MEDITATION
| alzheimer's| brain injury | cancer | pain control | stroke | Information as reported to The Monroe Institute by individuals and/or by professional practitioners about the use of Hemi-Sync® and ALZHEIMER'S It began with my playing Metamusic tapes for the nursing home patients I met with in their rooms. The nurses liked what they were hearing and borrowed tapes from me. The area around the nurses' station was often noisy and hectic, crowded with anxious patients repeating demands that could not be satisfied. With Metamusic playing at the nurses' station, the whole atmosphere changed, becoming a place of calm and relaxation. The patient spent long hours roaming the nursing home corridors, confused and anxious, not knowing where her room was. At mealtime she wouldn't stay at the table long enough to eat. The nurses were unable to get her to stay in one place. On one of her wanderings she fell, was badly bruised, and needed pain meds, though the nurses were reluctant to give her too much. I led her to her room and played Sleeping Through the Rain, (CD) for her. She fell asleep, went to the dining room for dinner and ate a good meal. "The tape didn't do a bit of good," she complained to me. In the background, the nurse gave me a thumbs up sign. My mother has Alzheimer's disease, does not speak, and did not respond in any noticeable way to people who visited her. Since we started playing Metamusic tapes for her we seem able to read expressions on her face. The Director of Clinical Services at an Alzheimer's Institute recommends relaxing Metamusic tapes. Their Hemi-Sync patterns designed to slow brain wave activity soothe patients, improves behavior, and occasionally even memory, as well. The patient was constantly in motion: reaching out with her hands, picking at the arms of the chair, rocking from side to side, shaking her head. Within minutes after Cloudscapes , (CD) began playing, the tight facial expression and pursed lips relaxed into a gentle smile, her tilted head indicated listening, and her hands remained at rest on the arms of the chair. When my father got into his frequent agitated states, nothing seemed to calm him. Whatever we said to him, he responded with more agitation. It was very distressing. A friend who also has Alzheimer's in her family loaned us some of her musical Hemi-Sync tapes to try, and they have been life-savers. We keep Metamusic playing all day now, with the sound turned down very low. He's much calmer and seems to sleep better, too. Hemi-Sync is not a cure, but it sure helps. Visiting with my aunt in the Alzheimer's unit of the senior citizens' facility was not my favorite thing to do. It was very troubling to witness occasional outbursts and other bizarre behavior from other patients. On my most recent visit I had been sitting with my aunt for almost an hour in the lounge with its usual number of patients when I realized how calm and peaceful everybody seemed today. I also became aware of soft music playing in the background. Before leaving after a very pleasant visit, I stopped at the nurses' station to comment on the difference and the nurse told me about the tapes (Hemi-Sync). As mother's condition continued to deteriorate, it was becoming harder and harder on my dad, who was taking care of her at home. She would become suddenly angry, and accuse him of outrageous things, would lock the bathroom door and not come out for hours, would fight him when he tried to distract her from going outside by herself. He didn't want to send her away but felt it was getting to be too much for him to handle, and he called the family together to talk about the situation. My brother and sister-in-law told us about how helpful Hemi-Sync had been in evening out the behavior of their hyperactive son, and suggested that we try some of the tapes for mom. Nothing to lose, right? Dad kept the tapes playing all the time and found it much easier to manage things. Thanks to Hemi-Sync, my parents had another six months together. Hemispheric-Synchronization During Anaesthesia: P. Kliempt,1 D. Ruta,2 S. Ogston,3 A. Landeck,4 and K. Martay5
1 Research Assistant, 2 Senior Lecturer, and 3 Lecturer in Statistics, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK Summary
