EdgeWork
Exploring the Psychology of Disease
Edgework provides a concise overview of the research on the mindbody, summarizing the essence of healing at the level of consciousness and guiding readers through the process with detailed exercises that make the concepts a personal reality.
![Backwards]() ![Forwards]() Dr. Ronald Peters has 30 years of research and experience in holistic medicine. He has studied with enlightened spiritual teachers, leading to a detailed understanding of the formative power of the conscious and unconscious mind, which he summarized in his ground-breaking book, Edgework, Exploring the Psychology of Disease. He empowers people to restore the wisdom of the body using nutritional therapies and then helps them understand the governing influence of consciousness. In this manner, disease becomes a messenger offering greater levels of health both physically and psychologically.
Since the publication of Edgework, several popular books have restated this paradigm shifting truth: consciousness creates reality. These include The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne, Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle, and Ask and It is Given, by Esther Hicks, to mention a few. Edgework applies this timeless truth to the world of medicine and healing.
Since 2003, many patients have appreciated the life changing guidance that comes from the concepts and exercises in Edgework, thereby heeding the message of disease and creating greater health in their lives.
From the Introduction to Edgework:
The mind controls the body. We have heard about this paradigm-shifting notion time and time again in the last half of the twentieth century. Research in immunology has contributed to dozens of books telling us about improved immunity based on positive states of mind and, conversely, reduced immune function due to negative states of consciousness. Physicians and psychologists have told us about the hostile aspects of Type A behavior and the epidemic of heart disease that plagues our society. Many other researchers have spoken, a bit more cautiously, about features of the cancer prone personality. Anxiety and depression contribute to numerous other illnesses, and continue to afflict up to one quarter of the American population. Books have been written on the psychosomatic aspects of common diseases like asthma, hypertension, ulcerative colitis, peptic ulcers, and diabetes, just to mention a few. Yet none have stated the essence of the mind/body issue as succinctly as the great psychoanalyst Dr. Franz Alexander, when he wrote: "The fact that the mind rules the body is, in spite of its neglect by biology and medicine, the most fundamental fact which we know about the process of life..."
But in spite of this outpouring of information on the mind/body relationship, little has changed in the doctor's office to reflect this new understanding. Doctors still devote most of their time trying to find out what is wrong with the body, and patients still try to get rid of their symptoms with the latest offerings from the drug industry. Many of us take vitamins and minerals, try to exercise and relax more, perhaps meditate occasionally, but really little has changed, and the problems in health care continue on. Indeed, paradigms shift slowly as they bear the weight of institutional, social and personal belief systems.
Based on my twenty years of holistic family practice, I too have learned that the origins of most physical disease are within consciousness - the body is the messenger of the conflicts, sustained fears, suppressed emotional traumas, disturbed patterns of thinking, and other imbalances that lie within the conscious and unconscious mind. I have learned this by listening to thousands of patients tell the stories that preceded the onset of their illness. I have heard again and again of childhood patterns of neglect, smothering control, abandonment, and emotional, physical and sexual abuse. I have heard of the failed relationships, years of marital conflict, and the pain of loneliness. I have heard about decades of unfulfilling employment, foiled personal creativity and the quiet desperation of a slowly dying spirit. I have heard about relentless anxiety, depression, denied emotions, destructive beliefs, hopelessness, helplessness, "giving up", and an endless variety of recurrent stresses.
Most importantly, I have seen patient after patient backtrack into consciousness and find the dis-ease within the mind that precipitated the dis-ease in the body. The answers may not come quickly as many issues are hidden in the shadow, or unconscious mind, but they do come and the results of such personal in-depth healing are transformational. I have seen cancer, multiple sclerosis, colitis, hepatitis, high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, and all types of chronic and often "incurable" diseases go into remission or quiescence. These are the reasons I have written Edgework.
