Naturopathy and Yog: Towards a holistic medical system.
Shakil Ahmed
U. P. Naturopathy & Yog Teachers’ and Physician Association, Lucknow, India
During the 20th century, the system of scientific medicine has made dramatic progress in curing and reducing the incidence of many diseases. There has been massive reduction in death rates all over the world resulting from the achievements of scientific medicine. It has brought about significant improvement in public health and hygiene in general. The advances and success of scientific medicine in the field of surgery has truly been amazing. However, the modern scientific medicine has not proved very effective in handling a whole area of chronic illness and undefined ill health. It is now increasingly being realized that scientific medicine is not very successful in addressing the problems of ill health having their roots in psychosomatic, social, cultural, behavioral, environmental or occupational causes.
The concept of holistic health
In the last quarter of 20th century, it has been gradually realized that before we can devise ways and means for making and maintaining a human being healthy, it is necessary to first understand what is to be accomplished. This means that we should first understand what is the meaning of health of a human being.
To achieve a state of health, it is necessary that we understand the development and functioning of an individual in his/her personal psychological, familial, occupational, cultural and social environment as well as of the human in the global environment. If health of a man is to fully manifest, it must prevail not only in the individual but in mankind also.
The problem of man’s health can not be dealt with by solving the problems of individual human body and the environment. Even if these problems are solved, it will still be necessary to deal with the health of the human species as a whole. A human being can attain and maintain a state of health only in a healthy biosphere, sociosphere and psychosphere. In this sense, human species needs to be studied from the viewpoint of health as wholeness. A science of holistic health, as distinct from the present science of curative medicine, needs to be developed to deal with the problems of sickness and misery arising in the bodies, psyche, society and environment of mankind.
The Health Promotion Program established by World Health Organization in 1984 firmly recognizes the need to adopt the emerging holistic thinking while dealing with problem of human health. The following five principles of health promotion were established in the WHO program:
It involves the people as a whole in the context of their everyday life.
It is directed to actions towards the root causes of health, including the promotion of a total environment conducive to health.
It combines different but complementary methods and approaches, in several areas of life.
It aims especially as effective actual public participation.
While it requires activities in the health and social fields, and is not a medical service as such, health professionals should develop their special contributions to health education and health advocacy, especially in primary health care.
Naturopathy: A Holistic medical System
In view of the emerging trends of holistic thinking in dealing with problems of human health, the crying need of the times is to recognize Naturopathy as a potent health-care and medical system. This recognition of Naturopathy can be achieved by focussing on the following important points:
Holistic elements of Naturopathy and Yog should be clearly identified and pinpointed.
The principles of Naturopathy and Yog should be scientifically and logically established.
The practices and methods of Naturopathy and Yog should be scientifically established and standardized.
The syllabus and teaching methodology of Naturopathy and Yog system should be geared towards experimentation, exploration and continuous growth.
