Proposition of Value

Homeopathic Mind-Body Medicine More Effective than Traditional Western Medicine

Dor Raz

Santa Barbara City College

Communication 235

Professor: Cameron Sublett

April 6, 2014

Abstract

This research paper goes against the status quo in our society by arguing that majority of the time, the use of natural medicine is more effective in healing than traditional Western medicine. Through the use of yoga, meditation, nourishing foods, and positive thinking, natural medicine can improve many health complications. The objective is to illustrate how many people resort to taking pills or quick fix solutions when they could instead be cultivating healthful habits that can result in long term maintenance of well-being.

Keywords: 

mind-body medicine, natural, Western medicine, medicine, effective, positive thinking

Introduction:

        In today’s health world there are a number of various options when it comes to medical solutions. I’m here to argue that the use of  natural homeopathic medicine can be more effective than traditional Western medicine. Many of us resort to taking a pill to temporarily solve or relieve a discomfort, but what if there was a natural way to find relief? We can create healthy habits that are proven to help deal with stressful situations and illnesses that can provide long lasting satisfaction rather than just temporary solutions. Through the use of natural medicine and healing, we can achieve positive changes and improvements in both mental and physical health better than we can by picking up a new prescription pill from our local pharmacies. We can pick up nutritionally packed foods, we can use meditation to stay in the present moment and calm our nerves, we can use yoga to release emotions and get energy flowing in our bodies, and we can use positive thinking to cultivate the lives we desire and manifest positive energy into our lives with the use of our intention. No pill could ever provide all these things in the long run. By taking care of our minds, bodies, and spiritual health, we are taking responsibility for ourselves and are no longer relying on some magic pills or quick fixes to save us.

Immediate Cause:

        This topic is worth exploring because millions of Americans choose to reach for the bottle of pills next to their bed stand instead of trying to make lifestyle changes that create lasting results that lead to health that does not require reaching over for pills. If we learn to cultivate habits that preserve our health and learn to work towards improvements with ailments instead of quick fix solution, we would greatly improve in health as a whole, and we would ultimately be damaging our bodies much less. One of the primary issues with conventional Western medicine is that is not a holistic model for health. Instead of viewing well-being as a connection to the mind and body, Western medicine focuses on quick fix solutions that simply act as bandages for the underlying issues of imbalances in the body that can lead to a disturbance of health. Turning to prescription drugs to temporarily relieve symptoms of illness creates a reliance of exterior chemicals instead of maintaining a healthy lifestyle that significantly reduces the likelihood of ailments. Furthermore, the reliance of prescription drugs can turn into a bigger issue of addiction and dependency. (Bryne, 2009) The practice of using both the self and the environment to cultivate healthful habits that can ultimately create a state of well-being as a whole is a more promising form of medicine in comparison to conventional Western medicine that fails to view health as holistic model.

Historical Background:

Mind-body medicine is an ancient philosophy on health and was originally established in the East. Hippocrates once wrote, "The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well." It focuses on The ways in which emotional, mental, and spiritual, elements can  influence well-being. Traditional Western medicine is what is practiced in the West and is widely accepted across America as the status quo. Mind-body medicine focuses on viewing an individual as a whole entity in regards to health including physical ailments, psychological obstacles, emotional states, and spiritual states. In comparison, Western medicine tends to focus on the ailments or states that the individual is experiencing separately instead of holistically. The following research suggests that mind-body medicine is more effective in regards to most states of being.

Defining Key Terms:

Mind-body medicine can be defined as mind and body engaging in natural medicine that is not chemically altered or genetically processed including yoga, positive thinking, meditation, foods with nutritional value, and spending time in nature. Medicine itself is defined as a behavior, substance, or way of doing things that is intended to heal health complications that are a result of an imbalance. Effective means successful in most cases in accomplishing the task of creating and maintaining well being. Traditional Western medicine is any type of genetically modified medicine such as prescription pills, unnatural, or genetically modified medicine.Positive thinking is the act of keeping an optimistic attitude or belief system without suppressing negative emotions.

Placebo Effect:

        The placebo effect can often be negatively viewed in our society, but it is actually a wonderful phenomenon. In support of mind-body medicine, the placebo effect is essentially the connection from the mind to the body, and the creation of overcoming physical ailments through belief within the mind that healing is occurring. This means that the mind itself is actually the only thing doing the healing and since the mind is part of the self, the individual themselves are creating the healing and the prescription drugs. This supports the claim that mind-body medicine is more effective than conventional Western medicine because the belief in the mind has been proven time and time again to hold power over the perceived effect of the body, which has been demonstrated by placebo effect studies. (Walach, 2004)

By understanding that our state of mind and perception of medicine is largely responsible for the manifestation of healing, we can further understand that the use of mind-body medicine and positive attitudes can transform our overall well-being and health.

