Western medicine is a marvelous invention. Miraculous really, when you consider what is possible now compared to a century ago. I confess that I begin this blog with these statements because i have a bone to pick with this so called miracle. We have become accustomed to believing that every illness must have a fast solution: A drug that will cure it. A surgical procedure that will take it away. The western way of medicine really reflects this more general mindset in society where we expect everything to have instant results. We buy computers that load Gs of data in an instant (I wish my computer did this!), and somehow expect our 21st Century bodies to do the same. We tend to behave as though our bodies are advanced computers, and drugs the wonder devices that instantly upload the information we want that will fix the ‘problem’.
However, many practitioners and researchers have realised that although the western world has undergone rapid shifts that have totally transformed the way we live. Our bodies and brains aren’t much different to those of our Hunter/Gatherer ancestors who lived in nomadic communities. Yet we expect our bodies to behave like machines. But they are not and they do not.
I believe that Medical technology is at its best where there has been an emergency, and where there is severe and acute illness that threatens someone’s life. But a system that works to give out instant cures doesn’t work so well for conditions that didn’t happen over night. These conditions are usually the result of our modern lifestyles, diet and stress levels. They may have been exacerbated by an injury that never got the chance to heal properly,
Unfortunately, they don’t heal overnight either.
Similar to the sad news that Santa and the Tooth Fairy are myths, so are the concepts of the silver bullet, the quick fix and the magic pill.
I like to understand symptoms, or a set of symptoms as a message from my body. There is a famous saying that the body whispers, before it screams, before it breaks. Usually in the whisper, the body is asking for something to change. Generally, whispers and even screams can subside when we stop expecting the body to be like an automated computer, but start to find a way of living that nourishes our well being.
As a holistic practitioner, I do not offer quick fixes. I listen to your story, i look for key moments of causation throughout your life, and the aspects of your life now that might be exacerbating the situation. I am not able to offer a “cure” in a single session. I tend to recommend between 4 and 6 weekly sessions to accelerate and empower your body’s healing capacity. I like to collaborate with my clients around their progress and their symptoms, as well as offer suggestions for how to tweak their lifestyle to maintain their well being.
What is truly miraculous is the ability of our bodies to heal and regenerate over time. Nothing makes me happier than when someone discovers this for themselves. Our bodies can heal themselves, if we give ourselves the conditions we need to flourish, and let it take the time it takes.