(Originally posted on 11/19/2008)

I'm in my 20th year of practicing chiropractic.  That's enough time for one's brain to mutate.......and mine has.  Concepts and ideas about wellness and healthcare that now seem second nature to me elicit eye-rolling, head-scratching, furrowed brows, and occasionally downright hostility from others.

I recently attended a 12 hour ICPA (International Pediatric Chiropractic Association, http://www.icpa4kids.com ) seminar on Perinatal Chiropractic Care, presented by Jeanne Ohm, D.C.  During the weekend, Dr. Ohm frequently made reference to the topic of Vitalism vs. Mechanism.  A deeper look has helped me clear up for myself some of the questions I've had for years about why I see healthcare issues differently than most of those around me.

See if you can identify where you fall on this spectrum.

One who believes in or practices Vitalism has an inherent trust in the wisdom of the human body.  A Vitalist understands and believes in the ability of the human body to adapt, to heal, and to regenerate.  Vitalistic care tends to emphasize encouragement and support of the entire human, and focuses on enhancing function so that homeostasis can be regained/maintained.  Having a vitalistic point of view means that you understand that nothing in the human physiology is random, that all dis-ease and disease is a manifestation of an imbalance of the human as a whole ~ and that imbalances of the physical human, the emotional human, and the spiritual human all contribute to dis-ease/disease in that whole human.  A Vitalist tends to regard illness as a signal that something in their life needs to be brought into better balance, and also understands that every illness has a purpose.

One who believes in or practices Mechanism displays an inherent mistrust of the human body.  A Mechanist treats the symptoms of the parts of the human body, rather than the body as a whole.  Mechanistic care tends to emphasize pathology, symptoms, sickness, and fear, and often appears to favor regulating and controlling tactics over the encouragement of balance.  Having a mechanistic point of view appears to mean that such a one believes that health is something that comes from outside of us, and must be delivered to us by someone else who gives us a chemical, or removes an offending organ, or otherwise short-circuits the body's natural processes.  A Mechanist tends to regard both illness and its cure as "outside jobs."  For the Mechanist being ill is always bad, always a mistake.

Obviously these are the extremes of the spectrum.  Even the most vitalistic practitioner will acknowledge that there are times for a mechanistic approach.  However, you most likely relate more easily to one than the other.  And once you've made up your mind about Vitalism vs. Mechanism, other wellness-related decisions are easy!