Michael Pollan, a leading figure in the movement that's launched an international ethical debate around ordinary eating, believes that when we discuss health we ignore an elephant that's sharing the room with us.
The elephant is the routine diet of modern industrialized nations, a diet that encourages obesity and thereby spreads hypertension, heart disease and other forms of illness. As Pollan sees it, if we ignore the elephant we blind ourselves to reality. It's ridiculous to talk about health without discussing the food we consume.
A University of California journalism professor, Pollan has become the prince of investigative food writing by directing attention to the elephant. He became widely known in 2006 for his detailed survey of wrong-headed eating, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and in 2008 he developed his theme with In Defense of Food. This month, he's back in the bookstores with Food Rules: An Eater's Manifesto (Penguin), a handy little book that illustrates Pollan's method while pointing readers toward a healthier approach to food.
Pollan's success rests on a literary strategy. Dealing with a subject that's often paralyzing (locavore this, vegan that), he writes in a friendly style, highly bearable, never bullying, often engagingly folksy. He doesn't forget that he writes for people who can't or won't spend nearly as much time thinking about food as he does.
He wants to wean his readers (and, if possible, the whole world) off the now traditional Western diet, which emphasizes white flour, polished rice and high-fructose corn syrup. He warns us against new waves of manufactured products that show up every year, products heavy on corn and soy, plus chemical additives. Pollan calls them "edible foodlike substances." He believes the trick to eating well is choosing real food over foodish novelties. (You recognize non-food by the fact that it has the same name in every language: Cheetos, Big Mac, Pringles, etc.)
Considered as part of evolution, the techniques of food engineers and the international public's embrace of their pseudo-foods amount (as Jason Epstein remarked recently in The New York Review of Books) to a species failure, a maladjustment of the human brain implicit in the triumph of ingenuity over wisdom. Or, as Pollan says, "Western medicine is learning how to keep alive the people whom the Western diet is making sick."
For Pollan and his growing army of admirers, eating intelligently is a key to food policy, whether the policy is political, industrial or personal. Better diet and exercise, he argues, could prevent about 80% of the cases of type 2 diabetes. Instead, diabetes has grown so common that it's becoming normalized, just another part of life. He calls it a disease of civilization.
He's mainly concerned with Americans, but Canada shows a willingness to copy America's mistakes. Last week, the Canadian Health Measures Survey reported that the fitness of Canadians has declined sharply in the last generation; nearly two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese. Pollan believes the food system can eventually be reversed but that won't happen soon. On the other hand, a reversal can be accomplished quickly in the life and diet of individual eaters -- providing, of course, that we are talking about people who have enough money to choose what they eat.
Pollan establishes his own populist legitimacy by calling on the traditional wisdom that speaks through ancient sayings. "The whiter the bread, the sooner you'll be dead," he quotes at one point. He goes back to an Emily Post rule of manners (she used it in 1922) to suggest that we revive it if we want to eat with more moderation: "Put down your fork between bites." If you eat slowly enough to savour food, you'll need less of it to feel satisfied.
"The banquet is in the first bite" is another old saying he endorses. No other bite will taste as good as the first, and every subsequent bite will progressively diminish in satisfaction. He compares it to the economic law of diminishing marginal utility. It argues for savouring the first bites and stopping sooner than you otherwise might.
He nailed me neatly with another line, "Eat when you are hungry, not when you are bored." At a public dinner, if the guest speaker is a drone, I find that I retaliate by overeating. That'll show 'em! When the waiters are gathering up the plates, I realize I've eaten 25% more than I wanted or needed, just to fill the time.
Pollan adds a few lines of his own that may well eventually acquire the patina of adages. Don't ingest foods made in places where everyone is required to wear a surgical cap. Avoid food products containing ingredients that a third-grader cannot pronounce. If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don't. Don't eat breakfast foods that change the colour of the milk.
He acknowledges the embarrassing truth that the unconscious governs much of our conduct at the dinner table. At times, his books recall sex manuals of long ago in their attempt to warn us against the perverse signals that emanate from dark and distant corners of the mind. But then, there's no reason why the human personality should be any less wayward in dealing with diet than in dealing with sex.
Infuriatingly, our minds can be loyal soldiers, habitually following rules they were taught in childhood. Millions of humans, while believing they govern their actions with conscious intelligence, clean every morsel from their dinner plates, mainly because their parents told them to. And we do this even if we don't particularly like the food on the plate and even if we know we should be eating less of it. Unthinkingly, we follow a habit we would condemn if we looked at it clearly.