Edgework refers to the edge between what you know about yourself and what you do not know. Dis-ease of any kind is the body's way of getting your attention and inviting this self-exploration, thereby offering true healing. The path maybe scary, as change itself is scary for most of us. It is easy to understand what the noted English poet W. H. Auden meant when he wrote: "We would rather be ruined than changed; we would rather die in our dread than climb the cross of the moment and let our illusions die."
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Click on a testimonial below to read more about our patient's experience.
Depression, ADHD and academic problems [+]Infectious mononucleosis (mono) and irritable bowel syndrome “Brain fog”, numbness and stomach pain [+]Headaches, joint pain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance Obsessive-compulsive disorder and tics [+]“Rheumatoid arthritis”, chronic fatigue, reflux, and chronic pain for 40 years Our son has been following your diet recommendations for the past year, along with the supplements. We want to thank you. As a result of your health plan, he is functioning incredibly well. His depression is completely gone, and he no longer needs the anti-depressant medications that he took for years. Also his ADD is non-existent and his grades have improved dramatically. Also, he has passed several standardized tests this summer that would have been very challenging in the past, including the test to become a lifeguard and the Arizona state real estate exam, all with ease.
Thanks so much for your help. He is doing sooooo well and we are all looking forward to great success in college.
RF. Item Title I began seeing Dr. Peters in October of 2008, due to an increasing number of health issues of which I was getting no relief from. The two primary issues were a feeling of my head being "in a fog" and numbness in my right leg and arm. I also felt at times like my stomach had a "meat grinder" in it and a rushing, pressure feeling in my chest.
My symptoms began approximately five years earlier. I had been to a neurologist for my head and received a complete neurological physical. The foggy head feeling was treated with 6 shots of lidocaine in my neck over 2 years. This didn't help and was extremely painful. I was also hospitalized twice for the numbness in my extremities and pressure in my chest. During these visits I was given numerous tests to rule out stroke and heart complications, All tests were fine. I also went to a E.N.T. doctor and was diagnosed with G.E.R.D. He gave me over the counter medication and some life style changes to counteract my symptoms.
None of these treatments helped and for the first time in my life I started to become depressed. Dr. Peters, after taking a extensive medical history, suspected gluten intolerance. I tested positive for gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease and changed my diet immediately. The last 9 months, my health has improved dramatically. It took awhile to fine tune my diet but it is worth it to have my health back.
Sincerely,
J M. D Item Title I would like to personally acknowledge and thank you for curing me from a life-long battle of obsessive-compulsiveness, high stress-related anxiety, facial “ticks” and weight-gain. I am now 30 years old and have struggled with all of these issues for the past two decades. I had met with dozens of psychiatrists, psychologists, wellness and medical doctors over the years and had been prescribed an uncountable number of drugs to combat these issues my entire life. The intensity of my issues began to affect even the most simple tasks of my life – breathing, talking with clients, watching T.V. Finally, after almost loosing consciousness in front of my family from the extreme level of stress, breathing trouble and facial ticks, I contacted you in May of 2008.
After spending several days with your entire team, I am happy to report that all of my obsessive-compulsive behavior is gone, my stress-level is at the lowest it has ever been, my facial “ticks” have completely gone away, and I have lost over 25 pounds. I can only say that the overall combination of natural healing provided by your program including supplements, hypnosis and acupuncture was the cause of this complete transformation. I have a new perspective of the typical medical system and a newfound appreciation and respect for what you refer to as our “bodymind”. I sincerely would not be the person that I am today without the support and care from you and your team.
TMP Item Title Two years ago when I first came to see Dr. Peters, I suffered almost daily from migraines. I managed to make it through each day by trying to ignore the pain in my head. Sometimes the pain was debilitating, and I had to spend a day in the dark. I had tried every medicine on the market to try to control the migraines, but nothing worked. Add to the migraines severe colitis and I was a mess (not to mention always afraid the colitis would act up while I was out on a job).
