Recently published in Idea Fitness Journal (March 2009),” Slow Medicine Movement Gains Ground” stated that a growing number of medical leaders are calling for a resistance in the quick medicalization of health care. Simply put, rather that prescribing medication, costly tests, and surgeries medical professionals are spending more time listening and including friends and family for support. It is important to state that “slow Medicine” recognizes that urgent health problems do require prompt care, but also suggest that some issues could benefit from a slower approach.
Preventive or complimentary medicine uses this approach. Many of these practices do require more time to deliver results with fewer side effects and are less invasive. Deep breathing and yoga practices are an example of a slow approach to healing.
A book that explains this approach is My Mother, Your Mother: Embracing “Slow Medicine” the compassionate approach for your aging loved ones by Dennis McCullough, M.D. (Harper Collins 2008).