According to Traditional Chinese Medicine a balanced ‘qi’ is the vital energy that circulates through the body at all times and though there’s not a word in Western medicine that translates this directly, a person’s ‘vital energy’ is the understood equivalency. In fact the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) defines qi as a vital energy that flows through the body, helping to maintain a person’s health. The concept of vital internal energy” goes by many names around the world. It’s called “prana” or shaki in India for example and thus as a concept, it is globally accepted to be free from physical or mental health issues, a person must have balanced “vital energy”.  It’s further understood that illnesses or other conditions only appear when there is an imbalance, stagnation or deficiency of vital energy in the body.

What is Stagnant Energy?

Stagnant energy is like a dam in a river, walling off and blocking the flow of water needed to fortify everything downstream.  In a similar way, stagnant energy in the body can wall off and block your own vital energy force, leaving your organs and other internal body systems downstream depleted and malfunctioning.

There are a 3 different types of stagnant energy:

1. Physical Stagnation: Experienced when your body tenses up, is tired, or in pain. For example, after an exhausting long day at work, it might feel like your body’s absorbed and retained all the stressors and fatigue of the day’s grind and you feel ‘spent’.  Numerous musculoskeletal treatments including massage therapies effectively resolve physical stagnation.   
2. Emotional Stagnation: Consider this as the emotional baggage that’s never fully processed and thus has been allowed to accumulate as we carry it throughout our day and lives.  Often we trap our own unprocessed emotions, including stress from the ones we love – this is a learned behavior.   Somato Emotional Release Therapy is effective in working through emotional stagnation.
3. Mental Stagnation: Inability to untangle your thoughts,  express them and move forward coupled with allowing procrastination to linger.  It’s like a mental traffic jam where you’re getting nowhere fast.

Several things can stagnate a person’s vital energy and if not unblocked and dissipated,  can lead to a disabling of the natural defense network that is our immune system – leaving us vulnerable to any number of ailments.   

To treat Stagnant Energy I offer a holistic approach of an array of energy healing massages that combines traditional massage techniques with energy healing to optimize and promote relaxation and balance in the body.  However, in addition to this, my treatment portfolio includes a series of unique therapies that are becoming the more preferred path to unblocking and dissipating stagnant energy.

Some with stagnant energy also have a condition called, “psycho-sclerosis” which is the hardening of the mind to the point where a person stops thinking, learning, and growing.  I offer a treatment called Somato Emotional Release Therapy (that processes and releases physical and emotional pain that has been lodged in the body at some point in the past) and; Pranic Healing (Which involves detecting the imbalances of vital energies, known as energetic congestion and depletion.  Then applying a cleansing technique to discard negative energies while fortifying the flow of vital energy and strengthening the energy centers of the body)

What are the symptoms of having stagnant energy?

As a foundational understanding, the body consists of a network of channels or what some view as ‘meridians’ upon which vital energy force must flow through to reach the organs.  Disruption or the lack of proper flow and distribution of the body’s vital energy means an amount of energy has become stagnant.   Stagnant energy produces an imbalance where organs and other parts of the body are now deficient of vital  energy, a general feeling of malaise takes over and assorted ailments typically follow.

Stagnant energy can manifest as pain in the body, digestive problems, tightness in the shoulders, chest or other parts of the body, a lump in the throat or stomach, depression, mental fatigue/brain fog, anxiety, mood swings, anger, or perhaps hormonal imbalances (particularly  PMS) and more.

Stagnant energy symptoms can surface at a very mild level, and if not unblocked and dissipated will accumulate and escalate in severity – triggering a domino effect on other body energy pathways and organ systems.  A turbulent internal organ environment due to stagnant energy will eventually lead to an immunocompromised body, illness and consequential ailments.  

What are the causes of stagnant energy in the body? 

There are a variety of physical and emotional conditions that are thought to diminish the circulation and flow of vital energy within the body. Among the most common are chronic stress and sleep deprivation as both of these can elevate the stress hormone cortisol, which can disrupt immune system function while increasing the risk of depression and burnout.   Below is a brief description of the issues that create the accumulation of stagnant energy in the body.

Emotions & Stagnant Energy: Perhaps the leading cause of stagnant energy is turbulent emotions; particularly anxiety, depression,  stress, shock, frustration, fear, anger and resentment.  Whether we repress our emotions or surrender to them, we let unhelpful emotions live, allowing them to snowball instead of dissipate. 

