Right now, we have reached the point that many university centers are bringing "Integrative Medicine" into the "mainstream." And along with this we are seeing the mantra that "all treatments must be subjected to the same evidence based analysis."
And much of this is good.
But there are some dilemmas.
My wife and i were learning French as a second language, we traveled to France and were fortunate to have the opportunity to "immerse" by staying with a French family. And we were really looking forward to being "forced" to speak and to think in French. But our French hosts were learning English, and shocked and joyful in any case to find Americans wanting to learn a second language, they wanted to speak to us in English!
Of course we found compromises, but one thing we learned is that we could not effectively speak English and French at the same time. The one compromise that did not work, that they would speak to us in English and we would speak to them in French, taught us that the languages reflect different cultures, and translations are not "exact." In some ways - i am a slightly different "person" in a French or English "personna."
It is the same with "scientific based" medicine and "alternative medicine." Much of western medicine excludes the spiritual, and focuses on breaking down the whole person into "lab values" and "specialties." And much of "alternative medicine" focuses on integrating the person, not only holistically within themselves, but in a connected sense with their world.
In some regards, both the strength and the weakness of the Scientific method, is that it is "freed" from Faith, and cannot include it, and mankind to be whole seems not to be able to live without it. The fact that Science is unable to measure certain elements of the universe, does not mean that these elements do not exist.
Spirituality remains a central part of who we are.
It is a particularly difficult task for physicians who are trying to "integrate" holistic care and evidence based care. Most "alternative" physicians, end up doing less in an "evidence based manner," but in trying to do both, we must be careful, just as with languages, to not try "to speak French and English" at the same time.
We know that there are two methods that are significant for our patients. Neither one is complete alone. And so, just as we have learned to "integrate" medicine and surgery, so we must in caring for human beings, integrate scientific method and holistic care.
In no area is this more important than in Hospice. For in Hospice we know that we sometimes are not able to "Cure," but we are always able to continue to "Care."
Reiki is not a religion, but it is a method that can help us use "grounding" and focus our "intentions," so that we can work for the best of fellow human beings using multiple skills.
And much of this is good.
But there are some dilemmas.
My wife and i were learning French as a second language, we traveled to France and were fortunate to have the opportunity to "immerse" by staying with a French family. And we were really looking forward to being "forced" to speak and to think in French. But our French hosts were learning English, and shocked and joyful in any case to find Americans wanting to learn a second language, they wanted to speak to us in English!
Of course we found compromises, but one thing we learned is that we could not effectively speak English and French at the same time. The one compromise that did not work, that they would speak to us in English and we would speak to them in French, taught us that the languages reflect different cultures, and translations are not "exact." In some ways - i am a slightly different "person" in a French or English "personna."
It is the same with "scientific based" medicine and "alternative medicine." Much of western medicine excludes the spiritual, and focuses on breaking down the whole person into "lab values" and "specialties." And much of "alternative medicine" focuses on integrating the person, not only holistically within themselves, but in a connected sense with their world.
In some regards, both the strength and the weakness of the Scientific method, is that it is "freed" from Faith, and cannot include it, and mankind to be whole seems not to be able to live without it. The fact that Science is unable to measure certain elements of the universe, does not mean that these elements do not exist.
Spirituality remains a central part of who we are.
It is a particularly difficult task for physicians who are trying to "integrate" holistic care and evidence based care. Most "alternative" physicians, end up doing less in an "evidence based manner," but in trying to do both, we must be careful, just as with languages, to not try "to speak French and English" at the same time.
We know that there are two methods that are significant for our patients. Neither one is complete alone. And so, just as we have learned to "integrate" medicine and surgery, so we must in caring for human beings, integrate scientific method and holistic care.
In no area is this more important than in Hospice. For in Hospice we know that we sometimes are not able to "Cure," but we are always able to continue to "Care."
Reiki is not a religion, but it is a method that can help us use "grounding" and focus our "intentions," so that we can work for the best of fellow human beings using multiple skills.
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