Heroes Not Zombies

Doucement in English translates to gently, and douce, means gentle. These are two of my favourite French words.

I integrated homeopathy into my medical practice throughout my entire career, first as a GP, then as a Specialist at Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital, which became the NHS Centre for Integrative Care. Homeopathy is often described as a form of “complementary medicine” in English, but in French the term for all such therapies (including acupuncture, herbalism, hypnotherapy etc) is “Medicine Douce” – or “gentle medicine”.

I’ve always liked the French term because somehow it conveys the important point that these techniques are intended to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes, not to attempt to control or exert power over the body.

There’s no doubt that our modern drugs and surgical techniques are incredibly powerful, at best life saving, but they also have the power to kill. But they aren’t so great in chronic illness, and they rarely produce actual cures. It turns out only the body can cure itself, only the complex adaptive processes of a living organism can enable someone to heal, in the broadest sense of the word. I’ve always thought we can benefit from both approaches working seamlessly together – that’s what “integrative medicine” is about.

But I’m not wanting to argue a case for a particular approach or method here. We are all different, and one of the clearest lessons I learned from my career is that one size does NOT fit all.

I’m inspired to write about gentleness here because I read the following lines in Wordsworth’s poem, ‘Nutting”,

Then, dearest maiden, move along these shades
in gentleness of heart, with gentle hand
touch
For there is a spirit in the woods.

Gentleness of heart – with a gentle approach comes kindness and care. With a gentle hand touch suggests a loving, care filled connection from one to another.

How different is this language from the war metaphors used so much in orthodox medicine where diseases are presented as invaders, as enemies to be defeated, as malevolent entities to be cast out?

Don’t we need more care, more understanding, more connection to walk with others, to hold a hand, to soothe a pain or fever with a gentle, loving touch?

It makes me think of indigenous peoples in North and South America, whose whole approach to life is respect, care and an attempt to live in harmony with Nature…..again a very different language from control, exploit, and conquer.

There are times we need a real toughness, need to draw on our power, but my sense is that we paid more attention to gentleness and kindness we might rediscover that “spirit in the woods”, the poet writes about.