Tips for Stress free life > Expert Zone > Alternative Health
Alternative Health Tips by experts
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Tips for Stress free life > Expert Zone > Alternative Health Alternative Health Tips by experts |
|
|
|
|
Kokoro no Kaze: Does Your Soul Have a Cold?
Feeling sad? Have you lost interest in things you used to enjoy? Perhaps you're suffering from a cold of the soul. That's the concept that has taken Japan by storm in the last five years, thanks to a culturally savvy marketing campaign launched by pharmaceutical companies to turn mild depression into an acceptable malady that a simple prescription can cure. Anyone familiar with Japan will recognize that "kokoro no kaze" (literally "cold of the soul") is a phrase guaranteed to resonate with the citizens of that country. Preventing and treating colds is practically a national pastime there. Everywhere in Japan, you see people wearing gauzy surgical-style masks covering their nose and mouth. Although some may be wearing the masks to protect themselves from the latest bug, the majority of wearers are simply being courteous. In a nation lauded for its complex culture of politeness, the Japanese wear masks when they come down with a cold as a polite way of warning and protecting others. In Japan, your dentist and dental assistants are likely to wear masks--not to protect themselves from your mouth breathing, but to provide a polite barrier so that you won't be inadvertently subjected to their germs or the lingering odor of their sushi lunch. Catching a cold in Japan is an opportunity to practice concern for others. How brilliant, then, that pharmaceutical companies have developed this new phrase to describe the symptoms of mild depression. Now, Japanese businessmen, housewives and students are running to their doctors in droves to get prescriptions for antidepressants. In a culture steeped in politeness, it seems that the same folks likely to cover their noses and mouths to protect others from germs are recognizing their obligation to protect their loved ones from their melancholy. After living in Japan for five years and having a Japanese sister-in-law and four beloved bicultural nieces and nephews, I have a great fondness for that country. That's why I am saddened by this new need to treat mild depression with drugs. I'm all for turning to pharmaceuticals to help those who are severely depressed. I've lost two brothers to suicide, and even the worst drug on the market is better than that outcome. Crown Princess Masako, a Harvard grad who surprised the world by agreeing to marry Crown Prince Hirohito and live behind the closed doors of the Emperor's Palace, prompted a national debate on depression when it was announced recently that she was undergoing treatment for the disease. Though it doesn't surprise us that the life of a princess and its accompanying expectations to bear heirs might be difficult to handle--we all watched the sad story of Princess Diana unfold--this is an unprecedented admission in Japan. The fact that the Imperial Family has publicly acknowledged Masako's struggles will have a profound impact on the ongoing discussion of depression in a nation known for its suicide rate. Preventing suicide? Good. Taking drugs for mild depression? Not always so good. Does life in "advanced" countries like Japan create stress, frustration and sadness? You bet. Should a culture be treated, en masse, by drugs? I have to question that. The me-too mentality is all too prevalent in a nation that prides itself on this phrase: "The nail that sticks up gets hammered down." I hate to think of millions of Japanese taking drugs in order to deal with the expectations of their culture. I hate to think of ANYONE taking drugs for that reason. And yet, it's becoming a remarkably common practice around the world. Our folk wisdom tells us, "Feed a cold, starve a fever." Traditional remedies may help a cold of the soul as well. We don't run to the clinic every time we develop an itchy throat. We drink tea, take vitamins, get plenty of rest--in other words, we take care of ourselves. Shouldn't we try boosting our soul's immune system first before choosing a pharmaceutical solution? Recognizing sadness or dissatisfaction is positive. Dealing with the pieces of your life that aren't fitting together is powerful and rewarding. Making decisions to improve your relationships or circumstances is empowering. Understanding our role as growing, changing humans and applying mindfulness to our greatest challenges strengthens and elevates us. It feeds our soul. Is it easy? No. Is it healthy? Yes. And letting our loved ones know of our struggle and our optimistic determination to work through it? Priceless. Face mask, anyone? About The Author Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse offering specialized mindfulness training in Portland, Oregon. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 90 countries. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://mindmasseuse.com
MORE RESOURCES: See the complete list of Articles on Alternative Health here Have a look at Best Selling Books on Alternative Health
See also : Other articles on
Depression,
Grief Loss,
Happiness,
Humor,
Inspirational,
Motivation,
Latest info on : Alternative Health
Alternative - Google News Why not be an expert yourself ? If you can write on
any of the above topic, you are welcome to submit your Submit