Information as reported to The Monroe Institute by individuals and/or by professional practitioners about the use of Hemi-Sync® and BRAIN INJURY (closed head trauma) Travis, born with severe brain abnormalities, was expected to live in a vegetative state if he survived at all. By age four, receiving every kind of support the medical profession had to give including physical, ocupational and speech therapy, he was unable to walk, talk, feed himself, or communicate his needs or wants. His mother began to play Remembrance at his bedside throughout the night. After a few days, his father noticed how much more alert and active Travis was becoming. Within two weeks of consistent playing of the tape, Travis began to feed himself. Shortly after, the therapists at the day center Travis attends asked his parents what they were doing differently to account for the marked improvement they were noticing. When the physical therapist learned about the tape, she said she had long known about Hemi-Sync technology. She had repeatedly recommended that parents use Hemi-Sync with their braincinjured children but stopped trying after countless failed efforts to convince the families that something so simple could have so much potential value. Within weeks Travis' mother told me, "He's talking, and I don't mean baby talk! He's telling us what he wants to eat. He stayed with his grandparents while my husband and I went on vacation and when we returned could clearly call their names. A woman at the mall held the door for me as I maneuvered Travis inside in his stroller. I thanked her and then Travis echoed my words and said to the woman, "Thank you." Now when I tell him we're going to day care, he replies, "Yeah, OK." Further breakthroughs come often now for Travis. He sings his favorite songs, can pull himself up to a standing position and holds onto furniture, much like a child who is about the gain the skill of balance and walking. Hemi-Sync has facilitated a life rich in communication with family and friends and the pride of doing more for himself than anyone thought would ever be possible. In January 1984, I was involved in an automobile accident. Although the car was "totaled," I was released from the hospital after only a quick examination. There were no broken bones, lacerations, or loss of consciousness. My symptoms of concussion were dismissed. During the next six years I experienced different kinds of mental dysfunction and disability, and then started using Hemi-Sync tapes from the Human Plus series. My support group began noticing changes. They said, "In the last two or three weeks, you've been so much brighter. You've had more energy. You've been so much quicker. Why, you're making jokes left and right." When I told a joke at work one day, a co-worker said, "Don't tell me you're brain damaged if you can make a remark that fast." Back at my desk, I realized that I'd been using the Human Plus tape Brain: Repairs & Maintenance, and obviously it was working. At that point, I contacted The Monroe Institute to tell them how effective their tapes were in my healing process. The people who had noticed the difference in me didn't know about the tapes. They were remarking on my brightness and quickness. Until others noticed the changes, I hadn't realized that I was improving. When it was brought to my attention, I asked myself, "What's different?" The only difference was listening to the tape every night. I was sleeping better, things were going more smoothly, and I experienced various breakthroughs. At times I'd think, "Oh, I'm handling this much better now. I'm doing this easier now." It wasn't a case of listening to the tape one day and the next day saying, "Oh, I listened to the tape last night and now look how good I am." It was an ongoing process rather than a dramatic, overnight change. The Hemi-Sync tapes have definitely helped in retraining my brain and recovering lost abilities to concentrate and think clearly. By practicing intensely, I've recovered my gift of music, lost at the time of the accident. Like others in recovery, I work on healing each day, one day at a time. For some years I have had a jerk-like tremor in my head due to a "minor" head injury. I could feel it at the top of the brain stem just below the skull. Sometimes at night it would keep me awake because of the feeling of tension which would build up and then release in a jerk. After several months of using the tape Brain: Repairs & Maintenance, and later adding the tape called Energy Walk, the tremor is almost non-existent. They were doing patterning for a small child whose central nervous system had been affected from a brain injury. I told the mother that Metamusic tapes might be helpful. She called to let us know that the tapes were helping her child to relax and enjoy the physical patterning exercises. She indicated that when the tape stopped, the child would tense up and stop making any sounds. As soon as they started the tape again, the child would relax and make happy sounds. After a fall which resulted in brain injury, I was physically weak, emotionally demoralized, out of balance, and mentally insecure. After some difficult years I learned about Hemi-Sync and began to notice results after listening to H+ Brain: Repairs and Maintenance about four times. They were very subtle, but concrete. The more I used the Function Command, the easier it became to express myself both orally and in writing, and the more my vision