He helped me balance my body through diet and supplements. Just as important, he helped me balance my mind and spirit through self-acknowledgement and forgiveness. It has been a long road and I am not there yet, but my migraines number only 3 or 4 a month and my colitis is gone entirely. “Mind over matter” is not just a cliché. I am proof our thoughts and feelings are indelibly linked to our health. Accepting responsibility for my thoughts, health and actions has given me the power to control my own body and spirit - opening my soul to the omnipotence of a greater Spirit.
CC Allergies, Recurrent Sinus Infections [+]After 3 years of seeing medical doctors and specialist, and being hospitalized, I finally found someone that could help me. I had severe respiratory problems and kept getting sinus infections. First, they thought I had asthma, so two specialists tested me and they found that I did not, and then they thought it was heart problems, so off to the heart clinic I went. They gave me all kinds of tests and then turned me over to a pulmonary specialist. The pulmonary specialist could not find out what was wrong and sent me to an allergist. The allergist said I was allergic to everything in the desert environment. I had gotten lung infections and sinus infections for 3 years and all the doctors put me on were antibiotics, steroids and inhalers. I kept getting worse and worse until I could barely breathe. My blood pressure started to go sky high, so they put me on high blood pressure meds; they also wanted to put me on lipitor. I would get up from bed and go to the bathroom and it would take me 15 to 20 minutes before I could catch my breath and head back to the bed, where it would take me another 15 to 20 minutes to regain my breathing.
At this point I decided I didn’t have anything to lose so I decided to look up alternative medicine and found Dr. Ron Peters, after checking his back ground and credentials I made an appointment and he promised me that if I followed his instructions that I would be as good as new. I followed the diet plan he gave me and took all the natural medicines. He found out after doing several blood tests and other tests that my body was completely out of balance. He did test that none of the other doctors thought of doing. After 1 and ½ weeks of following Dr. Peters instructions to a T, my sinus problems completely disappeared and to this day have not returned. It has been 3 months. Then after 3 weeks my respiratory problems went away, and my blood pressure returned to normal and I am now no longer on blood pressure medicine, plus I do not have to take statin drugs for my cholesterol. I have loads of energy (feel like superman) I feel like I have a second chance at life. I have lost 40lbs. people tell me I look ten years younger and that my skin looks so healthy. I truly believe that Dr. Ron Peters has saved my life. If I had not found Dr. Peters I feel I would probably have passed away. The doctors where killing me with all the drugs they were giving me. I highly recommend Dr. Peters to anyone who wants to be healthy. Just remember to be committed to following his instructions and you to will be well. From the bottom of my heart,
Thank you, thank you Dr. Peters
Your grateful patient
JS When I first met with Dr Peters, I was bedridden and in a wheel chair due to Lyme disease. I was 18 years old. Dr Peters focused on returning my immune system to health, rather than concentrating on the “disease”. One month after starting treatment, I was able to get out of bed and go to a movie with my family! My improvement was steady and I was able to begin college on time. I have now been a patient of Dr Peter’s for 18 months and have just finished a summer of exercise with a personal trainer, summer school, and working full time! I attribute my recovery to Dr Peters’ knowledge of the immune system, and his focus on my overall health as well as my physical and mental well being. I do not think I would be where I am today without his help. LC Endometriosis and PMS [+]When I met Dr. Ron Peters, I had suffered with endometriosis for 18 years, my periods and the cramps were unbearable and I was carried out of my office many times on a stretcher to the emergency room. Western medicine would not address the problems that included a weak immune system, constant canker sores in my mouth, allergies, asthma, always getting the flu and colds and they would always turn into pneumonia and pleurisy. Plus, I had monthly bloating, gas and a continual array of sores on my thighs each month. Western doctors gave me lots of pills and wanted to do a total hysterectomy since I was 30 years old. I had never been exposed to any other kind of medicine except for western. So I did surgeries but would not let them do a hysterectomy. They did put me on awful drugs like lupron and testosterone.
