The History of the 7 Natural Physicians

A long time ago...

The 7 Natural Physicians (7NPs), a holistic approach to healthcare, is not a new concept. Throughout history advocates, such as Hippocrates from Ancient Greece, Chinese traditional medicine practitioners, the Nature Cure fathers of the 19th century and our modern World Health Organisation (WHO) have all provided us with clear examples of ‘a whole person’, whole community’ & ‘whole environment’ approach to healthcare.

The 7NPs is probably best described as a contemporary version of the well known ‘earth, wind, fire and rain’ philosophy. In many ancient cultures, these primary elements were regarded very highly and were often represented by esteemed gods. The Greek philosophers pre-Hippocrates speculated that earth, wind, fire and rain were the prime elements that forged together in a variety of combinations to make up the furniture of the earth. These elements were seen to exist both inside the individual and externally within the environment. On an individual level the result of a depletion or excess of any of these elements could manifest as sickness. External imbalances equated to climatic instability and social unrest.

In recorded history Hippocrates (460 BC-370 BC), often referred to as the ‘Father of Medicine’, is noted as our earliest holistic healthcare advocate. Hippocrates believed that when trying to manage disease one needed to understand the laws of nature and to view the body as a whole not just a series of parts. Hippocrates taught his students to look at all the influences that may be contributing to an individual’s health state i.e. the environments they lived and worked in, their occupation, diet and exercise habits, social influences and philosophical approaches to life.

The ancient Chinese traditional medicine practitioners also saw the body as a reflection of elements within the universe. These elements are metal, wood, earth, wind and fire. The elements were also considered for their metaphorical worth to explain how things interact and relate to each other. For example, a person who had red flushed skin might be said to have too much fire. Someone with dry scaly skin might be seen as having a water and earth imbalance.

During the19th century there emerged a group of health specialists known as the ’nature cure’ practitioners. These practitioners rejected the allopathic medicines and treatments of the day which included blood letting and the ingestion of substances like mercury, copper and arsenic. The Nature Cure practitioners acknowledged the innate healing capacities of the body and strived to improve the wellness of their patients through analysing each aspect of the controllable factors i.e. diet, exercise, water therapies, sleep, posture, etc. It was at this time in history that the elements (attitude, air, nutrition, sunshine, water, etc) were individually coined as ‘physicians’ or ‘healers’.

Nature care is primarily based on three principles:

1. The body possesses the power to heal itself through its internal vitality and intelligence.
2. Disease is merely a manifestation of the body’s vital force applying itself to the removal of obstructions to the normal functioning of organs and tissues

Formal medical training today focuses predominantly on the diagnosis of human disease, drug therapies and surgical treatments. In the past 10 years, however, there has been a growing interest in alternative healthcare practices such as botanical medicines, clinical nutrition, soft tissue manipulation, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicines and lifestyle counseling.

Globally...
Over the last century, health has become a world wide concern. Today important international bodies gather regularly to discuss ways in which they can address the pressing health concerns in both developed and underdeveloped countries the world. The biopsychosocial medical model is acknowledged as the modern health model. It embraces a Hippocratic whole person, whole lifestyle, whole community approach to health and wellbeing. The World Health Organisation (WHO), an important international body, defines health as

“…..a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health is a fundamental human right and that the attainment of the highest possible level of health is a most important world-wide social goal whose realization requires the action of many other social and economic sectors in addition to the health sector” (WHO 1946).

In closing...
The contemporary 7NP’s program draws from the ancient wells of wisdom of healthcare experts. The modern zany doctors (the 7NPs) are like the legendary heroes of old. They use fun and humour to draw people’s attention to the biopsychosocial holistic healthcare framework which is encapsulated in the saying Attitude is the ANSWER (Attitude, Air, Nutrition, Sunshine, Water, Exercise & Rest). The 7NPs in defining the elements of health provides the modern world with an ABC for healthcare.

 The 7NPs aim to leave no stone unturned as they encourage individuals to review personal lifestyle and healthcare practices in order to enjoy optimum health and wellness.

 Take care as you work, live and play.

Trish