1. The state of the organism when it functions optimally without evidence of disease or abnormality.The English word “health” comes from the Old English word hale, meaning “wholeness, a being whole, sound or well,”. Hale comes from the Proto-Indo-European root kailo, meaning “whole, uninjured, of good omen”.Kailo comes from the Proto-Germanic rootkhalbas, meaning “something divided”. Medilexicon’s medical dictionary has three definitions for health, the first being “The state of the organism when it functions optimally without evidence of disease or abnormality” .
2. A state of dynamic balance in which an individual’s or a group’s capacity to cope with all the circumstances of living is at an optimal level.
3. A state characterized by anatomic, physiologic, and psychological integrity, ability to perform personally valued family, work, and community roles; ability to deal with physical, biologic, psychological, and social stress; a feeling of well-being, and freedom from the risk of disease and untimely death.
World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) definition of “health”
The most famous modern definition of health was created during a Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948. “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”The Definition has not been amended since 1948.
During the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion in 1986, the WHO said that health is:
“a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities.”The Lancet questions WHO’s definition of health,An article in The Lancet states that health is not a “state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being”. Neither is it “merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. The article says the WHO definitions of health will not do in an era marked by new understandings of disease at molecular, individual, and societal levels. (The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9666, Page 781, 7 March 2009).Two aspects to healthMost people accept that health can be divided into two broad aspects – physical and mental health.
Physical health
For humans, physical health means a good body health, which is healthy because of regular physical activity (exercise), good nutrition, and adequate rest.As a country’s or region’s people experience improved nutrition, health care, standards of living and quality of life, their height and weight generally increase.
In fact, most people, when asked for a definition of health talk about physical health. Physical health relates to anything concerning our bodies as physical entities. Physical health has been the basis for active living campaigns and the many nutrition drives that have swept the industrialized world. People are exposed to so much “physical health” data these days that it is hard to decide what is relevant and what is not. Another term for physical health is physical wellbeing. Physical wellbeing is defined as something a person can achieve by developing all health-related components of his/her lifestyle. Fitness reflects a person’s cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition. Other contributors to physical wellbeing may include proper nutrition, bodyweight management, abstaining from drug abuse, avoiding alcohol abuse, responsible sexual behavior (sexual health), hygiene, and getting the right amount of sleep.
Mental health
Mental health refers to people’s cognitive and emotional well-being. A person who enjoys good mental health does not have a mental disorder. According to WHO, mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.No matter how many definitions people try to come up with regarding mental health, its assessment is still a subjective one.
People have always found it easier to explain what mental illness is, rather than mental health. Most people agree that mental health refers to the “absence of mental illness”. For some, this definition is not enough. They argue that if you pick 100 people who do not suffer from any mental disorder or illness that could be diagnosed by a psychiatrist, some people within those 100 will be mentally healthier than others. Most people also agree that mental health includes the ability to enjoy life, the ability to bounce back from adversity, the ability to achieve balance (moderation), the ability to be flexible and adapt, the ability to feel safe and secure, and self-actualization (making the best of what you have).
Determinants of health
The health of individual people and their communities are affected by a wide range of contributory factors. People\’s good or bad health is determined by their environment and situations – what is happening and what has happened to them, says WHO. WHO says that the following factors probably have a bigger impact on our health than access and use of health care services:
Where we live
The state of our environment
Genetics\nOur income
Our education level
Our relationship with friends and family
WHO says the main determinants to health are:
Our economy and society (“The social and economic environment”)
Where we live, what is physically around us (“The physical environment”)
What we are and what we do (“The person’s individual characteristics and behaviors”)
As our good health depends on the context of our lives, praising or criticizing people for their good or bad health is wrong. Most of the factors that contribute towards our good or bad health are out of our control. According to WHO, these factors (determinants), include the following, among others:Socioeconomic status – the higher a person’s socioeconomic status is, the more likely he/she is to enjoy good health. The link is a clear one. Socioeconomic status affects all members of the family, including newborn babies. An Australian study found that women of lower socioeconomic status are less likely to breastfeed their newborn babies – a factor which will have an impact on the health of the baby just as he/she enters the world. A South Korean study revealed a clear link between low socioeconomic status and heart attack and stroke risk.Education – people with lower levels of education generally have a higher risk of experiencing poorer health. Their levels of stress will most likely be higher, compared to people with higher academic qualifications. A person with a high level of education will probably have higher self-esteem. A study carried out by researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, found that elderly people who had a higher level of health literacy were more likely to live longer. Another study