
Dr Wayne Jonas is a pioneer in integrative, healing-based, patient-centered healthcare who has been at the nexus of healthcare and healing for over 40 years.
He served as director of the National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine in the 1990s, as well as leading the World Health Organization’s Collaborative Center for Traditional Medicine.
He’s a retired lieutenant colonel in the US Army Medical Corps, and served as the director of Medical Research Fellowship at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. (Some of his research there is truly mindblowing, and is paving the way for a reevaluation of the role of non-traditional therapies within the scientific, evidence-based Western standards of care.)
In his 2018 book, How Healing Works, Dr Jonas redefines the “placebo” effect and gives it its proper place – a primary and honored one – in the toolkit of healing.
His work is in the best tradition of T. Colin Campbell’s WHOLE – placing reductionist research and medicine within a life-giving and meaning-making wholistic framework.
We aren’t just a bag of chemicals, Jonas reminds us. So viewing nutrition as simply a bunch of chemicals misses the greater opportunity to bring about healing through our menu choices and global food systems.
Dr Jonas shares his vision of a health society spearheaded by organizations whose primary mission is to foster the health and wellbeing of their employees, members, and constituents, as a prerequisite to fulfilling their missions.
And shows how the “find it fix it” model of healthcare that has become the default in our society must inevitably miss out on 70-80% of our potential for healing.
In our conversation, we look at the triply oxymoronic “Health Care System” (produces about 20% of public health, doesn't provide much quality care, and is not an integrated system), and what it's missing and how to reimagine healthcare.
We look at the placebo effect, which is actually the “meaning and context” effect, and how it can be harnessed to promote healing of body, mind, and spirit.
And how organizations can and must make employee health and wellbeing centerpieces of their mission to be successful going forward.

Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box or audio recording box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.
Links
How Healing Works – by Dr Jonas
Support the Podcast
This podcast is not underwritten by advertising, so I can experience complete editorial autonomy without worrying about pissing off the person paying the bills. Instead, I pay the bills, with your help. It's free for those who can't afford to pay, and supported by those who can. You can contribute to the growth and improvement of the podcast by . Click the “Support on Patreon” or “Donate” buttons on the right to help out.
Ready to embark on your Big Change journey?
Are you tired of knowing what to do, and still not doing it consistently? The WellStart Health Big Change Program, led by Josh LaJaunie and myself, will help you take the steps to finally live according to your knowledge and values.
Go to WellStartHealth.com/program to learn more, and to get notified about the next program.
Ask your questions or share your feedback
Comment on the show notes for this episode (below)
Connect with me
Subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes
Join the Plant Yourself Facebook Page
Music
The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.
It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour.
You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.
Gratitudes
Thanks to Plant Yourself podcast patrons – Kim Harrison – Lynn McLellan – Anthony Dissen – Brittany Porter – Dominic Marro – Barbara Whitney – Tammy Black – Amy Good – Amanda Hatherly – Mary Jane Wheeler – Ellen Kennelly – Melissa Cobb – Rachel Behrens – Christine Nielsen – Tina Scharf – Tina Ahern – Jen Vilkinofsky – David Byczek – Michele X – Elspeth Feldman – Viktoriya Dolomanova – Leah Stolar – Allan Kristensen – Colleen Peck – Michele Landry – Jozina – Julianne Rowland – Stu Dolnick – Sara Durkacs – Kelly Cameron – Wayne Pedersen – Leanne Peterson – Janet Selby – Claire Adams – Tom Fronczak – Jeannette Benham – Gila Lacerte – David Donohue – Blair Seibert – Doron Avizov – Gio and Carolyn Argentati – Jodi Friesner – RuthAnn Funderburk – Mischa Rosen – Michael Worobiec – Alicia Lemus – Val Linnemann – Nick Harper – Stephanie Halmes – Bandana Chawla – Martha Bergner – Nikole Ramsay – Susan Ahmad – Molly Levine – The Inscrutable Harry R – Susan Laverty the Panda Vegan – Craig Covic – Adam Scharf – Karen Bury – Heather Morgan – Ashley Corcoran – Kelly Michiya – DeAnne Norton – Bonnie Lynch of Plant Happy Oregon – Sabine Kurtzhals – Nigel Davies – Marian Blum – Teresa Kopel – Shell Routledge – Julian Watkins – Brid O'Connell – Brian Sheridan – Shannon Herschman – Cate Rolls – Linda Ayotte – Julie Lang – Holm Hedegaard – Isa Tousignant – Connie Haneline – Erin Greer – Alicia Davis – AvIvA Lael – Heather O'Connor – Carollynne Jensen – Sheri Orlekoski of Plant Powered for Health – Karen Smith – Scott Mirani – Karen and Joe Crabtree – Tanya Lewis – Kirby Burton – Theresa Carrell – Kevin Macaulay – Elizabeth Rothschild – Kelly Baker Miracle – Ann Jesse – Sheryl Dwyer – Jenny Hazelton – Valerie Pelletier – Peter W Evans – Colleen Harrison – Justine Divett – Joshua Sommermeyer – Dennis Bird – Darby Kelly – Lori Fanney – Linnea Lundquist – Valarie Hummel – Deb Coscia – Emily Iaconelli – Levi Wallach – Rosamonde McAtee – Dan Pokorney – Stephen Leinin – Patty DeMartino – Mike and Donna Kartz – Deanne Bishop – Bilberry Elf – Günter Schmid – Marjorie Lewis – Kelly Moulden – Tricia Adams – Ian Cramer – Nancy Sheldon – Lindsey Bashore – Gunn Marit Hagen – Tracey Gulledge – Lara Hedin – Meg from Mamasezz – Rachelle Kennedy – Joan Bornstein – for your generous support of the podcast.
Disclosure
This post may contain amazon affiliate links. I may receive amazon gift certificates from your actions on such links.
Long time fan of the podcast, patreon supporter. Just an fyi, the audio recording devices used in podcasts pick up all ambient noises such as paper rustling, keyboard tapping, dish washing, eating, etc. In short, the listener can hear the guest and/or host attempting to multitask as the interview is recorded. The effect degrades the end product, much like a coffee mug stain on a document. It tells the listener that the interview participants did not find their conversation interesting enough to stop other activities and be fully present, and leads the listener towards thinking that maybe this conversation isn’t that valuable after all.
Hi Ann. Thanks for the feedback. Not sure what noises you were hearing, as nobody was multi-tasking. (I do take notes during conversations, which accounts for the keyboard clicking, but I wasn’t playing a video game or texting anyone.)
For reference, here’s the video of the call: https://youtu.be/O35LfM_Clxc