History of Healing – Relevantly Compelling

The history of healing; its philosophy and cosmology, offers a broader view of the story of health and healing over time.  It allows us to blend together all the common threads of traditional medicine and delve deeper into the reasons as to why or how we have held onto some traditions and let go of others. Through the observation of the complexities of health throughout history, and the vast array of traditional values and approaches used in healing, todays complementary medicine practitioner can get a sense of how much complementary medicine and conventional medicine, has evolved over time.

As reflected in the lecture material, traditional healing has a deep spiritual connection which is all encompassing; self, nature, family, ancestors of the past.  It has a rich diversity that I find conventional medicine lacks.  However, despite my perception of conventional medicine being staunch in nature, I do see some advantages that it has offered both historically and in today’s common age; this has been clearly demonstrated by the successful blending of both approaches in Fijian and Samoan practice.  From my own experience, I have found that the two working together have proven more powerful than each perspective alone.

I personally view medicine (be it complementary or conventional), much the same as I view religion. When it is stripped back and dogma is removed, operating simply from a place of love, the main goal/belief is the same – to heal; to bring wellness to a person.

In saying that however, for me traditional healing is much more compelling. I believe it is the roots of the holistic way of being and is the foundation of not just complementary medicine, but of all aspects of medicine.  After all, every story has a history, a place from where it originated.

Perhaps my bias towards the traditional perspective is due to my Maori blood line; my love of nature, my bond with whanau (family), my respect of tupuna (ancestors). Our culture overall plays a big part of who I am. Why I am studying this course was reaffirmed when reading the material. I have mentioned in earlier posts that I was born into a lineage of Tribal Healers; what I haven’t mentioned is that these days, despite the knowledge and deep connection of cultural beliefs, those elders who have passed down information from generation to generation believe in the integration of the two approaches; albeit begrudgingly and if they ever knew I told you this, they would deny it!

xox LLP, Tash