About Walter Kocken
I was born in Perth, Western Australia on the 28th October 1962. In my early life I suffered from more ailments than most – re occurring colds, chest, and ear infections that were quickly treated by the local G.P. with prescription drugs.
In my teens as my health improved, I became an active sportsman with an interest in athletics, cricket, and Australian Rules Football.
Coming from an academically inclined family, I pursued a mathematical, chemistry/physics curriculum that eventually got me into university to study as an engineer. I soon realised that I had made the wrong career decision and left. I took a job at the local health department compiling statistics of hospital admissions for the state of Western Australia. I pursued this for a number of years until I developed an ailment that was to change my career path.
Asthma can leave its sufferers breathless, prone to anxiety attacks, with feelings of helplessness. My doctor introduced me to a ventolin inhaler and with these words he said “You will need to use this for the rest of your life.”
From that day onwards, I dedicated myself to finding the natural way – free from drugs.
Leslie Kenton’s book Raw Energy was my first introduction to the natural way. I soon followed up with Stuart Wildes’ Affirmations. I pursued “wellness” workshops at adult education centres – all the time looking for a solution to bring me back to full health. After 12 to 18 months I discarded the ventolin, and since that day in 1989 have never been treated with prescription drugs.
In the late 1980’s, I had become fascinated by Foot Reflexology and its ability to promote the healing process. But what interested me even more, was its potential to diagnose problems in the body.
I left Perth in July 1990 for Great Britain to pursue my dream of learning more about Foot Reflexology and other healing practices. I had the notion of learning all I could from an experienced practitioner, probably from a woman in her sixties or so, with a wealth of knowledge dating back 30 to 40 years. This ‘vision’ was to prove accurate.
Starting from Scotland I travelled to healing and health centres, gathering knowledge, contacts, and prospective courses. Eventually, after 2 months of travel I settled in Totnes – and have been here ever since. I pursued my Foot Reflexology course and then undertook a counselling diploma in Plymouth in order to improve my ability to ‘really’ listen to patients.
I joined Paignton Natural Health Centre in 1992 and through the efforts of Bobbie Davies – the founder of the centre, became interested in stroke.
Every week whilst working in a local nursing home I was confronted by the sight of stroke patients sitting inactively in the day room, great discomfort etched on their faces, with contorted, affected arms locked solidly to their chests. There was a challenge for me to see how natural ways could help them.
I soon realised that Foot Reflexology and counselling skills could provide some relief for the stroke patient. However, I also knew that I had to develop in other areas to be more effective in long term recovery. I looked into Relaxation Techniques, Auto-suggestion and Visualisation Techniques and soon developed ways into improving walking and using an affected arm efficiently. All of this of course has been developed over many years.
And then… in January 2002 I became seriously ill myself, this time with a condition diagnosed as secondary hypertension with kidney complications that orthodox medicine states “ requires immediate hospitalisation.”
This turned out to be the greatest challenge of my life so far. With my passion for natural health I pursued even greater knowledge into the art of healing, looking at healing secrets of the ages, meditation, information into foods, vitamins, minerals, herbs, beverages etc, etc, etc.
I read in great detail about the workings of the heart, kidneys, liver, gall bladder and intestinal tract, in order to understand the strange symptoms I was feeling in my body. At the time I thought to myself “why me?” and then with a second thought I realised that the challenge to find the cure was also there. I reasoned that when I got well, I could inspire others and tell them how they could also improve.
Today, my condition has improved tremendously, and I specialise in treating high blood pressure – naturally, helping people to be aware of natural kidney health, building strength in the heart, and teaching persons how to understand the warning symptoms of ill health.
The illness has contributed towards making me a better practitioner, especially in my dealings with stroke patients and helped me enormously to realise what it is like to be the patient – with all their vulnerabilities.
