In the context of healthcare, when you hear the word "prevention," what is the first thing that comes to mind? A line in an advertisement for a medicine or a condition you saw on TV? Perhaps a test or a procedure you heard about at your doctor's office? Or maybe it's a clause, or lack thereof, in your health insurance policy?
What does prevention mean? Prevention is not a daily pill, or a diagnostic test, or a clause in a health insurance policy. The simple premise behind prevention is that it is easier and cheaper to prevent illness, pollution, mistakes, (fill in the blank) in the first place, than intervention, the attempt to treat, reverse or correct them later.
Prevention has many applications. In the context of environment, reducing pollution at its source is the cornerstone of sustainable development. In the realm of conventional healthcare, prevention means keeping major or chronic illness from happening (e.g. removing a gallbladder to prevent chronic gallstones).
From my naturopathic vantage point, keeping illness at bay may not be an adequate goal. Just as an absence of violence is not the same as peace, keeping illness at bay is not equivalent to creating wellness (e.g. working towards optimal gallbladder function to prevent chronic gallstones).
As a naturopathic doctor, I define prevention as overall health promotion, and consider it as the most sensible cure. In fact, prevention is one of the defining tenants and guiding principles of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic philosophy is based on six principles, rather than modalities (e.g. supplements/herbs/homeopathics) or methods (natural/drugless) used.
The six guiding principles/defining tenants of naturopathic medicine are:
- first, do no harm
- the healing power of nature
- treat the cause
- look at the whole person
- doctor as a teacher, and
- prevention
Over the coming weeks, I plan on writing about each one of these tenants to help you to learn about what I do.
I am eager to hear from you, my dear internerds and interneatsters!
- What does prevention mean to you?
- What preventative steps have you taken to maintain health and vibrancy?
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