WHEN THE BODY LOSES ITS FITRAH
For years, you may have been busy caring for everyone around you. Family, work and countless responsibilities have come first. Out of love and a sense of duty, you may have gradually placed your own needs last, barely noticing it happen. We sleep less, make less time for rest and gradually lose energy. Even when our health has been asking for attention, we may set it aside. Life keeps moving, and our responsibilities can seem endless. Then one day, our health changes. Suddenly, everyday things we once took for granted feel precious: waking with energy, sleeping soundly, enjoying a meal, walking without discomfort and making plans without fear.
When cancer enters our lives, these experiences may take on an even deeper meaning. Cancer may begin with changes in cells and tissues, but its impact can reach into every part of a person’s life. It can change family routines, disturb sleep, affect emotions, undermine confidence and create uncertainty about the future. Although disease develops in the body, its impact may be felt throughout a person’s life. Whatever health challenges a person faces, illness never diminishes their human worth. A person living with colorectal cancer deserves love, gentleness, respect, attention and compassionate care.
After spending so long caring for others, perhaps this is the time to give yourself some of that attention, to listen to your body and understand what it needs. In the face of uncertainty, remembering Allah Al-Latif, the Most Subtle and Most Gentle, can bring peace and spiritual strength to keep moving forward. This brings us to a deeper question: What happens when the natural order that helps the body maintain balance begins to change? At Ibnu Sina Wellness™, we seek to understand the whole person rather than focusing solely on the colon and rectum or a cancer diagnosis. We draw on the fundamental principles of Ibnu Sina’s medical philosophy through a contemporary framework encompassing four interconnected dimensions: BODY-HEART-MIND-SOUL [1].
The body is not merely a collection of organs working independently. It is an interconnected living system influenced by its environment and the way a person lives.
BUT WHY DOES CANCER OCCUR?
After a cancer diagnosis, one question may return again and again: “Why has this happened?” Cancer is a complex disease that develops when abnormal cells multiply uncontrollably. In some types of cancer, these cells can invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. The body has natural mechanisms that regulate cell growth, division, repair and cell death. When these mechanisms are disrupted, abnormal cells may survive and continue multiplying uncontrollably. This can result from a combination of factors, including cellular changes, biological processes, environmental influences and lifestyle [2]. Yet cells do not function in isolation.
Within the colon and rectum, cells exist in an interconnected biological environment. They interact with blood vessels, immune cells, surrounding tissue and various chemical signals. These relationships influence normal tissue function and the environment in which cancer develops [3]. Inflammation is one example. Inflammation is normally part of the body’s protective response and supports tissue repair. When it persists, however, it can disrupt normal tissue function and contribute to processes associated with chronic diseases, including cancer [4]. This calls for a broader understanding of cancer. Cancer is not merely a lump that suddenly appears. Cancer develops within a complex human body whose systems are closely interconnected. We therefore ask:
How can we understand the condition of the body’s systems as a whole, rather than looking only at the site where cancer first appeared?
WHAT MAKES COLORECTAL CANCER DIFFERENT?
Colorectal cancer occurs in the colon or rectum, two connected parts of the lower digestive tract. The colon helps absorb water and moves digestive contents as stool forms. The rectum, the final section of the large intestine, temporarily stores stool before it is eliminated. The health of the colon and rectum is therefore closely related to nutrition, absorption, bowel movement and the body’s elimination of waste [11].
Many colorectal cancers begin with changes in the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Early changes may involve adenomatous polyps or serrated lesions. Not all polyps become cancerous, but certain types can undergo progressive biological changes. This is why screening is important in colorectal cancer: certain polyps with the potential to become cancerous can be identified before the disease develops [5]. Colorectal cancer risk is influenced by many factors. Risk generally increases with age, while family history, inherited genetic conditions, a history of colorectal polyps and long-standing inflammatory bowel disease may also play a role. Lifestyle and metabolic factors studied include smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, excess body weight and dietary patterns [6].
