This introduction to the bio-medical model for healing is courtesy of
the Center for Intergrated Healing in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The non-profit center is staffed by medical, naturopath and Chinese
doctors who firmly believe that conventional medicine is only one
aspect of healing from chronic disease. The centre was founded by
Dr. Rogers who was recently presented with the Order of British
Columbia for his tireless and important work with cancer patients.
When I was first diagnosed with cancer I attended one of their weekly
seminars that discusses complimentary and alternative treatments for
cancer. These are wonderful people at the centre and they do a
fabulous job of putting people on the path to healing. They have a
very informative website with some great newsletters on PDF. Have a
look at their site: http://www.healing@bc.ca

Be well. Patrick


"The bio-medical model, the belief system which dominated
conventional medicine for much of the twentieth century,
perceives 'illness' as separate from 'self' and thus, for much of the
last century conventional medicine perceived illness as something
which can only be treated with outside agents (e.g., surgery,
radiation, chemotherapy). There is rapidly growing evidence from the
field of psychoneuroimmunology that this view of illness is very
limited, and that illness and our immune system are not separate
from 'self'. Many psychoneuroimmunologists are beginning to recognize
what 'healers' have known for centuries - that our mind and our body
are inseparable and that healing and the healthy functioning of our
immune system involve much more than simply medical treatments.

The healing-based medical philosophy - upon which the Centre for
Integrated Healing's program is based ( http://www.healing.bc.ca ) -
recognizes that 'illness' is not separate from 'self'. The healing-
based medical philosophy also recognizes that 'mind' is not separate
from 'body' and that how we feel has an important impact on the
healing process. Improving our well-being, our nutrition, our over-
all health and our immune system facilitates the healing process and
improves our chances of recovery.

Conventional medical treatment can play a valuable role in the
recovery from an illness such as cancer. Conventional medical
treatment is just one spoke in the wheel of an integrated, holistic
approach to healing.

All of these aspects of the healing/recovery process are interrelated
and each of these complementary activities/therapies contributes to
the benefit provided by the others in a synergistic way. As a result,
the overall benefits provided by such an integrated, holistic
approach to healing/recovery are far greater than simply the sum of
the individual therapies. In other words, healing is a holistic
process - it can not be simply reduced to its various components.

By exploring all of the aspects of the healing process - each of the
spokes in the wheel - we maximize our body's healing potential and
our potential for recovery.

The process of healing is a journey that is unique to each
individual. What is of great benefit to one person (e.g., prayer,
meditation, group supportive counseling, etc.) may not necessarily be
of benefit to another. To create your own personalized
healing/recovery plan, you must look deep inside to 'feel' what is
right for you. To maximize your body's ability to heal, you must
reclaim your own inner wisdom and feeling of control and reclaim your
responsibility for designing your own healing/recovery plan.

Our body has an amazing ability to heal. Thousands of cases
of 'spontaneous' healing from serious life-threatening disease -
including advanced untreatable cancer - have been well documented
scientifically, clearly demonstrating the human body's amazing
healing ability. With the renewed interest in the relationship
between self and illness, many scientists and physicians have begun
to study spontaneous healing from untreatable 'terminal' cancer in
hopes of beginning to understand how we can better facilitate this
healing process in others. This study of spontaneous healing is still
in its infancy - we know very little about how spontaneous healing of
cancer is accomplished. But, we do have some important clues.

People who undergo spontaneous healing of advanced, untreatable
cancer tend to share the following characteristics:


They have a deep belief in their body's ability to heal in spite of
being told by experts that their illness is terminal.

They regain a sense of control in their lives - a feeling of personal
autonomy. They assume responsibility for creating a recovery program
that is right for them - they do not simply abdicate responsibility
for their treatment to experts.

They undergo a 'spiritual transformation' - an awakening of the true
values and aspirations that have lain dormant deep inside themselves.
Truly alive - perhaps for the very first time - this spiritual re-
awakening brings a new authenticity to their life as they reconnect
with their deepest feelings, values and aspirations. Once healed,
they often look back upon their illness as a 'gift' that transformed
their life.

They bring a new authenticity to their relationships with others.

They fully reassess their lives - often making very significant
changes to their diet, life-style, career, goals, and relationships
with others.

They often make radically healthful changes in their diet - away from
refined, processed foods towards healthful, wholesome foods. They eat
more fruits and vegetables and less animal fat, and many become
vegetarian. Many begin taking vitamins and other supplements for the
first time.

They take more time to simply relax and enjoy their life. For many,
daily meditation or prayer becomes an important part of their life.

They learn to 'listen' to their bodies and to surrender to, rather
than resist, the day to day fluctuations of energy, symptoms and
emotions that accompany the healing process.

They reconnect with their sense of community and reclaim the joy that
comes from being of service to others. In healing themselves, they
facilitate healing in others.