References Retracing– 1. Stephensen RW. Textbook. Davenport, IA: Palmer School of Chiropractic. 1927;98-99. 2. Upledger J, Vredevoogd JD. . Seattle, WA: Eastland Your Body’s Press. 1983:251. 3. Coulter HL. Homoeopathic Science & Modern Medicine. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. 1980:24. 4. Stein A. Comprehensive family therapy. In R. Herink (Ed.), The Psycho- therapy Handbook. New York: New American Library. 1980:204-207. 5. Kirschner DA, Kirschner S. Comprehensive Family Therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel. 1986:18-19.

What Is Retracing? The phenomenon of retracing E is occasionally experienced by chiropractic patients as they heal. What is retracing? It isL the re- experiencing or reawakening of

Chiropractic old symptoms, including pain, memoriesP and even emotions for more complete healing. Even though these experiences are part of the healing process and thus Mgood for you they may cause you unnecessary concern. To better understand retracing, here are A some common examples: Retracing is a phenomenon of healing usually associated with expressive © 2009 Tedd Koren, D.C. All rights reserved. TEI Koren Publications Inc. • 1-800-537-3001S or vitalistic healing arts. korenpublications.com Chiropractic Health ■ Balance ■ Wellness

E3RET Chiropractic

Retracing.indd 1 4/30/09 12:46:29 PM 1. A patient is responding to chiropractic care but walls off the tubercle bacillus during the inac- the individual “moves out to new behaviors and suddenly the original symptoms return to disappear tive state of the disease. After the of the accomplishments...[he/she] turns inward to experi- within a short time and they feel they are “back to injury has been effectively isolated, the body ence fears and dysfunctional programs that need to square one.” adapts to this area. Energy (electrical, magnetic, be worked out.”5 PAR appears normally in human 2. While resting after an adjustment a patient experi- prana, or your own personal preference) affairs as a part of growth at all levels. An example ences intense feelings of lightness and happiness; as is then forced to move around this area rather of a person experiencing PAR is one who gets a a result he/she may begin to laugh uncontrollably. than through it.... When the original injury long-deserved promotion and begins to be troubled Just as amazingly the reverse may occur and the is discovered, the repressed emotional com- by feelings of incompetence. Or an artist who is patient may begin to cry. ponents of the somatic injury frequently and suddenly recognized and instead of finding exhila- concurrently release.”2 ration, becomes depressed. 3. After a chiropractic adjustment a patient briefly reexperiences an automobile accident or other Retracing & Medicine? trauma and may be suddenly filled with fear and Homeopathy has codified the observations of Retracing seems to occur with healing systems that confusion in addition to experiencing physical pain. Constantine Hering, a homeopathic researcher, permit the body to express itself as it detoxifies, Retracing appears to be a part of the healing 4. A person receives a chiropractic adjustment and process. as Hering’s Law or “The Law of Cure.” Retracing oc- releases old energies and restores and rebalances breaks out in a rash, or develops diarrhea, vomits or curs (a) from interior to exterior; (b) from the most posture. Retracing seems uncommon in standard develops a (usually short-lived) fever. through a particularly intense retracing may feel as vital to the least vital organs; and (c) in reverse order medical practice. This may be because the ten- 3 E if they’ve had a serious relapse or are perhaps even Retracing may not only surface as a conscious mem- from that in which the symptoms appeared. Accord- dency of medicine is to suppress disease and mask getting worse! If that happens to you it is especially ory. Sometimes old “energy” is released in dreams. ing to homeopaths, without retracing, there is no true symptoms. This may be dangerous. For example, important for you to inform us. That is because Chiropractic patients have at times noticed that for a healing. Chinese medicine says the skin, bronchi and lungs although retracing usually passes relatively quickly, L time their dreams may be unusual, intense or reveal- Practitioners of many different forms of bodywork, are related because they help the body to breathe. patients have been known to terminate their care as ing after a chiropractic adjustment. including Rolfing, and massage therapy, have If a skin condition is suppressed, according to the a result of it. Such patients are likely cheating them- long noticed their clients experiencing “flashbacks” theory, it may go deeper and affect the lungs and Retracing Is Real selves of complete recovery. as they releaseP energy long trapped in their bodies. bronchi. It has been observed that infants suffering Don’t think of retracing as being imaginary or Retracing in Other Healing Arts from eczema who were treated with cortisone may unreal. Retracing The phenomenon of retracing has long been rec- develop asthma later in life. Cortisone apparently experiences are ognized by the chiropractic profession1 and other In retracing the body suppressed the skin symptoms, driving them into very real and healing arts. the lungs and bronchi. can be both rebalances energies physically and For example, CranioSacralTM therapy,M developed Observe Your Journey emotionally by John Upledger, a doctor of , uses the and posture and releases Look for retracing as quite intense. terms “unwinding” and “somato-emotional release” you continue your to describe this phenomenon. As Dr. Upledger old stresses. In such instances life’s journey and writes: “From our experience, it would seem that it’s often dif- always keep your body tissuesA possess a memory. When an injuring mind and heart ficult to see Psychotherapy force occurs, the tissue which receives the force is open to life’s the experi- Psychotherapists have also noticed “retracing” call- changed. Perhaps it retains the energy of impact. mysteries. ence as part 4 The human body then either dissipates that energy ing it progressive abreactive regression or PAR. It of the healingS is considered a phase one goes through as part of and returns to normal; or the body somehow local- process. Patients going izes the impact energy and walls it off, much as it the movement toward healing and wholeness. As

Your body tissues can store energy associated with of trauma and pain. Chiropractic helps release that energy.

Retracing.indd 2 4/30/09 12:46:39 PM