Warning signs that deserve attention include blood in the stool, changes in bowel habits or stool shape, abdominal pain or discomfort, unexplained weight loss and iron-deficiency anaemia. Some cases are also detected through screening before noticeable symptoms appear. Persistent or unexplained bowel changes warrant appropriate medical assessment [6][7]. Understanding these specific characteristics of colorectal cancer is certainly important. Nevertheless, the colon and rectum are still only parts of a whole person. When someone faces colorectal cancer, their bowel function may be affected, but so may their emotions, thoughts, relationships, daily responsibilities and spiritual well-being. The tumour matters. So does the person living through everything surrounding it.
WHAT DID IBNU SINA UNDERSTAND ABOUT HEALTH AND DISEASE?
Ibnu Sina, also known as Avicenna, wrote more than 450 books, including Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb, or The Canon of Medicine. His medical writings reflect the breadth of knowledge and thinking of his time. They include humoral theory, a historical medical model that explains health in terms of the balance of bodily humours or fluids [8]. An important principle in Ibnu Sina’s medical thinking, and one that aligns with the philosophy of Ibnu Sina Wellness™, is to consider not only the affected part of the body but also the person’s overall condition [1]. At Ibnu Sina Wellness™, we draw inspiration from this approach and apply it within a contemporary whole-person framework. Disease may appear in one part of the body, but the person experiencing it is far more than that single part.
IBNU SINA WELLNESS™ MODELS THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF IBNU SINA’S MEDICINE
Ibnu Sina Wellness™ was established in 2015 in Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia. Since our establishment, we have focused on bringing whole-person principles into a structured wellness framework. We have supported individuals from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei, including those facing complex and long-standing health challenges. Throughout this experience, one principle has remained at the heart of our philosophy: We do not define a person solely by a disease diagnosis. We seek to understand the whole person.
THE BPS-S LENS VIEWS THE PERSON BEHIND THE DIAGNOSIS
The Biopsychosocial-Spiritual (BPSS) framework provides an important lens for this approach. BPSS considers human health and illness across four interconnected dimensions: biological (the body), psychological (emotions and thoughts), social (relationships and environment), and spiritual (faith, meaning and the soul). These dimensions do not operate independently; they influence one another throughout life [1]. For a person facing colorectal cancer, the biological dimension includes the disease itself, physical symptoms, bowel function, nutrition, movement, sleep and other physiological needs. The psychological dimension includes emotions, fears, uncertainty, thinking patterns, beliefs, ways of coping with stress and how someone makes sense of their experience.
The social dimension includes family, relationships, caregiving responsibilities, employment, finances, social support and everyday living circumstances. The spiritual dimension encompasses meaning, hope, purpose, one’s relationship with Allah and how a person understands illness as part of their life journey. These four dimensions are interconnected. Fear can disrupt sleep. Changes in bowel function, nutrition, energy or physical ability can affect daily routines and confidence in social situations. Financial pressures and responsibilities for caring for others can add to the burden. At the same time, family support and spiritual strength may help a person through difficult moments.
Therefore, whole-person healthcare involves not only physical conditions or disease, but also understanding an individual’s emotional burdens, social challenges and spiritual needs [9]. This approach is particularly important for people facing colorectal cancer. A Malaysian study found that individuals with colorectal cancer may have needs related to information about the disease, psychosocial support, diagnosis-related matters, life challenges, finances, work and healthcare [10]. Understanding these needs is part of seeing the person behind the diagnosis. A diagnosis tells us which disease is present. It does not tell us everything that a person is carrying. To care for someone well, we must first learn to understand them as a whole person.
