We are living in an exciting time in which people are beginning to have greater awareness of natural ways of taking care of themselves. The vocabulary of health, though, can be tricky. For example, the words healing and curing tend to be used quite often and interchangeably. In reality, they mean two different things!

When people perceive themselves to be sick or are suffering from one or more discomforts, the first reaction is to take or do something to end the suffering. It may be something as simple as taking an aspirin or getting involved in a therapy that is designed to relieve the discomfort. A patient may say that he or she is cured if efforts to end the suffering are successful, but this does not necessarily mean that healing has occurred.

Healing actually has little to do with the elimination of symptoms. An intimate and integrative process encompassing every aspect of our existence, healing transcends the simplistic notion of throwing away the crutches and walking again. It involves the harmonious alignment of the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our being and how we relate to the world. The result is a greater experience of wholeness, wellness, and soundness. The word ‘heal’ traces its roots to the Anglo-Saxon word hal, meaning 'whole,' 'hale,' or 'hearty.' Rather than implying freedom from disease, healing's root concepts of wholeness and wellness imply self-empowerment, alignment, and integration, which enable us to fully express our unique potential as human beings.

Healing is the process of settling emotions and instincts at war with one another and resolving relationships that are not properly understood by what we call ‘I’ or ‘me.’ We encounter these maligned associations in our bodies, with other people, and with our own complicated minds. The process is one of reorganization and reintegration of things that have come apart. It may often be uncomfortable, but it is always empowering.

As we heal, it may appear that we are coming apart at the seams as we begin to awaken aspects of ourselves that we were unaware of or unable to acknowledge. But as we begin the process of discovery, acknowledgment, and alignment, we give our entire being permission to change. Once we have given ourselves permission to heal, a natural, automatic release of old thought patterns, old emotions, and rigid ways of being occurs, and a new sense of respect for all aspects of our rhythms comes about. Similar to the subtle, yet purposeful opening of a flower, this gradual and meaningful change alters our very inner and outer being.

The word 'curing,' on the other hand, implies a removal of our diseases, symptoms, or crises, most commonly through medication, surgery, psychotherapy, or other modalities. Curing may be conceptualized as the elimination of the signs and symptoms of disease through medication and hospitalization, but not necessarily eradication of the disease itself. If after a certain course of treatment the signs and symptoms no longer exist, we declare the person cured.

Curing does have an important role, however. It offers us the gift of time so we may better understand the deeper significance of our diseases. Curing can also offer us a greater degree of comfort to facilitate the process of healing. Unfortunately, in today's medical world, the process stops with the cure and respect for the healing process is rarely, if ever, encountered. This approach discourages the possibility of healing rather than facilitating it. Curing, as an attempt to control our experiences, generally interferes with our ability to move into the unsolicited experiences we need to restructure our lives. When this occurs, curing holds us back.

Healing and curing truly do not mean the same thing. Healing brings about a sense of accomplishment and empowerment. Curing does not. Healing considers our uniqueness. Curing does not. Healing includes surrendering control of our inner and outer experiences. Curing involves an attempt to control these experiences. Healing promotes wholeness, an uninhibited expression of natural rhythms, and unprovoked forgiveness. Curing seeks to label the effects (not the causes) of disease, place blame, promote victimization, and give explanations and excuses for undesirable experiences.

One should always look for the opportunity to heal, not simply to be cured. No matter what a person may be going through, healing empowers a person to achieve greater heights of personal awareness. It brings us harmony and allows us to live in peace and wellness. This is the essence of true health.

Dennis R. Ehren, DC is a Chiropractor in Lakewood, OH at 13314 Detroit Ave. He specializes in Network Spinal Analysis, the gentle, light touch approach to Chiropractic health. He can be reached at (216)221-9990 or at www.ehrenchiropractic.com.

Photos by Bob Perkoski - www.perkoski.com.