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The Process of Healing
Cassie Schuster, CTN, ND, MH
What do you think of when you read the term, “body, mind, and spirit”? Does it bring to mind peacefulness, a spa treatment, balance? Or maybe you interpret it as good health, free from illness, and lots of energy. Perhaps you have no solid idea of how these terms even relate to you and your life. Can you apply the words to your horse? Is he sound in body; can his mind flow effortlessly from rest/play to working mode; is he full of spirit, eager and curious? Those three words actually describe the chain of events that happen during the intricate process of healing, and form the basic foundation of naturopathic medicine.
Physical healing can appear in many forms: a torn pastern from your horse stepping through braided fencing becomes smooth skin in a matter of days; a sunburn loses its redness and the skin is no longer painful to the touch; a broken bone mends itself internally with the support of an external cast; a bruise receives blood through internal circulation and fades away. In alternative medicine, we may use remedies such as calendula cream on the skin or homeopathic arnica to assist in the healing process of bruises and trauma. In alternative medicine we believe that nature plays a huge role in healing the wonderful body that our Creator provided: nature in the form of fresh air, pure water, positive friendships, clean food and simple nutritional practices. Our horses know the value of having these things – we can learn from them.
A bit more difficult to see and evaluate is healing of the emotions. People don’t like to be “broken” when it comes to emotions, but we know that emotions such as anger, fear, or resentment can challenge the healing process. Terms such as “it makes me sick to think about…”, or “it galls me that she/he…”, are indicators that we are holding our emotions so close that we cannot see clearly to make the next step in the healing process. Emotional freedom allows us to take responsibility for our actions, whether that action is a new program to stop smoking, finding a partner to start a daily walk routine with, or simply stopping the “blame” process and looking within to determine what “inner” work we need to do. When we stop looking to put the blame on others, we allow clarity to enter our lives. We no longer spend valuable energy on fueling negative emotions, but we allow that same energy to flow freely within the body to renew, repair, and rebuild cells and tissues. Many people report sleeping better and more energy when they begin a program of releasing restrictive emotions.
Our horses will carry their emotions from owner to owner, oftentimes requiring us to look at them like a puzzle to figure out and “name” the emotions. You put the saddle on and then start to adjust the girth: your horse quickly moves away from your touch, maybe hiking up his leg in protest. Stomach? Gut? Ulcer? Whatever the physical issue is, he’s made you aware that something is “off” by his reactions. Over time, if the physical issue is not addressed, a deeper emotional dilemma will develop as the horse wonders if he’ll ever be pain-free (for example) again. “He’s a hot one”, “she’s as moody as they come”, are both examples of the physical being intermingled with the emotional.
Spiritual healing is the deepest connection we have with our Creator. This connection is invaluable in strengthening our resolve, boosting up our confidence, and giving us the momentum to carry on. It is an empty, lonely existence without this element of the healing process. It doesn’t matter about the church or group you may be affiliated with: what matters is that you believe in the higher power that indeed “powers” you. Without getting into a discussion about religion here, spiritual healing is a personal, one-on-one relationship between you and the connection you feel brought you to this world. This connection must exist, must be in place, and must be “allowed” to exist if complete healing of the physical body is to be achieved. Your connection will flow over to your horse, with him picking up your energy of optimism and joy or irritation and short-temper.
All three of these components – body, mind, and spirit – are part of each individual’s vital force. When that force is weakened or non-existent, we see delay in the body reaching its balance, we see further symptoms of dis-ease setting in, or we see the person or horse becoming more and more despondent and seemingly “unattached” to the outcome. Alternative medicine values all three of these components and searches for ways, methods, and nutritional support to bring the vital force back to its original strength and more. Through the use of elements provided in nature by our Creator, and the use of proper biochemical nutrition, the body responds, freeing us of emotional chains and keeping our vital force available to do more important work such as supporting each other in our immediate family and community and being able to reach out to those who need a helping hand. That is the strongest gift that alternative medicine – and naturopathic philosophy – can offer humanity.
