Doctor turned energy healer

Madhu Sehgal has always been intrigued by human behavior.

JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Millstone's Madhu Sehgal performs reiki on her son Arjun, 10, at Palms Holistic Healing, a home-based energy healing business on Prodelin Way. A clinical psychologist at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Sehgal studies why people behave and think in certain ways and how they respond to different stimuli. She also analyzes the workings of the mind and imbalances of brain chemicals in trying to treat people.

"Through further studies, I realized that in order to correct the imbalances and to heal, the healing needs to occur completely on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels," Sehgal said, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology. "I found this holistic method of healing in reiki and Integrative Energy Therapy (IET)."

These therapies are energy therapies during which a practitioner transfers energy to patients to promote healing.

"I have seen these therapies work on people as well as pets, healing from within to provide astonishing relief," Sehgal said.

JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Millstone's Madhu Sehgal performs reiki on an equine. When Sehgal experienced the beneficial effects of reiki in her life, she decided to continue her studies for three years to become a certified reiki master/teacher and IET practitioner.

Sehgal, who was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and placed on a heart transplant list, said reiki helped stabilize her condition.

"I had a defibrillator put in and after that I started doing reiki," Sehgal said. "As of now, I am stable on medication and there is no talk of surgery."

She continued, "I am now taking steps to bring this amazing healing method to the community."

Sehgal's Palms Holistic Healing, a home-based business at 89 Prodelin Way, provides a full range of energy therapy services to help both humans and pets achieve optimum health.

"Reiki and IET act integrally with all forms of alternate therapies," Sehgal said. "Reiki and IET harmonize energies that may normally be incomplete and, therefore enhance functioning of our body."

Developed by Mikao Usui, reiki means "spiritually guided life force energy" and refers to ancient sounds and symbols believed to be directly linked to the human body and its nervous system that have the ability to activate energy for healing. Hawayo Takata, a student of Mikao Usui, brought reiki to the United States in the 1990s.

"Reiki is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, and many hospitals in the United States of America are endorsing energy healing, integrated therapies, holistic treatments and alternative therapies," Sehgal said.

Although the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey does not incorporate reiki into its treatment programs, 35 other hospitals in America have full reiki departments, according to Sehgal.

Palms Holistic Healing also offers IET, which is similar to acupressure.

"IET is a powerful healing tool that can be used to treat ailments by clearing blocks in your vital energy," Sehgal said. "IET is based on the concept of connection between the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual realms of our lives. It uses focused healing energy to clear blocks that accumulate in the body and hinder natural flow of energy."

IET practitioners believe that feelings and sensations are stored in the cells of the body and that negative and traumatic experiences, unexpressed emotions, unresolved conflicts, resentment and self-limiting beliefs can become "stuck" in the body and disrupt flow of vital energy.

"IET uses a unique cellular memory map to target specific areas in the body where these cellular memories are stored; helping to release them," Sehgal said. "As the blocks are cleared, suppressed or stuck energy dissipates and energy field is rebalanced."

Reiki can also release blocked and suppressed feelings. Other reiki benefits include reactivating the body's natural abilities to heal, reducing stress, aiding relaxation and sleep, relieving acute and chronic pains, breaking addictions, promoting mental clarity, adjusting the endocrine system, assisting the body in cleansing itself of toxins, supporting the immune system and aiding recovery from surgery and chemotherapy.

"Reiki and IET complement and enhance all types of medical treatment," Sehgal said.

Reiki recipients remain fully clothed while relaxing on a massage table. The practitioner positions his/her hands above the person's energy centers.

"The energy then begins flowing in the direction where it is needed, accelerating the bodies own natural healing ability," Sehgal said.

A session for acute pain in a specific area can last from 10 to 15 minutes. A full body session lasts between 45 minutes to an hour.

When asked why she thinks reiki works, Sehgal said, "Because I believe in nature. I believe we all have an aura around us and it is nothing but energy. Even surgeons will touch a person's skin to see how warm it is because the body gets warmer where there is stagnation."

Sehgal believes that through education more patients and medical professionals will accept alternative therapies.

"I work in a crisis setting and I see the same mentally ill patients coming back repetitively for medical treatment," she said. "If we could teach them reiki, breathing exercises and meditation, which can be done anywhere, they might not come back as often."

She continued, "If we could learn to use holistic treatments in addition to medications, life would be less stressful and healthier for everyone."

Those in the community who are interested in learning more about energy therapies can receive their first sessions at discounted prices. The regular fee for a full body healing session is $60.

Palms Holistic Healing offers reiki and IET as well as healing attunements, reiki and IET classes, meditation classes, breathing exercises, intuitive therapy and distance healing. The business also offers $5 meditation classes for children from 7:30-8:05 p.m. every Sunday.

For healing session appointments or more information, visit www.palmshealing.com or call Madhu Sehgal at 732-580-6574.

"Reiki detoxifies you," she said. "Afterward, you feel warmth and love. It brings a lot of positivity to you. That's what the whole world needs today."