Health Blog: The Run is Afoot!

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Naturopathic doctor to run across nation to raise awareness

On July 17^th, 2011, Dr. Dennis Godby – accompanied by his energetic sons, Isaiah and Jeremiah, and nephew, Jonas Ely – will set off on an historic, four-month journey from San Francisco, California, to Bridgeport, Connecticut … on foot.

Yes, on foot!

Why on earth would a doctor with an established practice set off to run more than 3,250 miles across the country? Because of you! Dr. Dennis Godby cares about you and your access to safe, natural health care.

Godby is a licensed doctor of naturopathic medicine, a system of medicine based on the belief that the human body has an innate healing ability. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) teach their patients to use diet, exercise, lifestyle changes and cutting-edge natural therapies to enhance their bodies’ ability to ward off and combat disease.

Since many Americans are not even aware of the many systems of medicine that are available to them, The RUN is a public awareness campaign to educate Americans about natural medicine, and help empower personal choice.

The six principles of naturopathic medicine

• Do No Harm – Naturopathic medicine uses therapies that are safe and effective, as we understand there are many options available before drugs and surgery.

• The Healing Power of Nature ­– The human body possesses the inherent ability to restore health. The physician's role is to facilitate this process with the aid of natural, nontoxic therapies.

• Discover and Treat the Cause, Not Just the Effect –
Physicians seek and treat the underlying cause of a disease. Symptoms are viewed as expressions of the body’s natural attempt to heal. The origin of disease is removed or treated so the patient can recover.

• Treat the Whole Person – The multiple factors in health and disease are considered while treating the whole person. Physicians provide flexible treatment programs to meet individual health care needs.

• The Physician is a Teacher – The physician’s major role is to educate, empower, and motivate patients to take responsibility for their own health. Creating a healthy cooperative relationship with the patient has a strong therapeutic value.

• Prevention is the Best “Cure” – Naturopathic physicians are preventive-medicine specialists. Physicians assess patients’ risk factors and heredity susceptibility, and intervene appropriately to reduce risk and prevent illness. Prevention of disease is best accomplished through education and a lifestyle that supports health.

Naturopathic doctors are primary-care physicians clinically trained in natural therapeutics, and whose philosophy is derived in part from a Hippocratic teaching more than 2,000 years old: Vis mediatrix naturae – nature is the healer of all diseases.

Their practice is based on the same basic bio-medical science foundation that traditional medical practice is. However, naturopathic philosophies and approaches differ considerably from their conventional counterparts. Naturopathic physicians diagnose disease and treat patients by using natural modalities. They choose treatment based on the individual patient, not based on the generality of symptoms. This approach has proven successful in treating both chronic and acute conditions

Information and awareness is power!  Join The Run’s movement and feel your own strength.

The Run: Moving Natural Medicine Forward is the primary project of the Institute for Natural Medicine, a public-advocacy, nonprofit organization. Find out more and how you might support Dr. Godby’s effort at http://www.therun.org.

Dr. Holly Lucille, ND, RN, is a nationally recognized Naturopathic physician, author, educator, consumer advocate and natural products consultant. She is on the Worldwide Scientific Advisory Board of VivaPrime, A lifestyle company offering Holistic Nutritional Solutions for specific conditions.

You can read Dr. Lucille’s full bio here.

Read other health blogs by Dr. Lucille here.

Read other WellWise health bloggers here.