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MIND BODY MEDICINE

Mind Body Medicine (MBM) is a significant step into the new paradigm of health and healing, in that not only is the increasingly mainstream-accepted Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) a component of MBM, but medicine itself is taken back to its traditional and authentic roots as an art embedded in a spiritual world-view.

There are various features that characterise MBM:

1. As the name implies, MBM views body and mind as a fundamental unity. This is beyond the dualistic modern perception that sees body in only a scientific and mechanistic manner, with mind as some sort of byproduct of brain activity.
2. Such a view of our totally, as Mind Body, demands a more comprehensive view of our individuality as integrative of both body and mind. This view is inclusive of such dimensions of existence as emotion, soul and spirit, embedded in a vision of the world inclusive of others and the whole of nature.
3. Modern medicine usually takes a 'bottom up' approach starting from the body. Characterised by an exclusively biomechanical, rational and scientific world-view, this perspective becomes increasingly inadequate as the dimensions of our individuality beyond the mechanical body require consideration.
4. By contrast, MBM is a 'top down' approach. The MBM world-view begins from the mind, embracing the complexities of our physical and non-physical realities in a holistic and integral manner. Even though, in practice, the approach often commences from the physical extending to the non-physical, this holistic vision means that any ascent beyond the physical is considered it its own right and of a higher order.

The kinds of problems dealt with can be loosely classified:

1. According to patient needs and requirement:

• Patients or clients who may question an exclusively bio-mechanical approach.
• Those seeking alternatives, such as complementary management (CAM) or a primarily mental health approach.
• Individuals wanting more self-responsibility and empowerment in health concerns.
• People who appreciate the fundamental importance of the medical and therapeutic relationship with the doctor or healer.

2. According to the presenting problem:

A. Mental Distress

This represents the core of the MBM approach, when it is either primary – in the patient's presenting view – or secondary to other physical problems.

• Depression
• Emotional distress
• Mood disorders
• Schizoaffective disorders
• Anxiety and panic disorders
• Particular neurotic syndromes, such as phobias and obsessions
• Appropriate drug-related disorders in self-motivated patients

B. Physical problems that extend from or overlap mental distress

Loosely definable under a model that sees the immune, hormone and nervous systems operating as functional whole, these can be viewed as a 'bridge' between unresolved physical problems at the biomechanical level and mental distress.

• Hormone disorders, particularly menopausal and mood-related problems
• Fatigue and fibromyalgic syndromes without a simple metabolic basis
• Stress management
• Sexual dysfunction

C. Other physical presentations

• Unresponsive Metabolic Syndromes
• Failure to respond to appropriate medical management
• Patients seeking holistic/complementary approaches
• Second opinions
• Non-pharmacological management requests

Embedded in the above is the MBM philosophy, which may be more clearly stated as:

• An art as well as a science
• Traditional roots in other medical disciplines, such as herbalism, alchemy and shamanism
• Based on a co-operative relationship with the primary health caregiver that is empathetic, focussed on self-responsibility and empowerment, and who acts as a guide and mentor
• A foundation in the fundamentals, such as diet, exercise and a healthy attitude
• An inclination toward natural approaches, where a viable option
• Consideration of psychological approaches and spiritual practice in the overall management

Whilst MBM represents Dr Kennan Taylor's clinical approach, as defined in Biography, it also involves other medical and complementary practitioners in varying degrees of association at each location.

MBM is being developed into a distinct clinical entity in 2011, but is already in operation at the various practice localities nominated in Contact Us.

The MBM approach itself is a component of Blue Fire Health at the clinical and therapeutic levels of delivery. The background and further development of MBM are therefore described throughout this website and contained in Kennan's books in Ganieda Press, of which the Blue Fire College is the origin and source.

Further changes will be outlined in What's New as they arise.

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