An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

information about the association and a list of herbal remedies approved by the associationstresses that the list of medicines and the information is for general purposes and not asubstitute for professional health advice. In folk medicine, illness symbolizes a culturallysignificant pattern and embodies a change in the bio-socio-psychological state (Davey etal. 2002).Helman (2002) explored the benefits of folk lore medicine in a North London suburb andfound that folk belief about illness and healing can survive the impact of scientificmedicine. This he believes is important because although we have a National Health(NHS) Service and welfare state in Britain, most cases of ill health are still dealt withoutside the health care system. It is estimated that three quarters of abnormal symptoms aredealt with by patients themselves, their friends, their families or even the local pharmacy orherbalist. Helman‟s (2002) study was prompted by his curiosity of what it means to „Feed acold, starve a fever‟, and exemplified the classification symptoms of “cold” and “fever” interms of classic Galenic humeral typology, related in complex ways to modern diseaseaetiology discussed in his definitive textbook on culture and health (Helman 2001:19).2.4 Theological concepts of health, illness and healing2.4.1 Pain and healing: ‘miracle or magic’?Spiritual healing can be perceived as requiring the appropriate environment such as belief,faith, cultural orientation, support and the emotional/spiritual tenacity of the healer and theperson seeking healing. The processes of the healing of psychological wounds have beenexplored by Bowlby (1980), Parkes (1986) and Marris (1974). Their perspectives on thesociological and psychological aspects of bereavement and loss are further discussed by46