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Alternative Medicine
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Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity is the oldest and most holistic medical system available on the planet today. Placed in written form over 5,000 years ago in India, it was said to be a world medicine dealing with both body and the spirit. VedaVyasa, the famous sage, shaktavesha avatar of Vishnu, put into writing the complete knowledge of Ayurveda, along with the more directly spiritual insights of self realization into a body of scriptural literature called the Vedas and the Vedic literatures.
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Hello Christy! Good news: The discussion forum IS live now and you can access it either by the link in the page above or by looking at the lower left hand column and clicking on "Forums". Daniel has already started a discussion called "Alternative" medicine within the main topic of "social/environment/justice" though you are free to start a whole new forum dedicated solely to this cool topic!
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P.S. Once the discussion forum here is live, I'm happy to move all this there -- if someone will teach me how to do that!
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Neti lota nasal lavage! That is one of my top ten prescriptions, here in the lush Pacific Northwest where we've got lots and lots of pollen, and lots of mold, too.
In the naturopathic tradition, we map the therapeutic strategies of all the healing systems into a hierarchy, like a ladder (or, my preference, a big leafy tree). The foundational level corresponds to "First Do No Harm" and trust in the healing power of nature, and includes those therapies that are broad-based, nourishing, restorative. As we branch farther out, we get to the therapies that are more symptom-specific, with more risk of adverse reaction (all the way out to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, etc). The key is that every level is appropriate when/if it's the right time. The art is in discerning what level(s) of support or intervention are appropriate for a particular person in a particular moment. Chr*sty ;-) |
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That is a great distinction. In our polar culture we tend to automatically classify things as one or the other. It seems that ignoring the vast wealth of accumulated knowledge and experience in either system would be detrimental.
I am familiar with Ayurveda, I've had friends go to the Maharishi school in Fairfield, IA for diet/health consultations. Interesting stuff. And I've had my share of kitcheri and neti pots. -dan;el |
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Hi Daniel,
I agree, "conventional" does not mean "best" or "most appropriate" -- and organic is a nice example of a description that pertains more to what what it is, rather than to where it stands in comparison to the current established model. The thing about medicine/healthcare is, though, that there is a lot that is very valuable about current modern technological medicine -- that's also why "alternative medicine" is a problematic term, since it seems to imply that a person needing care would have to choose only one or the other. "Integrative medicine" is an interesting, often beneficial , development (and sometimes really it's just a marketing phrase) that aims to weave together technological medicine and nature-based medicine. Still, I think that the nature-honoring, restorative approaches deserve their own particular descriptive name -- and I haven't come up with one yet! Since you are a yoga teacher, I'm guessing that you are also familiar with Ayurveda, which means "the Science of Life" and is a term that so far comes closest to what it is that I think we're doing (a favorite teacher of mine calls it all "perennial medicine," which I also love, but that requires a little more explanation) thanks for playing with me on this! Christy |
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Great point Christy,
I agree that the "alternative" is likely a better approach than the current medical system, and that the nomenclature may not reflect that. I think the name does imply that the current system is the "standard" and that its "normal" for people to be treated in that way. Yet, I do not think this necessarily implies that it is "right" or "better." An simple example would be organic vs. conventional produce. Conventional produce is exactly that, the way things are done on balance. Yet anyone who is well informed on these issues would understand that what is often done is not best for people and planet. Do you have any suggestions for a new name? Lets start a discussion. -dan;el (teaching yoga tonight, going to talk about prana :) |
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Dear WiserEarthfolk,
I am curious to know what you think of the term "Alternative Medicine"? I have not yet found the term that seems just right to me. I do think that calling our approach to health and illness "alternative" makes the current conventional system "normal" and "standard." As a naturopathic physican and acupuncturist, I know very well that all of the vitalist, holistic, natural medicine practices listed at the top of the page are not (yet!) fully integrated into the mainstream of (Western) conventional medicine -- but I see signs that we are headed that way, as practitioners and systems of all kinds come together in service to life and wholeness. What do you think? Christy Lee-Engel Seattle, WA |
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That is interesting, that all of the portal discussion forums open into the same place (am I interpreting that correctly? Or would a whole new forum show up separately from the social/environment/justice area?) -- I was expecting them to open directly into their own page, but of course it will make for livelier cross-conversation to have all the topics across the site be gathered on a common page.
See you there!