Some time ago, I wrote about the power of alpha-theta-waves for healing. Our brains are constantly producing brain-waves, and the ‘optimum’ state for deep relaxation is apparently when we are in an alpha-theta state.
Alpha-theta waves
First up, a quick recount if you missed the earlier post: Theta waves appear when we’re falling asleep, gradually waking up or even daydreaming (such as when you walk home and can’t remember the journey). Alpha waves are generated by repetitive actions that get you ‘in the flow’; you’re restful yet awake (such as when you’re doing Tai Chi).
To encourage your brain to move into this deeply restorative state, start by being in a cozy, unstimulating space. Then try an activity like those I have written about before: coloring-in or doodling, doing yoga, focusing on your breathing, or listening to binaural beats and other soothing music. Alternatively, get outside in nature and do some forest bathing.
Another idea to get into alpha-theta state that came up was something I had heard about, but never tried: The Silva Mind Control Method.
What is The Silva Method?
Fair warning – my naysayer mates over on Wikipedia state that The Silva Method has variously been described as a religious-movement and a cult. They also use the phrase that comes up a lot in alternative medicine (and hence my blog): “pseudoscience“.
[As I’ve said before, this label always puts me on high alert for shenanigans, but doesn’t entirely close me off to the idea (I love my home-made version of EFT tapping).]
The issue seems to be framing. When Wikipedia refers to this as a self-help method of learning to modulate your mind and relax; I nod my head enthusiastically. As I read that the creator, José Silva was a Texan electronics repair man, my eyes narrow and my dubious-radar tweaks. When it goes on to say that the method promises to increase your IQ and encourage clairvoyant abilities, I’m almost ready to tap-out.
For the sake of research, however, I popped over to the official website: The Silva Method Official | Meditation & Mind Training Since 1966
Scroll past all the TV endorsements and sign-up ads, and you get this metaphor:
Imagine your mind is like a car. Powerful, full of potential, but most people drive with the handbrake on. Thoughts racing. Emotions snapping. Stress Building. Focus flickering. You keep pushing forward, but the engine’s burning out. The José Silva Method is the toolset that helps you release that brake and finally take control of the wheel.
Not going to lie, that sounds like a valid goal to me.
Summarizing the explanation page (here), reveals the 5 high-level skills you could develop:
- learn to meditate for clarity and control
- make meditation more dynamic through visualization techniques
- incorpoarte goal setting and manifesting
- attune your subconisous so you can tap into your intuition
- strengthen the interconnectedness of your mind and body to self-heal
Again – this all sounds pretty cool.
When it talks about the benefits of using The Silva Method, it includes reducing tension headaches, increasing creativity, boosting energy levels… and yeah… enhancing intelligence…
OK, so I was still feeling curious. I went looking for a video on YouTube I could try, and found 2 that weren’t too long:
[Source: (10mins): Repeat This 6 Times — And Your Subconscious Starts Working for You | José Silva]
[Source: (17 Mins) Jose Silva 3-2-1 Method Meditation ~ Alpha Exercise]
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Could The Silva Method help my migraine?
The New Zealand chapter of The Silva Method (here) has a page that states you can get rid of headaches and migraines using the approach. It acknowledges that head-pain can be cured by medication, but the relief is often short-lived, and relies on rest. Moreover, rest is often hard to come by because life is busy. As with the concept of Transcendental Meditation, I wrote about before (here), the website has trademarked their approach, and you need to pay to learn the technique to benefit.
Whilst the bulk of the healing advice is behind the dreaded pay-wall it does give you one free exercise to try:
Fill up a glass with water. Now, take the hand that is holding the glass of water and stretch it out. Continue keeping your arm and hand (holding the glass of water) stretched out for a minute. Keeping your eyes closed, feel what is happening in your arm, notice the strain and tension that is building up. At the end of 2 minutes, put the glass down and feel how your arm feels now.
The aim of the exercise is to recognize the feeling of our body carrying strain AND the relief that comes when you are able to release that strain. Sometimes in life you have to strain yourself. But sometimes you don’t, and the strain you put yourself through was unnecessary. Either way: the strain on your body remains the same.
Next, they ask you to apply the same idea to a mental strain rather than a physical one. Remember back to when you spent too long thinking about something you said or did. Or didn’t say or do. Think about whether that created a strain in your body that might have manifested as head-pain. Think about whether you needed to put yourself through that strain at all.
I think this is quite a powerful analogy and a really powerful way to remind yourself of the mind-body connection and why I’m an advocate for “taking the trash (talk) out“.
[And to quit lying awake at night worrying about things I can’t control!]
The rest of their advice (sorry to say) was a little less inspiring and risked getting into eye-roll territory. Whilst the advice was SO TRUE, (and I’ve written about it before), it’s the sort that gets thrown around like confetti and starts to feel irritatingly simplistic. Their top tips are: drink water, prioritize rest, go for a walk, meditate, have a warm shower, use visualization techniques, massage your head, use lavender oil, and yawn. (Their advice, not my response!)
Final thoughts on using The Silva Method for migraines
I ended up spending a sunny afternoon in my garden trying a few different videos of guided meditations. None of them were specifically from the Silva team, but were (I believe) using José Silva’s original recorded voice. All of them were pretty calming and I enjoyed the simplicity of each of them.
In articular, I found an idea that I will reuse to help myself get ready to sleep at night. You count slowly as you breathe-in-and-out and visualize yourself going down a flight of steps one at a time. When you reach the bottom (say step 7 or 10), you imagine yourself in front of a door. You push the door and tell yourself that it is time to enter a state of deep relaxation. In theory, if I do this enough times, I might train myself to fall asleep at the door. (In the same way I have used a garden gate in the past (read more here)).
OK, so the final verdict? I’m not signing up or spending any money on this treatment option. It was, however, an interesting detour on my healing journey.
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Curious to hear from any of you if you have ever tried The Silva Method (for any reason). Did it work for you?
Until then, stay as chill as life lets you… keep going and keep growing.
Take care taking care,
Linda x
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PS – Disclaimer – please remember that this blog is not a substitute for medical advice. Be sure to talk to a healthcare professional before altering your lifestyle or healing arrangements.
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