written by renee longworth

Healing Modality - RESET

When we are stressed or have certain perceptions which constrict us, we tend to hold the tension in our muscles and in particularly our jaw. We hold approx 70% of all our tension in our jaw and face. When we hold so much tension, emotion and mental stress in this area, symptomms start to present themselves,
such as:-

  • Headaches
  • Facial pain
  • Jaw pain
  • Ear pain
  • Clicking/Popping in jaw joints
  • Difficulty chewing or limited mouth opening
  • Shoulder and neck pain

  • Tinnitus or muffled ears 
  • Teeth grinding
  • Clenching/Bruxing 
  • Dizziness
  • Poor digestion
  • Tightness in the hips
  • Uncomfortable or changing bite
 		 
What are the TMJ? 
TMJ are located on both sides of the face in front of the ears, connecting the jawbone to the skull. They're the most complicated joints in the human body which allows us to open our mouths wide and move our jaws from left to right. The area surrounding and including the TMJ is made up of large powerful muscles, the largest cranial nerve called the Trigeminal nerve, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels and has multitude of sensory distribution and interconnections which are controlled by the body's local and central nervous system.

'Over 80% of the electrical messages from the brain to the muscles and back to the brain are affected by the TMJ. Even a fractional imbalance of the jaw muscles may cause confused electrical messages to the other muscles.' www.reset-tmj.com

Causes of TMJ pain

  •  Accident or blow - During an accident the muscles surrounding the jaw clench to protect the brain and skull - named 'Defensive Jaw'. This physical or emotional shock of an event can remain held in this area and may cause ongoing problems.

  • Whiplash

  • Poor dental occlusions

  • Arthritis

  • Stress and other psychological factors

  • Trauma

  • Constant clenching or teeth grinding

Energetic view of the jaw

The jaw and face also have a number of meridians/acupuncture energy lines which also run through this area. Meridians are pathways which carry qi or life force through the body which in turn nourishes the associated organs. Using energy healing techniques with these meridians assists in the energy flow to these areas of the body. The meridians mapped around the jaw and face are the Stomach, Small Intestine, Triple Heater, Gall bladder and Large Intestine.                                                          

Symptoms of imbalances in these meridians are:-
  • Stomach - worry, anxiety, insecurity, poor digestion, dissatisfied, increased or lack of appetite, nausea, ulcers.
  • Small intestine - lack of joy, mental confusion, over thinking, critical and cynical, unable to sort out pure from impure or healthy from unhealthy, frozen shoulder, stiff neck, hearing difficulties, mouth abscesses, pain in lower abdomen.

  • Triple Heater - sluggish metabolism, irregular temperature, hot or cold flashes.

  • Gallbladder - frustration, anger, resentment, jealousy, indecision, unexpressed anger, bitterness, pain on right side of the trunk, migraines, difficulty digesting fatty foods, stiffness in neck and shoulders.

  • Large intestine - inability of letting go of past hurt, pessimism, grief, weakness and vulnerability, inflexible, poor memory, constipation or diarrhoea, body and foot odour, skin problems, diverticulitis.

Energetically the jaw and face are also connected to the fifth or throat chakra. This area governs our expression and communication with the world. The throat chakra is situated directly between our head and our heart which assists in balancing and using both the intellect and intuition in harmony throughout life. This chakra represents the challenges of surrendering our own willpower to Divine will. This brings into play issues of control over situations and events. Balancing this chakra assists in strengthening our will and our ability to release and surrender to the Universe's Divine force.

RESET Treatment

RESET is a non invasive energy healing practice designed to relax the muscles of the jaw and bring healing to the nerves and ligaments in order to reset the Temporomandibular Joint or TMJ.
RESET was created by Melbourne Kinesiologist; Philip Rafferty and incorporates specific hand placements and healing movements around the face and neck. This treatment may help to balance the energies, reset the TMJ and release tension and stored emotions held in the body.

It is recommended to complete 2 x 1hr sessions of RESET in order to experience the full potential of this treatment. The first session is done with the clients eyes open and the second is practised with he clients eyes closed which assists in a deeper healing and connection to occur.
 

 below are some hand placements used in the RESET technique
images taken from RESET 1 by Philip Rafferty
written by
Renee Longworth
the healing circle