Pollan suggests we should confront the subconscious on its own devious level. He suggests an idea that I seem to recognize from earlier books on food, or maybe just from conversation: Buy smaller plates. Pollan says one researcher found that simply switching from 12-inch to 10-inch dinner plates caused people to reduce their consumption by 22%.
But that's outrageous. To claim that presumably intelligent readers of Pollan's bright, smart books could possibly improve their health through such a sneak attack on their own unconscious is, frankly, insulting. Also probably true.
Comments
Beloved
Posted on: 01/21/2010 09:41
"The whiter the bread, the sooner you'll be dead". I remember back in the late 60's my dad constantly telling us that "white bread (store bought packaged stuff) will kill us".
I agree that the processed, packaged, extended shelf life foods, is having an effect on our health. As well as the "whites" - sugar and flour. When I am eating healthy I try to eat "clean" - with eating foods as close to their natural state as possible - fruits, vegetables, meat, etc. with whole wheat products instead of white. Someone once told me that if we eat only what is on the wall side aisles (in most grocery stores) we will be eating healthier as that is where the fresh, frozen fresh, and "clean" products are, whereas on the inside aisles is where all the packaged, processed, and full of other ingredients foods are.
We (individuals, groups, medical profession, government) have all this information and knowledge today about what is good for us and what isn't, yet changes are being made slowly. The convenience of ready made, salt laden/fat laden/chemical laden foods call us to choose them. Somehow the information that we are harming our bodies needs to kick in.
I too struggle with eating the way I know I should. I eat healthy for awhile and then "fall off the wagon". Sorry, I love Big Macs, pop, chips and dip, candy, and a few other items I shouldn't be eating. But somehowI have to learn that I can have them occasionally as a treat, not an everyday diet.
I liked the quote about the cereal shouldn't change the colour of the milk.
RevLGKing
Posted on: 01/23/2010 16:26
B, you write: "I too struggle with eating the way I know I should. I eat healthy for awhile and then "fall off the wagon". "
This is why I always begin with the pneuma factor.
What did Jesus say to the Samaritan woman, at the well? Check out John 4. He said a similar thing to Nicodemus, in John 3.
Please read it and get back to me. What do these stories tell us?
You add: "Sorry, I love Big Macs, pop, chips and dip, candy, and a few other items I shouldn't be eating. But some how I have to learn that I can have them occasionally as a treat, not an everyday diet."
The truth is: Advertisers do their best to condition all our psyches and somas to "love" (eros)
BIG macs. And lots of other junk things, eh? 
MikePaterson
Posted on: 01/23/2010 18:11
The FIRST thing is to approach food aesthetically: eat for flavour, freshness and variety... and make it yourself: it's amazing what food preparation can teach you about love, life, the world and the universe.
EXPLORE: food offers a universe of experience that established food preferences will deny you. Habit = death (of one sort or another)... choose LIFE!
AVOID industrially produced foods, pre-flavoured foods and and processed foods with "healthy additives": real food has all the additives you'll ever need, if you go for variety in your diet.
LEARN about food, flavours and cooking techniques. Eat WITHfriends and family. Show love by cooking carefully and creatively. It's fun!!!!
Furthermore: NEVER WASTE it. You don't like broccoli stalks? Find a way to enjoy them. You don't like fat on the meat? Reduce it and use it, even if it's to waterproof your shoes. Forget the green bin: eat it instead... but make it ALL taste good.
airclean33
Posted on: 01/24/2010 12:41
In the light of this I ask: Is our church really serious about being involved in the healing ministry and the integration of body, mind and spirit so much a part of the ministry of Jesus.?
Revlking The church was not ready for this . 35 years ago. Do you think there ready now? Airclean33
RevLGKing
Posted on: 01/26/2010 01:15
There is lots of talk, but not much real action.
How about you? How do you feel? Should the church take it seriously?
RevLGKing
Posted on: 04/27/2010 01:33
Revlking The church was not ready for this, 35 years ago. Do you think the're ready now? Airclean33
As I have written elsewhere: A life-threatening illness suffered by my daughter (now 53, and with robust health) when she was seven, motivated me to learn and apply, encouraged by my mentor at the time (1963), what I call now pneumatherapy--a spiritual form of hypnosis.
In a recent article (page 33) in the UC OBSERVER--January, this year, Jennifer McPhee wrote an article: WANT TO GET IN SHAPE. "The church is perfectly positioned to promote mental, spiritual and physical health" she writes, and then goes on to say how.
