NATP121 - Naturopathic Philosophy, Principles and Practice
Vitalism is a philosophical concept that underpins the naturopathic
clinical principle Vis Medicatrix Naturae (VMN).
This differs from biomedicines healthcare philosophy of mechanism.
How are they different and how are they similar?
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has it been copied in part or whole from other persons.
Introduction
Vitalism philosophy and its connection with the principle of naturopathic practice of Vis
Medicatrix Naturae is clearly different from mechanism philosophy practiced in biomedical
healthcare. An explanation on both forms of practitioners beliefs will lead to the conclusion that
both practice from different perspectives. Upon delving further into these differences, it is
illustrated how this affects the treatment of illness and disease in patients.
It is a concerning topic that the world is now over using prescription drugs due to the dominant
mechanism practitioners way of treatment. ‘Globally, drug usage patterns indicate that drug
consumption had grown in all national income categories and different healthcare systems’
(Richards et al., 2017, 3).
Vitalism and Vis Medicatrix Naturae (VMN)
Vitalism is the belief of a vital force in living matter that cannot be explained by physical or
chemical factors. “The philosophical doctrine that the phenomena of life cannot be explained in
purely mechanical terms because there is something immaterial which distinguishes living from
inanimate matter” (Collins English Dictionary, 2021).
In naturopathic medicine, vitalism is the founding philosophy encompassing all areas of health
and the provision of health care. A Naturopath will approach a disease utilising the philosophy
that this immaterial energy, known as vis medicatrix naturae, which is a force of nature that can
assist the body to heal. By creating the natural balance and harmony of a patient’s body,
repairing and rebuilding can commence for optimal health.
As mentioned above, vis medicatrix naturae is nature’s inherent self-healing process “the
healing power of nature” (Merriam-Webster, 2021) and it is this principle that Naturopaths use to
view health and to treat disease.
A Naturopath’s focus is to identify and treat the underlying cause of illness by assessing a
patient holistically, or as a whole person, which includes mental, physical, spiritual and
environmental factors. Symptoms can then be relieved, rather than suppressed, and stimulation
of the body’s own healing ability can commence leading to recovery.
Mechanism
Mechanism is the belief that matter can only be measured based on known chemical and
physical processes, there is nothing beyond that ie. no universal energy or soul directing matter.
“The theory or doctrine that all the phenomena of the universe, particularly life, can ultimately be
explained in terms of matter moving in accordance with the laws of nature” (Collins English
Dictionary, 2021).
A medical practitioner will therefore diagnose a disease by approaching the body as a
compilation of chemicals. These chemicals obey the general laws of chemistry, physics and
mechanics. Treatment will be on the suppression of symptoms presented.
Compare and contrast between Vitalism/VMN and Mechanism
When comparing the definitions of both vitalism and mechanism, it is obvious the major
difference surrounds the immaterial matter. Vitalism is a belief that it is the immaterial matter
which makes an organism alive whilst a mechanism view that something is alive purely from
matter moving. Expanding on this difference, this vital force cannot be explained by chemical or
physical factors thereby a mechanism’s perspective does not incorporate this energy as it is not
governed by the laws of chemistry, physics and mechanics.
A mechanism practitioner will therefore see and treat the illness of a patient as a part broken
down rather than focus on the patient as a whole. The symptoms will also be seen as harmful
and require removal rather than ways the body is trying to heal itself and the symptoms should
not be suppressed or eliminated.
The following quote epitomises the different approaches to treatment. “Unlike mechanists who
believe the body can be understood using the tools of physics, mathematics, chemistry and
mechanics, vitalists do not pretend to intellectually understand all that is occurring in the body.
Instead vitalists realize that the best way we can discover the secrets about a marvelously
complex physical/mental/spiritual entity is to observe it in sickness and health” (Koran, 2011, 3).
Utilising the vis medicatrix naturae, a vitalist practitioner seeks to strengthen the body’s
resistance and ability to heal itself whereas the mechanist practitioner is more concerned with
the disease entity and its treatment, rather than look at the patient as a whole.
Conclusion
Vitalism is shown to be different from mechanism philosophy practices as mechanistic approach
neglects to focus on the whole living person whereas naturopathic medicine incorporates VMN.
An important difference is a patient is either prescribed medication suppressing symptoms or
health is restored by removing the cause of the illness. “[V]italism… it is an integral part of the
naturopathic paradigm and is the foundation for many of its underlying principles. It leads to a
different philosophy about health, about health care, and about the role of the health provider. It
is the basis of the claim that biomedicine (conventional medicine) and naturopathic medicine are
distinct paradigms”. (Coulter et al., 2019, 60)
Reference List
Allen, G. E. (2005, June). Mechanism, Vitalism and Organicism in Late Nineteenth and
Twentieth-Century Biology: The Importance of Historical Context. Elsevier, 36(2),
261-283. Retrieved from [Link]/science
Collins English Dictionary. (2021). Vitalism. Collins Dictionary. Retrieved from
[Link]/dictionary/english/vitalism
Coulter, I., Snider, P., & Neil, A. (2019, June). Vitalism- A Worldview Revisited: A Critique Of
Vitalism And Its Implications For Integrative Medicine. Integrative Medicine, 18(3), 60-73.
Retrieved from [Link]
Koran, T. (2011, February 24). Does the Subluxation Exist? J. Philosophy, Principles & Practice
of Chiropractic, 53-58. Retrieved from
[Link]
[Link]
Koren, T. (2000). Vitalism vs. Mechanism. Today's Chiropractic, 29(6), 62.
Merriam-Webster. (2021). Dictionary. Vis Medicatrix Naturae. Retrieved from
[Link]/dictionary/vis%20medicatrix%20naturae
Richards, D., Emmanuel, E., & Grace, S. (2017, March-April). Duelling Ontologies: Might
Vitalism Offer Balance and Value? Elsevier, 13, 133-138. Retrieved from
[Link]/science/article
