Category: energy medicine

Can Modern Medicine be holistic?

I often contemplated this question after I became a Reiki practitioner.

From infancy to adulthood, I was cared for by a kind and gentle family physician Dr. Vasudev. His prescriptions were also as gentle as him! For symptomatic relief, he often prescribed paracetamol – a very mild and safe drug. And thanks to the body’s innate healing mechanism, the most common infections I got as a child healed on their own.

Dr.Vasudev prescribed antibiotics only when indicated. Over the two decades that I consulted him, he must have prescribed antibiotics a maximum of three times!

In my early twenties, Reiki came into my life.

I came down with the flu right after my Reiki training class.

My temperature was very high. However, in the Reiki class, we were told to avoid modern medicines since Reiki was considered holistic healing.

After struggling with fever and extreme fatigue for a couple of days, I told my teacher I couldn’t take it anymore and took paracetamol to support myself.

Once I got better, I began contemplating the meaning of ‘holistic.’

Sure, I practice Reiki now. But does that mean I must not take modern medicines when required?

This question gave birth to an internal struggle and I was determined to find an answer. Every time I remembered Dr. Vasudev, I felt there was absolutely nothing wrong even if I chose to take modern medicines. I wasn’t popping them for pleasure! I took them only when I genuinely needed them.

The Universe must have heard my cry. Less than a month later, I crossed paths with Suraj.

When I looked into his eyes for the first time, I recognised a hidden light. He felt very familiar and my heart skipped a beat. I didn’t know yet that he was a doctor.

I told the Universe, “Looks like I found my soulmate! Universe, please tell me my intuition is correct.”

And the Universe whispered, “Wait and watch.”

When Suraj revealed he is a surgeon, my eyes almost popped out of my head!

“This sure is no coincidence,” I thought.

In spite of our contrasting backgrounds, we clicked.

Our subsequent union in marriage answered my question – “Can Modern Medicine be holistic?”

I soon saw that much like Dr. Vasudev, Suraj’s prescriptions were also very gentle. The drug he recommended most often was paracetamol too.

He prescribed an antibiotic for me just once. This was for a suspected bacterial infection, where the use of antibiotics was indicated. In the fourteen years that we have been together, I have needed antibiotics just once and he not even once!

He has told me repeatedly, “Most minor infections resolve on their own, irrespective of whether you choose to take medicine or not. In such cases, medicine is primarily for symptomatic relief. “

On the same note, he insisted, ” But if it’s a major infection or other health condition that requires your body to take external medical support, don’t you dare tell me you will not take it! I don’t care if you are a Reiki practitioner. Go ahead and do all the Reiki you want. But if your body genuinely needs support, I am not going to allow you to take any risks and you will take whatever treatment is required.”

And I was like, “Wow! You actually are another Dr. Vasudev!”

In our co-authored book “When Spirit Meets Science,” Suraj writes “Allowing the body to heal naturally when it can is a sign of strength while turning to external support when it cannot is a sign of wisdom.”

When I had episodes of acid reflux after our second baby arrived and my lifestyle took a hit, he didn’t tell me to blindly pop antacids!

He said antacids were only a temporary solution (I confess I took them when symptoms were severe).

He pointed out exactly where I was going wrong in my eating habits and asked me to become more mindful.

This advice made me reflect on my eating. I realised I was stuffing myself with food for emotional reasons! I worked on addressing my emotions and became more mindful in my eating. This made a positive difference to the health of my gut. This approach requires more effort than just popping an antacid and feeling fine right away. But in my particular case of acid reflux, this was the holistic way towards long-term healing.

Seeing my husband practice medicine ( not just with me but also with his own patients) gave me the conviction that modern medicine can also be ‘holistic.’

On the rare occasions that Suraj prescribes a medical treatment, I know in my bones that if he is recommending it, then I (or anyone in our family) ought not to think twice about it.

And when he says, “Just give it time. The body will heal itself,” I know that’s perfect advice too, and take it easy.

Reiki is present for me either way – calming, balancing, and softly supporting the remarkable human body in its process of healing!

A pleasant evening in November 2017.

The living room reverberated with sounds of laughter.

The aroma of savories and freshly brewed tea wafted through the air.

The happy party included-

Sanjay, a cardiac surgeon, and his wife Sheela, a psychologist.

Tara, a Reiki healer, and her husband Karan, an architect.

My husband Suraj, a cancer surgeon, and I, a Reiki healer.

We had just moved into a new home and chose to celebrate by having some of our good friends over.

It was a relaxed atmosphere. Tara began to talk about a client of hers – a man with a heart ailment who was receiving Reiki sessions from her.

She believed this story would be of special interest to our cardiac surgeon pal Sanjay.

She said, “Guys, you know what? I have a 68-year-old client. He was diagnosed with multiple blocks in the heart and has been coming to me for Reiki. And now he is completely cured.”

Her husband Karan joined in and said supportively, ” Oh yeah! Tara has given her heart and soul to this case.”

