Ground Healing In Reality, Not Magical Thinking – 44 Revelations About Healing They DID NOT Teach Me In Medical School

20. Cure the whole system, rather than reducing treatment to isolated body parts.

The human body is not a car, and doctors are not auto mechanics. It might work to take an engine out of a car, fix the engine or replace it, leave the rest of the car alone, and expect the car to run smoothly. But the car mechanic approach to practicing medicine doesn’t work for human bodies. Often, what happens in the bodies of people who have experienced psychological, emotional, and/or spiritual trauma (and the resulting nervous system dysregulation) is that physiological systems start to break down one by one, and all those systems are interrelated because the nervous system and other whole systems in the body link every cell to every other cell.

This means you usually wind up with one diagnosis first, and then the medical system gets to work trying to treat that one condition. The problem is that, even if the medical system winds up curing the initial problem, if the trauma is still untreated and the nervous system is still firing stress responses, and all the body systems are interrelated, the next disease may be already underway. So you wind up playing medical whack-a-mole with medical conditions that keep popping up once the threshold of tolerance for the body is crossed. In other words, you might cure one medical condition successfully with conventional medicine, but if you don’t treat the underlying root cause of what is dysregulating the nervous system, causing the body to break down, there’s a good chance you’ll get sick from something else.

21. Let go of healing perfection and go for being “healed enough.”

The bad news is that there’s no perfect human. The good news is that you can stop striving to achieve some unnatural, impossible, idealized standard of enlightenment, perfection, or finally having arrived. There’s no such thing as “perfectly healed,” and there’s no “there” there. There’s only here. We can strive for “healed enough,” and recognize that healing is a lifelong practice and that we will die one day still engaged in the healing process.

22. Be proactive about healing but without bullying yourself.

Healing requires healing your nervous system and getting out of “fight, flight, freeze, and fawn” stress responses. So stressing about healing is counterproductive. If you’re dysregulating your nervous system by trying to bully yourself into healing, you’re defeating the purpose. This is a paradox because being proactive about healing can help you become a health outlier or Olympian of healing. Being passive will not help you achieve an optimal health outcome any more than being a couch potato will get you an Olympic gold medal athletically. But if you’re obsessively restricting your diet, being a drill sergeant about exercising, pressuring yourself to do more and more trauma work, or otherwise trying to perfect yourself, you’ll impede the healing process.

23. There’s no shortcuts to the healing process.

Healing takes the time it takes. There are no shortcuts. While spontaneous healing may sometimes seem to happen instantly, it is often based on all the things you proactively did to create the conditions for cure to happen. Because we so want to believe healing can happen rapidly and painlessly, charlatans make millions promising quick fixes. But anyone who promises you a rapid, painless healing journey is probably selling you a scam. Sure, some interventions might speed the healing process more than others, but no matter how effective a particular healing method is, no matter how transformational a medicine might be, no matter how much hype surrounds some healer, healing is a long, slow, arduous process. It can be softened with humor, pleasurable activities, loving community, and fun healing practices, like art, dancing, singing, and ritual. But don’t believe anyone who hooks you with the false promises of fast, pain-free healing.

24. There are no panaceas.

No single intervention works for everyone all of the time. Anyone who promises you that their medicine or their method or their alternative intervention (ice baths, supplements, miracle workout, or energy healing technique) works 100% of the time for all people, red flags should go off. As arrogant as doctors can be, at least we’re humble enough to know that penicillin can work wonders for strep throat but it doesn’t do anything for Covid. What might be medicine for one person can be poison for someone else. Trial and error is inevitable, but don’t throw all your money at trials without much grounding, especially if they’re slickly marketed by grifters.

25. Exercise discernment when choosing who will help you heal.

Just because someone is an effective healer doesn’t mean they’re moral or following standards of care for ethics in the therapeutic relationship. This is true for doctors and therapists, but at least they have licensure and boards that can supervise, restrain, rehabilitate, or punish them. Natural or Indigenous healers without licensure or professional accountability can sometimes be wonderfully gifted, trustworthy, safe, effective healers. But if someone is in an unlicensed field with no oversight and no accountability, just know that, unless they’re breaking a law, you’re completely unprotected should something go astray. Hone your discernment and be careful with who you trust when you’re in a vulnerable state.

