Sickness is not just an isolated event, nor an unfortunate brush with nature.  It is a form of communication – the language of the organs – through which nature, society and culture speak simultaneously.  The individual body should be seen as the most immediate, the proximate terrain where social truths and social contradiction are played out, as well as a locus of personal resistance, creativity and change.     Nancy Schemer-Hughes and Margaret M Lock  University of California, Berkley & McGill University

Were our health is concerned, we are concerned with the quality of life as much as we are with the length of life.  A true definition of health may be somewhat elusive, but I guess the closest definition is;  an awareness that not only because of, but sometimes in spite of, our circumstances we are well.

Naturopathy prefers to work alongside symptoms, using them to guide treatments which will raise the health status of the person.  Our well-being is influenced by many factors such as, personal, social, educational, and economic.  We must regard any system of care as more than a part of a complicated picture of health were therapies and personal circumstances interact.

Naturopathy is low-tech, low-cost and the treatments are collaborative with a joint responsibility which is ultimately assumed by the patient.  It is individualized and “one treatment does not fit all” so to speak.

Naturopathy is scientific, examining every aspect of disorder as the result of an understandable cause or more often several causes.  It has a mystical aspect, but not in the direct application of treatment.  It manifest itself from the way the treatment is complemented by the unknowable, immeasurable healing force of life within all life.

So, when and why did society decide to turn over our health to a system that relies on pharmaceuticals and make health care providers responsible for our wellness?  Why did we as a society decide to make our wellness the responsibility of someone other than our own self?

Did you notice in the quote in the above phrase – communication – the language of organs?  Yes, our mind and body are connected – we will see this more and more as we advance in learning about how our body communicates with us.

Hang in there with me, we will get to the areas of interest to most of society – cancer, weight loss, depression, diabetes….  But first we need to have a background on the different modalities.