Self healing is the process of implementing practices into your daily life that promote wellness and self care. These can be physical or mental and can vary from person to person.
The nine experts and six older adults who participated in the interviews identified three main themes of self healing: physiology, psychology and interpersonal relations. The subthemes of physiology were exercise, good sleeping and eating habits, and illness control.
Exercise
Exercise may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but physical fitness is an important part of feeling good about yourself, staying grounded and improving both mental and spiritual health. Regular physical activity will boost your immune system, increase sex drive and help you fight off diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease. It also helps to ward off depression, dissipate stress and reduce anxiety disorders. This is why endurance athletes and patients undergoing treatment for depression often say that exercise is their best medicine. It is nature’s wonder drug that heals the body..and mind..and heart..and soul.
Rest
The body needs rest in order to heal properly. This rest can be physical or emotional. Physical rest can include activities such as sleeping, meditating, or taking part in a hobby you enjoy. Emotional rest involves expressing feelings and releasing negative tendencies. This can include attending therapy and spending time with friends and family.
Self healing is not meant to replace care from a mental health professional, but it can be an excellent supplement to your treatment plan. Practicing the belief that rest is resistance can help you make healthy lifestyle choices. For example, maybe you decide to stop rushing around and start planning leisure activities in advance. This will give your mind a break and improve your mood. It will also prevent you from putting too much pressure on yourself to get everything done at once.
Ice
Ice is a great way to reduce swelling in an injury. It narrows blood vessels which keeps the swelling down. It is also an anti-inflammatory which helps decrease pain and inflammation.
It is important not to ice an injured area shortly before exercising as this will slow down the messages your nerves send to your brain. This can decrease your position sense and motor control and lead to an increased risk of injury.
Using ice may be harmful if used in large amounts or for extended periods of time, or if it is mixed with other drugs. It is recommended to seek medical advice if you are experiencing problems associated with ice use. Seek help through your GP, community health centre or drug support service.
Ointments
A topical treatment that seals moisture in the skin longer than creams and leaves a less greasy feel. Ointments are especially helpful for dry chapped and cracked skin, such as psoriasis and eczema patches. They can also help prevent infection from minor cuts and burns. Neosporin, Bacitracin zinc, and Polysporin are some OTC examples of antibacterial ointments.
Injection-ready self-healing hydrogels formulated from oxidized konjac glucomannan, carboxymethyl chitosan, and rutin have good syringeability, hemostatic properties, and enhanced cell adhesion. They have exhibited significant self-healing efficacy and improved tissue repair in full-thickness wounds.
Massage
Many people consider massage a luxury, but the benefits go far beyond just making you feel good. Regular massage lowers cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, and increases serotonin, the neurotransmitter that combats depression and carries signals between nerves.
Effleurage is the stroking movements of the hands sliding over the skin, and should be used throughout the session to relax muscles, stretch tissues and aid the dispersal of waste products. If the client feels pain during effleurage, the pressure should be eased, but not stopped, as it can be very beneficial.
Tapotement – the tapping, slapping and percussion techniques such as cupping – are used to help loosen muscle tissue. This is important as it allows for deeper techniques such as petrissage to be employed.