Question: Why would the church ignore something that was initiated by Jesus and was a major part of the work of the early church? Did he not tell his disciples to preach, teach and heal? In my opinion, the Gospel is about the whole of life--physical, mental and spiritual--not just about attending services once a week.
A VISION OF WHAT COULD BE
I see no reason why church leaders are not willing to do what Weatherhead did. He set up a special holistic clinic.
Of course, to cover the need for physical medicine, such a clinic must includd medical doctors and nurses. But why not cover the mental and spiritual needs of people by including clergy willing to get special training in psychology? As I said: preach, teach and heal! And not just in cities.
When I was the first minister (1953-1954) in Happy Valley-Goose Bay Labrador, I lived next door to the Grenfell Nursing Station. The nearest doctor, Dr. Tony Paddon--we became friends--was twenty five miles away, across Lake Melville. The Mission served a large area. More than once, I was called on to help the two nurses (Watson and Rhodes) who "manned" the station. They, too, became friends, and were great characters.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=aK_xo8_HiZwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Gren...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Anthony_Paddon
We need to keep in mind that most rural areas are not only short of doctors but are really short of those skilled in the mental and spiritual healing arts--those having to do with helping people have the heart to live. Is it not an accepted fact that HEALTHY LIVING has more to do with what goes on in the human mind and heart (spirit) of persons than with the germs we get and accidents we have?
By the way, a doctor friend, who participated, now and then, in the series of holistic lectures which I called PNEUMATOLOGY, more than once mentioned three kinds of diseases: first, there are the diseases we get from germs and accidents; second, those we get from trying circumstances and from others who cause us stress. And, third, there are those we give ourselves by our failure to learn how to live with and handle the stresses of life." He was very complimentary of churches which take an interest in promoting holistic health.
In his book, WHATEVER BECAME OF SIN? The great psychiatrist made the same point over and over again.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3804/is_200507/ai_n15638109/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Menninger
RevLGKing
Posted on: 08/20/2010 15:17
RevLGKing
Currently, I am involved in a hot debate with a very bloody-minded (unfriendly) antagonist who, without any evidence, doesn't hesitate to call people with whom he disagrees, charlatans. In response to one of his recent diatribes--he avoids having a civil dialogue--I responded by posing the following questions and giving my response.
==========================================
Does having a deep interest in how the human spirit, mind and body can work together and help us have total health make one a charlatan?
Does having an open-minded and transparent dialogue on controversial things such as mixing philosophy, psychology, health, religion, hypnosis, NLP, pneumatology, medicine and the like do the same?
If this is so, this is a sad day indeed!
I dealth with the problem poster by contenting myself with posing the question above and by adding a few more.
DOES MEDICAL SCIENCE TAKE HYPNOSIS SERIOUSLY?
===========
Apparently so, as the sight below makes clear.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10724294
And the interest is growing.
The American Medical Association, BTW, recognized the hypnosis as valid in 1955.
Today, the work of the psychiatrist, Milton H. Erickson, MD--one of the originators of NLP--is widely honoured.
http://www.erickson-foundation.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_H._Erickson
WHEN DID I FIRST BECOME INTERESTED?
In the 1940's and 1950's when I majored in psychology.
THE STORY BEHIND HYPNOSIS?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnotherapy
http://hypnosisonline.com/
http://www.barriestjohn.co.uk/resources.htm
AND WHEN DID IT GET TO BE ACCEPTED BY MEDICAL SCIENCE? http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=46728
================================
WHEN DID I FIRST SEE THE ART OF HYPNOSIS AS A VALUABLE HEALTH-PROMOTING TECHNIQUE?
It was way back that I learned from my reading and from others already skilled in the art of hypnosis--as defined in the papers of Dr. Milton Erickson--that hypnosis is not something that a "master" does to a "subject", it is a form of communication between people who consult with, like and trust one another.
Of itself it hypnosis not at all a complex art, and it is not about an operator using mind-control and making others go into a so-called trance-like deep sleep. Quite the opposite! It is more about teaching people how to be really alert and learn how to focus their attention on what they really want to do to live healthy lives.
Good hypnotists are those who know how to use words and have the confidence to use them in communication with others. Interesting public speakers, actors and the like, use it all the time--on themselves and others. Often they are unaware that they are doing so. The same is true of those who listen with deep interest. Children, or adults, when they give their rapt attention to a good story-teller, or a movie, are in a trance-like or hypnotic state. The storey-teller, or the movie, does not control the mind and body of the listener, it is the listener who allows the process to happen.
