MD, PhD, MAE, FMedSci, FRSB, FRCP, FRCPEd.

Where I live, some of the old-fashioned, privately-owned shops that used to dominate our high streets have survived the onslaught of the supermarkets. Our bakery is such a quaint remnant from the past. Surprisingly, it also is more holistic and more therapeutic than any alternative health centre I have come across.

The first thing that strikes anyone who enters the premises is the irresistible smell. Customers’ well being hits the ceiling, and the local aromatherapists are in danger of going out of business. The intense stimulation of the customers’ olfactory system relaxes their mind and puts them into a meditative state as they patiently wait to be served. Everyone in the queue has a little word with the baker’s wife, and progress is therefore slow – but we don’t mind: the chat is holistic counselling at its best, and our slow movements towards the counter are healthier than tai chi.

“You are looking well today,” says the baker’s wife, thereby gently arousing me from my aroma-induced meditation and indicating that she is about to focus her shaman healing-energy on me. Her diagnosis is spot on; the alternative therapies I enjoyed while waiting have re-balanced my chakras and got my qi flowing nicely – no wonder I am looking well!

The whole-wheat scones are finely balanced and nutritious; so I order three—one for the walk home and two for tea later. Prices have gone up a bit but, as with all holistic therapies, the more you pay, the more it’s worth. “Here you are,” she says, handing me her dietary delights. As I pay, our hands touch ever so briefly, just long enough for me to experience the instant transfer of healing energy that is so characteristic of Therapeutic Touch.

“Take care now, and God bless”, she says. As I walk out of her aura, I contemplate her words full of empathetic spiritual guidance and ancient wisdom. “That was expensive”, my wife mutters back home. I beg to differ: not only did I get the most wholesome food for my physical body, but I received holistic and patient-centred aromatherapy, counselling, meditation, tai chi and energy healing for my emotional, psychological and spiritual needs.

If only our Health Secretary knew about this traditional, yet integrated and therefore cutting-edge approach to cost-effective health and holistic well-being. We could all have it for free, and it might even save the NHS from its current crisis!

7 Responses to My holistic health centre

  • Yes but how is your neck pain?

  • I highly recommend Reiki therapy

    It helps you relax and it is good for your garden too.

    Oh sorry I mis-spelt that. Raking therapy, removing the moss from my lawn, although it can cause neck and back pain

  • I think your Extracting the Michael here.

  • I recommend to the assembled multitude the excellent services of my local holistic healer, funded by the NHS.

  • Will, You might well think that, I couldn’t possibly comment.

    There is a therapeutic effect from all sorts of activities, such as gardening or smelling fresh bread and eating scones. By therapeutic I mean relaxing, distracting from other concerns and so on. The beauty of these is they don’t require a belief in irrational nonsense. I think Edzard makes a very good point, with a sense of humour, about some of the little things in life we often don’t even notice but probably do have an effect on us. Although some can be as expensive as quackery e.g. gardening.

  • Edzard, I ask your permission that I may translate this piece of prose to German and publish it on my blog (of course giving giving you and your blog as source).

    Thanks in advance.

    Norbert Aust

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