Dr. David Gersten MD
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Meaning and Medicine

In every culture, meaning forms the foundation for understanding illness. Making sense of one's illness, and knowing the meaning it holds for us can be as important in the healing process as the recommended medication, operation, amino acid, herb, vitamin, etc.

Meaning has everything to do with the onset of illness, treatment course, recovery rate, and every other aspect of health. Yet, many physicians largely ignore belief and meaning. We can do the most extensive nutritional evaluation of a person with a chronic illness, testing for blood levels of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, glutathione, oxidative stress, and literally hundreds of other important factors. But if the person believes he does not deserve to recover, he probably won't. The diagnosis may be correct. The treatment may be correct, but the patient won't easily heal unless his deep and profound sense of unworthiness is addressed. It must be addressed as a central part of treatment, not a little stress reduction to "round out the holistic program."

A meaningful life is like a horse that easily pulls the cart behind it. A sense of unworthiness is like a wounded horse painfully pulling an overloaded cart. The horse (meaning) must be made healthy.

People who seek alternative medicine, wanting a holistic approach, often still want the "magic bullet," the hallmark of traditional medicine. They want the "alternative magic bullet" such as the right amino acid or the correct chiropractic adjustment. However, a sense of unworthiness or chronic emptiness has such a profound physiological impact that they can override the best treatment.

Why do meaning and belief have such a powerful effect on health? The scientific explanation comes from the field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). PNI demonstrates that the mind is not limited to the space between our ears. In fact, mind and body cannot be easily differentiated. Where does the mind end? Where does the body start? We really don't know.

Psychology becomes biology. Emotion and thought congeal into beliefs and a sense of meaning. And meaning affects our physiology so powerfully that one can say, "meaning is imbedded at a cellular level."

Now, take a moment to answer these questions about belief and meaning. Think about your biggest problem, symptom, or illness. Then answer without censoring your first response. A truly holistic approach to your healing must include these questions.

  1. Do I deserve to be healthy?
  2. What is the meaning of my problem?
  3. What beliefs are hindering my healing?
  4. If there are miracles, do I deserve one?
  5. Do I deserve the best in life?
  6. How would my life change if I were totally healed?
  7. Is there really any hope for me?
  8. What would be the downside of solving my problem or recovering?

In assessing our beliefs about health, we must include the spiritual dimension. Ninety-six percent of Americans believe in God. Of the remaining four percent (atheists and agnostics), half pray. Fifty percent of Americans want their doctors to pray with them in the doctor's office. So, doctors are on safe ground when exploring these questions with patients. Many people believe that God is punishing them and that is why they are sick. Others, especially those who were abused or neglected as children, feel that God abandoned them as children. I have often heard survivors of abuse ask, "How could God have let that happen to me?" I don't have the answers, but I know that a spiritual re-connection must occur, because a "spiritual disconnect" impedes the ability to be whole and healthy.

Let's look at a situation where powerful, positive belief about health played a major role in healing. Dr. Bernie Siegel, best-selling author of "Love, Medicine, and Miracles," was treating a man with a heart condition. The man had a heart gallop, which is not a good thing. Dr. Siegel expected this man to recover slowly in the hospital. However, shortly after hospitalization, the man was sitting up in bed, feeling great. Dr. Siegel asked how he could be feeling so good. His patient replied, "Well, you said I had a gallop and I figured that was a great thing to have, as if my heart were like a good, strong horse." The man's understanding of the word "gallop" was totally incorrect, but the meaning he assigned to it was so powerfully positive that he recovered far ahead of schedule.

Meaning can also be quite negative. When we think about voodoo death, we think of third world countries in which someone can say a forbidden word to the victim, point a special bone at him, or even say his name — and the victim quickly dies.

The "primitive" beliefs that lead to voodoo death are also rampant in America. Cancer patients are frequently told by their doctor, "You have three months to live (or six or twelve)" and the cancer patient dies on schedule. This voodoo death works because many of us still believe that our doctors are omnipotent and so we follow their directions passively. I highly recommend that people ask their doctors many questions. Why don't people ask their doctors enough questions or ask for proof that they will be dead in three months? Because they believe that nice people and good patients don't "bother" their doctor with lots of questions. My question for you — Would you rather be nice and dead . . . or a little pushy and alive?

Each of us is dealing with unique problems and illnesses. We must progress at our own pace. Our job is to help you identify your roadblocks to healing. Those roadblocks can include easily identifiable items such as not eating breakfast. Roadblocks can also be dangerous beliefs, negative meanings, feelings of unworthiness, or chronic self-doubt. You will eventually suffer emotionally and/or physically if you are living someone else's dreams and not "following your own bliss," to quote Joseph Campbell.

Along these lines, research has identified the two most important predictors of heart disease: 1) job satisfaction, and 2) overall happiness. Our work includes diagnosing and treating the "illness," making sure that people have job satisfaction, and also helping them to identify and follow their bliss. Our job includes helping our patient make his or life happy. In order to cure your heart disease, for example, you may have to discover how to be happy and fulfilled. To quote ‘Bernie’ again, "There is no false hope. There is only false no hope." We can help you develop real hope and positive meaning through specific mental imagery techniques, meditation and solid strategic thinking.Note: the title of this article is inspired by Dr. Larry Dossey's book "Meaning and Medicine."

by David Gersten, M.D.

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Aminoacidpower.com from Dr. David Gersten MD, formerly known as Dr. Dennis Gersten.

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