improved. I use the Function Command several times each day, beginning in the shower each morning and ending as I go to sleep at night. As I use it, I feel as if a veil is being slowly but gently lifted from my mind. I also use H+ Synchronizing and Circulation, and the Resonant Tuning tape. They seem to have a cumulative effect. After an auto accident left me with brain injury, I stopped reading because I could no longer follow a train of thought. I discovered Hemi-Sync, have gone back to school, and am doing very well. Remembrance helps me with my studies, and Sleeping through the Rain helps me rest at night. He was having memory loss and anxiety after being beaten over the head during a robbery. I was amazed at the changes over a two month period of listening to Hemi-Sync Metamusic tapes. His attitude became more positive and less anxious, his writing skills became more lucid, and his nonverbal communication normalized. Information as reported to The Monroe Institute by individuals and/or by professional practitioners about the use of Hemi-Sync® and CANCER The scheduled doses of morphine were no longer controlling the pain of his terminal cancer. When the doctor started continual morphine drips, it was hard to know if he was sleeping or not because even when awake, he wasn't really here. His wife played the Pain Control, (CD) tape and he very soon fell into a deep sleep with his abdomen breathing rhythmically. In the morning he was much more alert and asked for more tapes. Energy Walk, (CD) was his favorite. The following day he was even more alert and asked the doctor to remove the morphine drips. He passed away peacefully this morning. Report from psychologist. The patient's cancer continues to spread and he has been in considerable pain. He had been taking large amounts of medication: 125 mg of Tegretol three times a day, 12-15 cc a day of Dilantin, Darvocet every four hours, and Zantec. He had also been taking 11cc of Methadone four times a day and this was recently changed to morphine. Despite all the medication, his pain was poorly controlled. I introduced him to the Hemi-Sync Pain Control, tape (CD) to use at home, and he finds it helps reduce pain between medications. After only four sessions, he is now seeing me on an "as needed" basis. The Pain Control, tape (CD) has furnished the backbone of his treatment program. My husband was diagnosed as being in Stage III of testicle cancer. Surgery would kill him, we were told. Chemo was the only hope and, even with that, his chances of survival would be 30%. Throughout four months of chemotherapy I watched him lose his hair, lose weight, be violently ill from the side effects. The mass was reduced in size, though still huge in terms of medical safety. His doctors advised surgery even though there was very high risk that his lungs were now too weakened by chemotherapy drugs to withstand anesthesia for a ten-hour operation. We started using the Surgical Support Series days before the surgery, and consulted (and educated) the anesthesiologist about using the tapes during the operation. The ten-hour operation took four hours. The surgeons were able to remove the tumor mass intact and no live cancer cells were found. Report from a social worker. A 72-year-old widow with cancer was admitted to Hospice, and asked for a relaxation tape because, "I've never been a nervous person, but I've been climbing the walls since the chemotherapy." The Hemi-Sync tape Deep 10 Relaxation, (CD) was left with her. The following week she reported, "I haven't been taking as many pills since I began listening to the tape. I had been taking one pill every four hours or less. Yesterday, I only took one pill all day. I know the tape is helping me." She also reported improved sleep. Although nervousness and restlessness were her frequent complaints, she lay quietly after listening to the Surf tape/(CD), finally opening her eyes and saying, "I'm too relaxed to move." She also was delighted with the tape Energy Walk, (CD) and said, "I played the tape twice today and it quieted my nerves. Not only does it help and relax me, I feel that something is happening in my body, and I know it is doing something for me. I played it again today and counted my breathing with my and over the cancer. It makes me feel all over better and relaxed. I went off to sleep." My friend's whole body system had broken down in the last days of his terminal cancer. The continual morphine drips were not keeping him comfortable and he was "gone," not really with us even when he was awake. Very soon after we started playing the Pain Control tape/(CD) in his hospital room, he fell into very deep sleep with his abdomen breathing rhythmically. He didn't wake till morning, was much more alert than the day before, and asked to listen to the tape again. Her doctors said she would be in the hospital for