Spirituality and health
You may have wondered about what holistic (sometimes spelled wholistic) health care is, and I wrote a column about that very thing over a year ago. I’d like to dig a little deeper into one aspect of holistic health now.
For centuries, human health care was inextricably tied to spirituality and religion. The first physicians, according to archaeologists, were priests and shamans who sought the help of the gods or spirits in order to heal those who came to them. This continued for thousands of years, at the very least.
In ancient Egypt most doctors were also priests. These priest/ doctors believed that spirits affected the way the body worked.
They looked for ways to prevent or cure this by using a combination of prayer and natural — or non-spiritual — remedies. In ancient Rome, Aesculapius was the god of medicine, but he developed it into a “family business,” with two daughters: Hygeia (the goddess of health) and Panaceia (the goddess of healing).
But with the period of time we call “the Enlightenment” things began to change. The Enlightenment is also sometimes called the Age of Reason because during that time many authorities turned away from anything that did not have definite supporting evidence. In other words, there was an emphasis of reason over superstition and of accepting science over religion.
This produced what is called the mechanistic view of medicine. This means the body is basically an organic machine that runs on fuel, requires lubrication and maintenance, and must have periodic rest. The idea of a spirit or soul was considered to be an interesting concept, but one with no basis in fact since one could not see, touch or measure the spirit. The same sort of thinking applied to the mind (not the brain) because it was invisible, untouchable and unmeasurable.
This mechanistic view of the body dominated the Western practice of medicine for centuries after that, and in some circles still prevails. (Think of the program “House” on television where the heroic doctor rejects all but those things he can prove with physical evidence.)
But modern medicine is coming to terms with the idea that the soul, or at least the mind, actually exists. Psychiatrists began treating the mind in the early 1800s, although they were called “alienists” at the time—people who treated “mental alienation.”
And for the last 40 years at least, many doctors and hospitals have seen the value of spirituality in medical practice. In medical and nursing schools, students now are taught to respect the spiritual beliefs of their patients even if they do not agree with them.
If you see a doctor now, it is not unusual for the intake nurse to ask you questions about your spiritual/religious beliefs, and for the physician to ask you, at the end of your appointment, if you would like to have them pray with you.
These changes have come about because medical science has realized the value of good spiritual health as a component of good overall health. Speaking of spirituality, the National Institute for Health website says this: “Patients who are spiritual may utilize their beliefs in coping with illness, pain, and life stresses. Some studies indicate that those who are spiritual tend to have a more positive outlook and a better quality of life.”
The Family Doctor website (www. familydoctor.org) puts it this way: “Improving your spiritual health may not cure an illness, but it may help you feel better. It also may prevent some health problems and help you cope better with illness, stress, or death.”
What I am getting to, after perhaps too many words, is this: Maintaining good health is not only about getting enough exercise, eating the right foods and maintaining a good mental attitude. Holistic health is about body, mind and spirit. Neglecting any one of those aspects can … almost certainly will … keep you from being as healthy and as vital as you possibly can be.
Now, that doesn’t mean you have to show up for church or synagogue every week. It doesn’t even mean you have to attend there at all.
But it does mean you should develop healthy practices about that part of you — your spirit — that you cannot see, taste, feel or measure.
For some people, that means religion or religious services. For others, it may mean connecting with the Divine by meditating, by listening to uplifting music or by being out in nature. Each person connects with their spirit and with the Divine in their own unique way.
Find your way, whatever it is, and make it a regular part of your health practice. It really will make a difference.