Paul Theriault
Hi Everyone.
So I had a conversation with a friend of mine recently about healthcare. Many Canadians have a deep hope that somehow there is a simple administrative fix for the many problems ailing public medicine in Canada.
I disagree unfortunately. As wonderful and noble an institution as Public Healthcare is, I cannot see an easy fix to the problems afflicting it, and I do not see it as being viable in the long term under the current circumstances.
The reason is simply the governing Philosophy that the vast majority of medical practitioners have nowadays. The vast majority of medical practitioners treat the body as if it was a very complex machine, rather than as a self regulating and self organized system.
The consequences of this philosophy are quite vast. Rather than seeing the actions of the body as an attempt to stabilize itself, they are seen as malfunctions, and usually suppressed. Naturopathic medicine has for centuries seen the suppression of acute symptoms as creating chronic disease. Recently research has begun to confirm this. Recently research has shown that consumption of acetaminophen in pregnancy seems to increase the risk of both Asthma and Autism. As well, other acute infectious disease, such as measles and mumps seem to offer many protective effects on, for instance, the development of Cardiovascular disease later in life. Undoubtedly, many other instances of this phenomenon exist.
Almost all the treatment received by individuals in Canada suppresses the bodies’ healing responses. Over time this will create, according to Naturopathic Theory and an increasing body of research, a high burden of Chronic disease. As long as this way of treatment dominates in public healthcare, chronic disease will continue to increase, leading to increased costs and the many problems in healthcare we see today.
I have maintained the solution to this problem is the adoption of Naturopathic philosophy, and Naturopathic Doctors into Healthcare. Through modalities such as Homeopathy, Acupuncture and Hydrotherapy, we can easily and safely treat acute disease, helping the body to accomplish the resolution of its problems, and reduce the burden of Chronic disease..
Hi Everyone. Some thoughts have been occurring to me lately.
Reading through the case studies and writings of the older Naturopathic Doctors and our predecessors, one notices how much wonderful efficacy they had with some very simple modalities. Homeopaths reported successful treatments of very advanced cancers and Infectious diseases. Hydrotherapists reported success with most diseases, Naturopathic Doctors reported great success with chronic illness.
Nowadays our success with similar methods are considerably less. People generally require longer courses of therapy, and more precise targeted interventions before displaying the kind of responsiveness that we previously observed. Why would this be?
I have personally noticed that people having taken fewer courses of repressive medications tend to be far more responsive to Naturopathic interventions. Common use of anti-inflammatories, anti-allergy medications, and many other medications designed to suppress symptoms seems to obscure the bodies ability to heal itself. I’ve also noticed similar trends in people with very poor long term diets, multiple surgical interventions and those who live in psychologically repressive environments.
These factors tend to reduce the bodies vitality, and slowly prevent it from being able to have the curative responses it once did, making healing considerably more challenging.
Much of my practice in recent years has focused on overcoming these factors in my patients. I have not succeeded completely in being able to clear them, but I have had considerable success.
Most of my therapies do focus on either removing whatever stops people from reacting, or on stimulating thier vitality to react more powerfully. If this is something that interests you, Please do contact us.
The Hexapods, despite having a wonderfully large number of proved remedies, still have a large number of Orders which are entirely unproven. A list of the orders with and without provings is given below in chart form.
| Hexapod Class | Classes with Proved Members | Classes without proved members |
| Collembola | None | Entomobryomorpha
Poduromorpha Symphypleona |
| Protura | None | All families unrepresented |
| Diplura | None | All families unrepresented |
| Apterygotes | Thyansura | Monura,
Archaeognatha |
| Paleoptera | Emphemoptera Odonata |
Palaeodictyopteroidea |
| Neoptera | ||
| Exopterygotes | Dermaptera
Orthoptera Mantoidea |
Caloneurodea
Titanoptera Embioptera Zoraptera Phasmatodea, Protorthoptera Plecoptera Grylloblattodea Mantophasmatodea |
| Dictoptera | Blattoidea
Mantodea |
Isoptera
Phasmatodea Notoptera |
| Paraneoptera | Hemiptera
Phthiraptera |
Psocoptera
Thysanoptera |
| Endopterygota | Coleoptera
Hymenoptera |
Neurotoptera, Megaloptera, Raphidioptera, Strepsiptera |
| Mecopterygota | Siphonoptera
Diptera |
Mecoptera
|
| Amphismenoptera | Lepidoptera | Trichoptera
|
Thankfully most of the larger insect orders have proven members. However many major orders are still completely unproven. The Collembola, Protura and Diplura all remain unproven, with only a single proven remedy being available from the Apterygotes, and the Monura and the Archaeognatha being unreprepresnted. The Plaeoptera lack provings of the extinct Paleodictyopteroidea. The Exopterygotes lack provings of the Caloneurodea, Titanoptera, Embioptera, Zoraptera, Phasmatodea, Protorthoptera, Plecoptera, Grylloblattodea and the Mantophasmatodea. The Dictoptera lack provings of the Isoptera, Phasmatodea, and Notoptera. The Paraneoptera lack provings of the Psocoptera and Thyansoptera.
