PSYCHO-THERAPEUTIC METHODS
The reader will have seen from the preceding chapters that we have
proceeded upon the theory that Suggestion is the universal operative
principle manifesting in all forms of mental healing, under whatever
guise the latter may be presented and by whatever method it may be
applied. But it must be remembered that by "Suggestion" we do not mean
the theories of any particular group of psycho-therapists, but rather
the broad general principle indicated by that term which operates in
the direction of influencing the Subconscious Mind and its activities.
Let us consider the principle of Suggestion that we may understand what
it is, and what it is not.
The term "Suggestion" has as its root the Latin word _suggero_, which
is translated as follows: _sug_ (or _sub_), "under;" and _gero_, "to
carry;" that is, "to carry or place under." In its general usage it
signifies "The introduction indirectly into the mind or thoughts; or
that which is so introduced." Ordinarily a "suggestion" is an idea
indirectly insinuated into the mind, and generally without the process
of argument or reasoning. In the New Psychology, the term "suggestion"
is used in the sense of an idea which is "carried under" the objective
or conscious mind, and introduced to the subjective or Subconscious
Mind. In Suggestive Therapeutics, a "suggestion" is an idea introduced
into that part of the Subconscious Mind which governs and controls the
physical functions and activities, and which is embodied in the cells
and cell-groups of the body as we have stated in the preceding chapters.
By many mental healers the term "Suggestion" is applied only to the
particular method of applying Suggestion employed by physicians
and others who practice under the general theories of Suggestive
Therapeutics, and the first mentioned class deny that they use
Suggestion because, as they say, they do not use the methods of the
practitioners of Suggestive Therapeutics, and make their cures by
"metaphysical" or "spiritual" means, or according to some creed or
metaphysical theory which, accepted, works the cure. We think that
the unprejudiced reader who has followed us this far will have seen
that these metaphysical theories, creeds, and special dogmas are
simply the outward mask of Suggestion. These healers simply supply a
form of Suggestion which is acceptable to the patient because of his
temperament, training, etc., and the healing process operates along the
lines of the "faith cure."
The fact that healers of entirely opposite theories and doctrines
manage to make cures in about the same proportion and in about the same
time, would seem to prove that the theories or dogmas have but little
to do with the real work of healing. Whatever form of Suggestion is
most acceptable to the patient, will best perform the healing work
in that particular case. This will also serve to explain why some
patients failing to obtain relief from one school of mental healing
often are cured by healers of another school, and _vice versa_. Some
need Suggestion couched in the mystical terms of some of the cults;
others need it garbed in religious drapings, while others prefer some
vague metaphysical theory which seems to explain the phenomena. Others
still are repelled by any of the above forms, but respond readily to
the Suggestion of a physician administering "straight" suggestive
treatment, without any religious, metaphysical, or mystical disguise.
In all of these cases the real healing work is done by the Subconscious
Mind of the patient himself, the various forms of Suggestion serving
merely to awaken and rouse into activity the latent forces of nature.
We invite your consideration of the following forms of "treatment" for
various disorders, as given by some of the "Divine Scientists" and
other metaphysical and semi-religious organizations and cults. As you
read them, try to discover the Suggestive germ so nicely surrounded
by the sugar-coating--the Suggestive pill so cleverly concealed by the
"metaphysical" raisin.
