The Symmetron gets a good review

It seems everyone loves the relaxation experience they get on the Symmetron Vibroacoustic Motion Chair. I’ve had it in my office for over a month and the response from clients has been overwhelmingly positive. I hear comments like: “I felt a detached calm all day.” “My daughter said I didn’t have that stressed out look on my face.” "I had a feeling of calm, and for two nights had a profoundly good nights sleep. Usually I only sleep that well once every six months.” “The stress at work was the same, but it didn’t bother me like it normally does.” “Things that would usually make me feel tense or anxious didn’t bother me. My mood was more even, I was able to handle stress better, and I felt improved concentration and increased confidence.”

Results last from one day to a full week, and sometimes longer after a few sessions. For those of you who don’t know what the Symmetron is, it looks like a massage table that’s curved. It sits on top of a motor that slowly moves you around in a three-dimensional wave motion. Two large speakers are underneath you, causing it to vibrate to the sound of the music being played. You become part of the sound through direct bone conduction. Surround sound headphones add the feature of total immersion. I offer each person the option of using a blanket to cover them. The gentle motion and vibratory sound create a feeling of comfort and relaxation. Sessions are typically 45 minutes. The feeling of relaxation usually continues much longer than that resulting from a massage or any other type of bodywork.

Recent studies show that the most primitive part of the brain, the brainstem and cranial nerves, can be conditioned. This part of the brain deals with survival issues and is felt as fear or self-protection. When there has been trauma, often this part of the brain becomes trained to expect more traumas, resulting in a chronic physical bracing and constant low-grade tension. The nervous system becomes rigid and resists change. Neither neurofeedback nor talk therapy can correct this.

The Symmetron appears to affect this part of the brain by calming it down. The bracing relaxes, which frees up energy in the body and brain. This in turn increases the flexibility and resiliency in the whole nervous system. Once the background tension has gone, a person can accomplish more with less energy expended. There is an overall feeling of calm and safety. People often report they can cope better with routine aspects of life.

Amino Acids and the Brain

Amino acids can help restore neurotransmitter balance in the brain. After carefully studying the positive effects of amino acids, I have chosen to work with the company NeuroResearch. Established in 1997, they are the only amino acid-neurotransmitter testing research project and company run by licensed MDs. Most psychotropic medications work by blocking the reuptake of neurotransmitters in the brain. They do not add any new ones, and often stop working because of a gradual depletion of neurotransmitters. By supplementing with amino acids such as 5-HTP and tyrosine, the body is able to manufacture more master neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine), thereby increasing the effectiveness of prescribed medications. In some cases, the amino acid supplements work so well that medications are no longer needed. It seems natural for me to add this biological component to my practice as it complements all the work I do with neurofeedback and biofeedback. NeuroResearch states that they achieve 100% relief of depression and over 95% reduction of symptoms of ADHD by taking dosages as recommended. In addition, they have found that low levels of neurotransmitters in the body are associated with anxiety, obesity, migraine headaches, insomnia, menopausal symptoms, obsessive compulsive disorder, aggression, and chronic pain. Taking proper amounts of amino acids have been shown to alleviate many of these conditions.

The Listening Program

I recently completed a 3-day training with the Advanced Brain Institute in Salt Lake City and returned as an Authorized Provider for The Listening Program (TLP). This will have immediate application for autism, learning disabilities, ADD, depression, and social shyness. I first learned of TLP’s psychoacoustically modified music a few months ago at the ISNR conference. A child or adult listens to TLP’s classical music 15 minutes twice a day for 20 weeks. Most begin to notice results in the first 4-12 weeks. TLP combines decades of clinical research in several fields, including neurology, physiology, psychoacoustics, auditory processing, music theory and more. The originator of this method was Alfred A. Tomatis, M.D. (1920-2001), a French physician who specialized in ear, nose, and throat disorders. Among other discoveries, Dr. Tomatis helped identify the relationship between certain sound frequencies and their effect on functions of the mind and body. TLP represents the most advanced application of Dr. Tomatis’ work. You can read more about it http://www.thelisteningprogram.com.