During a recent interview with Daleen Totten (Managing Editor of Natural Medicine Journal) Dr Arien van der Merwe, natural and integrative doctor and health coach, explains:
Q: What do you see as important advances in natural integrative medicine today?
A: More and more research is being done. Coming from a left-brain, scientific background, I find it important that the often intangible benefits and results of integrative medicine also fit into the research model. The wonderful thing is that as more and more sophisticated techno equipment becomes available, evidence is coming forward of what natural healers have known for aeons. I’m also involved in actually living the integrative idea, with current negotiations to establish the wellness centre concept within mainstream group practices. This is proving to be quite a challenge, but I firmly believe that it’s the way forward.
Q: What will medicine look like in 50 years time?
A: Heaven on earth! Fully integrated practices between mainstream and complementary streams will exist. People will enter a wellness destiny practice and complete a comprehensive computer-based wellness assessment looking at 12 areas of wellness: physical, mental, emotional, breathing, work-play balance, sexual, spiritual, relationship, environmental, self actualisation, nutritional (incl. supplements, aromatherapy, herbal remedies, etc.) and social aspects. They’ll receive a comprehensive report after their screening profiles have been taken into consideration. The screening will include an energy assessment that will pick up early signals in the causal, mental, emotional and physical double energy bodies, decades before it appears in the gross physical body.
This is the truly preventative medicine of the future! An integrative wellness solution will then be developed for the individual’s specific needs. Everybody will make use of the wellness facilities, from talks, workshops and lectures, to personal consultations with energy healers and other healthcare practitioners, and water therapy, wellness deli’s, anti-ageing medicine, genetic coaching, etc. There are no limits to the possibilities! They will be referred for yoga, meditation, psychic counselling, physiotherapy, kinesiology, card readings – the whole shebang! Peoples’ minds will be open, ready to explore the fantastic ways available to become aware of the fact that their thoughts and emotions create their reality.
Q: What is your passion in life?
A: Seeing truly integrated wellness practices even in small towns, readily accessible to all people. Training more doctors to become passionate integrated wellness practitioners. Working with the community to increase awareness, education and growth in the population to live truly optimal wellness lives, becoming all they’re meant to be.
Q: Do you believe in miracles?
A: Oh, yes! If we open our minds and release old patterns, we create new neural networks of endless possibilities. As JZ Knight says in What the Bleep Do We Know, we can create new elsewheres of thought. Miracles occur then.
Q: Do you take nutritional supplements? And if you do, what do you take and do you do so regularly?
A: Yes. I take Timeless DNA Heart Brain Body Support as supper antioxidant (my own formulation), calcium and magnesium with vitamins C, D and boron, and an essential fatty acid with omega 3, 6, and 9, every day.