In an age when everyone has a computer in their pocket, there is a interesting trend emerging, a trend to more natural ways of doing things. There is a bit of a backlash against the basic medical concepts of reductionism and the view that the body is a machine to be fixed. More and more people are turning to alternative medicines and all natural health products and “organic” food.
This important shift in thinking acknowledges that there is wisdom in the way nature does things. Things are the way they are for a reason and that the best approach to health is to pay attention to nature. This is a big shift from the approaches of the past that always looked for ways to fix or force a change in the human body. Many people are now looking at how to help the body function better. This concept forms the basis of many forms of traditional medicine like Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic.
Many hospitals in the Milwaukee area are using movement practices like Tai chi, yoga and pilates to reduce pain and reduce the use of pharmaceutical pain killers. There is a recognition that the goal should be to help the body heal what is causing the pain rather than just stopping the pain. This has resulted in many sports medicine providers questioning the use of ice on an injury in favor of warmth and movement.
Many dietitians are advocating whole foods, portion control and exercise to lose weight. This is a major shift from the artificial sweetener, low fat, artificial fat, and processed foods of some of the diets of the past. Many are advocating probiotics to help the digestive tract function better. Fecal transplants are getting some recent press in regards to helping patients re-establish a healthy digestive system. This is a big change from past treatments that were based on symptom control and medications that decrease digestive function.
Lifestyle choices are also changing. Some runners and other sports enthusiasts are moving to a more natural “barefoot” running style. There is evidence that barefoot and minimalist shoe runners develop a more natural running gait that is less prone to injury.
In all these cases there is an understanding that nature knows best and that the best health comes from working with the body rather than trying to change it. There is a wisdom to the ways of nature and some medical science is starting to pay attention to it.
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