Ancient Wisdom Meets The 21st Century
By Harriet Meyers
Rigel is recovering from major surgery. He has a metal plate and six
screws stabilizing his “knee” joint. The surgeon says it is critical
for him to take it easy. But try telling that to an eight-year-old
English Setter. The first thing he wants to do when he gets home is
jump right up onto his favorite living room chair.
Shari Sternberger, Rigel’s owner, takes a hands-on approach to helping
him heal. She’s a schooled and certified Healing Touch Practitioner for
animals and people. She’s trained to assist with surgeries, injuries,
wound healing and illness, reduce anxiety, address behavioral issues
and more. And since she can’t tell Rigel to take a load off and sit
still, she’s doing all she can to help him recover as quickly as
possible.
Age-old Insight
Centuries ago, enlightened cultures knew how to heal the body using
chakras and meridians — centers of energy that link the body and mind.
Today we are beginning to understand the wisdom of these treatments.
Healing Touch is a holistic therapy that uses age-old techniques to
balance and align the energy fields that surround the body. Our bodies
and those of our dogs and other animals radiate, absorb, conduct and
transmit this energy.
The theory is that by balancing the energy within and surrounding our
bodies, we facilitate physical and psychological health, healing and
well being. In the case of Rigel’s surgery, the balance of energy
contributes to increased circulation, muscle relaxation, the release of
toxins, an enhanced immune system and a body primed for and receptive
to healing.
Yellow Labrador Star ruptured the cranial cruciate ligament in both
hind legs, requiring the identical surgery twice in a six-month period
(tibial plateau leveling osteotamy known as TPLO). Both TPLO operations
were handled by the same surgical team in the same veterinary hospital,
yet recovery the second time around was easier and faster.
“The only difference in treatment the second time was the therapy Shari
performed, said Star’s owner, Denise Iannatuono. “But the difference in
Star was absolutely incredible.”
After asking for Denise’s permission, Shari “went into Star’s energy
field” through a process she uses to conduct distance work. She
concentrated on helping the dog prepare for and receive the surgery,
seal the wound, manage the pain and heal.
Partnership with Medicine
Shari emphasizes that Healing Touch works in partnership with
conventional healthcare. “It does not replace traditional medical or
veterinary care, medical diagnosis or medical treatment, nor do we
prescribe medications or perform surgery. What it does do is add a
non-invasive, gentle, compassionate treatment to the range of options
for patient care,” she said.
The human medical community has recognized Healing Touch as an
alternative treatment since 1989, and today more and more hospitals
throughout the United States and the world have incorporated this
therapy into their patient care systems. Healing Touch for Animals®
(HTA) was founded by Carol Komitor, a certified massage therapist,
certified hospital-based massage therapist, equine sport massage
therapist and veterinary technician for 13 years.
Rigel was prepped for surgery early in the morning, but he was fifth in
line, so he had a long waiting period. Every hour, the vet’s staff
sprayed him with essential oils of rose and lavender provided by Shari,
keeping anxiety levels down for the dog and the veterinary staff, too.
Before, during and following surgery, Shari used her skills to enhance
the surgery’s success.
“He had a tough time at first with the pain medications,” Shari said.
She introduced pain management techniques to make him more comfortable
and energy work to make it easier for his body to accept the
medications. At his follow-up check, the vet tech said Rigel’s range of
motion was a little better than normal.
Modern Applications
Non-traditional holistic treatments sometimes generate questions and
skepticism from people who want cold, hard proof that they work. For
the past 10 years, medical centers and hospitals have conducted
research that is proving that Healing Touch has much more than a
placebo effect.
For example, Stanford University is currently running a clinical trial
with breast cancer patients to test whether energy therapy can reduce
the strong side effects of chemotherapy. The National Institutes of
Health has studied the treatment’s impact on healing. Other hospitals
are considering whether treatments help pre- and post-cardiac patients.
When it comes to our dogs, the proof is in the pudding. HTA reports
that the therapy has reduced anxiety and stress, helped mitigate
emotional traumas, prepared dogs and horses for competition and aidedin
preparation for medical treatments and with follow-up care.
“After her first surgery, Star was barely functioning for several
days,” said Denise. “When we picked her up from the vet the second
time, she immediately tried to jump into the truck. The first night, I
slept on the first floor with her. When I woke during the night, she
was missing. I frantically searched the entire first floor. Then I
heard the thump of a wagging tail coming from my second floor landing.
I could not believe that she was able to walk up a full flight of
stairs to the second floor.”
Shari started her schooling for Healing Touch for Animals in 1999,
taking classes and participating in an elaborate certification program.
She’s the eleventh person to earn certification in HTA and abides by a
strict code of ethics. In addition to studying and working with people
and animals, she volunteers at a veterinary hospital. She works with
pre- and post-op patients, calms puppies at their first vet visits and
soothes dogs and their owners during the euthanasia process.
“I’ve always had an extremely strong connection with my dogs,” said
Shari. In 1990, Shari and her husband helped found National Capital
Therapy Dogs, Inc. (NCTD), the local affiliate of the Delta Society to
share the human-animal bond with patients in healthcare facilities.
“I enjoy working with animals. They are energetically clean and pure,
and they give me a very clear message when they’re finished with the
treatment,” said Shari. “The joy comes when I see the positive outcomes
we achieve by including Healing Touch in a patient’s treatment plan.”
Learn More About Healing Touch
Shari Sternberger is a certified Healing Touch Practitioner for animals
and people with a private practice in Highland. You can learn more
about what she does by visiting her website, www.elementsofenergy.com .
Rigel is recovering from major surgery. He has a metal plate and six
screws stabilizing his “knee” joint. The surgeon says it is critical
for him to take it easy. But try telling that to an eight-year-old
English Setter. The first thing he wants to do when he gets home is
jump right up onto his favorite living room chair.
Healing Touch is a holistic therapy that uses age-old techniques to
balance and align the energy fields that surround the body. Our bodies
and those of our dogs and other animals radiate, absorb, conduct and
transmit this energy. 
Non-traditional holistic treatments sometimes generate questions and
skepticism from people who want cold, hard proof that they work. For
the past 10 years, medical centers and hospitals have conducted
research that is proving that Healing Touch has much more than a
placebo effect. 
