Cambridge Scholars Publishing Human-Earth Expressions on Integrative Health and Our Environment: Mapping Caves

A lost art and science of medicine, which may have begun evolving out of the cave more than 10,000 years ago, is resurfacing and reforming into a new map of medicine that is transforming contemporary patient care. This book unearths and transfigures human-earth expressions of healing through the exploration of metaphorical and symbolic images of caves revealed as recurrent symbols for mental states and physical environments. These “caves of healing” are introduced as the caves of the human body―caverns of heart and brain, and the caves of the earth body―caverns within, below and above the earth, which expand across cultures ancient and modern, shamanic and alchemical, initiatory and technological, intuitive and inventive, and imaginal and scientific. A mythological map is unfolded for navigating the relationship between the mind and the body, and healthcare and our environment, which invites a deeper, more integrative dialogue into much-needed philosophical, ethical and political discussions. The idea that the force of health is a force of Nature that becomes a fulcrum for healing is clarified here as a possibility for a “new medicine for the 21st century” called Integrative Health, which advances not only ancient and modern technologies, but also education, policy, research and clinical care by promoting the empowerment of personal responsibility, prevention of disease, continuity of care, and compassionate engagement between patients and healthcare practitioners. This new medicine facilitates a balanced circular ecosystem between illness and wellness, patients and healers, community and society, human and earth that revives and promotes the role of consciousness. Review “For over 50 years of my medical career, the importance of mind-body medicine has played a major role in my clinical practice... [This book] extends the study of mind-body medicine further out to encompass the patient, the environment and healthcare into a global perspective on what could be termed as ‘the new medicine’. Dr Noble-Letort's fascinating perspective on ‘caves’ as metaphorical and symbolic images reflecting our bodily caverns, along with the multiple concepts she explores, will lead to a renewed focus in the field of mind-body medicine.”Avni Sali, AM MBBS, PhD, FRACS, FACS, FACNEMDirector, National Institute of Integrative Medicine, Australia.“A fresh and compelling perspective into the art and science of Integrative Health, [this book] provides a bold and powerful inquiry into the personal and relational processes of health and healing. If you want to excavate the depths of what it is to be human, this book is a must-read.”Malcolm Taw, MD, FACPDirector, UCLA East-West Medicine; Assistant Clinical Professor, UCLA Department of Medicine“The concept of Integrated Medicine is more relevant in today’s world where Eastern and Western medicine practices are merged to give a better understanding of the interconnection between the mind, body and spirit... All of the ancient religions and philosophers have shown a link between human life and human health. A holistic understanding of the person as a whole along with integration of different systems of medicine and health improvement practices around the world are relevant to healthcare where the focus is on health promotion rather than the disease. Dr Noble-Letort has done remarkable work by connecting the ancient systems of medicine to the modern medical advancement to provide a new dimension for healthcare.”Issac Mathai, MDFounder and Medical Director, SOUKYA, India About the Author Shelley R. Noble-Letort received a PhD in Mythological Studies with Emphasis on Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, USA, and a Bachelor of Arts in French Language and Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is the founder of Nordic Integrative Medicine, and was the 8th President of the European Congress for Integrative Medicine.