Therapeutic Order

The Therapeutic order is a natural hierarchy of therapeutic intervention, based on or dictated by observations of the nature of the healing process, from ancient times through the present. It is a framework from which a Mineral Balancing Practitioner works to develop recommendations for their clients.  It is deeply interwoven with the principles and with the process of healing (Zeff, et al. 2006).

The Therapeutic Order uses the use the lowest force interventions possible to both support the natural work of the Inner Physician and avoid harm to the client. It first addresses the cause(s) of ill health, and does so in a holistic manner with regard to all aspects of the body, mind and spirit of the client, allowing the client to learn through the therapeutic process how to heal and maintain their own health.

It can be very helpful when first learning to work with this framework to view each level singly — to compartmentalise the types of interventions or therapies that can fall at each level and to view the levels in a step-wise manner to maximise understanding of the underlying philosophy. However, an experienced practitioner can view the framework through a more complex lens, with an understanding that each level of the order will tend to be iterative of the level(s) above it, and that compartmentalisation of certain approaches at a given level can be an over-simplification.

For example, if a practitioner recommends an herb to support liver function in a client with an overload of toxins or signs of liver compromise, one view of this is to put that therapy at level 3 of the therapeutic order, as tonifying a weakened system. However, it can also be argued that a well-functioning liver is essential to vitality, and so strengthening it is perhaps also falling at level 2, as stimulating the Inner Physician (an argument that is even more compelling if the energetic aspects of the herbs are taking into consideration). For the purposes of this blog post, we will adopt the more compartmentalised view in order to establish firmly an understanding of the general tenor of each level of the order.

Establish the Foundations of Health

The therapeutic order follows a step-by-step approach to supporting and promoting health. It begins with the lowest force lifestyle interventions suggested by Mineral Balancing Practitioners, which focus on the client's daily lifestyle, environment, diet, and habits.

The goal is to identify and eliminate disturbing factors or obstacles to health, while also promoting a healthier regimen. This two-pronged approach is directly linked to the healing process and Inner Physician, which recognizes that disturbing factors are responsible for the organism's reactive state.

The removal of disturbing factors is a vital component of the healing process — it is addressing the cause. Another term that can be used to describe disturbing factors is ‘obstacles to health’. The terms are relatively synonymous, but the difference in description can provide insight to a Mineral Balancing Practitioner who is working to discern the client’s needs at this level of the therapeutic order.

A disturbing factor might be readily identifiable as an active force in a person’s life, whereas an obstacle to health might look more like a blockage. In practice, these often turn out to be the same things — the things causing perturbations in health are the same things that are getting in the way of a return to health. If the first prong is viewed as ‘non-healthful things to be removed’, then the second prong, instituting a more healthful regimen, can be viewed as ‘healthful things to be added’ to a client’s way of life.

Again, at this initial level, the Mineral Balancing Practitioner is focused on the lowest force interventions, which generally will consist of behavioural or dietary changes on the part of the client. The guidance for the many different areas of life and habits that might be addressed in a holistic manner at this level is provided by the determinants of health.

Even though this first level of the order contains the lowest force interventions, it is important to note that, depending upon the client’s overall condition, state of vitality or toxicity, and specific pathological conditions, the safety of the client must always be taken into consideration with any recommendation in order to avoid harm. For example, advising a client with pronounced kidney dysfunction to change their water intake, or advising a client with insulin-controlled diabetes mellitus to alter their dietary patterns, must be done cautiously and with close attention to the potential negative outcomes of these recommendations, which would be safe in other types of clients.

2. Stimulate the Vital Life Force (the Inner Physician)

When using the lowest force interventions at the initial level of the therapeutic order, the Mineral Balancing Practitioner is partnering with the client to give their Inner Physician what it needs to help bring them back to normal health and to remove things that are getting in the way of it doing its job. But in that first level we are relying on the client’s vitality in its current state to guide the process of healing.

Some clients can be helped at the first level alone, but many clients, especially those with chronic health conditions, have a lowered vitality and often need additional support.

