Medicine of the soul  

Much has been written about medicine of the soul within health dynamics; whilst religious people persist in fighting against science, defending their methods, scientists insist on ignoring the transcendental reality

That day, could have been just another regular lesson day at the medical school, had it not been for the learning process I gained from it...

The afternoon began very warm, when I and some other colleagues entered the hospital ward at the university hospital to which I was linked. We were going to follow up consultations in the psychiatry ward.

The tutor was known to us, as besides having already given us theory lessons, she led important research in the field of mental health at that university. However, although we had previously had the opportunity to observe her, particularly in scientific excellence, I was anxious to see her acting in the medical art.

This was because, during the medical course, I had the opportunity to observe – unfortunately, by the way- varied examples of dissociation between speech and action. Some talked about the imperious need to look at the patient as a whole and, in the plainchant of their consultations, carried out a pathetic travesty of a holistic view, fragmenting much more than integrating.

This entire scene, therefore, led us – at least myself – to a moderate anxiety – and occasionally to be honest, a little de-motivation – due to several practical classes we took part.

The minutes, though, did not pass speedily and, I was able to quickly realise that that afternoon would be different.

How are you? Have you been feeling more energetic?

– Well, doctor! After I started the treatment with you, I have been feeling better. However I realise that the initial improvement was greater and that in the last few days I am not being able to progress so much....

Have you been to see the psychologist?

– No. This service is offered sporadically where I live, when there is one! And the nearest town is located far away. It is very difficult to get transport!

How about activities? Are you working?

Also no. It is very difficult to get a job there...

Have you, however, been able to find some time for leisure?

Doctor, to be honest, in my town there is nothing to do! Even so, I have been able to get out of the house and go to the main square with some friends.

How about studies?

Thank God I managed to finish them. I even came to do the university entrance test here in this town. And do you know that I even passed it?

How wonderful! Which course?

Pedagogy.

And when will the classes start?

In truth I only passed, but I did not enrol for it...

How did that happen?

I had no money..., besides how would I be able to support myself?!

 Why did you not get in touch with me? Why did not come here? This is the least important thing! The most difficult part was to pass and you managed, despite the state of your health. You should have come here, we would have looked for a solution, and together we would have found a way... And isn’t there something we can still do about it?! 

The doctor’s interest were in other aspects beyond the symptoms and dosages 

The case was to do with a young woman going through the sad vales of depression. The psychiatric treatment has brought her much benefit, especially because drops of attention from our teacher were added to the psychopharmacological drugs. However, to get deeply to the root of the problem, more was needed.

Hence the doctor’s interest in other aspects, which were beyond symptoms and dosages. And, for this reason, there was the real feeling in her face, true empathy and deep concern with the life of that young woman.

In truth, as for the course, there was nothing that could have been done about it. The vacancy had already been taken by another candidate. Someone else commemorated hope, whilst our patient could not really put into dimension the importance that activity could have had in her life and, consequently, in her health.

Without the doctor realising, however, her gesture of interest in the life of the young woman, had moved her. And certainly, having acted upon that energy, in the future other paths would open up on the horizon for that young woman. From then on, she would no longer be a patient of her disease, transforming herself, gradually, into an agent of her mental well being. That simple scene left me deeply impressed.

With further contacts, other scenes were added to the above mentioned one.

In her consulting room, a cupboard kept medicines that were donated to those who were most in need. The noble doctor kept several free samples - and perhaps bought many more – and distributed them as true seedlings of hope.

On some occasions, she discreetly gave money for the ticket fare so that patients would not stop looking after their health due to lack of transport.

On other opportunities, the number of consultations were increased due to another person needing to be seen as soon as possible.

Once, a patient suffered from a serious psychiatric disease. The treatment caused him to improve greatly. However, because something else was missing, as he was unemployed, our lecturer got in touch with some contacts and got him a job, as work dignifies the being, including, the health perspectives. Especially in the case in question.

This is not her job! The Brazilian health system, or otherwise the government, is the one with this obligation! – Some may say.

Certainly.

She did not need to do all this! She already helps, by contributing to the quota of taxes which is her responsibility to pay to the state! – Some other will argue.

Undoubtly.

She, however, was able to see beyond; to learn to do a little more; she acquired the ability to put herself in the place of another; she realised that one cannot only wait...

For many, she is only known for her scientific articles.

By the patients she sees, though, she will never be forgotten for her noble gestures of humanity.  

I thought to myself: how should one reason in the
face of a collective delirium?

Much has been written about the medicine of the soul within health dynamics.

Religious people persist in fighting with science, defending exclusively their methods. Scientists, in their turn, insist on ignoring transcendental reality.

In this perspective, new techniques arise – sometimes somewhat strange ones– promising cure, due to the pretext they are spiritual, compromising, once in a while, the credibility of the possible union between the medicine of the body and medicine of the soul.

Once, I was developing activities in the area of the Spiritist Philosophy, when I was taken, by many enthusiasts, to meet a certain person.

They wished to present to me a new tool of the spirit world that they were developing within the mechanisms of aid to the suffering and obsessor Spirits.

We are at the moment – I was spoken to in this way -, going a step forward in our approach. ⁽¹⁾Now, we carry out surgeries in the perispirit ⁽¹⁾ of the beings. We have been able to modify the DNA and the spiritual genes. With this, we have changed the destination, as well as the architecture of obsessions.

Whilst the friends talked about it excitedly, it was only left to myself to shake my head as a lizard, thinking – God Bless!

And because they insisted that I personally participated of one of the meetings and verified the veracity of the narrations made, it was only left to me to answer reticently:

Let’s see our possibility... – whilst I thought to myself: how should one reason in the face of a collective frenzy?

Even without wishing to, although in other opportunities and in other institutions where I had been invited to, I had the chance to see – because they were made in public, after our lectures - spiritual surgical treatments which, although they were not exactly like the one mentioned above, they had a clumsy similarity.

I question; therefore, what would be a medicine of the soul?

And, invariably I am not able to give the example of the techniques of spiritual DNA as an answer. At the same time, however, the image of my teacher gains space.

To do beyond what one is obliged to – this is to walk two thousand steps.

To look beyond a brain or a spiritual being in disharmony – this is to have eyes that can see. The donation of oneself and the giving of oneself which happens not in a temple or in social work – this is charity.

To put oneself in someone else’s place – this is love.

It was precisely these ingredients that an incomparable Man taught.

And these are the fundamental tools to take care of the soul.

The rest is only secondary – when not, delirium of the human mind that always covets to have the power to cure everything.

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