THE HEALING POWER OF BENEFICIAL CONDITIONS

Ancient wisdom tells us that a happy heart always has great healing power. At present, the beneficial physiological changes in the body and the beneficial energizations of the mind that are produced by the blissful states of cheerfulness, joy and humor have not yet been sufficiently studied, but we can easily see that their effects are obviously the opposite of those caused by fear, anger or frustration.

Comments made by-over time

Almost 400 years ago, Robert Burton, in his book "The Anatomy of Melancholy", observed that humour purifies the blood, rejuvenates the body and prepares it for any situation. Joy is the main engine for breaking down the walls of melancholy and is a very effective healing cure.

Sigmund Freud stated that mirth is a very useful way to counteract nervous tension, and he also found humour to be a particularly effective therapy in many situations of physical illness or emotional disturbance. Sir William Osler believed that laughter is the "music of life" and that people can preserve their youthful state by laughing more often and being in high spirits. Dr Norman Cousins writes ina 1976 article in the New England Journal of Medicine, that he s-He healed with laughter, vitamin C, and the help of an understanding doctor. He stressed the importance of mobilising one's own latent therapeutic powers in every human being. The sick person has the responsibility and the power to become and stay healthy, and the therapist acts only as a teacher and guide.

Studies and conclusions

          An interesting study of gallbladder surgery was published in the journal Science (USA) in 1984. In this study, 23 patients were kept in rooms with windows to a natural landscape. They needed a shorter postoperative period in hospital, fewer painkillers, and received fewer negative ratings in nurses' reports than 23 other patients who were hospitalised in rooms with a view of a brick wall. S-has thus been able to ascertain that a natural landscape undoubtedly induces positive feelings and states of mind, supports interest and concern for healing, reduces the fear of suffering, and in the case of persons characterised by a heightened state of stress, such a natural landscape can reduce or even stop anxiety.

         While negative emotions (such as fear, anger, rage, jealousy, greed, frustration) destroy life, positive feelings (such as love, hope, self-confidence, creativity, goodwill and the will to live or the desire tohelp others selflessly) will contribute greatly to our health and well-being.

         An important message of the age-old Science of Life (Ayurveda) is that health, instead of being "provided" or "supplied" by someone, is actually to be realized by each human being through his or her individual daily beneficial concern (Svasthavritta). Every human being has the power and also the responsibility to-and maintain a healthy body and mind by following a few simple rules of action and conduct, regarding food, exercise, sleep, personal hygiene, sex life, as well as ethical and moral rules of behaviour (YAMA and NIYAMA).

A new perspective

           Today, many health problems are caused by socio-economic factors.economic, which can, however, be modified by aa beneficial collective concern and action. The goal of health education is to make people understand how their behaviour and environment can affect their health.

           Health education has no age limit. Its aim is to promote 'human well-being' by natural means and to provide practical means of disease prevention throughadequate feeding and througha healthy way of life that allows modern man to successfully overcome stress and the many situations that can lead to a possible body imbalance.

          An integral part of the doctor-patientpatient is to educate the patient about the nature and significance of the disease and the possibilities for beneficial lifestyle modification. This is the real meaning of the term 'doctor', which comes from the Latin 'docere' ('to teach'). Today, many of us have neglected this meaning of the doctor's role.

          Therefore, the essence of good medical practice is health education, carried out with the aim of promoting the best possible health, including simple and affordable ways of preventing disease and caring for the sick.