The following is a summary of a chapter I wrote for the book, EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES (an anthology, 1989), by John Robert Colombo--He asked me to write the story of Catherine, which is below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Robert_Colombo:
CATHERINE WAS MY FIRST CLIENT
==============================
It was in the early 1960's--the winter of 1963-1964, to be precise--that my daughter, Catherine--at seven and one-half years of age--developed a life-threatening lung problem. Within a matter of a few weeks she suffered five bouts of pneumonia--one after the other. At first she was treated, without success, by our family doctor. He then referred us to specialists at Sick Children's Hospital, Toronto--with the same results. A broad-spectrum antibiotic helped stop the pneumonia, but it did nothing to help her allergy problem. New strains of pneumonia kept coming her way. Later research discovered that antibiotics damaged the immune system and, as we now know, antibiotics can be deadly if nothing is done to boost the immune system.
The doctor's at CHT told us that our daughter was very allergic to smoke, dust, birds and animals. They prescribed allergy shots and antibiotics for the pneumonias. During the fifth bout they warned us: her lungs had become so scarred than one more bout could be very dangerous. We nearly lost her, more than once.
Even before my daughter's illness, inspired by the life and work of the minister-psychologist, the Rev. Leslie D. Weatherhead, who wrote PSYCHOLOGY, RELIGION AND HEALING, I was already interested in looking into hypnosis and understanding how it works. Weatherhead wrote extensively about it in his book. My later experiences convinced me and others that hypnosis can be used to trigger the healing powers already part of the human immune system. Of course, hypnosis' role is to work in tandem with, not instead of, all other kinds of physical and mental therapies.
Fortuitously, around the same time (1963) Catherine became seriously ill I met with and got to know the religion editor of the Toronto Star--Canada's largest daily. Allen Spraggett was also interested in hypnosis, spiritual healing and the like. He loved to write about it and did many stories on the Religion Page. It was through him that I heard of the work of the Rev. Canon Joseph Wittkofski, an Episcopalian minister in Charleroi, Pa., USA, who had great success using hypnosis. In cooperation with doctors and psychologists he treated and helped cure many serious illnesses. I once heard him interviewed by Larry King, when Larry was on radio.
My reporter friend told me that the Toronto Star was willing, at it's expense, to bring the Rev. Wittkofski to Toronto, if I would let him speak at my church and give public lectures on what he was doing. Encouraged by this I was able to bring together a group of about 20 other clergy who were interested in taking an in-depth course on the art of hypnosis and spiritual healing. It was a great success.
THE PASTORAL USE OF HYPNOTIC TECHNIQUE
========================================
The course we all took consisted of 30 hours of information-packed lectures and demonstrations given over the period of a week. His lectures formed the basis of his book, The Pastoral Use of Hypnotic Technique. Wittkofski was then the director of what was called the Braid Institute of Hypnosis, located in Charleroi, Pa., not far from Pittsburg. Later, based on my experience, I gave courses and demonstrations in Pneumatology there.
Naturally, when I got to experience the work of the Rev. Wittkofski I told him about my daughter's illness and I asked him if he would help her.
After I finished the program, here is what he suggested: "I want you to have the experience of helping your daughter help herself." He encouraged me to get the consent of my doctor, who admitted that hypnosis was not one of his skills.
The day after the course finished, and my mentor was back at his home, I applied what I now call pneumatherapy to my daughter's case. For me, the word--of which Wittkofski approved, BTW--avoided the hocus pocus often associated with hypnosis. Whatever, it worked.
Almost immediately, Catherine began to respond to her prescribed allergy-shots. Then I talked it over with our doctor and he agreed to give her a frequent series of shots in a new form--more and more diluted each time. In less than a week she was out of her sick-room and was never bed-ridden again. Over the next while our doctor gave her less and less serum in each shot. When it got to the point that most of the shot was saline water--and with no symptoms present--he stopped the treatment.
She is now a healthy 53 year old. Catherine was the first among numerous others who, over the years since, got the help they needed, individually, or who came to the regular classes I gave.
Interestingly, in the 1960's, unlike many other jurisdictions, here in Ontario, the use of hypnosis was restricted. The law said it could only be used by medical doctors--whether they were trained in the art of hypnosis, or not. Most medical doctors consulted agreed that something was wrong with the system.
Many advocated the full exploration of the whole idea of what promotes good health--physically, mentally and spiritually. They also agreed that the explorers include all involved the healing arts, including nurses, naturopaths, clergy interested in religion and health, and others, not just medical doctors.
