One of the Naturopathic Principles is to Treat the Whole Person (tolle totum). Naturopathic medicine views the body as a whole and operates under the principle that the health of one organ system impacts the health and function of the rest of the systems in the body. It is easy in the realm of medicine to get focused on individual symptoms, especially for specialists. It is similar to becoming so focused on one seemingly small obstacle, while forgetting to remember the greater picture or plan.
Personally, this principle is vital to my practice. My goal is to evaluate and understand all unique aspects of health and the individual presenting to me. Many patients come in feeling that their kidneys or their skin is the main issue, however, when we look at the entire picture we find that there are other areas of the body involved as well. Body systems and organs are not isolated; they are always communicating so that the body is working towards a state of harmony.
In treating the whole person, we often work to address an array of “determinants of health.” This refers to various social, economic and personal factors that determine a person’s quality of health. In regards to these determinants, it is vital to acknowledge the connection between mind and body. Our body imports information with all of its senses. Most of us have heard the phrase, “you can’t out-exercise a bad diet!” However, you also cannot out-exercise or diet a suffering mind.
Over the last year, I have seen an increasing number of patients with emotional or non-physical hindrances to their optimal well-being. While we spend a lot of time counseling on nutrition, addressing what is hindering health psychologically can be a greater task. Research has demonstrated a strong correlation between un-cleared traumas and the onset of physical and emotional illnesses.
Stress is actually a network of traumas, negative beliefs, thoughts, emotions, interpretative perceptions and even patterns of how we deal with stressors. We all give our own meaning to people, objects, and events around us, and that meaning is colored by our past experiences and interpretations. For healing to work fully and deeply, we need to address the lingering traumas, stresses and negative thoughts, beliefs, and patterns that act as barriers to overall health.
My broken ankle has not only affected me physically, but mentally as well. I have to commend my boyfriend and close family and friends who have been incredibly supportive and patient with me as I struggled to find a new routine. I often hear my high school softball coach in my head preaching about resilience. Physical ailments or injuries are frustrating. However, it is also an opportunity to overcome a challenge. Changing my mentality from “I am broken and hopeless,” to “I am healing and growing”, has helped me to move in a more positive direction.
Mountain Trip with Dad
Happy to be at higher elevation again!
Healing is an ongoing process. It will not be finished just because my bone is back in one piece. I came across a paragraph in a book years ago. The Tao of Depth is: there is always more.
“There is always more love to feel, to share, to give.
There is always more healing, more forgiveness, more gratitude.
There is always more letting go, until the ultimate letting go.
And until then, we just keep on laughing at the mind when it tries to figure it out, when it tries to hold us back, and when it tries to hold us in fear. We will laugh because we’ll be right back, rooted in our hearts, realizing our minds have put up an invisible wall, but our hearts can see right through it.”
Crutching into the mountains- so healing!
Hope your weekend is filled with positive thoughts, actions and memories!
Big Sky Natural Health 