Known as the Mother of Holistic Medicine, Dr. Gladys McGarey was still practicing medicine until recently. She was nearly 104 when she transitioned on September 28. Her departure from this Earth Plane is a great loss for us, but I imagine she was met with rejoicing on the “other side,” and has wonderful work to do there.
From the website of the Foundation for Living Medicine:
“Dr. Gladys, as she was affectionately known, was board certified in Holistic and Integrated Medicine and had held a family practice for more than sixty years. She was the co-founder of the American Holistic Medical Association (and past president), as well as co-founder of the Academy of Parapsychology and Medicine…
“Dr. Gladys was a pioneer. She had tirelessly pioneered work in holistic medicine, natural birthing, and the physician-patient partnership. Among Dr. Gladys’ innovations for natural birthing was the Baby Buggy Program founded in 1978, featuring a fully-equipped paramedical and emergency transport vehicle for home deliveries. In 1970, she co-founded the A.R.E. Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, where she and her former husband pioneered the integration of allopathic and holistic medical practices, laying the groundwork for the cultural shift of recent years that recognizes alternative and holistic medical modalities. Her efforts worldwide continue to receive international acclaim.
“Dr. Gladys wrote and lectured extensively. She was the author of six books: The Physician Within You, Born to Live, Living Medicine, The World Needs Old Ladies, Budhu’s Path to Enlightenment, and The Well-Lived Life. She wrote numerous articles for health publications… Her public speaking career bridged four decades during which she shared the podium with Andrew Weil, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, and other notables who became her associates in the American Holistic Medical Association, which Dr. Gladys co-founded in 1977.
“In addition to co-founding the A.R.E. Clinic in Phoenix, she also co-founded The Scottsdale Holistic Medical Group where she practiced with her daughter, Helene Wechsler, M.D., from 1989 to 2004. In 2004, Dr. Wechsler opened a new practice, Scottsdale Private Physicians…where Dr. Gladys saw patients one day per week. She helped patients through difficult times with “life coaching,” dream interpretation, and her own form of “Living Medicine”…
“Dr. Gladys leaves behind a legacy of love rooted in the most important secret she shared: Love is the most powerful medicine. She often talked about the 5Ls: Love, Life, Labor, Laughter, and Listening, pointing out that love must accompany each of the other Ls for them to lead to health and happiness. “Once you’re able to receive love, health and happiness will follow. Then the only natural response is to start spreading it to everyone you meet.” We are so very grateful for the love, joy, and wisdom she shared and hope these continue to ripple far and wide.”
Remembrances of Dr. Gladys can be shared on the website of the Foundation for Living Medicine here.
Please keep Dr. Gladys and her family in your prayers.