At the second level of the therapeutic order, the Mineral Balancing Practitioner is providing a slightly higher level of involvement, while still relying on the client’s innate healing capacity. This acknowledges that the client’s current state of vitality may need support or stimulation in order for the first-level interventions to return the client to health.

At the second level, the Inner Physician is encourage/nourished in order to increase the effectiveness or strength of the client’s innate healing processes. There are several ways that this can be accomplished, and the particular intervention chosen for an individual client will depend on:

• The condition of the client

• Their level of vitality, and

• Their choices as to what to pursue

Perhaps the simplest ways to encourage the Inner Physician are by exposure to the natural elements: fresh air, sunshine, time spent in nature, honouring of the rhythms of nature in daily life, and the therapeutic use of water. These are just some examples.

With hydrotherapy being one of the core therapeutic modalities of traditional Mineral Balancing Practitioner, the modern body of knowledge on the therapeutic use of water is vast, can be applied in a highly individualised way and is perhaps underappreciated in Mineral Balancing practice.

Other methods for increasing vitality and stimulating the Inner Physician are modalities that we might call ‘energetic’ in nature, such as breath work or gentle body movement, ingestibles such as homeopathy, tissue salts, flower essences, and acupuncture or other related therapies that move or unblock the flow of energy. The latter of these are considered to be stimulations that are more specific because they tend to be administered according to the particular presentation of the client. Nonetheless, the result is a stimulation of the vital force.

In the second tier of the Therapeutic Order, the vital life force can be achieved through two general approaches; a general, or specific.

In the general approach to stimulating the vital life force, healthcare practitioners focus on promoting overall health and well-being. This involves a holistic approach that takes into account various aspects of an individual's lifestyle and environment.

One important aspect of this approach is adopting a healthful diet, which can provide the body with the necessary nutrients and energy to function optimally. A diet rich in whole foods, fruits, and vegetables can also help to reduce inflammation and support the immune system.

Another aspect of the general approach is exposing oneself to natural elements, such as spending time in nature or getting fresh air and sunlight. These activities can help to reduce stress, improve mood, and promote relaxation, all of which are important for overall health and well-being.

Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, massage, or meditation are also commonly used in the general approach to stimulating the vital life force. These therapies work by promoting the flow of energy in the body and helping to balance the body's energy systems. Acupuncture involves the use of fine needles that are inserted into specific points on the body, while massage helps to relax muscles and improve circulation. Meditation is a practice that involves focusing the mind and calming the body, which can lead to reduced stress and improved mental clarity.

The specific approach, on the other hand, involves using therapies that are targeted towards specific conditions or symptoms. For example, herbal medicine or homeopathy may be used to address specific health issues or imbalances in the body's energy systems. While these therapies are more targeted than general approaches, they still work by gently stimulating the body's natural healing mechanisms.

The specific approach to stimulating the vital life force involves using targeted therapies that are tailored to address specific conditions or imbalances in the body's energy systems. These therapies work by addressing the root cause of the problem and helping the body to activate its own natural healing mechanisms.

One example of a specific therapy is Constitutional homeopathy, which involves the use of highly diluted substances to stimulate the body's natural healing processes. This therapy is tailored to the individual's unique constitution and symptoms and can help to restore balance to the body's energy systems.

Flower essences are another form of specific therapy that work by using the energy of plants to address emotional and mental imbalances. These essences are prepared by infusing flowers in water and then diluting the solution, creating a vibrational medicine that can be used to support emotional well-being.

Acupuncture, which was mentioned earlier as part of the general approach, can also be used as a specific therapy to address specific health issues. The practice involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the flow of energy and restore balance to the body's energy systems.

External Qigong is another form of specific therapy that works by using external energy to stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms. This therapy involves the use of hand movements and touch to channel energy into the body, helping to restore balance and promote healing.

Reiki is a Japanese technique that involves the use of light touch or no touch to balance the energy in the body. It works by promoting relaxation and reducing stress, which can help to support the body's natural healing mechanisms.

Other forms of energy medicine, such as biofield therapies or energy psychology, may also be used as part of the specific approach to stimulating the vital life force. These therapies work by addressing the energy systems of the body and helping to restore balance and promote healing.

