Shaking: From Fear to Healing

Society often mislabels spontaneous shaking as alarming, but Shaking Medicine, founded by Dr. Keith Motes, taps into therapeutic shaking to soothe the nervous system and release trauma. Our Roots of Shaking Medicine blog post highlights this instinctive neurogenic tremoring, seen in animals post-stress, as a human gift. This guide unpacks the difference between therapeutic and non-therapeutic shaking, with a focus on safely managing non-therapeutic tremors to empower healing for all.

Why It Matters: Understanding therapeutic shaking versus non-therapeutic shaking helps you embrace this practice or address concerns about non-therapeutic shaking conditions like Parkinson’s or epilepsy.

How Does Therapeutic Shaking Soothe?

Therapeutic shaking, the core of Shaking Medicine, uses intentional neurogenic therapeutic tremoring, a mechanism that we are born with, to restore balance and homeostasis. It’s a guided, safe process that:

• Soothes the nervous system bringing it into parasympathetic dominance.

• Releases stored trauma, like animals shaking after danger.

• Boosts vitality and emotional resilience.

Participants of Shaking Medicine workshops report feeling grounded, lighter, free, relaxed, etc. after sessions.

Why Society Misjudges Shaking

Cultural norms, like “stop fidgeting” or historical fears of uncontrolled movement, cast spontaneous shaking as problematic. Shaking Medicine reframes neurogenic tremoring as a healing tool.

When people experience unexpected spontaneous shaking, they might be misdiagnosed by medical professionals who aren’t familiar with our natural, animalistic healing instinct. This tremor is often seen as a problem to stop rather than the body’s healing mechanism at work, sometimes leading to lifelong prescriptions. While medication can play a helpful role in certain cases, it often masks symptoms instead of addressing the root cause.

For some “non-therapeutic” conditions (like those listed in this post), this shaking might actually be the nervous system’s attempt to self-correct using our innate tremor mechanism. However, fear of losing control or lack of awareness about this process can cause us to contract, amplifying the issue. Education is key—understanding this gift can shift our response from fear to acceptance.

Ideally, starting Shaking Medicine while in a healthy state acts like a preventive hygiene for our nervous system, tonifying and cleansing it. Shaking when we’re young and healthy means we won’t have to shake so much when we’re older and it means that we are less likely to end up with chronic issues. But if you’ve discovered Shaking Medicine after a condition has become more chronic, don’t worry—you can still begin your journey toward balance and harmony at any stage. We’re here to support you with care!

What Are Non-Therapeutic Tremors?

Non-therapeutic shaking is involuntary spontaneous shaking that may signal distress or exacerbate issues, unlike therapeutic shaking’s healing intent.

At its heart, therapeutic shaking heals and nourishes—it calms, clears, and strengthens your system. Non-therapeutic shaking, on the other hand, can cause more harm than good, potentially straining the body. Even therapeutic shaking can become non-therapeutic if overdone, so it’s important to listen to your body and find balance.

It is very possible that spontaneous shaking, from at least some of the 'non-therapeutic' shaking diagnosis, is your body trying to naturally work out the issue with therapeutic tremoring, but due to a lack of understanding it gets labelled as bad and medicated instead of allowed. Choosing to practice is your empowered decision and comes at your own risk, especially since large-scale studies on therapeutic tremoring, particularly for these non-therapeutic shaking conditions, are still limited—Western medicine hasn’t prioritized this research yet. We’re passionate about changing that and would love to collaborate on rigorous mainstream scientific studies. Reach out if you or someone you know is interested!

Here’s how they differ:

Therapeutic Shaking:

• Purpose: Soothes the nervous system and releases trauma through intentional neurogenic therapeutic tremoring.

• Intentional: Guided and intentional, often in Shaking Medicine sessions or 1:1 coaching.

• Outcome: Enhances calm, vitality, and emotional resilience.

• Examples: Gentle Shaking Medicine to sustainably relieve stress, trauma and more.

Non-Therapeutic Shaking:

• Purpose: May indicate medical issues, such as non-therapeutic shaking in Parkinson’s or epilepsy.

• Not Intentional: Often erratic and completely involuntary, lacking intentional guidance.

• Outcome: May cause strain, fatigue, stress, overwhelm, fear or exacerbate underlying conditions.

• Examples: Tremors in Parkinson’s, epilepsy, or addiction withdrawal.

Dr. Keith Motes advocates a “Less is More” approach to keep therapeutic shaking safe.

Does Non-Therapeutic Shaking Have Healing Potential?

