Beyond the Biomedical Model: Embracing Mind, Body, and Spirit in Health

Within Western society, healing is often dependent on the biomedical model of health. This framework relies on diagnostic algorithms, prescriptions, and procedures to identify and mitigate deviations from ‘biological norms.’ Given its reductionist approach to healing, pushback on the biomedical model has ultimately led to the rise of a humanistic and holistic model called the biopsychosocial model of health, which includes several aspects of well-being. This clinical philosophy applies the patient’s subjective experience of illness to their overall care. However, in recent years, clinicians have begun to suggest that the biopsychosocial model must be expanded to include a spiritual component to better address the needs of patients. Thus, this article explores the role of mind, body, and spirit within the biopsychosocial model of health and its place within Western medicine.

MIND – In medicine, the mind is representative of psychological affect and effect—an individual’s observable emotional state or resultant outcome from something like a treatment, respectively. An article from Harvard University’s Health Publishing newsletter suggests that an individual’s mindset can profoundly impact both their social well-being and physical health. The article advocates for regular stress-reduction activities, such as meditation or mindfulness, so that individuals can effectively maintain their health. To further illustrate the effects of the mind on health, Black & Slavich (2017) conducted a systematic review to determine the impact of meditation on the immune system, specifically by measuring inflammatory proteins in the blood of participants. The authors highlight a study where female breast cancer patients who completed a 6-week course of mindful awareness practices had a measurable decline in IL-6, a key inflammatory molecule. Additionally, other studies demonstrated that mindfulness activities can cause a downward trend in the levels of an inflammatory protein called C-reactive protein, among patients with non-flared ulcerative colitis.

BODY – The idea of the mind, body, and spirit suggests that balance between the three is necessary for maintaining health and well-being. Awareness of our bodies allows us to respond appropriately to retain this balance essential for sustained health. Dr. Wayne Jonas (MD) in Psychology Today suggests that it is crucial to monitor subtle changes in ourselves and be aware of how we feel daily. Bodily awareness can help us recognize whether our actions improve, maintain, or reduce feelings of wellness. For instance, regularly engaging in exercise, breathing practices, or personal reflection makes us increasingly aware of our bodily sensations, which decreases the risk of developing chronic illnesses like hypertension.

SPIRIT– The role of spirituality in healing can be challenging to measure, given the variation in systems of belief (e.g., religion vs. spirituality) and what spirituality means at the individual level. Using the definition established by Udermann (2000), wherein spirituality is defined as “the spirit or the soul, as distinguished from the body, and… the better or higher part of the mind”, Bozek et al. (2020) suggested that spirituality positively affects physical and mental health by improving outcomes like subjective well-being, coping skills, and quality of life. While spirituality is often shaped by personal experiences, connection with others within a spiritual community may also contribute to one’s well-being by fulfilling social dimensions of health.