Flotation Therapy Research Paper

Imagine being immersed in a space of perfect tranquility, floating effortlessly balanced within an Epsom salt solution to a temperature that mimics that of the skin. The pull of gravity, sight, sound, and touch is almost nonexistent. Essentially, this is what a flotation therapy session will provide, along with a variety of medically substantiated health and relaxation benefits. Flotation therapy is quite simply one of the most effective healing therapies being offered today. Flotation Therapy was an idea originally conceived by Dr. John C. Lily in 1954 during his research into altered states of consciousness. In the 1950s, Dr. Lilly was on the cutting edge of Neuroscience research. It was during the research, that he came up with the idea
to create a flotation tank that would minimize sensory input to better understand how the mind works with minimal external input. “With the external forces and stimuli reduced to virtually zero – the only forces left are internal ones – those energies stored in muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the body, the physical record of our life in a gravity field…”(Lilly, 18) Flotation therapy can be used to gain access to areas of the brain where traumatic memories have been encapsulated by allowing for the non-dominate hemisphere of the brain to take over more of the dominate hemisphere’s roles by allowing the body to enter into an altered states of consciousness. (Suedfeld, 89)
Originally termed sensory deprivation, flotation therapy more recently named by Suedfeld in 1980 as REST – Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique.
The technique involves an individual to be submerged in an Epsom salt water solution that is kept the consistent temperature of 93⁰ F, which is the ambient temperature of the skin. The Epsom salt solution itself has healing properties and allows the individual to float with almost all gravity taken off the body. People have been using salt baths for hundreds of years because of the health benefits which can include; relief from muscle and joint soreness, skin and hair benefits, detoxification, and lowering of blood pressure. The tank is also soundproof and lightproof, creating a womb like environment. Numerous scientific research studies have taken place to document how the brain reacts to this form of sensory deprivation. Without external stimuli, the brain waves can easily enter the theta wave state which can also be seen in very experienced meditators. However, the theta brain state can be reached in a float every easily and without any prior training. The theta state is the twilight like state of brain waves when an individual experiences the feeling of neither fully awake nor asleep. One can experience deep states of relaxation, visualizations and calmness while in this altered state of consciousness. In this state of being, this is where real subconscious healing
begins. “According to Wickramasekera, Reed and Budzynski, REST may enhance the activity of the normally ND (non-dominate) cortical hemisphere in relation to the normally D (dominate) hemisphere.” (Suedfeld 89) Scientifically, there are a few reasons why this might occur in the brain. The dominate hemisphere appears to need sensory stimulation as a constant flow of input to maintain its levels of activity, when that is impeded, as in REST, the non-dominate hemisphere functions begin to take over. When the non-dominate hemisphere is in control, amazing transformations begin to take place in the brain. “The emergence of the ND hemisphere will enhance the accessibility of normally unconscious processes, such as early, sometimes even traumatic and repressed, memories. This is predicted because such memories are frequently stored non-verbally in the ND hemisphere.” (Suedfeld 90) Defense mechanisms that are normally based in the dominate hemisphere can be bypassed by the non-dominate hemisphere, which can make way to allow long established beliefs and behavior patterns to be unblocked. The non-dominate hemisphere allows for one to act on suggestions that would normally be rejected by the logical centers of the dominate hemisphere. This alone will facilitate healing by implementing the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and the immune system itself.
The beneficial effects in terms of physiological markers include the reduction of stress hormones like cortisol and the release of endorphins.
Flotation therapy uses for stress reduction are highly documented in numerous scientific studies, but the newest treatment to begin to grow in popularity is using flotation therapy to help combat the symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). There needs to be research conducted in this area specifically but the preliminary findings are quite promising. It is already documented that floating can create a deep sense of relaxation and a feeling of well-being. It can also create a reduction in hyper-vigilance which is associated with PTSD, as well as a reduction in anxiety. However, the greatest relief to PTSD sufferers might come in the form of better, more restful sleep which is experienced post-float. When the individual allows themselves to let go and relax in the float and to feel safe, they can experience the positive effects of the float later outside of the pod. It is also documented that the more often an individual experiences a float session, the easier it is to slip into these relaxed states and it appears that floating has a cumulative effect, meaning each float is more healing than the last.
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Floatation Therapy is an effective healing therapy suitable for any person to embrace. It can provide stress reduction, deep relaxation, pain reduction and other physiological effects like better sleep patterns that last for days after the float has occurred. Along with the physiological effects, power mental experiences can occur when the individual taps into the non-dominate hemisphere of the brain and enters into an altered state of consciousness. Powerful mental experiences which take place are often positive and rewarding. Being able to tap into the unconscious mind, into the non-dominate hemisphere, can allow for people who have experienced traumatic events in their lives to process these emotions in a safe, healthy environment and improve their sense of well-being.