from San Francisco VA Medical Center found that Literacy at less than a ninth-grade level almost doubles the five-year risk of mortality among elderly people.Physical environment – if your water is clean and safe, the air you breathe is pure, your workplace is healthy, your house is comfortable and safe, you are more likely to enjoy good health compared to somebody whose water supply is not clean and safe, the air he/she breathes is contaminated, the workplace is unhealthy, etc. A study carried out by researchers at Zuyd University, The Netherlands, found that just an hour of sniffing car exhaust fumes induces a stress response in the brain\’s activity. Another study carried out at Indiana University-Purdue University found that chronic lead poisoning, caused in part by the ingestion of contaminated dirt, affects hundreds of thousands more children in the United States than the acute lead poisoning associated with imported toys or jewelry.Job prospects and employment conditions – if you have a job, statistics show you are more likely to enjoy better health than people who are unemployed. If you have some control over your working conditions your health will benefit too. A study by researchers at State University of New York at Albany found that workers who lost their job through no fault of their own were twice as likely as continuously employed workers to report over the next 18 months that they developed a new illness, such as high blood pressure, diabetesor heart disease.Support from people around you – if you have family support, as well as support from friends and your community your chances of enjoying good health are far greater than somebody who has none of these things. A study carried out at the University of Washington found that strong family support, not peer support, is protective in reducing future suicidal behavior among young adults when they have experienced depression or have attempted suicide.Culture – the traditions and customs of a society and how a family responds to them play an important role in people’s health. The impact could be either good or bad for health. The tradition of genital mutilation of women has an impact on infection rates and the mental health of millions of girls and women in many countries. A study published in theJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that when young people dress according to the customs of their own ethnic group, they may be less likely to have mental health problems later in life.Genetic inheritance – people’s longevity, general health, and propensity to certain diseases are partly determined by their genetic makeup. Researchers from Vrije Universiteit, Holland, the Medical College of Georgia, USA, and Duke University, USAshowed that people\’s genes play a key role in how they respond both biologically and psychologically to stress in their environment.What we do and how we manage – what we eat, our physical activity, whether or not we smoke or drink or take drugs, and how we cope with stress play an important role on our physical and mental well-being.Access and use of health services – a society that has access and uses good quality health services is more likely to enjoy better health than one that doesn’t. For example, developed countries that have universal health care services have longer life expectancies for their people compared to developed countries that don’t.Gender – men and women are susceptible to some different diseases, conditions and physical experiences, which play a role in our general health. For example, childbirth,ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer, are experienced only by women, while prostate cancer, testicular cancer are only experienced by men. During wars more men than women tend to be called up to fight, and subsequently become injured or die. Adult women are more likely to be the physical victims of domestic abuse, compared to adult men. In some societies women are not given the same access to education as men – education is a factor that influences health. Many studies have revealed gender disparities in healthcare services, even in developed countries.
WHAT IS DISEASE ?
DISEASE
Noun
1. A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, esp. one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a…
2. A particular quality, habit, or disposition regarded as adversely affecting a person or group of people.Synonymsillness – malady – sickness – ailment – complaint
What is a disease?
A disease is any disturbance or anomaly in the normal functioning of the body that probably has a specific cause and identifiable symptoms. Diseases are one of the factors threatening us from having a properly functional life. Throughout our history, epidemics have caused the extinction of whole populations. Over the last century, man has discovered many microorganisms that cause diseases in humans and animals, and has learned how to protect himself from them, by either prevention or treatment.
What causes people to fall ill?
There are a few agents that cause illness. Possible candidates include the microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and viruses.
Which of these microorganisms cause illness?
How can you identify the cause of the illness?
Why is it important to identify the cause of the illnes
What are microorganisms?
Too small for us to see without the help of a microscope.
Microorganism
Microorganisms are living organisms, most of them unicellular creatures that can be seen Microorganisms are everywhere in our environment, on and in our bodies. In most cases they do us no harm in fact, under normal conditions, our bodies house entire populations of microorganisms, kept in balance and harmless(these are termed endogenous populations). These microorganisms are vital for our bodies; they form an essential system that helps protect our bodyAll of the microorganisms that live with us and in our environment are on the lowest branch of the evolutionary tree. Nevertheless, what they lack in sophistication and superior development, they overcome by tremendous versatility, an ability to multiply rapidly, and, for some microbes, an incredible potential to mutate. Some pathogens reemerge or evolve to become even more pathogenic. Some microorganisms are helpful to humans, but some are harmfulMicroorganisms and other disease-causing organisms, pathogens, come in five different types: bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths, and viruses. In this unit we shall focus on two types of microorganisms: Fungi and Bacteria
WHAT ARE FUNGI ?