Physical Trauma & Stagnant Energy:  Physical impact onto the body can produce stasis of blood (inability to flow properly through the tissues) in the injured area producing bruising, swelling, or pain. This includes forgotten injuries that occurred at some point in the past.  If not healed properly scar tissue builds as the reduced blood and nutrient flow keeps old injuries vulnerable to reoccurring injury.

Spinal Misalignments / Subluxations & Stagnant Energy:  Spinal misalignments and subluxations (the displacement of the joints of your spine from their proper position) whether from accidents or poor sleeping, standing, or sitting posture can disrupt nerves their communication between the nervous system and body organs.  Energy in the form of  bioelectrical nerve impulses, will not flow efficiently, marginalizing proper organ function resulting in disturbances we experience as symptoms (digestive pains, headaches, etc).

Toxins & Stagnant Energy:  We’re exposed to toxins and poisonous substances in our water, food, air, personal items, cleaning supplies, medications, and more.  If the lymphatic system is performing less than optimum, toxin and waste substances collect in the brain and or body causing you to feel fatigued.

Germs, Infractions & Stagnant Energy: Viral, bacterial, and fungal infections trigger immune responses that can be metabolically depleting,  which can easily drain your energy. This is experienced in how we commonly feel depleted of energy when facing a cold, the flu, or a stomach virus or some other illness.

Poor Diet & Stagnant Energy: Healthy eating is vital to our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing – and that includes ‘how’ we eat.  Eating hurriedly or on the go,  or even while working can lead to energy stagnation and indigestion.  Eating lunch at your desk and staying seated for longer periods at your computer screen can lead to tension in your muscles and sore joints, weakening your hip and core muscles – and remember, being in work mode all the time is a sure-fire shortcut to burnout.

Sedentary Lifestyle & Stagnant Energy: Since vibrant energy is what helps in the flow of blood, lymph, nutrients and exiting of toxins, movement assures our cells, tissues and organ systems are functioning at their best.   Extended sitting stagnates our energy and blood flow producing areas of tension and pain.   Workplaces are filled with people sitting all day but also developing chronic back or neck pain as a result.  Moderate activity that doesn’t over-do-it or stress the body but safely helps move energy is a central element to a healthy life.

Work-a-holic & & Stagnant Energy:  Not giving the body sufficient time to rest, detox and recharge, inevitably compromises all body systems and you will soon function with a ‘zero net gain’.   All gains perceived being captured from the work come at the price of your personal wellness.

Negative Energy is Stagnant Energy, Recognize & Avoid it

Choices influence how energy moves in the body and emotions can accumulate as stagnant or negative energy affecting our health and wellness.   Like stagnant energy, negative energy is debilitating, mentally and physically,  therefore it’s imperative to get rid of negative energy, particularly those who have long-term negative energy that has accumulated and manifested into illness.  It’s vital to understand feelings often do not vanish after a moment in a negative space has passed.  Negative emotions stay in our bodies as trauma, stored through “packages” (so to speak) in our tissues,  organs, muscles, and skin. These “packages” enable the emotional information to remain in us until we can “release” it.  Negative emotions especially have a long-lasting effect on the body.  However before you eliminate negative energy you have to identify the source, which mainly comes from the following 3 types:

Negative People: Negative energy can be detected in people from their words  and non-verbal gestures. Therefore, when engaging with those who seem to often criticize, be angry or sad,  studies have proven your own mood can absorb and reflect their negativity.   Research has demonstrated even small amounts of negative brain activity can weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable to illness.

Negative Environment: A negative environment produces feelings of frustration and discomfort. For example a cluttered home can interfere with sleep and create feelings of stress.  Research indicates clutter and disorganized work spaces increases our likelihood of making poor food choices. Disorderly spaces have a negative effect on your judgment and encourage you to act impulsively.  On the contrary, a tidy home is a step in the right direction in creating positive life energy around you. 

Negative Thoughts: Not only can negative thoughts adversely affect our mental wellness (by worsening depression and anxiety), but it can also debilitate our physical health (raising blood pressure, reducing our immunity and prolonging our recovery when facing illness).  These self-generated internal stressors can be countered  by pinpointing their triggers and adjusting your coping response (something discussed in treatment).

