Healing Arts make connections between a person's health and the natural world
by Catherine Honora Kineavy
any different healing systems exist that assist us in
attaining health. In addition to modern medicine, ancient medical traditions,
including Chinese and Ayur-Veda, have endured the test of time. Homeopathy
and naturopathy, two systems of healing that developed over the last century,
combine some aspects of the ancient traditional medicine with more modern
practices. Within the last few decades these "alternative" healing
methods have been brought to the attention of the general public. One common
thread of all these systems is the focus primarily on natural healing as
opposed to scientific and technological intervention.
Before defining any healing system, it is essential
to define what we mean by health. Is health simply the absence of disease?
Or, is health a way of living one's life in a state of harmony? Is health
a natural state of balance? If so, how do we attain this natural state?
Each of the diciplines mentioned have specific responses to each of these
questions and believe that disease is also a natural state whereby the body
is attempting to regain equilibrium.
One of the most ancient healing arts is Chinese
medicine. The basic premise of Chinese medicine is that individuals are
part of a larger body the universe. It is through understanding the
external universe that one can discover and comprehend the internal universe
of the body. Further, Chinese medicine believes that the source that brought
the universe into existence is present in all people. This is sometimes
referred to as the "unified source" or "Tao." The Chinese
model of medicine argues that there are two basic opposing forces, "yin"
and "yang," which interact to create a life force or energy known
as "qi." If this qi is somehow blocked within the system, disease
develops; if yin and yang work together to create balance, health is achieved.
Qi moves through the body along meridian pathways.
These pathways are associated with organ systems. If there is an impediment
of any sort along these pathways, disease results within the corresponding
organ system. In essence, the life force is deficient and causes organ stagnation.
This results in a build-up of metabolic wastes and other toxins which eventually
weakens the immune system. The body then produces symptoms that indicate
that there is a problem within a given organ system. These symptoms are
the body's natural response to heal itself.
Chinese medicine utilizes a number of techniques
in an effort to assist the body in its own healing process. These include
the use of foods, herbs and acupuncture. These methods bring the forces
of yin and yang into balance and allow the qi to flow freely throughout
the body.
Chinese medicine is extremely complex; it connects
the external natural world to the internal world. It does this by associating
certain seasons in nature and natural elements with organ systems within
the body, thereby making the complete connection between internal and external
universe. The energy or qi inside the body corresponds to the seasonal changes
of qi in nature. Nature's seasons (coupled with an element and organ system)
are circular, each nourishing the next season (element and organ). These
seasons (elements and organs) are also governed by certain other seasons.
Thus, if energy is blocked in one organ system, another organ system will
also suffer.
Lifestyle changes are one of the main ingredients
to achieving health according to the Chinese model. Usually, people's diseases
arise from a imbalance with one's relationship to the universe.
Ayur-Veda means "knowledge of long life."
It, too, understands health within a universal context. Health according
to this model is a harmony between individual and universal forces. Ayur-Veda
also believes in a "unified source" which it refers to as "cosmic
consciousness." This cosmic consciousness is the creator of all life
through the emergence of two vital forces of energy known as "shiva"
and "shakti." The common names are "male" and "female"
energy, much like yin and yang. The cosmic consciousness manifests as a
life force known as "prana," similar to qi.
Prana takes a physical form as five elements
including, earth, water, fire, air and ether. Each element has a corresponding
organ system and sensory function. These elements are banded together by
forces known as "doshas." These doshas attempt to balance the
functions of the five elements. When they are in balance, health is present.
Disease results when they are not balanced.
The doshas are known as "vata," "kapha"
and "pitta." These terms are familiar if you have read any of
Deepak Chopra's work. For example, "pitta" is related to the fire
element: it causes the body to heat up, it governs metabolism and is associated
with hunger for knowledge.
Doshas stimulate the activities associated
with each element. When balanced, individuals experience emotional, mental
and physical vitality. If "pitta" is unbalanced, for example,
digestive problems may be present along with some intense physical hunger.
The doshas are present in each individual and
manifest themselves in terms of body types. In short, we each have a propensity
to exhibit one dosha. This concept is explained in Deepak Chopra's Perfect
Health. For example, the pitta body type is athletic, active, intelligent,
intense, hard-working and has the ability to inspire others with their leadership
qualities. If the pitta body type is out of balance, the individual may
demonstrate tendencies towards obsession and extreme behaviors. If these
imbalances are not brought into equilibrium, diseases such as cancer, ulcers
and strokes will develop.
Ayur-Veda, like Chinese medicine, believes
that the life force flows along meridian lines. Health is achieved also
by the use of foods and herbs. Foods and herbs have shiva and shakti energies
that interact with the energy of the dosha in an attempt to bring health
and balance to the prana.
