doctor administered several acupuncture treatments and the shaking went away. Who knows what might have developed had I not quickly and effectively addressed the source of the problem.
For additional information, visit nccaom.org (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine); acaom.com (Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine); and www.nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as part of NIH.)
Alternative or Integrative Medicine
An increasing number of allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) physicians are using alternative medical approaches. Synonyms for alternative include complementary, functional and pro-medicine. These doctors understand the downsides of drug and surgical approaches and use more conservative measures whenever possible. I’ve learned much about this field from Andrew Weil MD, Dean Ornish MD, Julian Whitaker MD, Joseph Mercola DO, Mark Hyman MD, and Allan Magaziner DO.
Alternative medical doctors may use acupuncture, spinal and cranial manipulation, chelation therapy, dietary modification, nutritional supplements, hyperbaric oxygen, homeopathy, heavy metal removal, light therapy, nutritional IV therapy, lifestyle counseling and other more natural modalities.
In general, they use pro-life methods that work with the wisdom of the body, for example, recommending probiotics instead of or after antibiotics. The goal of alternative medical approaches is to assist the body in regaining wellness instead of fighting a war against disease and viewing the body as a passive and ignorant battlefield. This is a crucial distinction.
Select an integrative medical doctor who uses natural health care whenever possible and can identify severe health problems that require medication or surgery. Doctors who practice this way can be located via ACAM (American College of Advanced Medicine), AHMA (American Holistic Medical Association), and ABHM (American Board of Holistic Medicine.)
Body Awareness Movements
This term describes techniques that increase overall wellness by movement and positions of the body. These include tai chi, qi gong, yoga, and other integrated techniques. Various forms of dance such as Nia enhance wellness via movement, breathing, and social connections. Cross-cultural dances and body prayers such as Rita and those taught by Neil Douglas-Klotz PhD provide holistic benefits.
Chiropractic Care
Ideally, a doctor of chiropractic (DC) makes specific spinal adjustments, not gross manipulations, to correct vertebral subluxation. A subluxation is a minor misalignment and/or fixation of vertebrae that exerts slight pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. Chiropractic care can relieve pain, prevent arthritic degeneration, and assist a healthy nervous system.
A normal nerve supply is required for the brain to communicate with all body parts and vice-versa. Much chiropractic, allopathic, and osteopathic research has verified that abnormal nerve function caused by subluxation can result in many different symptoms and diseases.
Babies should have their spinal, cranial, and skeletal bones checked since the birth process can be traumatic. All people should be evaluated regularly throughout life, especially after any trauma and if there are health problems.
Counseling
As discussed, psychological and/or pastoral counseling is important for reestablishing emotional and spiritual balance. I favor outcome- oriented approaches that are time limited versus involving years of ongoing analysis. Keep this natural treatment approach in mind, especially when you are dealing with lots of stress or feel that you lack clarity to make important decisions.
Cranial Adjustments
Skillful and gentle adjustments of bones of the skull can restore normal position and micro-movement. This can be done by a specially trained physician or craniosacral therapist.
Recently a two-year-old boy suffering with ‘congenital torticollis’ was brought to my office. That big diagnostic term means Ely’s head had been bent to one side since he was born. His condition was unchanged despite seeing pediatric orthopedists at a children’s hospital and wearing a specially made brace.
I evaluated him and gently adjusted three cranial bones that were stuck and/or slightly out of alignment. Several days later, he and his mother returned for a follow-up visit. “His neck has been totally normal since we left your office,” the mother beamed. Just a few more visits were required to correct the misalignments and he has been fine ever since.
Cranial bones can become slightly misaligned or fixated after the birth process or any trauma to the head. The skull bones house the brain, blood vessels, and cranial nerves so minor misalignments can cause major problems. Cranial adjusting has been successful in helping a wide variety of physical and mental disorders. Much research has documented the safety and effectiveness of cranial adjusting.
For more information, read books by or visit websites of: Tedd Koren, DC (KorenSpecific Technique.com) Sacro Occipital Research Society International (Sorsi.com), and John Upledger, DO (Upledger.com) As with the spine, people of all ages should have their cranial bones evaluated. Why wait until there is a problem?
Energy Healing
Numerous energy healing and balancing techniques can remove tension and increase harmony of body functions. These approaches make sense since we are, from a quantum level, beings of energy. Energy flows that are blocked and imbalanced may be improved by: Touch for Health, Therapeutic Touch, Polarity Therapy, Body Talk, Reiki, and Network Chiropractic.
Essential Oil Therapy
This healing approach is also known as “Aromatherapy” but that’s a misnomer since its effectiveness is not due to fragrance. The leaves, stems, roots and seeds of many plants can have powerful healing effects. I especially recommend essential oil therapy products formulated by Andy Lee RN, LAc, CCA. (AndyLLee.com) For example, her Joyful Body blend combines six oils to decrease pain, inflammation, and spasm. We use this, Glory Be, CBD, and other of her products at my office.
Other examples of oils include: peppermint oil (for GI upset); lavender oil for sunburn, bug bites and emotional calming; tea tree oil for infections, acne, and toothache. For more information about this amazing healing approach, read The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.
Holistic Dentistry
Holistic dentists may use biocompatible fillings, mercury free procedures, nutrition for the oral cavity, and other natural methods. These practitioners also are aware of cavitations, focal points of infection that can occur around the base of a tooth, especially after a root canal.
I had my mercury fillings taken out many years ago and recommend that my patients refrain from getting mercury fillings. People with significant physical and mental symptoms that have not responded to other healing methods may want to consider mercury removal. For more information about this important topic, visit iaomt.org (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology) and holisticdental.org (Holistic Dental Association).
