Balance and Personal Responsibility Wrapped Inside a Scientific Framework.

I embrace all forms of medicine but believe we are all individually responsible for our own healing: no one else can heal you, that capacity lies within the body itself which is influenced by the mind. The many and varied medicinal and healing modalities – from your family doctor, massage therapist, chiropractor, psychologist, physiotherapist, and your Reiki therapist – can assist you with returning to homeostasis, but ultimately you have control over, and responsibility for, your own healing and must be actively seeking balance if you desire wellness. Your personal choices and intent affect your wellness.

The ideal of balance is not new thinking, it is in fact rooted in what science knows about the operation of the observable human body. Consider how the endocrine system functions, reacting first to external stimulus and then seeking a return to homeostasis, or how the simple act of sweating reduces body temperature back to a normal 98.6F (37c). Homeostasis is defined as “The tendency of an organism or a cell to regulate its internal conditions, usually by a system of feedback controls, so as to stabilize health and functioning, regardless of the outside changing conditions” (Biology-Online.org, 2016). This can be further understood by saying “Because the internal and external environments of a cell are constantly changing, adjustments must be made continuously to stay at or near the set point (the normal level or range). Homeostasis can be thought of as a dynamic equilibrium rather than a constant, unchanging state” (CK-12 Foundation, 2016). Balance then (and wellness by extension), is not a steady state but one that must constantly be adjusted back to. Today you are feeling fuzzy and ill, tomorrow you are stressed and over-stimulated – all in response to the influences of your own thoughts, emotions and reactions to the external world you move within.

Hippocrates, considered to be the father of modern medicine, is reported to have “believed in a holistic health care model” (Kleisiaris, Sfakianakis, & Papathanasiou, 2014) that emphasized diet, exercise and treating mental issues. Treating the whole person was emphasized with the foundational concept of a “healthy mind in a healthy body” (ibid) being central. Returning the body to a state of balance by observing all facets of the patient’s condition was the role of the physician.

Disclaimer

Let me be clear I do not like the terms “healer” or “cure” and do not accept them applied to myself or the modalities I practice. The body has the ability to heal itself and I view cure only in terms of the individual returning to a healthy, balanced state, howsoever accomplished.

The complimentary therapies I offer are not intended to replace the care provided by a qualified medical or psychological practitioner, they are not alternative. I do not diagnose illness nor do I prescribe substances. I am not a physician. If you are concerned about a specific ailment or medical condition I recommend you seek the advice of a qualified health-care professional. I make no claims to providing a cure for any disease or condition with my services. Do not discontinue taking any current medication without consulting your licensed healthcare provider.

References:

Biology-Online.org. (2016, September 24). Homeostasis. Retrieved October 29, 2016, from http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Homeostasis

CK-12 Foundation. (2016). Homeostasis and regulation. Retrieved October 29, 2016, from http://www.ck12.org/user:a3F1aWNrQHdlYmIub3Jn/section/Homeostasis-and-Regulation/

Kleisiaris, C. F., Sfakianakis, C., & Papathanasiou, I. V. (2014). Health care practices in ancient Greece: The Hippocratic ideal. Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, 7, 6.