To be diagnosed with
myasthenia gravis is a devastating experience, especially when your doctor told
you there is no known cure to date, except managing the symptoms of your
autoimmune disease. Don't feel desperate and despondent because you have no
idea how you got the autoimmune disease; despair will only lead to
worsening of your autoimmune disease symptoms. Self-efficacy, which is
self-belief, is critically important in healing any disease.
Since time immemorial, it has been human nature to get healed from disease and
disharmony in the body and the mind. For thousands of years, physicians and
sages have acquired and assimilated wisdom in healing.
What is wisdom in
healing?
Wisdom is the
ability to interpret information in order to influence one' s choices in
actions that will ultimately transform the body and the mind. Wisdom in healing
is therefore the use of right choices for right actions to facilitate the
natural self-healing process innate in humans.
The wisdom of some of
the ancient health and healing systems manifests the importance of holistic
wellness and the power of natural healing:
(1) Hippocrates (born around
450 B.C.) was the Father of Medicine. His Greek medical system was based on moderation for a balanced
lifestyle in harmony with nature for natural healing. Hippocrates once said: "A
wise man ought to realize that health is his most valuable possession, and
learn how to treat his illnesses by his own judgment." In other words, if
an individual takes good care of his or her health, that individual is in fact
saying: "Doctor, you're fired!"
(2) The Tibetan health
system came under the influence of Buddha, and Tibetan monks who practiced
compassion and mindfulness. Tibetan medicine emphasizes virtuous conduct, a
healthy diet, regular daily activity and seasonal routines to promote all-round
health and natural healing. In addition, its medical system heavily relies
on herbal cures for natural healing. For more information on Tibetan
natural healing, go to: The Five
Tibetan Rites, a set of physical activities to promote physical and
mental wellness.
(3) The Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM) also embraces an extensive herbal medicine. For
thousands of years, Chinese doctors have believed that
"qi" (internal life energy) flows throughout the body by
way of channels or meridians. This internal life force is capable of
continuous circulation to provide oxygen and nutrients to different parts of
the body when there is balance between opposite
forces of "yin" and "yang." Essentially, these
internal “qi” energies are energies of the universe. Imbalance results in
stagnation or blockage of "qi", which is the cause of disease. (For
more information, visit my website: Chinese Natural Healing.)
(4) The Ayurveda
system in India
The major difference
between the wisdom of these long-standing health systems and that of modern
Western medicine is that the former focuses on the prevention and natural
healing, while the latter emphasizes the cure and the removal of disease
symptoms. There is a saying that if the only tool you have is a hammer, then
everything looks like a nail to you. For Western doctors, their hammers are the
prescription drugs. They emphasize eliminating the symptoms of disease, instead
of eradicating the causes.
Western medicine
provides invaluable medical knowledge through experimental research, while the
ancient medical systems provide wisdom. Knowledge does not necessarily make one
wise; true wisdom is the intuition, interpretation, and application of right
knowledge.
To find out more about
wisdom in living, read my book: The Book of Life and Living.
The first step towards
coping with myasthenia gravis is to empower
yourself with knowledge about the autoimmune disease, and then take appropriate
actions to eradicate its symptoms. Healing is possible if you believe it.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen
Lau
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