AT IBNU SINA WELLNESS™, WE DO NOT LOOK AT DISEASE ALONE
When someone comes to us with colorectal cancer, we do not look only at the diagnosis written in their medical report. We want to understand: THE WHOLE PERSON. Through the body-function framework developed by Ibnu Sina Wellness™, we map human bodily functions into:
12 MAJOR BODY SYSTEMS
and
120 MICRO-SYSTEMS.
These 120 Micro-Systems form an ISW functional framework that helps our practitioners and educators explore the body’s functions in greater detail. This framework helps us ask an important question: “Which aspects of the body’s functions are showing signs that they require attention?” Rather than looking only at one disease in one organ, we also consider how different systems within the body are connected and support a person’s overall bodily functions.
12 SYSTEMS, NOT 12 SEPARATE MACHINES
The human body contains different systems, each with its own functions and responsibilities. However, these 12 major body systems do not function independently. Each is connected to and works alongside the others to help the body function effectively. The nervous system controls communication and coordinates various bodily functions. The endocrine system regulates body functions through hormones. The cardiovascular system circulates blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, while the respiratory system enables oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. The digestive system processes food and absorbs nutrients; the liver performs many vital tasks, including metabolism and the processing of substances in the body; and the urinary system regulates fluid balance and removes metabolic waste [11]. By their natural design, these functions must communicate and adapt to one another to support the body’s internal balance.
Other systems are also involved in these connections. The immune system protects the body against threats and monitors changes. The lymphatic system supports immune function and helps maintain fluid balance. The muscular and skeletal systems support the body’s structure and enable movement. The integumentary system—comprising the skin, hair, nails and related structures—protects the body from the external environment. Meanwhile, the reproductive system plays a role in reproduction and hormonal function [11]. Yet none of these systems works alone.
For example, hormones travel throughout the body in the bloodstream. The lungs and cardiovascular system work together to supply oxygen to cells. The kidneys help regulate fluid and electrolyte balance, while the nervous and endocrine systems coordinate many essential bodily processes [11]. The body functions through a network of interconnected systems. That is why understanding a problem in one part of the body also requires us to consider the role of other connected systems.
120 MICRO-SYSTEMS AS A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING BODILY FUNCTIONS
This is where the 120 Micro-Systems developed by Ibnu Sina Wellness™ play an important role. Instead of asking only, “What disease do you have?”, we also pay attention to the signs the body is showing so that we can better understand a person’s health. Which system is showing signs of change? Which Micro-Systems might be involved? Which bodily functions are affected? What might be interfering with those functions? Which underlying factors need further investigation? Through this framework, we use a more structured approach to assessment: Symptoms → System → Micro-System → Function → Imbalance → Contributing Factors → Restoration of Balance
The aim is to understand a person’s health more deeply, rather than simply identifying the symptoms they experience. Symptoms can offer early clues about parts of the body that need attention, but they do not necessarily explain the full situation or the true underlying causes of a person’s health problem. A symptom is not the end of the investigation. It is the starting point for understanding what is happening within the body.
WHY CAN MICRO-SYSTEMS NOT BE SEPARATED FROM THE WHOLE PERSON?
Another important principle of the Ibnu Sina Wellness™ approach is that micro-system functions cannot be viewed separately from the life of the person experiencing a health problem. When a bodily function is disrupted, the same individual may also experience fear, anxiety, sadness, anger or uncertainty. This may be accompanied by sleep problems, changes in family relationships, a loss of self-confidence, stress related to caregiving responsibilities or spiritual difficulties. Through the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual (BPSS) approach, we recognise that these dimensions are interconnected in a person’s life. What happens in the body is experienced by someone who also has emotions, thoughts, social relationships, responsibilities and a spiritual life [1].
Therefore, when we assess a micro-system, we consider more than the body’s biological functions. We also seek to understand a person’s emotional state and thinking patterns, their relationships and life challenges, and their spiritual well-being. These are not separate compartments of life; they are interconnected aspects of being human. That is why understanding a micro-system in depth also requires understanding the whole person.
