Who will make you well?
We have seen the triumphs as well as the limitations of allopathic medicine. On the one hand, it
is to the great credit of allopathic medicine that if you suffer a stroke, car accident or other
emergency, an ambulance can arrive in mere minutes and whisk you away to a nearby hospital where
heroic life-saving interventions could save you from otherwise certain disability or death. The
ingenious use of technology for such areas as imaging and intervention in extreme physical
disability is a great hallmark of western allopathic medicine.
On the other hand, the very triumphs and strengths of allopathic medicine have given it a conceit
that it can ill afford: a belief that it can treat every kind of human illness. This is
simply not so, and its efforts to treat everything, without referring outside of itself, have very
ugly consequences. 55,000 people are known to have died from use of the painkiller drug Vioxx. This
is over twenty times as many people who were killed on 9/11, yet all has been quickly forgiven and
forgotten. Merck's stock prices took a light slap on the wrist, while business roared on briskly.
Other equally dangerous drugs stay on the market, deaths from prescription drugs soar ever higher,
and the FDA remains both oblivious and utterly impotent as a defender of public safety. Not only
that, but in mid-February, class action lawsuits were made all but impossible by the federal
government, which was just in time for Merck to escape the wrath of families of Vioxx victims. Saved
by crony politicians once again.
The well-informed consumer sees the good and bad of allopathic medicine for what it is and what it
can offer, what it does well, and on the other hand, who it butchers and buries. Then we say, well,
if they can't make me well, then who can?
Is it the naturopathic physicians, the chiropractors, the acupuncturists, the massage therapists?
Yes and no. Because naturopaths treat the whole person and treat the cause, and because they are
trained in four-year medical schools, with all of the allopathic medical curriculum as well as the
natural treatment modalities and the approach of treating the whole person, finding the cause and
prevention, naturopaths are your best best for figuring out what is wrong, what are the consequences
of not fixing it, and how to fix it with various options for treatment.
But who is it that will make you well? You. You are the necessary and sufficient condition for the
result of your own improved health. You are the rate-limiting step in the chain of biochemical
reactions that ultimately result in a more comfortable-feeling, fulfilled, life-enjoying person.
The fantasy of "give me a pill, doc, and make me well" has never been completely fulfilled and won't
start with you.
Improved health starts with commitment: the commitment necessary to change the foods you eat to
those that will nourish you and agree with your metabolic type, and to eliminate those that are just
dragging you down. It also involves the commitment to exercise, and beyond that, to stretch the
imagination to determine what kind of exercise is fun enough for you to actually get out of your
chair and go do it.
Improved health also involves recognizing self-attacking patterns of thought, emotions, behavior,
relationships and lifestyle that may be causing you harm and disharmony and disruption of your
wellbeing.
Who will make you well? You will. You may want to plan a complete recovery by consulting a
naturopathic physician to figure out the best path forward. If so, then go for it. But ultimately,
you are the catalyst for achievement of your own best possible state of health.
Have you ever sought a physician who learned the following in medical school:
- Nutrition
- Herbal Medicine
- Acupuncture
- And the many other natural time-honored therapies
Look no further: the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
www.naturopathic.org
Acupuncture in an American hospital
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine recently reported the use of an acupuncture point to
bring a patient out of a deep coma. The report reads in part: "Examination showed a deep coma (Glasgow
Coma Scale 3) with weak muscle tone and no reaction to strong pain stimulus at the neck. The vital
parameters were stable (heart rate of 100 beats per minute, systolic blood pressure 110 mm Hg, and
oxygen saturation 97%). During examination of the pupillary reflex, a minimal flickering of the
eyelids occurred, and the eyes were deviated toward the ground. However, even on repeated strong
pain stiumulus during transport to the emergency vehicle and while inserting an intravenous cannula,
she did not show any further reaction. The emergency physician, an anesthetist who was also trained
in acupuncture, inserted an acupuncture needle into the acupuncture point of Du 26 (in Chinese: Suigou
or Jenchung), which is located at the philtrum at a distance of one third between the nose and upper
lid. Immediately after the insertion and strong stiumulus by turning the needle, the patient reacted
with some very deep breaths and she began to weep. Subsequently, the patient woke up and was
completely awake within several minutes. The results of neurological evaluation were normal."
(Doyle, Brian, MD, American Journal of Emergency Medicine, Vol 23, 2005, pp.90-91.)
Traditional Chinese Medicine, thousands of years old, has taught that this point, Du 26, is a
"rescue point" or emergency point for unconsciousness. However, we must forthwith include the
standard disclaimer that any incident of unconsciousness is considered a medical emergency and
must be reported to 911 immediately.
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What does naturopathic medicine have to offer?
2nd prize - Naturopathyworks essay contest
Jeff Franklin
History and Philosophy
Benedict Lust brought an eclectic medical system including nature cure (use of light, water, food,
exercise, and air), homeopathy, physical medicine, and botanical medicine, to the US in the late
1800's. Later known as Naturopathy, this system was a return to traditional views of health and
healing in reaction to the harsh medical treatments of the prevailing medical establishment. This
early distinction is alive today as mainstream medicine continues to utilize treatments and
methodologies that oppose the body's natural attempts to heal itself, while Naturopathy continues to
focus on facilitating the healing power of nature.
