I am a physical therapist. As such, I am very much schooled in the Western thought and philosophy of medicine. I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for my graduate degree in PT. Carolina is one of the top medical schools in the country. The PT school was rated 3rd in the country at the time I attended. (I’ll be honest, after attending the PT school I may have a differing opinion, but that is a subject for later). Research, best evidence, and science was engrained into our open minds as we honestly sought how to best help people heal. In school we were informed of "alternative" health options patients may seek. The purpose behind these lectures was to inform us of the "non-research", "non-science", and "other" options patients may seek and to be non-condemning of their choices. We were informed these options generally will do no harm and if they believe that x, y, or z is helping them, why deny then of it. (Placebo’s work) I left school with "sure knowledge". Believe it or not, August marks my 5th anniversary graduating from PT school. In the short span of 5 years my "sure knowledge" has become- a good place to start. Research, best evidence, and science are integral to my practice- but as the years and patients have passed the more I have witnessed they are tools and do not explain, guide, or help everyone. People are more complex and respond in multiple ways depending on past, present, and future. I have witnessed the overlapping effects of mind, body, and spirit. Truly, you cannot do anything to one and have it not effect the others. Through my own experiences seeking medical help and attempting to help my patients negotiate through our Western medicine, I have frequently pondered that there has to be more...
I often marvel at the hand of the Lord in my life. He has and continues to lead me in paths and directions I doubt I would take if left to myself. As with any health practitioner there are good ones and bad ones. Careful choice must be made when entrusting your health to others. From working in the system, I tell you there are surgeons I wouldn’t let near me with a spoon and yet they perform surgeries everyday. Last year, through what I felt was inspiration and guidance of the Lord, I started to see an Acupuncturist. Now I joke that I have a testimony of two things- the temple and acupuncture because they are the two things that have changed my life. My health- mind, body, and spirit are in a state I hardly dared believe was possible. I have since discovered even more homeopathic avenues to health. This has not been without opposition- my own traditions of learning, family and friends counsel me against these "alternative" methods. But I have found a part of the "more" I am seeking. I am not saying that acupuncture, homeopathic or Eastern medicine are the cure alls to everything. I am saying that knowledge and wisdom is not the sole possession of Western medicine. "Science" doesn’t know everything. East and West each have something the other does not. I can only imagine the freedom and healing that could occur if east were to meet west in our quest to heal.
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Quotes
"You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed, as your deed is, so is your destiny." Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.5 (Translated by Eknath Easwaran.).
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative and creation. There is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." Goethe
" I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make a life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt, or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a person humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming." Goethe
"Being committed to place ourselves in an environment that we know will make us grow and teach us about our deepest selves builds character, strength, and courage. We soon find ourselves in the habit of growth and find that "we’ve arrived" by our mere presence on the path. We find ourselves at home in the heat of our own refinement." Scott Moore
"The last thing the world needs is another perfect Downward Facing Dog pose. What the world does need is another open heart." Judeth Lasater
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