In the realm of health and wellness, it’s widely accepted that a staggering 90 percent of illnesses rely on the body’s own recuperative abilities to heal. Esteemed Japanese neurosurgeon Dr. Hiroshi Okamoto asserts that common ailments ranging from minor issues like colds and allergies to more severe conditions such as diabetes and hypertension fundamentally require enhancing the body’s intrinsic healing capabilities for recovery. Even in cases where short-term symptomatic and pharmaceutical treatments are necessary, they merely prolong life, allowing the body’s self-healing mechanisms to engage fully.
Dr. Okamoto, with his extensive experience in clinical treatment and research of malignant tumors, identifies stress as the primary catalyst for cancer. Individuals with a strong sense of mission and responsibility often endure excessive ‘unpleasant’ situations, leading to overwhelming stress levels. If one fails to manage stress effectively, it can inflict sustained and expanding damage to both the mind and body.
Consequently, Dr. Okamoto advises that beyond the age of 40, it’s crucial to be in tune with one’s feelings, avoid distasteful situations, and not excessively pursue perfection in all aspects of life. Even when adopting the following lifestyle habits to boost self-healing, complete adherence isn’t mandatory; achieving a “barely passing” grade is sufficient.
Dr Okamoto’s 7 key healing strategies
1. Stand tall and look up
The tendency to lean forward and look down can activate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to rapid breathing and poor blood circulation, which diminishes the body’s healing capacity. In today’s sedentary office environment and with the frequency of smartphone use, it’s vital to maintain good posture, keep your head up, shift your upper body’s center of gravity backward, and occasionally gaze at the sky to correct poor posture.
2. Slow, deep breathing
Deep breathing can restore balance to the autonomic nervous system, enhancing overall blood and energy circulation and positively impacting emotions, leading to a calm mind and relaxed body. Conversely, short, rapid breaths can heighten emotional and physical arousal. Practice deep breathing in a standing or sitting position with a straight back, opening your mouth naturally and exhaling slowly. After exhaling completely, take a deep breath through the nose, allowing your abdomen to expand. Dr. Okamoto recommends practicing deep breathing over 30 times daily.
3. Finger massage
Massaging the fingers can regulate the autonomic nervous system and influence circulation, digestion, metabolism, and temperature control. Using the thumb and index finger of one hand, apply slightly painful pressure to the nail beds of each finger and toe for about 10 seconds, 10 times a day, to stimulate the autonomic nerves.
4. Acupoint stimulation
Dr. Okamoto highlights the Baihui (GV20) acupoint at the top of the head as a central point in the body. Moderate stimulation of Baihui and the surrounding Four Sages points can balance the autonomic nervous system and enhance the body’s “qi” or vital energy. Stimulating acupoints can also trigger the release of endorphins, activating the parasympathetic nervous system and boosting lymphocyte production, thereby enhancing self-healing.
5. Alternating hot and cold showers
Dr. Okamoto considers bathing in warm water followed by a cold shower the optimal bathing method. This practice can restore the autonomic nervous system’s balance, improve blood circulation throughout the body, and increase lymphocyte count.
6. Calf massage
It’s essential to push the accumulated blood back to the heart to improve overall blood flow. The calves often store a significant amount of blood. Spending 10-20 minutes massaging the calves from the Achilles tendon toward the knee after a bath, when the calf muscles are relaxed, can help return the accumulated blood to the heart and promote blood circulation.
7. Walk 6,000 steps daily
Without moderate physical activity, the body’s healing power significantly diminishes. Dr. Okamoto recommends walking at least 6,000 steps a day or engaging in an hour of relaxing, solitary exercise without competitive stress, such as walking, swimming, or other light aerobic activities.
Additional tips from Dr. Okamoto for enhancing self-healing include getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night, adopting a diet low in oil and salt, consuming seasonal and local foods, avoiding overeating and drinking, ensuring smooth bowel movements, taking supplements moderately, periodically traveling or reading to shift moods, and controlling medication intake. Collectively, these strategies contribute to bolstering the body’s natural healing power.
Translated by Eva
