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Naturopath VS Vitalistic

I don’t treat.  I believe that my philosophy on health is more in line with Biblical thinking than most other philosophy, but I also don’t believe that I have it figured out yet.  Otherwise there would be no room for PURSUIT of the truth.    But I fully believe that my pursuit of truth as it relates to health, is the most important part of my typical day.

I have rested my reputation, my practice, my efforts in general, on the idea that healing comes from the inside out, from the power that made the body.  Once again… I don’t treat.  If my family is exposed to all the things that yours is… then why aren’t we dead for not taking drugs?  Like I said, we don’t treat.  Now…. what don’t we treat?  Symptoms.  We do not treat symptoms.

symp·tom
ˈsim(p)təm/
noun
  1. a physical or mental feature that is regarded as indicating a condition of disease, particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient.

The feature of the disease.  The symptom.  Not the cause, not the reason, simply a feature.  Why would we treat such a thing?  Only for comfort.  Even when you get a cold, most want to figure out a magical solution.  My advice is always, adjust the atlas, increase the vitamins and minerals of immune support… increase probiotics (A naturally occurring organism in the body that assist in the efforts of the immune system).  All of these steps do not “treat” the symptom, but rather support the immune system.  As a matter of fact, most children under the age of 4 will move towards a fever following an atlas adjustment, thus feeling worse.

But that fever is part of the body’s method of healing the sickness.  I don’t treat.  An example of treatment.  You don’t like the fact that your body is producing a ton of mucous in response to a virus (mucous contains a significant amount of antibodies that will fight infection), and you take something designed to REDUCE mucous… natural or checmical, it is treatment, and it is interfering with your bodies ability to work.

The title of my article, Naturopath VS Vitalistic.  Lets look at the two really quickly –

Naturopathy –
1.  a system or method of treating disease that employs no surgery or synthetic drugs but uses special diets, herbs, vitamins, massage, etc.,to assist the natural healing processes.

Vitalism –
2. Biology. a doctrine that ascribes the functions of a living organism to a vital principle distinct from chemical and physical forces.
The simple difference, vitalism ascribes the function to something beyond physical.  In some practitioners minds this is “energy”.  In my mind this is “God”.  I see a nervous system… an immeasurable, VITALISTIC part of the body, as the window to the spirit.  And in so doing, I believe it is the thing that gives you MORE potential, than anything else.  It is the window to the soul.  When you see the body in a vitalistic model, you immediately believe that all potential will come from the gift within.
Sure there are needs for nutrition, needs for rest, needs for activity, needs for peace.  But it is meeting these needs first and foremost that allows for this vitalism to flow.  This is the TRUE chiropractic model.  Even though chiropractors didn’t begin teaching the full model of health until years after its inception.  We have adopted the full spectrum of health pursuit.  Eat right, stay clean, be active… all parts of the vitalistic model.
The difference in this model, from the naturopath model?  Trust that is from within… vs. take something from the outside in.  Now, I am not saying that we don’t supplement, remember the focus of improving the function of the body.  We can support that.  But the moment we think, or say that we are going to fix a problem with an outside in process, we have given away our faith in the power that made the body, to heal the body.
Don’t get me wrong, naturopaths and chiropractors can work together, but this is such a slippery slope.  Also – this from the Bible:

The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them.
– Ecclesiasticus 38:4

Given my focus on vitalism, how do I respond to this?  Well, it might be important to understand the dfinition of medicine, and its purpose.  In reading accounts of ancient Egyptian and Greek efforts, the use of medicine was relatively regular.  However, the medicines were primarily herbs and minerals, and they appeared to be used primarily as means of assistance.  Support for the body to function normally. (http://www.localhistories.org/medicine.html)

With that, I think it is safe to say that in our diets, there are needs, and as we fight through our health options, there are times when we might need support.  But the reality that I have seen, is that when you pursue health on a daily basis with your intentional choices.  You will need to treat very infrequently, and you will fight off disease very well.  You might need to treat something now and again (remember my wife has Lyme disease), but you should pull back and avoid it most of the time.

Would I prefer a naturopath visit over an MD?  Yes.  BUT, I don’t trust either of them for their first response to symptoms.  Take forward steps with caution.

Last – what about adjusting?  Well, I have told all of my patients, I DO NOT adjust you for pain, nor for any symptom, including high blood pressure, or indigestion.  I adjust you for subluxation.  Many chiropractors adjust for pain.  I am not one.  I don’t treat.

Be well and Be blessed! – Dr. E