SPIRITUALITY IS MEDICINE ! This is the area of health that is not officially recognized by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine but I consider it a very significant dimension of wholistic health. I will discuss this area based upon the premise that we are all essentially spiritual beings having a human experience. Whether you accept this as true or not, I think we all can agree that there is a spiritual component to our existence despite its metaphysical nature and our inability to measure or quantify it.
There is a rapidly growing body of research about spirituality and health published in journals from a wide range of disciplines including those in medicine, nursing, physical and occupational therapy, social work, public health, sociology, psychology, religion, spirituality, pastoral care, chaplain, population studies, and even in economics and law journals ( Harold Koenig, Religion, Spirituality and health: The Research and Clinical Implications 2012 ). There are also boundless testimonials, surveys and opinions about the power of spiritual-based therapy especially when conjoined with the other six Lifestyle Medicine pillars of plant-based whole - food consumption, regular physical activity, good sleep hygiene, social connectivity, avoidance of toxin exposure and stress management.
Most traditional Western-based medicine does not incorporate metaphysical concepts in treating patients. However, spiritual healing modalities were a significant part of ancient Egyptian medicine - approximately 7000 years ago - and ancient Greek medicine with the man/god Asclepios - a contemporary of Hippocrates. There is also an evolving interest amongst modern healthcare practitioners and their patients for a more wholistic approach to health care inclusive of spiritual development and spiritual wellness. It may be important to acknowledge that, arguably, two of the most successful/influential persons in history of the world were spiritual leaders - Jesus and Mohammed.
So how does a person develop spirituality to prevent and treat noninfectious chronic diseases and promote salutogenesis ( Salutogenesis is a concept of health that focuses on factors that support human health and well-being, rather than on factors that cause disease - pathogenesis )? Let's first understand that all religions are spiritual but all spiritual practices are not religious. Meditation, mindfulness, yoga and prayer are
probably the most popular and perhaps most effective methods for spiritual maintenance and maturation. However, whatever spiritual or religious tradition that appeals to a person can potentially be beneficial towards fortifying disease resistance and promoting health and wellness. Attitudes and behaviors that we all can adopt and practice that promote spiritual wellness are gratitude, altruism, patience, kindness, empathy, honesty, sympathy, sincerity, forgiveness, humility and so many more.
One of our mottos at AHAD Health & Wellness is oneness of mind, body and spirit because we care about all of you, your family and your community.
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