From a journal published in Chicago several years ago, called
"Universal Truth," the following "treatments" were clipped:
A correspondent who asked for a "treatment" adapted to the cure of
_nervousness_, is instructed to use the following formula, which must
be "repeated over and over":
"_I am warmed and fed and clothed and healed by Divine Love._"
Another correspondent is given the following formula for the cure of
sore feet, the affirmation to be made frequently:
"_I so thoroughly understand the divine working of the Truth, and I so
thoroughly realize the presence of the Father in me and about me that I
am now conscious that omnipotent Love rules in every atom of my being,
soul and body. My feet can never be weary nor sore. God created my feet
perfect. I walk the pathway of life in perfect ease and comfort. All
the obstacles in my path have vanished, and my feet are bathed in a
sea of pure love. Through a knowledge and realization of the presence
of Omnipotence, I praise and thank God for the perfect spirit of peace
that now dwells within me._"
The following additional "treatment" is suggested to this sufferer from
_sore feet_:
"_Mentally place yourself in an attitude to realize the power of the
words you utter, for the fullness of peace and harmony in your feet
comes with realization. The more frequently this spiritual medicine is
used, the sooner comes manifestation of perfect health._"
The same journal contained the following item:
"The following invigorating affirmations are used at the Exodus Club,
Chicago, Sunday mornings, the congregation repeating them after the
leader: _'With reverent recognition of my birthright, I claim my
sonship with the Almighty. I am free from disease and disorder. I am in
harmony with my source. The Infinite Health is made manifest in me. The
Infinite Substance is my constant supply. The Infinite Life fills and
strengthens me. The Infinite Intelligence illumines and directs me. The
Infinite Love surrounds and protects me. The Infinite Power upholds and
supports me. I am out of bondage. I have the freedom of the sons of
God. With all that is in me I rejoice and give thanks. God and man are
the all in all, now and forever more._'"
The same journal recommends the following affirmations for general
health treatment:
"Monday--_Perfect health is my external birthright_.
"Tuesday--_I have health of intellect, therefore I have wise judgment
and clear understanding_.
"Wednesday--_I am morally healthful, therefore in all my dealings I love
to realize that I am quickened by the spirit of integrity_.
"Thursday--_Healthfulness of soul gives me a pure heart and
righteousness of motive in everything I do_.
"Friday--_Meditation upon the health of my real being outpictures in
physical health and strength, in even temper, joyous spirits and in
kind words_.
"Saturday--_My health is inexhaustible, because I keep my eye steadily
fixed upon its eternal Principle, and my mouth filled with words of its
Omnipotence_.
"Sunday--_The Father and I are one; one in purpose, alike in Substance,
and one in manifestation_."
In the same journal a correspondent gives the following treatment for
_rupture_:
"_You were conceived in Divine Love. You are the expression of that
pure, perfect Love. Divine Love is a binding, cementing power. It is
the power that holds all atoms in their places. Every atom of your body
is drawn and held together in its place by this power. If any of them
get separated as by rupture or any other appearance, they may be drawn
together and cemented by the omnipotent power of Love; but the word
must be spoken. Therefore use the following: 'The omnipotent spirit
of Love in me heals this rupture and gives me peace.' Then, mentally
realize the truth of your words, for the Spirit alone can heal._"
The following treatment for _appendicitis_ is given in the same journal:
"_The false theories of physicians and surgeons, and the general
impressions regarding that error named Appendicitis are powerless to
produce or perpetuate such manifestation. The great law of harmony
reigns and only waits the universal acknowledgment of its supremacy to
obliterate all such falsity, thereby obliterating the manifestation. We
claim, therefore, freedom from such error for every soul. We make this
claim in the name of Jesus Christ._"
From the same source is taken this treatment for _periodical nausea in
a child_:
"_Dear child, every organ of your body is designed to represent the
ideal and perfect organ in your real spiritual being; and every
function of your body must respond to the word of truth which is now
sent forth to establish harmony in your consciousness. The infinite
Love that is omnipresent and all-powerful permeates and penetrates
every organ and function of your body, and corrects every tendency to
discord or disease. By that infinite Love you are now made free. You
are fearless and free. You are joyous and free. You are free from the
fear of others. You manifest health, strength and peace. Harmony reigns
in mind and body. The word of truth has made you free._"
Also the following treatment for _constipation_:
"_I do realize that the power of divine Love so permeates every atom of
my being that my bowels move freely and without effort. This inflowing