at least two weeks after her surgery for cancer. She was released in three days. Doctors were shocked at how quickly she had recovered. The tapes she had with her were Energy Walk, (CD), Deep 10 Relaxation, (CD), Surf, (CD), and Pain Control, (CD). My brother was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. In a desperate effort to save his life, I called upon the Hemi-Sync process. As he listened to the taped exercises I saw how he welcomed this intensive exposure to mind expansion. Although the final battle was lost, there were triumphs on the way. After more than 300 hours of highly toxic chemotherapy, my brother did not lose his hair, as the doctors predicted he would. He maintained his mental and physical stamina through 18 sessions of radiation. Six weeks before he died his physical strength began to wane, and he was virtually pain-free until three days before his death. It was only during his final hours, when his body chemistry was out of balance, that his mental power was unable to overcome the pain. The tapes (Surgical Support Series) have been used with a number of gastrointestinal oncology patients at The Cancer Institute, and we've found them to be enormously helpful in the preparation of these patients prior to surgery (frequently 12-18 hours in the operating room) and in the follow-up period during the extended hospital stay (sometimes 4-6 weeks). Patients often experience a significant reduction in intra-operative blood loss, fewer post surgical complications, greater sense of mastery over pain and discomfort, and frequently a reduced length of stay. A therapist reports on her experience with cancer patients: "The Surgical Support Series is quite good. The Pre-Op and Intra-Op tapes are very helpful to use during infusion and right after chemo treatments, as they reduce the ill feeling and aid in the normalization process. Metamusic tapes are also very helpful for creating a sense of well-being, especially the tape called Inner Journey, (CD)." Recently a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer and I ordered your Surgical Support Series for her use. She was very impressed by the help the tapes provided in the areas of pain and stress reduction. An M.D. reports on the experience of a fifty-six year old, terminally ill woman with metatastic breast cancer. She was aware of having only a short time to live and chose to be at home with hospice support and her family. She was having more and more frequent "foggy periods" and was barely arousable when the doctor played Touring the Interstate from the Going Home Series at her bedside. She became very relaxed and slack as the Focus levels increased to 27. Returning, she stirred actively at Focus 15, then fully awoke back at C-1, smiled, and drifted off to sleep. She died several days later after listening to both exercises on the tape more times. Her husband had played the Relocation Theme at her death. As he sat holding her hand during this, he clearly and deeply felt her lift off--and his sense of burden go at the same time. A month later he feels very much at peace, with a sense of completion. About a patient whose cancer had recurred and metastasized, the doctor said, "She listened to Hemi-Sync tapes (Metamusic, Gateway Experience, and Going Home) while undergoing five courses of chemotherapy. Everyone who knows her, including myself, has been impressed with her level of inner peace, her ability to be "in the moment" and take delight in small pleasures. Other feelings are there too-- anger and fear--but they don't overshadow the joy and peace." Information as reported to The Monroe Institute by individuals and/or by professional practitioners about the use of Hemi-Sync® and PAIN CONTROL One patient at my pain control clinic was very resistant to the concept of Hemi-Sync tapes, but agreed to listen to them as directed. She admitted that, although she thought it sounded like "crazy stuff," the tapes helped her to get pain relief and to relax. After her treatment was over, she purchased several tapes for herself. At follow-up visits she told me that at the end of a stressful day, she listens to a tape and has been able to prevent her back from hurting. The Department of Surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital uses Hemi-Sync tapes in conjunction with other therapies to help patients heal more quickly and with less anxiety and pain. They recommend the Surgical Support Series tapes for use prior to and during a medical procedure and while in recovery. They recommend a variety of other Hemi-Sync tapes to foster healing and maintain optimal wellness in the hospital and at home. The scheduled doses of morphine were no longer controlling the pain of his terminal cancer. When the doctor started continual morphine drips, it was hard to know if he was sleeping or not because even when awake, he