by Diane Davis in 1996
Acupuncture Canada Fall
Michael Greenwood is an AFCI member who lives and works in Victoria, B.C. Last year he sent me a copy of this soft-covered book, which he had co-authored with Peter Nunn and first published in 1992. Since I enjoyed reading the book, I thought I would try my hand at doing a review for the newsletter:
In the introduction, the authors state, in one sentence, their focus: Paradox and Healing
takes a look at the problem of chronic illness and chronic pain and
offers new insight into their origins, their meaning in our lives and
the very real opportunity they present for our profound and
far-reaching healing.
This book came about as a result of the author’s experience working with chronic pain sufferers, using acupuncture and bodywork techniques. It helps the reader understand the processes of body-brain behaviour relationships, and the multiple factors influencing the perception of pain, by using paradoxes posed in mythological stories as analogies for pain behaviours. For example, the first chapter deals with the intellect-dominant solutions and uses story of “The King and His Three Sons”, a Russian fairy tale which, when analyzed, demonstrates the choices we face in life.
In the following chapters, the reader is shown that current Western science with its objective evidence paradigm has major limitations when it comes to dealing successfully with chronic pain. It goes on to illustrated the possibilities for finding other perspectives which can help the client manage his/her pain including behavioural and complementary medicine, acupuncture and energetics, transformational process, diet, and exercise. The authors take the readers through the process of shifting perspectives and learning the importance of transforming their fundamental outlook away from denial and illness to a conscious awareness of their responsibility for their own lives and health.
A statement in Chapter 20 nicely summarizes the content of the text: “The book documents a series of insoluble but richly instructive paradoxes and has postulated that underlying chronic illness is a culturally induced mind-set.” The authors urge the reader “to visualize the body as a dynamic process which includes both structure and energy, intellect and feeling.” A structure in constant flow which is able to transform illness to health through personal growth and understanding.
I would recommend this book not only for chronic pain sufferers, but also for professional involved in pain management programs. It would be an excellent addition to the library or resource section of any pain clinic, medical office, or physiotherapy department.
Diane Davis: PT, CAFCI