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Health & Disease
Naturopathic Principles
Naturopathic principles pay attention to the early recognition of symptoms in order to prevent complex diseases. Science has made significant advancement in the field of genetics but disease cannot be ascribed to a single gene mutation, rather it is the interaction of environmental factors, lifestyle behaviors and the actions of many genes.
The state of wellness comes from optimal adaptation of the body to both physical and psychological environments.
Environmental Factors
Xenobiotics
Chemicals in the environment may affect the immune, nervous and endocrine systems. Chemicals can act by exerting a hormone like effect and therefore alter functions of the endocrine system:
Chemicals in the environment can be inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin. They could be the formaldehyde in your furniture, chemicals in body lotions, fumes from car exhausts or pesticides in your food. Unfortunately we are unable to eliminate all of the environmental chemicals no matter what diet and lifestyle modifications are made.
Infections
Bacterial, viral and fungal infections cause common disorders such as sinusitis, influenza, thrush. Some viruses are never eradicated from the body and lay dormant such as the herpes virus which flares up at times of lowered immune functions. Infections are implicated as a causative factor in autoimmune disease. One hypothesis suggests the immune system has an inappropriate response to a recent infection involving memory cells from a past infection causing the immune system to attack the body’s own tissues.
Lifestyle Behaviors
Cigarette smoking, marital status and urban living are well researched risk factors for disease. Choices made in controlling these factors for some people may not be optional such as a partner leaving the marriage or career skills determining a specific location. One common cause of disease is obesity. It is related to many disease states such as diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, heart disease and cancer. Most individuals can exert some control over weight gain, but may also find that weight loss is much easier attained by others, fortunately with professional assistance individualized treatment regimes can provide positive results.
Enhance Wellness & Prevent Disease
The key to preventing disease is to enhance wellness through assisting the body to successfully adapt, by increasing elimination of toxins from the body, improving immune responses as well as balancing the nervous and endocrine systems.
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