Fundamentals of complementary / alternative therapies
HOW orthodox medicine has a fairly consistent approach to the disease, so they do not al-alternative medicine. More widely used in alternative medicine are the six naturopathic principles. In one way or another, these principles will be reviewed again and again in Section Two of this text. The following principles are described by Dr. Catherine Downey and taken from his chapter on naturopathic medicine.
1. The healing power of nature (Vis medicatix naturae)
The body has an inherent ability to create, maintain and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent healing power of nature through the reaction of the life force. The physician has a role in facilitating this process and to improve, to act in order to identify and help remove the barriers to health and recreation, and creating a healthy environment inside and outside. In short, you give your body the appropriate tools and heal itself.
2. Discuss (the whole person of the many factors of health and illness)
Health and disease are the conditions of the whole organism, so that a complex interplay of physical, emotional, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social. The physician must consider the whole person by taking into account all these factors. The smooth functioning of all aspects of the person is essential to recovery and prevention of disease and requires a personalized and comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and treatment.
3. First Do No Harm (Primum non nocere)
The disease is a process-oriented organization. The process of healing includes the generation of symptoms which are, in fact, felt the expression of life force to heal itself. Therapeutic measures are complementary and synergistic effects with the healing process. The measures may help the doctor or antagonize the effect of the mediator to naturae, then develop methods to control symptoms without suppressing the underlying causes are considered harmful and are avoided or minimized. Therapeutic measures are in effect an orderly manner in accordance with the internal order of the organism.
4. Identify and treat the cause (Tolle causam)
The disease does not occur without reason. The underlying causes of disease must be detected and removed before a person or fully recover from an illness treated. Symptoms are an expression of the attempt to heal the body, but are not the cause of the disease, therefore, addresses the causes of early natural medicines for the disease, not the symptoms. Cases can occur at various levels, including physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual. The doctor needs to assess the root causes at all levels, directed at treating the cause and not the symptomatic expression.
5. Prevention (Prevention is the best “medicine”)
The ultimate goal of naturopathic treatment is prevention. This is done through education and promotion of lifestyle habits achieved that create good health. The physician assesses risk factors and hereditary predisposition to disease and makes appropriate measures to prevent further damage and risks to the patient. The emphasis is on the health of the population than on fighting disease. Because it is difficult to be healthy in an unhealthy world, it is the responsibility of the physician and patient to a healthier environment in which we live to create.
6. The doctor as teacher (docere)
In addition, working an accurate diagnosis and appropriate prescription, the doctor in order to create a delicate health, interpersonal relationships with patients. A cooperative doctor-patient relationship inherent therapeutic value. The central role of the physician is to enlighten, and stimulate the patient’s responsibility for health. The physician is a catalyst for healthy change, empowerment and motivation of patients to take responsibility. And the patient, not the doctor, who ultimately creates or meets healing. The physician must strive to bring hope and understanding. Physicists should include a commitment to personal development and spiritual, to be good teachers.
