Brief Summary:
Raindrop Technique® is a sequence of anointing with oils and laying on of hands to the back, feet and spine that brings structural and electrical alignment to the body in a relaxing and invigorating manner through the power of essential oils. The oils used in Raindrop Technique® must be of high quality and therapeutic grade. It is a combination of various aspects of conventional bodywork, adaptations of Oriental acupressure & reflexology (Vita Flex), native American healing techniques and aromatherapy using therapeutic-grade essential oils. The purpose of Raindrop Technique is to stimulate every organ, muscle and bone of the body at a cellular level through the oils, boosting the immune system, bringing the body into structural/electrical balance, & including those illnesses lodged in the mind and emotions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D. Gary Young developed the Raindrop Technique® (RT) during the 1980s based on his research with essential oils as antimicrobial agents, and prompted by some fascinating information he learned from an elder among the Lakota Indian Nation in South Dakota. This Lakota elder related that several generations ago, his ancestors regularly migrated north across the Canadian border into the northern regions of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where they often witnessed the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. When the Aurora Borealis was on display, those who were ill or had complicated health problems would stand facing the dancing lights and hold their hands out toward the lights and inhale deeply. Their belief was that the air was charged with healing energy from the Aurora Borealis. Mentally, they would "inhale" this energy into their spine and then out through nerve pathways to afflicted areas of the body. This process stimulated an incredible healing effect for many of his ancestors. Effleurage (feathered finger stroking) became associated with this tradition after the borders were closed and the Lakota could no longer migrate north. Restricted to their reservations, they began practicing this energy process mentally, coupled with light stroking to facilitate the spreading of energy through the body.It was this tradition that provided the promptings and began the process that gave birth to the development of Raindrop Technique (RT).
Since 1989, RT has received an enormous amount of praise from users around the world for its ability to help ameliorate spinal abnormalities such as scoliosis and kyphosis, and facilitate tissue cleansing. RT is based on the idea—now being explored in a number of scientific studies—that many types of scoliosis and spinal misalignments are caused by viruses or bacteria that lie dormant along the spine. These pathogens create inflammation, which, in turn, contorts and disfigures the spinal column.
RT is a powerful, non-invasive tool for assisting the body in correcting defects in the curvature of the spine by utilizing the antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory action of several key essential oils. During the years that it has been practiced, it has resolved numerous cases of scoliosis, kyphosis, and chronic back pain. Further, it has eliminated the need for back surgery for hundreds of people. By integrating Vita Flex and massage, the power of essential oils brings the body into structural and electrical alignment.
Consistent with the French Model
The use of undiluted essential oils in RT is consistent with the French model for aromatherapy—which is the most extensively practiced and studied model in the world. With over 40 years of experience using essential oils clinically, the French have consistently recommended neat (undiluted) use of essential oils. An illustrious roster of 20th century French physicians provides convincing evidence that undiluted essential oils have a valuable place in the therapeutic arsenal of clinical professionals. René Gattefossé, PhD; Jean Valnet, MD; Jean-Claude Lapraz, MD; Daniel Pénoël, MD; and many others have long attested to the safe and effective use of undiluted essential oils and the dramatic and powerful benefits they can impart. According to Dr. Pénoël, "What happens when we use [essential oils] without diluting them? With many current essential oils, nothing dangerous or serious can happen."
In the case of Raindrop Technique®, the use of certain undiluted essential oils typically causes minor reddening and "heat" in the tissues. Normally, this is perfectly safe and not something to be overly concerned about. Blondes, redheads, and persons whose systems are toxic are more susceptible to this temporary reddening. Should the reddening or heat become excessive, it can be remedied within a minute or two by the immediate application of several drops of pure, quality vegetable oil to the affected area. This effectively dilutes the oils and the warming effect. Temporary mild warming is normal for RT. Typically it is even milder than that of many capsicum creams or sports ointments. Indeed, rather than being a cause of concern, this warming indicates that positive benefits are being imparted. In cases where the warmth or heat exceeds the comfort zone of the recipient, as mentioned before, the facilitator can apply any pure vegetable oil to the area until the comfort level is regained and reddening dissipates (usually within 2 minutes).
NOTE: If a rash should appear, it is an indication of a chemical reaction between the oils and synthetic compounds in the skin cells and interstitial fluid of the body (usually from conventional personal care products). Some misconstrue this as an allergic reaction, when in fact the problem is not caused by an allergy but rather by foreign chemicals already imbedded in the tissues.