ANY KIND OF SMOKE, ESPECIALLY TOBACCO SMOKE, WAS TOXIC TO CATHERINE
==============================
BTW, the group formed by the Family Life Foundation-- flfcanda.com--was one of the first to get involved in the campaign--now popular in all our towns and cities--to do something done about preventing smoke pollution, especially, tobacco smoke--toxic to Catherine and others like her. The FLF does not charge fees for what its volunteers do.
I confess, as I was then a smoker, this knowledge helped me wise up. Yes, self-hypnosis worked for me, and for countless others. Charlatanism? Eventually, I came to the understanding that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis.
Addressing the wider community--a Commission on the Healing Arts was set up. I was delighted that the letters and articles I had written over the years on the need for holism, and the initiative which our inter-church group had taken that week in 1964, began to bear fruit.
Major stories about the good ideas about health presented in the course, mentioned above, that week were in all the Toronto papers. The Toronto Star put one story on the front page. There were also stories about the need for cooperation by all involved in the healing arts. This opened wide the field of total and wholistic health to all interested in good health, especially the prevention of disease.
In good time the restrictive rules about the use of hypnosis, which had been set up years before by a narrow-focussed group of medical doctors, were dropped. Progress continues to be made.
HYPNOTISM IN THE TORONTO AREA
===============================
http://www.hypnosisthathelps.ca/index.htm
http://www.hypno-healing.com/about-debbie-papadakis.htm
RevLGKing
Posted on: 08/20/2010 16:18
Gary and Tom:
Thanks for your much appreciated support of the
FAMILY LIFE FOUNDATION AND ITS PROGRAMS ON PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH, beginning with the Pneuma Factor.
www.flfcanada.com
HOLISM INCLUDES SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY
As you know, the FLF always takes the holistic approach to community building--for the family as well as for individuals.
Think of the human community, and the families who dwell upon it, as dwelling on the globe as we know it. The globe is resting on a three-legged stool. It will rest where it is as long as the three legs are the same length and strong. If one of the legs is shortened too much, breaks, or is removed, the globe will fall.
Now call the legs Spirit, Mind and Body. In Greek, the language of the New Testament, this would be Pneuma, Psyche and Soma:
A broken spirit, or pneuma, needs pneumatherapy
1. Pneumatherapy--rooted in pneumatology (study of the spirit, mind, soul)--helps us find and use the right words that trigger and stimulate the will.
A broken mind, or psyche, needs psychotherapy
2. Psychotherapy--rooted in psychology (study of human behaviour)--using the right words to self and others helps us educate and train our mental faculties. It helps us effectively deal with the stresses of life, including negative circumstances, especially those brought on by bloody-minded--unsociable and unfriendly--people.
A broken body needs tender loving care of the body, somatherapy
3. Somatherapy--rooted in somatology (study of the body)--helps us find the right diet and to deal with physical illnesses.
The Family Life Foundation is about building community, about working for health, prosperity, justice and peace for all--spiritually, mentally and physically. Day in, and day out, it works to encourage cooperation among all our fellow human beings of all races, classes and creeds, including lay and professionals in all the arts and sciences, including the physical, mental, spiritual and healing arts.
Once again, fellow community and family-life builders, thanks.
PTL
Posted on: 10/18/2010 17:13
I would like to hear more about specific techniques used in pneuma psycho somatic ministry to restore divine health. Have you discovered methods to help release shock trauma energy frozen into the body which then manifests in various ways like chronic pain and/or depression?
RevLindsayKing
Posted on: 11/26/2012 23:44
PTL:
Recently, another poster in another forum raised the question about how we know who is, or is not, qualified to be a hypnotist and practice hypnotism. I responded:
You raise an interesting question. Yes indeed! How valid is any group of letters after a name? Furthermore, how much do we really know about hypnotism?
HYPNOTISM--AN AMAZING PHENOMENON
Ever since I was a high school student and read adds--"Amaze your friends ..."--about hypnotism in the comics and magazines, I yearned for the opportunity to learn how to do it. An older brother--an iron ore miner and ten years older than I--was also curious. He provided the money and we sent away for a course, which used the fancy title MENTAL PHYSICS. Awhile ago, a search brought me current information about MP and that, since the death of the founder Edwin John Dingle (EJD), it continues to prosper. I think I met EJD when he once visited Bell Island, where I was born www.bellisland.net Both my brother and I enjoyed reading the lessons and, over the next number of weeks and .