Homeopathy comes from the greek word homoios
meaning "like" and pathy meaning "sickness" or "suffering."
Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) became dismayed at contemporary medical practices,
which included bloodletting and other purgatives for body cleansing. He
believed that healers ought to make patients healthier rather than more
sick. Hahnemann began to experiment on himself using contemporary pharmaceuticals
and discovered that "like cured like." In other words, by administering
substances that manufactured symptoms that were similar to those manifested
by a sick patient, the patient was actually cured. This became know as the
Law of Similars. He discovered that the body reacts to certain illnesses
or diseases in an attempt to eradicate them. The symptoms that manifest
are actually the natural process of the body's attempt to eliminate disease.
In other words, the symptoms are components of the cure.
Thus, homeopathy employs medicines to encourage
the body to use its defense mechanisms. Hahnemann also believed that there
was an underlying life force which he referred to as "vital force"
that brought the body to life. This is very similar to both Chinese and
Ayur-Veda traditions. This underlying vitality is strengthened by small
doses of medicine. The use of small doses is known as the Law of Potentiation
or the Law of Infinitesimals.
Homeopathy resembles modern medicine in that
it prescribes medicines, but it is extremely different in that its medicines
manifest the same symptoms as those displayed by the patient. Allopathic
physicians actually attempt to suppress symptoms by prescribing drugs that
produce the opposite effect. Hahnemann believed the allopathic approach
actually subdued the disease forcing it deeper into the body.
Naturopathic medicine combines all of the above-listed
modalities. Its primary focus is on natural healing without the use of chemicals
or intrusive technological intervention. Naturopathy believes that there
is an underlying life force which is present in all cells of the body. Naturopaths
believe that this life force has the innate ability to bring health to the
body. Like ancient traditions, naturopathy interprets body signals such
as pain and swelling as well as sneezing, coughing and fever as the body's
attempt to healitself by eliminating the toxins that promote disease. If
these toxins are not able to be eliminated at an early stage, they will
accumulate causing tumors and cancers.
In an effort to assist in the healing process,
naturopathic doctors prescribe certain foods, herbs and sometimes vitamin
supplements. Additionally, they engage many natural therapies including
homeopathy, chiropractic care, colonics, hydrotherapy and pharmacology.
Unlike allopathy, naturopathy focuses on the cause rather than the symptom
of disease. They believe that the underlying reasons for illness is a spiritual
disharmony. For this reason, one of the main treatments promoted is a change
in lifestyle. In this way, the naturopathic doctor treats the whole person.
Like the ancient traditions naturopathy connects the internal and external
world as a gage of creating health and harmony.
The healing arts that have been mentioned make
connections between a person's heath and the natural world. They do not
separate the body, mind and spirit, but rather see them all as integral
parts to the whole system of life. Modern medicine is just now beginning
to make these connections; however, it has long believed in the different
aspects of individuals and the world around them were acting in isolation.
This belief began as a result of Renee Descartes's theory that the body
resembled a machine. This mechanistic view of the body has dominated the
thoughts and treatments of western physicians until very recently. This
thought system created a heavy reliance on technology for diagnosis and
treatment. If the body acted as a machine, machines could cure it.
There is a new movement to combine western
technology with the eastern philosophy of healing. In essence, we are beginning
to see the best of both worlds. However, it will take a shift in individual
consciousness to recognize individual power to self-heal rather than relying
upon drugs or other invasive and intrusive procedures.
Western medicine clearly has its place in the
healing arts. Western medical practice is necessary for acute medical care
in many cases. It is through making a shift from short-term acute care to
long-term preventative medicine that natural healing will become a common
practice when making decisions about our health.
It is interesting to note that there has also
been a shift in the types of diseases that are present in our society. Namely,
we have more degenerative diseases than ever before in history. These include
heart disease, arthritis, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimers disease. It is
believed that these are more related to lifestyle choices than any other
factor. In essence, health is something that we can all attain by living
a lifestyle that is conducive to good health.
There are many more healing systems that were
not mentioned here including chiropractic care, osteopathic medicine, botanical
medicine, greek medicine and native American shamanism. Additionally, many
world cultures employ their own healing methods that are still practiced
today in places including Tibet and Africa. Many of these healing practices
have been orally handed down and therefore have not made their way to the
west.
The twenty-first century is right around the
corner, and I believe that natural healing as well as natural lifestyles
is the answer to many health problems. In order to make the transition one
must recognize his/her connection to the larger global community. The choices
that effect our natural world will also effect our inner world.
Catherine Honora Kineavy is a graduate student, free-lance writer/edior, poet and practicing macrobiotic vegetarian. She has studied Shiatsu and is currently taking course in nutrition counseling. Her broader interests are in holistic healing, spirituality and politics.
