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Featured Artist |
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Susan Granger
Fine Art Jewelry
Susan Granger is the thought and imagination behind these beautiful and artistic jewelry pieces. She has been in the fine art world for years promoting the works of others. Now SHE is the creator and her pieces are quite stunning!
Check out our featured artist!
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Featured Products |
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Clarity Organic Tee's
Inspirational Notecards
Black & White Photography
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Tips |
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1. If 10,000 Biters (people) opt to stay at a hotel with eco-efficient toilets, faucets, and showerheads, we'll save enough water to fill 11,263 whirlpool bathtubs for each night's stay. -fromidealbite.com (my favorite spot for green "tidbits")
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It used to be, an ailment of the mind was and ailment of the mind and an ailment of the body was an ailment of the body. Traditional medicine never really connected the two, never really considered that one could affect the other in terms of condition or healing. More recent studies are showing that there is a connection between the condition of the body and the focus of the mind. As we are discovering how our emotional state affects our physical, it is becoming increasingly important for physicians and healthcare workers to expand their practices to include not only an evaluation of their patient’s physical symptoms, but their mental and emotional as well.
One health care provider who knows this concept all too well is my good friend Dr. Laura Bank. Laura’s dedication to educating people on the mind-body-spirit connection has led her to write a book, Pearls of Wellness: 52 Inspirations to Achieve a Peaceful Body, Mind and Spirit. The following is an excerpt from the book, Now Available! |
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Take a look at the components of this word, “disease.” The first portion, dis, means something negative, while ease means a state of comfort, peace, or rest. When disease is present, the body’s natural state of ease has been disrupted, and an imbalance is present — too much of one thing, or not enough of something else.
For example, the body may contain too much cholesterol, leading to fatty buildup in the arteries. Or the thyroid could be under producing (hypothyroidism), leading to a plethora of symptoms, such as weight gain, fatigue, or depression.
On a similar note, consider autoimmune disorders. These are conditions that cause the immune system to actually attack the body itself! Examples include rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and lupus. Many autoimmune diseases wax and wane in severity over time, and not surprisingly, they generally worsen during stressful times. Why does this happen? No one knows for sure. But if your mind and spirit are in a state of dis-ease, it becomes challenging for your body to maintain health or heal at its peak capacity.
The study of mind-body medicine is called psychoneuroimmunology. Scientifically speaking, this is the study of the nervous system, the endocrine (hormone) system, the immune system, and the implications of these linkages for physical health.
Unfortunately, a big challenge for both providers and patients alike is the fact that we really have a “sick” care system instead of a “health” care system. While this evolution is frustrating, the potential for change grows as more individuals continue to embrace a holistic approach. I believe Hippocrates was right on target in the sixth century B.C. when he said, “For this is the great error of our day that the physicians separate the soul from the body.” Health is not simply the absence of disease! It is a state of optimal physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. The condition of true health means taking care of oneself on multiple dimensions. This goes far beyond the traditional notion that healthy eating and exercising are the keys. While these offer a great start, they address only the body’s physical needs.
Have you ever considered how stressors, drama, work frustrations, family difficulties, and sadness affect you? Do pessimism and fear predominate your thoughts? If so, it becomes easy it is to attract more negativity into your life. “Like attracts like” is a spiritual law of the universe. Negative thoughts, emotions, and stressors weaken the immune system, disabling the body’s natural defense system and potentially allowing disease to enter.
On the flip side, consider the effect of affirmative thinking, surrounding yourself with loving and supportive people, working in a field you enjoy, giving generously to others, and taking time for yourself. These sorts of actions will strongly attract more positive energy into your life which, in turn, influences your health, attitude, outlook, and joyfulness. Again, “like attracts like,” so healthy, vibrant, positive thoughts will permeate the body.
Understanding this concept is the foundation to optimizing health and wellness. |
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From the Author
The idea for Pearls of Wellness developed from my deep desire to improve the health of my patients by addressing stress and emotions. I noticed in clinical practice that individuals who experienced frequent illness and disease were often stressed and unhappy. Upon this realization, I began getting to know my patients from a more holistic standpoint. Not only would I address the reason for the visit, but I’d ask what else was going on in their lives. By doing this, patients opened up and shared their fears, stresses and joys with me. This enabled me to help them on a much deeper level.
Eventually I left clinical practice to teach future healthcare providers how to fully connect with patients. This way, instead of reaching out to a limited number of people in any given day, I could reach others exponentially through my students. Pearls of Wellness stems from my sincere desire to touch lives by preventing and treating illness from a body-mind-spirit perspective.
About Laura
Dr. Laura Bank received her clinical education at the Medical University of South Carolina. She practiced medicine as a physician assistant (PA) in beautiful coastal North Carolina. Her specialties included counseling in health optimization, stress management and weight loss.
She completed a Ph.D. in Health Sciences, which ultimately led to a successful teaching and administration career. Currently, she is the director of didactic education at A. T. Still University, Arizona School of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Program. In 2008, Laura was awarded “PA of the Year” by the Arizona State Association of PAs.
Laura’s love of teaching naturally progressed into writing and speaking. Her goal is to touch lives by providing tools to build a healthy lifestyle. She is dedicated to educating people on the powerful influence of one's body-mind-spirit and its effect on health and wellness.
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"To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear."
~Buddha |
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