MICRO-SYSTEMS HELP US UNDERSTAND BODILY FUNCTIONS, BUT PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN THEIR PHYSICAL BODIES
Imagine a city. We cannot understand an entire city by looking at only one building. Roads, water supplies, electricity, communications networks, transport, waste management, safety and emergency services all depend on many smaller interconnected functions working together. The human body is far more complex than that. Each major body system has specialised functions that constantly interact with other systems to keep the body functioning effectively. However, a human being is more than a body containing multiple biological systems. Every person also has emotions, thoughts, social relationships, memories, responsibilities, personal values and spiritual well-being that shape their experience of life [9]. A person’s physical condition matters. So does the person living through that experience.
Micro-Systems help us understand bodily functions, but they cannot describe the whole person.
WHAT DOES “TOXIC BURDEN” MEAN AT IBNU SINA WELLNESS™?
One concept considered within the Ibnu Sina Wellness™ framework is toxic burden: a pattern of exposures and other factors that may place strain on bodily functions over time. This includes exposure to harmful substances or factors associated with cancer risk, such as tobacco smoke, alcohol, air pollution, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ionising radiation, certain cancer-causing infections, and carcinogenic substances that may be encountered at work or in the environment [2][12]. We also consider a person’s metabolism and lifestyle more broadly. Excess body weight, physical inactivity and dietary patterns are among the modifiable factors studied in relation to cancer risk. Chronic inflammation is also part of the biological processes associated with disease development [4][12].
Sleep and prolonged stress also deserve attention because they can affect day-to-day bodily functions, a person’s capacity to cope with challenges, and their experience of living with illness. These factors are therefore considered within a whole-person care approach [1][10]. Colorectal cancer offers a clear example of why a person’s living environment deserves attention. Research has examined the relationship between colorectal cancer risk and a combination of factors including body weight, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and dietary patterns [13]. These considerations are also relevant in Malaysia. Local research has examined the links between colorectal cancer risk and dietary patterns, physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption [14].
At Ibnu Sina Wellness™, we consider these factors together to understand patterns of exposure, physiological needs and burdens that may influence bodily functions over time, including factors that can be modified through healthcare and lifestyle choices. The body does not experience risk factors in isolation. It responds to their combined effects over time. In the ISW approach, toxic burden therefore does not refer to a single substance. It encompasses the broader pattern of exposures and demands that the body must repeatedly process, manage and adapt to over time.
BURDENS ON THE BODY, HEART, MIND AND SOUL
A person may experience a biological burden within the body while also carrying sadness, fear, anger, feelings of betrayal, loneliness or emotional wounds that have yet to heal. The mind may carry its own burdens: constant worry, overthinking, perfectionism, self-blame, uncertainty or the belief that one must always remain strong, even through difficult times. Everyday life can add pressure through family caregiving responsibilities, financial difficulties, relationship conflicts, work demands and prolonged uncertainty.
Spiritually, a person may struggle to find meaning and purpose, sustain hope, feel connected to Allah, or continue placing their trust in Him. Some may feel as though their lives have lost direction. Spiritual challenges and distress of this kind have also been reported among people living with cancer [15]. All these experiences are part of life for a person facing colorectal cancer. They can influence how someone navigates illness, copes with uncertainty and manages everyday life. In addition to physical concerns, individuals may have needs relating to psychosocial support, information, practical matters, finances and healthcare [10]. This is why the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual (BPSS) approach matters for understanding the whole person. Physical health matters.
But a person’s emotional well-being, thoughts, life challenges and spiritual health matter just as much.
OVERHAUL BODY™ SUPPORTS THE WHOLE PERSON
This is where Overhaul Body™ plays an important role in the healthcare philosophy of Ibnu Sina Wellness™. Overhaul Body™ is designed as a whole-person healthcare journey. Rather than focusing solely on the tumour, the programme also considers the individual’s overall condition and the interconnected body systems supporting their health. Ibnu Sina Wellness™ introduces a new era of supportive cancer care through a programme that does not use chemotherapy, surgery, radiation or machine-based treatments as methods within that programme. At Ibnu Sina Wellness™, the Overhaul Body™ Recovery Plan is structured around 15 integrated methods encompassing herbal medicine, mind care, a lifestyle aligned with fitrah and spiritual care.
