Iyashi 癒し(noun) or iyasu 癒す (verb) in Japanese means:
To heal, as in "to heal a cut."
There is also another kanji character in Japanese used to mean "heal" and this character is 医. Why two characters to mean the same thing? What's the difference you ask?
The two characters actually express very different meanings of "to heal." The character 医 is used specifically in the context of healing in the medical, physiological sense. It is also used for the word "medicine." The character 癒, on the other hand, is a refined diction that means "to heal," but also "to alleviate" (as in "to alleviate boredom") "to quench" (as in "to quench a thirst"), and "to satisfy" (as in "to satisfy a yearning for").
It also has a connotation of "comfort," "soothing," and "solace," implying that healing occurs beyond just the physical realm- but in the mental and spiritual realm as well. So the word iyashi has the implied meaning of:
Receiving healing or becoming healed in the connection between Mind-Body-Spirit, while being in an environment of soothing comfort
Quite different from just "to heal a cut," ain't it?
So for the Japanese, one of the concepts of good health is to seek iyashi. Japanese seek iyashi by listening to soothing music, going to a hot springs surrounded by mountains or an ocean view, eating easy-to-digest comfort foods (usually stews, soups and porridges that tend to be organic and/or vegan in nature), sipping a relaxing cup of tea in a beautiful garden or calming cafe, getting massages and beauty work, visiting friends and family, partaking in community activity, staying at ryokans (like a B&B) in scenic rural areas of Japan where the pace of life is considerably slower than urban cities, picking up a new hobby (or revisiting an old one), and so forth, all in the name of replenishing one's soul and mind with serenity, clarity and joy.
It is a concept that acknowledges when one becomes tired and over-stressed, then a place of solace is required - either physically, in one's mind, or with others - to regain a sense of centeredness, stamina, and wellbeing.
Americans, on the other hand, primarily consider diet and exercise for maintaining good health. While important, a cultural notion or social vocabulary for seeking solace - in taking a step back, or really honoring the Mind-Body-Spirit connection for the sake of maintaining good health - tends to be lacking.
In these times of much stress and duress, is it perhaps time for you to seek iyashi?
