| The
close relationship between the mind and the body is now generally
recognised.
The blush on a person's face as a sign of embarrassment,
or the palpitating heart after a fright, are just two simple,
everyday examples of this inter-connection. The mind can,
however, affect the body in much more extensive ways.
The mind is prone to retain its secrets, particularly when
they are hidden away in the dark, inner recesses of the subconscious.
This is in fact, the crux of what is a two-way problem.
On the one hand, a positive optimistic outlook and a pleasant
sunny disposition, which are often the result of a happy childhood,
can be invaluable in promoting physical health. On the other
hand, a negative pessimistic outlook can lead to all kinds
of physical problems.
In the past, the suggestion that serious physical ailments
could have their origins in the mind was frequently dismissed.
Now, in more enlightened times, the idea is more readily accepted.
The mind affects the body, but the body also affects the
mind. Aches and pains can be clues to mental disturbances
that, if left to smoulder, can have serious consequences for
the entire personality.
Every psychotherapist will confirm that such mental disturbances
are not only detrimental to the body, but can also result
in a person becoming entirely lost to reality. Fortunately,
psychosomatic problems are now being taken much more seriously
and are being carefully studied.
The word 'psychosomatic' was first used in the 19th century
by Johann Neinrothh, the German missionary. It is a word which
links the 'soul' to the 'body'. It is interesting to see that,
even so long ago, the link between the spirit and physical
illness was recognised.
The solution to these types of illnesses can often be found
in the sufferer giving vent to his or her feelings. The troubles
start when emotions are pent up. For example, unexpressed
hope or fear can result in a nervous stomach. These conditions
may be helped with herbs such as Hypericum (St John's Wort)
and Centaury.
To keep our body and spirit in balance, we must keep a careful
check on all our emotions. The complexities of the human brain
are quite amazing. It is a marvelous storehouse of memories,
both good and bad, filing every past experience away in the
subconscious. It only requires the slightest association for
these to be triggered back into our awareness.
The trouble starts when someone is lacking this association
and unpleasant memories remain buried in the mind. The cure,
of course, is to unearth the memory and bring it to light,
which often demonstrates to the conscious mind that it was
originally of little consequence. This can be a very difficult
and lengthy process.
Broken relationships and the pain of losing a loved one
often result in what is commonly referred to as a 'broken
heart'. The heart, of course, neither looks nor feels any
different, but the aching pain of emptiness is often enough
to justify the description.
In a study of heart transplants, one patient who had undergone
such an operation was asked if he felt he had changed emotionally.
He replied that his attitude had changed greatly. Could there
be more of a link between the heart and the mind than is suggested
purely by anatomical and physiological function?
In naturopathy, it is always vital to recognise the link
that exists between the heart and the mind, or the body and
soul.
|