of divine Love removes all obstructions and I am healed. I realize joy
and eternal life so fully that the spirit of Peace is ever present with
me. I acknowledge the fullness of joy, peace and power, and have come
into a realization of my oneness with infinite Spirit; therefore I rest
in thee, O my father._"
Another journal of "Divine Science" gave the following "Health Thought"
to be held during the month:
"_All the natural channels of my body are open and free. The substance
of my body is good._"
Also the following treatment for _general health_:
"_What is true of God is true of man. God is the One All, and is always
in a state of wholeness. I, the man of God, am always whole, like unto
the One All. No false belief environs or limits me. No shadow darkens
my mental vision. My body is a heavenly body, and my eyes do behold the
glory of God in all visible things. I am well, and provided for, thank
God, and nothing can make me think otherwise._"
While to the orthodox practitioner of medicine the above affirmation
and "treatments" may seem to be nothing but a ridiculous conglomeration
of mystical, religious and metaphysical terms, without sequence,
logical relation, or common-sense, _it is true that statements and
treatments similar to the above have successfully healed many cases of
physical ailments_. There are thousands of people who will testify that
they were healed in a similar manner, and the majority of them believed
that there was some particular and peculiar virtue in the formula used,
or in the theories and beliefs upon which the formula was based. But
the unprejudiced student of Suggestion will readily see that the real
healing force was with the mind and being of the patients themselves,
and that the _faith, belief and expectant attention_ was aroused by the
formula and the theories. The principle is that of all Faith Cures--the
principle of Suggestion.
Other schools of metaphysical or religious healers treat the patient
by impressing upon his mind the fact that God being perfect, good
and loving could not be guilty of creating evil, pain or disease,
and that such things are non-existent in the "Divine Mind," and are
merely illusion, errors, or false claims of the "mortal mind," or
"carnal mind" of the patient; therefore, if the patient will deny their
reality, and will admit as existent only such things as are held in
the Divine Mind, _i. e._, the _good_ things, then the evil things,
being merely illusions and untruths, must of necessity fade away and
disappear and perfect health will result. Others treat their patients
by impressing upon their minds the idea that sickness and disease is
either the world or "the devil," or of the "principle of evil," the
latter being described as "the negation of truth," and similar terms;
and that therefore fixing the mind and faith upon the "principle of
Good," or God, must result in driving away the evil conditions.
Others hold that disembodied spirits are aiding in the cure. There are
thousands of variations rung on the chimes of metaphysical or religious
suggestions in the cults. _And they all make some cures_, remember--_in
spite of their theories_ rather than because of them.
The Mental Scientists come nearest to the ideas of the New Psychology,
when they teach that "As a man thinketh, so is he," and that the
mind of man creates physical conditions, good and evil, and that the
constant holding of the ideal of perfect health and the assertion
thereof, will restore normal healthy conditions to the person suffering
from physical ailments. Mental Science is very near to being "straight
suggestion" so far as the actual method of treatment is concerned,
although it resembles some of the other cults when it begins to
speculate or dogmatize regarding the nature of the universe, etc.
Differing from these metaphysical, mystical, or religious schools of
healing in theory, although employing the same principle, we find the
school of Suggestive Therapeutics, proper, favored by many of the
regular physicians and by a number of other healers who base their
treatment upon the idea of "straight suggestion" coupled with hygienic
truth and rational physiological facts. Perhaps a better idea of the
theories and ideas of this school may be obtained by referring to the
actual treatments given by some of their leading practitioners.
Herbert A. Parkyn, M. D., an eminent practitioner of Suggestive
Therapeutics, gives the following instruction to his pupils: "Students
often ask for information as to what they should say to a patient when
thorough relaxation is realized. As no two cases are exactly alike, it
follows that the suggestions given must necessarily fit the case, and
be given with a view to bring about the mental and physical condition
desired. For instance, in treating a patient who is afflicted with
insomnia, suggestions of sleep should be persistently given; and in
cases of malnutrition suggestions of hunger should be made to stimulate
the appetite for food. The operator should bear in mind that _the
reiteration of the suggestion that will change the condition existing,
to that desired, is always the right one_, and his own intelligence
will be the best guarantee as to what the suggestion should be....