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms. Their DNA is enclosed in a nucleus. Many of them may look plant-like, but fungi do not make their own food from sunlight like plants do.Fungi include single-celled organisms that exist individually) the yeasts( or in multicellular Bunches (such as molds or mushrooms). Fungi come in a variety of shapes and sizes and different types. They can range from individual cells to enormous chains of cells that can stretch for miles.Fungi usually grow best in environments that are slightly acidic (a pH of around 5; a pH of 7 is neutral). They can grow on substances with very low moisture. Fungi live in the soil and on the human body, in the house and on plants and animals, in freshwater and seawater.(A single teaspoon of topsoil contains about 120,000 fungi.).Fungi are basically immobile. But they can spread by either forming reproductive spores that are carried by wind and rain, or growing and extending their hyphae. Hyphae grow as new cells form at their tips, creating ever longer and branching chains of cells. It takes a lot to stop them, too. Hyphae are tough enough to punch through plant cell walls and the hard exoskeletons of insects.Fungi absorb nutrients from the living or dead organic matter (plant or animal stuff) that they are growing on. They absorb simple, easily dissolved nutrients, such as sugars, through their cell walls. They give off special digestive enzymes to break down complex nutrients into simpler forms that they can absorb.Some fungi are quite useful to us. We\’ve tapped into several kinds to make antibiotics to fight bacterial infections. These antibiotics are based on natural compounds produced by the fungi to compete against bacteria for nutrients and space. We use yeast to make bread rise and to brew beer. Fungi break down dead plants and animals and keep the world tidier. We\’re exploring ways to use natural fungal enemies of insect pests to get rid of these bugs.
WHAT ARE BACTERIA ?
Bacteria consist of only a single cell—but don\’t let their small size and seeming simplicity fool you. They are an amazingly complex and fascinating group of organisms. Bacteria have been found that can live at temperatures above the boiling point and in those that would freeze your blood. They “eat” everything from sugar and starch to sunlight, sulfur and iron. There is even a species of bacteria that can withstand blasts of radiation 1,000 times greater than those that would kill a human being.Bacteria fall into a category of life called the Prokaryotes. The prokaryotes’ genetic material, or DNA, is not enclosed in a cellular compartment (the nucleus).B acteria live on or in just about every material and environment on Earth from soil to water to air, from inside your house to arctic ice to volcanic vents. Each square centimeter of your skin averages about 100,000 bacteria. Some microbes live on our skin and protect us from harmful agents. The drier areas, like the back, have few microbes; moist areas, such as the armpit, have many more as shown in the video..Some bacteria are photosynthetic—they can make their own food from sunlight, just like plants. Also like plants, they give off oxygen. Other bacteria absorb food from the material they live on or in. Some of these bacteria can live off unusual “foods” such as iron or sulfur. The microbes that live in your gut absorb nutrients from the food you\’ve digested.Bacteria are all around us. Given good growing conditions, a bacterium grows slightly in size or length, a new cell wall grows through the center forming two daughter cells, each with the same genetic material as the parent cell. If the environment is optimum, the two daughter cells may divide into four in 20 minutes. Oh my! 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64… Then why isn\’t the earth covered with bacteria?The primary reason may be that conditions are rarely optimum. Scientists who study bacteria try to create the optimum environment in the lab: culture medium with the necessary energy source, nutrients, pH, and temperature, in which bacteria grow predictably. We are used to thinking of bacteria as disease-causing agents. Indeed, bacteria are at the origin of various worrisome diseases. However, it is important to point out that, in contrast to popular opinion, only a small number of the thousands of bacterial species are pathogenic, meaning disease-causing. Most bacteria do not harm humans at all, and many species of bacteria are even beneficial and vital to our health.The bodies of humans and animals serve as a natural environment for bacteria. The bacteria that live in our bodies produce and provide us with different vitamins.In the human digestive system, there are different species of friendly bacteria which take part in an important and inseparable way. These bacteria are vital to the metabolism of food, the production of enzymes and vitamins (e.g., bacteria that manufacture vitamin B or vitamin K), the demolition of disease-causing microorganisms including fungi, and the regulation of intestinal acidity. These bacteria play a decisive role as symbionts in most multicellularorganisms.Bacteria that live in ruminants\’ digestive system break down cellulose to its monosaccharide components, releasing usable energy in the process.Not only do the bacteria located at the entrances to the body (for example the mouth, skin and woman\’s vagina) not cause damage, they also do not allow disease-causing microorganisms to settle there or to invade our bodies through these entrance points. The essential uses of bacteria for humans can be seen in the environmental protection arena:Sewage-disposal facilities are aided by bacteria in the breakdown of many waste products (not only organic) and in the neutralization of some of the toxic substances that make their way into sewage.Bacteria play an important role in the biological view of pest control—as the natural enemies of different organisms that damage food crops and the agricultural industry.Several bacteria play a major role in modern genetic-engineering techniques: by inserting specific genes into the bacterial cell, the bacteria can be induced to produce the protein which these genes encode. These proteins can then be used to produce medicines and other vital substances, such as hormones.Another use of bacteria is in the making of food, especially dairy products. Special fermentation bacteria convert milk to products such as cheese, cultured milk and yogurt, the manufacture of which would be impossible without them.
