Be wary of those who say you can't heal.
When I was first diagnosed with an autoimmune condition many years ago, I sought the help of one of my colleagues. I told her that I needed help because I wanted to try natural methods first. Even though I’m an acupuncturist and herbalist, I believed in getting the second opinion of colleagues hoping they would give me additional insights in what alternative treatments I could consider.
My colleague said that because of the serious nature of my diagnosis, it was her opinion that neither acupuncture nor herbal medicine could do anything to help me. She then told me that there was no other option but to take the medication the doctor recommended.
Hearing this shocked me. Not only because it was from a fellow acupuncturist who practiced Traditional East Asian Medicine, but because of the definitive tone that she gave that there was really nothing else that can be done to heal from this. I would have to live with it forever and just learn to manage my symptoms. Really that is what she said.
After my session I left her clinic and never came back.
I’m just thankful that at that stage of my life when she told me this–I had been in practice for a while and I’d had enough life experiences to know that what she was saying wasn’t true.
I’ve had enough proof in my own life and have seen it happen in the lives of my own patients to know that healing is possible.
The lesson I took out of this experience was that no matter what title someone has, whether it’s a doctor, MD, specialist, or even integrative holistic practitioner or Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor or whatever – don’t EVER let anyone tell you that you can’t heal.
Hope is a fragile thing and being diagnosed with a chronic illness like an autoimmune diagnosis makes you already vulnerable, scared, and devastated. More than the actual medicine that they give, I believe the most important role that health care practitioners and healers have is to hold a space for people to feel seen, heard, and supported. To never take away their hope.
In this instance I was the patient sitting in that practitioners clinic. I was already dealing with so much. I was open to hear what she would say even if it differed from my opinion, but what I didn’t expect was for her to take my hope away too.
Our belief in our ability to heal is a powerful force that can defy expectations.
Using a combination of Traditional East Asian Medicine treatments including herbal medicine and Qigong, I have since then been able to reverse the autoimmune diagnosis without having to take medicines or have surgery. I defied what my colleague had so readily dismissed as impossible.
Belief can drive you to find solutions you might not see otherwise.
The connection between mind and body shows just how powerful this can be. Our thoughts and feelings can actually affect how our bodies work, energizing our cells. For example, studies on neuroplasticity show that positive thinking can create new brain pathways, improving how our brain functions and making it more resilient.
Research in psychoneuroimmunology also shows that positive beliefs and emotions can strengthen the immune system, helping us recover and stay healthy. This close relationship between mind and body highlights how belief can truly transform the healing process.
The opposite is also true: just as positive beliefs can enhance healing, negative beliefs can hinder it. This is known as the nocebo effect, where negative expectations or beliefs about a treatment or health condition can lead to worse health outcomes.
When a doctor or health practitioner communicates a prognosis in a way that diminishes hope, it can inadvertently trigger this effect, causing patients to experience increased symptoms, slower recovery, or even new ailments.
Negative beliefs can heighten stress and anxiety, weakening the immune system and exacerbating health issues. This underscores the importance of mindful communication in healthcare, where fostering hope and focusing on positive possibilities can significantly influence a patient's recovery and overall well-being.
My own story and the story of many other patients is what motivates me to share my story and fuels my passion to empower other women with the same knowledge that I’ve gained through decades of personal and professional experience.
So be wary of those who say you can't heal. With the right tools and guidance, trust that you can access the body's most powerful medicine within you. The journey to healing is powered by hope and the incredible ability of your body to heal itself.