Integral Health: The Path to Human Flourishing
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By: Elliott S. Dacher
Format: Paperback
From: Basic Health Publications
Pub. Date: September 2006
From: Basic Health Publications
Pub. Date: September 2006
Product Details:
Catalog: Book
Release Date: 2006-10-15
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 192
Ean: 9781591201908
Isbn: 159120190X
Catalog: Book
Release Date: 2006-10-15
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 192
Ean: 9781591201908
Isbn: 159120190X
ABOUT THE BOOK
EDITORIAL REVIEW
Everyone agrees that the mind/body connection is a critical component in healing and well-being. But how do you activate that connection? Practices like yoga, tai chi, reiki, and various types of meditation relate to and promote that connection, but, in themselves, don't produce the qualitative shift needed for the higher level of extraordinary, integral health. Rather that looking outside ourselves for new remedies, techniques, and programs, Elliott S. Dacher, M.D., says we have to redirect our vision from outside to inside. "To transform health and life we must shift our gaze inward, where we will find the ever-present source of exceptional health and healing." writes Dacher. This book provides the vision and the map that show how to achieve integral halth as well as its many fruits. Based on Ken Wilber's integral theory, that path is holistic, evolutionary, intentional, person-centered, and dynamic as it addresses four aspects of human existence-the inner aspects of the psychospiritual and the interpersonal and the outer aspects of the biological and the interpersonal. The seeker learns how to deal with and advance through each of the aspects, do an integral assessment of all four aspects, design a personalized program of integral practice, and progress toward integral health. By sriving for human flourishing, we become co-creators in an evolutionary leap in health and well-being. Following the path to integral health not only helps the seeker deal with life's adversities, including disease, aging, and death, but leads to authentic happiness and genuine wholeness. Are you ready to take that path?
USER REVIEWS
"Human beings are evolving and evolving rapidly. As we change, then so do our illnesses and, as we have recently discovered, so do the Laws of Healing.
Elliott Dacher was a practicing physician for many years, until, in the early 1990s, he felt the same frustration of many other doctors, in that he was unable to address the underlying causes of his patients' distress. Although he does not say it in so many words, he recognized that modern health care has degenerated into a limited model of disease management. For people in distress who do not have a diagnostic label attached to them, this can be profoundly frustrating.
Elliott had the courage to seek another medical education, this time one steeped in Eastern philosophy, and he subsequently wrote two highly regarded books on health in the 1990s: Whole Healing and Intentional Healing. Those books began to outline ways to introduce wisdom, compassion, the alleviation of suffering, and the promotion of wholeness and sustained - even permanent - health and happiness.
This book presents a vision of medicine very different form the one with which most of us are familiar. AT the beginning of the book he says some things that are absolutely correct, but which will shock many people,
"Conventional health is simple. Just follow what you've learned. A far-reaching health requires a transformation of mind and heart. We call this holistic and evolutionary transformation an integral shift. The result is integral health.... What is holding us back? Why have we settled for ordinary health when so much more is possible? The answer is so close that it is difficult for us to see. We've been trained to deal with suffering, distress, and diseases by looking outside of ourselves by relying on remedies, therapies, techniques, health practitioners, self-help, and self-improvement programs... We've been similarly trained to look outward for "happiness," seeking pleasure from materialism, success, fame, romance, sexuality, alcohol and drugs....
To transform health and life we must shift our gaze inward, where we will find the ever-present source of exceptional health and healing."
This is one of the first book-length attempts to apply some of Ken Wilber's ideas to medicine, and overall it is very successful. Ken Wilber's ever-evolving ideas are important, complex and the basic principles are becoming quite widely known.
In this book some of Wilber's ideas are developed with care and clarity. The author begins with Five Guiding Principles.
1. Holistic: involving the four major aspects of human experience: Biological, psychospiritual, interpersonal and worldly
2. Evolutionary: every one of these quadrants can develop and evolve
3. Intentional
4. Person-centered
5. Dynamic
The book is a call to return to an integration of body, mind and spirit that was at the core of the philosophies of Plato, Plotinus and the ancient masters of Indian and Chinese philosophy. But this is not some pining after an imaginary Golden Age, but an attempt to reconnect the wisdom of a holistic worldview with the fruits of modern science.
Instead of simply talking about health and wellness, Elliott uses a far more valuable and inspirational term: "Flourishing."
Though Ken Wilber provides the basic map, many of the techniques in the book are derived from Buddhism, but adapted and developed for Westerners. There are chapters on, "Psychospiritual Flourishing," "The Subtle Mind," Biological Flourishing," "Interpersonal Flourishing" and "The Evolution of Medicine." The one slight surprise to me was that there was only a passing mention of the subtle systems of the body: the composite of the fields and "energies" associated with the body.
