Let’s face it. Pain is a fact of life. We all experience it in one form or another at various times. No one escapes it. So then, what can we do about it? Well, let’s first take a look at what it is . . . and what it isn’t.
According to the Saunders Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, pain is “a feeling of distress caused by stimulation of specialized nerve endings.” But here’s the interesting part: there is another aspect of pain called ‘psychogenic pain.’ That’s the “pain caused, increased, or prolonged by mental, emotional or behavioral factors.” We can call this kind of pain suffering, because it makes whatever pain we have actually feel worse. But, believe it or not, this is good news J because, even though it makes us feel worse, we have the ability to exert some control over this kind of pain. There are things we can do – there are even ways we can think – to effect, reduce and change this kind of pain.
So, what do we now know about pain and how much we feel it? One thing we know is that when we become preoccupied with pain, we begin to suffer over it, which makes the pain feel worse. Research has also discovered that the emotional response to an original injury or trauma may not resolve right away. Instead, it remains locked in the cells’ memory. When that happens, the nerves continually fire as if the original incident is still happening all the time. This has the effect of adding more sensation of pain than you need to feel.
Over decades of experience, I have observed that the fear accompanying the sensation of pain gets locked in the tissues, as well. The typical response to the fear is to protect against any further pain. But overly protecting an area that can work more efficiently than we allow it to impedes the healing process, rather than assisting it. When this is the case, we don’t really notice our condition improving. We may come to believe that we are unable to fully regain function.
Now a vicious cycle starts up: not feeling any improvement leads to depression, which causes more emotional suffering, which further weakens the immune system, which slows down the recovery time even more.
BUT THERE IS HOPE!!! Going back to the Saunders Encyclopedia and 
Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, and reading further down the explanation of pain we see: “The discovery of endorphins has provided a scientific explanation of the effectiveness of such techniques as relaxation, shiatsu/massage/bodywork, application of liniments, and acupuncture in the control of pain and discomfort.” Fortunately, all of these techniques are available at Heartwood.
In my Shiatsu practice, I do my utmost to resolve the traumatic cellular memory that remains locked in the tissues. Using my hands on the meridians and acupoints of Asian Medicine, I stimulate the ability of your nervous system to properly interpret the true state of your current condition. Your body’s natural healing response frees up. It resumes its role and purpose of repairing and restoring. It goes into action and begins improving your level of function. Then I coach you on how to increase your awareness of the improvement. I suggest things to look for and pay attention to, and what to track. As you notice more improvement, your level of mental suffering also subsides, which gives you even more relief. And so it goes.
Now we have established a cycle that is taking things in a positive direction for the healing process to get ahead and flourish. Life can get good again!
Grandmother WinterJade Forest
My extraordinary mentors of four different shamanic cultures showed me how to connect with Spirit, my purpose, and the power to improve my life. They put me through rigorous trainings and demanding initiation rites. They taught me their ancient healing traditions and trusted me to carry them on. I was ordained into the Cherokee priesthood in 2014 and began using my Medicine Name.
The NEW Medicine of the Old Ways takes into account that many people desire to connect more powerfully to their capacity for personal strength and happiness, but don’t have the option of leaving work and family to take part in the rigorous rituals of the Old Ways. So I created less demanding ways for people to absorb the wisdom teachings of Journeying, Totems and Guidance.
It is a blessing beyond measure to have been called to this work . . . and an honor to share it with you.
Credentials: ABT, CI (AOBTA)