Traditional Chinese Medicine in the private clinic MENTALVA

Holistic, naturally gentle

TCM at the Clinic MENTALVA: holistic, naturally gentle

Awakening life energies, letting them flow, reconciling yin and yang, and thus maintaining health and preventing diseases: at the private clinic MENTALVA of the PDGR in Cazis, traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) complements Western medicine in an ideal way, especially in the field of psychiatry,  says TCM therapist Elisabeth Meinherz.

«From the Chinese medicine point of view of, body, mind and soul are a unit in a coherent way. We use Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat physical, mental and mental illnesses. The application depends on the type of disorder and the individual needs and concerns.

Health can be influenced

Some patients respond well to acupuncture, others respond better to Chinese drug therapy, healing massages, supportive dietary recommendations and/or Qi Gong. These five methods covered all health care needs in ancient times. Especially with Qi Gong (a kind of active meditation) and nutrition, everyone can influence his/her health effectively, even in everyday life.  We show our patients how they can use these methods also at home.

Together, we first evaluate how much activity and how much rest a person needs, what exactly is good for that person. At our private clinic MENTALVA, we often treat people with burnout and depression, people who have lost their inner peace, serenity and their balance, which is therefore disturbing their energy flow. We support each patient in finding an individual and suitable way for themselves.

What we do, what the patient feels

Of course, there is a conversation at the beginning of each treatment, even with TCM. Because of the discomfort, I evaluate the needs of a patient as a trained TCM therapist. In the anamnesis conversation, we go through the whole body, from head to toe. Complemented by tongue and pulse observations, we create a targeted TCM-diagnosis. This is how we find the best individual solution. As a rule, the reactions to TCM are very positive. Most of our patients feel a comfortable relaxation after the treatment; TCM releases the inner pressure.

In addition to the classic mental disorders, we also treat acute somatic complaints, such as hay fever, musculoskeletal disorders or headaches/migraines. Cupping and GuaSha (a scraping method) are very efficient practices to relieve muscle tension or chronic pain, but also to strengthen the immune system.

Moxibustion and healing massage

Moxibustion is a supporting measure with many TCM applications. The "Moxa cigar" consists of charred mugwort leaves. Its use will warm specific acupuncture points. Moxa strengthens Yang energy with warmth but also release painful energy blockages. We use the healing massage Tuina, especially in case of musculoskeletal system disorders.

Effective herbs

Chinese drug therapy, which works with many different medicinal plants, minerals and few animal products, is actually the principal method of TCM. Herbs are an excellent tonic for the immune system, helping with sleep problems and indigestion. As a rule, many different herbs are mixed for the individual treatment. We can use over 400 standard recipes (drops, powder, soup). However, as mentioned, diagnostics are always essential for the treatment approach.

Holistic therapy plan

After my five years of studying TCM and many years of practical application at the private clinic MENTALVA, I can say that TCM can undoubtedly be used extremely effectively in the field of psychiatry.  TCM can be easily integrated into the classic treatment. Together with the treatment team, I develop a holistic therapy plan.

Traditional Chinese medicine is effective because of its way of looking at each person and the cosmos, and because it sees the person as a whole, i. e. the unity of body and mind.

Balance brings joy to life

Here, health means a balance of the forces yin and yang and the free flow of the life energy Qi. If this harmonious interplay is confused or the Qi flow is blocked, complaints and disorders are the result. Chinese medicine tries to recognise this underlying imbalance from a variety of symptoms and to treat it on an individual point of view. For those who are in inner balance also enjoy life.

At the private clinic MENTALVA, we offer Chinese medicine as an integral part of our treatments since 2012 ».

A full body wrap for new vital energy

Alternative medical applications at the private clinic MENTALVA, Cazis

First, our nursing specialists wrap the whole body of our patients with cold, wet cloths. In the following 40 minutes, the body warms up very quickly, body, soul and mind begin to regenerate. After the towels have been taken off, one feels refreshed.

Because: A full body wrap counteracts inner restlessness and relaxes body and mind, among other things. It helps to be aware of inner blockages in the body by focusing more on oneself. And the psyche also finds kind of a feel-good mode.

The effectiveness of the full body wrap was be supported by studies. People suffering from burnout, depression, tension, reduced efficiency, numbness, tinnitus, anxieties and mental and psychosomatic illnesses in general, are usually struggling to let go of their thoughts and to feel their bodies.

The full body wrap, which releases tensions, allows sufferers to be aware of their body landscape (once more). Some tell us that they initially perceive their body as asymmetrical and at the end of therapy as symmetrical. This effect occurs together with the experienced state of well-being. The method can initiate such and other processes and support recovery.

Patients at the private clinic MENTALVA in Cazis may lose their initial scepticism about this alternative medical therapy already after the first application: because they feel that the wrap is beneficial. By the way, this method is also perfectly suitable for top-heavy people.

