How To Holistically Heal...The Meaning Of Healing - Transcending Suffering
It's Natural Medicine Week, and I'm an Ambassador!
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In this edition…
1. Healing: Holistic Healing 101
2. Reverence: Two Autumn Recipes to Heal
3. Exploring: The Meaning Of Healing - Transcending Suffering
1. Healing: Holistic Healing 101
Natural Medicine Week is here, and as an ambassador for this wonderful initiative, I’m excited to share my passion for holistic healing!
What is Holistic Healing?
Humans have a long history of successfully tending and mending our bodies. If we didn’t, you and I simply wouldn’t be here. Recognising our innate regenerative capacity and the astonishing skills of our forebears - those who developed sophisticated systems of whole-person care - is a profoundly comforting perspective. There are answers in our past and in our future.
Healing, at its essence, is about returning to wholeness.
According to ancient wisdom, healing is a multidimensional process that encompasses more than the absence of illness; it is the proactive pursuit of overall well-being.
Etymology of the Words 'Holistic' and 'Healing'
The word healing originates from the Old English hǣlan, meaning "to make whole." This root is shared with the Old High German heilen and the Old Norse heila, both meaning "to heal" or "to make whole." It connects us to the Proto-Germanic hailjanan and the Proto-Indo-European root kailo-, which carries the sense of being whole, sound, and healthy. Healing, in its original sense, goes beyond simply addressing a specific ailment. It’s about restoring balance to all dimensions of being - physical, emotional, mental, soul and spiritual.
The word holistic comes from the Greek holos, meaning "whole" or "complete." The term was popularised in the late 1920s by Jan Christiaan Smuts, who used holism to describe the idea that living organisms are not merely the sum of their parts, but rather integrated wholes with properties and characteristics that emerge from the interactions of their constituent elements.
When we talk about holistic healing, we are talking about nurturing all aspects of our being to achieve true wellness. It’s about engaging in practices that nurture the body, mind, spirit, and soul, empowering us to tap into our innate capacity to heal.
Why Holistic Healing is the Foundation of Natural Medicine
Natural medicine is deeply rooted in this concept of wholeness. It’s about looking at the person in their entirety, addressing the root causes of imbalance, and supporting the body’s natural healing processes. Whether through herbal remedies, nutritional support, or energy healing, natural medicine nurtures the body’s inherent ability to heal itself.
A Call to Reconnect with Nature’s Healing Powers
Natural Medicine Week is an opportunity to reconnect with the wisdom of our ancestors and the regenerative power of nature. In a world filled with stress, pollution, and fast-paced living, now more than ever, we need to slow down and listen to what our bodies are telling us. Whether it’s through the healing power of herbs, mindfulness practices, or simply spending time in nature, these ancient methods of healing offer a refuge for modern ailments.
As you explore the world of natural medicine, I encourage you to stay open to the many modalities that may resonate with you. Trust that healing is a journey, and sometimes, the answers lie in the most unexpected places.
2. Reverence: Two Autumn Recipes to Heal
In honour of this week, I’m thrilled to share two of my favourite Autumn recipes that harness the power of nature’s remedies. These dishes are full of nourishing ingredients that support your gut health, immune system, and overall well-being - perfect for anyone looking to explore holistic healing through food.
Autumn Bitter Greens Bowl: A nutrient-dense dish packed with antioxidants and immune-boosting ingredients.
Golden Turmeric Pumpkin Soup: A delicious, gut-healing recipe that focuses on balancing your digestive system.
You can access these recipes and more insights on natural remedies at Natural Medicine Week website.
3. Exploring: The Meaning Of Healing: Transcending Suffering
Have you ever paused to consider the basic definition of “healing”? What is our shared understanding of what it means to be unwell, to be recovering, to be healed?
