MEDICINE/HEALTH/WELL-BEING
A Literary Prism

Medicine is literature. Doubtless.

To substantiate the point. The last century was witness to an exciting publishing spurt in the medical genre, like never before. Most notably for books related to the now-burgeoning field of mind/body medicine. Candace Pert's “Molecules Of Emotion” [1997], was one amazing endeavour among the many that caught readers' imagination worldwide.

The work provides novel and very expansive answers to mind/body questions: of an appropriate inquisition that has haunted, or challenged, both philosophers and scientists, since the beginning of time. It's a glorious epitome, a remarkable premise -- no less. It is also much more than a whiff of the centre-stage. Of a classy scientific picture of the truth of how the chemicals inside our bodies form a dynamic information network, linking body and mind.

Another outstanding book, among the many, that comes to mind is Paul Martin's seminal work, “The Healing Mind” [1998], which brings home a metaphor: the extraordinary links that exist between psychology and biology: of mind and body, and how they have been dexterously fabricated, and contrived, by evolution over the millennia.

The connotation, of course, does not take into consideration the great textbooks -- the bible in every segment, or speciality -- which have stood the test of time. Like the essential works of a Gray, a Best or a Blobel, a Guyton, or a Davidson. Or, Deepak Chopra and his East-West canvas of sublime wisdom, or genre of books.

The list of best-selling medical/health/well-being books is endless, yes.

They have the power to inspire, teach, and stay put within the psyche of every reader for his/her optimal health and well-being.

If this isn't a tribute to the power of the word, and the art of writing, in medicine/health/well-being, what is?