December 2nd, 2010 
AdminBasic
complementary / alternative therapies
ALSO that medicine’s approach is quite consistent with the disease, medicine, the fact that al-alternative. The most widespread in alternative medicine are the six principles of naturopathic medicine. One way or another, these principles are revisited several times throughout the second section of this text. The following principles are described by Dr. Catherine Downey and excerpted from his chapter on naturopathic medicine.
1. The healing power of nature (naturae Vis medicatix)
The body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent healing response through the nature of the life force. The doctor’s role is to facilitate and enhance this process, to act to identify and eliminate barriers to health and recovery, and support the creation of a healthy internal and external. In short, giving the body the proper tools and heal itself.
2. Treat the whole person (the multifactorial nature of health and illness)
Health and disease are conditions of the whole organism, involving a complex interplay between physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social issues. The physician must treat the whole person, taking these factors into account. The proper functioning of all aspects of the person is essential to recovery and prevention of disease and requires a personalized approach and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment.
3. First Do No Harm (Primum non nocere)
The disease process is a certain body part. The process of healing includes the generation of symptoms, which are actually an expression of the life force attempting to heal. therapeutic actions should be complementary and synergistic with this healing process. The physician’s actions can support or oppose the actions of the mediator vis naturae, and methods to suppress symptoms without removing underlying causes are considered harmful and are avoided or minimized. therapeutic actions are implemented in an orderly manner consistent with the internal order of the body.
4. Identify and treat the cause (Tolle cause)
The disease does not occur without cause. underlying causes of disease must be discovered and removed or treated before a person can fully recover from the disease. Symptoms are the expression of the body’s attempt to heal, but they are not the cause of the disease, naturopathic medicine addresses so quickly to the underlying causes of disease and no symptoms. Causes may occur on several levels, including the spiritual physical, mental and emotional e. The physician must evaluate fundamental underlying causes on all levels, directing treatment at causes, not the symptomatic expression.
5. Prevention (Prevention is the best “cure”)
The ultimate goal of naturopathic medicine is prevention. This is achieved through education and promotion of healthy lifestyle habits that create good health. The doctor assesses risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and makes appropriate interventions to avoid further damage and risks to the patient. The emphasis is on building health rather than fight against the disease. Because it is difficult to be healthy in a healthy world, is the responsibility of the physician and patient to create a healthy environment to live.
6. The doctor of education (docere) />
In addition to a precise diagnosis and prescription, if necessary, the physician must strive to create the delicate health, interpersonal relationships with patients. A related cooperative relationship between doctor and patient has an inherent therapeutic value. The role of the physician is to educate and encourage patients to take responsibility for health. The physician is a catalyst for healthy change, supportive and motivating patients to take responsibility. It is the patient, not the doctor, who ultimately creates or accomplishes the healing. The physician must strive to inspire hope and understanding. Physican must also compromise your personal and spiritual development, to be good teachers.
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