Neurofeedback Therapy - A Complementary Health Approach

This type of therapy is a complementary approach and can be combined with other types of treatment, including medication. Often patients are able to successfully reduce the amount of medication they need to take, and in time, a certain percentage can even improve their condition to the point that they no longer need medications but can control their condition through an ongoing biofeedback program. Many individuals notice results in as few as 8-10 sessions, and typically, after 20-25 sessions with biofeedback therapists, they have developed the ability to practice biofeedback techniques without the need of biofeedback machines.

Neurofeedback therapy is a specialized type of biofeedback and it involves the use of electrodes, which are placed on the patient's scalp to read and amplify the signals from the brain. The signals are then fed into a biofeedback machine that produces a visual representation of the brainwave patterns, from which both the patient and the biofeedback therapist can study and learn.

Through multiple sessions of therapy the patient learns, with the help of the biofeedback therapists, how to make changes to their own brainwave activity. As brainwave activity undergoes changes, the resulting physiological changes can also be observed and measured, providing the patient with a clearer understanding of the mind-body connection and their own potential and power to control even the subtle systems of their body.

Neurofeedback therapy has been shown to be a very effective way to address many different symptoms, such as those related to anxiety, attention span, depression, anger management, sleep-loss, stress, attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity. The emphasis of most biofeedback therapists is on reducing the patient's symptoms and increasing their long-term personal success. This process can be very empowering and often gives people the feeling, for the first time ever, that they are in charge of their own health and bodily functions to a degree that they were not aware was possible, before participating in biofeedback training.

It has been found that patients should be selected for participation in neurofeedback training based on their motivation and their commitment. A biofeedback treatment is not a procedure that is "done to" or "for" a patient, as is common with most mainstream medical methods, but it requires the patient to be actively involved in the process. They must truly learn to train themselves to control their physiological responses by becoming aware of and taking charge of their brainwave activity.

During the course of a neurofeedback therapy program, a patient will learn to control their brainwave activity as they watch the activity displayed on the biofeedback device, and then learn to exert mental control techniques to make changes in that activity. By practicing concentration and visualization methods over time, the person is able to learn how to apply the correct technique and cause the desired changes on their own, without assistance from the biofeedback equipment.

Traditional Healing in Modern Medicine

You've heard that it's takes a village to raise a child, but Dr. Mehl-Madrona believes that it often takes a community to heal someone who is ill. The indigenous ways have much to teach us. In his books and this interview he tells us stories that he's told to his patients to help in their healing process. These stories give us universal wisdom and strength.

• Discover how to use the community to help your friends and family heal
• See how to integrate contemporary medicine with traditional healing
• Learn the traditional meaning of the Four Directions
• See how you can use stories to enhance the healing process
• Discover the hidden meaning of the Native American Medicine Wheel
• Be Inspired to live in harmony with the seasons and nature
• Learn about the real meaning of “success” in healing
• Explore how to use our ancestors’ spirits in healing and story
• Find out what the benefits of ceremony can be in your life
• Learn to create your own ceremonies for daily living
• See how the Ravens Beak story relates to modern health issues

Lewis Mehl-Madrona holds an M.D. from Stanford University and has been a practicing doctor for over 20 years. An experienced healer who has led many Native American healing ceremonies, Dr. Mehl-Madrona has also headed traditional medical clinics, helping AIDS and cancer patients as well as researching the benefits of relaxation techniques to aid in the natural correction of breech positioned babies. He is currently an Associate Professor of Family Practice at the University Of Hawaii School Of Medicine. He has been studying and working in the field of Native American and indigenous healing for many years.