Later (1947), as a university student, I was inspired to do a major in philosophy/psychology at www.mta.ca There, I showed the material mentalphysics, which I got from EJD, to Dr. (PhD, U of Toronto) Charles Baxter--the professor and head if the philosophy/psychology department. When he returned the folder I loaned him He spoke quite positively of its contents. This experience helped me prepare for the United Church ministry at what was then called Pine Hill Divinity Hall, Halifax, NS, and is now part of http://astheology.ns.ca/
In 1953--the year Queen Elizabeth II was crowned--I became an ordained minister. My wife (a teacher) and I, both 23, flew took our first plane trip from Moncton, NB, to Goosebay Labrador and landed at the military air base. That was on July 18--a clear warm and sunny day, where we were met by the base UC padre, Phil Ross. He took us to his home where we had lunch--wild goose. After, he drove us seven miles through a dark green spruce forest to Happy Valley--then a squatters' town of about 115 families.
I speak-headed setting up a union church and the first town council. I guess I was the Squatters' town mayor. Where's my statue? Many of the residents of the town worked at the base. BTW, today there are about 8,000 in the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Meanwhile, here is some of the latest information Mphysics. http://www.mentalphysics.net/history-of-mentalphysics/
Because of its emphasis on meditation it seemed as if the centre set up by EJD was advocating a kind hypnosis without the hocus pocus--the kind that often scares people off. Mistakenly, many thought of it as mind control.
Such fears prompted a number of people to call government health authorities to study the matter. Not a bad idea. I am glad it was done and I happen to have a copy of the report which is a result of the study.
Interestingly, long before the study, beginning in 1963, a group of us in Scarborough, now Toronto east, decided to take the time to familiarize ourselves with this amazing phenomenon--hypnosis. Also, we decided to and make an in depth study of the history, nature, function and value of hypnotism, and got involved in this issue.
More could be added to what follows, but I will leave it to later, OK?
ABOUT "SECTARIAN HEALERS AND HYPNOTHERAPY IN ONTARIO" --The title of a report prepared by Professor John A. Lee, of Toronto for
THE COMMITTEE ON THE HEALING ARTS
While we are at it, perhaps we should also ask: What is a basic MD degree? Is a dispenser of pills really a doctor?
Note that MD actually means "Teacher of Medicine". How many doctors actually take the time to do this? If an MD does not teach patients the basics of good health, should they be allowed to hold on to the title, doctor? :) Asking this, I acknowledge that there are some true doctors who do.
========================
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Medicine
Doctor of Medicine (MD, from the Latin Medicinæ Doctor meaning "Teacher of Medicine").
It is one of two doctoral degrees for physicians granted by most United States medical schools (the other is the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree). It is a professional doctorate in some countries, including the United States and Canada; training is entered after obtaining from 90 to 120 credit hours of university level work (see second entry degree) and in most cases after having obtained a Bachelors Degree.
n other countries, such as India, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Sri Lanka, the M.D. is a research degree more similar to a Ph.D. In India, Britain, Ireland, and many Commonwealth nations, the medical degree is instead of the MBBS i.e., Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB, BM BCh, MB BCh, MBBS, BMBS, BMed, BM) and MD is a higher level of attainment.
====================
For the record, here is a repeat of what I wrote earlier about my experience:
CATHERINE WAS MY FIRST CLIENT
==============================
It was in the early 1960's--the winter of 1963-1964, to be precise--that my daughter, Catherine--at seven and one-half years of age--developed a life-threatening lung problem. Within a matter of a few weeks she suffered five bouts of pneumonia--one after the other. At first she was treated, without success, by our family doctor.
He then referred us to specialists at Sick Children's Hospital, Toronto--with the same results. A broad-spectrum antibiotic helped stop the pneumonia, but it did nothing to help her allergy problem. New strains of pneumonia kept coming her way. Later research discovered that antibiotics damaged the immune system and, as we now know, antibiotics can be deadly if nothing is done to boost the immune system.
The doctor's at CHT told us that our daughter was very allergic to smoke, dust, birds and animals. They prescribed allergy shots and antibiotics for the pneumonias. During the fifth bout they warned us: her lungs had become so scarred than one more bout could be very dangerous. We nearly lost her, more than once
Even before my daughter's illness, inspired by the life and work of the minister-psychologist, the Rev. Leslie D. Weatherhead, who wrote PSYCHOLOGY, RELIGION AND HEALING, I was already interested in looking into hypnosis and understanding how it works. Weatherhead wrote extensively about it in his book. My later experiences convinced me and others that hypnosis can be used to trigger the healing powers already part of the human immune system. Of course, hypnosis' role is to work in tandem with, not instead of, all other kinds of physical and mental therapies.
