All that we are is a result of what we have thought.
Buddha (563BCE – 483 BCE)
Abstract
Dr Ratnam, in this session, will give a brief overview of some of the components related to Mind- Body Medicine. The content includes; the impact of thoughts and feelings, dealing with emotional issues, holding a focus on health rather than illness and using meditation to enhance and maintain health.
Healing primarily comes from the individual and mostly depends on their motivation level. When given the right conditions, the body has the innate ability to heal. No matter what disease a person suffers from, if they learn to relax effectively, reduce their stress load, enjoy their lives, exercise appropriately, eat well according to their constitution and current needs, breathe fresh air, reduce their exposure to chemicals and have adequate sunlight, all persons will feel better. The goal is not just to treat illness, but to focus on health and wellness.
The doctor’s aim is to help empower patients to be active participants in their own healing process and to encourage personal responsibility for their health to improve quality of care and quality of life. The goal is not just to treat illness, but to focus on health and wellness. Establishing and maintaining optimal health and balance is vital to cure. Wellness is a state of being healthy, characterised by positive emotion, thought and action. Wellness is inherent in everyone, no matter what “disease” is present. If wellness is truly recognised and experienced, the individual will heal more quickly than through direct treatment of the “disease” alone.
We are finding that many doctors throughout Australia, as worldwide, are integrating various ethical non-pharmaceutical modalities into their clinical practice to attain whole person optimal health. These forms of therapies aim to enhance a healthy lifestyle, work with the natural healing process, empower patients to be active participants in their own healing process and nurture the whole person
Where such therapies can be safely used, they include mind-body medicine, counselling, meditation and relaxation therapies, hypnosis, primary preventative medicine and lifestyle management, acupuncture, nutritional medicine, herbal medicine, environmental medicine, physical and manipulative medicine. These therapies work in harmony with the natural healing processes of the body.
Western medicine and science has created some wonderfully useful ways of treating diseases and developing skills in surgery. Our major goal is not to replace conventional medicine, but to expand its boundaries and build a scientific foundation for integrating less well understood approaches to improve the functional status of patients and to provide a range of validated treatment options. We are finding their integration into clinical practice helps to improve quality of care and quality of life for the patient.
There will be a brief meditation to conclude.
