The Vis Medicatrix Naturae - Vitalism, Evolution, Creation or Homeostasis?

I love the philosophical principles of naturopathic medicine: Treat the Whole, Treat the Cause, Prevention, First Do No Harm, and Doctor as Teacher. I find these concepts easy to discuss with patients, colleagues and my peers in the medical profession.

Then we get to The Vix Medicatrix Naturae, translated The Healing Power of Nature. Opponents of naturopathic medicine have used this philosphical principle to label naturopaths as "vitalists," a term which many in the scientific field equate with quackery or fraud. I would like to offer multiple interpretations of this principle.

Bastyr University provides the following explanation for the Vis Medicatrix Naturae: "Naturopathic medicine recognizes the body's inherent ability, which is ordered and intelligent, to heal itself. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to recovery, and to facilitate and augment this healing ability."

In this definition there is no mention of the concept of vitalism, despite the use of the term by many who are antagonistic to naturopathic medicine. Vitalism, as defined by Merriam Webster dictionary is "1. a doctrine that the functions of a living organism are due to a vital principle distinct from physicochemical forces 2. a doctrine that the processes of life are not explicable by the laws of physics and chemistry alone and that life is in some part self-determining." Vitalism is a theory which forms the foundation of many branches of traditional and alternative medical approaches (for example, the concept of "qi" in Traditional Chinese Medicine, or the concept of the vital force in Homeopathic medicine).

Bastyr's definition of the Vis Medicatrix Naturae also provides room for the concepts of evolution or supernatural creation. Creationists can accept the "order" and "intelligence" to be governed by a higher power or deity. Evolutionists can appreciate that much research has shown evolutionary advantages to many nonspecific symptoms like fever and inflammation. The "intelligence" of the human body, to an evolutionist, is simply a result of natural selection that favors organisms that have mechanisms for healing tissues, combating infections, and restoring disrupted processes.

The concept of homeostasis may also be relevant to the discussion of the Healing Power of Nature. All physiologic processes aim to create and maintain homeostasis in the body. The maintenance of homeostasis is a dynamic process, where each change in the body is countered by a "force" which precipitates movement back to equilibrium.

Regardless of philosophical views, the role of the naturopathic physician is to support each individual in their path toward better health. Naturopaths should encourage the self-healing ability of the body by removing barriers to cure and assisting the process for swift recovery.

Natural Medicine is the Best Medicine...

Who am I? I’m a 4th year Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) student at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. Bastyr University is one of 7 accredited naturopathic medical colleges in the United States and Canada (check out the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges, www.aanmc.org). At the time of this posting, naturopathic physicians are licensed in 17 states and territories in the U.S. and Canada, as well as the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

To quickly summarize, naturopathic medicine is evidence-based medicine founded on philosophical principles that emphasize treating the whole person, finding the root cause of disease, and focusing on prevention. Naturopathic physicians are trained in four-year medical schools and learn the same system of diagnosis as allopathic physicians, but choose to treat their patients with a variety of therapies, including botanical medicine, vitamin/mineral supplementation, hydrotherapy, counseling, dietary recommendations, and physical manipulation.

The purpose of this blog is to discuss the role of naturopathic medicine in our current healthcare system. I truly believe that naturopathic physicians are the best primary care providers in the United States. Future posts in this blog will address the role of naturopathic medicine in prevention of many chronic diseases that causes significant morbidity and mortality in this country. I also aim to discuss the cost-benefit ratio of naturopathic care versus the current medical model, as well as issues of access to primary care providers. I also hope to further discuss naturopathic philosophy and the utilization of our naturopathic principles.

You, the reader, are encouraged to use this blog as a discussion board. Any questions that are thoughtfully and respectfully asked will be answered and posted for others to see. What I won’t allow is any naturopathic bashing, or for that matter, any disrespectful comments about my naturopathic OR allopathic (conventional medical) colleagues. Any such comments will be promptly removed.

Let’s start the conversation!