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The
Move Towards Holism
Traditional
Western allopathic therapy which produces effects differing from those being
treated and involving chemically based medicines has experienced in recent
years an increasing disenchantment in the minds of a widening section of
the Australian community. The concentration on specific areas of the body,
the 'quick fix' from antibiotics, the adverse side effects of potent drugs
and the attending to symptoms rather than effecting cures is currently suffering.
There is a realization by thinking individuals that an obsolete scientific
ethos based on the long held view of humans as chemically based 'machines'
provides little dignity, meaning or purpose to life itself. The more realistic
concept of humans as 'energy systems' continually interacting with the environment
is taking hold at a rapid pace. This transformation is due also to the strengthening
influence of Eastern culture in Australia as well as a long overdue understanding
that we need to learn from nature and her own logic… (plus the increasing
presence of Deepak Chopra in Australia). The medical establishment is a
awakening to the fact that over 50% of people now go to alternative therapists
for health treatment. Jungian psychology and the psychoanalytic methods
will also become more popular leading to a demand for changes in conventional
psychology.
 A telling features article in the March 1999 edition of the national journal
Medical Observer titled Complementary Therapies Go Mainstream begins: What
used to be known as 'alternative medicine' is now known as 'complimentary
therapy' and a growing number of GP's are keen to incorporate these forms
of treatment into their practices.
The Australian Integrative Medicine Association is only a couple of years
old, but already boasts 400 members - 99% of whom are GP's (general practitioners).
As an umbrella body for various colleges which educate GP's, the association
has been able to monitor the trend nation-wide, and estimates that 3000
or more GP's have undertaken studies or education in alternate therapies.
The development of degree courses in naturopathy at private colleges and
private colleges who have entered into partnerships with universities is
bringing the standard of naturopathic education in line with conventional
standards of medical education. Community pressure, generally from the more
educated and sophisticated is a prime reason for the upsurge of interest
by the medical fraternity. Those therapies that appear to have had top popularity
to date are : exercise prescription - nutrient supplements - mind/body medicine
(relaxation and meditative techniques) - herbal medicine - acupuncture and
homeopathy.
In the area of research into natural therapies there are five complementary
medicine research units in Australian universities that have all been established
in the past five years.
The MIND - BODY-SPIRIT - FESTIVAL 2000 recently held in Sydney from April
27th to April 30th at the Darling Harbour Exhibition
Centre showcased this relatively recent (for the West) approach to life
to thousands of visitors. The event's theme has been outlines by Garham
Wilson, Founder and Director of the Festival: Our greatest challenge is
perhaps how to stay in harmony with nature without sacrificing the comforts
and technological advancements of the 21st century. We have chosen
Eco-living as out millennium theme, reflecting the need to use renewable
resources, adopt plant based diets, reduce pollution of air, water and land,
and integrate natural orthodox medicine and surgery. Eco-living also embraces
our need to rediscover out inner peace and knowing, to reduce stress and
get in touch with out higher selves.
The Mind Body Spirit Festival itself must reflect the changes that are happening
so we have chosen the butterfly as our programme cover to symbolize transformation.
We have introduced also free daily meditation lessons during the festival.
Over 200 stands presented innovative products, revelations in natural health
and healing, holistic medicine and sustainable living. Continuous talks
and workshops ranged from such subjects as "Tibetan Black Hat Mastery' -
'Exploring the Afterlife' - 'Natural Alternatives to Hormone Replacement
Therapy' - 'Alien Abductions and UFO Phenomenon'-'Numerology' - 'Astrology'
- 'The Healing Power of sound' - 'Feng Shui' - 'Ki Yoga' and 'Hypnotherapy'.
Innumerable musical and dance performances accompanied the 4 day event to
be held again from November 2nd to November 5th 2000
at the same venue.
A key element emerging in this upsurge of interest in spiritual matters
and Eastern therapies is the ancient Vedic 'Science of Life' Ayurveda.
Widely known and practiced in India, the fundamental credo of this 5000
year old method can be broadly stated as 'correct attention to the three
integrated facets of spirit mind and body which constitute the human experience'.
Ayurveda sees a human being as a microscopic part of the macrocosm, or cosmos,
and governed by the same universal principles. Know thyself and you will
known the secrets of the Universe is an appropriate ancient aphorism.
The concept of energetic balance in all three areas leading to an ideal
state of well-being is central and has pointed the way over the centuries
to practically all other Eastern healing traditions that relay on natural
methods not only to effect cures but, moreover to prevent illness occurring
in the first place.
Ayurvedic principles walk in tandem with advanced Western bio physics which
sees environmental factors as the primary influence on behavioral patterns
as well as the physical state of a human being. Environmental fields of
subtle energy which carry information, continually impinge upon our cell
surface membranes which act like tiny antennae. In turn, these membranes
relay the information throughout our body via receptors now called 'neuropeptids'
formerly labeled 'hormones'. The DNA molecule within the cell's nucleus
is concerned primarily with protein synthesis and the construction of the
physical form: it is not the 'architect', as many believe. The brain is
seen today as a member of the endocrine system, not the seat of mind. Candace
B. Pert, Research Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics
at Georgetown University Medical Centre in Washington University Medical
Centre in Washington D.C. and well known lecturer, states it clearly in
her book titled Molecules of Emotion (Simon and Schuster. New York. 1997).
Mind doesn't dominate body, it becomes body: body and mind are one. Body
is the actual outward manifestation in physical space, of the mind. New
insights are swiftly forging a new science of life': in reality, an ancient
Ayurvedic brew in a new bottle. As Socrates once said:… All learning is
merely recollection.
Ayurveda, understandably, is far reaching in its implications as well as
its applications and the individual is all important. There are no 'quick
fixes'. Attention to a patient's spiritual, mental, emotional and physical
aspects determines any truly professional assessment of existing anomalies
in the human system; a totally holistic approach. Some of the highly qualified,
professional Indian Ayurvedic practitioners conducting their work in Sydney
are profiled her. |
