by James K. Rotchford in 2005
Medical Acupuncture Volume 17 Number 1
Michael Greenwood, MD is familiar to many of us in the academy. He has lead workshops for members and has published several articles within this journal. He previously published two books related to his work as physician and healer. Indeed, his first book written in conjunction with Peter Nunn, Paradox and Healing, prompted me to call him. I then had the opportunity to participate in and witness his work at the Victoria Pain Clinic (www.vicpain.com). His second book, Braving the Void, further elaborates upon his experiences at the Victoria Pain Clinic and provides some theoretical grounds for his observations at the Clinic. Dr. Greenwood is a healer and clearly a pioneer in the domain of chronic pain management.
The Unbroken Field is more than a synthesis of his early work. It establishes Dr. Greenwood as a seasoned proponent of not only 'energetic' medicine but also one able to integrate energetic/hands-on approaches into current psychological and spiritual models. His general theme is simple yet radical for a modern western physician: symptoms are to be honored and explored as a means of individual development and/or self-actualization. Although Dr. Greenwood never uses these ambiguous terms, they convey a major theme of the book. The relief of presenting symptoms is the result of, not the objective, of his approach to healing. Practical implications of the above theme abound in the book.
The first nine chapters of the book consider pertinent evidence and traditions associated with looking at humans as 'energy'. He provides an excellent review, both for the lay and professional reader. In addition to traditional Oriental medicine models, he also includes Western concepts and Hindu teachings on the chakras.
In chapter 10, he again emphasizes the need to explore and integrate symptoms, in part, to provide an antidote to the alienation and existential anxiety stemming from our 'Western' perspective in which symptoms are simply problems to be fixed. Practitioners who are familiar with Five Element acupuncture and French Energetics will especially feel comfortable with his clinical cases. He explores in detail what he calls 'Dynamic Interactive Acu-Bodywork.' In his model, the practitioner as well as the patient must be willing to let go of preconceived notions of how things should be, and explore what is and will be. One of his major means of 'diagnosis' is to palpate and explore for 'active' points on the body.
He also outlines a practical meditative practice (Dynamic Meditation) that he maintains is helpful in allowing the exploration of symptoms to continue. Although a strong proponent of daily meditation, he is not naïve to some of the traps and pitfalls associated with using meditation as just another 'dissociative' approach. To use his terminology: 'Transcendence and transformation must work together like a kind of warp and woof.'
The book is intellectually challenging for it confronts what are standard assumptions and thought processes of orthodox medicine. Nevertheless, I think the book is readable even for the general population. It provides a number of case histories and examples that are uncluttered by medical terminology. I have started to recommend this book to established patients as a way of further awakening them to the distinct reality that there are ways other than surgery and medications to approach pain problems. There are also specific instructions about how to proceed with meditation and other self-caring practices.
The most seasoned clinician in acupuncture will also find the material engaging. Dr. Greenwood's clinical insights using Five Element and Energetic models were enough to make the book commendable. Often while reading the book, I felt as though I was listening to a stirring sermon. I recognized the truth and even practical implications of what was being shared, and felt a sort of eagerness about integrating what I learned into my life, but yet, after laying the book down I felt a little confused by how the message could be fully integrated into the world in which I commonly work. This feeling is a little reminiscent of my initial exposures to acupuncture. Hmm!
James K. Rotchford: MD, MPH, FAAMA, FACPM Medical Acupuncture