Attention

Attention is our primary tool for healing, growth and transformation. The information we allow into consciousness determines the content and quality of life. Information enters consciousness because we focus on it or because of attentional habits. Our attention selects appropriate pieces of information from the millions of pieces available. We retrieve the appropriate references from memory, to evaluate an event and then choose the right course of action. 

Some of us learn to use attention efficiently; others waste it. The mark of a person proficient with consciousness is the ability to focus attention at will. To be oblivious to distractions and concentrate as long as it takes to achieve a goal and not longer. You can develop this skill through the exercises in the Herbal Healing Journey.

Whenever information disrupts consciousness by threatening its goals we have a condition of inner disorder, or psychic entropy. Prolonged experiences of this kind can weaken us to the point where we can no longer invest attention and pursue our goals. We move away from the edges of our personal growth. We will learn how to pick up our edges, process new information and stay on our path.

ORDER OUT OF CHAOS

Dissipated Structure

The term dissipated structure was coined by a Belgian chemist Ilya Prigogine to describe fluctuations in a system that causes new complexity. This idea was brought to bear on human health in "Time Space and Medicine" by Dr. Larry Dossey.

Life manifests a "shake-up" or some kind of crisis to our original structure, such as sickness to our normally healthy body. The disruption is a reordering opportunity. It occurs in any system, such as a company, institution, country, relationship, or our bodies. The Chinese character for "crisis" means both danger and opportunity.

The thought of a crisis fills most of us with fear. Yet the institution or person that never changes may begin to stagnate. A key to growth is to flow and work with disturbances. Good art disturbs us into a new way of thinking. In Nature our bodies' fine-tuned sophisticated immune systems are exposed to disease and disruption. We need to find ways to let go of old patterns and structures, when faced with crises, so we can grow and achieve new order. The new order is stronger and more adaptable. This idea is a new and healthy way of looking at our life's shake-ups, accidents and diseases.

DON'S PARADIGM OF HEALING 

Feedback:

It is vital to watch and or feel for feedback . This may be difficult because of the many factors affecting you. It is beneficial to start with few interventions at first so you can figure out which ones are working. Remember that some of the more nutritive herbs need some time to manifest their benefit. The goal is to strengthen the person and reduce their symptoms. If working with someone else, involve the patient by educating her and have her modify her treatment according to her body's feedback.

Change:
Encourage small changes to their habits and routines that help balance out the constitution. These can become restful routines. e.g.

      Wind - a hot bath in the late afternoon.
      Fire - go for a swim or take a walk by some water around noon.
      Water - vigorous exercise in the morning (before noon).

Encourage according to the Constitution.
      Wind - make it exciting. Only one or two changes.
      Fire - make it challenging and transformational.
     Water - make it resourceful and stimulating.

Support:

     Ask the patient to involve a friend or loved one in their healing process.

Growth:

     Ask them what is right about their problem?  Help them to become aware of different parts that may be resisting change. Process their symptom using technique in dreambody section. Make their symptom an Ally (helper).

Refer back to the section on herbal medicine in the herbal preparation section.