Monthly Book Review: Kinesiology for Better Health by Brian H Butler
Every month - that is the plan, anyway - I will review a book selected randomly from my Paranormal Library. This month, I will review Kinesiology for Better Health by Brian H Butler.
Background: Kinesiology for Better Health by Brian H Butler is a manual that was given to me as part of a £1200 course that spanned over 8 weeks a couple of years ago. This was a self-help course which delivered the basics of a type of kinesiology called Systematic Kinesiology. Systematic kinesiology uses the concept of 'different systems' within the body, or different energetic circuits. Although it still uses the same muscle-testing idea, and though the same sceptics' arguments for general kinesiology practice would still apply to systematic kinesiology, this type of kinesiology differs from clinical kinesiology as well as the other sorts for various different reasons.
Kinesiology for Better Health by Brian H Butler review
I found this a useful guide to complement my practising muscle-testing during the aforementioned course. It provides an in-depth overview of all the diffferent concepts I learnt about on the course, such as the best way to go about testing the Strong Indicator Muscle (abbreviated to SIM), as well as explaining the concept of kinesiology behind the practice. It includes pages on all the muscles the course taught us about - such as the supraspinatus muscle - and which meridian and organ it is linked to. On these pages dedicated to the different muscles tested, photographs of how to test the particular muscle are included, as well as an explanation to provide more information about the position the muscle should be in before testing. Furthermore, it lists the sort of problems with the muscle that relate to its weakness, for example studying a new project or driving long distances. It lists the nutrition related to the muscle which gives the student a basic idea of what nutritional deficiencies may be causing the weakness of the muscle. This is to guide them to possible forms of treatment, because if a person is deficient in, for example, B-vitamins, this may be the reason why their supraspinatus is not as strong as it should be. Other forms of treatment illustrated are the 'Neuro-Vascular' points, which are acupuncture points normally on different areas of the head. Other points, which are supposed to be massaged, are called the 'Neuro-Lymphatics' and diagrams for where these are located for each muscle are included, to help the student massage in the right place.
The meridian location is shown on the photograph of a man, which is useful for students because it helps them to learn how to 'trace' the meridian, as a further treatment. The exact physiology of the muscle is given, as well as the 'Meridian Energy Interchange' instructions, which can be employed if required.
Further guidance for muscle testing is given. The author explains what is expected should a muscle be "strong" - that the muscle should resist the slight pressure applied by the practitioner; that it should seem"locked" - it resists the pressure, which is seen as an indicator of good health. Should the muscle succumb as a consequence of the pressure, then weakness of the muscle is perceived and then the practitioner should endeavour to treat it by employing the techniques as already mentioned. The variables which may affect the functioning of the muscles is outlined, which is a useful aid for the dawdling beginner.
The book advocates the 'whole person approach' and this is illustrated by the fact that it starts off with a couple of pages delivering that whole concept at the beginning, and is encountered again some time later.
Helpful exercises, which were also shown on the course I did, are given for the reason that these may benefit the person the practitioner may be working with as these help brain power, as well as co-ordination and memory. These exercises are also illustrated and are also great fun to do. These include cross-crawl which involves moving the opposite limbs simultaneously in different directions.
The flow of energy, as well as further information about the meridian system is given, as well as more comprehensive diagrams of how to trace the meridians of the body for different muscles.
Food is a major topic covered, due to the explanation of which muscles are typically tested for testing for food sensitivity, as well as emphasising the importance of having a balanced diet. The student is reminded also of the best place to put food when testing it - which is usually on the naval, or in the mouth, due to the greater senstivity of these areas - as well as the professional procedure to implement for testing food on the client. Common food sensitivites and the muscles they are related to are listed to help provide the student with a general overview. This is helpful because it can give a general idea of what to expect when a food sensitivity is encountered.
Correction practices are further explained, which may be necessary to include in an actual treatment - for example, 'pulse sychronisation' which can, through synchronising the client's heartbeat with the practitioner's through toughing the pulse, resolve any imbalances.
As the book progresses, the ideas for how to use kinesiology, as well as the treatments to use become more and more advanced. Before the pages of muscles as explained earlier continues, the Oriental concept of 'Wheel Energy Balancing' is explained, as this can be used for determining what to do when it comes to doing a general testing of the muscles. Each of the meridians and therefore their corresponding muscles and organs pertain to a particular element (out of Earth, Wood, Metal, Fire and Water). This author, however, assures the student that testing in this way is not always necessary.
I found the book a good read and very helpful during the self-help course. I would recommend it to anyone who might have some degree of interest in this form of complementary therapy.
One criticism of mine is that in a social setting such as the treatment room of the practitioner, the client, if they are female, may feel uncomfortable when the muscle corrections involve her massaging under her bra-line (a Neuro-Lymphatic treatment). Presumably, the practitioner would avoid this particular treatment entirely, or ask the client to do it herself. Either the way, the book does not advise what to do.
My second criticism is that if I was to take this whole approach to healing further, I would need to bale out £10,000 in order to fund the professional training course. And whilst I enjoyed the course that the book supplemented, I nonetheless found it intense and difficult to absorb all the information I needed to learn. Although the book is a good taster, the course is not suited for the faint-hearted, and clearly someone needs to be affluent in order to be able to afford the final course to become a professional.
Look out for the next Book Review - on Peter Chin Kean Choy's Tai chi chi kung book - out sometime next month!
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