Most of us view ourselves of either being sick or healthy. When we are seriously sick we go to the doctor where he/she tells us what disease or illness we have from the symptoms we have and then we are given medication. However, naturopathic doctors view disease as a process of the body attempting to heal, forming the basis of treatment.
For example, influenza is a virus and is known to be the culprit of the common flu. Swine flu, H1N1, is a type of influenza. Viruses invade the human cells and their success depends on a number of factors, one of which is the level of cell health. Not all cells in the human body will become infected but the ones that do eventually die and release more viruses, continuing the process of infection.
The “unhealthy” cells, whether from poor nutrition, toxins or traumas, are the likely cells to become infected and die. These “unhealthy” cells are part of “morbid terrain” in the body where viruses can survive and replicate. On the other hand, healthy cells can repel viral attacks with the help of a healthy immune system. This is why not all cells become infected, and why some people who are exposed to flu, do not become “sick”.
Symptoms of flu appear as a result of the body’s immune system reacting to the virus. As it identifies and begins to destroy the viruses and the infected cells, we notice the beginning of the healing process as symptoms (runny nose, fever, chills, coughing and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea). Unfortunately, the symptoms are what most people use to define being sick because it fits the medical model of “identify and treat the disease”.
In the healing process, the body increases temperature (fever) to make it harder for the virus to spread. Runny nose, coughing, vomiting and diarrhea are the body’s way of eliminating the viruses and to push out “the morbid terrain” of the dead cells that were infected. As a naturopathic doctor, it is imperative never to us suppressive therapies on a non-life threatening fever. The healing process can be summed us as follows:
healthy state + disturbing factor (virus and morbid terrain – weakened cells) ( disturbance of functions (cell dysfunction) ( body begins to react (fever, chills…etc) ( discharge of products of reaction (runny nose, phlegm, vomiting, diarrhea) ( resolution.
Chronic illness such as cancer, develops from i) persistence of disturbing factors, ii) healing process is blocked by suppressive therapies or iii) vitality of the person is insufficient to mount a healing reaction. Over time, the symptoms progressively worsen unless the body’s healing processes are supported.
It is your choice how to live your life, and it starts with your values and at the most basic level, your health. The naturopathic doctor offers a choice; I offer supportive therapies to restore health so your body is able to overcome the underlying cause of illness!
Dr. Derek Cook
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