The Endopterygotes lack provings of the Neuroptera, Megaloptera, Raphidioptera and Strepsiptera. The Mecopterygotes lack provings of the Mecoptera, with Siphonoptera having only the most scanty information. The Amphismenoptera lack any provings of the Trichoptera.
Provings in any of these areas would go a considerable way towards advancing knowledge of the Hexapods as a whole.
In general terms a number of insects are particularily fascinating. I have listed a few of these below, along with descriptions .
The Tsetse fly, (Glossina species) is a fly which transmits trympanosomes which cause sleeping sickness, and are yet unpotentised and unproven. Given the close relationship of mosquitos and Malaria, a number of malarial infected mosquitoes should be potentised. If possible a female Anopheles mosquito infected with all malarial Plasmodium species should be procured and potentised as well as proven. Such a remedy is likely to have a profound curative effect, similar to that of the Deer Tick made by Alchemists apothecary, which was infected by four pathogens. Another Mosquito borne pathogen which would do well to have potentised is th West Nile Virus, currently spreading throughout North America. One fascinating species of insect to prove would be the Mad honey of the Himalayan cliff bee, Apis dorsata laboriosa. This honey is made from wild Rhodedendron flowers which impart it with relaxant, and at higher doses, hallucinogenic, emetic and muscle weakening properties, as well as causing heart irregularities[i].
The Human Bot fly, or Dermatobia honinis, would also be an excellent potential remedy, with its potential to cause subdermal infestations of Humans. As well the Oriental Rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis, as the natural vector for plague, should also be potentised, ideally a specimen infected with Yersinia pestis. This pathogen, having caused so much death during the course of history, likely has a deep miasmatic imprint which will likely be extremely useful in treatment.
[i] Asher, C. Giant Bees make Psychedlic Honey. Dec 3 2014. Curious Meerkat. Online Document Accessed October 18th 2015. http://www.curiousmeerkat.co.uk/short/giant-bees-make-psychedelic-honey/.
Myriapods are a poorly proven group. At this point only one proving and one trituration have been done of Chilopods, leading to an extreme lack of knowledge of the homeopathic characteristics of this group.
At this time any provings or triturations of any members of the Myriapods would be very useful. Provings of Diplopoda, Pauropoda, Symphyla, And Arthropleuridea fossils have a particularily high priority, having no provings or available remedies.
In terms of proving suggestions, Ommatoiulus moreleti, an Iberian millipede now introduced and invasive in Australia would be an excellent candidate, as would Xonobolus carnifax a pest species in Sri Lanka which infests thatched roofs. Other species of Millipedes such as Illacme plenipes, with 750 legs, or many of the species which are used by primates as topical insect repellants. Another Genus of Millipedes, Motyxia, displays bioluminesce which likely serves as a defense mechanism[i].
Many centipede species would be interesting remedies. The house centipede Scutigera coleoptrata, is one of the most frequent. Another Genus, Lithobius, is used by the yorube for Kidney and Leg problems. Other species of Chinese Medicinal Centipede, such as Scolpendra subspines would also be useful.
As well, a fossil remedy made from the famous specimen of Pneumodesmus newmani, the earliest known terrestrial animal, could be made without damaging the fossil, and would provide a fascinating insight into the early evolution of terrestrial animals.
[i] Marek, et al. Bioluminescent aposematism in millipedes. Current Biology. Vol 21 Issue 18. Pp R680-1. Sept 2011.
Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Myriapoda#/media/File:Myriapod_collage.png.
Hi Everyone. Given the recent poltical shifts weve had in alberta and in Canada as a whole recently, I had taken to looking at other ways our lives can shift.
One issue which did not emerge in the Federal election campaign in any substantive way was healthcare. I actually find this very curious, as our current healthcare system uses a vast amount of funding without creating the kinds of health outcomes that Canadians truly wish for.
Despite spending increasingly large amounts of money on healthcare, all we generally have to look forward to is a future of increasing disease risk, cancer, and dementia. The currently dominant paradigm of healthcare knows very well how to repair immediate problems, such as broken bones and heart attacks, but very little on how to help people live to ripe old ages free from disease and disability.
Naturopathic Medicine does know how to do these things. Naturopathic treatment is based on creating an environment conducive to long term health, and on stimulating the body’s inherent ability to heal itself. When one does these things, long term chronic diseases are inherently prevented, and the likelihood of long term health. While this has only recently begun to be documented, some research on the subject has begun to be conducted, confirming this very old Naturopathic observation. You can view this research here and here.