Fortuitously, around the same time (1963) Catherine became seriously ill, I met with and got to know the religion editor of the Toronto Star--Canada's largest daily. Allen Spraggett was also interested in hypnosis, spiritual healing and the like. He loved to write about it and did many stories on the Religion Page.
ABOUT THE BRAID INSTITUTE, Charleroi, Pa., USA
One of the founders and lead teachers at the Braid Institute was the Rev. Canon Joseph Wittkofski, an Episcopalian minister in Charleroi, Pa. There, he gave a series of lectures which prepared qualified students to be licensed hypnotists. His lectures were published as a book: THE PASTORAL USE OF HYPNOTIC TECHNIQUE. In 1969, I was asked to help the Institute with its pastoral programs. It was so announced in the local paper: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19690719&id=...
It was through Allen Spraggett that I first heard of the work of the Rev. Canon Joseph Wittkofski, who had had great success using hypnosis. He did so in cooperation with doctors and psychologists. Together, they treated and helped cure many with serious illnesses. I once heard Father Joe, as we called him, interviewed by Larry King, when Larry was on radio, from Boston.
My reporter-friend told me that the Toronto Star was willing, at it's expense, to bring the Rev. Wittkofski to Toronto and if a church in the area agreed to invite him to give his course here. The United Church of which I was the minister agree to do so. In addition, I invited him to speak at my church on THE HEALING MINISTRY of the churches.
Encouraged by this, I was able to bring together a group of about 20 other clergy from the Toronto area, who were interested in taking this in-depth course on the art of hypnosis and spiritual healing. It was a great success. This event not only helped save the life of my daughter, it influenced the rest of my ministry and that of others.
[Just a quick note: In addition to what I just said, it affected the arcane and unjust Ontario law (Bill 27)--passed in camera--against the use of hypnosis by professionals other than MD's. Even our family doctor thought of it as a joke. He had no objection to my helping him.] Positive results: Our efforts got the law changed.
stardust
Posted on: 11/26/2012 14:33
Hi Linds
I'm curious. Are you a practicing hypnotist now?
Its wonderful how your daughter got healed. So many of us can't or won't stop our bad habits until we get sick which is my case too. I'm 73, a lifetime smoker. I managed to stop smoking in May 2011 in hospital after abdominal surgery using the patch. I must confess I have no cravings and there are many health and other advantages to quitting smoking, not to mention the cost.
However, I really really miss not smoking
and I fear I've become a big grouch . I'm not so happy..... plus I went from 95 lbs. to 160 due to a large abdominal hernia at the present time. I'm waiting for surgery again.
I believe being somewhat ill natured and impatient holds true for a lot of ex-smokers although its not discussed very much. I do have a stop smoking hypnosis tape I just dug out of my stash. Its fine but I need a "Cheer Up After Quitting Smoking" hypnosis tape! My nature has normally been relatively cheerful up to this point in time.
RevLindsayKing
Posted on: 11/26/2012 23:51
Hi Linds
I'm curious. Are you a practicing hypnotist now?
However, I really really miss not smoking
and I fear I've become a big grouch . I'm not so happy..... plus I went from 95 lbs. to 160 due to a large abdominal hernia at the present time. I'm waiting for surgery again.
I believe being somewhat ill natured and impatient holds true for a lot of ex-smokers although its not discussed very much. I do have a stop smoking hypnosis tape I just dug out of my stash. Its fine but I need a "Cheer Up After Quitting Smoking" hypnosis tape! My nature has normally been relatively cheerful up to this point in time.
RevLindsayKing
Posted on: 11/27/2012 14:25
Hi Linds
I'm curious. Are you a practicing hypnotist now?
For example, I would like to know if you have good access to an open-minded health care clinic in your area? DO you have therapists in whom you have confidence?
MOOD SWINGS, INSULIN, GLUCOSE, ADDICTIONS, ETC.
Years ago, when I first started counseling people with mood swings and the like, a medical doctor, and friend of mine, who was into sports medicine and also, nutrition, told me: "When the insulin and glucose levels in our blood are out of balance, this can cause mood swings. It can also cause our weight to go up and down like a yoyo." I then coined a new word and called it yoyo-glycemia. When the glucose level is too low, it is called hypoglycemia. Too high is hyperglycemia, or diabetes.