The natural question is whether Elliott's vision is a Utopian fantasy or something that can be realized in a world of pollution, degradation of the food supply, stress and managed care. The answer to that is a resounding "Yes." There are a great many parallels between Elliott's vision and the model of "Integrated medicine," and "Integrated Health" developed in the United Kingdom. A dynamic whole-person approach that respects the fundamental involvement of all the people involved in establishing and maintaining human potential. The central part of a successful therapeutic encounter is a relationship. And the core of a relationship is an exchange of information: not just spoken words, but the whole essence of two or more people interacting. So if a therapeutic relationship is going to help, the "therapist" has to work on him or herself and will likely be changed by working with the people who come to him or her. It is a far cry from the kind of medicine where the doctor will not even shake hands or look at you, because they are too busy tapping on a keyboard!
This model of Integrated Medicine is already being applied with some success, particularly in Scotland, German and France. There is still plenty of opposition, with some medical academics declaring that talk of wisdom, meaning and spirituality has no place in medicine. They are profoundly wrong. Apart from what people tell us, empirical research on patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes are gradually proving the value of a comprehensive approach to care.
This is an excellent book that deserves a very wide readership. It also forms a good complement to the multi-authored Consciousness and Healing that came out in 2005.
Highly recommended."
~ Written on 2007-07-02
Elliott Dacher was a practicing physician for many years, until, in the early 1990s, he felt the same frustration of many other doctors, in that he was unable to address the underlying causes of his patients' distress. Although he does not say it in so many words, he recognized that modern health care has degenerated into a limited model of disease management. For people in distress who do not have a diagnostic label attached to them, this can be profoundly frustrating.
Elliott had the courage to seek another medical education, this time one steeped in Eastern philosophy, and he subsequently wrote two highly regarded books on health in the 1990s: Whole Healing and Intentional Healing. Those books began to outline ways to introduce wisdom, compassion, the alleviation of suffering, and the promotion of wholeness and sustained - even permanent - health and happiness.
This book presents a vision of medicine very different form the one with which most of us are familiar. AT the beginning of the book he says some things that are absolutely correct, but which will shock many people,
"Conventional health is simple. Just follow what you've learned. A far-reaching health requires a transformation of mind and heart. We call this holistic and evolutionary transformation an integral shift. The result is integral health.... What is holding us back? Why have we settled for ordinary health when so much more is possible? The answer is so close that it is difficult for us to see. We've been trained to deal with suffering, distress, and diseases by looking outside of ourselves by relying on remedies, therapies, techniques, health practitioners, self-help, and self-improvement programs... We've been similarly trained to look outward for "happiness," seeking pleasure from materialism, success, fame, romance, sexuality, alcohol and drugs....
To transform health and life we must shift our gaze inward, where we will find the ever-present source of exceptional health and healing."
This is one of the first book-length attempts to apply some of Ken Wilber's ideas to medicine, and overall it is very successful. Ken Wilber's ever-evolving ideas are important, complex and the basic principles are becoming quite widely known.
In this book some of Wilber's ideas are developed with care and clarity. The author begins with Five Guiding Principles.
1. Holistic: involving the four major aspects of human experience: Biological, psychospiritual, interpersonal and worldly
2. Evolutionary: every one of these quadrants can develop and evolve
3. Intentional
4. Person-centered
5. Dynamic
The book is a call to return to an integration of body, mind and spirit that was at the core of the philosophies of Plato, Plotinus and the ancient masters of Indian and Chinese philosophy. But this is not some pining after an imaginary Golden Age, but an attempt to reconnect the wisdom of a holistic worldview with the fruits of modern science.
Instead of simply talking about health and wellness, Elliott uses a far more valuable and inspirational term: "Flourishing."
Though Ken Wilber provides the basic map, many of the techniques in the book are derived from Buddhism, but adapted and developed for Westerners. There are chapters on, "Psychospiritual Flourishing," "The Subtle Mind," Biological Flourishing," "Interpersonal Flourishing" and "The Evolution of Medicine." The one slight surprise to me was that there was only a passing mention of the subtle systems of the body: the composite of the fields and "energies" associated with the body.
The natural question is whether Elliott's vision is a Utopian fantasy or something that can be realized in a world of pollution, degradation of the food supply, stress and managed care. The answer to that is a resounding "Yes." There are a great many parallels between Elliott's vision and the model of "Integrated medicine," and "Integrated Health" developed in the United Kingdom. A dynamic whole-person approach that respects the fundamental involvement of all the people involved in establishing and maintaining human potential. The central part of a successful therapeutic encounter is a relationship. And the core of a relationship is an exchange of information: not just spoken words, but the whole essence of two or more people interacting. So if a therapeutic relationship is going to help, the "therapist" has to work on him or herself and will likely be changed by working with the people who come to him or her. It is a far cry from the kind of medicine where the doctor will not even shake hands or look at you, because they are too busy tapping on a keyboard!
This model of Integrated Medicine is already being applied with some success, particularly in Scotland, German and France. There is still plenty of opposition, with some medical academics declaring that talk of wisdom, meaning and spirituality has no place in medicine. They are profoundly wrong. Apart from what people tell us, empirical research on patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes are gradually proving the value of a comprehensive approach to care.
