Article Tags: healing | education
One of the maxims of being a doctor is “First Do No Harm.” I consider myself an advocate and activist for peace both personally and professionally. My formal Conscientious Objector application to the draft board during the Vietnam war back in 1971 was one of the first times I really expressed this philosophy of life in writing.
The war machine that I was objecting to still manifests in many parts of our society, not just in literal warfare and in fact things have only got worse in the last 45 years. We are at war both abroad and here at home – look at the vitriolic atmosphere of our politics today. We continue to decimate our environment for profit with potentially dire consequences for future generations.
I have also come to the conclusion that Western Medicine itself can be a form of war. I see much modern medical intervention, whether through drugs or surgery, as an “attack and conquer” approach to our body. We must ask what is needed for real healing and not just symptom removal or suppression? These are questions that have a more integrative and philosophical approach to health and life care. They seek more harmony and new balance, and take a deeper view.
I have a more complete discussion of these ideas in two articles I wrote for Total Health Magazine back during the 2016 Election. I hope you will click the link below to read Part 1.