HOW TO INTEGRATE THERAPIES FOR HEALTH,
PART 1

I hope that with this essay, we can continue to develop a dialogue which has been central to the existence of the FPCIHH. It is a dialogue that involves not only health professionals, but also the people that health professionals devote their career lives to – You, the patient.

The Great Communication

We live in a world where a Great Communication is taking place. Information of all types is being transmitted between widely separated geographic regions. This information includes cultural traditions and values, music, food, arts and sciences, methods of schooling, clothing, medical practices and everything in between. Contrary to popular belief, however, there may be only one new thing about this great communication – and that is the rapidity with which it is occurring.

On Diplomacy, Mercantilism and Love

Cross-cultural fertilisation has been going on since people had legs to walk on, and later, boats and ships to sail on. North and South America, for example, were not discovered in 1492, but were already richly populated and had experienced periods of intensive cross-cultural pollination for centuries beforehand. All the major civilisations had made journeys across the oceans, including the Chinese. During the Shang Dynasty, about 2,500 years ago, the Chinese established settlements and trading activities with the American Civilisations all along the Pacific coast. The American Civilisations themselves had crossed the oceans at various times. With a little research we come to realise that our current period of cross-pollination is merely the latest in a long string of similar activities.

As in the past, part of the current cross-pollination is the exchange of medical knowledge and practices. We have a situation where different civilisations give each other the fruits of their medical experience and knowledge – this situation is wonderful! Each group gives their best, their piece of gold, for the benefit of all. This flies in the face of all the politics and infighting because, when we get down to it, it turns out to be a work of love, a great-hearted attempt to take care of each other.

The Weak Underbelly

However, having to be receptive of the good, we also must be receptive of the “bad” - the “bad” being the conflict, infighting and politics we find in our modern medical mix. From this author's point of view, it is possible that the fighting has to do with two major issues: one issue could be called “the winning mentality” or “superiority”, and the other issue could be called “sameness” or “only one way”.

The first attitude involves a lot of competition; who can do what first, who can do it better, stronger, faster, and so on. This attitude has been shown to be necessary for medical research and development. In fact, it may be detrimental. However, the pros and cons of this method are relatively clear to all, and so we shall move on to the next problem, which is more subtle. This second problem is the problem of sameness. For example, there is a belief that although Western medicine and Chinese medicine are different, they are actually “the same”. In other words, we can use one to judge the other. This author's belief and experience indicate to him that comparison between apples and oranges to find out which is better will lead to a debate which will never find its end. Instead, we may want to focus the debate on when to use the apple and when to use the orange.

Difference is not Defeat

Western and Eastern medicines have totally different goals and origins. One is young, one is old. One is aimed at controlling severe conditions. The other is aimed at preserving health. One medicine replaces what is not there. The other regenerates what is there. These two medicines are the two aspects named Yin and Yang. Logically, no one can say that Yin IS Yang, or that Yang IS Yin. Therefore, we should stop making that mistake. Yin and Yang are, however, two aspects of One. Perhaps that is why we get confused. It is also possible that we get confused because of our goal, which is “Oneness” (or to put it in modern terms, “Integration”). If by Integration we mean “to make it all the same”, then we are making a mistake. If by Integration we mean “two halves, nourishing and informing each other”, then that might work. This author believes, however, that we are not currently in a position to integrate. We do not have enough knowledge of each other.

It is therefore this author's opinion that while we might aim for something called Integrative Medicine, it may be more realistic and fair to begin with something called Collaborative Medicine, or Co-operative Medicine, instead.

Some suggestions on distinguishing between right and left, obvious and subtle, western and eastern:

  1. Don't believe too much in terminology. Terminology is nothing more than language. There's no such thing as an atom, or energy. Those are just words. The words “atom” and “energy” capture about as much of reality as your name captures of you. Your name is a useful label, even a beautiful label, but it certainly is not even 1/1000th of you.
  2. Believe very much in the power of terminology! The power of a Name is tremendous. Name things accurately and fairly – we will achieve delusion or clarity based on how poorly or how well we name things! Names are immensely dangerous and immensely helpful. Stop yourself at least three times before you name something.
  3. Look for what gives you power over your situation. In every instance, find the way that gives you power – educate yourself and surround yourself with people who support you.
  4. Look for what gives you weakness in your situation. In every instance, find the way that leads you to weakness – realise that you have to accept most things on faith rather than actual knowledge, and surround yourself with people you trust enough to follow.

The Endnote

One last, and perhaps irrelevant, note:
Please consider for a moment how we spend all of our lives, in some way, working in service of other people and how everything we have, we have only because other people worked so that we could have it. Everything we do, we do for each other and ourselves.

Thank you for your time,
Hugo Ramiro