Power Of The Mind Over Sickness

 

When I was young and still living at home, my Dad became very ill. An incident happened during this illness that puzzled me throughout the years. Only after learning the knowledge that I have written about in this book, has the mystery been solved.

We lived in a coal mining community in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. The coal company provided doctors and nurses for the community. These doctors and nurses were held in the highest esteem. In fact, the registered nurse, Mrs. Livingston, was my inspiration for becoming a nurse. In early childhood, my sister and I decided that we would become nurses like Mrs. Livingston.

Over many years, my family grew accustomed to being cared for by Old Doc Carr, Dr. Love, and Mrs. Livingston. We had our utmost trust in them.

Now and then the coal company would bring in a new doctor to help out. When Dad became ill, the new doctor was assigned to his care and came to our house to see him.

My Dad's condition did not improve under his care. Finally, the new doctor told my Mother that he could not help my Dad because Dad had no faith in him.

As I stood there listening to the conversation, I wondered what in the world this man was talking about. What did faith in the doctor have to do with my Dad getting well? I thought that was what the medicine was for.

After becoming a nurse, I have heard it said many times that a patient has died because he lost the will to live. What did the will have to do with him dying? We were giving him the proper medications, weren't we? I have seen and heard of patients living against all odds, and it was said that, "They had the will to live."

Speaking of a person's will to live or losing the will to live is common among health personnel. But I wondered what part this played, and how did it play a part? Also, one must wonder if the will is playing such a large part in whether a person lives or dies, then what is the actual value of medications?

I have been totally amazed at the great healing power of placebos. Sometimes the results are faster in coming than with medications.

Very early in my nursing career, I learned what a positive attitude on my part, a gentle touch to the patient, and a reassuring smile could do for the patient.

As a mother, I have had my children hurt themselves and they would come to me crying loudly. I would tell them to let me kiss the hurt and make it go away. And it did. I never knew the actual reason why, but I did know it worked.

As I have read the Bible, I learned that when Jesus healed the sick, he often times would refer to the person's faith.

St. Matthew 9:20-22

"And, behold, a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garmet; for she said within herself, if I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
But when Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, 'Daughter, be of good comfort; your faith has made you whole.'"

St. Matthew 9:27-29

"And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, 'Thou son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus said unto them, 'Believe you that I am able to do this?'"
They said unto him, 'Yea, Lord.' Then he touched their eyes, saying, 'According to your faith be it unto you.'"

The following verses tell us how important our belief is:

St. Mark 6:1-6

"And He went out from thence, and came into His own country; and His disciples followed Him. And when the sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue; and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, 'From whence has this man these things?
But Jesus said unto them, 'A prophet is not without honor, but in His own country, and among His own kind, and in His own house."
And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And He marvelled because of their unbelief."

Matthew 21:22

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

Mark 9:23

"And Jesus said unto him, If you canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.'

Matthew 8:13

"And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.' And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."

As I have studied about faith healing, biofeedback, visualization, affirmations, touch, positive thinking, mother's kisses, placebos, chiropractic adjustments, the Edeus Health Bed, tranquilizers, massages, reflexology, exercises, water theraphy, acupressure, etc., I have come to realize that they all have one thing in common-they bring about relaxation of the nervous system which, in turn, promotes healing.

Relaxation of the nervous system can be achieved by many means, but none is more powerful than the inner peace that only Jesus can bring to a person. Jesus offers mankind His peace--His very special peace.

John 14:27

"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give it to you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

St. Matthew 11:28-30

"Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest unto your soul; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Stressed Thoughts

On the reverse side of the coin, most of us are very familiar with the effects of stressed thoughts. Some symptoms experienced when in stressed situations are:

1. tight muscles

2. headaches

3. frequent urination

 

4. goosebumps and hives

5. diarrhea

6. nausea

7. constipation

 

8. fever

9. fainting

10. heart palpitations

11. almost all symptoms of illnesses can be felt under stressed conditons.

We know that when we get away from the stressed situation our bodies relax and our symptoms go away.

Prolonged stress with prolonged symptoms can easily weaken the cells, and diseases strike.

Broken Spirit

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones." Proverbs 17:22

One of the greatest tragedies of my life concerns the death of my sister, Van. I would like to take you step-by-step through this sad time in my life.

1.

Van's illness started with a cold. Although it is said that there is no antibiotic that kills the cold germ, she was given an antibiotic for this.

A side effect of this antibiotic is a gastric upset. This she got!!

2.

The doctor treated her gastric upset with a medication that virtually removed the natural acid from her stomach. She literally drank pickle juice to replace it because her body was craving it so.

One of the side effects of this anacid, according to the health literature that I have read, is liver cancer. This she got!!!

KQUOTE>

3.

The doctor gave her a series of cancer chemotheraphy.

A side effect of cancer chemotheraphy is large blisters throughout the mouth and throat. This she got!!!

4.

The doctor gave her a second series of cancer chemotheraphy.

She had terrible side effects throughout the entire intestinal tract that created a blockage, and she was unable to have bowel movements. Hospitalization was required to enable her to have bowel movements again.

5.

When it was time for her to go to the doctor for her third series of chemotheraphy, I called her the night before and tried to talk her out of going. She had started feeling better and was able to eat again after getting over the devastating effects of the previous two series of chemotheraphy.

> When I called, she was laughing, talking, and eating watermelon with her daughters.

She did not take my advice and decided to keep her appointment with her doctor.

On this visit, I believe, my sister was virtually murdered!!! The doctor told her that she had about 10 days to live.

<P ALIGN=indent> She believed him!!! The next day, she called in her lawyer, put the finishing touches on her will, took to her bed, stopped eating, and died in about ten days. I would never hear her laugh and talk again.

Her doctor may feel smug that he was so smart and could virtually predict her death almost to the day.

In my opinion, it wasn't brilliance at all because such predictions, when believed by the patient, are self-fulfilling. By giving her a negative suggestion, he broke her spirit. I believe he had murdered her just as surely as if he had placed a gun to her head and pulled the trigger.

Most any patient, and especially one whose body has already been ravaged by medications, who stopped eating and drinking fluids will probably die in about ten days.

I believe it should be a criminal offense for a doctor to give a patient and family a prediction of death. I have done a lot of nursing with patients whose conditions seemed hopeless. Many times, through extra and continuous efforts, the patients have survived. No doctor or nurse should ever assume a case is hopeless. All should work diligently, and with a positive attitude.

No doubt my sister's death certificate says that she died of cancer. I believe it would be more accurate to read "murdered by medications and breaking of her spirit."

I wonder how many cancer patients actually have died from the treatment and not from the disease. I have heard of many.

I wish so much that my sister had just kept the cold and battled it until it ran its course.

 

 

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