Earth Medicine

Healing as a spiritual practice is a radically different approach to the one on offer from doctors who work for the NHS. No prescribed medication can provide the radical changes necessary for real healing to take place.

No human mind can cure a human mind. However, by tapping into a Power greater, there are no limits to what can be achieved. After my spiritual awakening, I decided to further my healing practice by learning new skills; I trained to become a yoga teacher and studied nutrition.

Modern doctors are not taught nutrition even though the origin of 75% of all dis-eases like cancer is related to our diet. Doctors are not taught spiritual practices such as meditation, mindfulness, prayer and yoga, even though those that do report better health, happiness and wellbeing. Earth Medicine is not a book solely about cancer, but a book about diseases like cancer.

I work as a massage therapist. My research into health and wellbeing comes from my experience as a health care professional. When I speak to clients I always use my personal experience as an example. My PTSD was overwhelming until I did the 12 Step work in Narcotics Anonymous. In my experience, only a loving Higher power can heal the wounds of trauma accumulated in childhood. Some wounds, whether physical, mental, emotional or spiritual, are as deep and as buried as one‟s own DNA.

I attend our local Zen meditation group based on Hope Street, Liverpool. In our discussion after meditation one Saturday morning, a remark about cancer inspired me to write this book. Cancer is a serious issue. Today, one in two people will be touched by cancer at some point in a lifetime (maybe ourselves, a family member, a close friend or a neighbour).

I have included some stories written by people who explore their experience, strength and hope. May these stories inspire the reader in their healing journey.

Earth Medicine is written to challenge some deeply ingrained mainstream views about health and wellbeing. Whenever I refer to cancer in this book, I dont only mean cancer, but a whole range of dis-eases which, when left unchecked, can have fatal consequences. For example, in my experience, mild depression can quickly spiral into suicidal thoughts without drastic intervention.

The world as we know it is falling apart and mental illness has become a global problem. Earth Medicine explores how we can be restored to sanity and wellbeing as long as we are willing to follow simple spiritual directions.

Change is possible when be become more honest, open-minded and willing to embrace a spiritual way of life. The belief in a Power greater leads to faith. Our new found faith brings about inner peace. With inner peace we lay the foundation for world peace.

When men and women work together towards world peace on a daily basis, we usher in a new dawn that heals our planet. May this book be of benefit to all those men, women and children suffering from dis-eases like cancer. As my teacher Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche said, "Your health is your wealth."

December 2018