Health or wellness is a reflection of one’s ability to maintain an internal balance, even as the environment is constantly changing. An example of this is body temperature. When external temperature fluctuates, the body easily regulates itself. With extreme temperatures, symptoms occur such as shivering or sweating. These symptoms are a reflection of the body’s efforts to maintain normal temperature.

If the extreme temperatures persist and the body’s attempts are overwhelmed, a crisis (hypothermia) will manifest, and with this comes an associated reduction in vitality. In other words, if the person’s ability to adapt is diminished, degeneration occurs, and this lessens chances of survival.

The physical messages that we call ‘symptoms’ are a reflection of a highly intelligent system. Suppressing this system with medications aimed only at reducing the messages, can be detrimental, even dangerous.

Interpreting symptoms and skillfully addressing the underlying factors that are hindering the body’s ability to self regulate – this approach is called biological medicine.

Biological Medicine

Biological medicine utilizes a nurturing model to identify perpetuators of imbalance, and to enhance the body’s ability to self-regulate and heal. As first described by Dr. Sid Baker, (author of Detoxification and Healing) good health requires nurturance. Nurturance by definition, insures the body’s needs and at the same time, avoids factors that are toxic or harmful. This includes evaluation of nutritional status and assessment of lifestyle, such as physical activity, stress, sleep, and emotional well being. It can also include investigation into possible toxic exposure and the necessary support to aid the body in detoxification.

The Body’s Needs

These needs include nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. They include factors such as good quality air, water, and light. And, they include the need for physical movement, rest, relaxation, rhythm (daily routine) and a sense of belonging and community (love).

Ultimately these findings can then be utilized by the person themselves to make conscious and effective changes. Their ability to integrate the nurturing model into their daily life helps them improve and maintain their own health.

In Other Words

If you are feeling unwell, besides seeking the appropriate help, you can learn to be effectively aware of your own nurturing model check-list and thus, continually protect and take care of your own health:

• Am I being exposed to undue toxins? If so, how can I adapt so as to avoid and/or eliminate these toxins?

• Am I being exposed to things that are bad for me, ie. allergens, and/or poor company?

• Am I meeting my body’s needs?

- good quality water, air, light
- physical movement
- emotional equilibrium
- good nutritious food

• Am I placing too many demands on myself?

- positive demands and/or negative demands

What is Health?

The interplay between your ability to meet the demands of life, and your understanding of your own symptomatic responses – health is adaptability.

The body naturally detoxifies via exhalation, sweat, feces, and urine. When the body is overwhelmed toxins accumulate.

The Matrix

Un-eliminated toxins tend to sit in the connective tissue or matrix. This matrix can be described as the internal sea that surrounds the cells. All nutrients, metabolic products, and wastes, travel to and from the cells and blood and lymphatic vessels, via this matrix.

In a healthy body the matrix is fluid. It is maintained by body movement, inherent tissue movement, circulation, and respiration. The health of the matrix is vital for the efficient transportation and delivery of nutrients, and the effective elimination of toxins.

Trauma, (recent or old), often results in restricted muscle skeletal movement which can cause areas of stagnation in the matrix. This interferes with the efficiency of transportation and results in increased toxicity and decreased vitality.

Often pain related, this stagnation can be the underlying problem associated with symptoms such as fatigue, impaired immune status, decreased mental functioning, and poor healing ability. This perspective is the understanding and focus of biomechanical medicine (osteopathy).

Overview

There are many ways to detoxify. A holistic approach will consider the aspects of the nurturing model (see article titled What is Health?) and, as these aspects apply to an individual’s present status of health. Some approaches for example, will be too vigorous for someone who is in a highly toxic and/or weakened state. The organs of elimination can be overly taxed placing an unreasonable burden on the body.

A basic list of options for detoxification would include:

* skin related – sweating via sauna, exercise, hot baths
* remedy related – homeopathic detoxification regime, increased amounts of vitamin C, increased water
* treatment related – osteopathic therapy, colonic therapy, lymphatic drainage, massage
* dietary related – fasting, reduction of processed foods
* environment related – reduced toxic exposure, improved quality of water, air, light