When spontaneous shaking occurs, especially in the context of conditions often labeled as non-therapeutic—like Parkinson’s, epilepsy, or withdrawal—it’s easy to assume it’s entirely harmful or something to suppress. However, the reality can be more nuanced. In some cases, what appears to be non-therapeutic shaking might actually include a therapeutic component, where the body is attempting to self-correct or heal at a deeper level. For example, the nervous system might be activating its innate tremor mechanism to release stored stress or trauma, even within a condition that’s typically seen as purely medical or harmful. On the other hand, it’s also possible that the shaking is indeed non-therapeutic in nature, potentially exacerbating an underlying issue if not approached with care.

This overlap creates a gray area that can be confusing. For instance, someone with a neurological condition might experience shaking that feels distressing, leading them or their healthcare provider to label it as a symptom to stop. But part of that shaking could be the body’s natural attempt to restore balance—like how animals shake after stress—working alongside the condition’s effects. The challenge lies in discerning what’s happening, especially since fear or lack of awareness about therapeutic tremoring can lead us to shut down the process entirely. If we allow the shaking to unfold gently, with proper guidance, it might support healing in unexpected ways, even in complex cases. However, if the shaking is primarily non-therapeutic and tied to a condition that needs medical attention, it could require a different approach, possibly integrating Shaking Medicine with other therapies over time.

This complexity is why we advocate for a cautious, personalized approach in Shaking Medicine. Each person’s experience is unique, shaped by their health, history, and circumstances.

Is Shaking Medicine Safe for Non-Therapeutic Conditions?

Shaking Medicine is generally safe but requires caution with conditions linked to non-therapeutic shaking, such as but not limited to:

• Neurological: Parkinson’s, epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Dystonia, Alzheimer's, etc.

• Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, dissociative disorders, psychosis, etc.

• Other: Addiction withdrawal, drug effects, stroke, hypoglycemia, brain injuries, seizures, etc.

Conditions associated with spontaneous non-therapeutic shaking are often viewed negatively. If you have any of these or similar conditions, consider checking with a healthcare professional before starting Shaking Medicine and certainly consider our 1:1 personalised coaching sessions if you do. Be aware that many healthcare professionals may not know about therapeutic tremoring, as it’s not part of their medical training. We suggest approaching Shaking Medicine for any of these conditions with extreme care.

Safety Guidelines:

• Consult a healthcare provider, noting limited awareness of therapeutic shaking in mainstream healthcare.

• Use personalized 1:1 coaching sessions for non-therapeutic shaking in neurological conditions.

• Read our blog post 'Precautions for a Safe Therapeutic Tremoring Practice' for further safety guidelines and to learn about other severe conditions that may require extra care.

• Practice at your own risk, as large-scale studies are pending.

Testimonial: “As a child, I had stress-induced epilepsy, and Shaking Medicine helped me realize my body was trying to release stress through non-therapeutic shaking. Now, with guided sessions, I feel safe, relaxed, and clear-headed, allowing my body to heal.” ~ Shaking Medicine Student

Starting Therapeutic Shaking Safely

Therapeutic shaking acts as nervous system hygiene, ideally started early to prevent chronic issues. For those with conditions linked to non-therapeutic tremors (e.g., Parkinson’s, epilepsy, or addiction withdrawal, etc.), personalized 1:1 coaching sessions with Dr. Keith Motes or trained facilitators are the safest way to begin. These sessions tailor the practice to your unique health needs, ensuring a gentle, sustainable approach to manage non-therapeutic shaking effectively. If you don’t have these conditions, you can dive straight into therapeutic shaking through Shaking Medicine Online, offering guided sessions to soothe your nervous system at home.

Key Takeaways

• Therapeutic shaking soothes via neurogenic tremoring; non-therapeutic shaking may signal distress.

• Cultural myths mislabel non-therapeutic tremors as harmful, but Shaking Medicine reframes them.

• Conditions like Parkinson’s may blend therapeutic and non-therapeutic shaking, needing caution.

• Start with 1:1 coaching for conditions or Shaking Medicine online for others.

• We seek research partners to study managing non-therapeutic shaking.

FAQ

What’s the difference between therapeutic and non-therapeutic shaking?
Therapeutic shaking soothes via controlled neurogenic tremoring; non-therapeutic shaking may harm, often tied to conditions like Parkinson’s.

Is shaking safe for non-therapeutic conditions?
Maybe! Ensure reading this blog post, medical consultation, and 1:1 coaching sessions for safe practice.

How do I start therapeutic shaking?
Book a 1:1 coaching session for conditions or try Shaking Medicine online here.