Perhaps this lack of understanding is the reason why the major diseases in our society are not really being cured, because scientists are still looking for solutions in reductive methods, e.g. They think they can cure an illness by changing the genetic structure of a person without realizing the abnormality may have arisen from the abnormal environment, based on stress, disordered human values, and pollution.

The enhancement of healing requires three things:
Mastery of life
Reduction and release of stress
The support of family, friends and community.

Our modern society is overwhelmed with stress, alienation, competition, and exploitation. Stress also comes in the form of pollution, denatured food, electromagnetic frequency and the latest form of stress being the dangers of genetically engineered food. People need some say in their environment, and some say in what they are exposed to. They also need to be given the information to optimize their health and wellbeing, and this education should start in the schools.

Integrative Medicine
Just as the body is composed of mind, body and spirit and works in an integrated fashion, the various illnesses, which people suffer have a common cause. Medical science is now beginning to define this cause but unfortunately because of the kind of education that doctors receive, (the bio-medical model), this means that most of the profession are not willing to open their eyes to a holistic approach.

The problem is further inflamed by the fact that medical schools seek out students who although may be very intelligent are not being educated for life itself. This is seen as such a problem in England that there is now thought of introducing arts education into the domain of medical science. The most successful medical school in Germany chooses its students on the basis of intellect and passion and also includes within its curriculum a host of complementary, holistic and nutritional education. Once the students have enrolled, their only requirement is to pass. Despite this, the university achieves the highest results in Germany.

Of course, this sentiment is being echoed by the public at large, seventy percent of whom are now also turning to naturopaths and alternative practitioners. People are looking for more than just therapy. They know that therapy can often bee painful and in hospitals they are treated an anonymous numbers. People increasingly are seeking for something extra which I would term 'quality of life'.

In the New England Journal of Medicine on July 13th 2000, a paper was published estimating the overall contribution of inherited genes to the development of cancer. The paper was the combined data on 44,788 twins in Sweden, Denmark and Finland that enabled the researchers to assess the risks of cancer in twenty eight anatomical sights.