Conference yukon::christian_v7

    
    What is Holistic medicine?
    
    Kent

As in a lot of New Age stuff, there's a lot in Holistic Medicine that is good.

The basic ideas of Holistic medicine is to seek to find and alleviate causes of
disorders, as opposed to Western medicine, which more often seeks to correct
the effects.

For example, as a treatment for cancer, Holistic medicine would tend to seek
why the cancer came about and would try to change that, most often by changing
your diet.  Western medicine would attack the cancer with drugs, radiation, and
surgery, but most often won't even look into causes beyond obvious ones like
smoking or genetic links.  And even then western doctors wouldn't be looking at
those causes to remove them, only to tell you why you got the cancer in the
first place.

Now the terminology used by Holistic doctors may be strange and 'eastern'
sounding, but the actual remedies recommended may be fine.  For example, in a
macrobiotic diet, they talk about yin and yang and other strange concepts, but
the basic idea is: stop feeding your body poisons to allow it to cleanse
itself, which is a perfectly sound idea from any point of view.

Regarding depression, I'd expect a holistic doctor to examine the possibility
of factors in the diet or environment being contributory to the depression, and
seeking to alleviate those factors, which could have significant benefits.

I wouldn't go to holistic doctors INSTEAD of western doctors, but I can see the
benefit of going to them IN ADDITION to western doctors.

Paul

    
    IHMO its best to stay away from anything thats connected to new age.
    

For those living in the US...a program on holistic healing you may be
interested in.  It begins tonight.

The Institute of Noetic Sciences is a cutting-edge institute and very 
reputable.  It was founded in the early 1970s by former Astronaut 
Edgar Mitchell, sixth man on the moon.

Also recommended is "Healing And The Mind", by Bill Moyers - both the
PBS series and the book.

Cindy

========================================================================

   The HEART of HEALING - Remarkable Stories of How We Heal Ourselves

	  A Three Part, Six Hour Special hosted by Jane Seymour

			 Tuesday, October 26 
			 Wednesday, October 27
			 Thursday, October 28

	                 8:05 PM to 10:05 PM 
                        (Repeated at 12:05 AM)

		     Airing on The TBS Superstation		        	

This series is a "journey of discovery around the world to explore a 
wondrous healing system." 

THE HEART OF HEALING is a project of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, 
a nonprofit education and research organization that supports leading 
edge research and education on consciousness, mind-body health..."

Filmed in thirteen countries on four continents, THE HEART OF HEALING 
presents the remarkable stories of ordinary people who have 
experienced extraordinary healing or recovery, learning how the mind,
emotions, spirit, and community can play vital roles in health and 
healing. Viewers will discover the richness and variety of the world's 
healing traditions and get a look at new possibilities for their own 
well-being and health.

Included below is a portion of a letter written by Jane Seymour 
plus an abbreviated program guide for each of the three viewings.

"Dear friend,

Although I play the role of a doctor on television as Dr. Quinn, 
Medicine Woman, my connection to The Heart of Healing is quite 
personal. My father was a physician who, at the end of his life, made 
extraordinary discoveries about the powers of mind and spirit in 
healing. I was deeply moved by the scripts, and am pleased to be the 
host of this wonderful six-hour exploration into some of the most
compelling mysteries of our human existence..."

===================================================================

Tuesday program:
	The Power of Suggestion
	Spontaneous Remission of Cancer
	Mastering Fears
	Spirituality and Healing
	Western Medicine and Other World Views

Wednesday program:
	Biofeedback: Learning to Heal
	Challenge, Commitment, and Connection
	Stress, Personality, and Coping
	Transformation through Illness
	Meaning and Purpose

Thursday program:
	Childhood Foundations of Health
	Nature or Nurture?
	Connection and Caring
	The Encounter with Death
	Taking Responsibility for our Health

    
    Another good reference on holistic health is a book entitled, 
    "Perfect Health", by Dr. Deepak Chopra.  
    
    Also quite good is, "Vibrational Medicine", by Dr. Richard 
    Gerber, published by Bear & Co.
    
    Cindy

Hi Cindy,

Do these books you recommend approach it from a Biblical perspective?
Just interested in case there is any reference or tie-up.

							Andrew

    I would not associate holistic health with the New Age movement,
    although holistic health may be used by them. Holistic health
    really started about 20 years ago when Norman Cousins wrote his
    book, "Anatomy of an Illness." Doctors began to look at healing
    by treating the whole person, not just the body. A person's spiritual
    and emotional health were as important to healing as the medicines
    prescribed by the doctors. Also, Holistic healing meant looking outside
    of western medicine. Acupuncture and message therapy are just a few 
    of the practices that are now considered as valid treatment in
    medicine. Also, holistic health means using preventive practices such
    as eating right and exercising in order help the body stay healthy.

    To reject Holistic health because  New Age groups use it is foolish.
    New Age groups also use the Bible, I wouldn't reject the Bible because
    of this.

    Jim

                   
    Re.6
    
    Hi Andrew,
    
    I can highly recommend Bill Moyer's work to you from that perspective.
    He tends to come from the western scientific and Christian aspect,
    since that was his upbringing.
    
    Another doctor named Larry Dossey has also written extensively on the
    use of prayer in healing.  The names of his books escape me at the
    moment though.
    
    Wish you lived here - the program last night was excellent.  Among the
    many segments in the 2 hour broadcast, they portrayed the miracles at 
    Lourdes in France quite nicely and extensively.  The book is called, 
    "The Heart Of Healing", and I believe one of the authors is Brendan 
    O'Regan.  Jane Seymour did a great job narrating, too.
    
    Cindy

I would agree that rejection holistic health practices cause of
possible new age connections is just plain silly.

Elaine has become somewhat of a nutritian and suppliment expert since
she has left Digital and there is a great deal of health value in this
growing practice. The AMA still frowns on it cause it will in essence
greatly reduce the income to doctors if everyone followed some simple
nutritianal plans.  There are many common maladies that generate millions
for the medical industry that could be avoided through the use of suppliments,
vitamins and modifying diets. 

John I.

    There is a lot of practices that are sometimes put under the label
    of "holistic medicine". There is no need to reject the holistic
    if it means attention to diet, prevention, stress reduction.
    
    However even with these, some of the practicioners have taken on a
    'New Age' attitude towards their practice and they promote these
    things such as good diet along with a harmful 'new age theology'.
    
    Also, in the wierder holistic category, there are those who would
    promote the use of crystals or other outright new age stuff. 
    
    I think the practicioner should be questioned about the type of 
    services he or she provides before going to a holistic specialist;
    if anything looks out of line it would be better to funding their
    errors!
    
    If holistic medicine is good, then there should be solid Christians
    in practice. Seek them out!

    
    The television program on holistic health, narrated by Jane Seymour,
    gave an 800 number to order a free booklet.  It is:  1-800-628-4545.
    
    The 3-part series was fabulous.  Last night was the final episode.  
    I hope some of you got to watch it.
    
    Cindy