Around the same time (1971), I was consulted by the wife of another doctor--one who was actively involved with the pneumatology program at the church [ www.flfcanada.com ]--She, the mother of two young and very active boys, came to see and told me about her mood swings. "When the boys misbehave and get noisy, I get very angry ... Sometimes, in the afternoon, I get very down and depressed... especially now that I am putting on too much weight." After I gave her the information contained in this thread I suggested: Have your husband send you for a GTT--a 3 to 5 hour glucose tolerance test. I suspect that it will be out of balance. She agreed.
A week later. She came back with the results, which was as I suspected --Yoyo-glycemia. This information not only benefited her and her family, but many others. Not long after that experience, her husband came to see me. I expected him to be annoyed and accuse me of playing "doctor"--which I had no intention of doing. To my pleasant surprise he was most appreciative and friendly, and wanted to know where I got my information. I told him. Then he went on to say, "As a result: Over the last while I have sent quite a number of patients with symptoms similar to those of my wife, for this GTT. All the results have been similar. Your "experiment" has convinced me." Then he added: "In appreciation, here is a copy of the book on medical physiology--1,181 pages, which I studied at the University of Toronto, in the early 1960's. Take note of what is said on pages 1,043-1,044." Then you will know why I did not know the facts that your reading has helped you uncover. Thanks."
MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY--Second Edition, W.B. Saunders Co., 1961, By Arthur C Guyton. For details Dr. Guyton, no doubt a great teacher, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Guyton
I realize that no one book about the sciences of physiology and biophysics can cover everything, but one wonders, how come, such a dedicated physician and teacher as Dr. Guyton overlooked at least pointing to the importance of "little" things like diet and the psychic emotions.
As you put it
stardust
Posted on: 11/27/2012 12:32
Thanks for your reply but I choose to tackle my hernia ( the end result of a perforated ulcer operation and infection in May 2011) first and get that fixed up.
I'm waiting for surgery with Dr. Brenneman and my own surgeon with Dr. B. as his teacher so I don't have to pay $5,000. not covered by OHIP. I could have allergies, infection re the ordinary plastic mesh being used. I have a dr. and clinics in the area,yes. I did have blood sugar tests in hospital last year but I can look into it later. I don't have skype.
Here's the kind of hernia I have altho' not quite as big but its like I'm 9 mos. pregnant! Its very horrendous. I have to wait awhile for surgery , no date given.
RevLindsayKing
Posted on: 11/28/2012 11:22
Meanwhile, you may find the following META-tation--in the form of a rhyme--helpful.
Every day, as needed to help me deal with the stresses of life, I fucus on the colours of the rainbow, especially the primary colours. I call this rhyme, which I wrote recently:
THE SPECTRUM OF LIFE
=====================
The primary colours are red, yellow and blue.
Now, let us ask: What do they do?
I trust you are willing to take time to see
What colours can do for you and for me?
Blue skies remind me who I AM and should be. .....................(Blue symbolizes consciousness)
Next with the help of the sun's golden glow, ......................(Yellow symbolizes knowledge & wisdom)
I AM reminded to think, know and grow.
Red blood reminds me, hour after hour, ................................(Red symbolizes energy and power)
Within and around there is infinite power. .............................................. (Earth's magma is blood red)
G-Õ-D ... is the symbol I use to point to
All that's in tune with the heavenly blue.
Every morning, this mantra I say.
It helps me to welcome each colourful day.
RevLindsayKing
Posted on: 11/28/2012 11:57
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT HYPNOSIS
Hypnosis (from the Greek for 'sleep') is a word that was coined by a British surgeon, James Braid, in the 1840's. A creative and imaginative thinker, he was as they say a man, "way before his time." , he was interested in finding a way to help his patients deal with the pain and suffering involved in surgery. No one knows who invented anesthesia. He is some basic information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_anesthesia#History
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_general_anesthesia
ABOUT DR. JAMES BRAID
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Braid_%28surgeon%29
Later, Braid admitted that 'hypnosis'--the word he coined--was a misnomer. I heartily agree. The phenomenon is not about a master who has the power to put his subject to sleep; it is about teaching people the art of being fully awake, aware, and conscious of who we are--spiritual beings, who happen to have minds and and bodies just waiting to serve us. [More on this important topic, later ... ]
stardust
Posted on: 11/28/2012 21:34
O.K. Linds....thanks muchly....cool poem.
Everyday is a Good Day
RevLGKing
Posted on: 12/19/2012 01:03