wasn't really here. His wife played the Pain Control tape, (CD) and he very soon fell into a deep sleep with his abdomen breathing rhythmically. In the morning he was much more alert and asked for more tapes. Energy Walk, (CD) was his favorite. The following day he was even more alert and asked the doctor to remove the morphine drips. He passed away peacefully this morning. A patient with myofacial pain and dysfunction was able to lower tension in a band across her forehead almost instantaneously after learning the Function Command for H+ De-Discomfort by listening to the tape twice. With electrodes placed on her forehead and connected to an ORION biofeedback system, the reading immediately dropped from 6 mv to 3 mv when using the Plus-55515 command. A patient with chronic pain from a neck injury and nerve root entrapment listened to De-Discomfort and Circulation two times each. The biofeedback system showed electrical activity in the forehead dropping from 3.4 mv to 1.2 mv using the pain control command. Report from psychologist. The patient's cancer continues to spread and he has been in considerable pain. He had been taking large amounts of medication: 125 mg of Tegretol three times a day, 12-15 cc a day of Dilantin, Darvocet every four hours, and Zantec. He had also been taking 11cc of Methadone four times a day and this was recently changed to morphine. Despite all the medication, his pain was poorly controlled. I introduced him to the Hemi-Sync Pain Control tape, (CD) to use at home, and he finds it helps reduce pain between medications. After only four sessions, he is now seeing me on an "as needed" basis. The Pain Control tape, (CD) has furnished the backbone of his treatment program. Report from an MD who operates a pain-control clinic: A local dentist refers patients to me for assistance with dental analgesia. It consists of giving the patient the Pre-Op tape from the Surgical Support Series to listen to daily for one week prior to the procedure. During the dental procedure, the Intra-Op tape is played. I have treated three patients to date using this procedure. The first had tremendous fear of dental pain and didn't want injectable analgesia. She needed both an inlay and a crown, both considered to be extremely uncomfortable procedures. She experienced no pain and felt totally relaxed and happy during and afterwards. The second patient had a previous negative experience in the dental chair with an acute hypertensive episode accompanied by agitation requiring paramedic assistance. It was unclear whether the episode stemmed from extreme fear and anxiety, or was a reaction to the local anesthetic. Regardless, it was evident an alternative was needed. She was to have some very extensive work. A three-unit bridge and inlay, and a four-unit bridge were all to be accomplished during two separate visits. During both visits, the same treatment with Hemi-Sync was used. The patient had one area in her right anterior mandible which remained a bit sensitive, but she endured on both visits with minimal discomfort and no agitation. She noted that the tape helped her to feel at ease and detached from discomfort. The third patient was a very environmentally sensitive woman who could not tolerate drugs or anesthesia of any kind and needed several fillings. She, too, did well and had minimal to no discomfort during her procedure. My friend had a severe allergic reaction to morphine while she was in the hospital and was suddenly aware that her heart was pounding to the point of bursting; her whole body was a mass of pain and was convulsing uncontrollably. She felt total terror and knew she was dying. She heard someone say, "We've sent for her family." Then the function command 55515 (the cue learned on the Pain Control tape, (CD)) popped into her head, and the convulsions stopped and the pain and fear disappeared. After her second mental repetition, she heard someone say, "We have a pulse." Her next awareness was that all the people who had been hovering over her were gone and she was alone and in total peace. Within an hour of the reaction, she was fully awake, pain free, and able to talk to her children. She says that since that experience she feels totally accepting of death, and even more remarkably, she's able to be in the midst of family turmoil and, for the most part, remain serene. She continues to listen to tapes several hours a day, and although her medical prognosis is not good, she's actually enjoying her life. Report from a dentist. Patient A requested a local anesthetic in conjunction with the treatment. I played the Pre-Op tape from the Surgical Support Series for him. He commented, "That's pretty good, Doc. I only felt a little pain, not bad, mind you. I'll be back." At a second visit, the patient again requested local anesthetic. After the procedure he stated, "Didn't feel