Healing is defined as a process that integrates and balances various aspects of oneself, including the body, mind, soul and spirit, with equal importance. Despite this, there remains a lack of consensus and operational definition of healing in medicine. The medical literature often fails to define the term beyond physiological processes associated with curing disease. The absence of an accepted definition of holistic healing in medicine is significant. It leaves the promotion of healing to alternative medicine or indigenous medicine practitioners, often viewed by anthropologists as non-scientific and non-medical. The study suggests that if healing is considered a core function of medicine, there is a need for organised research and an operational definition of healing. This would enable systematic exploration and understanding of healing phenomena, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of medical professionals in therapeutic encounters with patients.
T.R. Egnew's groundbreaking qualitative study, published in 2005, delves into the essence of healing through insightful interviews with esteemed medical professionals. Drs. Eric J. Cassell, Carl A. Hammerschlag, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, and others share their profound reflections on healing, offering invaluable insights into its multifaceted nature.
Traditionally, medicine has focused on diagnosing and treating diseases, often overlooking the profound - and arguably poetic – concept of healing. However, Egnew's study challenges this narrow view, emphasising healing as a fundamental aspect of medical practice. Through introspection and dialogue, the interviewees were posed the following questions:
From your experience, how do you define healing?
Would you describe what you believe occurs in healing?
Looking back over your life from childhood to the present, can you think of a particular experience that has greatly influenced the way you consider, feel, or act regarding healing or the function of healing within medical practice?
Would you share a personally profound experience of healing in which you were involved as a physician?
In your experience, what makes an individual a healer?
What recommendations do you have for educating and training allopathic physicians to be healers?
Here are some of the findings based on this qualitative investigation:
Wholeness as Core Tenet: At the heart of healing lies the notion of wholeness - a holistic integration of physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. Yet, defining wholeness proves to be complex, with diverse perspectives emerging from the narratives. Some definitions emphasise the significance of the physician or patient experience, while others suggest that wholeness unfolds throughout the process of illness. The theme of wholeness is intertwined with sub-themes of transformation, loss, isolation, and suffering. Illness has the capacity to erode one's sense of self and disrupt the connections that nurture a feeling of wholeness. Loss of capacity and the experience of isolation contribute to a profound transformation in one's perception of wholeness. These patients suffer as they grapple with the loss of their previous identity. Importantly, the study participants did not solely associate wholeness with physical health or the cure of disease. Wholeness can be attained regardless of one's health status, whether experiencing improvement, suffering, or even in the face of death. Healing transcends the absence of illness, the cure of disease, or the state of one's physical body. It represents an independent and holistic process achievable despite physical ailments.
Narrative Medicine: A compelling theme that emerges is the role of narrative medicine in nurturing healing. Through shared storytelling and intimate connections, patients and physicians co-author narratives of resilience and hope. Healing is seen as a reinterpretation of life and occurs within the narrative of the individual. Wholeness and connection with others play a significant role in this narrative. Continuity of care emerges as a linchpin, nurturing trust and facilitating the healing journey. Through continuity, both the patient and physician come to know each other as individuals, going beyond their professional roles. The sharing of vulnerability in this context creates safety and deepens the personal connection. Patients can lay down their burdens and embark on a new life narrative that incorporates their experiences of brokenness. Personal connection and continuity of care allow for the creation of narratives of healing. Healing is viewed as a social construct that unfolds in close physician-patient relationships, nurturing a sense of wholeness and supporting the patient's journey toward well-being and function. This narrative perspective emphasises the importance of understanding and being present for the patient as a human being in order to facilitate healing. The journey of healing is often intertwined with narratives of transformation, loss, and spiritual growth. Illness, while disruptive, serves as a catalyst for introspection and personal evolution. Through narratives of suffering, patients and physicians alike navigate the labyrinth of human experience, seeking reconciliation and transcendence.
