| With the connection between our minds and our | | | | health anytime soon. Pills and procedures are |
| bodies increasingly supported by medical and | | | | far more easily assessed, quantified, |
| scientific research, the establishment is at | | | | measured and a lot cheaper than actually |
| last catching up with what 'positive | | | | spending real time with a patient. |
| thinking' gurus like Louise Hay have been | | | | |
| saying for years. What we think and believe | | | | As a result, Western medicine generally ends |
| about ourselves, the world around us and our | | | | up treating the symptoms of disease and |
| place in it can not only be a key factor in | | | | illness rather than the underlying problem, |
| our health and healing outcomes but may also | | | | which often means that the problem will |
| be an underlying factor in the cause of | | | | either re-occur or simply manifest in some |
| illness and injury. | | | | other form. |
| | | | |
| A completely new medical field known as | | | | For those living in western societies at |
| "Mind-body medicine" has emerged on the back | | | | least, it remains up to each of us to become |
| of mind body research. Focusing on the | | | | more aware not only of our bodies |
| interactions among the brain, mind, body, and | | | | requirements; but also of our own emotional |
| behaviour, and the ways in which emotional, | | | | and mental health needs. By being more alert |
| mental, social, spiritual, and behavioural | | | | for potential emotional and spiritual issues, |
| factors can directly affect health. | | | | we can deal with them or seek appropriate |
| | | | help before they turn into something more |
| An interesting feature of illnesses or | | | | serious or life threatening. |
| disease with a metaphysical basis is that | | | | |
| specific emotional issues can often determine | | | | A great way of starting to raise your |
| the location of disease or illness within the | | | | self-awareness and start getting back in |
| body. Experienced therapists who work in this | | | | touch with yourself is to set aside a small |
| field have reported that once they become | | | | amount of time each week. You will only need |
| aware of certain emotional or spiritual | | | | about 30 minutes but it is important that you |
| issues, they began to anticipate the | | | | will not be disturbed or distracted. Just sit |
| possibility of an associated disease. | | | | quietly and just STOP, allow your mind to |
| | | | wander. Gently examine your innermost |
| Even the very word dis-ease reveals an | | | | feelings, emotions, fears and events over the |
| underlying truth that dis-ease in the mind | | | | past week. |
| can lead to disease in the body. | | | | |
| | | | What you discover may be a revelation to you; |
| However, do not expect your doctor to now | | | | and that new understanding could make a huge |
| become all "touchy feely" or to be very much | | | | difference to your health and emotional |
| more interested in your mental and spiritual | | | | well-being. |