Hierarchies

 This argument follows the hierarchy that long-term health benefits and states of well-being are more important than quick fix solutions that act as temporary bandaids. This argument also follows the hierarchy that using natural methods is not only more effective, but also more protective of health than unnatural or genetically modified methods. This argument follows the hierarchy that natural is more important and better than synthetic.  It is worth noting that the mind-body path of medicine requires more time to merit it’s effects, but is more effective and healthful as far as longevity in comparison to Western medicine.For the purpose of this argument medicine is defined as a behavior, substance, or way of doing things that is intended to heal any type of health complication. I am here to argue that mind-body holistic medicine encompasses these traits in a more effective way than the traditional medicine we practice most prominently.  The following stock issues hold the self accountable for healing and well-being. Through the mind-body practices of eating foods with nutritional value, meditation, yoga, positive thinking, and spending time in nature, we can better understand the power of mind-body medicine in comparison to traditional Western medicine.

Food as Medicine

By being mindful of the fuel we are putting into our bodies and choosing food that nourish and heal, we can cultivate improvements in health and overall well-being. Hippocrates said “let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food,” and I’m here to argue that he was right. When we nurture our physical bodies with nutritional food, we get more energy. When we have more energy, we tend to feel happier, and when we feel happy, we cultivate happy thoughts. Thus, when we nourish our bodies, we also nourish our minds, thus making food a mind-body medicine, and a tool for improved health.Food can be such a powerful form of medicine that when compared to traditional medicine, it seems to offers impressive benefits. According to a study conducted by Harvard Women’s Health Watch, diet was proven to be just as effective as prescription drugs were in regards to treating borderline hypertension. (Harvard Women’s Health, 1998) This is an example of how instead of resorting to harming the body with unnatural chemicals, a nutritional diet can heal the body and act as medicine instead. Another study conducted by Harvard Women’s Health revealed that with improvements in both diet and consuming more nutritionally packed foods, participants of the study conducted were able to stop taking prescription pills to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. (Harvard Women’s Health, 1998) By supplying their bodies with proper fuel, their health improved and no longer was dependent on pills. More recent research done in support of this claim is a study conducted in 2013. This study found that children therapists who used a natural approach found the use of a healthy diet intervention a promising and vital  form of treatment for autistic children compared to prescription pills. (Robson, 2013)

Yoga and Meditation as Medicine

Yoga is a practice that engages our mind, body, and soul. By finding a sense of peace and acceptance within ourselves and our lives, we can practice and maintain healthfulness and well being. When practiced consistently, it has been proven to increase health and happiness which are both components of well-being. Practicing yoga and meditation while incorporating spiritual elements has proven to be connected to positive thinking. Positive thinking is a repeating factor as a method of coping with stressful life situations. Incorporating spiritual elements into meditation and yoga practice can promote positive thinking and thus create a ripple effect of mental health improvements. (Smith, 2011) Yoga has a way of shedding light of habits that we might have previously been unaware of. Yoga postures that require concentration for balance have been shown to increase levels of awareness. (Khadkutkar, 2012) By increasing awareness through the physical and mental aspects of yoga, we can detect the habitual behavior we practice that either drives us away from or prevents us from effectively cultivating a healthy lifestyle and overall well-being by being mindful  To further illustrate this point, Brisbon’s study revealed that the higher the level of mindfulness in meditation participants, the lower their stress level.  There have been previous studies supporting this claim, therefore only making the claim stronger than ever. (Brisbon, 2011) Thus showing a positive link between practicing mindfulness through meditation and a decrease in unhealthy stress. In a study conducted by Bonura in 2011, clinically diagnosed depressed participants reported lowered feelings of depression after just three consecutive yoga sessions involving basic postures and breath work. (Bonura, 2011) This fact shows that yoga is a powerful vehicle for change, even in a short period of time. It also backs up the claim that yoga has a positive effect on an individual’s quality of life. To further support yoga’s part in increasing mental health, consider the following:

Yoga’s potential for reducing stress-related symptoms is so strong, and so well established, that the National Institutes of Health recommended meditation over prescription drugs as the preferred treatment for mild hypertension in 1984. Yoga practice may reduce participants’ perception of stress and reactivity to stress, including the stress chronic conditions, such as cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, Parkinson’s disease, and the stress of caring for an individual with a chronic condition. For example, regular yoga practitioners were found to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in saliva samples. (Bonura, 2011, Page 130)

Yoga offers a homeopathic, holistic approach to healing, there are clearly many benefits beyond the widely recognized yoga postures. With such an impact on stress relief, doctors are choosing yoga as an approach to promote health and happiness in patients over conventional medicine.

