Exploring Mental Health and Holistic Healing through the Life Stories of Indigenous Youth Who Have Experienced Homelessness.

Indigenous youth are the fastest growing population in Canada, yet are marked by profound and disproportionate personal, societal, political, and colonial barriers that predispose them to mental health challenges, employment and educational barriers, and experiences of housing insecurity and homelessness. It is only from the perspectives and experiences of Indigenous community members themselves that we can gain appropriate insights into effective supports, meaningful interventions, and accessible pathways to security. This paper will explore the mental health of Indigenous youth who are at risk of, or who have experienced, homelessness, as well as the lifelong perspectives, teachings, and guidance from Indigenous Elders and traditional knowledge keepers; their perspectives are weaved throughout, in order to provide a more effective means to addressing holistic healing and the mental health needs of Indigenous homeless youth. As educators, researchers and clinicians who have sought to understand this issue in more depth, our analysis aims to raise awareness about the complexities of Indigenous youth homelessness and push back against systemic barriers that contribute to homelessness, fail young people, and subject them to oppression. We also offer recommendations from a clinical perspective in order for clinicians, researchers and those working within communities to serve our Indigenous youth with a diverse set of methods that are tailored and ethical in their approach.

Homoeopathy a system of holistic healing as an alternative treatment for PCOS: a review

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex hormonal and metabolic disorder characterized by oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, hyperandrogenism and infertility. Global prevalence of PCOS is estimated to be between 06% and 26%. Homoeopathy, being a system of holistic healing can be accepted as one of the alternative treatments for PCOS. Aim & Objective: The aim of the study is to review clinical data, where the intervention was aimed to treat PCOS through Homoeopathy. The objective of the study is to identify the therapeutic approach, assessment criteria, treatment outcomes through an alternative therapy i.e., Homoeopathy in cases of PCOS. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the month of June2021 following International/National search databases for all clinical studies published in the period from 2000 to 2021. This search was aimed to target the entire literature of randomized trials or controlled trials, observational studies case studies/reports on PCOS in homoeopathy. Result:28 articles related to Homoeopathy on PCOS were identified. Out of these 28studies, 22 studies (01 RCT, 02 NRCT,06 observational studies,04 case series and 09 case reports) were included in this review. All studies were published in peer reviewed journals.Conclusions:To establish the evidence-based efficacy of the homoeopathic treatment in cases of RCT more pragmatic studies need to be planned in the future based on proper diagnostic criteria.

Transnational spirituality and healing: an ethnographic exploration of alternative medicine in Lisbon and Athens.

In contemporary Portugal and Greece, the number of individuals who resort to alternative medicine continues to rise. From yoga, meditation and energy therapies to healing based on various religio-spiritual traditions, there is a variety of therapeutic practices one can choose from. The main objective of this paper is to show how a therapeutic and spiritual pluralism is produced through the implementation of transnational influences on spirituality and healing. It investigates the diverse ways in which the practice of spirituality through healing leads to a better understanding of how current processes of globalisation, transnationalism and multiculturalism affect, develop and negotiate one's individual, social, spiritual and medical identity. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in Lisbon and Athens, the Portuguese and Greek capital equivalently, the paper explores the pluralistic and transnational character of alternative medicine and the spiritual creativity with which such therapies are practised. Taking the role of the (spiritual) holistic practitioner as healer as a point of departure, it provides an empirical account of the shifting status of both religiosity and healthcare in two southern European countries that are still followed by the stereotype of being predominantly linked to Christianity as the denominational religion, and to biomedicine as the predominant healthcare system.

Expressive Flamenco ©: An Emerging Expressive Arts-Based Practice.

Expressive Flamenco© theory and praxis is presented by Sánchez through this art-based personal reflection paper, which explores the applications of flamenco for its inherent psycho-somatic therapeutic capacities. She asserts the applied practice of flamenco (in its broadest definition), when combined with other expressive arts practices, can have therapeutic benefits; including (but not limited to) psycho-social, spiritual, and aesthetic connection to the individual's unconscious. During these experiences of arts based emotional expression, one can transcend the self into divine connection with their authentic self, what the author understands as the "duende". By allowing one's authentic truth to be expressed through Expressive Flamenco©, a spirit of evocation, born from within the self, appears when the self-connects with and is in creative conversation with its unconscious. The main hypothesis asserts the emergence of the "duende" facilitates an epistemological process of self-knowledge and an emotional process of catharsis, suggesting that when this art form is utilized as 'Expressive Flamenco' it helps facilitate holistic healing. This paper aims to stretch flamenco into new applied therapeutic practice territories, specifically in the arts therapies. Practical applications of Expressive Flamenco in the expressive therapies, including expressive arts therapy and dance/movement therapy, is presented along with the preliminary results of a virtual telehealth group facilitated during Covid-19. Professor Pinna-Perez's critical reflections on Expressive Flamenco© and its importance to the field is presented in response to this emerging expressive arts practice.

Review: Southern African medicinal plants used as blood purifiers.

