WASHINGTON — Whether it’s a pulled muscle you’re nursing or a chronic disease you’re fighting, a treatment from the doctor’s office will only help so much.
That’s according to Dr. Wayne Jonas, a practicing physician and former director of the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, who says pills and operations only account for 20 percent of the healing journey.
“We’re leaving 80 percent on the table because most of that comes from outside of your doctor’s office,” Jonas said.
In his new book, “How Healing Works,” Jonas draws on 40 years of research and patient care to make the case that mending comes from more than just medicine.
“It comes from what you do in life, it comes from your physical and social environment, and it comes from what’s meaningful to you, what really matters to you in life,” Jonas said.
“When you engage in that, you can really access that healing response.”
He’s found that supplementing immediate interventions with activities such as yoga, massage, volunteer work and meaningful social interactions can help heal and prevent chronic disease.
“Very often, you’ll see a response, a physical response, in their pain, their inflammation, their function, just by that [activity], and they can get off their medications,” he added.
Even reconfiguring a physical space can have a profound impact on a health outcome.
But in today’s overly scheduled and stressed-out society, carving out time for self-care can seem impossible — Jonas hears that a lot. However, he says squeezing in that 30-minute meditation could save you time in the long run.
“What happens is [patients] end up spending even more time jumping from doctor to doctor getting procedures … injections and physical therapy, surgery perhaps. The reality is, they’re already spending a lot of time at it, and if they would spend some time at this, and if they had some assistance to do it from their doctor, they could actually end up spending less time and get better faster,” Jonas said.
Integrative medicine is becoming increasingly more common in medical institutions throughout the country — from academic centers to veteran services. Still, Jonas says it’s “not nearly common enough.”
There’s good news, however: Constructing and implementing a healing plan at home to mitigate and prevent chronic disease is possible. Here are Jonas’ top tips for getting started:
Make one or two small and realistic changes. This could be as simple as decluttering your space, reconnecting with nature, or making more time for things that bring you joy.
“Are you doing something that gets you up in the morning and say, ‘I really like this?’ That’s going to go a long way and motivate you into getting better and feeling well,” Jonas said.
Surround yourself with those who are most important to you.
“The social environment is very important — friends and family, getting them engaged in the process then stimulates you to get better.”
Assess your current behaviors. Understand why you engage in them (eating, drinking, cooking) and why you want to change them.
Finally, talk to your doctor about developing a more integrative plan for managing your illnesses. Jonas offers a detailed plan in his book and a number of free resources and tools for patients and providers on his website.
“You don’t have to wait around for things to change in medicine. You can do this right now,” he said.