This approach reflects the philosophy of Ibnu Sina Wellness™, which considers human beings through the four dimensions of BODY-HEART-MIND-SOUL, integrating practices such as herbal use, a lifestyle aligned with fitrah, nutrition and spiritual care [1]. This supportive approach is also consistent with the field of integrative oncology, in which supportive measures may be used alongside cancer-directed medical care [17]. Within the ISW framework, health support begins with strengthening essential foundations of bodily function, including nutrition, suitable movement, regular bowel movements, sleep, rest, energy restoration, and emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. The human body has natural mechanisms that continually regulate its internal balance and coordinate tissue repair.
Homeostasis is the process by which the body continually regulates its internal conditions to keep them stable and balanced [11]. Tissue repair involves coordinated interactions among cells, signalling molecules and supporting structures surrounding the cells [16]. These processes remind us of something important: The body continually regulates its internal environment, coordinates communication across systems and responds to tissue damage. Within the ISW philosophy, supporting these natural functions is part of caring for the body as a healing machine and for the whole person. Ultimately, Overhaul Body™ aims to support the whole person. We support the body. We care for the whole person. And ultimately, we entrust healing to Allah Ash-Shafi, the Most Healing.
WHAT DOES “UNLOAD” MEAN?
When we say that Overhaul Body™ aims to reduce burdens that may affect bodily function, we mean identifying and reducing factors in a person’s life that can be changed or managed. This includes reducing avoidable exposure to harmful substances, improving nutrition, supporting regular bowel movements and the body’s natural waste-elimination processes, improving sleep quality, encouraging suitable movement, making time for rest and recovery, and helping manage emotional, mental and spiritual burdens. Sometimes the first step in supporting health is not adding more things, but asking: “What burdens can we reduce?” Using the Ibnu Sina Wellness™ framework of 120 Micro-Systems, we can examine a person’s condition through more specific questions:
Which bodily functions require attention? Which systems are experiencing disruption? What burdens can be reduced? And what does the individual need biologically, psychologically, socially and spiritually? Within the ISW framework, reducing burdens means helping the body and the person function with less unnecessary strain.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CANCER CELLS THEMSELVES?
Cancer cells undergo complex biological changes. They may multiply abnormally, escape the body’s natural growth controls and interact with surrounding tissues. In some cancers, these cells may also invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body [2][3]. Understanding changes in cancer cells remains important within a whole-person approach to healthcare. Within the Ibnu Sina Wellness™ framework, Overhaul Body™ focuses on whole-person care, including supporting the functions of the body’s interconnected systems when someone is facing cancer. It also emphasises strengthening the foundations of health through factors that can be improved throughout a person’s healthcare journey [1]. Understanding cancer cells remains important.
However, healthcare should not stop at the cancer cells alone, because the person living with cancer also deserves whole-person care.
LAW OF FITRAH
At Ibnu Sina Wellness™, we understand the natural order governing life and bodily functions through the concept of the Law of Fitrah. Fitrah refers to the natural characteristics and order established by Allah in each of His creations. Within the ISW Biopsychosocial-Spiritual (BPSS) framework, this concept helps us understand health, balance and human life more holistically through the perspectives of faith and spirituality [1]. From a biological perspective, the human body possesses remarkable natural abilities to regulate balance and repair damaged tissues. When tissue is injured, repair takes place through cooperation among cells, signalling molecules and the extracellular matrix, the supporting structure surrounding cells. These components work together in the repair of damaged tissue [16].
The body also continually regulates its temperature, blood glucose levels, fluid and electrolyte balance, acidity and many other internal conditions essential for proper bodily function. In physiology, this process of maintaining internal stability is known as homeostasis: the body’s ability to maintain internal conditions suitable for normal function despite changes in the environment or within the body [11]. These are natural biological processes within the human body.