 Feeling less stressed a strong benefit of yoga, however the beauty of yoga is that it affects the human body internally in complex ways. Not only does yoga contribute to mental health, but  yoga helps your body on a cellular level too. It helps your body to better detoxify free radicals caused by oxidative stress. The detoxification helps in preventing damage to important cellular components, which can reduce the risk of various ailments ranging from less severe conditions such as premature aging, to extremes- such as cancer. For example, the following research by Diamond in 2012 illustrates yoga’s impact on our physical health:

Yoga has been found to improve not only the perception of stress but its physiological impact on the autonomic nervous system, endocrine system, and the immune system. All of which can, over time, lead to disease, illness, and potentially death. It can also reduce the need for health care services and hence cost. (Diamond, 2012, Page 19)

In other words, yoga can help maintain a healthy functional body that prevents serious illness and diseases, which eliminates the probability of turning to prescription drugs. In practicing yoga, people tend to feel better because they are taking an active role in improving their health. Yoga makes our bodies run better by  increasing blood circulation, and strengthening our bodies’ immune systems to ensure we stay healthy. Good health is essential to living healthfully. By ensuring that we are taking an active role in keeping healthy, we can maintain a state of balance and prevent imbalances that need correcting. Furthermore, not maintaining a proper balanced diet can create indigestion in the body, and food stored in the body can create a build up of acidity. Certain yoga postures that open the heart space and chest area increase blood circulation which in turn promotes the release of digestive fluids and detoxifies the body, thus aiding in reversing the harmful symptom of unbalanced  nutrition. In regards to meditation, chanting and prayer also plays a role by calming down the body and body, which also helps prevent a buildup of acidity. (Khadkutkar, 2012)

Positive Attitudes/ Thinking

By controlling our thoughts and choosing to stay optimistic and think positive thoughts, we can alter our realities. This is because our realities is the manifestation of our thoughts and beliefs. What we think, we create and when we chose to focus our energies on healing energies, we manifest just that. According to David Lykken’s research, we do not have control over half of our thoughts; they are automatic, stemming from our genes. However, we can control the other half, and we can use this knowledge to our advantage and improve our lives. (Broadbent, 2007) Positive thinking can be a powerful tool in creating and maintaining health and well-being in comparison to traditional Western techniques. Choosing to focus on positive thoughts has a domino effect of lessening negative thinking and negative influence on an individual’s well-being. (Lightsey, 2012) Furthermore, studies have shown that conditioning the mind to focus on positive patterns of thinking carries over into other mental benefits by easing negative psychological conditions and promoting a sense of health. (Lightsey, 2012) Actively exchanging negative thoughts for positive ones has been shown to help with stress reduction by displaying lower levels of aggression and apprehensiveness while promoting self confidence and minimizing symptoms of depression. (Lightsey, 2012)

Interestingly, research has found that those fighting cancer that take on an attitude of optimism and faith experience greater feelings of overall life satisfaction than those who feel victimized and powerless. Thinking positive creates a sense of control of the unknown and leads to a decrease of anxiety and feelings of depression. (McGrath, 2006) To further support this claim, previous findings in studies reported that the promotion of belief of a better looking tomorrow creates both physical and mental benefits to those overcoming disease. (Cantrell, 2008) Cancer patients who take on a pessimistic outlook rather than an optimistic one are more likely to experience negative health consequences. (Cantrell, 2008) Optimism is a powerful tool that helps cancer patients stay strong through diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and even acceptance when losing their life from cancer. (Cantrell, 2008) Not only does the attitude of optimism and pattern of positive thinking lead to health benefits when in the midst of battling cancer, but the health benefits still held true up to nine months later past the point of the initial intervention encouraging positive thinking. (Cantrell, 2008) In addition to long lasting results past the point of intervention, in a study conducted studying the relationship between cancer and natural therapies, evidence was found that linked those fighting cancer that had psychosocial interventions resulted in longer life expectancy. (Shan, 2005) The above examples illustrate well that positive thinking can be a powerful vehicle for recovery and thus, an effective form of mind-body medicine.

