Promoting the Profession
Traditional naturopath and author Stewart Mitchell once again shed light and enthusiasm on the profession in one of his presentations at the annual conference entitled, “Pulling Health Out of the Body.” When first encountering that title, people wondered what that could possibly mean. However, as Mitchell spoke, the meaning became quite clear.
The basic premise of traditional naturopathy is that health and self–healing reside within the body. Even the surgeon depends on this for the surgical patient to heal. The physician may conduct the surgery, but then what? The individual goes home to heal. So who does the healing? It isn’t the surgeon. The person’s own innate healing abilities must rise to the occasion and conduct the healing. What is this but naturopathy in its full glory?
The body’s ability to grow, adapt, adjust, and heal throughout the lifetime is a living example of the amazing beauty of naturopathy in action. Mitchell’s presentation served to remind us that it is the role of the practitioner to assist the client in reaching deep within, finding the health that rests there, and pulling it out of the body. This requires great confidence in the principle and great confidence in the individual. It may require that the practitioner move beyond simply educating about the body’s wisdom; it may require that the practitioner allow the client to learn through experience.
One way to accomplish this is to offer ideas and recommendations for the client to “take home” and integrate into his or her daily life. Scheduling follow up office visits for several dates in the future, checking in periodically with the client via telephone, and supporting the client by explaining that the body did not reach a place of un-health overnight and that health will not be regained overnight, will verify for the client that health will surface from within over time — given slight adjustments in lifestyle, dietary intake, body movement, etc.
Allowing the body the time to “express” health can be quite frustrating to those who are looking for a “quick fix.” The role of the practitioner in this profession is to educate the client about the healing process and how health can be pulled out of the body — but it may take time. Tapping into the client’s deeply buried health can be a challenge. First, we must believe and have patience and faith in the tradition of naturopathy — the body does have innate healing abilities. Let’s promote this profession by teaching others about this — every day and in every way.
Susie Hale, N.D., Ph.D. • CCNH Director of Practitioner Education
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