cancer+Care'>Christine Clinton Cancer Care and sound healing organisation Eastern vibration have joined forces to bring healing touch and sound therapy to spa clients with cancer.

The Touch and Vibration for Cancer Care programme was created to prevent those with cancer from being turned away or offered unsuitable treatments in a spa, such as nail and thermal experiences that are inappropriate for compromised immune systems.

Teaching therapists how to safely and effectively work with cancer clients in a spa setting, Christine Clinton is a massage therapist, skin care specialist, educator and entrepreneur.

Clinton was trained at Sloan Kettering in New York in medical massage for cancer clients, and has participated in workshops with his Holiness the Dalai Lama. She is also chair of the Global Wellness Institute's Wellness for Children initiative.

Eastern Vibration was founded by Jahmaal Hays and later joined by spa and wellness pioneer and former director of spa for Oberoi Hotels, Christine Hays.

With their tool of choice the Himalayan singing bowl, the organisation is dedicated to bringing the healing benefits of sound therapy to spas, wellness centres and healthcare professionals worldwide.

Assisting in the development of the programme are 25-year spa veterans, Joanne Berry of Spa Remedies Consultancy and Michele Roche of Urban Wellness.

The wellness professionals have joined together to educate spa professionals and, in turn, help those who have been diagnosed with cancer.

“There's growing interest in using sound frequency to boost human health and research backs it up,” said Hays. “This therapy can have profound healing benefit for those who have impaired immune systems.”

The Journal of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine published a review of 20 studies of brainwave entrainment and patient outcomes. The conclusion was that brainwave entrainment is an effective tool to use on cognitive functioning deficits, stress, pain, sleep disorders and headaches.

Clinton adds, “We truly want wellness properties to embrace their ability to work with cancer clients and for them to have at least one service on their menu that caters to those with compromised health.”

The Touch and Vibration for Cancer Care Programme offers a one day interactive workshop for up to 10 participants, which includes theory of both Cancer Care and Sound Therapy, along with a full-hour protocol and service menu description; an Eastern Vibration kit, which includes; 6, 8 and 10 inch bowls, a Koshi Bamboo Chime and the Ayur-Kansa, an Ayurvedic massage tool made of teak and the same metals as the singing bowls.

To participate in the programme, it is ideal if the facility has oncology training, but it is not a prerequisite. The cost is US$2100 (€1,975, £1,691), plus the trainer’s accommodations and meals. Training includes all tools.

Clinton also offers a three-day certification programme in touch therapy for cancer clients in conjunction with the sound-healing programme, and Eastern Vibration offers extended sound-healing training for one-on-one full body or treatment enhancements and group sessions.