For the first time in my life I had a consultation with a medical herbalist on Saturday. (I have a recurring digestive problem which I’m fed up taking conventional drugs for.)
I’m not about to tell you I’m instantly cured, but what an interesting experience the consultation was.
Although my regular doctor is actually very good and accessible, he’s always rushed. The consultation with the herbalist was quite different. For a start, it took over an hour. He asked all about my life, going back to childhood illnesses, family medical history, what I do for a living, what I do in my time off, my diet, whether I have any skin problems, whether I meditate, sleep patterns, all kinds of stuff.
In the end he mixed me up a herbal tincture which I’m taking three times a day. We’ll have to see if it works, but I’m hopeful. He also gave me lots of free advice about foods to avoid, herbals teas to drink and how long to let them brew for. The whole thing was relatively inexpensive, although I appreciate there are many who could not afford it. I’m very privileged.
It just struck me how little time conventional medicine gives to talking about the whole person, body mind and spirit. And how we’ve learned to expect an instant fix for specific symptoms.
And maybe that extends to other areas of our lives. For example, many of us go to church on Sundays to pray, work to earn money, go to the gym to exercise our bodies, drink with our friends to have fun. There’s such separation in our lives.
The whole experience with the herbalist got me thinking about this separation and how it might be possible to be more whole in our living.
Where do you find wholeness in your life?
Photo of medieval herb garden by JL2003
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Tess,
That photo makes me want to sit and enjoy the view, then to go up the stairs to see what is inside the door. How wonderful and “home” that picture is.
In the time we’ve lived here I’ve come to cherish being home. I can no longer go to work as I cannot measure up to the attendance requirements and I no longer go to church because of fatigue. I find my life more centered here where the woods are so close, am bouyed by the time in the veggie garden, relish the books I have time to read, delight in the creative choices I have time for, enjoy the time with family members, and worry only about money and the what ifs ….
The worry keepa it from being paradise.
Pass the herbal tincture, please!
Hugs!
That pic is just SO beautiful!
What a great experience with the herbalist. It’s so important and healing just within itself to be listened to and know the person is trying to understand you.
Where do I go for wholeness? Inwards. Which is quite hilarious really seeing it’s so not-whole in there. But the Kingdom lives in there too, so it works
I would say my wholeness is most felt in my home. But the wholeness is carried from outside to inside as I love the going out and gathering strength at the gym, mind/body from the yoga, the knowledge at the bookstore, the beauty in an art space, the shared friendship over lunch or in a volunteer project, the church community experience – but it all comes back to me in my home, where I live, where I love, where I rest, where I pray, where I listen to the cricket outside my window tonight as I read from the beautifully crafted blogs of my online friends. I don’t know if the wholeness would be here for me if I was unable to gather the pieces one at a time……it’s a great question you’ve given me to ponder.
Photography is wholeness — whatever is happened upon, just as it is, becomes the subject matter.
It’s completely different isn’t it? I think going to do different healers from different cultures in particular is very revealing about how messed up western medicine is. I’m glad he took the time to listen to you and give you advice without rushing you out of his office. I especially wish you much healing energy.
My osteopath has already helped me with my sleeping disorder. It’s the first time I have had hope for healing in a very long time.
I’m so pleased to hear you had this positive health care experience, Tess. This comes from someone who has worked within the “Western” medical system for over 20 years and believes in the holistic approach (versus disease or single system orientation) to assessment and treatment. It’s sadly true, though, many times we feel rushed and inadequate because of heavy patient/client loads and the pressure to discharge sooner rather than later.
But enough about that. You asked where we find wholeness in life. I was going to say the garden, which is true, but more generally, any natural place with green plants, blue sky, water, rocks and native fauna (the shy and gentle type who won’t eat me).
Lovely, lovely photo. Thank you for sharing.
PS: I’m still working on your caterpillar question and soon will post what I’ve learned.
Well I’m just reading these lovely comments while sipping my chamomile tea, which seems very appropriate!
@Another Barbara: Indeed, isn’t the photograph inviting? I love Flickr, I’m like a child in a sweetshop revelling in the creative gifts of all those photographers. Your description of the heart of your life is lovely.
@Sue: I’ve consistently noticed in your writing your willingness to go inside, and I love this insight about seeing the Kingdom as well as the ‘grot’ we all live with.
@Sunrise S: I know this is going to sound strange, but what you describe is your home like a big, benign spider at the heart of a beautiful web. A strange image for a borderline arachnophobe like me!
@EI: You’ve put your finger on why for me, photography is such a joy – it captures the whole focus of the instant the shutter clicks, whether the focus is shallow or broad.
@Sacred Suzie: so pleased to hear about your osteopath, they can be real miracle workers. Sending healing thoughts and prayers to you.
@Elaine: it’s interesting to hear your perspective on the rush. I don’t blame the medics, it’s the system. And yes I’m with you on the fauna that don’t bite! Looking forward to the caterpillar reference, how lovely to know people that know about these things.
I spy Glasto??
I’m spreading some love about today – check out my blog for an award for you!!
TGW x
GW: Rye, actually!
I saw it, thank you so much, it’s great!
Tess – perhaps my next pseudonym should be Charlotte:)
SS: took me a few minutes, but yes, there’s a thought!
Tess, I reflected later when I mentioned “Charlotte” that perhaps the English were not as totally familiar with the story of “Charlotte’s Web” as Americans….but then again, you don’t miss out on anything, and sure enough you didn’t:)
hi tess–just catching up a bit here. i love this idea of wholeness…and even “idea” seems like the wrong word. wholeness just is. i am finding it more and more these days as i come to know myself better from the inside out. as i prepare to start back to work with students, we have been asked to consider the task of “integration” and how it relates to our mission of combining text, soul and culture. somehow integration and wholeness seem to be very closely related and for me it comes when i am able to combine text (which i believe is anything that can be ‘read’), soul (the essence of who we truly are) and culture (the world around us, particularly people and relationships).
not sure if any of that makes sense AND i love the image of the web
Interesting post Tess, I have just been to a Chinese Medicine place for the first time ever too.. for acupuncture and herbs. I am also fed up of no luck with the western doctors… Might post about it soon.
Hope you feel better soon…
X R