a thing, Doc. That stuff's really good." At his third visit, he did not mention local anesthetic and none was used. Four teeth were prepared for crowns. He hold me, "Didn't feel a thing, Doc. If I knew about this, I would have been here much sooner. I'll never wait this long again." For Patient B, several large restorations were completed using the Pre-Op tape (Surgical Support Series). The patient reported, "I didn't feel a thing. That's really great." On his next visit, a single tooth was prepared for a crown. He reported, "The pinched nerve in my neck has quit hurting. I feel good all over." (No mention of the dental procedure.) He concluded with, "There's just nothing to be afraid of. We'll be in touch more often." A client receiving deep tissue massage for 'scar marbles' from bulky re-knitting of tissue and bone, found that the area of the nodules was extremely sensitive to pressure. It was difficult to palpate deeply because of pain. She reported, "I used Sleeping Through the Rain, (CD) to attain a deeper state of muscle relaxation and was able to tolerate the therapist working more deeply on the injured area. The entire shoulder girdle became more flexible and I experienced an unusual level of relaxation in my neck and scalp." I needed to have three new cavities filled and ten mercury fillings removed and replaced. The night before the procedure I played the Pain Control tape continuously while I slept, and again on awakening. The dentist was curious and supportive of my decision; not to have gas or injection, and made it possible for me to play the tape while he worked. It had been well over 15 years since I had allowed a dentist to look in my mouth, due to my fear of pain. There was no discomfort as he removed, redrilled, and cleaned out seven of the old fillings. The last three were deep, large cavities. He worked for 1 1/2 hours to complete all the drilling. We took a break. I rose from the chair with 13 gaping holes in my mouth, my body a little stiff from holding tension, but feeling great. Thinking the worst was over, I switched to a favorite popular music tape to enjoy while he filled the cavities, and was caught totally unaware by unexpected pain. In need of immediate relief, I used the number sequence suggestion from Pain Control, (CD) instead of taking time to switch tapes - and I was fine! What a pleasure to have completed the entire procedure in one visit, nearly free of pain, and feeling fine afterwards! Report from a dentist. During a five month period, I played Sleeping Through the Rain, (CD) for 25 patients for procedures that are done with a local anesthetic. I selected this tape for its low bass tones which are excellent for drowning out the sound of dental equipment. The composition is particularly relaxing, and the Hemi-Sync frequencies integrated within the music are designed to lead the listener into a deeply relaxed state. It was rarely necessary to use any pharmacologic form of sedation, although occasionally nitrous oxide was used. Twelve patients reported enjoying the tape because it allowed them to focus their attention elsewhere while their mouths were being worked on. Eight patients experienced deep relaxation, and two of these fell asleep during the procedure. Five patients reported experiencing no apparent effect. Two of these stated that they thought the tape would be of more help to people who were nervous about coming to the dentist. A dental practice decided to experiment with playing Metamusic on speakers heard throughout the entire treatment area. A new associate, who was not familiar with the experiment, came to the front and asked what kind of music was playing. After about fifteen minutes of listening she felt extremely relaxed. Patient comments range from "I can't believe I fell asleep in the dental chair," to "I feel more relaxed, but I can still hear the drill." Our conclusion is that both relaxation and pain control are benefited by Hemi-Sync and continue to use it in our dental office. Report from a chronic pain clinic: To introduce the tapes, I offer a presentation on sleep, sleep cycles, sleep disorders and the importance of sleep as a restorative process. Then, each pain patient lies on a mat with a pillow and headphones to listen to just the Prep side of a H-PLUS tape. Sounds of snoring from two patients who said that they were usually unable to fall asleep were quite exciting. The simple procedure of listening to just Prep creates receptivity to the impact of the tapes. Patients cannot wait to hear the other side! Over the next few days, as we get acquainted, I recommend specific tapes for their individual problems. From my personal observations--and from discussions with patients--the tapes are a hit! H-PLUS De-Discomfort, Restorative Sleep, (CD), Circulation, and Off-Loading, (CD) had the biggest impact on reducing chronic