The practice of modern medicine treats the body as a biochemical machine and physicians as specialized technicians who can repair the machine. While there have been monumental advances in the medical field as a result of this tradition. It comes at the cost of abandoning healing the ill patient, particularly when physical cure is not possible. In this era of personalized medicine, health care has increasingly become depersonalized. It is estimated that one in four persons have one or more chronic health problems. These numbers will continue to increase as our population ages. With more patients suffering longer with chronic illnesses, it will become more pertinent to revive medicines goals of healing and relief of suffering. Undoubtedly there is confusion and skepticism regarding the role of healing in medicine. Medicine offers no definition for healing, nor does it attempt to, as it does so for science. Modern medicine considers healing beyond its domain, leaving the task of healing to alternative medicine. There has been a greater outcry from the public for more holistic and religious approaches to be integrated in conventional medicine.

In 2007 about 38% of U.S. adults (about 2 in 5) used some form of alternative medicine. These numbers can be interpreted as a growing discontent with the technologically-oriented health care system or a search for care not provided by the contemporary clinician.

Curing refers to treating a physical illness, while healing refers to the inner sense of peace and purpose, the patient finds even in the midst of an incurable condition. In 2004 Huber and her colleagues in Europe proposed a newer definition of health health is the ability to adapt and to self-manage. This recognizes an individuals ability to cope with chronic illness and be healthy even with the presence of ongoing chronic illness or conditions. The spiritual domain is an essential domain in this definition of health. This domain refers to the ability of people to achieve individual fulfillment, meaning, and purpose.

The role of a physician requires shifting from achiever to guider and expert fixer to companion. Authority becomes genuine caring, which makes way for relief of suffering and healing. Modern medicine does not train physicians as healers. Indispensable to the art of healing is narrationlistening deeply and with care to the patients story and accompanying the patient in discovering a new meaning in it.

Link:

Healing beyond medicines - Times of India