The prevalent model of the mind and body governing our health care system is reductionist in nature. It considers the body as material and separate from the mind which is non-material. If something goes wrong with the body, treat it like an automatic machine: grease it, oil it, pour some chemicals in it and it will get better. If something goes wrong with the mind, pour some ideas in it to give it a proper way of thinking and it will get better. This model of the mind and body is contrary to the spiritual truth of the integral mind, body and beyond model as whatever we are is an emanation from the infinite and infinitesimal spirit.
Immediacy of the deemed needs of our fast track survival emotions keep us activity oriented which stresses the mind-body integral. Stress is being blamed by the medical profession as the reason underlying 60-80 percent of the visits to primary care doctors’ office. In spite of this developing understanding, the health care system finds itself incapable of turning around to the embrace of the integral system as the reductionist model has been in control of the development of understanding underlying the profession.
Stress may originates in the body or the mind. It may also originate in family and social life. What we ordinarily consider a physical disorder may have psychological, familial and social causes. Similar observations may be made about other disorders. We are connected not only in body and mind but in many complex ways. On the positive side, reductionist models may be simpler to apply, but on the negative side the resulting solutions may be too simplicit and limiting.
Medical researchers at Harvaerd have considered the prevalent model of health care as unstable. They recommend regular illictation of relaxation response to stabilize it. Practicing meditation is an illicitation of the suggested relaxation response.
All forms of meditation are associated with some form of aware breathing. Is it possible that awareness of breathing is a factor in relaxation response? All meditation is also associated with focus of the mind. Is it possible that the focus of the mind is associated with relaxation of the mind-body? Perhaps they both together play a role.
Human experience shows voluntary breath regulation as calming of the mind which promotes mental focus which in turn enhances aware breath regulation. Adoption of a reducationist model of separation of the mind and body eliminates such matters from the scope of scientific investigation depriving humanity of potential benefits of voluntary breath regulation protecting the inner ecology of the body with increased oxygenatioon.
Replacing the reductionist body mind model by the wholistic broadens the scope of science opening the doors to wholistic investigation of mental and physical health. We open ourselves to scientific investigations of the so called social and psychological determinants of health and wellness. We also open ourselves to scientific discoveries of a science of prevention of huamn suffering resulting from the vagaries of physical, mental, familial and social health.
Reference:
Benson, Herbert and Klipper, Marian Z. "The Relaxation Response". New York: Harper, 2000