Self-empowered Healing how to address chronic illness

Close to 50% of people in the United States are or have been suffering from chronic illnesses and this number is sharply increasing. The medical approach to dealing with physical diseases has been mainly to focus on the symptoms. The body is considered as separate from our mind and consciousness and is addressed in an almost mechanical manner. Are we becoming victims of our bodies that are falling apart? Or is it time for us to take back our innate healing powers?