Always arouse the expectant attention of a patient.... So logical a
line of argument can be made that each patient will have a reason for
expecting certain conditions to be brought about. _With the patient's
attention on the desired results, they generally come to pass._ It is
better not to give negative suggestions, such as, 'You will not, or
cannot do this, that or the other thing,' etc. Pointing out what is not
desirable does not suffice. In place of such suggestions, tell what you
really wish your patients to do. For example, if a man should mount his
bicycle incorrectly, he would profit nothing if we should merely tell
him that the way he mounted was not the proper one. How much easier
it would be for all concerned if the proper manner of mounting should
be shown at once. Just so it is with therapeutic suggestions, _keep
suggesting the conditions of mind or body you wish to bring about_."
The following treatment given as an example by F. W. Southworth, M. D.,
in his little book on "True Metaphysical Science, and its Practical
Application through the Law of Suggestion," furnishes an excellent
illustration of the form of suggestive treatment favored by this
particular school. The patient is addressed as follows:
"As thoughts are not only things, but forces and act upon our mental
and physical life for good or ill, we must be careful to always keep
ourselves in that condition of thought which builds up and strengthens,
to constantly think thoughts of _health_, of _happiness_, of _good_,
to be _cheerful_, hopeful, confident and fearless. (Repeat five or
six times.) In order to sustain this condition of positive thinking
it requires the development of the will power. The will is the motive
power and the controlling force in all aspects of our life, but we
develop it especially for the concentration and control of thought.
This is the higher self--the infinite will. Exercise it with vigor and
earnest persistency, and learn to _rely_ upon it. Assert its power as
you assert the power of the muscles in exercise and it will manifest
itself and the thought will be positive, the secretions of the body
will be normal, and the circulation of the blood in the head will be
kept at that proper equilibrium which insures the constant nutrition of
the cells of the brain and their constant vigor and strength of control
of all the organs and tissues of the body, and this vast and intricate
machinery of the body will work harmoniously for the production of
nutrition through elaboration of the food elements.
"As our body is constantly changing and wasting, we must rebuild and
restore it constantly, and we do so from the air we breathe, the water
we drink, and the food we eat. The most important of these is the air
you breathe, as it is not only a food in itself to the tissues, but
it vitalizes the food you eat and the water you drink. Give it that
quality of your thought and breathe it as you have been directed at
least six times per day for a period of from five to ten minutes each
time. Recognize it as both a food and an eliminator of poisons, as it
is, and breathe, breathe, breathe, by Nature's method, and the lungs
will distribute the oxygen to the blood, and the blood being the common
carrier of the body will take it to all parts of the body and on its
return will gather up all the waste and poisonous matters and will
bring them to the lungs, where, meeting the fresh oxygen, they will be
burned up and exhaled as carbonic acid gas, leaving the body pure and
clean.
"The water you drink, in the proportion of three and one-half pints
each day, is necessary in all adult bodies to insure perfect secretion
and excretion. As the result of this required liquid being provided
in normal quantity, the secreting glands will manufacture the proper
amount of juices needed in digestion, absorption and assimilation of
your food, and the excreting glands, those which bring about excretion
or the removal of waste matters from the body--the liver giving you the
bile, which produces a daily movement of the bowels--the kidneys and
bladder removing the chemical deposits which come about through the
processes of digestion, and the skin excreting a large amount of waste
matter from its twelve square feet of surface, which you remove with a
towel each morning after moistening it with cold water. By following
these laws of Nature you will have a good appetite and digestion, a
daily movement of the bowels, refreshing sleep, and, as your nutrition
is restored from day to day, a feeling of satisfaction and happiness
will be the result. Be earnest and persistent and do everything
cheerfully, with a firm determination of doing your part to restore
nutrition.
"When you breathe, give it the quality of your thought; it is for the
purpose of getting food, life; feeding from the air and eliminating
poisons from your body. (Repeat five and six times.) When you sip the
water, think each time that it is to produce perfect secretion and
excretion--to give you a good appetite, digestion, refreshing sleep and
a free movement of the bowels each morning. (Repeat five or six times.)
