Western medicine has long seen the body as the incredible machine it truly is, but stopped short of accepting that we are more than the physical or that mental issue manifest in the physical. The body and its physical symptoms are thus often viewed as mechanical or systemic issues and medications are generally the default method of restoring balance to the machine. Do not misunderstand what I am saying, I am a strong proponent of medications when and where required and will be the first to advise anyone to gain the advice of their healthcare practitioner for any illness or disease. That said I do not personally believe that medication is required for every sniffle and while medication may treat the resulting dis-ease it may not alleviate the root cause. That which is not understood or does not respond to medication cannot simply by ruled as a figment of the patient’s imagination, although it is closer to say it is in the patient’s head.
Despite the focus on the physical medical science is evolving and there is research being conducted into the effects of mind on body. The Benson-Henry Institute (BHI) at Massachusetts General Hospital was formed in 2006 with the goal “to fully integrate mind body medicine into mainstream healthcare” (Benson-Henry Institute, n.d.). BHI was founded by Dr. Herbert Benson, a cardiologist, and the focus is on “rigorous, evidence-based research” (ibid). The Institute notes that as many as 90% of healthcare touch-points are “related to stress” (ibid) and it would seem that its focus is on reducing medical interventions through stress reduction and “healthy lifestyle choices” (ibid). Training is offered to healthcare professionals and links to other research are available. This is a truly positive step forward in medical research which can only lead to greater understanding of the larger links between mind (thought/wave energy) and body ( particle/manifest energy).
References:
Benson-Henry Institute. (n.d.). About. Retrieved June 21, 2017, from https://www.bensonhenryinstitute.org/mission-history/