By using targeted therapies to address specific health issues or imbalances, the specific approach to stimulating the vital life force can help to support the body's natural healing mechanisms and promote overall health and well-being.

3. Support Weakened Systems

The third level of the therapeutic order is employed when the first two levels fail to initiate the healing process or assist the client in progressing towards recovery. It is used in cases where there are longer-standing chronic illnesses, more severely lowered vitality, or when organs or systems may be inherently weak.

At this level, Mineral Balancing Practitioners employ natural therapies that can be ingested and provide targeted support to a particular organ or system.

To determine which systems, need support, Mineral Balancing Practitioners prioritize Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis as it offers crucial insights into multiple systems, and minerals are deemed a fundamental aspect of overall health. They must also consider other vital systems such as ANS, Detoxification, and GIT, and allocate some attention to subsystems like the menstrual cycle within the endocrine system.

The natural therapies used at this level include targeted nutritional interventions, herbal medicine, or specific forms of bodywork or energy medicine. Nutritional interventions involve the use of specific nutrients or supplements to support the function of weakened organs or systems. Herbal medicine uses specific plants to support the body's natural functions. Bodywork therapies such as massage or chiropractic promote relaxation, reduce tension in the body, and improve circulation. Energy medicine techniques such as acupuncture or Reiki promote the flow of energy in the body and restore balance to the body's energy systems.

Mineral Balancing Practitioners make recommendations at this level after assessing the systems in each client that exhibit signs of reduced or impaired function. The level is particularly useful when systems or organs have been overwhelmed or compromised for an extended period. The focus is mainly on nutritional recommendations, which aid the Inner Physician's movements to perform its functions more efficiently.

Supporting weakened systems in the body can be achieved through a variety of natural therapies, including animal glands and medicinal plants with a tonifying or strengthening action on specific organs or systems.

Animal glands such as thyroid, adrenal, or pituitary glands contain natural hormones and nutrients that can support the function of the corresponding human glands. For example, the use of thyroid glandulars may be beneficial for individuals with hypothyroidism, while adrenal glandulars may be useful for those experiencing adrenal fatigue.

Medicinal plants, also known as herbs, can also be used to tonify and strengthen specific organs or systems in the body. For example, milk thistle is commonly used to support liver function, while ginseng may be used to support the immune system and improve energy levels.

Therapeutic exercise is another form of natural therapy that can be used to enhance specific body systems or organs. Yoga and qigong, for example, focus on specific postures and movements that are believed to promote the flow of energy in the body and support the function of various organs and systems. Therapeutic stretching may also be used to improve circulation, reduce tension, and promote healing in specific areas of the body.

4. Correct Structural Integrity

The relationship between structure and function is very close. If a structure is compromised, such as impeded blood flow or nerve conduction to an organ, its function will be altered — either weakened, irritated/ inflamed, stagnated.

Structural changes can sometimes precede functional changes, such as in the case of an injury that causes skeletal misalignment or scar tissue formation. Conversely, functional changes can sometimes cause structural problems, such as chronic inflammation leading to muscle imbalances and asymmetrical stresses on the skeleton, nerves, and blood vessels.

Manual therapies can address some structural issues, but if a functional issue caused the structural problem, then the underlying functional problem must also be addressed at earlier levels of the therapeutic order. Otherwise, the structural therapy will likely only have short-lived effects.

When addressing structural integrity, recommendations may include manual therapy (such as chiropractic or osteopathy), specialized forms of massage, exercise prescriptions, or physiotherapy. If the structural problem was caused by a forceful trauma or poor posture, the recommendation may be more straightforward. Since Mineral Balancing is a domain of Naturopathy, it has a long history of being intertwined with chiropractic and osteopathy, and many early naturopaths were also trained in these medical systems.

Examples of therapies used at this level include postural correction techniques and manual therapies. Postural correction techniques may involve exercises or other interventions aimed at improving the alignment of the body and promoting proper posture.

Manual therapies, such as chiropractic, osteopathy, or massage therapy, may also be used at this level to address any structural imbalances or misalignments in the body. These therapies work by using hands-on techniques to manipulate the body's soft tissues and bones, promoting proper alignment and improving the functioning of the musculoskeletal system.

