The Natural Journey To Health

We are accustomed to a suppressive form of health care, where results are relatively quick, yet superficial. This approach has little real relationship to the normal biological needs or intentions of the body. Thus we are unfamiliar with the process of healing, which follows very specific patterns and pathways and which can be recognized and assisted.

Everywhere in nature we see the pervasive influence of biological time. Growth, decay and healing all require their own unique period, from the regeneration of organs to the cleansing and detoxification of tissue. Natural medicine in general, and homeopathy in particular, can initiate and accelerate healing and reactivate what was stuck or unavailable. Yet it is still bound to natural processes, which can be remarkably fast and efficient, but do involve time, whether in minutes or years.

Healing Some symptom patterns are expressions of the healing process, which may entail uncomfortable symptoms. Both lay people and practitioners are quite familiar with the old adage that "you have to get worse before you get better." Though this may often be the case, it obviously does not mean that worse is always better, or that feeling worse after taking a natural remedy is necessarily good. In fact there are very specific signs and points of differentiation to distinguish between just getting worse (a disease crisis), and an actual healing crisis. In general, the most intense healing crisis is likely to occur in the initial stages of homeopathic therapy. Over time, the organism strengthens and develops more sensitivity and facility in navigating the healing process.

Because of the complexity and many layers of cause which exist for each person, the healing process is not a homogenous, monotone process. The process will unfold in its highly unique way, exactly according to the capabilities of the person, the healing stimulus that is applied, and the obstacles to cure.

* Healing phases occur when there is a regular and marked improvement in the condition and in the individual.

* Plateau phases occur when, for a period of time, the body maintains an improved state, but goes no further. This does not necessarily mean that more heroic, stronger methods are needed to promote healing.

* Plateaus are times of consolidation, rest, and gathering of resources, enabling the organism to mount further incursions into health.

As we know, there are different types and levels of symptoms, which have different values and meanings relative to our total health. With healing and cure we expect symptoms to improve, but the order in which this happens is crucial.
In a successful healing process, the vitality and energy should gradually improve. Symptoms related to the deepest organs, structures and mechanisms should steadily decrease. More superficial, local symptoms may fluctuate, at times worsening, but eventually subsiding.

Guidelines To Cure * The body does not cure in a haphazard or meaningless fashion.

* At any point in time the body has a very definite and defined set of biochemical, biological and energetic resources at its command. It thus demonstrates extreme selectivity and purpose in its healing priorities. Simply, it will make every effort to cure the sickest part first, and then move on to the next most important area, and so on.

* The healing process has been observed and studied since remotest antiquity by those in the tradition of natural healing, including Hippocrates, Paracelsus, and Avicenna. In homeopathy, Dr. Constantine Hering reaffirmed and restated the facts about how the organism undertakes curing itself in his famous "Laws of Cure" as outlined below.

* Biological healing is governed by the following priorities:
1.From more important, essential organs to less important areas
2.From the center to the periphery, or from within outward
3.From above downward
4.In reverse chronological order of the onset of the problem

* Thus, as current symptoms improve, old previously unresolved symptoms often arise like peeling the layers of an onion.

The Hierarchy Of Organs The biological intelligence of the body has a clear priority in protecting the health of tissues that are the most valuable for survival. These tissues are often made of cells that cannot be replaced and do not regenerate (nervous system or heart) and have a high "maintenance cost," requiring large amounts of oxygen and nutrients. Other tissues are relatively less valuable to the body, requiring little nutrition (fat cells), while some are dispensable because of being highly regenerative and able to handle significant damage without severely compromising the body as a whole (digestive linings, skin). Some tissues are absolutely essential to life each moment and must be supported at all costs. Others are lower on the scale of priorities and their maintenance is less important.

In addition to the body's hierarchy, the other factor determining the priority of an illness is the nature of the condition and how advanced the particular disease process is. A superficial tissue (skin) can have a very advanced, life-threatening disease (cancer). Or a very vital organ (heart) can have a superficial condition (palpitations). It is the interplay of the depth of tissue and degree of pathology that makes a particular problem the true "chief complaint."

This is where the organism--body and mind--focuses its considerable force in order to change and resolve the situation.

The Remedy Response The healing process evolves over time and according to biological laws, but how do we know if a remedy is having a truly curative effect? Next to finding the right remedy in the first place, this is the single most vital question facing a homeopathic prescriber.

* In constitutional prescribing where one dose of a remedy may be left to work for weeks and months, deciding if a remedy is working correctly--or working at all--can be complex.

* In therapeutic prescribing and when high potencies are not being used, the action of the remedy may be apparent sooner, and its relative effectiveness more obvious.

* In any healing process, the yardstick of change is Hering's Guidelines of Cure, which helps determine if the direction of cure is progressing positively, negatively, or just reacting partially.

In an ideal situation, where the constitution is strong and uncomplicated, one remedy will work on all aspects of the illness, mental and physical symptoms, and the underlying weaknesses. If the remedy chosen is fairly good, but not the perfect match for the symptom picture, only some of the symptoms will be helped. If a follow-up remedy is needed, one that is complementary to the first remedy is often indicated. But in many cases disease becomes very complex and intertwined with the vital force. As different layers of the person's illness are stripped away, different remedies are required for progress. By the same token, therapeutic prescriptions may require constitutional follow-up.

Basically only four things can occur after taking a remedy:
1. There is no change.
2. There is improvement.
3. There is worsening.
4. There is change or something new happening.

These changes can relate to the general sense of well-being, energy and health, or only to specific symptoms, locations or problems.

Homeopathic treatment is not a one-shot, suppressive treatment, but requires careful guidance of the healing process over time. Remedy responses and healing reactions can be confusing. For serious and advanced conditions, expert professional consultation is necessary.

Note: This article is reprinted with permission from Homeopathy for Musculoskeletal Healing, by Asa Hershoff, N.D., D.C. (North Atlantic Books, 1996). Hershoff is the founder of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and was a key figure in the renaissance of natural medicine in Canada.

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