Treating Stagnant Energy with Chiropractic Care & Craniosacral Therapy

Resolving Stagnant Energy is not achieved through any singular treatment but through a series of non-invasive techniques that revitalize your energy and life force.  Below is a partial listing and description of treatments and techniques in the Stagnant Energy portfolio of care.   The components of any one Stagnant Energy regimen are custom tailored and tightly aligned to symptoms being experienced thus require an in-depth personalized conversation to precisely “fit” to a specific individual.  Call me if you have questions about how craniosacral therapy and or chiropractic care can relieve your specific Stagnant Energy symptoms.   It’s important to be mindful that everyone’s circumstances are unique and I would have to know details about what you’re coping with to be more insightful of which Stagnant Energy treatments are ideally suited for you.    

Treating Stagnant Energy Fibromyalgia (Widespread Musculoskeletal Pain) with Craniosacral Therapy: With fibromyalgia the central nervous system’s ascending and descending pain pathways operate abnormally, resulting in central amplification of pain signals, similar to the “volume control setting” being turned up too high.  In fact the world-renowned Mayo Clinic has published findings that pain in patients with fibromyalgia is the result from neurochemical imbalances in the central nervous system that lead to a “central amplification” of pain perception.   Simply put, fibromyalgia sufferers have elevated levels of neurotransmitters in their cerebrospinal fluid that increase central nervous system pain processing; and diminished levels of neurotransmitters in their cerebrospinal fluid known to reduce pain transmission.  One of the core benefits in receiving craniosacral therapy to treat fibromyalgia is how it directly improves the integrity and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, the watery fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord with 3 critical functions: 

1. Protect spinal cord and brain from trauma; 
2. Deliver nutrients to nervous system tissue; and 
3. Transport waste products from cerebral metabolism.   

Cerebrospinal fluid that lubricates the brain and spinal cord is central in maintaining the healthy functioning of all of the major organ systems of the body, and is the hydraulic, energetic function of the body.  Craniosacral therapy eliminates disturbances to cerebrospinal fluid circulation and how the central nervous system processes pain and other sensory information.  Click here for more information.

Vagus Nerve Treatment for Stagnant Energy: Craniosacral therapy directly treats the cranial nerves (the vagus nerve being cranial nerve #10) and can shift the nervous system out and away of the fight or flight stress response dominant state.  Over a few therapeutic sessions this can help in ‘rewiring’ the nervous system by increasing vagal tone, relaxation response and balance or homeostasis. The vagus nerve functions as the relaxation response control center of the body to counteract excessive stress response and any dysregulation of the central nervous system producing mental and physical ailments including brain fog, fatigue, headaches, anxiety, stomach problems, increased bodily inflammation and more.   For example, the gut microbiome (the ecosystem of microbes that live in your intestines) also has a well-recognized role in inflammation.   Some microbes are known to engage with the autonomic nervous system affecting its function.  Manipulating the wellness of the gut microbiome via the vagus nerve is an essential focus in a craniosacral therapy session treating Stagnant Energy.  That’s because research on the gut microbiome indicates that microbiome imbalances could have a significant role in Stagnant Energy symptom severity and the lingering Stagnant Energy symptoms.  For example, the gut microbiomes of people infected with Stagnant Energy are depleted in several bacteria, particularly those linked to reducing inflammation.    Click here to learn more.

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy for Stagnant Energy: When the lymphatic system is not functioning well and draining lymph properly, fluid will build up in the body’s tissues and inflammation can emerge within your body without your immediate awareness. You only become aware when the inflammation produces visible swelling and or pain, and or dysfunction.   It’s the accumulation of toxins and metabolic waste that have not exited your body that produces these health ailments.  Additionally, poor diet and overexposure to toxins, dehydration, lack of sleep, stress, infections, emotional trauma,  and sedentary lifestyle can stagnate the lymph flow.   A compromised lymphatic system means a compromised immune system.  A lymphatic drainage session will ‘kickstart’ and enhance the regulation of the autonomic nervous system and improve the immune system to support mental and physical wellness at the same time.  The benefits of lymphatic drainage therapy center around the many outcomes that come with granular detoxification of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), which essentially controls all body organs and systems.  Lymphatic drainage therapy allows the body to heal itself, which can range from reducing swelling to resolving headaches, enhancing skin and improving digestive health. If you’ve never tried it before, here is a partial description of what lymphatic drainage therapy can offer.  Our lymphatic system’s central function is to remove foreign invading microbes from our system.  Coupled with hydrating our body tissue lymphatic drainage draws out inflammation and restocks cells to function optimally.  Click here to learn more.

