What is Natural Medicine? Definitions, choices, and the purpose of this health column

In an era when traditional remedies, raw food diets, and holistic health are on the rise, the term "natural" is still a difficult one to pin down. The natural and organic foods business is a billion-dollar industry. We are surrounded by messages marketing the latest dietary supplements and medicinal health foods. Health food store shelves, as well as those of pharmacies and supermarkets, are littered with items displaying the words "natural," "organic," "pure," and a handful of synonyms. How can we make sense of it all?

The word "natural" can be remarkably misleading. USDA food standards allow certain foods to be labeled as "natural" if it is:

A product containing no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed (a process which does not fundamentally alter the raw product) may be labeled natural. The label must explain the use of the term natural (such as - no added colorings or artificial ingredients; minimally processed.)

Other foods and products have no regulation on the term "natural." This ambiguous definition becomes even more muddied when we examine the standards for supplements and health care supplies. Unless you see a naturopath or a practitioner, it can be very hard to know which products to trust - which ones are helpful, not to mention truly natural - and which ones to avoid.

If we define a "natural medicine" as a food or other ingredient which, in its simplest whole form, has the ability to cure disease or to restore good health, then the answer clearly lies in three steps: education, simple solutions, and self-empowerment.

Natural medicine means making use of whole foods and the natural bounty of healthful options provided by the world around us.

It means educating ourselves about traditional healing practices and whole food diets and learning about the things that are, in their true forms, good for us.

It means taking steps to become participants in our own health and to make use of what we learn - to actively empower ourselves rather than wasting the wealth of information to which we all have access.

It means choosing the simplest solutions - like whole foods and fresh herbs, rather than genetically modified superfoods and processed pharmaceutical ingredients - with which to create healing and magic in our lives.

Natural medicine is what we create when we go back to our nutritional, emotional, and lifestyle choices and select those ingredients that in their natural, unmodified form help us to live, act and feel our best.

Stay tuned for weekly articles on natural remedies and holistic resources, and for the simple lifestyle changes that can revolutionize your health.

May 27, 2006 9:43 AM

Dr. James Joseph Lehman :

I appreciated your perspective on the definition of "natural medicine." Another perspective from the Pan American School of Natural Medicine is offered for consideration.

natural medicine

a system of therapeutics in which only natural, medicinal agents and forces are used that is inherently suitable for an invariable sequence between specified conditions (ill health) and an expected phenomenon of healing.

In philosophy, 'naturalism' is the view that an explanation is justified just so far as it rests on evidence of an empirical kind.

It derives from the philosophy of Plato, who claimed that true knowledge is knowledge of the Idea (Greek eidos).

To be natural is something to be expected, to be inherent, something that is spontaneous and easy.

Natural is a word of braod implications: of human nature, not surprising; to be expected, of a person's behaviour; unaffected, easy, spontaneous; of qualities inherent; innate; a person or thing naturally suitable, adept, expert, etc.

It is often remarkable to ask a student of today's medicine, the definition of the word - medicine -, and determine if he or she is able to correctly answer. It is often remarkable to hear their tale. Accoding to Stedman's Medicine Dictionary:

medicine

The art of preventing or curing disease; the science concerned with disease in all its
relations.

Origin [L. medicina, fr. medicus, physician]

Now, what is even more surprizing is to ask the student the definition of the word 'doctor', and the accurate response drops even more dramatically. Yes, most know that it is a title conferred by a university, institute, academy, or school on one who has followed a prescribed course of study, as doctor of medicine, philosophy, etc. However, in the ancient and pure definition, a 'doctor' is a teacher, originating from French - doceo, pp. doctus, to teach.

Now a physician, especially one upon whom has been conferred the degree of M.D., N.D., D.O., D.C. etc., by a university or school is not only a person who has been educated and trained to practice the art and science of medicine, but from its ancient and pure meaning, a physician is a 'natural philosopher' [Fr. physicien,].

Thus, by combining the two terms - doctor and physician - in its original term and spirit, is a natural philosopher who teaches their patients how to be well, stay well, or become well, first and foremost; and in the process, do no harm.

James J. Lehman, DC
chiropractichealth.s