your article here |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Not Sure About the Mind-Body Connection? You Already Use It To Produce Pain Relief But Not Nearly Often EnoughIf you're skeptical about your ability to use your own subconscious to ease pain, consider this: you already do it. But you do it by accident, so you don't notice. Holistic Methods: Color Therapy and Aura Soma in Steamboat Springs, Colorado The human body is recognized as a series of colors, detectable only in the last fifty years with the technology of Kirlian Photography. The colors relate to the body's subtle energy fields, known as auras and chakras. Healing and Transformation Every symptom has a certain way of being with which it is associated. In order to release a symptom, one must release the way of being associated with it. Prevent Disease By Thinking Differently Than Experts Did you know that all physicians and medical researchers have been indoctrinated with a flawed model of thinking dating to the 17th century?These "experts" cling to a Cartesian model of thinking.Cartesian refers to the philosopher Descartes who declared, "I do not recognize any difference between the machines made by craftsmen and various bodies nature alone composes. Vitamins And Minerals It is obvious that each of our bodies is unique - there are not two human beings that are exactly the same. That is why I encourage every one to eat the best that they can and get plenty of vegetables as the first source of vitamins and minerals. Fruits, Juices, and Food for Relieving Hemorrhoids Part II Eating the right kind of food and following good eating habits will speed up your healing of your hemorrhoids. If you have a diet that is hard to digest and moves slowly through your colon, then, expect to have constipation which will encourage formation of hemorrhoids or prevent the their healing. ADHD The Easier Solution ADHD is a very rapidly growing part of the health care industry. The symptoms are varied, including: irritability, hyperactivity and behavioral problems. Injured Athletes and Acupuncture I have always been amazed at the clinical results that I have seen with injured athletes and acupuncture. For a while, my wife and I worked closely with a number of athletes from a world championship athletic team, the Santa Barbara Condors At the world class level, these athletes would be compared to world cup soccer players in the way their body is used and abused. Fitness-related Benefits of Massage Ask someone their reason for getting a massage and you're likely to hear "because it feels good". We all know that a massage can relieve stress, help to make sore muscles feel better and even reduce anxiety, but can it help us achieve our fitness goals? Research shows that the massage you get to relieve stress can also have a positive effect on your muscle-building capabilities and fitness level. Natural Remedy for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADHD Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurobehavioral disorder of higher brain functioning. ADHD is common among the disorders that get affected in childhood and adolescence. Illness - What Can We do About it? Illness concerns everyone. How can we approach it? And what is the reason behind illness? Whether you need to stay well or get well, lifestyle changes are essential to help you win the fight against illness. Check Your Colon Transient Time Many doctors and others in the health field may tell you that it is ok not to have a bowel movement everyday. This really goes against common sense. Do You Have Difficulty in Waking Up On Dark Winter Mornings? Our daily internal body clocks or circadian rhythms synchronise the timing of our wake/sleep patterns and our interactions with the outside world.Our body clocks are naturally conditioned and cued to respond to light signals or 'zeitbeigers' to awake at sunrise and sleep at night. What Does The Label Vegan Mean in Bedding Products? Vegan, or vegetarian, organic fills and batting, are natural materials free of animal ingredients and by-products (including wool, silk, fur, leather, dairy, eggs, honey, beeswax, and lanolin). Additionally, no animal ingredient or animal by-product inputs are used in manufacturing and processing. Green Bamboo: Strength in Flexibility Those who have watched the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" would be familiar with the imagery of bamboo: flexible yet firm, delicate yet strong. These unique qualities make the bamboo fit snugly into ancient Chinese philosophy and endow the health benefits of the bamboo with an air of wisdom and grace. Heres Hope for Parkinsons Disease Frank's 85 year-old father was in advanced stages of Parkinson's.Confined to a wheelchair. Treatment Options for Hand and Foot Eczema There are many kinds of eczema, and too few people who can tell you how to cure them. Scientists are trying get a better handle on the causes of such eczema as hand and foot eczema, but they may still have years to go before they find a tested and sound way to prevent the condition. Constipation: the Fast, Easy Answer to Something No One Talks About Everyone jokes about constipation, but it's no joke if you're the one suffering from it. And "suffering" is the right word for it! It's a miserable feeling. Air Fresheners, Or Are They? For years I've prided myself on believing that I take a very natural approach to the wellness of me and my family. However, I recently ventured into the aromatherapy market and found out, much to my dismay, that I was wrong. Organic Living - Whats That? Hmmm ? what does organic living mean ? I like to think of it as taking time to BE instead of DO. The concept of being vs.
|
|
You are here |
|
| Alternative Health Home | All articles on Alternative Health- complete list | |
|
| Main Home | Meditation Corner | |
|
|
| Recommend us | |
|
[About
us] [Contact] [Privacy
Policy]
Copyright 2006, Meditation
is Easy.com, All
rights reserved
