By Tara Zwicker – If you’ve been at an accredited Naturopathic Medical school for any length of time, you’ve likely heard whispers of needing a black book, but what exactly is this mysterious tome? Simply put, a black book is a self-made database of medical conditions, naturopathic and conventional treatments, and most importantly, clinical pearls gathered throughout your clinical training and beyond. There is no one ‘right way’ to compile or organize your black book, as it will be as individualized as you are, but in this blog, we will go over some basics to get you started.
By Mathew Richards (CCNM) February 28, 2022 COVID-19 changed the landscape of life as we know it, however, it also changed how we experienced medical school. Though we have all experienced a new era …
When we are so used to having a routine and the separation of school and home, it can be really difficult to adapt to distanced learning (I know I really struggled with adapting). So, since a majority of classes are online for many students, I thought it would be helpful to share some of my best study tips for at home learning!
Welcome to our leadership blog series! This month Carlee Kamar, NMSA Chapter President at Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster, British Columbia, shares some pearls on how reiki can be used to connect with your higher self.
Connecting with your Higher Self through Reiki
Over the past few years, taking things slow was so foreign to me, and I am sure to most students. We are always telling ourselves we never have enough time to take a step back and treat ourselves the way we hope to treat our patients one day. But have you stopped to think that if you do not start taking time to nourish yourself, you will never make it to your patients? So, let us take a step back, take a breath, annnnnnd Reiki…
What is Reiki?
Reiki is a Japanese technique used to reduce stress, induce relaxation, and ultimately promote healing. Miko Usui discovered it in March, 1922.
The original Reiki ideals
“The secret art of inviting happiness. The miraculous medicine of all diseases. Just for today, do not anger. Do not worry and be filled with gratitude. Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people. Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer. Pray these words to your heart. and chant these words with your mouth. Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind.”
~The founder – Usui Mikao~
“rei” (universal) and “ki” (life energy)| Reiki uses universal life energy to send magnetic energy into your biomagnetic field to restore the energetic balance that promotes your body’s natural healing process.
There is a pearl of spiritual wisdom present within the universe expressed as our spiritual consciousness, higher power, or God. This aspect allows us to access our creativity, brilliance, miraculous experience and allows our spirit to heal. What our body presents is what our spirit embodies first. Our healing journey begins by healing our spirit. In clinic, we will see disease or complication as just a physical presentation of our mind and spirit’s trauma.
Reiki is not meant to be read about, watched, heard, or explained, but rather, it is meant to be felt. The experience you have one day may very well be different from the experience you have the next day. Reiki works on what you need attention on at the time you will receive it. Your connection with Reiki may leave you in unexplainable tears as a weight lifts off your chest or may leave you feeling charged up by an electric wave that ripples through your body. There is no right way to experience Reiki’s reception but to receive Reiki, and you must be willing to accept it’s gifts.
How can you incorporate Reiki into your life?
Simple… find a reiki master! Well, it might not be as available to everyone, so joining a community on Facebook or Instagram will allow you to experience Reiki virtually or in person. Reiki can be administered to a larger group through reiki shares, experience fashion, or personally to an individual with hands-on delivery. Hands-on Reiki helps release and heal specific blockages within an individual and allows the practitioner to work deeper into areas needing more attention. Experiences are a unique gift; they are given to guide an individual through a journey to invoke a state of healing. Experiences can also be paired with hands-on healing, which is such a powerful experience. If you are open and willing, Reiki will work through you until your healing journey is complete.
Adding Reiki into your life can increase your frequency which will be infectious to those around you. As a Naturopathic Doctor, you will become a better healer when you are in tune with your mind, body, and spirit.
We are all energetic beings and the way we think, breath, eat, move, and heal, manifests in our body as energy, which translates into our day-to-day tasks and interactions. So, let us take a step back, take a breath, annnnnnd Reiki…so that we are present for ourselves and our future patients.
Carlee Kamar
Carlee is a second-year student at Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine (BINM), in British Columbia, Canada.
Before entering the Naturopathic profession, Carlee seized the opportunity to study allopathic medicine in Europe, where she was able to use her leadership skills on the International Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA). Although naturopathic medicine was her specific saving grace, pursuing such a profession, did not surface until late into her first year of allopathic medical school. Her passion as an advocate for people’s personal growth grew stronger and knew she needed to further serve her purpose in a new light. Promoting healing, wellness, support, and positivity to enhance an upswing in someone’s life was her driving force.
In her free time, you will find her in a yoga room, both perfecting her craft and sharing her knowledge. She also loves using her creativity in the kitchen, the outdoors, and enjoys spontaneous adventures.
Our goal is to provide integrative medicine students and clinicians with a forum for reporting unique and interesting cases, treatment protocols, and outcomes. N-of-1 aims to be an innovative peer-reviewed resource of high-quality case reports, case series, and n-of-1 clinical trials, with the intention of providing baseline evidence for future clinical research.
We are accepting submissions for our inaugural issue, scheduled to be published in Spring 2021.To learn more about our submission guidelines and start the process of submitting your case, visit our submissions page. We are currently offering a discounted submission and publication rate for student authors. All fees go toward publication costs. Contact Josh Corn (jcorn@wshcare.org).