We recommend the full body wrap every week for five to six sessions. It is essential to draw the inner attention to one’s body. One learns this with regular training. The effectiveness of the full body wrap increases in combination with other medical and complementary medical therapies, such as phytotherapy or traditional Chinese medicine TCM.

How it works

A linen cloth and a terry cloth are soaked in ice water and wrung out. The upper body is first wrapped with the terry cloth. Then, the lying patient is wrapped in the wet and cold linen cloth. This is topped with a dry linen cloth, a dry wool blanket and then a duvet. After the initial little cold shock, pleasant warmth sets in. Wrapped like a mummy, the 40-minute relaxation phase begins. Mentalva patients never feel constricted despite the tight wrap. On the contrary, they feel truly protected.

With the intense cold and wet stimuli, the awareness is directed to the body. This way, one can sense inner "black blockages" and sharpen the awareness of the here and now state. Thus, the therapy supports deep relaxation in mentally stressed patients. Body, soul and mind experience tranquillity. This creates, as initially described, new vital energy.

Indications summarized:  A full body wrap is beneficial in times of stress, with burnout, depression, reduced efficiency, numbness, a heavy body and even with tinnitus, etc.

 

Therapists on four hooves or with four paws

Relax, develop courage, overcome fears, build trust

Animal-assisted therapy - what exactly is it? Who benefits from it, how does it offer support? My therapy team includes the Freeberger mares Lady and Calia, as well as the poodle Jasco. The animal-assisted therapy I offer aims at teenagers and adults with mental impairments such as burnout, depression, trauma or anxiety disorder. Therapy with animals can be used as a complementary therapy to psychotherapy.

Everyone benefits

 

With animal-assisted therapy, the focus is on the contact with the horse or dog, with oneself and with nature. Animals offer many possibilities. When patients "work" with animals, this process (even preventively) has a health-promoting effect. Contact with animals reduces especially anxieties and stress. It also influences the own self-image in a positive way.

With the two trained horses or my therapy dog, I accompany patients who want to experience this special way. Animals don’t judge, they are very sensitive and open towards humans.

Building relationships with animals  

Our animal-assisted therapy is divided into different phases. In the beginning, I help the patient to build a relationship with the horse and/or the dog. It is important to know how to deal with animals and to understand their behaviour in certain situations. One part also concerns the understanding and interpretation of the animals’ body language.

While walking, we observe the animals, perceive their behaviour and needs, caress them, talk to them, give them orders, interact with them. This way, we build trust and reduce our own fears.

This phase is followed by the deepening in which I respond (goal-oriented) individually to the needs of the patients. Every hour, I design individually, there is no scheme apart from the welcoming and grooming of Lady or Calia at the beginning of the therapy with horses. At the end, we say good bye to them. This last phase is very important, since the patients have established a relationship with the respective animal. I like to give them a lot of space to say goodbye to Lady, Calia or even Jasco..

Suggestions and inputs

My poodle is lively, playful, attentive and loves to cuddle. Often, patients choose him if they have grown up with dogs themselves or currently have a dog at home and have had pleasant experiences with dogs. I suggest different exercises, which they then test in their own rhythm. In doing so, I support the patients and motivate them to reflect on the common activity in order to get a better idea of their actions.

During the sessions, I make suggestions to the patients or give them input for exercises. Some patients are reluctant at the beginning, sometimes a little anxious, and hardly dare to touch the animal. Over time, this changes a lot. I have often observed at our final ritual that the patients lovingly hug the horse.

 

Horses hold the mirror in front of us

Horses, including Lady and Calia, hold a mirror in front of us – that way, patients become aware of themselves. Horses understand us humans much better than vice versa. They are able to interpret the finest signs of body language. Are you anxious? Are you a daredevil? Are they on top of their lives, or not? How direct is one, how shy, how insecure? For example, if the client is nervous, the horse reacts accordingly.

The horse always demands clarity, it wants clear instructions. If someone is unsure, the horse doesn't know what the person wants from him. That way, patients learn to communicate their wishes clearly. This shows me again and again that the contact to the horses also gives the patients more confidence.

Sometimes, we work on the lead from the back of the horse, sometimes from the ground. We do perceptual, concentration and coordination exercises, as well as confidence and relaxation exercises. Thus, the horse becomes a real partner. The warmth and movement of the horse soothingly appeals to the emotional area of the patients. These can be very valuable experiences. The processing of negative experiences can also be supported.

Many beautiful moments

I always make sure that our therapy hours are animal- and human-friendly. It is very important that everyone involved is always looked after. This is how my patients and I experience many little and beautiful moments in nature during animal-assisted therapies.  

Many people become aware of what was buried in them during animal-assisted therapy. People show that they still have many resources, despite the impairment. These are beautiful and often even healing experiences for all of us. What counts for me in the therapy is always the human being and not a diagnosis. I am happy when patients sometimes succeed in implementing the experiences they had in the equestrian therapy to their everyday lives.

After completing a therapy session, the respective wards receive my therapy report. On request, or if necessary, I also exchange information with the treating psychiatrist.