Immune System Boost for Stagnant Energy: The central nervous system (brain & spinal cord) is responsible for our immune systems’ functioning and chiropractic care has proven effective in strengthening the immune system in both children and adults.   Your immune system is thrown off from any type of dysfunction within your body and a subluxation in your spine (a spinal vertebra out of position compared to the other vertebrae) produces an adverse ripple effect on your immune system’s ability to fight off harmful substances.  Unfortunately, subluxations are rarely considered when it comes to a weakened immune system, and that’s because most healthcare care providers are unfamiliar with how to detect or treat subluxations.  Chiropractic adjustments have not only resolved subluxations but have also been shown to improve both blood and cerebral fluid flow to the brain.   Here’s 3 ways a chiropractic adjustment will boost your immune system: Click here to learn more.

Insomnia Treatment with Craniosacral Therapy for Stagnant Energy: Since insomnia emerges from an imbalanced central nervous system operating in stress response mode and triggering brain activity during sleep, people have been turning to craniosacral therapy for relief.  Craniosacral therapy effectively treats insomnia at its foundation, calming the central nervous system away from being imbalanced and in high alert, and shifting it to align with the body’s need to maintain a certain state of equilibrium or what’s called homeostasis.   Craniosacral therapy helps achieve sleep-wake homeostasis based on the concept that the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain and central nervous system fluctuates in pressure causing a subtle rhythmic motion of the cranial bones. This rhythm is known as the cranial rhythm and is palpated by hand to assess the movement, any variances or restrictions in flow of the cerebrospinal fluid throughout the body. Properly targeted therapeutic mobilizations can relieve flow restrictions and tensions in the central nervous system, shift the body away from the fight-or-flight or stress response and elicit a physiological relaxation response.     Click here to learn more.

Treating Migraines with Craniosacral Therapy for Stagnant Energy: migraines arise from a vascular, hormonal, or neurological disturbance within the brain itself overreacting to stimuli causing a wave of brain activity leading to migraines.  In sum, migraine headaches are nervous system disorder thus the key to gaining relief is to treat the underlying triggering mechanisms of the central nervous system holistically, something accomplished through craniosacral therapy.  Click here to learn more.

Nerve Pain Treatment for Stagnant Energy: can be experienced as ‘pins and needles’, or a burning or tingling sensation, caused by injury to a single sensory nerve, such as what’s experienced with carpal tunnel syndrome, or your vagus nerve (an irritated or pinched vagus nerve can produce neck pain, increase headaches, cause digestive and abdominal issues and more), or a group of  pinched or irritated motor nerves (muscle weakness, cramps, uncontrollable muscle twitching).  Click here to learn how I treat carpal tunnel syndrome, and here to learn how I treat vagus nerve associated pain, and here to learn about motor nerve treatment. 

 

Muscle Pain Treatment for Stagnant Energy: can be experienced as a random sharp pain or a steady ache, all over a region of the body or in a precise area. Muscle cramps can stem from injuries such as herniated disks (back pain), or slight curvature of the spine issues like spinal stenosis and scoliosis. Myofascial trigger point therapy quickly eliminates muscle pains, increases range of motion, improves blood circulation, and retrains muscles to operate efficiently to reduce chances of pain and strain returning. Click here to learn how I treat muscle pain with myofascial trigger point therapy.  Through the course of a night fibromyalgia can cause stiff muscle pain as well.   Click here to learn how I treat fibromyalgia. 

Joint Pain Treatment for Stagnant Energy: arthritis and other chronic conditions can lead to joint pain.   Remember, while moving around in the daytime fluids are lubricating your joints.  But this natural  lubrication of the joints declines at night and may even swell up. If you’re coping with joint pain and or inflammatory arthritis, chiropractic care coupled with craniosacral therapy is a non-pharmacological treatment to reduce your pain,  retool and revitalize body systems,  and is essential to healing and eliminating the underlying causes of joint pain.   My chiropractic / craniosacral treatment to resolve joint pain focuses on improving the functioning of your:

• Circulatory System
• Immune System
• Musculoskeletal System

 Click here to learn how I treat joint pain. 