26. Public health measures increase longevity, but all humans are ultimately mortal.

Nobody lives forever or stays disease-free indefinitely. The best we can hope for is having a healthspan that mostly equals our life span- and hopefully that life span will be long, with a high quality of life. At best, we will die in our sleep at a hundred years old with some signs of aging but without significant suffering or disability first. Even still, nobody is exempt from the aging process. Because of conventional medicine and public health measures, data collected by Penn Wharton shows that people in the United States experienced an unprecedented decline in mortality during the twentieth century, with life expectancy increasing by thirty years between 1900 and 2013. The overall death rate fell at a relatively constant rate of about 1% per year.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, infectious diseases were the leading cause of mortality. Public health measures, including urban sanitation, the development of antibiotics, and mass vaccination efforts changed all that. Between 1900-1950, heart disease and cancer quickly replaced infectious diseases as the leading causes of death, in large part because of how many people were smoking back then. Heart disease mortality dropped by half between 1960-1990. Cancer deaths have also fallen since 1990, in large part because of public health interventions and education about the dangers of smoking and also because of advances in oncology.

27. Healing should be a right, not a privilege, but we’re not there yet.

Healing should not be a luxury good, only available for people who can afford good medical insurance, cutting-edge trauma therapists, or alternative healers who don’t accept insurance. You shouldn’t have to pay thousands of dollars to attend healing retreats or fly across the world to go on a pilgrimage or see a healer in some far

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the importance of alternative medicine?

Alternative medicines are very popular because they’re often cheaper and better for you than traditional treatments. Patients have sometimes died after receiving these treatments. This could be due to allergic reactions or side effects. Alternative therapies might also be available.

If you don’t understand enough about alternative medications, it can make your choice difficult. Vitamin supplements, for example, are not regulated like pharmaceuticals. It is easy to overdose on vitamins. Worse, alternative remedies may contain toxic chemicals.

What makes holistic medicine superior?

Holistic care addresses the whole person rather that individual symptoms. This means looking at how someone feels, what they eat, where they live, how much stress they are under etc…

Holistic medicine treats patients as an integrated whole. Although this sounds easy in theory, it’s very difficult to do in practice. Many doctors only focus on the physical aspects of patients.

What is another name for alternative medicine?

Alternative medicine is an umbrella term used to describe any approach to healing that differs significantly from conventional medical practice. While there are many alternative medical approaches, the majority are based on a belief that health care should be rooted primarily in natural substances and practices.

Alternative medicine includes acupuncture.

Many alternative doctors claim that their therapies have improved patient satisfaction and reduced side effects. However, these assertions cannot be scientifically proven because mainstream medical authorities have largely ignored the evidence-based benefits of alternative medicine.

What is holistic medicine’s opposite?

Holistic medicine examines the whole person and all its aspects. Holistic medicine is based on the idea that every illness has multiple causes. It requires a combination therapy to achieve maximum effectiveness.

Holistic medicine is a form of holistic medicine. They believe prevention is better than treatment. To achieve optimal wellness, holistic medicine doctors work closely alongside their patients.

They seek to identify underlying causes of disease and prevent it from recurring. Holistic doctors consider the whole body and not just the individual organs. They refer to the whole of being as “the entire body.”

This means that they go beyond skin care and treat the entire body holistically. The doctor might recommend lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise. He may also recommend yoga and meditation, herbal supplements or massage, acupuncture treatment, or alternative medicine.

What are the benefits of alternative treatment methods for cancer patients?

Patients with cancer face many difficulties when trying to manage their illness. Many patients feel defeated and hopeless. Patients might experience nausea, pain or fatigue, as well as loss of strength and appetite.

A majority of conventional treatments are ineffective against cancer cells. Many cancer patients turn to complementary medicine for treatment. A majority of cancer patients will use alternative medications at least once during treatment according to research.