Sanjay reciprocated by nodding his head and listening with interest. So did the rest of us.

Sanjay said, “That’s interesting Tara. Did he receive any other treatment too?”

“Yes he did,” said Tara, “He underwent an angiogram following which a cardiac bypass surgery was also done.”

The expression on Sanjay’s face changed suddenly and I caught him flashing a bewildered glance at Suraj.

A flustered-looking Sheela spoke next, “Tara, then how can you say it was Reiki that cured him?”

My heart began to pound. I knew that engaging in this conversation would take all of us to a very uncomfortable place, where our differences could come in the way of our friendship! Besides, I was in no mood for unpleasant exchanges.

Tara looked a bit shaken up.

Sensing his wife’s discomfort, Karan took over for her.

“Actually, what she meant was…” started Karan, when sensitive Sanjay spoke up and changed the topic gently.

He allowed Tara to have her moment.

Tara and Karan left soon after and goodbyes were exchanged amicably.

I was relieved when they left.

I wanted to make sure everything was alright and said to Sanjay immediately,

“Sanjay, I’m sorry if Tara’s story made you uncomfortable.”

He laughed and said, “Hey! Don’t worry.”

Suraj laughed too and said, “Doctors are used to this stuff. Aren’t we Sanjay?”

Sanjay smiled. So did I.

Sanjay heaved a sigh and went on, “But help me here Haripriya. Tara didn’t mention her client took conventional medical treatment until I asked. Somebody else listening to her story will simply assume that Reiki alone cured his heart condition. Can’t such statements be open to misinterpretation?”

I understood where he was coming from.

“I see what you mean Sanjay,” I said.

“What she said felt like Reiki was the force that cured him and surgery was just incidental,” continued Suraj, “If her client also believes the same, I wonder why he would even opt to have surgery.”

“I guess I have no answers,” I said.

Sheela still seemed troubled and pitched in “Sanjay often asks these difficult questions Haripriya. And to be honest, I have come to ponder them too. Why do some people hesitate to acknowledge the role conventional medicine plays in their healing, while they don’t think twice about giving ALL credit to alternative therapies or to themselves?

“You have a point, Sheela,” I said, “Being energy healers, this is something Tara and I ought to contemplate.”

The evening ended on a pleasant note. But the conversation left a deep impact on me.

I love and cherish my energy healer friends. However, I decided I had to stick with whatever felt fair and valid.

As I reflected on our conversation, I deduced the following-

We opt for conventional medical treatment only when we see some value in it, irrespective of whether we acknowledge this value or not.

Why would anyone bother to go under a surgeon’s knife or to swallow pills with potential side effects unless they know deep down that it is going to benefit them?

And if conventional treatment is helping them, why the reluctance to acknowledge the role it played in healing them?

Does this acknowledgment make us lesser healers or human beings?

We are healers, not magicians!

Healing doesn’t always mean curing physical illnesses. It means bringing body, mind, emotions, and spirit into a state of harmony and balance.

Every system of healing plays a different role. Wisdom lies in knowing how to apply the strengths of each system for maximum benefit, rather than set one up against the other.

I brainstormed this topic for days on end with Suraj until I truly understood how those in the medical community feel when people approach them for help but behave like the medical intervention meant nothing at all!

Some months later, Tara and I had a private conversation. I shared my new insights on health and healing with her. I wasn’t sure how she would respond. Thankfully, she understood and nodded. She looked at me with a soft new light in her eyes. We hugged tight, knowing we had reached a new milestone together.

A sunny afternoon in April 2018.

Our group met again – this time for lunch at Sanjay’s farm.

“So, Tara, how is your client doing?” asked Sanjay, as he handed her a glass of lemonade.

“Who?” said Tara

“The person with the heart condition you treated. Remember you talked about him last time?” said Sanjay smiling.

“Oh yes! He’s doing great. Well, surgery successfully treated his heart. I told you he was coming to me for Reiki treatments. And he loved them. But after recovering from surgery, he trained in Reiki. He now practices it independently. He says Reiki practice helps him stay strong and balanced. He also told me Reiki helped him discover a hidden gift in his illness and he was super thrilled about it!”

“Good for him!” said Sanjay.

“He needs to be on lifelong medication for his heart though,” went on Tara, “Ok Guys, what I am about to share now may sound crazy. But please bear with me because I soooo want to share it.”

“Go on,” said Sheela and listened intently.

I suppressed a giggle. I was certain Sheela was getting ready for another confrontation!

“He also finds great delight in infusing his pills with Reiki before popping them!” burst out Tara with childlike excitement in her voice.

And with that revelation, bellows of laughter echoed through the room!

“Doesn’t sound crazy to me at all. Now, that’s called taking modern medicine to a whole new level!” exclaimed Sanjay.

My heart was at peace.

Every system had taken its rightful place.

Every healer was honored for the gifts they brought.

I winked at Suraj and whispered under my breath “Blessed be the world of healing!”