pain. The MIND FOOD tapes Sound Sleeper, (CD), and Pain Control, (CD) were also helpful. A cracked molar had to come out and the oral surgeon was going to have to drill to break it up before extracting the pieces. When I told my dentist how much I was dreading the appointment with the oral surgeon, he gave me his Hemi-Sync tapes and encouraged me to try them. I listened to the Pre-Op tape from the Surgical Support Series at home and then again in the surgeon's waiting room. While in the chair I listened to Intra-Op and was aware that my short breaths turned into really deep breathing without effort. I felt calm and confident and comfortable. I went to bed when I got home afterwards, fell asleep listening to Post-Op, and went to work feeling fine the next morning. The men were truck drivers, crane operators, or handlers of heavy equipment, all very sedentary occupations with most of the day spent seated. After using the Pain Control tape, (CD) for several months they spoke of feeling the pain less, needing less medication, and improved morale. The clinical signs were still present, but they were responding more positively to their pain. Muscular tightness often interfered with my getting a good night's sleep. Once I started listening to Restorative Sleep, (CD), the muscular pain and discomfort went away and hasn't come back. Mrs. C. consulted me with severe migraines. Hypnotherapy gave her some relief but not as much as hoped. I suggested that she listen to Brain: Repair & Maintenance, (CD), and she reported considerably more relief. She still gets migraines but far ess frequently and less severe, and they pass quickly. The Circulation tape has greatly reduced my constant ache from standing on cement floors all day at work. The bulging veins have reduced to fine "spider veins" around my knees and I feel comfortable using a stair climbing exercise machine again. Your Circulation and Lungs: Repair and Maintenance, (CD) tapes have brought my headaches under control and have helped restore my endurance levels for the 3 mile walks I can now enjoy again without gasping for air. A nine-year-old client had excruciating migraine headaches and needed occasional adjustments to relieve the pressure in his brain. As we began one counseling session, he was experiencing one of his headaches. I had my tape player with me and decided to see if the Concentration tape, (CD) would help him through it while we continued the session. In less than five minutes he stopped in mid-sentence, looked at me in a combination of puzzlement, amazement, and relief, and said, "The headache is gone." I use guided imagery as a mainstay in my practice at the Pain Control and Stress Management Clinic. My clients are much more receptive to imagery when I play Hemi-Sync musical tapes in the background. Into The Deep, (CD), Inner Journey, (CD) and Cloudscapes , (CD) are a few that I use often. The tapes are an extremely useful tool which accelerates the therapeutic benefits of guided imagery techniques. I recently slipped and fell while getting into my car on a rainy day. As a result of the accident, I incurred broken bones in my left hand and foot, and both limbs were put in casts. Since the pain was quite intense, the orthopedic surgeon gave me prescription pain killers, and recommended that I remain immobilized for five weeks. Because I'd already worked with Hemi-Sync tapes for many years, I knew my recovery would not be problematic. Pain Control, (CD) eased the pain and reduced the swelling, so I needed to take medication for only two days. Energy Walk, (CD) and Restorative Sleep, (CD) lulled me into deep regenerative sleep states. I returned to work after only five days and my mobility and energy has been very impressive to the doctors and my colleagues throughout the ordeal. All of my life I have been a very poor dental patient, and over the last few years have had major dental work done. Yesterday, I was more prepared, having listened several times to the Pain Control tape, (CD) and mentally rehearsed the Quick Fix function. The procedure lasted two and a half hours, but during that time I felt calm and only needed one anaesthetic injection. Since the injection wore off I have experienced no pain or discomfort. My wife suffered severe headaches (sometimes migraines) for two weeks at a time during her monthly cycle, along with breast pain. She has found that De-Discomfort reduced and often took away the constant pain. It made life manageable again. I've used the same tape to take care of headaches and other pain. It really works. Information as reported to The Monroe Institute by individuals and/or by professional practitioners about the use of Hemi-Sync® and STROKE Now in her 40s and in a wheel chair, she had had the first of a series of strokes at age 25. I was treating her for depressive disorder, which included