THE HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH
Homeopathy is rare among systems of medicine in possessing a clear and thorough view of the dynamics of health and disease. In homeopathy disease is regarded as an affection of the spiritual core of the person, and the treatment of disease is guided by specific laws of healing.
The Law of Similars
First, the law of similars calls for the application of remedies made from substances whose pattern of illness best matches that of the person. This is the fundamental law of homeopathy, and the term homeopathy (“homeo” + “pathy”, from the Greek homoios [similar] and pathos [suffering]) derives from this idea. The pattern of illness is determined through a combination of sources including formal experiment and collected clinical data (as will be explored in future posts).
Homeopathyic diagnosis leads directly to treatment
What makes the homeopathic perspective especially powerful is that the homeopathic diagnosis leads directly to homeopathic treatment. This is markedly different from conventional medicine where a clear diagnosis does not necessarily guarantee clear or effective treatment.For example, in the case of the very common condition of hypertension, diagnosis is simple — three repeated blood-pressure measurements exceeding 140/90 are usually considered diagnostic — but treatment involves the permanent intake of drugs which do not resolve the underlying problem and cause side-effects of their own. Similarly, in autoimmune diseases such as asthma, allergies, arthritis and various skin conditions, diagnosis will often be obvious from the clinical signs, yet treatment is both usually complicated and frequently ineffective.
The homeopathic diagnostic method
Homeopathic diagnosis relies on a sophisticated and thorough clinical methodology. A typical first appointment lasts 1 to 2 hours or more, during which the patient is asked to describe his or her concerns in great detail (if needed, with the assistance of family members).With the help of very specific yet open-ended questions the patient is led exactly to describe the symptomatology and own experience of the disease. Following that, areas which the patient has not already touched on are enquired about: major illnesses, traumatic events, childhood history, recurrent dreams, fears, food cravings or aversions, reaction to weather, etc. This allows for information from diverse aspects of the patient’s life to be used in determining the picture (recurrent pattern, morphology) of the disease.The resulting diagnosis is only mildly dependent on the diagnostic label (‘flu’, ‘diabetes’, ‘depression’); rather, it is based mainly on many small details about the pathology (when did it begin in relation to stressful events in the person’s life? what is the exact sensation? what factors make it better or worse?) and about the person in general (stress factors, lifestyle and hobbies, physical constitution). So it may happen that two people with arthritis will receive completely different homeopathic treatment, and conversely that one homeopathic treatment can be effective for addressing multiple diseases.This clinical approach, unique to classical homeopathy, results in superior clinical effectiveness by addressing much beyond the patient’s chief complaint. Homeopathic treatment typiclaly improves secondary complaints (in those who have more than one illness), and will increase energy, improve mood, and enhance overall vitality and joy-of-life
The Single Remedy
Second, the disease pattern encompasses the whole being of a person, so classical homeopathic treatment usually consists of prescribing one remedy at a time even when multiple symptoms are present, in order to address the (singular) spiritual cause of illness. A homeopathic remedy is a specially prepared formulation originating in some natural or synthetic substance and used in homeopathic treatment.Because the single remedy depends on many factors and not just on the presenting complaint or medical diagnosis, the remedy is necessarily custom-fit to each and every patient. Thus homeopathy is said to offer an individualized prescription that cannot be predicted in advance of case analysis.Finally, the ideal of minimum dose was the main reason that compelled Samuel Hahnemann (the founder of homeopathy) to establish a new system of medicine in the first place. Working as a conventional physician in late-eighteenth-century Germany, he was looking for a way of reducing the side-effects from the aggressive medical approaches of the time (which included the frequent use of mercury and bloodletting). Through this he was led to the serendipitous discovery that whenever there is a correspondence between remedy and disease state (following the law of similars), a medicinal effect will persist even if the original substance is diluted so much that it is no longer present in chemical form.In summary, classical homeopathy rests on (1) the law of similars, (2) prescribing one remedy at a time in (3) individualized form, (4) avoiding suppression by (5) respecting the natural order of healing, and (6) prescribing the minimum possible dose required to achieve a therapeutic effect. This means that whenever a practitioner claiming to be practicing homeopathy does not respect one or more of these principles, he cannot be said to be practicing classical homeopathy, the original and still most-effective form of homeopathy.