Then I met Dr. Peters and have been seeing him for about 2 years and he not only listened to my feelings and my life history but he cared and he approached my health in a way that was very spiritual. He addressed the immune system from the approach of yeast in the blood system and we changed my diet. We have worked very hard to bring down the mercury and lead levels that are toxic to the system. We also considered how I handle my emotions, childhood and family experiences and how much stress I have in my life.
Today, I have normal monthly periods, I rarely have any asthma or allergies, I have not had gas and bloating for over a year now. My immune system has really come a long way. I have gotten a cold like two times since I've been with Dr. Peters but I no longer consider treating it with anti-biotics because I now understand that these medications can take down the immune system. I did start doing yoga and worked on a lot of personal issues and made the dietary changes and take the supplements that Dr. P recommends and it has made an amazing difference. Dr. Peters is truly a healer; he cares more about people than anyone I have ever met. He is very kind and gentle and has really made an impact on my life and my health. I am so glad to have found him, I would still be in Western medicine hell, trying to get someone to actually look at the causes not just mask the symptoms.
JG Chronix Acid Reflux (GERD) [+]I had experienced terrible heart burn for years and years I had visited many different doctors and had multiple tests performed, including scopes, barium x-rays, scans, etc, One doctor determined that my problem must be h. pylori and put me a multi-day treatment of very heavy anti-biotic which had all the terrible results on my stomach and bowls but did absolutely nothing for my heart burn and acid reflux. The acid reflux was so bad that I could not sleep many nights and would awaken unable to lay down again and have to try sleeping sitting in a chair. I would eat several rolls of Rolaids every day and also take 150mg tablet of Zantacs once in the AM and once again before going to bed.
In discussion with Dr Peters this subject came up and Dr. Peters. He gave a diet to follow and handed be a bottle of enzymes and a second bottle of stomach acid bill. He told me to take these after meals. This completely cured the problem after taking the enzymes for about 7 -10 days I do not need it on a regular basis. Now I only take if when I have a heavy meal or on the rare occasion of heart burn, a problem I thought would be with me the rest of my life has been removed by the treatment provided by Dr Peters. I have passed this information along to several friends and they have reported results similar to mine, it really is an amazing thing.
JM Chronic Skin Disorder - Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris [+]Last year, I was stricken with an aggressive skin disorder that disabled both the use of my hands and feet as well causing extreme discomfort throughout the surface of my body. After several dermatological and immunological examinations, the National Institute of Health (NIH) agreed to convene grand rounds to determine a diagnosis and treatment. Examinations and biopsies revealed that I was suffering from a rare skin disease called Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris. The best known treatment for this disease is one of two very strong drugs: Methotraxate or Soriatane. My own research of this disease and these treatment plans informed me of the side affects of these drugs and also their inconsistent curative effects. Also, I was skeptical that both drugs exclusively targeted the symptoms without addressing the source of such extreme toxicity.
Seven months into the disease, before consenting to a drug treatment plan, I contacted Dr. Ron Peters, with the hope of a receiving a more comprehensive and less toxic approach to medical treatment. From the start, Dr. Peters was thorough, comprehensive, communicative and kind. In a skillful and systematic way, Dr. Peters detected physiological imbalances, weaknesses and toxicity. Over several months, he has diligently and successfully worked towards strengthening my immune system while detoxifying my body.
I have keenly felt and known that my decision to enlist the expertise of Dr. Peters was the right choice. He has remarkably cured the affliction of an aggressive skin disorder while also improving my overall health. Through this challenging yet rich experience, I have come to believe, that disease is indeed an invitation to scope deeper toward better health and well being.
I feel blessed that Dr. Peters has guided me through this process.
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Your mindbody is a symphony of biological intelligence of unfathomable complexity and wonder, all designed for you to live your life. Regardless of your personal health issues, it is important to regain confidence in the healing power that lives naturally within you.
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