“Optimal health and wellbeing could only be possible by introducing a more holistic and rather subtle approach, that incorporates working harmoniously with the entire individual/being (which constitutes of the body, mind, emotions, will, and spirit), and not just by specifically targeting isolated/affected body parts to alleviate the symptoms of ill health/disease.” Dr Sylvia Forchap-Likambi
A friend of mine once told me a very interesting and intriguing story about her grandmother who lives in Cameroon. She said that each time her grandmother was unwell, she would request for an intravenous malaria therapy (being very convinced that she had malaria, and that was the best and only form of therapy which could effectively cure her ailment). Interestingly, each time she was administered an intravenous therapy, she eventually got well. Usually, minutes after the therapy finished, she would always testify that she was already well and could go home.
This continued on numerous occasions such that her children (two of whom are medical professionals), figured that this was merely psychological. Once this was established, they then decided that each time she was unwell with the same/similar symptoms and requested an intravenous malaria therapy, they would offer her an intravenous saline solution in the place of the malaria drug…and of course, without her knowledge. To their amazement, a month after the last therapy she came up with similar complaints and symptoms, and again as you would expect, requested her intravenous malaria therapy with a sense of certainty and serenity. Without any objection, an intravenous therapy was indeed offered to her, but this time, with an exception—in the place of the malaria drug (the active ingredient), a simple saline solution was used. While she received this modified intravenous therapy, she was surrounded by her children (some of whom had objected to this form of therapy, for fear of failure or potential health complications). As they watched her and chatted with her; to their greatest amazement, even before the therapy had finished, she was very optimistic and sound, and told them how well she felt already! As soon as the saline therapy finished, she was happy, strong, and back on her feet again to head for home—thanking the nurses as she had always done in the past! The children were in awe and disbelief, and since then have continued with the saline solution therapy, without ever disclosing to her that what she has been receiving is not malaria drug, but the saline solution!
As a child, my dad told me so many stories that elucidated the amazing transformational power of the mind. On one occasion, dad told us about the story of a certain scientist/chemist, whose friend accidentally drank some distilled water in the laboratory, but was told by another colleague that what he had drunk was Hydrochloric acid (which is quite toxic)! On hearing this, he immediately started groaning in great pain, and requested that the emergency unit be contacted immediately as he was dying— Being very convinced that he had drunk a poisonous chemical, which was very toxic with detrimental consequences on his internal organs and body; he acted accordingly and expected to die if nothing was done!
As I grew older and became a medical professional/ researcher, I became more and more intrigued and fascinated by the vital role of the human mind and will in medicine and the overall response to therapy and a person’s state of wellbeing. Over the years while working as an ambitious medical researcher, I came to the realization that establishing optimal health and wellbeing/wellness was much more than just the simple administration of medications or treatment of the physical symptoms and ailments associated with a particular health disorder or condition. With research breakthroughs, it became more and more evident that to achieve optimal health and wellbeing, some other nonmedical factors and determinants were to be equally considered, acknowledged, and exploited as key players. This knowledge revolutionized my entire concept of medicine/ medical research, and I became more interested in studying and pursuing in more details these other nontherapeutic, safe, and effective pathways, which to me promised much more benefits and fewer or no drug-related side effects when compared to conventional therapies or forms of treatment.
I arrived at the peak of my enlightenment when I became a leading empowerment and transformation authority, and began investing a considerable amount of time working to empower and enable people transform their thought patterns, negative mindsets and attitudes, which often resulted in profound transformation of their lives and a completely renewed lifestyle/ attitude and confidence in themselves and their abilities to thrive and excel, I pondered more and more frequently on the immense truth unveiled in the saying “As a man thinks so he is!”
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
In all this, I conclude with this quote, “Optimal health and wellbeing could only be possible by introducing a more holistic and rather subtle approach, that incorporates working harmoniously with the entire individual/being (which constitutes of the body, mind, emotions, will, and spirit), and not just by specifically targeting isolated/affected body parts to alleviate the symptoms of ill health/disease.”
To your wellbeing & success!
