Vitalism vs Mechanism
Written & Edited by : Dr. Andersen
Vitalism vs Mechanism
There are two main theories in medicinal approach that have been debated as long as recorded medicine, Vitalism & Mechanism. In the first four books of the Hippocratic Corpus (420-400 BC), these two philosophies are detailed in their application and practice at that time. The Vitalistic approach is referred to as the Empiricist school, it postulates a “vital force” which permeates the human being in all its dimensions and expresses symptoms as a means or motive to restore balance in body, mind, & spirit. The Mechanistic approach is referred to as the Rationalist school, operating on the notion that disease is the cause of symptoms and therefore should be suppressed to prevent progression. Naturopathy, since its inception in 1901, has been a combination of hundreds, if not thousands, of therapeutic modalities drawn from over two millennia of experience and practice in the art of medicine. As such, the philosophies that inform various Naturopathic practitioners, being drawn from such an immense span of time, are equally as diverse as their clinical approach. This blog aims to help one distinguish between the types of practitioners that call themselves Naturopathic doctors & physicians, based on their philosophical world view and the corresponding perspective they bring to practice.
Philosophy of Natural Medicine
The founder of Modern Naturopathy, Dr. Benedict Lust, sought the name to represent medicinal practices that followed the doctrine of Natural Law, which asserts nature’s propensity (ie. the Vis Medicatrix Naturae or “Healing Power of Nature”) to move towards a state of balance. The theory of Vitalism extends this ideology to the human body where in its innate wisdom it utilizes this same vital force, the healing power of nature, to overcome imbalance or dis-ease and regain health. From this perspective, an individual’s symptoms are the actions of this vital natural force within the organism that signify a will to live or survive if you will. Vitalistic Naturopaths incorporate this fundamental philosophy by removing any obstacles to cure, rebuilding weakened systems, and addressing the cause of the condition that led to dis-ease in the first place. In doing so a space is created in the body, allowing nature to do its work and restore balance or health to the individual. Vitalistic Naturopathy was founded on four primary modalities: 1) Herbology (botanical medicine); 2) Homeopathy (law of similars); 3) Hydrotherapy (water cure); & 4) Physical medicine (structural alignment).
Philosophy of Mechanistic Medicine
The principle of Vitalism is contrasted by that of Mechanism, which views an individual’s symptoms as part of the disease process. In this, there is the belief that by suppressing these symptoms one will disrupt or halt the advancement of a given pathology. However, in simply addressing the symptoms of dis-ease or imbalance, more often than not the original causative factor is overlooked. As a consequence, although one’s symptoms may subside momentarily, the dis-ease is bound to return at a later time as the instigating condition that caused the imbalance in the first place was never fully resolved or removed from the body. This may present either in the same system or a deeper, more serious presentation may ensue. The “recurrence” of a given disease within this model along with its accompanying symptoms, often referred to as side-effects, are no more than that original underlying cause resurfacing. These new symptoms are handled in the same way as the original, they’re suppressed, only to reveal new “side-effects” or symptoms, and so on, and so forth… until eventually the individual finds themself in a state of chronic disease, in which the body’s innate healing capacity alone can no longer bring itself back into balance through its own effort.
Variation between Naturopathic Doctors
It is often recounted by Elders in the Naturopathic profession that even in its humble beginning there were more practitioners of Naturopathy heeding to the mechanistic belief that symptoms were the manifestation of a disease process in the body. This type of Naturopath holds the same mechanistic view towards health and healing, and directs therapy to suppress the symptoms of dis-ease, much like that of modern western medicine, with the single caveat of favoring natural remedies over their pharmaceutical counterparts. The post-graduate schools of Naturopathy have even gone so far as to all but remove the teachings of Vitalism from the curriculum, including the foundational modalities of Homeopathy & Hydrotherapy, in favor of seeking approval, licensure, & recognition from the western medical model.
Today, a Naturopathic education is little more than learning to address an individual’s symptoms by natural methods with little concern or focus on the cause. In order to learn the methods and application of Vitalistic Naturopathy one must seek out a Naturopathic practitioners during preceptorship while still in school, or better yet, attain a residency, following graduation, at a clinic that observes and practices this inviolate, immutable truth as the essential guiding principle that it is. For individual’s who resonate with this viewpoint, ask your Naturopath what his or her fundamental philosophy is & continue to check in & make sure their recommendations and treatment plans support this viewpoint.
At Matrix Wellness our practitioners have pursued both foundational & continuing education courses, as well as completed residency positions at Naturopathic clinics that not only embrace the ideology of Natural Law & Vitalism, they also strive to advance, advocate, & nurture the art & science of Vitalistic Naturopathy for generations to come. With this as our inspiration we focus on the principle tenets of prevention & restoration of health by the simplest means available, in an effort to support the body’s inherent ability to heal itself… It’s only natural.