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 Article of the Month - August 2006
The Purpose Of Disease
Have you ever wondered why people become sick? What possible good could come out of someone’s suffering? Why does pain have to exist at all?
In our western society, we are taught to shun pain and discomfort. We know, from a very young age, when we are not at ease, ill at ease, or in a state of dis-ease, we go to the doctor who prescribes us a drug to take away the symptoms which give us discomfort, pain, embarrassment, irritation, shame, hopelessness, and the rest of the negative emotions and sensations that accompany disease.
The body is the ultimate expression of truth. It cannot lie and it is where we live. Our body, a vehicle, takes us on our journey through life in this world. We use our bodies to communicate, to love each other, to hate each other, to have contact with the world and to meet our emotional, mental and physical needs. But, we are not just animated bodies with our mind directing and commanding the body. Communication is a two way street and the body relays messages and commands to the mind. The best example of this is when we are children growing up. We learn to walk as our body and instincts become trained in balance. We fall, and it hurts. We stagger and hit something, it hurts. We learn quickly how to avoid falling and staggering. Similarly, once burnt, you will be more careful in the sun or with fire. The body teaches us what is good or acceptable and what is harmful.
Nowadays, the messages between the mind and body can be confused and garbled. Sugar addiction, food cravings, alcoholism, smoking, etc. help to blur the body-mind conversation. So, you’re bored, feeling at a loose end and want a pick-me-up. How about a chocolate bar to fill the gap? Or a pint or two down the local? Or a smoke? Eventually, it all catches up with us and the body will eventually communicate diabetes, liver damage, cancer, or whatever is relevant to us. The truth comes out in the end, and then the real work can begin, such as address diet, reason for alcohol dependency, etc.
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So, when the body speaks, is the wisest course really to shut it up with drugs that take away the sensation or symptom? A symptom is an indication that something else is wrong. If we ignored the petrol gauge as it went down, and the petrol needed indicator lamp went on, ignoring it or taking out the fuse so that light was no longer on would not stop the car from eventually running out of fuel. Every disease is the body’s communication to the conscious mind. It is the opportunity to learn, grow and develop. It is part of our evolution. Is suppressing this message in our best interests? That is a loaded question, because sometimes it is if it is a life or death situation or the quality of life is very low. But, even during suppression of the disease, it is important to start to try to understand the root cause and evaluate what is needed to resolve the disease.
So what sort of stuff can go wrong and why? What does disease mean to our quality of life, our lifestyle, our lifespan, our health and our ability to learn?
| Purpose of disease |
Result of disease |
Something has gone wrong, an adjustment or re-balance needs to occur.
So, toxins may have been ingested (drugs, work environment – paint, dyes, quarry dust, road repairs/building, etc.), low nutrition diet, poor work/life balance, etc. |
Address what has gone wrong: adjust work/life balance, fix diet, move out of unhealthy relationship, change job, etc.
or
Disease worsens if no action taken until the body cannot partake in what is killing it or the body dies.
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We need the stimulus to grow or develop: in children – enhance the immune system, reach the next stage of development, etc. |
A chance to develop and strengthen our bodies, just like muscles are torn to grow bigger and stronger. For children, especially, it might mean learning to walk on their own to school, feeling more independent, speaking better, etc. |
To keep the human population strong by weeding out the weak and optimising the gene pool |
Complementary and mainstream medicine helps to keep our loved ones alive; homoeopathy can help with development strength & vitality, even at a cellular level. Generations of people on homoeopathy can improve the susceptibilities of their children. |
An opportunity to grow, evolve, develop |
Learn from the disease state and grow mentally, emotionally and physically by becoming self-aware, understanding what you need in life and what you need to change. Brings you closer to happiness. |
The earth is reputedly 4 billion years old, and every living creature has been part of an unbroken 4 billion year old process of creation. We evolved on this earth, being born of it, consuming it and surviving it. Hence, it is natural that when we need healing, the earth provides us with what we need. For me, using homoeopathic remedies seems a most natural thing to do, as does using flowers and herbs. Our whole survival depends on digesting things that come out of the earth, be it in the form of an animal that consumed a plant or directly from a plant. Hence, nutrition is also essential to resolving disease.
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So, when disease catches up with us, and no one ever said that we were entitled to a disease free life, stop. Stop and listen to the communication from your truthful body. What needs to change? How can I care for my body in a way that does it the most good? Is my life in danger? Do I need life saving medication or pain killing medication? If you do, fine, but don’t forget about the reason that the disease occurred to start with. See a homoeopath, read Debbie Shapiro’s Mind Body Workbook, Caroline Myss’s Anatomy of the Spirit, or other relevant literature and try to understand the opportunity that your body is giving you for development and strengthening. Your body does not lie; it can only try to guide you into better health.
The Chinese are amazing observers, developing much of traditional Chinese medicine without ever opening up a corpse or living body. They can relate emotional and mental states with particular organs. And our own language, wise in ways we can only intuitively grasp, supports much of their observations. For instance, we can feel galled or bitter or resentful. According to TCM, the gallbladder (feeling galled or bitter, containing bitter bile) is the organ of resentment and bitterness. So, to those with gallbladder problems, in addition to avoiding fatty foods, is there a mental or emotional component to your disease? Who or what is galling you? Similarly, the liver is organ of anger. Livid and liver correspond well. The bladder is the organ of anxiety, hence wetting oneself with fear. It is also where we release negative emotions, feeling pissed off!
The examples above indicate that the location and type of disease can help you to focus your attention on the mental and emotional aspects of your condition. Self awareness can help you to heal. The books mentioned earlier can help you understand more about where your disease is coming from. Deep down inside, we do actually know, but find it hard to believe that these pesky feelings can bring about physical changes in our body. But, really, it is perfectly obvious. That lump in the throat when you are trying not to cry, or that spike in your pulse when you receive a fright are not isolated occurrences. Long term emotional and mental stresses will take their toll on the body in a harmful and uncomfortable way unless both body and mind are managed properly.
So, be curious and investigate your next ailment. Why has this happened? What is my body communicating? How do I resolve this? What do I need to learn? What do I need to do for my own good? Disease is an important aspect of growth, and from my own personal experience, one of the best things that ever happened to me was getting sick.
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