Exploring the Roots of Disease

Recently, I overheard two women discussing their health concerns. While I couldn’t catch every detail, two statements stood out clearly: “I must be getting old” and “I inherited this condition.” It saddens me that so many people believe illness is an inevitable part of aging or something passed down through genetics alone. Yet, I understand where this belief stems from.

After a typical 10 to 15-minute consultation with a doctor, most patients leave with little understanding of their condition. Can a doctor really evaluate your health in such a short time? In my opinion, this isn’t nearly enough to grasp the full picture of why someone is unwell. Does your doctor ask in-depth questions about your diet—like those six café lattes you drink each day, or your skipped meals and salt cravings? Do they explore your lifestyle, sleep habits, or lack of regular exercise? When you leave the office, do you have a sense of where your health issues originated or that they could have been prevented? Most importantly, are you aware that your body is capable of healing itself?

The medical approach to healing differs greatly from natural healing. Doctors often treat illness as a single cause tied to a set of symptoms. For example, sore joints are labeled arthritis, and medication is prescribed to manage pain and inflammation. If that fails, stronger medications or surgery may follow. But this approach doesn’t address the root cause—it only masks symptoms, often leading to new ones. In contrast, natural healing encourages asking deeper questions and considering multiple factors that may trigger symptoms. We focus on the body's imbalances and the environmental stresses that disrupt its ability to stay healthy and in balance. Our goal is to uncover the roots of disease.

What are the roots of disease, and how do we identify them? The first area to consider is your constitutional makeup—your inherent physical and emotional resilience. Those with strong constitutions tend to resist illness more easily, while those with weaker constitutions may struggle to handle stress. Often, weaknesses in specific systems, like heart disease, are inherited. If you have a weaker constitution, it’s essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet at least 80% of the time. Those with stronger constitutions can often get away with a less healthy lifestyle, but eventually it catches up with them; often their ill health comes as a surprise when it begins to fail. Once your strengths and weaknesses are identified, a more effective plan can be created.

Next, consider your long-term history. People often focus on when symptoms began, but it’s crucial to look at what was happening six months or more before they appeared. The body is resilient, and the effects of stress or trauma can take time to surface. Most illnesses emerge after a period of stress and lack of self-care. By reflecting on the time leading up to the onset of symptoms, you can identify where changes are needed to restore balance and well-being.

Another key factor is your environment. Is your home or workplace contributing to your health issues? New homes, carpets, or renovations can introduce toxins, and many workplaces have pollutants in the air. These environmental factors must be considered when tracing the roots of disease.

Emotional outlook also plays a role. Are you unhappy with your job or home life? Emotional stress can affect digestion, the nervous system, and even weight. Your spiritual outlook matters too - feeling at peace with your purpose in life can influence your overall well-being. Physical health is equally important. Do you exercise regularly? Have you experienced any physical trauma? Regular movement is essential for maintaining good health. And finally, what about your diet? Are you eating nutritious foods, drinking healthy beverages, and using supplements to fill any nutritional gaps?

The root causes of disease do not have to remain mysterious and unknown. By asking the right questions and paying attention to the answers, you can begin to identify the sources of imbalance and take steps to restore your health.

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Artwork by Valerie Greguire, all rights reserved