Too Hot To Handle

Imagine that you forget: That the coffee was made with boiling water. That the tea kettle just came off the burner. That the car radiator fluid was boiling as you removed the cap.

How long before you remove your hand from the source of the heat and pain? Not long, I’ll bet. In fact, it’s almost instantaneous. Such is the power of recognition within the organism— the ability of each and every cell to respond.

How long before the body recognizes the presence of pathogens— be they infinitesimally small, microscopic in fact—with names like: germs, bacteria, viruses? Not long, I’ll bet. In fact, it’s almost instantaneous. Such is the ability of each and every cell to respond.

At a critical point of pathological accumulation, the skin opens and squeezes out the accumulation of wastes in the circulatory system. The kidneys go into overdrive and filter out the heavies. The lungs inflate, pump up and exhale noxious gases. The body’s temperature usually rises to provide the heat necessary to accomplish these extraordinary efforts.

These are signs that the body is trying to normalize—to regulate itself and return to a state of homeostasis. And in this process of normalization—in this process of getting rid of the offending pathogen—a footprint is created.

The science of naturopathy recognizes these prints as beneficial and natural. But those who believe in the germ theory of disease causation see this process as threatening and fraught with danger. They call these footprints diseases and illnesses—and to this end they attack the prints with all the power in the chemical world.

This, then, is another attempt at describing the difference between pure naturopathy and mechanistic forms of health care. You either believe in the power of the body to heal itself, or you place your trust in the power of the pill. All matter is in motion; there is no need for a mover. The body heals itself; it needs no healer.

We need carers—people who facilitate the environment so that the body can accomplish its task with the least amount of stress.

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