A healing world?

Modern medical practices raise questions about healing.

I am motivated to write today’s Post because a week ago, last Tuesday 24th April, I went to see my local doctor here in Payson.  I don’t want to rabbit on too much about that doctor’s appointment because that isn’t the thrust of this ‘essay’.  But let me just say this about that experience on the 24th, because it’s relevant to what I’m trying to convey.

A few years back, I was diagnosed with vestibular migraine but the reason for going to see the doctor was motivated by the realisation that over the last few months my memory was getting a little sporadic, for want of a more technical description!  But I felt that the vestibular migraine, that I still suffer from, was relevant to my assessment.  I should further add that the health clinic where this doctor is based have only seen me once before, for something minor.  In other words, they do not have a good understanding of me from a medical perspective.

So I enter the doctor’s room and in comes the medical assistant with her wireless-connected laptop.   Her fingers are poised to enter details.

I said, “Before we get going on my memory, can I talk about my vestibular migraine?”

The assistant replied, “Well I’m on the memory page, not the migraine page.  Which do you want to talk about?”

I sighed and indicated that she should ask me questions about my memory!

Ergo, this human that wanted to be seen as a human had to conform to the relevant medical label!

So with this still reverberating inside me, I was positively tuned to something recently published by Michele of Dogkisses Blog.  It was a very recent post called Green Healing – Horticultural Notes.  Let me ‘borrow’ a few words from that Post.

We always begin Horticulture Therapy by gathering in a circle to share plant news.  This time together is good, interesting and takes us in many directions.  We often visit our past of garden or plant memories and look to the future with hopeful or creative garden dreams and ideas.

Last week I arrived just in time to hear another participant sharing his idea for a creative planting container.  The young man was more engaged than usual and when he smiled and became excited about what plants to choose and where he would put his new container, I felt like I saw the heart of horticulture therapy.

I like to call these times Healing Happenings, which are moments in time when hope or happiness fills my heart and mind.  I’m not talking about everything being right or all problems being fixed.  I’m talking about a little piece of time when worry and stress take a back seat and the beauty of life emerges.

This got me thinking.  Is there a schism these days in modern medicine between curing and healing?  Have we created a situation where we rely on chemical and pharmaceutical technology to find a whole range of cures but, in parallel, is medicine losing sight of the need for healing?  Maybe some would argue that such a distinction is irrelevant; if one is sick then one is very needy for a cure.  But, overall, perhaps the evidence of better and better healing in our societies is pretty hard to find.    Take this that I read recently,

There is a growing epidemic of obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and predictions that 15,000,000 people in the United States alone will have Alzheimer’s Disease by the year 2050.

Back to Dogkisses blog,

Personally, ‘healing happenings’ include moments when I enjoy what I imagine most Mothers do, which is seeing our children, no matter what age they are, smile and be happy.  They’re also moments when I feel that my family will be okay.

There is always hope in a garden.  We hope it grows.  We hope it rains.  We hope to have a good harvest of food or lively blooming flowers that paint our world pretty.   I’m sure hope is part of why it feels good to work in a garden, whether you have a large field or a modest arrangement of containers on your porch.  Each day you have hope.

“When I’m in my garden, life’s troubles crumble away with the rich black soil between my fingers. I’m fully in my body, out of my head, my worries banished. My garden is my church, my time there sacred.”  (Garden your troubles away, by Amy Karon, PsycheScoop).

Here’s what I wrote as a comment to DK’s Post,

You using the phrase ‘green healing’ touches on the essence on what we all need to do to ‘survive’ in this crazy world. And, of course, I’m using the word ‘survive’ in a mental rather than physical sense.

It reminds me of the odd moments during the day when I hug one of the dogs and really give in to the feeling; almost as though the dog and I recognise it could be the very last hug in our lives. The emotional intimacy that flows from that private bonding across the two different (very different!) species is truly breath-taking!

So forgive my meanderings today but you may share my fear that by losing touch of the very powerful curative aspects of communing with nature, whether it be a garden, a walk in the woods, a swim in the sea or the warmth of an animal body, we may be missing real healing.  As Michele wrote, “Each day you have hope.”  Without hope there is nothing left.

18 thoughts on “A healing world?”

  1. I feel already ashamed, as my question has nothing to do with gardening or healing… almost the contrary, but, when I read about “15,000,000 people in the United States alone will have Alzheimer’s Disease by the year 2050” the first question that came to my mind was… are they allowed to vote and do they?

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    1. Dear Paul,

      I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had problems with your memory.

      Many people these days have memory issues earlier than they did 20 or 30 years ago. It’s scary. My land owner, a very nice man, has been diagnosed with dimentia in his early sixites and he’s an otherwise very healthy fellow. It scares him so much, that when he forgets my name each month when I pay the rent, he cries. He is a sensitive soul. He says his wife is his memory now.

