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“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” -World Health Organization

Well~Being is contingent on the state of body, mind, emotion, and spirit. True health is attainable when all of the systems are in harmony and supported as a whole.

I would like to re-introduce a Zen philosophy that allows us to look at information beyond duality. That new ideas and old ideas can exist together without one being right, and the other wrong. That they are more like pieces of a puzzle that fit together.

The foundation concept I wish to express here is that there is a deeply interwoven relationship between the previously known and possibly unknown areas we focus on concerning health and wellness.

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These are not separate from one another, they are integral to each other. Each needing its own nourishment and constantly seeking balance with the other while existing in a harmonious dance. The body, mind, emotions, and spirit all have unique needs.

Our bodies speak to us on many levels, from physical symptoms to emotional and mental symptoms of imbalance. Some also believe (myself included), that our interactions with others are profound messages about our Psyche.

One of the original tasks of the physician or healer is to decipher these messages and work with the body on all levels to restore balance.

The science of “treating” symptoms in what I will refer to as Western Medicine takes the path of listening to compartmentalized sections of the body's messages and tends to focus primarily on providing relief and comfort from the physical messages being communicated. This system will suppress the symptoms, while at the same time chase them deeper into the body and completely ignore the origin. If they do address the initial condition, the medicines are created so out of harmony with the body and nature that they invariably (as listed in the common side effects), do damage to other systems of the body. Western Medicine is absolutely brilliant for emergency treatment and advancements in surgery, I have to give them credit.

Eastern Medicine tends to look at the body with the knowledge that each system must be in balance, to work towards supporting the whole body. Environment, emotions, and mental state are all included in the diagnosis. This style of medicine works more towards preventative health and supporting the body's own immune system to heal itself with the assistance of herbs, acupuncture, massage, diet and individually created health and wellness plans.

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Both paths of medicine are brilliant in the science and discovery of how the body works. Each seemingly coming from the opposite perspective, to interpret the bodies messages. When they come together, we will have the benefit of a truly advanced health and wellness system. Ideally, a team of medical professionals trained in both eastern and western techniques, supported by a complete holistic healing center will be a wonderful evolution in Medicine.

Until then, we are the ones who must take responsibility for our Health and Wellness. And we must be vigilant in our research of seeking new ways to nourish our Mind, Body, Emotions, and Spirit on every level.

What is Body, Mind, Emotional and Spiritual Well Being?

Volumes have been written just about the physical aspects of health, and only recently with pioneers like Freud and Jung have mental and emotional wellbeing played an integral part of the whole.

• "One in six U.S. adults reported taking a psychiatric drug, such as an antidepressant or a sedative, in 2013, a new study found. *

• The new data comes from an analysis of the 2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), which gathered information on the cost and use of health care in the United States." *

-Scientific American

That number was up from one in ten adults in 2011. I imagine this number continues to increase.

Just as our body will communicate our state of wellness with symptoms and physical clues, our mental and emotional state is also sending us information all of the time. Our sense of happiness or sadness, interactions with others, thoughts that cross our minds and situations we find ourselves in daily are deep communications from different levels of our consciousness.

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The information we will find on these subjects is infinite, so the most important thing to know is that they are all interconnected on the deepest level. Mental and emotional states of Be-ing will chemically affect the body, changing the biology. Everything we eat, breathe, put on our bodies and even think or feel is a key component to our total health.

The Harmony of Well~Being is something we are seeking whether we are aware of it or not...as everything seeks balance. Sometimes so simple as craving a certain food, and sometimes so complicated we cannot comprehend the vastness alone.

***This is adapted and expanded on from a previous publication, which you can find here.