Each day look forward to the morrow for progress and advancement. Think
health--talk it and nothing else. Do not talk with anyone about disease
or allow any person to talk to you on such subjects. _Be cheerful_,
_hopeful_, _confident_ and fearless always, and you will be happy and
healthy. Eat, drink, breathe and be merry."
It will be noticed that in the above described treatment, the
suggestions are made along physiological and hygienic lines. That
is, the suggestions indicate the physiological processes which are
performed normally in the healthy person, the idea being to set up an
ideal pattern for the Subconscious Mind to follow. In all scientific
suggestive treatment the idea is always to paint a mental picture
of the _desired conditions_ rather than to dwell upon the existing
undesirable conditions. The _ideal_ is always held up to view, and the
patient's mind is led to _realize_ the ideal--to make the ideal real--to
manifest the thought in action--to materialize the mental picture.
The general principles of Suggestive Therapeutics may be applied
effectively by means of Auto-Suggestion. In fact, the "affirmations,"
"statements" and "assertions" used by many of the New Thought schools
are but forms of Auto-Suggestion. There is no essential difference
between the Suggestion given by others, and the Auto-Suggestion given
by one's self to one's self. The healing power is in the mind of the
patient, and whether it is called forth by his own Auto-Suggestion
or the Suggestion of a healer matters not. The Auto-Suggestion is
merely a case of self-healing by Suggestion, and is administered upon
the principle of "every man his own suggestionist"--"sez I to meself,
sez I." Auto-Suggestions are usually given to one's self in the form
of "affirmations," as, "I am improving; my stomach is doing its work
well, digesting what is given it, and the nourishment is assimilated,
etc." In other works by the writer hereof, the method of addressing
one's self as one would another is recommended as particularly
efficacious. That is to say, instead of saying, "_I_ am, etc.," in
Auto-Suggestion, it is better to address one's self in the second
person, as "_John Smith_ (naming yourself), _you_ are, etc." In short,
the Auto-Suggestion seems to have additional force imparted to it by
being directed as if it were being given to another person.
The following thought of Dr. Schofield is worthy of careful
consideration in connection with the methods of applying Suggestion.
He says, referring to the treatment of hysterical disorders and
ailments: "We must, however, remember one great point with regard to
suggestion--that it is like nitrogen. Nitrogen is the essential element
in all animal life; it forms four-fifths of the air we breathe, and
yet, curious to say, we have no power to use it in a pure state. We
can only take it unconsciously, when combined with other substances
in the form of proteid food. It is the same with suggestions. Not one
hysterical sufferer in a hundred can receive and profit by them in a
raw state--that is, consciously; they must generally be presented, as
we have said, indirectly to the subconscious mind by the treatment
and environment of the patient. An electric shock often cures slight
hysterical diseases instantaneously, acting, as it often does, on the
unconscious mind through the conscious. No doubt it would be easier if
we could say to these sufferers, 'The disease is caused by suggestions
from ideal centers, and to cure it, all you have to do is to believe
you are well.' Still, it would be as impossible for us to take our
nitrogen pure from the air, the mind cannot as a rule be thus acted
on directly when the brain is unhealthy. Suggestion must be wrapped
in objective treatment, directed ostensibly and vigorously to the
simulated disease."
Not only is the above true regarding the treatment of hysterical
disorders, but to _all_ disorders as well. The methods which will bring
about the best results must be carefully modeled upon the patient's
particular temperament, education, prejudices for and against, and
general belief. The skilled suggestionist adapts his treatment and
methods to each individual case coming to him for treatment. Whatever
method will best arouse the patient's belief, faith and expectant
attention is the best method for administering the suggestions. The
successful suggestionist must be "all things to all men," never,
however, losing sight of the fundamental principle of Suggestion--the
arousing of faith, belief, and expectant attention.