frequent, uncontrollable weeping. During one session I put on a Metamusic tape. The tears stopped and she became calmer almost immediately. After we talked about the experience, she asked for a tape of her own to play whenever she felt the need. She recognized that she had found a tool to use to help herself. My mother has been in what the chronic care hospital calls a vegetative state since her stroke, and her caretakers had "given up" on her. I wasn't ready to give up, and continued to believe that she was aware, even if she couldn't speak or move. Since I've been playing Hemi-Sync tapes for her (from the Surgical Support Series), she seems more relaxed , calm, and peaceful. Now when I ask her a question, I tell her to blink twice to mean "yes", and she is able to do it. The nurses are intrigued and will be trying Hemi-Sync with other patients. The physical therapist who has been working regularly with my mother since her stroke was astounded by the effect of the Remembrance ,tape (CD)). Because this tape has been so useful in helping me to concentrate, I had decided to experiment with playing it softly as background in the bedroom during a therapy session, hoping it would increase mother's responsiveness to the therapist's directions. Within the first few moments of the tape, the expression on mother's face changed dramatically from tight and negative to relaxed and positive, and her cooperation with the therapist was at a higher level than had been possible before. After the tape ended, the therapist and I spoke together about the remarkable transformation we had witnessed. When our attention returned to mother, we saw that the pinched, strained expression had replaced the earlier Hemi-Sync expression. I loaned the stroke patient Brain: Repair & Maintenance, (CD) and my own cassette player and headphones. That afternoon she was sleeping soundly, her whole body relaxed and her mouth open, snoring away. By evening she was sitting up, more alert and smiling for the first time. During our meeting the next day she said of the tapes, "They're wonderful. I feel so relaxed." Her recovery progressed nicely, and I spoke to her as she was preparing to return home. She cried when she told me how much she thought Hemi-Sync had helped her, saying she was deeply moved. Joan is a badly disabled stroke patient, confined to a wheelchair, with no use of her left arm and leg. Some months after listening to a selection of Human Plus tapes and tapes from the Discovery Album Wave I of the Gateway Experience, CD, she reported, "I looked at my outstretched and spasmed fingers; then, with closed eyes, I gently curved them down." Several months later: "I am aware of a sort of "pre-movement," a definite impulse in the affected side, especially in fingers, toes and forearm. The ankle is slightly moving. I'm gradually starting to work with the Hemi-Sync sound patterns by working them down the body and into the extremities. I am aware of an interlacing between right and left hand sides." Later still: "Since I've been working with the tapes I'm less and less aware of my disability. In fact, if I hold an image of myself it's not one of a disabled person. Neither is it the person I used to be. Rather, the Joan that is. This has given me the freedom to explore, to take risks, to be curious about my possibilities, and to push back the boundaries and limits." He had a stroke in '87 and made little progress until two years ago. Since he began listening to Hemi-Sync he is now driving his car again on short runs, is recovering speech function, can now be understood when talking on the phone, and lives an active retirement. My father had severe back pain following his CVI and has encountered many difficulties involving pain control. Medications intended to be relaxing and pain-easing have had the opposite effect, leaving him restless and unable to sleep while, at the same time, doing little to alleviate the constant pain. To make matters worse, he didn't like the way the medications left him. As he put it, "They make me feel bad." Energy Walk, (CD) and Pain Control, (CD) have given him tools that relieve the pain so well he rarely takes any pain medication. The tapes also help him relax (which in itself helps with the pain) and to sleep at night. These good results have come with listening through speakers placed on his right and left sides. A minor stroke left me feeling very depressed about the reduction of my physical capacities. I sensed myself going into a downward spiral as I comtemplated the limitations I now had to live with. I started using Off-Loading, (CD) and Eight-Great, (CD) to focus on the positive, to reinforce my enjoyment of the things I was still able to do. The depression is gone and - an unanticipated bonus - I find myself able to do more and more.
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