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The Holistic Mystic:
Spiritual Medicine
& The Healing Moment
by Lonny Brown, Ph.D.
If the latest developments in transpersonal psychology are any indication, conventional medicine's armamentarium of drugs, surgery and radiation may soon be augmented by prayer, fellowship, and communion.


According to the Journal of the American Pain Society, 82 percent of pain patients use prayer to manage their discomfort. A USA Today Weekend poll reports that 83 percent of Americans would like their physician to discuss their spirituality with them. And the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations now recommends pastoral counseling as an adjunct to conventional therapies.


Just as this demand for more spiritual sensitivity in medicine builds, so does the evidence which doctors will need to justify the shift. Psycho-spiritual factors such as hope, acceptance, meaning and purpose are becoming clinical variables.


"We now have part of the reason why persons who attend religious services regularly live longer than those who attend less," says Dr. William. Strawbridge, MD, Senior Research Scientist at the Human Population Laboratory in Berkeley, CA. "What we found in our study was that those who attended services regularly but had poor health behaviors, such as smoking, not exercising, and few close relationships, were more likely to improve these behaviors over time than were those who attended less."


Dr. Richard Kradin, Research Director at the Mind/Body Medical Institute in Boston points out that historically, healing and religion were always connected. Now science is proving that the classic hallmarks of religious experience -unity, an ineffable presence, assurance - are accompanied by healthful changes in brain activity, respiration and oxygen consumption.


Anticipating the growing demand for holistic medicine, the Association of American Medical Colleges recommends that medical students be taught to "understand the meaning of patients stories, belief, and cultural values," and include a "spiritual history" in their medical records. Simultaneously, medical schools in the United States providing coursework or lectures on the topic of spirituality have dramatically increased from four in 1992 to 79 in 2000 - more than half the total of all medical schools in the US.



Tips For Spiritual Health

· Commune with nature.
· Spend quality time with family and friends.
· Pray or meditate daily.
· People with religious affiliation are more stress-hardy and resilient. . . Attend church or temple regularly, and participate in a faith community.
· Tell your doctor about your religious background and beliefs.
· During hospital stays, request pastoral counseling.
· Participate in a support group.
· Read inspirational literature.
· Develop a philosophy of life and death.
· Learn about recovery and healing. Study successful survivors.
· Think positively. Use guided imagery and visualization.
· Repeat a mantra or healing affirmations.
· Be flexible. Be willing to change, grow, and age.
· In short, have faith.







The Healing Moment
by Lonny Brown, Ph.D.



Return: After a time of decay comes the turning point.
The powerful light that has been banished returns.
There is movement, but it is not brought about by force...
- I CHING


Very often, when sick people get well, they'll tell you there was a certain moment when they knew the corner had been turned, and the healing had begun. This is the classic "light at the end of the tunnel" that allows us to endure and begin to repair. Sometimes this transition follows a time of deep despair. Sometimes it accompanies an act of faith, or a dream, or a momentous decision. Invariably, it moves one on a very deep level.


The most memorable and significant instances of healing are those that change not only one's physical condition, but one's outlook and life. Such transformative moments may come as grace or good luck, but traditional healers and shamen always intend to create the conditions most conducive to their occurrence. These include physical, psychological, and spiritual factors.


Progressive modern medics too acknowledge the importance of this mysterious combination of forces that make true healing possible. Holistic practitioners use a variety of modalities - ranging from herbal remedies to massage, from counseling to guided imagery - as catalysts for positive change. Individual patients can also train in self-healing techniques to become most receptive. Here's how:



The Sensation: Breath / Body Release

The physical feeling most conducive to healing is deep relaxation. It is facilitated by releasing all muscle tension and the breath simultaneously. Systematically flex the body from the feet upwards, breathing in through the nostrils, and then quickly release all tightness while exhaling through the mouth. Repeat three times, then rest, effortless and motionless.



The Thought: Affirmation / Prayer / Mantra

Clear your mind and focus on a short phrase that has special meaning to you. For example, Every day in every way, I am getting better and better. Say your healing affirmation repeatedly - either silently or out loud - until it takes on the undeniable quality of truth.



The Image: Healing Visualizations

Picture your system cleaning out all waste, toxins, unhealthy cells, harmful bacteria and viruses. Imagine healing light and colors illuminating your organs and magically balancing all their functions.



The Emotions: Atonement, Gratitude, Awe

Release all negativity such as guilt, anger, and fear. Elicit the most positive emotions associated with the gift of health: a deep sense of peace and timeless contentment. Cultivate your sense of connection to the greater source of all Life. Smile. Laugh out loud!



The Implications: Practical & Ultimate.

With practice, you can learn to quickly and deeply induce the self-healing response at will. Use it to respond to emergencies, reduce stress, control pain, or just get some rest. Remember: simultaneously relax the body, release the breath and muscles, repeat your affirmation, and picture a positive, successful outcome. The more you practice, the more practical and profound the results will be. And you'll be most prepared for complete healing - be it in body, mind or soul - whenever the need arises.


Lonny Brown,
 Ph.D.


Lonny J. Brown, Ph.D. is the author of "Enlightenment In Our Time" and "Self-Actuated Healing" (Amazon.com), and editor of ENLIGHTENMENT ONLINE - The Newsletter for Spiritual Cyberspace.


His writings on holistic health have appeared on AOL's Alternative Medicine Forum and in Alternative Health Practitioner, Yoga Journal, and many other progressive publications.


Dr. Brown teaches meditation, mind/body healing, and stress reduction courses at hospitals, schools and businesses throughout the US.






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lonny@holistic.com

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