Some cancer patients choose complementary medicine over chemotherapy, believing it will be easier for them to manage side effects. It may be because it’s less expensive.

Other reasons include the following:

Some patients believe natural remedies can prevent a recurrence.

Many people believe that natural remedies could improve the quality and quantity of their lives.

Others believe that natural remedies can reduce the risk of getting cancer again.

Natural remedies are first-line therapy for those who are concerned about side effects from chemotherapy.

Complementary and Alternative Healthcare: Is it Evidence-based?

While the evidence base in complementary and alternative medicine remains incomplete, there are many good reasons to choose them. They might have tried other treatments, but they were ineffective. Or they may prefer to try alternative therapies because they offer more benefits than traditional care. They might also consider alternative and complementary medicines to improve their health. Patients should always check if any complementary and alternative medicines they use are supported by scientific research. If you’re unsure whether a particular treatment is effective, ask your doctor or pharmacist. It can save you both time and money.

What are the benefits of holistic medicine over conventional medicine?

Many religions and cultures around the world have used holistic medicines for thousands of years. They were developed based on ancient knowledge and experience.

These medicines are safe, efficient, natural, and inexpensive. These side effects are far less severe than those from pharmaceutical drugs.

They can help you attain better health, and overall wellness.

They can reduce the risk of disease and increase your overall well-being.

They might even cure cancer, diabetes or heart disease.

There are hundreds of traditional medicines in the world. Each has its own benefits.

According to the World Health Organization, 80% of people rely on traditional treatments for injury or illness.

A reported half-billion people use traditional herbal remedies to get primary healthcare.

The global market for complementary therapies is estimated to reach $22.2 billion by 2020.

To avoid side effects from conventional treatments, people are turning to alternative methods of medical care.

When other treatments fail, many people resort to complementary therapies. They may also attempt them before resorting or taking medication.

There are many good reasons to choose complementary therapies.

To improve the quality of your life
To reduce stress levels
For relaxation
To ease pain
To enhance immunity
Supportive services for dealing with serious diseases
To boost energy
To control weight
To maintain good nutrition
To improve sleep patterns
To treat chronic conditions

Statistics

The concept of regression toward the mean implies that an extreme result is more likely to be followed by a less extreme result. (en.wikipedia.org)
An assessment of conventional treatments found that 41.3% concluded positive or possibly positive effects, 20% concluded no effect, 8.1% concluded net harmful effects, and 21.3% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
In the 17% in which they disagreed, a third reader agreed with one of the initial readers to set a rating. (en.wikipedia.org)
A 15-year systematic review published in 2022 on the global acceptance and use of CAM among medical specialists found the overall acceptance of CAM at 52% and the overall use at 45%. (en.wikipedia.org)

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How To

What are the 4 types of complementary or alternative medicine?

The four major categories of CAM are natural products, energy healing, manipulation therapies, mind-body medicine and natural products. Mind-body medicine can include yoga, meditation and Tai Chi. Natural products include herbs, vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, and botanicals. Manipulative therapy includes physical manipulation, such as chiropractic and osteopathic care, acupuncture and therapeutic exercise. Energy healing involves techniques such as prayer and visualization.

CAM can be used to describe a range of alternative health practices, which are not part of the traditional Western medical model. These practices vary widely regarding how much scientific evidence supports them, whether they involve drugs or surgery, and which conditions they treat. Some CAM doctors also provide diagnostic testing (e.g. Blood tests) and can prescribe medication. Others may do neither.

Each category has many subcategories in addition to the four main categories. For example, within mind-body medicine, there are relaxation techniques, mindfulness training, guided imagery, self-hypnosis, yoga, qigong, Tai chi, deep breathing exercises, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, stress management, biofeedback, and visualization. Natural products include nutritional supplement, botanical medicines and homeopathic remedies. Manual, movement, traction and electrotherapies are all forms of manipulative therapy. They include cupping, stretching and myofascial release. Trigger point therapy, orthotics, neurostimulation, trigger point therapy, manuals, trigger points, trigger point therapy, orthopedics. There are many spiritual healing options, such as faith healing and prayer within energy healing.

