Two Pathways to Health and Healing
Awareness, accountability, choice and consequence are the main co-factors within new frontiers in health and healing. It is up to each of us to decide what path will lead us where we want to be. Listed below are some of the key themes within each system:
ALLOPATHIC MEDICINE:
ADVERSARIAL: Disease process is treated by symptom relief within terms that reflect adversarial nature: “military rhetoric used to describe problem: “germ warfare, attack, fight disease, battle against, build defenses, etc.”
DISEMPOWERMENT: Treatment is based on the professional’s mind-set. Outside authorities “manage” disease. Patients are expected to follow dictates without question. “Them” versus “us” approach. Alternative or holistic approaches usually discouraged and/or rejected.
EXTERNAL CAUSALITY: Disease-orientated approach. Focus is outside the patient, Viruses, bacteria, poisons, cellular degeneration, things ‘growing’ separation of mind- body-emotions-spirit.
INTERVENTION AND SUBSTITUTION: Drug therapy, injections, treatments are geared for interrupting, altering immediate reduction of symptoms. “Cures” are approached through labeling, controlling, reducing or destroying symptoms creating the disease rather than considering contributing factors that created it.
ATAVISTIC: Considerations to lifestyle, attitude stressors, family dynamics, body,mind, emotional states are usually excluded from the cause and effect of disease and health problems and illness of any kind.
DISASSOCIATION FROM NATURAL WORLD: Disease is viewed as an assault from outward influences with little consideration given to other contributing co-factors.
PREVENTATIVE AND WHOLE PERSON (HOLISTIC) APPROACH PROACTIVE, PLURALISTIC: Emphasis is placed upon awareness, understanding, acceptance, self-reliance, prevention, education, informed choice-making, fitness, and responsibility
BEHAVIORAL, INNER DIRECTED: Illness and disease are seen as a process and inseparable from the patient. Awareness develops about the co-factors of diet, livelihood, relationships, stress, attitude, habits, beliefs and their effect of health, well-being and quality of life.
EDUCATIONAL AND EGALITARIAN: Focus is placed on long-term results and removal of root causes. Patient and professionals work together and emphasize awareness, accountability and action. Their aim is for long-term results through whole person healing and spirit-mind-body unity.
TRANSPERSONAL: Embracing loving relationships seek unity and support from others…spiritual awareness and search for universal dimensions in life. Openness to the healing power of love, prayer, pets, ceremony and life-affirming belief systems.
CORRECTIVE, CO-OPERATIVE, MULTI-OPTIONED: Seeks diversity of healing modalities from doctors, patients, therapists, families, support groups as therapeutic team members that work together. Thoughts, language suggests choice, empowerment, self-responsibility, unity and positive outcomes.
ENVIRONMENTAL: Understanding and acceptance of the need for dependence on clean, unpolluted air, water, food, and a connection to the natural world. The fundamental premise within an environmental framework is that the body knows how to heal given the opportunity and support needed in every area of life that will allow it to do so.
