Interview with Dr Michael Tirant
To participate in such a meaningful project is a unique feeling. The cover I created for the book Sacred Consciousness: Healing Through Mindfulness seemed to be born in my imagination as I flipped through the digital copy of the manuscript - the man, a symbol of the pursuit of knowledge, change, and growth, in constant contact with the energy of the universe; the soul's search for an eternal and unattainable divine understanding of oneself and all that surrounds us.
"All religions stem from the same Divine Source,
a powerful and Supernatural Force that connects us all."
~ Prof Michael Tirant,
Sacred Consciousness: Healing Through Mindfulness , published in 2021
Today on the blog, I am honored to talk to the author of Sacred Consciousness: Healing Through Mindfulness, which has just been released. I say welcome to Professor Michael Tirant - research scientist, lecturer, and professor of Dermatology, founder and principal practitioner at the Psoriasis Eczema Clinic and Research Center, Melbourne, Australia. He has the respect of eminent Dermatologists from teaching hospitals across Europe, India and Vietnam for his knowledge and experience in successfully treating many rare and difficult skin conditions. He is considered a pioneer in bringing conventional and alternative medicines together, to take an integrative approach, including addressing triggers and co-morbidities, for the treatment of skin conditions.
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Professor Tirant, you are a scientist and a respected clinician for your achievements in treating rare skin diseases. Where and how did it all start? Please tell us how you decided to combine traditional treatment methods with alternative ones and whether it was challenging to win the right to help your patients with techniques that many doctors still deny or look at with contempt and ridicule.
It all started when I was at university watching a very close friend (girlfriend) suffer with a debilitating skin condition. She was constantly visiting doctors and specialists and seeing some improvements for a few days but then the condition would rebound again. At the time I thought that there must be more to the condition than just putting cream on the skin. So, I got her to write down what she thought could be triggering her skin including foods, weather, makeup, perfume. We also set up a Logbook entering everything she did during the day and then had her own personal assessment of the state of her skin at the of each day. After roughly two weeks , we started to see a trend evolving. We noticed that some foods that she was eating, alcohol after a night out, were triggering her skin. She also noticed that her skin was worse on days where she drank coffee and no water. Hence, started my journey and research into triggers exacerbating not only her skin but other conditions. I found that diet, lifestyle, chemicals, hormones, alcohol /diuretics, sugars, stress are all involved. However, everyone is affected depending on their blood type. I could not understand why some individuals were affected by some triggers but not others . This is because everyone is different with a different blood type, and I was noticed that the individual blood type is also involved when dealing with triggers. Primary (initiating- blood type link ) and secondary triggers (exacerbating- divided into major/minor - with blood type link). This work has been published in 2020 in Dermatologic Therapy Journal.
What is the root of all diseases? Could you please tell us the connection between health conditions and the spiritual world of man?
From my understanding, there is a genetic predisposition to all illnesses. The illness lays dormant until it is triggered. AS explained above, we need a Primary/initiating trigger to start the disease. For me all diseases start from a spiritual realm/state of mind /consciousness/belief before it becomes physical. In other the disease starts from an abstract point of view before it materialises. From the unknown to the known , from the unseen to the seen. Whether the person is in a happy positive state of mind.
What do you think is the function of the disease for the human body?
Disease is an evolutionary response to tell us that the Body, mind and spirit and our environment are out balance and we need to act to re-align ourselves.
Can it be seen as a negative experience necessary for humanity, a proficiency that stimulates one to rethink their lifestyle, accepting the change and development that follows to reach their potential?
It is not necessarily a negative. For me Everything is what it is!!! It is our perception to view something as positive or negative. The objective is to look at the circumstance and see how we can learn and grow from it. This may require changes but I don’t classify the changes as positive or negative.
How did you come to the knowledge you describe in your book Sacred Consciousness?
From a young age, I have been interested in Spirituality - the belief of a supreme God or Consciousness. I have seen first- hand while growing up the power of positive thought, belief and focus. I have witnessed the miraculous in so many ways and have watched the karmas that people created for themselves. I have always been an avid reader , including books of different religions /faiths; belief systems; mindset, consciousness and the powerful effects of how stress manipulates our immune system. I have studied many types of health system/alternative medicine and know that every system has something good to offer. After all, it is the patient who determines whether a treatment, orthodox or alternative, will work or not. If the patient believes a treatment will work - it will work. There is a clear path to - how to make it work!!!
When was your first meeting with meditation, healing breathing, and everything you describe as techniques in your book?
Initially, I was very sceptical of these so-called alternative approaches that had no scientific basis. However, all this changed after I developed severe allergies while burning the candle at both ends , attending university, playing in a rock n roll band and martial art training. My colleague suggested I joined them for meditation classes and of course, I had great benefits from itand taught me that something can work without it being scientific. More importantly, it has also taught me that science is not always scientific.
What is your favourite technique for dealing with stress, which is a constant companion in our daily lives?
I use many favourite techniques depending on how much time I have.
If I am feeling overwhelmed at work - I need to do something that is beneficial and requires little time - Laughter. I focus on a funny story or image or video - like Mr Bean - he cracks me up - so I have a good laugh. At the point that you are authentically laughing, you have increased your anti-inflammatory hormones and considerably reduced the pro-inflammatories. So, laughter/happy thought - is an amazing medicine.