Many CAM therapies treat symptoms, but not the cause. Some chronic conditions may benefit from CAM. When used appropriately, CAM could complement traditional treatment options.

There are many reasons that people use CAM.

To improve their overall well being.
To manage a special condition.
To lessen pain and discomfort.
To prevent illness.
To promote wellness.
To address a personal belief.

Some people turn to CAM because it offers more control over their health than conventional medicine. Some may feel it has less side effects. Others opt for CAM to avoid prescription medication. Still, others prefer not to take pharmaceuticals if possible. And still, others seek out CAM because they have had bad experiences with conventional medicine.

People who use CAM often say that they want to know the basics of what they are doing before trying anything new. Many CAM users have questions about safety and effectiveness. Others rely on the word of mouth among family and friends.

Although CAM is often seen negatively in society, most users report positive feelings towards CAM. People who use CAM are more happy and healthier than those who do not. This holds true regardless your age, gender or race.

A large majority of Americans practice some form or another of complementary and alternative medicines. Nearly all adults–95%–use one type of CAM at least once during their lifetime. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health(NCCIH), there were approximately 40 million visits to CAM providers between 2010 and 2010.

The NCCIH estimates that 10 percent of the U.S. population uses chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, naturopaths, and/or osteopaths.3 By comparison, only 2 percent of the population uses medical doctors.

The American Medical Association renewed its support for integrative medicines in 2013. It recognized that physicians should “integrate scientifically valid complementary and alternative medicine into clinical practice…to meet patients ‘ needs and expectations.”5

The Institute of Medicine published a landmark study in 2007 titled “Releasing Constraints – Improving Access to Complementary and Alternative Healthcare” which concluded that “there is no credible evidence of any specific CAM intervention being effective in preventing, treating, and curing cancer.”

Despite this conclusion, CAM continues to grow in popularity. 2008 saw a 8 percent increase in the number of CAM professionals compared to 2007.

A recent study found that almost half of the respondents reported using CAM as part of their primary healthcare regimen.

CAM therapies may include natural products and mind-body practices as well as manipulative techniques, energy healing, modalities, exercise, and dietary supplements.

Many CAM treatments are used primarily for pain relief. However, they can also be used to improve mood, sleep quality, stress reduction, and immunity.

Acupuncture, for example, can relieve chronic back pain, lower anxiety and depression, improve immune function and promote weight loss.

Many CAM treatments have roots in Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Traditional Chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), for instance, originated over 5,000 years ago. This practice has been in China since antiquity.

TCM, although it gained prominence in the late 1800s, is still an integral part of health care.

TCM is used for treatment by more than 70% of Americans today.

Yoga is another CAM therapy that is very popular. Around 5000 B.C., yoga was born in India. It is now accepted all over the world.

Yoga has become increasingly popular with the general public because it offers physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits.

Yoga can reduce stress, increase flexibility, and improve strength. It also helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Although there isn’t much scientific research on yoga, it appears that it has positive effects on sleep33. Yoga may be beneficial for people with insomnia.

Other CAM therapies are also gaining acceptance in mainstream medicine, including meditation, homeopathy, and aromatherapy.

Herbal medicine is one of the most popular types of CAM.

Herbal medicines are made up of herbs, spices flowers, seeds fruits, nuts, bark, leaves and roots.

They are often considered safer alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs and are widely used by consumers.

The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health estimates that about 90 million Americans use some form of complementary/alternative medicine.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), 45% of adult cancer patients used alternative medicine during their treatment.

The National Institutes of Health estimates that 60% of patients with cancer use CAM, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 50% of all cancer survivors report using CAM.

According to a recent survey, 51% reported that they used at least one type (CAM) of CAM.

Only 8% of these people discussed the use of this medication with their doctors.

This lack of communication between conventional medical providers and CAM users represents a significant gap in healthcare delivery.

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