Complementary Therapy Week

20 – 26 March was National Complementary Therapy Week - an event aimed at celebrating complementary therapies and the amazing work and services offered by therapists who support people with their health and well-being in hospitals, hospices, and private clinics.

Ruth Skinner (pictured giving a treatment), our Complementary Therapy and Wellbeing Coordinator said, “At Farleigh we offer a range of complementary therapies to our patients and carers. Treatments are tailored to the person, based on their individual need. I do reflexology on hands and feet.

“When offering aromatherapy I provide ‘sniff sticks’ which help people breathe deeply and relax. This enhances their breathing technique and is empowering for them as it’s something a patient can do for themselves. Aromatherapy can be used with massage, reflexology and reiki. When the person inhales the same scent from the sniff stick at home their subconscious takes them back to the same state of relaxation as during their treatment. For carers we give back and shoulder massage to help relieve their tension and for our in patients it’s a very gentle touch.

“A little hand massage enables people to relax and feel calm, that reduces fear which in turn reduces pain. It’s the touch of caring - communication without words - and even right at the end of life patients can benefit.”

Laura (pictured) who has motor neurone disease, has received care from Farleigh including reflexology, reiki, massage. She said, “All of the therapies benefited me in one way or another, both physically and/or emotionally. The massage is most beneficial physically as I get muscular cramps and pain which are definitely eased by the massage.

“The reiki helped me emotionally as I had a great sense of calm when undergoing it. My husband Terry was in the room and he actually zoned out and experienced the calmness as well. I also like the reflexology as this gives me a sense of wellbeing and definitely pinpoints areas that are causing problems and seems to realign them.

“I would definitely recommend that people with a life-limiting condition try various things. I find that either physically or emotionally every complementary therapy I have tried has had a positive effect.”