Preventive Natural Medicine : An Introduction
Bradley McEwen | PhD , MHSc ( Hum Nutr ), MPH , BHSc , AdvDipNat , DBM , DNutr , DSM , Fellow ATMS , Naturopath Nutritionist , and Mentor . Adjunct Senior Lecturer , Faculty of Health , Southern Cross University .
Abstract
Preventive natural medicine encompasses a diverse collection of approaches to reduce disease risk , enhance overall health , and elevate quality of life . Preventive natural medicine is a multimodality system of health care that has a focus on promoting and sustaining health and wellbeing . Among the various modalities of preventive natural medicine are aromatherapy , counselling , herbal medicine , homeopathy , lifestyle medicine , massage and myotherapy , naturopathy , nutrition , reflexology , shiatsu , yoga , and numerous mind-body techniques . This article provides a comprehensive overview of preventive natural medicine and discusses the different modalities employed by qualified accredited health practitioners .
Introduction
Health represents a harmonious state of balance , an equilibrium that an individual has established within oneself ( internally ) and between oneself and their social and physical environment ( externally ). 1 The state of an individual ’ s health is determined by their ability to maintain a sense of balance within themselves and with the world around them , homeostasis . Homeostasis serves as the fundamental unifying principle in the field of physiology , characterised as a self-regulating mechanism through which an organism maintains internal equilibrium while adapting to changing and fluctuating external environments . 2 Health is the ability to adapt to one ’ s environment . 3 Health is not a fixed entity . The capacity for adaptation allows us to maintain flexibility in the face of evolving influences and dynamic forces that affect and determine the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities alike . Adaptability empowers accredited health practitioners to address health issues by taking into account the unique circumstances and contextual factors relevant to specific conditions at a given time and location . 3
Suboptimal health status refers to a general physical condition that exists on a continuum between health and illness . It is characterised by the experience of health-related complaints , persistent fatigue , and a range of physical symptoms affecting various systems , including the cardiovascular , digestive , and immune systems , as well as mental health . This condition typically persists for a minimum duration of three months . 4 The history and progression of a disease can be categorised into several stages : the underlying stage , the susceptible stage , the subclinical stage , the clinical stage , and the final outcomes of recovery , disability , or death . 4 Research indicates that most people do not seek care until a disease process has already manifested where they notice clear and unmistakable symptoms of a disease . 5 By postponing care , individuals may miss critical opportunities for treatment that could improve their health outcomes and overall quality of life . 5
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) highlighted the significant and important role and contribution of traditional medicine in health care in 1978 . 6 The WHO recommends that its 193 member states integrate traditional and complementary medicine into their health systems . 6 The rise in lifestyle-associated and chronic diseases , coupled with a heightened emphasis on incorporating patient desires and preferences into healthcare , is contributing to a global surge in preventive , natural , nonpharmacological , and self-directed medical interventions . 6
8 | vol31 | no1 | JATMS