Inner Balance Training is treatment aimed at reducing stress through a mechanism called Biofeedback. This involves assessing the body’s physiological response to different stimuli by using ‘Biofeedback’ devices that are able to measure this response. Such devices are commonly found in daily life such a thermometer or pulse meter. For IBT, we make use of the physiology of breathing to help deal with stress.
How does stress lead to harm?
Medical research has proven that stress is a influential factor in health and many diseases including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, asthma, depression, chronic pain, immune system abnormalities, digestive tract diseases, chronic headache, migraine etc.
In addition, it is known that people suffering from long periods of stress are more likely to have a shorter life span. The point is stress is not simply psychological (as many people assume), but also causes the body to launch dangerous responses involving many organs. This includes an increased heart rate, hypertension, hyperventilation, vasoconstriction, impaired endocrine function such as the production of cortisol and other hormones responsible for brain and digestive function etc. Most of the organs related to the above are under the control of the autonomic nervous system.
Why do IBT?
Inner Balance Training is a method of ‘training’ your autonomic nervous system (ANS), an intricate network controlling various organs, as well as feelings and emotions. It controls automatic function of multiple organs in the body such as heart rate, digestion, breathing etc.
The ANS is simply divided into 2 branches: the Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Nervous System. These often have opposing effects on the organs they innervate e.g. Parasympathetic slows down heart rate while Sympathetic speeds it up. In healthy conditions the 2 responses balance each other to prevent one overpowering the other, but if one branch becomes overactive or the other subdued then diseases may be arise. This includes inability to sleep or insomnia, fatigue, stress, hypertension, fast heart rate, chronic pain etc.
Graph showing the effects of IBT
When the autonomic nervous system is in sync and functioning properly (lowered stress), measurements will produce a coherent pattern resembling a mathematical Sine wave. On he other hand, a faulty ANS will be reflected by a different, irregular, non-coherent pattern on the graph.
Positive emotion change : A coherent sine wave graph reflects a better state of mind.
Negative emotion change : Irregular waves reflect a ‘bad’ state of mind.
Through Inner Balance Training, sick patients will be able to restore balance to their ANS, including heart rate, to produce the beautiful, consistent sine curve as seen on the positive emotional change graph. This also reflects a reduction in stress, more adequate and efficient sleep and effective control of blood pressure. Moreover, IBT seems to improve the cooperation between the ANS and hormones, the chemical components responsible for the majority of function in our body involving the brain, endocrine gland etc.
Therapist will conduct sessions each lasting 45 minutes, and should be carried out at least one a week, 4-8 times back-to-back. In addition, it is recommended that patients also perform the procedure at home at least 5-15 minutes daily, or as suggested by the therapist.