This is the THIRD of 12 Core Healing Principles that form the foundation of my healing philosophy. They are not only aspirational, but ones that I actively cultivate in my daily interactions with each and every patient. 
Your health, wellness and vitality are important to me. I have actively sought out healing traditions and studied with some of the elite masters in the fields of Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Naturopathy, Tantra and Yoga.
HEALING PRINCIPLE #3
Healing Power of Nature (VIS MEDICATRIX NATURAE)
Defining “The VIS”
In Chinese Medicine, and other natural medical systems including indigenous medicines, naturopathic medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, we often employ the Latin term “Vis Medicatrix Naturae” (or simply “The Vis”) to embody the primary notion that Nature has the immense power to heal. This core tenet places the natural world and its properties, principles, laws, and reflections at the center point of patient care and treatment. Of course, healing does occur directly from these elemental forces we find outside ourselves. However, it is through our internal nature that we learn to harness the natural elements in order to respond to the various stressors and stimuli that occur on a daily basis. This internal alchemy allows us to cultivate our own unique life path, purpose and what is needed to make us healthy, happy, and wise.
Some common examples of natural respite
The healing power of nature is a huge topic and, of course, this includes the actual physical properties of the natural, fungi, plant and animal kingdoms that help to restore balance in our external and internal eco-systems. One only has to look at the popularity of forest bathing, earth grounding, tree canopy lines, glamping, camping, water sports, pet ownership, gardening activities, rock collecting and extreme popularity of our national park system, not to mention how the entire planet flocks to the natural world or near it for healing, respite and rejuvenation for a tired body, soul and mind.
In Oriental Medicine (Ease Asian Medicine), we have a plethora of natural medicine tools at our disposal to treat a pattern of disease. A Oriental medical physician might use herbal medicine formulations expertly crafted using a variety of clues from the tongue, pulse, palpation and interview assessment. These synergistic and alchemical herbal formulas combine to treat internal and external imbalances that have been diagnosed according to diagnosed imbalances in the five elements: wood, water, wood, fire, and earth. These imbalances can occur on the physical or energetic fields.
Human Beings are a Microcosm of the larger Macrocosm or Universal Whole
It is not just the physical attributes of nature that we use in natural medicine to help replenish, repair, balance and heal. We also look to how Nature does things by studying its underlying processes and dynamics. Specifically, this involves simple and complex theories involving ancient philosophy and science of yinyang and the five elements. This ancient medicine is process-based medicine and is dynamic in nature and shifts according to season, place, time, space, and individual. A principal tenet in Chinese Medicine states that the Microcosm (body) reflects the Macrocosm (nature, environment, planet etc.) and vice versa. The healing power of nature is understanding the natural rhymes of seasonal attunement and how to use nature’s clues and workings in our daily lives.
Yang Sheng : Cultivating the Life Force
In Classical Chinese medicine, we treasure Yang Sheng as the art of nurturing the vital life force within us, which is very similar to the VIS. The primordial Yang Qi is a deep internal reservoir of healing that bubbles to the surface from our Essence into our everyday lives and helps us to regulate and balance our internal milieu for harmony and health. By nurturing our Yang Qi, we tend to the pilot light of existence deep within us in order to mitigate chaos from those unruly and imbalanced internal and external forces. This intrinsic homeostatic mechanism is a rhythmic light force that not only supplies the requisite heat for all biochemical and PNEI (psycho-neuro-endocorine-immunolgy) transactions, but it holds the potential seed for deep transformation in every cell of our Being. We can cultivate this primordial Yang Qi by regaling the body, mind, and spirit according to the various seasonal influences and attuning to our unique constitution. Yang Sheng nourishes the essential seed of this yang functional energy in order to effectuate a deeper process of consciousness and evolution as well.
Endogenous healing and natural compounds made by the Body Wisdom
This innate natural healing power that resides in our physical-psycho-emotional Being brings us back into balance after disease, imbalance, or stressful times. Sometimes we need time and space for things to shift, and at other times change comes quickly. Our individual nature or constitution (Prakruti in Ayurvedic medicine) is also highly relevant in that we each possess differing degrees of the natural elements in our physical, emotional, and mental make-up. These internal elements then must interact with the external elements that we find ourselves in. Just as the seasons change, we also endure these seasonal changes internally and our bodies reflect these changes as well via the natural aging process.
Mother Earth is our Home and we organically attune to its natural rhythms
Nature calls to us because we live on Planet Earth, its rhythms are our rhythms because it is our home. It is also where are food, water, and air come from and the health of this directly involves Post-natal Qi in Chinese medicine. This is the aspect of Qi that we supplement, nourish, and enhance after we are born [representing our Pre-natal Qi that comes from our parents and is more fixed in nature. Pre-natal Qi can be guided, gentle supplemented and only regenerated with great cultivation, intention, and supplementation over time]
Our bodies innately want to restore balance
Respecting nature and galvanizing what nourishes us is a key component to The Vis or the Healing Power of Nature. There is an innate potential of our bodies to want to heal and restore balance. It is our stubborn prideful Ego that can take us out of what is naturally good for us and take us away from natural healing states. Part of being human is understanding the push and pull of what draws us out so that we can remember the Divine or God or Nature within us that can replenish our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Natural Healing has no side effects and is cost-effective, holistic and sustainable
Natural healing is generally safe with minimal side effects and the effects are more sustainable and efficient since the body is treated holistically. Furthermore, natural herbal supplements can often decrease harmful side effects of medications themselves. Furthermore, herbal medicine practiced by a Dr. of Oriental Medicine can help restore proper physiological function and psycho-emotional integrity to the system. When physical energetics are balanced, the mind and emotions have a chance to come into alignment as well.
The natural world is wise and orderly and holds keys to our nourishment and survival
Surrender is paramount in a deeper healing process because we must let go what does not serve us and give in to higher power or awareness. Part of this process will generally involve enlisting the help of others in the form of help, counsel, guidance, treatment etc. The ability to receive help is very humbling and often difficult for many to do. We live in a western culture of extreme self-reliance and asking or needing help is seen as weakness, vulnerability and worthy of deep shame or guilt. Yet, an integral part of the human experience is opening to our hearts to another and learning thru the eyes, experience, and stories of others.
My healing philosophy and core beliefs and principles around what is possible to achieve in the body-mind-spirit complex have evolved over many years of ups and downs of experimental and deeply connected personal struggles with health, plus the clinical applications of natural medicines in medical school, and the importance of actual integration of natural truths into my own life and ever-evolving professional career as Doctor of natural medicine. I am continually inspired and motivated by the courage and love of my patients, clients and friends who hold universal and natural laws so close to their Heart and Being.
The Acupuncture Healing Clinic of Asheville – Dr. Loop, OMD is now offering Integrative Acupuncture and Custom Chinese Herbal Medicine Formulations, Ayurvedic Treatments, One-on-One Medical Qi Gong Training, Comprehensive Medical Care & Treatment and much more. If you’re dealing with stress & anxiety, depression, insomnia, digestive or immune issues, infertility, migraines, back or chronic pain or another health problem, Please call me – Dr. Loop, OMD. “I am here to help you heal.”