In the morning, I do my sound meditation to cleanse and balance all the chakras. This involves humming the vowels of the alphabet. (OOOmmm , AAAAAA, EEEEE. IIIIII , UUUUUU - while inhaling and exhaling). This induces a state of balance, calmness and re-energises the body and bring clarity to the mind.
Many works on quantum physics have been published in recent decades; we talk about concepts such as parallel and multidimensional realities, different dimensions with which we have a connection, and interaction. And what is Metaphysics?
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerning the existence and nature of things/the universe; that reality exists independent of once mind. The study of a supersensual realm or of phenomena which transcend the physical world. It examines the relationship between mind and matter or thought and reality. It explores the concept that our thoughts and emotions are physical forces capable of affecting material reality.
Could you tell us a little more about this science and what its role is in our lives?
We use metaphysics in our everyday life to create our belief system about the nature of reality and how we can function and interact as conscious human beings.
Thank you for this explanation. I am interested to know your opinion on the issue of incurable diseases. Do you think there is such a thing, or there is hope for everyone?
This is a very complex question and requires a lot of explanation but I have to keep it simple. Yes, there is hope for everyone. We have all come here to experience the duality of this planet. Everyone has come for a specific purpose. Some have come for a very short time to finish off karmic debts. So the question of “Hope” is very restrictive, as it describes a scenario of - coming out of struggle or praying for a solution. (He is struggling - is there hope ? He has a terminal illness - is there hope? We are at a loss- is there hope?)
For example , a child who passes away at a very early age from a major illness. This is the child’s choice and time to go back home. For those left behind, it is a very traumatic, unfair and difficult situation to deal with. But this is other people’s perception. However, it was the child choice to come here for this short time and experience the illness and dying from it - it was a karmic debt that had to be paid - however difficult and painful it sounds. Does that mean - there was no hope for the child? No, as the child moves on spiritually and is re-incarnated for a different life purpose.
And how to start a self-healing process for a person who has been labeled with a severe diagnosis - incurable?
Again, not easy to explain in a few sentences - very complex. See above for part of the answer. If it is karmic debt repayment, the condition cannot be cured but the approach to deal with the illness can heal spiritual wounds .
There are many strategies that can be used on the self- healing journey.
Firstly, we must accept that the condition - that it is what it is. From the mindset that everything in life is possible and therefore we can transcend this illness. To do this , believe, accept and know in your heart that changes are happening now and bring in happy positive energies and be grateful to be alive. Focus and be positive about feeling and looking healthy, fit and strong and start to act as if you are better already and have great health when talking and thinking - visualise what it is you desire for you . See the good in everything and do not blame anyone. Accept that there will be great days and not so great days as we are all experiencing duality. The Mind is the first place to introspect.
Then look at your nutrition , relaxation, exercise for a healthy body. When the Mind is willing , the Body will follow.
Above all, do not sabotage what it is you desire by changing your mindset and focus.
Is there a case in your medical practice of spontaneous healing of a patient with a rare or incurable disease according to traditional medicine?
Yes, but spontaneous healing is not common. The only time it happens is when the patient and the doctor have absolute belief and trust in each other or the patient understands that the doctor knows his secrets. The secret is out and cannot fool everyone anymore.
A 28 year old patient came to see me with his parents, for his skin condition. He came in a wheelchair. In passing I asked why he was in a wheelchair. He told me that he woke up one day and could not walk. Although he had no pain, his legs had been almost paralysed for a number of years ever since and his parents had to lift him and attend to all his needs. He had no injuries and his Xrays and tests showed no nerve damage and the specialists could not understand why he became incapacitated. So, instead of looking at his skin condition, I wanted to find out more about his leg. After establishing that his condition was not physical and structurally everything was fine, I asked him whether he would be prepared to do a test with me and assured him that there would be no pain and to have full trust in me - to which he agreed. His parents also concurred.
I told him to stand up and I would support him. He was very reluctant but I pushed on and with an assertive voice, I told him - “Just stand up and I will support you“. Being a bit shocked with my tone of voice, he stood up slowly, but started to wobble and wanted to sit down. I held him up and refused to let him sit down - I said trust me - I will hold you up. Although he continued to wobble and complained, I held him up for 3 minutes. Then, I told him that I would be letting go of him and he would have to stand up by himself and using the side of the table to support himself. He was very uneasy and started becoming teary. So, I raised my voice and asked him - ”Do you want to be in a wheelchair for the rest of your life or do you want to start walking? Nothing is holding you back - you can do . Believe in yourself that you can do it.” He could see I meant business and that I was not happy with him. So, I let go of him to stand by himself. His parents looked up in amazement. To cut a look story short, I then ordered him to start walking while I supported him. The unbelievable thing is he walked out of my clinic unattended, with his parents pushing an empty wheelchair. Even my staff were amazed!!
Interestingly, I found out that his condition started after his parents told him it was time for him to find his own place and take care of himself. So, he created the condition so that his parents would care for him and not kick him out ! A perfect example of the mindset creating a new reality !!!!!! He realised that I knew what he was up to and I was not going to put up with it and ordered him to change his mindset. Today, he is still walking with no issues whatsoever and his skin condition also cleared up.
Wow, what a remarkable example to show the connection between a person's physical condition and psyche...
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