Naturopathy comes from a vitalistic philosophy, which states that a universal intelligence known as
the Vis, Prana, Tao, Qi, Holy Spirit, etc., exists within each person and seeks to maintain balance
and health. The body functions as a unit, so if one system is affected by a disease process, all the
systems are affected and must be included in the treatment plan. Naturopaths are, first and foremost,
specialists in the interconnected nature of the body's systems.
When the universal intelligence is intentionally included in the treatment, outcomes are more likely
positive, as it is the only healing force available to us. Signs and symptoms are seen as evidence
the body is working to re-establish health as it is designed to do and are encouraged within healthy
ranges so the body's healing effort is supported. Suppression of the signs and symptoms is seen as
suppressing the divine intelligence working in the body.
The disease process is looked upon largely as a deviation from balance on the part of the individual
through unwise or uneducated choices related to diet, chemical addictions, work or living environment,
coping mechanisms to the stresses of life, etc. The imbalance leaves the person susceptible to invading
pathogens or any number of disease processes by limiting the body's ability to maintain health.
Treatment involves returning the person to balance through education on better lifestyle choices,
methods of incorporating what is taught, and, where indicated, various modalities are available to
assist the body's healing process.
Modalities
Botanical medicines, which include all the chemical compounds the universal intelligence arranged
into various plants for our use as healing factors are fundamental to Naturopathy. As whole plants,
they are gentler to the body and have a lower rate of side effects as well as a slower rate of action
when compared to extracted or man-made pharmaceuticals. They are chosen for use, intact, based on
how they assist the body in its healing effort as opposed to what their constituent compounds can
do in a Petri dish or in animal experiments.
Physical medicine includes soft-tissue massage to relieve muscle spasm and contractures of
connective tissue. Physical manipulation is used to reset the body's alignment so that it functions
as it is designed, allowing the joints to move freely, relieving pressure on nerves, ligaments,
tendons and muscles that may impede the healing process.
Homeopathic treatment is based on the observation that "like cures like." Homeopathic remedies
are categorized according to the response they cause when given to a healthy person in a large dose.
When someone presents with a conglomeration of symptoms matching those caused by a remedy, a minute
dose of that remedy is given. By matching the response the body is attempting to mount against the
disease process, the remedy strengthens the response and accelerates healing.
Acupuncture is available to restore the natural flow of the universal intelligence through the body
so that all systems can function as they are designed to. Blockages are opened while excesses are
relieved so that a healthy flow is established. Additionally, temporary "re-routing" of the flow
can be used to manage pain during surgery or for other similar purposes.
Counseling is available to encourage active, conscious participation in the process of maintaining
health. This is often referred to as the "Mind/Body" modality and it involves establishing healthy
relationships with one's body, mind, family, environment, co-workers, emotions, etc. The
psychological effect of being sick and of recovering from serious illness is addressed so that the
person may go through the process without undue suffering and may recover without remorse or guilt.
Guiding Principles
Regardless of the modalities chosen, the first objective is to
identify and remove the cause of the disease process which is in place. Often referred to as
the obstacle to cure, the cause may include an unhealthy diet, an unhealthy work or living
environment, poor habits such as smoking or drug abuse, abnormal/unhealthy mental processes or
such things as an unset broken bone, or wood splinter, etc. Signs and symptoms point the way to
the cause but are not seen as the object of treatment. Once identified, the cause is where the
focus of treatment remains.
For example, cancer is not the focus of treatment. Whatever made the person susceptible to the
uncontrolled replication of cells is the object of treatment. Steps will be taken to assist the body
in its attempt to regain control of that process. Surgical removal of the tumor may be warranted but
is not the goal of treatment. The damage from surgery will need to be accounted for in the treatment
plan.
Clear communication between the surgeon and the Naturopath allows a comprehensive plan to be
developed which supports the healing process of the person in their care. Changes in diet and
supportive therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy and counseling may be employed to promote
healing as the person is preparing to go into surgery and during the recovery period. The least
invasive surgical procedure would also be sought to minimize the wound the body will have to heal.
Notice however that the removal of the tumor is not the goal but is merely a necessary step so the
body can heal itself. "Cure" is not achieved until the person has returned to balance and is no
longer susceptible to further complications.
Treatment options are chosen based on what will cause the least
amount of harm while supporting the healing process. Avoiding a situation where the body has
to heal from the disease and from the treatment is a high priority. The example above would only be
viable if it was absolutely necessary.
It is important that the physician teaches people how to
make better choices, stay in balance, and thus stay healthy because so many of our disease processes
result from lifestyle choices which take us away from health. By focusing on the teaching of health
as a lifestyle, prevention of disease may be accomplished such that only slight adjustments need to
be made to continue in a state of optimal health, eliminating the need for more drastic measures to
return a person to health.
Naturopaths treat people that may be exhibiting signs and symptoms of disease; they don't treat
the disease itself. For example, when asked what herbs were helpful for colon cancer, one of my
professors replied that she had never treated colon cancer. She had on several occasions successfully
treated people that came to her while they were suffering from colon cancer. This slight shift in
perception on the part of the physician is subtle but cannot be over-emphasized.
Jeff Franklin is currently enrolled in the Naturopathic Medical degree program at Southwest College
of Naturopathic Medicine. He is looking forward to practicing naturopathic medicine in the in the
Western North Carolina / Eastern Tennessee area upon graduating in 2007.
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