A Stroke of Insight
By Dr. Gene Clerkin
In the medical model our main concern is to remove symptoms and restore the body to its previous state. From a wellness or healing perspective we may actually want to gain some insight from our symptoms so that we can learn, grow and evolve. I often tell clients that within every symptom there is a gift.
Jill Bolte Taylor is a medical brain researcher who had the experience of a stroke which she later describes as a gift. There is a video available on the internet called “A Stroke of Insight”, which tells the story of Taylor's experience. During her stroke she lost use of the left side of her brain and consequently experienced an increase in the qualities of the right brain.
As she explains during her seminar the left or more linear part of the brain is used for separating and categorizing our world. The right brain sees the beauty and connection of everything in the world.
During this episode she experiences a level of peace and connection that she never knew was possible. Some of what she shares reminds me of my experiences at Transformational Gate seminars receiving multiple Network Spinal Analysis and Somato-Respiratory Integration sessions.
Taylor makes the point that we don't have to have a stroke to consciously choose how we want to use our brains, choose our experience and effect those and the world around us. So check out the link below and let us help you get a little more connected at the Center for Holistic Health.
Dr. Gene
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229
Myths of Healing
By
Dr. Gene Clerkin
Throughout different periods of our life we tend to have different belief systems. For instance, when I was a child I believed in Santa Clause. At some point I realized that my parents were the ones placing the gifts under the tree. For most of us it is likely that as we grow and evolve, so will our views and beliefs. However, some beliefs tend to remain with us through most our lives even if they don't work for us. Cultural beliefs are particularly difficult to change since they are so entrenched in society's story. In his book, "Healing Myths, Healing Magic", Dr. Donald Epstein writes:
There was a time, not too long ago, when our ancestors believed that the sun and the moon, the rivers and the forest, were sacred. Rhythms of Mother Earth were sacred. Stories, dances, or songs told the history of their people. "Their roles in life were guided by a rich tradition of folktales, legends, and myths." Even though the word myth means story, these prevailing myths or stories of a society are considered its norm or "reality," and are sacred.
For example, if someone breaks your heart, you cry. If someone runs into your car, you become angry or annoyed. If you have a body ache, you take aspirin. These are all acceptable responses for our society and our bodymind. What if you laughed when someone broke your heart or you danced after someone ran into your car or you turned up your favorite music as loud as you could when you had a headache? People might think you are crazy, you might not care, because now you are refusing to respond the way you may have been programmed to respond. Our physiology responds with a story about how things are supposed to be. Choosing to respond differently opens the door for possibilities.
Have you ever woken with a runny nose, congested sinuses, and swollen eyes, coughing and wheezing? What type of health care will you seek? Traditionally, we seek health care when there is a health problem. Depending on the treatment that you believe works determines the type of health care you will seek.
If you seek the advice of an allergist, you may be told that you are the victim of an allergy. Once you are told that you have an allergy, for example, you can experience the symptoms, and go on living your life. If someone asks about your runny nose, you can respond, "Well, it's because I have this allergy." If you choose to see a nutritionist for the same problem, you may be told that the problem is an impoverished nutritional state, instead of an outside substance producing the allergy. As a result, the nutritionist might suggest a different diet or nutritional supplement. If someone asks you about your symptoms, you can respond, "I have a food allergy." And, if you decide to see a chiropractor, you may be told that the messages between the brain and respiratory passages are impinged upon by interference of the spinal nerves. The chiropractor's story centers around the need for messages from the brain to reach every vital organ and part of the body so that our life force will express itself properly. And if someone asks you about your coughing and wheezing, you can respond, "I have a subluxation in my spine." All of these professional diagnoses may be correct, but what is your story behind these diagnoses?
If we have a physical symptom or psychological distress, traditionally our goal is to battle it, cure it, or control it. Unexplainable and uncontrolled expressions of emotion, symptoms, breath, or body are considered problematic and require intervention by a specialist. Once the specialist applies her magical treatment to assist us in achieving comfort, this allows us to continue living our life as we normally do, without making changes to our story: attitudes, beliefs, or lifestyles that may have contributed to the problem in the first place.
Even though we experience an illness through our biology, our psychology and a strong cultural component is responsible for a significant part of our response to
circumstances, as well as the development and duration of symptoms and disease is linked to our views and experiences of our world. For example, your family doctor has discovered that you have the same terminal illness as your father had. According to your doctor's experience and beliefs, he will tell you have a certain number of days, months, or years to live. If you accept this diagnosis because your father did, and you might, it becomes your story. And so on and so on.
We cannot forget that the powerful placebo is 30 to 70 percent effective. The New York Times reported several studies that show the placebo effect at work: Venezuelan children with asthma had a 33% lung function increase by smelling a placebo. In Japan , people exposed to fake poison ivy developed real rashes. Patients who received arthroscopic knee surgery or were told they received the surgery produced similar levels of pain relief. 42% of balding men taking a placebo either maintained their hair or increased the amount of hair on their heads. Scientific America published a report where one group of patients received surgery to treat angina pectoris symptoms (severe pain and constriction about the heart), and enjoyed a 76% improvement. The placebo group had an incision made and were told they had the procedure performed. They had 100% improvement.
Although we may not be able to escape from our culture and our stories "Healing Myths, Healing Magic" inspires you to become the storyteller of your own life; to recognize and empower those stories that help your life flourish, so you can experience a greater level of health and well-being than any previous story has allowed.
Network Spinal Analysis and Somato-Respiratory Integration help individuals develop flexibility in the bodymind and the opportunity to create a shift in their self perception. I invite you to journey with me and entertain the possibility that you are more powerful, loving, creative, prosperous, compassionate, and healthy than you have ever imagined. See you at your next entrainment.
“Healing Myths, Healing Magic” is available for purchase at the Center for Holistic Health.