Pranic healing, both ancient and New Age, is among many easy solutions to self-health

Arguably the oldest ways to heal the body-mind-spirit are pranic healing, which uses the breath, and faith healing, which employs invocation and prayer. Breatharians healed and lived by breath alone; this demonstrates faith. As I recall, the most popular reference to these folks is from the book Survival Into the 21st Century, by Rev. Victor P. Kulvinskas, who also advocated the next best things, body detoxification, fasting and cleansing diets, and the growing and eating of wheatgrass and sprouts.

We know that in the distant past our ancestors noticed the energy inherent in nature, and began to take note of pranic healing attributes in stones or crystals that seemed to possess, generate and even attract concentrated power. The rise of magnetic healing had its origin in the human being’s observance of how energy-strong places or things in nature attracted or repelled. Polarity therapy is how this phenomenon is now known. Magnetic jewelry and other equipment to ward off radiation, such as the Tesla Shield, also are derived from these concepts.

The first relaxation techniques probably involved placing warm rocks or crystals on the body, or clay or dirt. Our ancestors began to distinguish the rocks, dirt and clay by color, texture and scent in the same way that they began to identify the herbs for sustaining good health. They very likely also conducted what we now call hypnotism, gazing for a long time into someone else’s eyes for the purpose of shutting down the conscious mind and engaging the subconscious. In hypnotherapy a therapist uses his or her own magnetism, or power of suggestion, to hypnotize. A lot of people use this technique to stop smoking, lose weight and gain control over addictions.

Ancient methods for healing included color therapy, adding colored powders to baths or drinking water from colored bottles that have been allowed to sit in the sun. These are just two examples of how this therapy works. When combined with pranic healing or other breath-oriented techniques, the effects are multiplied manifold.

Music therapy approaches are probably as old as color ones. The three to five-foot didgeridoo of the Aborigines creates a wonderfully peaceful state and atmosphere. Gongs, bowls and similar sounding devices produce vibrations that are healing, and the repetitious tapping or beating on these objects are forms of communication.

Beating or hitting the chest or back are immediate responses that ungag ouselves or our coughing neighbor. This ancient approach has now been combined with the meridians of acupuncture and is called tapping. There is a global movement of people teaching and learning tapping in its commercial form, known as Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT.

Let’s face it, sick people need as many options as possible. For people who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) returning from war with death and killing still raging in their eyes, and for people who have not been diagnosed per se but exhibit post-traumatic slave syndrome, carrying the burden of rejection and generations of abuse based on color and ancestral enslavement, ALL self-improvement and healing techniques, if they relieve suffering and bring the person closer to spiritual gratitude, can only be called good.

This is not an exhaustive list. As I continue to research these fascinating techniques I will add actual historical references to this account.