BodyTalk: Using Energy Medicine to Enhance Wellbeing

BodyTalk was founded by John Veltheim in 1995.

John started studying martial arts at age 8, and it was then that his fascination for studying energy began. His martial arts studies lead him to becoming a Karate Instructor for many years, during which he also started training in Zen Meditation. This has led him to a lifelong study of Philosophy and Self-Realization.

He graduated as a Chiropractor in 1973, and while practicing in Brisbane, Australia he continued studying Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. Further postgraduate studies included subjects such as Osteopathy, Applied Kinesiology, Nutrition, Counseling, Bioenergetic Therapy and Sport Medicine. He also studied Comparative Religion and Philosophy.

Dr. Veltheim ran a very successful clinic in Brisbane for 15 years. He was also the Principal of the Brisbane College of Acupuncture and Natural Therapies for 5 years. At this time, however, after working and studying so hard for so many years, he was absolutely exhausted and contracted an acute case of the Epstein-Barr Viral Infection/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. After exhausting all known and available treatments, he was told that there was nothing more that could be done for him.

Dr. Veltheim decided that he would pursue and explore the possibilities of a cure by studying alternative, holistic modalities - both ancient and modern. In New Zealand he was introduced to a system that utilized 'tapping and breathing with focused visualization' and which had successfully treated people with CFS, fibromyalgia and ADD/ADHD. Three months later there was no trace of the Epstein Barr Virus left in his system. Dr. Veltheim was given the go-ahead to further develop and use this technique. This technique is the basis of what would become the BodyTalk System.

The BodyTalk System was developed in 1995 and introduced to North America in 1998. Since then it has become International and is taught and practiced in many countries around the world.

Since Australian Chiropractor and Acupuncturist, Dr. John Veltheim, developed the BodyTalk System in 1995 it has been taught to over a thousand practitioners worldwide. Currently there are 47 trained BodyTalk Instructors teaching in 17 countries. Graduates include medical doctors and specialists, psychologists, psychotherapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, physical therapists, osteopaths, nurses, licensed massage therapists, and laypeople.

The outstanding growth and success of the BodyTalk system is essentially fueled by the
following factors:

1. Outstanding results occur in almost every sphere of heath care.
   
2. It can be used as a stand-alone health care system and can be learned in a relatively short time. The basic program is covered in just two weekend modules totaling 38 hours of workshop time.
   
3. It can be seamlessly integrated into any other health care modality and is complementary to each modality.
   
4. It is totally non-invasive and absolutely safe. There are no contraindications to its use.
   
5. No diagnosis is given, no medications prescribed, and no invasive techniques imposed upon the patient. The BodyTalk System does not conflict with, or legally contravene, any existing health care system or law.
   
6. Patients thoroughly enjoy the sessions and the results are evident within all aspects of health - mind, body, and spirit.
   

The basic premises underlying The BodyTalk System constitute a new paradigm for synchronizing and balancing the bodymind that can be implemented in conjunction with any health care system. The body is a very complex ecosystem involving a delicate balance between physiological biochemical functions, emotional and mental interactions, environmental influences, hereditary and genetic restrictions, and the need to synchronize all these factors into a cohesive whole.

Until now the majority of health care systems have tended to take a Cartesian approach and have focused on isolated parts of the bodymind equation. The whole picture, incorporating all the variables, has been placed in the 'too hard' basket. This is because the human mind, even with the help of modern science and equipment, is incapable of thinking on such a comprehensive scale.

The BodyTalk System recognizes that within each and every one of us there lies the innate knowing of who we are and what makes us tick. This innate wisdom carries the answer to our health care dilemma. This is addressed in the following way:

1. The BodyTalk System facilitates communication with the innate wisdom of the body by using neuromuscular biofeedback. This feedback provides the practitioner with a 'yes' or 'no' answer to any question that is asked of the body. The innate wisdom thus provides BodyTalkers accurate guidelines with regard the bodymind requirements for optimum health.
   
2. By following a comprehensive protocol of questions, the BodyTalk practitioner can establish exactly what balancing the body needs in order to harmonize bodymind function. This involves finding out which organs, endocrines, or body parts need to be connected to heal communication between them at the physiological, biochemical, circulatory, nervous, emotional, and/or energy levels.
   
3. The patient and/or practitioner touch the parts that need repair and the practitioner then uses his/her fingers to gently tap the head of the patient in order to focus the brain toward repair. BodyTalk 'tapping' is based on an old Hatha Yoga technique and experiments with biofeedback apparatus show that when this tapping occurs while specific parts are being touched there is a major increase in brain activity in relation to those parts.
   