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy has been widely and safely used for centuries to deeply relax the body so the brain is more open to positive suggestions. It can be used for smoking cessation, weight loss, pain relief, stress management, and overcoming phobias. Hypnotherapy also can help eliminate limiting beliefs that may interfere with one’s life.
I use hypnosis during several psycho-spiritual integration techniques when working with groups. I personally receive quarterly hypnosis sessions for stress management, clarity, and focus. To find a reputable hypno-therapist in your area, contact ngh.net (National Guild of Hypnotists) or imdha.com (International Medical and Dental Hypnosis Association).
Massage
Massage assists emotional and physical well-being. In Europe, doctors are as likely to prescribe a series of massage as they are tranquilizers. The many benefits of massage include: relief of stress, tension and pain; increased circulation, flexibility and relaxation; and a calmer and more creative state of mind.
Different forms of massage may be more effective for your needs. For example, Rolfing addresses myofascial tension, Swedish massage is for deeper muscle work, and hot stone and oil therapies provide profound relaxation. Reflexology is a massage system for the feet that addresses structural fixations, reflex response, and energy balancing.
Nutrition-Based Healing Approaches
Knowledgeable health care practitioners using these methods will recommend a real food way of eating, whole food supplements, herbs and specific regimens to restore wellness. In addition to licensed physicians (MD, DO, and DC) and acupuncturists, this method may be used by naturopathic doctors (ND) and holistically trained registered or licensed dieticians (RD or LD).
Two techniques that I recommend include Nutrition Response Testing (unsinc.info) and Applied Kinesiology (icakusa.com). Visit those websites to find a practitioner near you.
Other Modalities
These include therapies using sound, color, aromatherapy and energetic crystals. Sound therapy can be provided by tuning forks, toning and CDs with specific tones. Color therapy uses lights of different colors. Certain fragrances can impact the body and brain in healing ways.
High tech combinations of these can be especially effective for a number of emotional and physical ailments. I send some of my tough cases to other highly trained health care professionals who use these approaches. The future of health care will, no doubt, see more and more use of these powerful modalities.
Physical Therapy
A LPT or DPT provides noninvasive care for joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and discs. They employ a combination of stretching, strengthening, education, and various modalities to restore normal function and range of motion to these areas.
I hope this article helps you better understand the range of natural healing approaches so you can use them when appropriate.
* * * * * * *
Your life, and that of others around you, will be more enriched when you:
- read this article again within a few days so you really own it.
- discuss it with trusted family members and friends.
- take recommended action steps that seem right for you.
- share it with others who can use it.
Let it shine,
Mark
Mark Pitstick, MA, DC is an author, master’s level clinical psychologist, holistic chiropractic physician, frequent media guest, and webinar / workshop facilitator. He has also helped others in pastoral counseling and suicide prevention / education settings. Mark directs The Soul Phone Foundation, founded Greater Reality Living Groups, and assists research on the SoulPhone Project. To learn more about how Dr. Pitstick might help you, visit SoulProof.com/About.
Dr. Pitstick’s goal is to help you know and show– no matter what is happening to or around you – that this earthly experience is a totally safe, meaningful, and magnificent adventure amidst eternity. Visit SoulProof.com for free articles, newsletters, and radio interviews with top consciousness experts. Other resources include his very reasonably priced books, audio-products, and documentary film.
Note: Because of his many outreaches, Dr. Pitstick can no longer answer complex and/or multiple questions. However, he has created many resources to answer your biggest questions and provide holistic solutions for your toughest challenges . . .
FREE ARTICLES, RADIO SHOW, AND E-NEWSLETTERS
– Articles for Transformation and Healing (top tab Articles at SoulProof.com) address the most common questions, concerns, and challenges about life, death, and afterlife.
– Radio Shows (top tab Radio Shows at SoulProof.com) share his answers and those of top experts to life’s biggest questions: “Who am I? Why am I here? What happens after I die? Is there a God? Why is there so much suffering? Why do children die?” and others.
– E-Newsletters (sign up on any page at SoulProof.com)
AUDIO-PRODUCTS, BOOKS, AND DOCUMENTARY FILM
– Transformational Audio Products (see Shop at SoulProof.com) provide quality sessions at home for a fraction of the cost of an office visit. These CDs and digital audios use deep relaxation, visualization, breathwork, and/or other techniques to: access your inner wisdom, visit with “departed” loved ones, release old wounds and lower energy emotions, evaluate your pre-birth planning, have past life regressions, and other goals.
– Books and Documentary (Shop at SoulProof.com) provide information and strategies to help you more deeply realize and demonstrate that:
- you are a forever being of energy / consciousness
- the many wonderful benefits of realizing this
- how to reflect this great news in every aspect of your life — even when confronted with big challenges and changes
Webinars and Workshops: to learn about these, subscribe to newsletters at SoulProof.com and SoulPhone.org (Classes & Interviews at SoulProof.com)
Greater Reality Living Groups: these local and online groups share information from Dr. Pitstick, Dr. Gary Schwartz, and other experts on consciousness and holistic wellness topics. (Visit Greater Reality Living at SoulProof.com)
Coaching / Counseling Session: meet with Dr. Pitstick by Zoom to gain answers to your toughest questions and holistic solutions to your biggest challenges. (Shop at SoulProof.com)
Disclaimer: This information is not designed to replace medical or psychological care. Dr. Pitstick’s remarks are based on his personal and professional training and experience during forty-eight years of helping many thousands of people. Collective clinical, scientific, and experiential evidence supports some, but not all, of what he shares. Mark’s views may change over time, and he does not claim to have all the answers or the only answers.
Dr. Pitstick encourages you to consider this information and decide for yourself what makes the most sense. Note: the articles and other resources at his SoulProof.com site are NOT purely based on scientific research as is the SoulPhone Project.
