Natural therapy 'works'

Natural therapy may be appear to be unscientific but it works, according to two of the healers who were part of Wanganui Hospital's controversial natural therapy pilot for staff members.

The programme began in August, but was stopped by senior hospital staff a month later - two months before it was due to end - because it was being promoted on a website about wizardry and witchcraft.

The programme offered staff the opportunity to try natural or complementary therapies such as reiki, massage, colour therapy and others, for a koha, or donation. It received positive feedback from staff members who used it.

The programme came under fire from some Whanganui District Health Board members, who described natural therapies as "supernatural" and "bone-throwing".

Deanna and Liam, who did not want to give their surnames, are therapists who do energy healing, intuitive healing and reiki, on a part-time basis.

They were asked to take part in the natural therapy programme through their involvement with a meditation and healing group.

They spoke to the Wanganui Chronicle to explain their personal experiences of being part of the programme, but did not speak on behalf of the other therapists involved.

Deanna said she was pleased to be asked to be part of the trial. "To be honest, I was surprised by the controversy around it. It wasn't being forced on anyone, and it was something that was doing people good."

Deanna said the trial had not been given any funding from the DHB or from any other agency. "The practitioners have given freely of their time and resources for this trial to proceed."

Both therapists urged the public to petition the DHB to make natural therapies available.

Liam said it was not uncommon for natural therapies to be offered alongside mainstream medicine in hospitals.

Liam, who has a background in engineering and describes his journey into energy healing as "sceptical and cautious", said the results of reiki and energy healing varied from person to person.

"In terms of the benefits, I can only go on the feedback I receive. People tell me they feel their stress being taken away, they feel more relaxed, they feel energised.

"We don't know how or why it works, but it does."