At the moment, in Canada, this benefot is excluded from public available medical care. There is, to be blunt, no place in Canada to get this level of excellent preventative care, aside from either having private insurance coverage, or having the resources to pay for it oneself.
Internationally, this is actually quite remarkable. Many healthcare systems outside of North America recognize and incorporate many different systems of medicine into public healthcare. European countries have a large proportion of Medical Doctors trained in and practicing these therapies. China itself has equal access to both Allopathic and Chinese medicine. The world health Organisation has stated in its Traditional Medicine Strategy that Traditional and Complimentary medicines should be both regulated, ensured to be of a high quality and training, and incorporated into public healthcare systems throughout the world.
Canadians have a right to medical care of thier choice, and good preventative care, regardless of their ability to pay for it.
I was recently reading Iva Lloyd’s Excellent book “The History of Naturopathic Medicine: A Canadian Perspective”.
In it, I uncovered a remarkable set of facts about the history of Naturopathic medicine. In i952 in British Columbia a number of private citizens decided to establish a hospital for Naturopathic Doctors to practice in, financing it themselves. They were refused dues to clauses in the medical practice act and the B.C. Hospital act. Similarly a private individual, Sir Victor Sassoon, offered to personally finance a University Chair in Naturopathic Medicine in 1943. The British Columbian government again turned him down.
When medicare was institutued throughout Canada, Naturopathic Doctors were for the most part excluded. Inclusion did occur in British Columbia, but has lost ground over time due to billing structures being direct towards allopathic standards of practice(1).
The situation in 2015 is quite similar. NDs enjoy a large scope of practice in many provinces, but have access to almost no public health funding. Patients must either have benefits which cover Naturopathic medicine, or pay privately in order to enjoy one of the only sources of professional, preventative health care. Naturopathic health care, by the way, has been studied in a number of situations and found to actually cost much less than the standard of care delivered under publicly available conventional medicine. For examples please look here, here, and here.
A similar situation exists with respect to other health professions, such as Acupuncturists and Chiropractors. Neither now has much access to public funding despite being far more effective and cost effective than the standard of care in many conditions.
The fact is that right now, the government is deciding which kind of treatment Canadians have the greatest access to. This decision has nothing to do with which treatments are most effective, but far more to do with historical precedent and with politics. Other jurisdictions such have Oregon have begun to privilege holistic treatments over the conventional due to the massive side effects of the opiate drugs which are a mainstay of conventional pain management.
I am a firm believer in public medicine. I do think Canadians should have access to the treatment of their choice for dealing with their health problems. This is not currently the case, and I have yet to see any reason, other than politics and precedent, that this is so.
(1). Lloyd, I. http://www.bcna.ca/about-bcna/about-naturopathic-medicine/ .
I am going to say, I love Ear Acupuncture!
Like many NDs, I periodically return and reacquaint myself with older modalities. Many of you may remember my earlier days in 2010 and 2011 when I primarily used Auricular medicine as a diagnostic tool. I recently was faced with a number of chronic pain clients in my practice, and have returned to one aspect of Auricular Medicine, Auriculotherapy, for the treatment of these cases.
One patient had a case of sensitivity and pain in his legs due to a disk protrusion in his spine. While treating locally tense muscles, I focused on using auriculotherapy (or Ear Acupuncture) to treat the disk protrusion.
After his first session, he reported an improvement in pain, less nerve tingling and a very interesting phenomenon. When one of the ear seeds I placed on his ear fell out, he continued feeling a pressure there for several days.
Over two other weekly body and ear acupuncture sessions, weve been able to resolve much of the rest of his pain.
Imagine it. Ear acupuncture was able to help a pain originating from a disk bulge, which normal acupuncture owuld only have been able to temporarily relive..
Pycnogonids are completely unknown within Homeopathy. As such any provings or triturations whatsoever would be very useful. Pycnogonids may possibly represent one of the earliest extant arthropod lineages, and as such could have very useful information on the exploits of the arthropods during their early evolution, and the early history of their interact with the other, the earths energy which they are disharmonious with.
Many species are found in relatively shallow water, and would be quite easy to collect. Callipallene brevirostris is a small spider native to the East coast of North America, which is very common on docks. The largest sea Spider, Colossendeis colossea, would also be an excellent candidate.
Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Expl0892_-_Flickr_-_NOAA_Photo_Library.jpg.
Hi Everyone. I just had a new Article published in HPathy. It details the history of triturartions, similarily to my upcoming books, and my previous post on the subject, and includes a trituration of a common remedy, Corallium Rubrum, which I triturated for my Table of Animals project.
I hope you all enjoy it! Please do feel free to comment. I look forward to any feedback.
http://hpathy.com/organon-philosophy/triturations-and-the-trituration-of-corallium-rubrum/
Have a good weekend. Take care of yourselves!.
Hi Everyone. I just made a new video about Autism. I hope you all enjoy it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WExWU5wjJI&feature=youtu.be.