 Yet another example is displayed in a study conducted by Occupational Health 60 on the effects of whiplash. The participants that did not think they would get better quickly from the effects of the whiplash were found to have the highest risk of a disability in the future. (Occupation Health 60, 2008) Research conducted in the University of Texas found that elderly people who were optimistic and thought positive thoughts over the course of seven years were less likely to become physically weak. This also implies that there is a mind-body connection through positive thinking that can positively impact physical health. (Johnson, 2005)

Nature Heals

 Nature is full of beauty, and it is also full of healing mind-body capabilities in comparison to conventional Western medicine. Research conducted at the University of Essex found that just spending just half an hour per day in nature can be more effective in treating depression than prescription drugs. (Diamond, 2010) This makes it a form of recovery that is easily accessible to most individuals to incorporate into their daily lives. Another study found that the average American spends 90% of their life indoors. (Harvard Health Letter, 2010) The average American will purchase a prescription pill rather than dedicating themselves to more exposure with nature. This statistic in unfortunate, because Vitamin D has disease fighting properties that help fight against cancer, depression, heart attack, and osteoporosis. (Harvard Health Letter, Page 2) It has been found that children with ADHD focus better after spending time in nature. They scored higher on a concentration test after spending sometime outdoors in comparison to not. (Harvard Health Letter, 2010) In another study, when exposed to natural sunlight, patients recovering from spinal surgery consumed less prescription pills, experienced less psychical pain, and less anxiety. This illustrate that nature is not only an effective form of mind-body medicine in itself, but it also decreases the need for or reliance on prescription pills. A separate study confirmed that a scenic view visible from a recovering patients window expedited recovery time versus having a window with no view of nature or greenery. (Harvard Health Letter, 2010) Patients overcoming breast cancer experienced fewer feelings of exhaustion and enhanced cognitive brain functioning after spending time in nature. (Hansen- Ketchum, 2009) A similar study found that results of following patients after breast cancer surgery showed that sunlight sped up the recovery process by an average of 16 fewer days in the hospital. (Largo-Wight, 2011) As illustrated in the above studies, connecting with nature helps with stress, better brain functioning, a feeling of belonging, and expedited recovery. (Hansen- Ketchum, 2009) This claim is supported by the findings that children who grew up in houses that had nature surround them were found to have higher levels of brain functioning in comparison to children who did not have nature surrounding them in their upbringing. (Hansen- Ketchum, 2009) A study conducted aimed to better understand the effects of nature and greenery in relation to proximity of an individual’s living environment found that the closer to nature, the less stressed and complicated the individual’s life. (Hansen- Ketchum, 2009) All of the above examples of nature’s part in healing by being a form of mind-body medicine are consistent in displaying it’s effectiveness.

Preemptive Argument:

It should be taken into account that there are certainly some situations in which conventional, prescription medicine is the better option for multiple reasons. An example of this is a study conducted by Yadav that found that stress harms the body and as a response can make medicine less likely to function properly. As previous findings suggest, meditation greatly reduces stress levels.  Therefore, by practicing a yogic lifestyle including meditation, medical patients can positively transform their life and make sure that the medicine they are taking is not harmed or altered by stress. (Yadav, 2012)  This study is showing how the combination of both mind-body medicine and traditional Western medicine can sometimes be the best option instead of simply one or the other. However, meditation in yoga can be a highly effective form of medicine on it’s own, and in the big picture there have been countless studies illustrating that the natural remedies listed above are a wise route to go. There are too many people popping pills for something they can solve by being present of the mind-body connection and healing themselves through the tactics previously discussed.

Conclusion:

        Through following the criteria, hierarchies, and definition of terms defined in this paper, the significance of mind-body medicine over traditional Western medicine in regards to effectiveness is apparent.  There is still research needed to further support these claims but with the information that is currently provided, the practice of mind-body medicine is promising. Through the use of food, yoga, meditation, positive thinking, and spending time in nature as practices of mind-body medicine, we can cultivate healthy lifestyles that prevent the appearance of illnesses and minizine the need for genetically modified conventional medicine. By creating and maintaining a state of overall well-being, hopefully we as a whole, as a society can significantly increase levels of health and wellness. Our health is such an important part of our lives, so giving it more time and love doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.

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