Preventive medicine is linked to reduced prevalence of disease 7 , 8 and mortality rates , 8 particularly in the areas of chronic disease , cancer , infectious diseases , mental health , substance abuse , as well as vision and oral health . 8 Shifting the focus from treating diseases to implementing preventive measures can lead to a reduction in the occurrence of chronic diseases and lower healthcare expenditures . 8
Preventive natural medicine is a multimodality system of health care that aims to protect , promote , and maintain health and wellbeing . Some of the preventive natural medicine modalities include aromatherapy , counselling , herbal medicine , homeopathy , lifestyle medicine , massage and myotherapy , naturopathy , nutrition , reflexology , shiatsu , yoga , and various mind-body practices .
This article presents an overview of preventive natural medicine and discusses the various modalities utilised by qualified accredited health practitioners .
Preventive natural medicine
The integration of traditional knowledge with modern scientific research has led to a greater interest in preventive natural medicine . Health prevention can be grouped into 3 categories : primary , secondary , and tertiary . 4 Primary prevention encompasses strategies designed to prevent the onset of disease in both individuals and populations . Secondary prevention focuses on the early identification of health issues , thereby enhancing the likelihood of favourable health results . Tertiary prevention is implemented for patients exhibiting symptoms and seeks to mitigate the impact of the existing disease on individuals . 4
The focus is on treating the whole person ( mind , body , spirit ). 9 , 10 Identifying and treating the underlying causes , background activity , triggers 9 , 10 and treating the whole person 9 , 10 are very important in preventive natural medicine . Furthermore , emphasising the foundational aspects , along with root causes , can contribute to achieving a dynamic equilibrium of health and wellbeing . Identifying origins of the person ’ s condition emphasises the changes occurring within the entire mind-body system , rather than merely addressing diseases in isolation . Numerous conditions , such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases , frequently stem from similar underlying factors , including poor dietary practices and lifestyle choices . 11 Chronic inflammation has emerged as a prevalent mechanism that contributes to a range of conditions , encompassing obesity , kidney diseases , Alzheimer ’ s disease , and cardiovascular disease . 11
Preventive natural medicine has the viewpoint that chronic diseases can be accurately anticipated and prevented prior to the emergence of significant clinical symptoms . 4 This approach represents a holistic framework within health care , facilitating the identification of individual susceptibility to diseases before they manifest . Consequently , it allows for the implementation of specific preventive strategies and the development of personalised treatment plans that cater to the unique needs of each individual . 4
The goal of preventive natural medicine is to protect , promote , and maintain health and wellbeing and to prevent disease and disability . 12 This can be achieved through a combination of education , high-quality research , service , and innovative partnerships and collaborations . 12 There are 12 pillars that are incorporated into preventive natural medicine and health . 9 , 10 These are :
• First , do no harm ( Primum non Nocere )
• Treat the whole person ( Tolle Totum )
• Identify and treat the cause ( Tolle Causam )
• Prevention and health promotion in all areas
• The healing power of nature ( Vis Medicatrix Naturae ) and that of the body
• The health professional is a teacher ( Docere )
• Regular hydration
• Nourishment with wholefoods
• Support with herbal medicines
• Daily physical activity and regular movement
• Mindfulness
• Sleep and rest
Preventive natural medicine encompasses a variety of strategies aimed at reducing the risk of disease , promoting overall health , and improving quality of life . Preventive natural medicine has a proactive focus on individual and holistic personalised health . At the same time , preventive natural medicine does not operate in isolation ; it also prioritises the broader interests of public health . This dual focus is essential because individual health is often connected with community health . The integration of individualised care with public health initiatives has the potential for more effective disease prevention strategies :
• improving and maintaining physical
13 , 14
function
• improving and maintaining mental health 14
• improving and preserving of cognitive function 13 13 , 15
• increasing resistance to stress
13 , 16
• reducing inflammation
• reducing oxidative stress 17-19
• improving glycaemic control and glucose tolerance , 16 especially lowering
HbA1c 16
• enhancing insulin sensitivity 13 combined with reduced insulin levels 13
• regulating cholesterol level , 16 especially increasing HDLcholesterol 16
• increasing levels of adiponectin 13
• reducing age-related disease 13 and disease burden 13
A system genuinely committed to enhancing population health gains significantly from the knowledge and skills of a qualified accredited health practitioner . 20 Preventive natural medicine is unique and stands out by integrating clinical skills related to direct
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