The idea that the capacity to heal lies with others is perhaps the most dangerous misconception perpetuated by the mainstream medical industry.
So why has every civilization had some kind of healer / shaman / medicine (wo)man?
Because a healers job is to help remove any obstructions that are preventing your body from healing itself. That's it. Our bodies are infinitely wise, and capable of restoring balance.
This is why sleep is THE BEST medicine.
Laughter comes in at a close second.
Even in extreme scenarios like a car accident or losing a limb, the surgeon's job is to stop the hemorrhaging, seal up the wounds, give you antibiotics for any potential pathogens, and then, you sleep.
While we're resting, our body does SO. MUCH. WORK.
We have 11 major organ systems recognized by modern medicine: muscular, skeletal, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, lymphatic, immune, nervous, digestive, urinary, and the integumentary (hair, skin, nails) systems.
When we're chronically stressed out, the cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, and endocrine systems go on hyper drive - that's 4 out of the 11. This is the famous "fight, flight, freeze, or fawn" response known as the sympathetic nervous system.
The other 7 major systems are under-performing because the body is sending all its resources to help you pump more oxygen and adrenaline to your muscles so you can kick someone's ass or run the fuck away.
Yet here we are. Stuck in a crumbling empire with massive income inequality while trying to raise children without our village and still hosting dinner parties...
Is it any wonder we're all so sick and tired?
No pill or herbal remedy will make you feel better if you're running on empty for too long.
This is also why there's been an explosion in the therapy and coaching business, as well as people seeking alternative medicine options. We know the external systems we're living in are not working, but we're desperately looking for answers outside of ourselves in the form of supplements, consultations, and second, third, or up-teenth opinions.
And there is a time and a place for looking outside of ourselves. Humans are communal creatures. We need each other when we've lost our way.
Even in my moments of doubt in the past few months, just saying what I'm struggling with out loud in person or on social media has led to so many eye-opening conversations. Those conversations were healing.
So I'm not saying we don't need healers, or doctors, or medicine keepers. What I am saying, is that their job is to help remove the blocks preventing your body from healing itself, give you an educated opinion, or share a piece of wisdom / just the right plant that helps break the spell that's been cast over you, respectively.
The rest is up to you. Which can be kind of terrifying, especially when you've been conditioned to believe someone with the right combination of letters after their name knows your body better than you do.
So if you're feeling sick and tired of being sick and tired, here's what I'm prioritizing in my life to feel healthy and happy:
- Sleep. Just because I can operate at less than 8 hours of sleep, doesn't mean I should, nor that I operate well. On the days I wake up feeling unrested, I give myself grace, and do my best to either take a nap or go to bed early the next day. Sleep really is the best medicine.
- Stop putting junk into my body: alcohol, weed and their corresponding munchies. All things in moderation, but at this phase in my life, sobriety is a requirement. I just don't have 36-48 hours to waste recovering from overindulging in junk food or mind-altering substances.
- Laugh and play more. The saying laughter is the best medicine is rooted in science: laughter activates the parasympathetic nervous system - the body's counter balance to the stress response.
In short, sleep and laugh more, ingest poisons less.
And just to navigate the nuance here, let's not confuse the idea that ingesting poison is 100% bad. We live in a toxic world. There is a time and a place to detox, and we should minimize exposure, but I also believe in the importance of micro-dosing to keep one's immunity strong.
In the Middle East, royalty begin stinging their children with scorpions at a young age, so that when they grow up, they won't die if stung by an extremely poisonous one.
Which is why I let my kid eat skittles and drink soda every once in a while, guilt-free. And why we occasionally stay up late.
This is balance.
Healing is not fixing everything wrong with yourself. It's learning to look at the parts of yourself you hate the most, and instead of trying to fix or change them, embrace them with unconditional love.
From that place of love, we can start to find the meaning in the suffering, and finally break free from the spell of victimhood consciousness.
We are not responsible for what happened to us, but we are responsible for how we choose to move forward from any given circumstance.
If you'd like some guidance on how to do that, click reply and we'll see what medicine comes through for you.
Sleep well,
Pri
This 600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
If you're curious, the above address is just an automated anti-spam feature. I'm still in Miami, but this newsletter software says using a real address here is best, and I didn't want to use my home address.
Feeling like this doesn't resonate at all, no worries. You do you boo, and we'll cross paths again when the time is right :-)
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