Spirituality and Meaning Making: Spirituality emerges as a potent force in the healing process, offering solace and meaning amidst adversity. Patients find solace in spiritual transcendence, weaving threads of meaning into their narratives of suffering. Through spiritual growth, individuals confront suffering with resilience and acceptance. Spirituality was described as encompassing the will, emotions, meanings, and intimate relationships that go beyond the physical body. It involves harmony between the mind, body, and spirit and propels individuals forward in their journey. Patients seeking healing were found to seek or discover meaning in their afflictions, leading to reconciliation and transcendence of suffering. The discovery of meaning in the illness experience helps patients reconcile their distress and find acceptance, even in the face of uncertainty. Suffering was seen as a teacher that opens the path to spiritual growth and maturity. Genuine reconciliation was associated with suffering and the capacity to accept what is happening. Spiritual growth nurtures reconciliation and aids in transcending suffering.
Physician as Healer: At the heart of the healing journey lies the physician-patient relationship – a sacred bond characterised by empathy, compassion, and understanding. Physicians, as healers, bear the profound responsibility of guiding patients through their narratives of suffering, offering solace and support along the way. Sharing suffering creates a sense of interpersonal meaning and intertwines the life stories of patients and physicians. This connection, referred to as a "connexional relationship," reduces the sense of isolation that accompanies suffering. Physicians become part of patients' life narratives and share in their experiences, allowing patients to feel supported and less alone. Within this intimate context, patients have the opportunity to reshape their life stories, reconstruct their identity, and find meaning in their suffering. The physician's role as a healer is to establish connexional relationships and guide patients in the process of reworking their life narratives to transcend their suffering and discover personal meaning. The physician's sensitivity and engagement in dialogue with the patient are essential catalysts in this transformative process.
Challenges and Opportunities: The modernisation of healthcare and the emphasis on efficiency often overshadow the humanistic aspects of care. Yet, within these challenges lie opportunities for transformation. By adopting patient-centred approaches and rekindling a focus on spirituality, medicine can rediscover its essence as a healing profession. Regrettably, the current medical education system offers scant preparation for physicians to effectively guide and support patients in their suffering. Many physicians lack training in active listening, struggle to grasp patients' agendas or subtle cues, and prioritise diagnostic precision and efficiency over empathetic storytelling. Comforting and empathising with patients' sensitive disclosures are often left to common sense rather than formal training. Ill-timed empathy can even exacerbate distress, while excessive reliance on biomedical data may downplay the significance of patients' personal narratives and the suffering embedded within them. Some physicians may grapple with doubts about their role as guides for patients or feel uneasy about the moral authority associated with the position. Others may fear confronting intense emotions during the healing process. Despite these challenges, the medical field is progressing towards embracing holistic perspectives, including spirituality, which can enhance physicians' capacity to facilitate healing. Many medical schools now offer courses on spirituality in medicine, and patient-centred care approaches are enhancing the patient-physician relationship and health outcomes.
It's important to acknowledge the limitations of this study, such as its small sample size and the subjective nature of the data. The proposed definition of healing centred on meaning, spirituality, and the physician-patient relationship, may not universally apply to all patients. Moreover, the industrialisation of healthcare and sporadic patient contact with specialised physicians may hinder the formation of meaningful connections.
Nonetheless, the core principles of patient care and personal development remain integral to the practice of medicine. By nurturing connexional relationships, prioritising patient-centred care, and alleviating suffering, physicians can transcend their roles as mere healers and reclaim their identity as compassionate guides on the path to wellness.
Reference
Egnew, T. R. (2005). The Meaning Of Healing: Transcending Suffering. The Annals of Family Medicine. doi:10.1370/afm.313. Corpus ID: 20904765. This study was a qualitative inquiry consisting of in-depth, open- ended, semistructured interviews with Drs. Eric J. Cassell, Carl A. Hammerschlag, Thomas S. Inui, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Cicely Saunders, Bernard S. Siegel, and G. Gayle Stephens. https://www.annfammed.org/content/annalsfm/3/3/255.full.pdf