January
2010
One of the most stable geometric
structures is the equilateral triangle. All three
angles provide equal support. Turned on any of
its sides, it is equally stable.
I see healing and the practice
of medicine the same way. There are three angles
that all have equal input, equal responsibility,
and equal importance.
Angle
1: The Doctor
Who are they? Do they have a passion
for their work? Do they come recommended? Are
they insatiable in their desire to learn and educate
themselves? Do they themselves look healthy? Are
they willing and able to say the most important
statement a doctor can say: “I don’t
know, but I’ll find out for you?”
We are talking about the quality and integrity
of the person here. Choosing someone who you feel
comfortable with in guiding you toward greater
health is a challenging decision. But when you
find the right fit for you, you know it without
question. And you are excited about beginning
a relationship that might see you through a health
crisis, one that can adapt and blend with the
ups and downs you may experience in your health
through the course of your life.
Angle
2: The Medicine
Knowing what medicine to choose
for what condition is not easy. Increasingly scarce
are the General Practitioners, the Family Physicians.
Increasingly, Western Medicine is moving toward
greater specialization. The body is a complex
thing and does require deep and profound understanding
of each system to begin to grasp the entire being.
But lost in this is the ability to see the person
as a whole, to see how all the parts connect.
This is where doctors practicing complementary
medicine have stepped in. These include acupuncturists,
naturopaths, homeopaths, and more and more Western
physicians breaking outside of the mold.
Know your audience. When consulting
a surgeon, expect surgery to be their advice.
If that is not something you are interested in,
seek a second opinion. Yet, if surgery is ultimately
what you need, then that is what you need. Some
people come to me expecting me to nay say all
things Western. But if you need your hip replaced,
acupuncture is not going to offer you much help
other than to prep for the surgery and recover
faster from it. Know what each discipline’s
strengths and weaknesses are. When you have an
acute condition that has a proven Western treatment,
that is an excellent way to go. But when you have
a chronic condition that involves lifestyle, diet,
and nutrition, a more complementary approach is
often better.
Angle
3: You, the Patient
There is no excuse for getting
a bad haircut! You are sitting there awake, examining
in the mirror the work being done. Did putting
on the smock make you lose your voice?
For some reason, when people seek
help they default into a subservient role. I want
my relationship with patients to be 50-50. I encourage
them to be educated, knowledgeable, and ask as
many questions as they can. Never simply take
my word for it, or anyone else’s for that
matter. You are your own best physician. We have
at our finger tips these days immense amounts
of information. Yes, it can be dizzying and hard
to know what to believe. That is where your doctor
comes in. Let them respond to you. Let them answer
your questions and help you make sense of what
you have read and heard. An empowered patient
makes the doctor step up their game. I wouldn’t
have it any other way.
With all that information, how
do you choose the right approach for the condition
you have?
Resonance in Healing
There are lots of ways to fix
someone. You have recurrent headaches and come
to me with one full boar. I needle a point in
your foot and it goes away. Done. Fixed. But has
healing taken place?
Healing occurs when there is resonance
between all three angles of the Healing Triangle;
it is when You find the right Doctor using the
right Medicine. When the Doctor resonates with
their Medicine, the Medicine resonates with You,
and You resonate with the Doctor, healing can
occur. So long as there is resonance between all
three, I honestly believe that it does not matter
what the remedy is. It could be something as benign
and unpredictable as a rock for all we know.
Ahh, but how do you find that
resonance?
• Trust your own innate
intelligence and ability to make the right health
decisions for yourself.
• Do you homework and choose the Medicine
that makes the most sense to you;
• Choose the Doctor that listens well, empowers
you, and offers a treatment plan that is consistent
with your vision for your own health path;
• Get second opinions;
• When your questions are answered and you
feel confident proceeding, trust in the choices
you have made;
• Allow yourself to receive the help you
have asked for;
• When you fell it is time to change course,
let your Doctor respond to your needs and adapt.
If the resonance continues, you will know. If
it does, it may be time to find someone new.
Health can be defined as the ability
to adapt to your environment. It requires flexibility,
knowledge and a desire to heal. All around you
are choices for treatment. Only you can decide
what is the best course for you, what resonates
with your body, your mind and your spirit.
You are your own best physician.
|