Within the ISW framework, the Law of Fitrah gives deeper meaning to this natural order. It invites us to recognise that the human body is not merely a machine, but a living system created according to an extraordinary design by Allah Al-Khaliq, the Creator. The continuing gift of life also reminds us of Allah Al-Muhyi, the Giver of Life, and the greatness of His mercy. Our responsibility is to care for and support this natural order established by Allah as well as we can.
UNDERSTANDING THE WHOLE PERSON, NOT JUST THE CANCER
This brings us to one of the most important principles at Ibnu Sina Wellness™: We do not look only at the disease. We see BODY: the physical condition and the functioning of the body’s various systems. We see HEART: emotional well-being and the experiences a person carries. We see MIND: thoughts, perceptions, beliefs and thinking patterns. And we see SOUL: meaning, purpose, one’s relationship with Allah and spiritual well-being. At the same time, the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual (BPSS) approach helps us understand how biological, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions are connected throughout a person’s life [1]. To understand bodily functions, we use the framework of 12 Major Body Systems and 120 Micro-Systems as a guide to assessing health in greater detail. Through this approach, we do not simply ask:
“What disease do you have?” Instead, we want to understand more deeply: What signs is your body showing? Which systems need attention? Which micro-systems may be involved? What is influencing their functions? What biological, emotional and mental burdens are you facing? How are your relationships, responsibilities and living environment? And what are you experiencing emotionally and spiritually? Ultimately, these questions lead us to one essential question: “What do we need to understand about you as a whole person?”
COME AND HEAL “ALL” PARTS OF YOU
If you are living with colorectal cancer and are unsure what to do, or you have completed treatment but still live with the fear that cancer might return, or you find yourself asking, “Has the cancer come back?” whenever something unusual happens in your body, perhaps what you need is a place that sees and understands you as more than a diagnosis. Come and speak with our team of professionals. At Ibnu Sina Wellness™, established in 2015 in Kajang, Selangor, we welcome and seek to understand you as a whole person. Our multidisciplinary team includes Hakeema, Hakeem, medical doctors, nutrition professionals, physiotherapists and counsellors who work together according to the philosophy of whole-person healthcare at Ibnu Sina Wellness™.
We seek to understand your health history, physical condition, the functions of your various body systems and your 120 Micro-Systems. We also want to understand your patterns of eating, movement, bowel movements and sleep, as well as your emotional state, patterns of thought, life challenges and spiritual well-being. We want to understand the person behind the diagnosis. At this moment, you may need more than an explanation of your diagnosis. You may also need a place where you feel heard, understood and cared for as a whole person. We want to sit with you, understand your situation more deeply and ask: What have you been through? What signs is your body showing? Which systems require attention? What burdens can we reduce? How can we help support the functions of your 120 Micro-Systems?
And how can we support your journey towards greater balance and the Law of Fitrah? To arrange a consultation, please contact Ibnu Sina Wellness™ at 03-604 30663. You can also join the Ibnu Sina Wellness Official TikTok LIVE for general health guidance and a more holistic perspective on everyday life challenges. You deserve care that recognises you as a whole human being. You deserve love, respect and the space to be heard. You also deserve support for your BODY-HEART-MIND-SOUL, the interconnected dimensions of your life. May Allah grant you well-being, strengthen your body, bring peace to your heart, illuminate your mind, strengthen your soul and guide you towards what is best, by His permission.
HAKEEMA ROZAINAH
Founder & CEO of Ibnu Sina Wellness
Registered Practitioner with Ministry of Health Malaysia (Act 775 Traditional and Complementary Medicine)
Pioneer of WHO’s Biopsychosocial- spiritual medicine in Malaysia
Specializing in Ibn Sina Medicine, with a focus on herbal therapy for cancer management
Understanding the Whole Person. Identifying Root Causes. Supporting Body Systems. Caring for 120 Micro-Systems. Returning to Fitrah.
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October 20, 2026