      I too have had memory problems since 2010. Forgetting parts of the past, or worse in my opinion, five seconds ago, is unsettling for sure. I think our memory is part of what helps us feel safe and in control of our lives.

      Personally, healing is very different than having or hoping for a cure. If a person Heals, then I suppose he or she is Cured. However, many health issues are either ongoing or leave you with an awareness you didn’t have before and so, healing becomes a process, and something to Hope for each day. There are times when a person is cured, that there remains much healing to be done.

      I’ve been studying a little about horticulture therapy. Certain plants stimulate our memory. I’ll send you a link to some interesting information about this subject when I can.

      Have Hope!

      Warm regards and healing wishes,
      Michelle.

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    2. Per, nothing to feel ashamed about – your reflection is pertinent. Mind you, if democratic processes excluded all those who don’t or can’t think clearly, the Polling Stations would be awfully quiet! 😉 Paul

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      1. And Paul, if democratic processes excluded all those who say they can think clearly, the Polling Stations, could be somewhat safer too 😉

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      2. As they say, (whoever ‘they’ are), of all the forms of government a democracy is the least worst!

        Know any benign dictators? 😉

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  2. Dear Paul,

    I commented a moment ago, but apparently my words went into cyberspace.

    I will just say, for now, since I am hungry and need some breakfast, that I surely hope you resolve your health concern.

    And, if my comment did disappear, then I’d mentioned sending you links to information regarding plants and memory, which I’ll do when I can. There has been quite a bit of research in Horticulture Therapy about certain plants stimulating memory.

    I’m happy that my post inspired you to share your story and view. You always have an interesting take on things, which I guess is why LfD is such a great place to visit and read. Thank you.

    With Hope,
    Michelle.

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    1. Michelle, for reasons that I don’t understand, your two comments were in the spam ‘bin’.

      Thank you so much for your kind and loving thoughts. Jeannie was next to me when I read both the comments and we were on the edge of tears.

      I didn’t want to ‘dump’ everything in the Post but will do now because it’s the best way to respond to your comments in a way that makes sense.

      The doctor’s opinion at that appointment on the 24th was that I had early onset Alzheimer’s Disease. It was a huge shock to hear that, for both Jean and me. Then last Friday I spoke with a friend in Phoenix who is a retired doctor and he thought the idea of me having Alzheimer’s was preposterous. He also recommended a good friend who is a very experienced neurologist and Jean and I have an appointment with this person on Tuesday, 8th May.

      I expect that I will be sent for a number of tests, we will see.

      But I will write about it on LfD from time to time because undoubtedly there will be deeper psychological elements to muse on, and the more that all of us ‘out there’ share our life experiences, the closer we draw together as virtual communities. And another thing that we really can learn from dogs is the powerful emotional and spiritual benefits that come from close communities.

      All the readers of LfD offer me hope, every single day.

      Big hugs to you across the ether! Paul

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  3. Thanks so much for linking to my blog – I’m glad you enjoyed the post. My name is spelled Amy Karon. I’d be grateful if you could make that change. Thanks again!

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  4. Thanks so much for sharing Paul. I sure hope the neurologist can help clear things up, and will have some better news for you. My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but the doctor told me they didn’t give out that diagnosis until a person was very far into the disease process. My grandma was mentally fine until she got MRSA shortly before she passed on. So, I too think it is a far reach for that doctor to have diagnosed you with it.

    Like I told you, my land-owner was diagnosed with dementia. He went to New York where his son is a doctor and so it didn’t cost him as much, but yes, he went through many tests. He forgets things, and it makes him sad, but he is still very bright and sharp and says that acceptance, each day, helps him to cope.

    Speaking of dogs, I’m getting ready to take mine where they can run free. We have to go places to do that. I hope one day to have a fenced in yard again so my dogs can be free. Thanks for passing on some dog-hugs from me 🙂

    And, no problem at all about using my words. I am honored! Thank you. It is true, the more we share, the closer we are in community.

    I’m not sure why my comments are going to spam. WordPress lets me see comments and reply from my dashboard, so that’s the problem I think.

    The Thunder Beings are starting to roar, so I must go.

    Take good care, and again, I look forward to my next visit. Thanks too for permission to reblog. My son and I use Coconut Oil all the time now. Still Olive Oil once in a while, but not much. Good stuff and good for you.

    Warm regards and healing wishes,
    Michelle.

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      1. Thanks Paul! Travelling is hard, I can’t even find enough time to read your blog! And now my fantastic child has got a cold & tourista… Thx also for attracting my attention to that quote, I will repost it on Twitter!
        PA

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      3. I always make a point of going to your blog first thing in the morning. Then get side-tracked as the day gets going and forget to comment. Will do my best to amend that as your writings are consistently very thought-provoking. Paul

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