By David Hawkins
We are living at a time when people are looking for more information
about their bodies and how to prevent disease. In medicine, bridges
are being built between the East and West, the ancient and modern
forms of understanding bodies and their processes. The ancients of
the East and the West saw the world as a unified whole in that we
are all intimately connected. Our modern view has lost that sense,
and we are struggling to find it again. By opening ourselves to these
more wholesome approaches, we are bridging that gap.
One common thread seen in all these healing systems is the role of
herbs. The World Health Organization estimates that over 80% of the
world population uses herbs and some other form of traditional healing
systems. Even in many modern countries, herbal medicines are still
available and prescribed by physicians. The United States is the only
country that does not honor its traditional system and incorporate
it into its health care system. It is estimated that if we had a preventive
area of medicine with the use of natural substances, we could reduce
health care costs dramatically. It gets back to the idea that prevention
is worth a pound of cure.
How did traditional people discover their methods? Many say trial
and error. There is some truth to that when we understand the doctrine
of signatures. Some examples of this are: Ginseng, whose roots resemble
that of a human figure and whose general use is as a tonic; Blood
Root, whose roots are blood red and used as a blood purifier; and
Goldenseal whose yellow-green root signifies its use in jaundice as
well as infections. Plants have been used as medicines since the dawn
of animal life.
Observation of animal behavior revealed that many animals would eat
plants that would heal them. It is also believed that humans possessed
that ability at one time. It was commonly believed that plants were
signed by the creator with some visible clues that would show their
therapeutic use. From this experience thousands of years ago materia
medicas (books containing prescribing notes on herbs) began to surface.
Chinese, Babylon, Egyptian, Indian, Grecian, and many other cultures
developed and kept concise records of healing systems. These same
records are in use today and still apply in our modern day world.
To traditional people the world was alive with powers, life force,
and spirit. Their oneness with nature was not an abstract concept
but a deep spiritual relationship with the creator. The perception
of life was not linear but circular. Thus, treatment included the
physical and spiritual in the form of food, herbs, and physical therapy
along with ritual, jewels, crystals, and prayer. Today modern science
knows these methods work and much research is being conducted on the
mind/body connection. A new therapy, psychoneuroimmunology, is surfacing
and deals with the concept.
We are living in uncharted times. Never before have we humans experienced
the type of life we are experiencing now with pollution, automobiles,
chemical derived foods, and the list goes on. How is our genetic programming
dealing with these issues? Look at the statistics for degenerative
diseases, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. They are
all epidemic, and modern medicine can't seem to stop its growth. Why?
We have been living against the natural order, that is why many of
the natural approaches seem to bring benefits when those afflicted
bring back harmony or balance to their lives.
It takes a new awareness and an appreciation for life in general
to establish a preventive viewpoint. As quoted by Hippocrates, "It
is more important to know what kind of patient has a disease than
what kind of disease a patient has."
David Hawkins, owner of Mother Earth Foods, has been a practicing
herbalist for over 25 years. He is president of the West Virginia
Herb Association and is available for lectures and private consultations
through Integrative Holistic Health Services. Send comments and questions
to 1638 19th St., Parkersburg, WV. 26101 or visit www.motherearthworks.com
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