David Jones

As a "western doctor" I just want to say that any medical doctor who didn't sleep through med school lectures and is worth their salt, acknowledges the 'mind-body' connection AND uses it in their daily practice. Doctors more attuned to this might casually mention, when prescribing your treatment, that the last patient who last had the same therapy made a full recovery, or that the therapy is "expensive" or "cutting edge". They know that doing so taps into the mind-body connection and, by increasing your faith in the therapy, the chances of you recovering are increased. What they cannot do is lie to your face and say any of the above if the last time it didn't work, or the therapy is cheap and dated - western medicine considers this practice unethical! What we also cannot do, is prescribe a therapy based on nothing but personal anecdotes (which is what this entire documentary is). This is against the principles of evidence-based medicine, which is supposed to be the bedrock of modern western medicine. I refute the assertion that we (westerner doctors) oversimplify the body as only being like a machine. The whole area of functional symptoms, somatisation, psychosomatic illness is proof that this is view is not supported within modern western medicine. Some western doctors spend their lives specialising in these fields, and all specialities have their share of illnesses that fall into these areas. Where this documentary shines (in my opinion) is it's encouragement to all of us to consciously and intentionally care for our health - through time in nature, incorporating prayer/mediation/quietness/reflection into our lives, being active, eating well, and forming strong social support networks. I would have given the documentary 2 stars - but it earned a bonus star for the clips of Kelly Noonan Gores in a field chewing grass like an antelope. BONUS STAR FOR THE SENSE OF HUMOUR!!!