Looking at Obstacles to Cure from a Naturopathic Perspective

In homeopathic theory, German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, who founded homeopathy, discussed the concept of an obstacle to cure. From my perspective, this means that something is impeding a person’s ability to heal. It can manifest in various forms, including lifestyle habits, chemicals, foods, and environmental and social causes.

What can this look like for you?

This is something for you and an investigative doctor of cause to assess. I have done this for years with patients. It requires capacity and willingness on both the part of the patient and the doctor to evaluate. Illness and trauma tend to shut people down, making it difficult for them to see their options. It is important to be humble enough to identify the truth of causes and obstacles if treatment is not working.

Common Obstacles to Cure:

Work

Workplace bullying and overwork can significantly hinder the body’s ability to detoxify and heal. Our bodies need downtime. In my master’s thesis on how Chinese medicine is evolving in America, doctors I interviewed noted that in China, they saw more infectious diseases, while in America, where there are more opportunities, they saw more diseases of deficiency.

Toxic Relationships/Family

Patients who come from abusive families or get into abusive relationships often develop chronic illnesses. For instance, one patient in an abusive marriage for 28 years had to have her breasts, ovaries, and uterus removed due to cancer. Her femininity had been under assault for years, and her body was crying out the symptoms. Multiple young patients from abusive families have developed cancer in their teens. Research shows that the more Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) a patient has, the more they are set up for chronic illnesses later in life.

Foods

Eating food allergens, sensitivities, or intolerances can contribute to various diseases. Inflammatory oils, chemicals, and hormones in foods also impact patients. Many of my patients feel better when they stop eating out as much and prepare cleaner, unprocessed, and less inflammatory food at home.

Emotional Blockages

Life’s unexpected shocks, losses, and traumas can leave emotional blockages. If unprocessed, these can keep the body in a neurological state of fight or flight. I have found five-element acupuncture and having someone safe to talk with can be excellent in helping patients process these shocks and losses.

Allopathic Medicines

If someone’s symptoms result from an adverse effect to medications, there’s not much I can do except help detoxify once the patient stops exposure. Being transparent with your doctor of cause will help them assess if your medications are causing harm.

Too Much EMF Exposure

We are bombarded with more EMFs than ever. Turning off the router and using Faraday cases may be helpful.

Unhealthy Daily Habits

Lack of exercise, sleep, improper social support, and habits like alcohol or drug use may impair your health.

Other obstacles to cure that may impede your healing progress include:

• Iron overload
• Heavy metal exposure
• Parasites
• Undiagnosed illnesses

If you feel like you’re not getting better despite doing your best to be on a healing path, reach out to Dr. Rubiales at Scottsdale Holistic Medicine at 928-862-2914.