Conversation with a holistic-medicine type (“hmt”)

HMT: So, I hear your back kind of whacked out yesterday?
nc: Yes! Suddenly, for no good reason, just hours before I was to do my good deed of helping people move in New Haven, I did one of those maneuvers that resulted in a lower back pain that grew and grew until it became so monumental that I could not walk without a grimace. Let alone sit. And movement from one to the other was impossible.

HMT: A shame. A ruined trip then, no?
nc: No! What’s a sprained back? Why should that stand in the way of moving, lifting, painting, heaving, etc.?

HMT: There are therapies you could consider…
nc: The thing is, the excruciating pain was intensifying, intensifying and then, someone said something profoundly funny at breakfast and I laughed and laughed and then… well, slowly but surely the pain abated. Somewhat. It was a turning point.

HMT: Totally! You experienced a holistic moment of recovery. Good vibes, flowing from your brain, triggered by the laughter lead to a recovery. Are you a believer now in the power of positive thought processes?
nc: No. Sorry, come back again with something more convincing.