Man's Path To Optimal Health ©
by Judy Terwilliger RN, CMT

Throughout history and over endless cultures man has searched for the ultimate means by which to remain healthy, active and prolong the gift of life. Many were the successes and failures at each junction of developing cultural practice and the ever growing field of medical science.

Paracelsus, the supposed father of pharmacology, which is the study of the science of drugs and their actions on living systems, put mans quest this way-

"All that mankind needs for good health and healing is
provided in nature…the challenge to science is to find it."

Today's Western medicine has achieved a great many successes in the war against diseases, especially those that are acute (arising unexpectedly and are possibly life threatening) and can be remedied with surgical intervention and or pharmacological (drug therapy) means. Many also have been their successes at working together with the body and it's responses within disease processes to provide treatments that alleviate more dangerous developments and or the associated disease symptoms.

They have been slow however to look at life and health outside of the "disease process box". Consequently, it is only recently that a focus on prevention and nutrition , as it relates to good health and healing, has been of prime concern. Further, emphasis on nutritional supplements to balance out the incredible stress of our fast paced culture are now being given a fairer hearing. In fact, the Journal of the American Medical Association just recently (July of 2002) published the following statement:-

"Most people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins
by diet alone...It appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements".

As with traditional Eastern medicine which looks to the natural (herbal /plant means) and focuses mainly on the healing properties of the body under optimal conditions, a trend toward seeing the individual as a whole unit rather than an ongoing disease process has finally arrived. The day of nutrition as it relates to optimal health has finally emerged and scientific research is validating its importance.

Does this mean that drugs for sickness, acute emergency intervention or symptom specific relief should be done away with? Certainly not. However, what if we could spend more of our dollars and precious time focusing on wellness, whole body nutrition and maintaining life at its individual optimal level? What better way to live -"in good health", preventing illness and providing for the natural healing of our systems.

This is what Bowen Therapy seeks to provide in the physical sense. It works with the natural design and healing properties and or processes that the body possesses in order that healing / maintenance of optimal health can be achieved. But it is not a cure all or mystical event supposed to alleviate the more basic problem of poor nutrition or a lack of needed regular muscle activity (exercise) and possible lifestyle adjustments to reduce ongoing risk to the body.

Each person must take responsibility for their own health across the
spectrum of all of these needs.

I am convinced (many are the documented studies) that good health can be achieved with a balance of a good diet (http://www.eatsmart.org) , rich in a moderated variety of foods , enhanced by the cutting edge technology in glyconutrient supplements (http://www.glycoinformation.com/index.html) and a reasonable regimen of physical exercise (http://familydoctor.org/059.xml).

Unfortunately there are a wide variety of opinions on what is best for each individual. The world wide web provides a maze of information to be scrutinized. This is why the smart consumer does his homework on any therapy, nutritional regimen and diet put forth as " the best". I have provided some helpful links in this article to assist you in your search. Many others exist that are worthy, yet may not provide as clear a presentation of the issues discussed. I prefer the direct, most time and cost effective route in any pursuit and see these professionally as such.

May your quest for optimum health be successful and your determination to see your functional design restored ascend to new heights.

"The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon but only to hold a man's foot long
enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher" - Thomas Henry Huxley

Note: Bowen Therapy is not intended as a replacement for the proper seeking of medical advice from a licensed physician or health practitioner, but rather should be viewed as an alternative or adjunctive treatment for pain and the maladaption process that it produces. This article is also not intended as the giving of legal or medical advice. Consult your family physician for treatment and advice as it relates to your ongoing health needs.

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