4. The practitioner then lightly taps the chest to store the changes in the heart energy complex, which ensures that the new balance is held in deep memory and is, therefore, lasting.
   

Clinical results have shown that once the communications systems of the body have been reestablished and the bodymind complex synchronized, the body is capable of healing itself at a deep and lasting level.

This is something that modern health care systems have tended to forget, or ignore. The trend has been to want to play "God" and intervene in the body's natural processes even though it is clear that allopathic health care training provides only a glimpse into the complex interactions of the bodymind.

Of course, there are times that natural healing is limited. The typical emergency such as a car accident, where the body is in crisis, attests to the need of skilled intervention in the form of modern medicine.

Nevertheless, BodyTalk practitioners are seeing the incredible healing power of a 'balanced' body in the daily results obtained in practice. The functions of every part of the body and mind are improved. This means that the immune system will start to eliminate chronic and acute viruses, bacteria, parasites, and toxins. Reestablishing of the mind/body balance reduces allergies, emotional and psychological disorders. It also improves posture and coordination, digestion and elimination, brain functions, learning disorders, and states of distorted consciousness in the form of negative belief systems and attitudes.

The BodyTalk System does not rely upon diagnosis and the BodyTalk practitioner does not prescribe, use invasive techniques, or do anything that can cause harm to the body. This makes it one of the rare health care systems that can be classified as totally safe and truly holistic in its approach to reestablishing the optimum health of the patient.

It is complementary to all other health care systems and can be used as a stand-alone system or be integrated into any other health care practice. It can also be safely used by the layperson as a means of assisting in the health care of themselves, their family, and friends.

Every person who is sincerely interested in the concepts of total health care and has a respect for the power of the potential of human bodymind, should find out more about the BodyTalk System.

Each one of us has within us an "innate healer and manager" of our body-mind connection. The easiest way to describe or acknowledge this fact is to think about what happens if we fall and scratch our knee, for example. While we can aid the healing process by cleaning the wound and perhaps putting some ointment on, it is our own body's "innate healer and manager" that actually heals the wound and rebuilds the tissue and skin.

The BodyTalk Protocol communicates with the body's own innate healer and manager using bio-feedback, also known as muscle-testing. Through the bio-feedback process and using the Protocol the body's innate establishes priorities and links that need to be balanced. Using the Protocol the priority and order of the balancing is established.

A gentle tapping procedure is used to activate the body into balancing and repairing or reconnecting communication within those areas. Results have shown that once these connections are repaired, then the same way the body creates tissue and skin to heal a scratch on the knee, it will continue the healing process and heal the person at a deep and lasting level. This means that healing can and does continue long after the session has taken place.

BodyTalk is a non-invasive, completely safe healing modality. BodyTalk Practitioners do not diagnose or treat specific ailments. Nor do BodyTalk Practitioners prescribe any medications or invasive treatments.
Because BodyTalk enhances overall body health through helping the body to reconnect its own systems for optimal function this can result in the easing and/or disappearance of the symptoms of disease and discomfort as the body restores itself.

Examples of conditions that could benefit from having a BodyTalk Session:

• Headaches, migraines, neck and back pain
  
• Poor posture and coordination
  
• Joint pain and stiffness, injuries from trauma and sports
  
• Chronic viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections
  
• Learning disabilities and dyslexia, behavioural problems
  
• Allergies to foods and other substances
  
• Abdominal pain and dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, hiatus hernia, constipation
  
• Hormonal and reproductive disorders, period pain and PMS
  
• Abnormal blood sugar levels, causing food cravings and fatigue
  
• Heavy metal and chemical toxicity
  
• TMJ dysfunction
  
• Eating disorders
  
• Fears, phobias and deep-seated emotional trauma
  
• Cell damage due to vaccines, antibiotics, alcohol, drugs and other poisons
  
• Chronic ill health
  
• Respiratory and circulatory malfunction
  
• Lymphatic disorders
  

• BodyTalk is completely safe and non-invasive
  
• The Client is fully dressed at all times
  
• The Client either lies on a treatment table or sits in a comfortable chair for the duration of the session
  
• The Practitioner uses bio-feedback (muscle testing) to establish priorities and links for the session
  
• The bio-feedback procedure is used repeatedly until the Client's body indicates that there are no further priorities and links to be addressed in the session
  
• Sessions are typically scheduled for an hour, but can take less time to complete. The quality of the session isn't determined by the length of the session.
  
• The number of sessions that a person needs is purely personal and fully dependent on the individual.