ETHNOPHARMALOGICAL RELEVANCE: Blood purification practices, also referred to as blood cleansing or detoxification, is an ancient concept which is widespread amongst African traditional medicine, but for which no modern scientific basis exists. There prevails considerable ambiguity in defining what a blood purifier is. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this review is to firstly define what a blood purifier is in the context of African traditional medicine and compare to other cultural and westernized interpretations. Thereafter, this study identifies traditionally used medicinal plants used as blood purifiers in southern Africa and correlates these species to scientific studies, which may support evidence for these "blood purifying plant species". MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethnobotanical books and review articles were used to identify medicinal plants used for blood purification. Databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed and Google Scholar were used to source scientific articles. An evaluation was made to try correlate traditional use to scientific value of the plant species. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty nine plant species have been documented as traditional remedies for blood purification. Most of the plant species have some pharmacological activity, however, very little link to the traditional use for blood purification. There has been some justification of the link between blood purification and the use as an antimicrobial and this has been explored in many of the plant species identified as blood purifiers. Other pharmacological studies specifically pertaining to the blood require further attention. CONCLUSION: Irrespective of the ambiguity of interpretation, medicinal plants used to "cleanse the blood", play an important holistic role in traditional medicine and this review with recommendations for further study provides some value of exploring this theme in the future.

Ayurveda: an ancient science of holistic healing

Ayurveda literally means the 'knowledge of living or of longevity', in Sanskrit. Ayurveda teachings elaborate how an individual can live in harmony with their surroundings. This includes pragmatic descriptions of the foods to be eaten, including where, when (according to the seasons and the time of the day) and how; as well as other practices, which includes yoga. In Ayurveda an emphasis is placed on three elemental humors (or doshas, in Sanskrit). These are usually described taking into account the five elements, viz., earth, water, fire, air and ether, which compose the whole Universe, including the human body. The doshas are vayu (air; comprised of wind and ether), pitta (bile; composed of fire and water), and kapha (phlegm; composed of water and earth). It is believed that the predominance of a particular dosha determines an individual's physical and mental characteristics. In this presentation a correlation would be made based on a study conducted on seven hundred healthy individuals, with the dosha dominant in each them and the occurrence of common complaints (e.g., an occasional headache). This may help in understanding which doshas make an individual particularly vulnerable to disorders of a specific organ or system. Apart from this the benefits of specific ayurveda practices will be presented based on scientific studies. This would include the use of polyherbal rejuvenating tonics to promote longevity and present disease as well as 'external therapies' such as 'shirodhara', which involves drop-by-drop application of medicated oils to the forehead for stress-reduction. Overall the presentation would aim at highlighting how Ayurveda blends specific practices with a holistic approach to promote positive health and prevent disease.

The past, present, and future of "chi mi-byo" / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

"chi mi-byo (premorbidity) or zhi-weibing is defined as "preventive treatment of disease" in the "Annual Report on Health and Welfare 1997". In China, in the 2006 five-year plan for the "zhi-weibing" policy and in the 2008 "zhi-weibing" project, the policy has been changed in quality to emphasize prevention, "yo-jo or yangsheng (care of life)", and health for the purpose of improving lifestyle-related diseases and reducing the medical costs.<BR> The word "zhi-weibing" is used in "Suwen" and "Ling Shu" in reference the following: prevention, "yangsheng", and the initial/early treatment at the onset of disease. Additionally in "Nanjing" and "Jingui Yaolue", "zhi-weibing" means predicting the change of disease and preventing the progress of disease. Furthermore in Kampo Ikkando Medicine in Japan, it means improvement of constitution.<BR> In this symposium, I touched on the following: <BR>Volunteer activity reports at disaster areas<BR>Macroscopic viewpoint of current medical state (health issue in modern times)<BR>The relationship of health, disease, and the power to cure oneself<BR>"zhi-weibing or chi mi-byo"<BR>The world of Tao (way, path) and Mei (life)<BR>The "zhi-weibing" policy in China<BR>Symposiasts spoke on topics as follows: <BR> 1) Ascertaining the history of "zhi-weibing or chi mi-byo" and terminological issues like "chi mi-byo" or "mi-byo chi" in Japan<BR> 2) As a clinical practice of "chi mi-byo", an approach to a part of various methods of "yangsheng or yo-jo" based on the power to cure oneself and holistic healing method, the initial treatment, preventing the progress of disease, and the improvement of constitution<BR> 3)Achievement of the initial treatment of "Jingei-Kiko pulse diagnosis" and checking "the pulsation type and clinical condition"<BR>Whenever thinking about the future of the field of acupuncture and moxibustion, life quality of each and every human being, health, happiness, and medical economy, I would be much obliged if the contents of this "chi mi-byo" symposium are helpful to inspire medical care and the Society of Medicine, all healthcare professionals, and all patients.

Holistic Healing Work of Christianity / 간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to identify calls, roles and attitudes of the Christian medical staff in a modern medical system for holistic healing through belief in God's healing methods and God's view about medical treatment. The meaning of healing in the Bible is derived from Rapha in the Old Testament, it's meaning is 'heal wound', 'restore to original condition', 'repair', 'console' and 'be heal'. In the New Testament, the meaning of healing is 'to serve' and 'be in one's service' derived from Therapuein and 'preserve', 'rescue', 'save a life from death' derived from Sozo. Therefore the meaning of the healing in the Bible is restoring original completeness to the same as God's characteristics. The meaning of disease is physical, psychological, social and spiritual imbalance or disharmonious. Disease is usually depravity from moral life to immoral life and abnormal life process with accompanying specific symptoms. Medical staff were called to God's work, recognized God's will for them, and absolutely leaned on God's power to intervene and work above spatial-temporal transcendently. They use spiritual power with medical treatment skills, help sick people to possibly have dynamic and individual relation with God and help to maintain their well-being and complete healing. Attitudes of medical staff were compassion and love, virtue of modesty, strong and daring, patience with belief, healing with God's word, using spiritual insight, play, using medical knowledge and techniques, continuing spiritual training, laying on of hands and repentance.