 

Wim Hof Method Treatment for Stagnant Energy: Empowers the body to harness a higher level of control over the central nervous system’s “fight-or-flight” stress response.  Learning the foundation of the Wim Hof Method (breathing, cold therapy, and a commitment) will enable you to control pain, stress responses and become a master of your own body and mind.  In simple biological terms, the Wim Hof Method is a teachable systematic approach to nervous system regulation and stress resilience. The combination of cold therapy, controlled breathing, and commitment  enables you to connect more deeply to your body.  The breathing component is referred to as the Wim Hof Breathing Method and involves powerfully inhaling, relaxed exhaling, and extended breath holds.  The objective is to train you on developing command of your nervous and immune systems, as well as your cardiovascular system, all to help you be stronger, happier, and healthier.  Click here to learn more. 

Trauma History, Stagnant Energy and Craniosacral Therapy: The physiology of Chronic Fatigue that accompanies Stagnant Energy is thought to be very similar to PTSD, and certain shared symptoms.  Research has shown people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome commonly have childhood trauma histories.  It may be that traumatic experiences predispose people to Stagnant Energy, and for many, unresolved trauma is a maintaining factor in the chronic fatigue they endure today.   For this reason Somato Emotional Release can be helpful in treating Stagnant Energy

Somato Emotional Release for Stagnant Energy:  is a therapeutic response that enables the processing and releasing of physical and emotional pain that has been lodged in the body at some point in the past. This treatment does not require re-visiting the traumatic event, but is rather an exploration of current emotions in context to the body today and any restrictions in tissues that are emotional in nature.  Somato Emotional Release treats the body and emotions in the brain, simultaneously with the intent of opening pathways for the central nervous system to fully process and expel the lingering negative energy of trauma – away from the body. Somato Emotional Release works by leveraging the innate nature and ability of the body to heal itself through craniosacral bodywork and assessment of the body’s craniosacral rhythm and fascia.   Click here to learn more.

About Dr. Kaminsky & Craniosacral Therapy

Dr. Kaminsky earned his Chiropractic degree in the year 2000 and is licensed to practice in NY. He has since completed close to three thousand hours of continuing education seminars in various healthcare fields.

Since 2015, he is implementing primarily the hands-on techniques of Craniosacral Therapy (CST), a gentle, non-invasive, laying of the hands that brings about reversal and restoration.

The Craniosacral Mechanism is the driver of moving fluid in the body and head called cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), which is produced by the Choroid Plexus of the brain and encapsulated within the head and spine.

The craniosacral system is the hydraulic mechanism of a human being and is a component of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and (ANS) Autonomic Nervous system.

There is a function inside of your brain that autonomically generates rhythmic impulses that function to pump CSF throughout your body via the craniosacral pathways, regulating your central and peripheral nerves, nervous system and organ systems, musculoskeletal system, etc.

This moving fluid is palpable to a trained craniosacral therapist, like the heart rate, pulse rhythm, breath, that can all be seen, heard or felt, so too can the Cranial Sacral Rhythm (CSR) be palpated and diagnosed for its health.

By placing his or her hands on your body, including your head and sacrum, the therapist can detect, feel and evaluate the SQAR (symmetry, quality, amplitude, rate) of this fluid rhythm.

The health of your body and mind are dependent on the vitality of this fluid. Compromises of your CSR’s rhythmic impulse correlates to CSF flow restrictions in the system which, when the fluid isn’t flowing optimally, your bodily rejuvenation and recovery is affected.

With anatomically correct hand placement on different parts the body during a session, through gentle manipulation and mobilization the therapist guides and facilitates a positive change in that region of the body which brings forth a correction. A myofascial release in a sense.

A craniosacral therapist stimulates and helps your rhythm refocus, allowing for improvement of musculoskeletal tightness and spasms, neurological issues, organ function, many common conditions, pain, and the mind-body re-connect.

Through a practitioners properly focused and individually attuned touch, your body is facilitated to release channels of fluid stagnation and flow restriction, which ultimately breakthrough, overcome and improve your rhythmic fluid and your potential for health improvement.

The existence of the Craniosacral mechanism was first discovered by Osteopath Dr. William Sutherland in the early 1900’s, who called it Cranial Osteopathy. And many years later, renamed to Craniosacral Therapy by Osteopath, Dr. John Upledger.

Dr. Alex Kaminsky is an advanced and certified Craniosacral Therapist, having studied advanced levels including SER, Brain and Pediatric courses. He has built a significant skill-set with many years of experience treating adults, children and babies. To learn more, visit the other pages on this website. Call to schedule your appointment with Dr. Kaminsky.