Other therapies commonly used at this level is physiotherapy. physiotherapy involves the use of targeted exercises and other interventions to restore function to the body's musculoskeletal system.

Overall, the fourth level of the therapeutic order is focused on correcting any loss of structural and functional integrity of the musculoskeletal system. By using targeted therapies to improve posture and address imbalances in the body's structure, practitioners can help their clients to overcome pain and dysfunction and improve their overall health and well-being.

5. Targeted Natural Therapy

The initial four stages of the therapeutic hierarchy do not focus directly on the specific pathology in relation to Western medical diagnosis, that is, the labelling of the illness using those terms. Rather, the focus is on the person as a whole, taking into account their lifestyle and surroundings, as well as identifying any under-functioning or compromised organ systems or structures. The only consideration given to the pathology is to ensure the client's safety and prevent harm.

In the fifth stage of the therapeutic hierarchy, the Mineral Balancing Practitioner shifts their focus towards the identified pathology and pathophysiology. Although most clients will see improvements and move towards healing with the application of the first four stages, in certain cases, a more forceful intervention may be necessary. At this level, the practitioner uses natural interventions in a similar manner as a medical doctor uses synthetic pharmacological agents. Therefore, this level is often referred to as "green allopathy." Here, natural interventions are employed to directly counteract the pathogenesis or signs and symptoms of the condition. For instance, in the case of type 2 diabetes mellitus, herbs or nutrients may be used to lower elevated blood sugar or increase insulin sensitivity of cells directly. Similarly, in the case of an inflammatory conditions, herbs or nutrients with an anti-inflammatory action may be used. It's worth noting that recommendations at this level may be suppressive, which is one of the reasons why this level is considered to have higher force interventions. Additionally, this level marks a shift in the practitioner's approach, from working with the organism to working against the symptoms, thereby deviating from the foundational philosophies.

6. Drug Therapy - Supress Pathology

In order to provide a comprehensive approach to healthcare, levels 6 and 7 of the therapeutic order are essential as they encompass a full range of interventions that may be necessary in certain cases. While it may not be within the scope of a Mineral Balancing Practitioner’s practice, or even the majority of healthcare professionals, to offer these high-force interventions, it is important for practitioners to recognize their potential role in assessing risk and making appropriate referrals to specialists, general practitioners, or emergency departments when necessary.

Suppressive measures are generally considered to be counterproductive to the body's natural healing mechanisms, such as inflammation, which play a crucial role in the self-healing process. Suppressing these mechanisms can mask the symptoms of the disease but fail to address the underlying disturbances or factors that are disrupting the body's function. For example, the use of steroidal anti-inflammatory and antihistaminic drugs to treat acute asthma may effectively open the airways, but prolonged use can weaken the patient. Therefore, it is important to address the root cause of the pathology rather than simply suppressing the symptoms.

Practitioners should be knowledgeable about integrative medicine and make referrals to medical practitioners when necessary to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Overall, an individualized and comprehensive approach to healthcare is necessary to address pathology and promote healing.

7. Surgically Remove Pathology

Similar to the 6th level of the Therapeutic Order, the 7th level is beyond the scope of practice for a Mineral Balancing Practitioner. This level aims to suppress or surgically remove a pathology, which may be necessary in certain life-threatening or limb-threatening situations. Medical doctors are trained to perform such interventions using powerful and effective tools. However, suppression of symptoms or surgical removal of a pathology may not address the underlying causative factors, leading to the development of other disturbances or pathologies.

At this level, therapies aim to completely suppress the symptoms of the disease or remove it entirely, which may be necessary for conditions like tumours or diseased organs, or in life-saving situations involving severe acute or chronic degeneration. Referral to a medical practitioner is required for this level of intervention.

References

• Zeff, J., Snider, L., Myers, S., & DeGrandpre, Z. (2006). A hierarchy of healing: The therapeutic order. A unifying theory of Naturopathic medicine. In J. Pizzorno & M. Murray (Eds.), Textbook of natural medicine (3rd ed., pp. 18‐33). St Louis: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.