Our beliefs and general principles

Our Beliefs

• The body has great power for self-healing. Mother Nature has been perfecting biological systems for many millions of years, whereas humans have been studying medicine for a tiny period of time.  Mother Nature has inherently given our bodies extensive means to detect and correct abnormalities associated with disease.  With proper nutrition, water, pure air, the right kind of activity and other support, in the overwhelming majority of instances, the body will heal itself.  In fact, over 95% of illnesses are self limited, and will resolve without medication or intervention of any kind.
• There is an essential connection and interaction between the structural, biochemical, and mental/emotional parts of us. An abnormality in one of these components leads to abnormalities in the others.
• Each of us is unique. We are genetically, biochemically, structurally, and emotionally different from one another. Not strikingly, but just enough so that each of us also responds differently to changes we may encounter. One size does not fit all when it comes to health.
• Health depends upon a harmonious interaction of our physical, mental and spiritual selves with our environment and nature in general.
• Suppressing and interfering with our natural healing powers, rather than supporting them, leads to prolonged illness, deterioration, and degeneration.
• In health, there is a dynamic equilibrium in the body called homeostasis.  In disease, homeostasis is disrupted, and must be restored.
• For health, humans need proper nutrition, pure water, clean air, sunlight, exercise, rest and relaxation, and human connection.  Social and cultural influences must be considered. The majority of illnesses humans suffer from today are the result of lifestyles and habits that do not follow the needs mentioned above.
• Prevention is far preferable to treatment, after the horse has already left the barn.
• Natural methods, which are gentler and safer, are preferable to synthetic medications for many people and situations.
• Identifying and eliminating the cause of an illness is more important than just masking or eliminating the symptoms.
• Education of the healthy and ill is essential, so he or she may fully understand the choices available, and actively participate in healing.
• Restoration of health must be done on a cellular level by improving nutrition, supporting biochemical processes which are not functioning up to par, circulation, innervation, and elimination with support and detoxification.
• The fewer prescription medicines one takes, the better. One should take only those indicated, no more.
• Acute disease processes are different than chronic ones.
• Understanding illness from the cellular level up, we actively pursue the latest biochemical findings regarding how the body works, and the dynamics of nutrition, botanical medicines, natural therapies, energy therapies including homeopathy, and related areas.
• In both health and disease, it is best to view the body as integrated systems of molecules, cells, tissues, and organs, and work with the relationships between those systems.

Our Beliefs,  Applied

• First, do no harm.
• Support the body’s own healing processes, which are considerable.
• Use simple techniques first, before more complex ones, which tend to have undesirable side effects.
• Lower the burden of the “load” on the weak link. Often, when there are several contributing factors to a health problem, reducing the load of an offending factor may significantly improve the overall condition.
• Ultimately, the essence of health lies not with doctors, practice guidelines, treatment algorithms, hospitals, clinic administrators, insurance companies or their medical reviewers, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, business, or the government.  It rests with each one of us as individuals, in making the lifestyle choices that determine our quality of life, health, physical vitality and mental status, and destiny.
• While basic science, research, and theories are wonderful, we are most concerned with clinical outcomes and results in producing optimum health.
• A long-term healing relationship with people, with exchange of information, ideas, feelings, and meanings, results from compassion, respect, and integrity. They are essential to build confidence and trust. Compassion and empathy are among the highest forms of wisdom.
• Being healthy means more than visiting the doctor when needed.  The healthy life involves many different choices that we each make daily,  most subconscious. Food psychologists, for instance, find that Americans make over 200 decisions about food every day.
• The components of personal “ownership” or responsibility for our own health are, in different proportions for each of us: health education and wisdom, prudence, balance, moderation, purity, prevention, resilience, belief/faith/hope, enhancement, strength, inner peace, empowerment, preservation, among others.

We are Fellows or members of the American Public Health Association, Royal Society for Public Health, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine, National Health Federation,  Integrative Medicine Alliance, International Association of Medical and Therapeutic Specialists, and Healing Centers United.