Polarity therapy

Self-help
Yoga: polarity yoga stretching exercises are said to help release stagnant energy and allow you to maintain healing processes at home.

One example is the relaxing pose. Sit for two minutes with shoulders back, knees apart and the soles of your feet together. Gently lift your knees upwards as you push against them with your hands.

In the calming stretch, sit with legs in front of you and knees bent. Reach forward to grasp your toes. Hold for three minutes, breathing slowly from the abdomen, and gently rocking back and forth from the hips.

Diet: steamed or boiled vegetables, salads, soups, fresh juices and herbal teas are important elements of a polarity diet. The Polarity Liver Flush and Tea are designed to cleanse the liver, kidneys and intestines. For the flush, combine lemon, orange and pink grapefruit juices with olive oil, garlic, ginger and cayenne pepper. Follow this with an infusion of linseed, fenugreek, anise, fennel seed, liquorice root, peppermint leaves and slices of ginger. Add hot water to the ingredients and leave to stand for ten minutes before straining.

What is the medical opinion?
There is no scientific evidence to support the idea of 'life energy' flow. Most conventional doctors are unfamiliar with the therapy but would probably regard it as harmless, provided you check any symptoms of disease with your GP and take care with detoxifying diets. Anyone who is already ill should discuss dietary changes with a doctor.

Useful addresses
The UK Polarity Therapy Association maintains a list of about 50 Registered Polarity Practitioners (RPP) in the UK:

UK Polarity Therapy Association
Monomark House
27 Old Gloucester Street
London WC1N 3XX
Tel 0700 7052748
Email info@ukpta.org.uk