A number of medical professionals throughout the United States have adopted RT in their clinical practice and have found it to be an outstanding resource for aiding sciatica, scoliosis, kyphosis, and chronic back pain. Ken Krieger, DC, a chiropractor practicing in Scottsdale, Arizona, states, "As a chiropractor, I believe that the dramatic results of RT are enough for me to rewrite the books on scoliosis." Similarly, Terry Friedmann, MD, of Westminster, Colorado, states that "these essential oils truly represent a new frontier of medicine; they have resolved cases that many professionals had regarded as hopeless."
Do Infections Cause Scoliosis and Sciatica?A growing amount of scientific research shows that certain microorganisms lodge near the spinal cord and contribute to deformities. Studies at Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland, linked virus-like particles to idiopathic scoliosis.1, 2 Researchers at the University of Bonn have also found the varicella zoster virus can lodge in the spinal ganglia throughout life.3Research in 2001 further corroborated the existence of infectious microorganisms as a cause of spine pain and inflammation. Alistair Stirling and his colleagues at the Royal Orthopedic Hospital in Birmingham, England, found that 53 percent of patients with severe sciatica tested positive for chronic, low-grade infection by gram-negative bacteria (particularly Propionibacterium acnes) which triggered inflammation near the spine. Stirling suggested that the reason these bacteria had not been identified earlier was because of the extended time required to incubate disc material (7 days).4 The tuberculosis mycobacterium has also been shown to contribute to spinal disease and possibly deformations. Research at the Pasteur Institute in France, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, documented increasing numbers of patients showing evidence of spinal disease (Pott’s disease) caused by tuberculosis.5, 6, 7, 8
In addition, vaccines made from live viruses have been linked to spinal problems. A 1982 study by Pincott and Taff found a connection between oral poliomyelitis vaccines and scoliosis.9†Example of kyphosis (hunchback) caused by an infectious microorganism (tuberculosis) in the spine.
Powerful Infection-Fighters
Essential oils are some of the most powerful inhibitors of microbes known, and as such are an important new weapon in combating many types of tissue infections. A 1999 study by Marilena Marino and colleagues found that thyme oil exhibited strong action against stubborn gram-negative bacteria.10 Similarly, basil essential oil also demonstrated strong bactericidal action against microorganisms Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas fluorescens.11 A study at the Central Food Technological Institute in Mysore, India, found that a large number of essential oil components had tremendous germ-killing effects, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Bacillus, and Enterobacter strains of bacteria. These compounds included menthol (found in peppermint), eucalyptol (found in rosemary, eucalyptus, and geranium), linalool (found in marjoram), and citral (found in lemongrass).12 A 2001 study conducted by D. Gary Young, Diane Horne, Sue Chao, and colleagues at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, found that oregano, thyme, peppermint, and basil exhibited very strong antimicrobial effects against pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, a major cause of illness in young children and death in elderly, and immune-weakened patients.13 Many other studies confirm these findings.14 The ability of essential oils to penetrate the skin quickly and pass into bodily tissues to produce therapeutic effects has also been studied. Hoshi University researchers in Japan found that cyclic monoterpenes (including menthol, which is found in peppermint) are so effective in penetrating the skin that they can actually enhance the absorption of water-soluble drugs.15 North Dakota State University researchers have similarly found that cyclic monoterpenes such as limonene and other terpenoids such as menthone and eugenol easily pass through the dermis, magnifying the penetration of pharmaceutical drugs such as tamoxifen.16
It is interesting to note that many essential oils used in RT—in addition to being highly anti-microbial—are also among those classified as GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) for internal use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These include basil, marjoram, peppermint, oregano, and thyme. These and many other GRAS essential oils have a decades-long history of being consumed as foods or flavorings with virtually no adverse reactions.In sum, RT is one of the safest, noninvasive techniques available for spinal health. It is also an invaluable tool to promote healing from within using topically applied essential oils.
Introduction to the Technique
Raindrop Technique® uses a sequence of highly antimicrobial essential oils synergistically combined to simultaneously kill the responsible viral agents and reduce inflammation. The principle single oils used include:
- oregano (Origanum compactum)
- thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
- basil or balsam fir (Ocimum basilicum or Abies balsamea)
- cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
- wintergreen or birch (Gaultheria procumbens or Betula alleghaniensis)
- marjoram (Origanum majorana)
- peppermint (Mentha piperita)
The oils are dispensed like little drops of rain from a height of about six inches above the back and very lightly massaged along the vertebrae and back muscles. Although the entire process takes about 45 minutes to complete, the oils will continue to work in the body for up to one week following treatment, with continued re-alignment taking place during this time.
One caution: RT is not a cure-all or a magic bullet. A healthy balanced body is the result of a well-rounded program of exercise and proper diet. Health is everything we do, say, hear, see, and eat. RT is only one tool to help restore balance in the body. Healthy eating habits and a positive, open mind will also help prepare the body and skin to accept the oils better and more rapidly.