This is an excellent book that deserves a very wide readership. It also forms a good complement to the multi-authored Consciousness and Healing that came out in 2005.
Highly recommended."
~ Written on 2007-07-02
".As an avid reader and perpetual seeker on the spiritual path, I was immediately overtaken by Dr. Dacher's approach to health and happiness. It is a rare treat to pick up a book that speaks directly to your heart and soul. Integral Health touched me in a way few publications have. It articulated so many of my feelings about the human condition and the relationship between our spiritual and physical health. I am incredibly grateful for the work Dr. Dacher has done in presenting the Integral Health model and providing a step by step approach to human flourishing.
In a time of fear and war mongering, it is encouraging to find authors who are willing to point out the preciousness of every individual life. We each need to cherish and nurture our own spirits so that we can heal the planet. I believe that this book may help us in that quest.
"
~ Written on 2007-01-16
In a time of fear and war mongering, it is encouraging to find authors who are willing to point out the preciousness of every individual life. We each need to cherish and nurture our own spirits so that we can heal the planet. I believe that this book may help us in that quest.
"
~ Written on 2007-01-16
"Dr. Dacher has given us a book with wide applicability, and will be especially relevant for readers who are interested in personal and spiritual growth.
The author uses Ken Wilbur's model of Integral Theory and relates it to human health, happiness and wholeness. It is a big goal, but Dr. Dacher offers not only a theoretical model, but down-to-earth practices and exercises to enable the reader to gain experiential glimpses of this very big picture.
The book also contains a chapter for practioners, which I found particularly helpful. The author asks doctors and other practioners to take two hours at the end of one day a week to authentically and empathically listen to one client's story. I would add from my own experience, that if doctors were to take 10 minutes to truly listen to a patient with fine attunement and an open heart, this would be an evolutionary step in the practice of medicine as we know it.
Throughout the book, the author speaks to us of loving kindness, open-heartedness and the value of authentic listening. We are cautioned that the kind of healing of which the autor speaks can only happen when we turn inward, quiet our minds, and learn to listen to what the mind/body/spirit has to tell us. Dr. Dacher also tell us that a personal guide for this journey is most important.
I highly reccommend this book for anyone who is interested in turning within to connect with his or her full being and potential."
~ Written on 2006-12-20
The author uses Ken Wilbur's model of Integral Theory and relates it to human health, happiness and wholeness. It is a big goal, but Dr. Dacher offers not only a theoretical model, but down-to-earth practices and exercises to enable the reader to gain experiential glimpses of this very big picture.
The book also contains a chapter for practioners, which I found particularly helpful. The author asks doctors and other practioners to take two hours at the end of one day a week to authentically and empathically listen to one client's story. I would add from my own experience, that if doctors were to take 10 minutes to truly listen to a patient with fine attunement and an open heart, this would be an evolutionary step in the practice of medicine as we know it.
Throughout the book, the author speaks to us of loving kindness, open-heartedness and the value of authentic listening. We are cautioned that the kind of healing of which the autor speaks can only happen when we turn inward, quiet our minds, and learn to listen to what the mind/body/spirit has to tell us. Dr. Dacher also tell us that a personal guide for this journey is most important.
I highly reccommend this book for anyone who is interested in turning within to connect with his or her full being and potential."
~ Written on 2006-12-20
"This book goes straight to the heart! The heart of the causes of the unhappiness, suffering and pain that plague our Western culture. But more than that, this book offers a solution and a path for those willing to take the journey into consciousness and health.
Dr. Dacher eloquently tells the story of the roots of healing in the Western culture, the Aesclepian healing temples that were prevalent in the Greek world for over 1800 years. He challenges us to bring forward the wisdom and the energies of that time into what he describes as Centers for Human Flourishing.
Dr. Dacher has an incredible capacity to meld the understandings of the healing traditions of the east and the west and to make the roots of these traditions clear and accessible. He brilliantly draws from the Integral Model from Ken Wilber, applying it as a map for the journey of transformation to a whole health. But most of all it is through his personal experiences that he appeals to health care professionals, clients and patients alike to take up the understandings and the practices outlined in the book and to do the necessary transformational work that will create for ourselves an integral health, authentic happiness and genuine wholeness - a life of flourishing.
"
~ Written on 2006-12-18
Dr. Dacher eloquently tells the story of the roots of healing in the Western culture, the Aesclepian healing temples that were prevalent in the Greek world for over 1800 years. He challenges us to bring forward the wisdom and the energies of that time into what he describes as Centers for Human Flourishing.
Dr. Dacher has an incredible capacity to meld the understandings of the healing traditions of the east and the west and to make the roots of these traditions clear and accessible. He brilliantly draws from the Integral Model from Ken Wilber, applying it as a map for the journey of transformation to a whole health. But most of all it is through his personal experiences that he appeals to health care professionals, clients and patients alike to take up the understandings and the practices outlined in the book and to do the necessary transformational work that will create for ourselves an integral health, authentic happiness and genuine wholeness - a life of flourishing.
"
~ Written on 2006-12-18