SUMMER PROJECT
By BARBARA JANELLE M.A.
In Touch, Vol. XI, No. 2, May 1999
Mosquito season will be here soon. Therapeutic Touch can be very helpful, particularly if we recognise that the sites of mosquito bites are very specific and can guide the use of TT in supporting overall health.
PIECES OF THE PUZZLE
Years ago, I recognized that biting insects chose their attack sites carefully. I spent a day photographing flies on the SARI horses and discovered that each animal had an individual and specific pattern that the flies would return to again and again.
Fly locations on a horse’s body usually correlate with areas that need work. For example, flies and insect bites usually occur around injuries. Quite often, bites occur in linear patterns on horses and on humans. When I compare the location of lines of bites with location of acupuncture points, I find a strong correlation. For example,
in a horse with lung problems, flies land on acupressure points that support the functioning of the lung.
There is also a relationship between flea infestations and health in dogs and cats. Pets that have a lot of fleas often have significant health problems.
HYPOTHESIS
So what is happening here? I believe that biting insects are attracted to energetic problems. When an insect bites a human or animal, the immediate and ongoing response is to scratch the site. Scratching stimulates the skin and acupuncture points, which in turn lead to a better balance and energetic flow in the internal medians. Both skin and acupuncture point stimulation support health
WORKING WITH INSECT GUIDANCE
I decided to work with these understandings:
a) biting insects draw attention to specific points to support energetic health
b) a physical problem usually corresponds with congestion and depletion in the energy flow.
Working on myself, I began to respond to insect bites with Therapeutic Touch. Whenever a mosquito bit me, if I went to the site immediately and offered energy through a single finger, the place would draw for several seconds up to half a minute. I would unruffle the site to prevent energy build-up and offer energy again. I repeated this until no more energy was taken, and then finished with unruffling. The site of the bite would no longer itch and the bump would disappear with this single treatment.
If I did not get to an insect bite as soon as it occurred, or if I scratched it, then congestion would build. I would have to spend a minute or so unruffling the site before offering energy to it. The result was the same, the site would draw energy and the itching would stop. The bump would take a little longer to disappear.
Usually, I could feel the energy absorbed by the site move into specific places in my body. This was another kind of clarification for the relationship between the location of insect bites and internal energy needs.
APPLICATIONS TO ANIMALS
This treatment approach can be used with horses or other animals with fine, short fur. The raised bumps of insect bites can be seen easily on these coats and they respond quickly to the offering of energy combined with unruffling.
If a horse has lice or a companion animal has a lot of fleas, I recommend a complete veterinary examination. Checking the food is important too. Horses need good quality hay (low in alfalfa) and grain (no corn, or only infrequently on very cold winter days). Companion animals should be taken off commercial foods and given good home-prepared food instead. Combined with veterinary attention and good food, daily Therapeutic Touch treatments and massage of the ears (to stimulate almost 400 acupuncture points per ear) are very beneficial.
CONCLUSION
Biting insects actually support health and we can benefit from their guidance. By using Therapeutic Touch on insect bites, itching can be eliminated and health supported in direct ways. So this summer, do not scratch mosquito bites, use TT on them instead. Work with the insects and be grateful for their assistance.