The Pink Paper Summer 2013 Summer 2013 | Page 10

holistic

Finding Balance

By Dr . Lindsay Jones-Born

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What is finding balance , exactly ? Balance can be both subjective and objective . Balance takes the forms of mental , physical , and emotional aspects of our every day life . What may be easier to discuss and comprehend are states of “ imbalance .”

An approach to this discussion is to take a look at how different systems of medicine find balance . Eastern science and philosophies tend to look at states of imbalance via Yin and Yang -in Chinese medicine- and imbalance of doshas in Ayurvedic medicine . These doshas are referred to as Pitta , Kapha and Vata .

Western Medicine

Western science helps determine states of imbalance via history taking , physical exams , and where indicated - blood chemistries and diagnostic imaging . Western medicine begins with a symptom and then attempts to find the specific cause for a specific disease in hopes to control , isolate or eradicate .

Naturopathic Medicine

As a naturopathic physician , I treat the whole person by taking many factors into account . The multi-factorial nature of health and disease requires a personalized and comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment . I educate my patients regarding their prognosis by engaging the patient to be an ally to their health-which is recognized as a result of balance in their physical , mental , emotional , genetic , environmental , social and spiritual factors .

The broadest scope of naturopathic practice is to utilize comprehensive , integrated , natural and conventional diagnosis and treatments . Methods are integrated and based on systemic , unifying principles of naturopathic medicine . The methods used by a naturopathic physician address physical , mental , emotional , spiritual , natural , inherited , socioeconomic and environmental aspects affecting an individual ’ s state of wellness on an optimal wellness / disease spectrum . Naturopathic methods are all focused around addressing a person ’ s imbalance in their spiritual , mental , emotional , and physical health that has led to sub-optimal health and disease . The goal is to have someone be on a path to self-led healing through which they re establish their basis for health . This systematic method is known as the Therapeutic Order : 1 . Re establish the basis for health 2 . Stimulate the body ’ s innate capacity and ability to heal 3 . Tonify weakened systems 4 . Correct structural integrity 5 . Prescribe natural substances , modalities , or interventions for a pathology 6 . Prescribe pharmacological substances for pathology 7 . Use surgery , radiation , chemotherapy and suppressive drugs

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine is an ancient system of health and healing that has developed over at least two millennia . Its development is based upon a continuous process of critical thinking , observation and testing . The Chinese physician approaches an individual ’ s physiology and psychology along with symptoms and general characteristics to find any patterns of disharmony . This pattern describes an imbalance in the patient ’ s body . Treatment is based upon finding relationships within the body ( a patient ’ s sign and symptoms in context with their life ) and patterns of disharmony to then attempt to bring the body back into balance and restore harmony within the individual . The main goal is to maintain balance of yin and yang in all things . Yin and yang can be described as being a philosophical construct of two polar complements , even though yin and yang are opposite , one has no meaning without the other . Yin functions tend to be nourishing , cooling , building , and relaxing and relate to the structure , or substance , of the organs . Yang qualities tend to be energizing , warming , consuming , and stimulating and relate to the functional activity of the organs .

Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurveda is a system of traditional medicine native to India that was established over 5,000 years ago and is still used today in many parts of the world . In Sanskrit , the word

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