The principles of naturopathy and natural health are an approach to wellness that recognizes that living things have an innate ability to heal themselves. Our vital force promotes self-cleansing, self-repair, and therefore self-healing. This process can be achieved by focusing holistically on balancing the elements of self - the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual components of the person that create the whole. This biological balance is also referred to as "homeostasis."
At Touchstone Bodyworks, our practice is guided by the six underlying principles of healing within natural health and naturopathy, which are based on the premise of enhancing wellness versus managing disease. These principles are:
First, do no harm (primum no nocere) ~
The process of illness serves a purpose to a living organism. Healing from illness includes the generation of symptoms which are, in fact, an expression of the vital force attempting to heal itself. Therapeutic actions should be complementary to and synergistic with this healing process. The practitioner's actions can support or antagonize the actions of the "vis mediatrix naturae" --the healing power of Nature. Therefore, methods designed to suppress symptoms without removing the underlying causes are considered harmful and to be avoided or minimized.
The healing power of nature (vis mediatrix naturae) ~
The body has an inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent; nature heals through the response of the vital force. The practitioner's role is to facilitate and support this process, to identify and remove obstacles to health and recovery, and to establish or restore a healthy internal and external environment.
Identify and treat the cause (tolle causam) ~
Illness does not occur without cause. Underlying causes of disease must be discovered and removed or treated before a person can recover completely from illness. Symptoms express the body's attempt to heal, but are not the cause of disease. Symptoms, therefore, should not be suppressed by treatment. Causes may occur on many levels including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The practitioner must evaluate fundamental underlying causes on all levels, directing treatment at the root causes rather than at symptomatic expression.
Heal the whole person (tolle totum) ~
Health and disease are conditions of the whole organism, a whole involving the complex interaction of many factors. The naturopathic practitioner must treat the whole person by taking these factors into account. The harmonious functioning of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects are essential to recovery from and prevention of disease. This requires a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment.
The physician as teacher (docere) ~
A cooperative practitioner-client relationship has inherent therapeutic value. The practitioner's major role is to educate and encourage the patient to take responsibility for their own health. The practitioner is a catalyst for healthful change, empowering and motivating the client to assume responsibility. It is the client, not the practitioner, who ultimately creates their healing. Teaching with hope, knowledge, and understanding, the practitioner acts to enable clients to heal.
Prevention is the best cure (preoccupo) ~
The ultimate goal of any health care system should be prevention of disease. This is accomplished through education and promotion of life-habits that create good health. The practitioner learns to assess risk factors and to sharpen their deductive reasoning, and understand the client's circumstances. Appropriate interventions are then sought to avoid further harm or risk to the client. Building health works better and more surely than fighting disease.
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