Why A Root Cause Approach Is Best
When it comes our health and weight issues there’s a natural human tendency to want a quick fix. Afterall, we’re constantly bombarded with ads promoting magic bullets and short cuts. But the reality is that achieving and maintainng good health requires time and commitment, at least if you want long term success.
It’s why at the core of all holistic healing is a Root Cause approach. A Root Cause model seeks to identify stressors that are overwhelming the body in order to restore the body’s natural healing ability.
Six Key Principles of a Root Cause Approach are:
1) Symptoms are critical messages from our body. In my work, I treat excess weight, emotional eating and all unwanted habits around food as “symptoms” of important underlying imbalances that need our attention.
2) There is an innate intelligence in the body that gives us the capacity for self regulation and self healing. I believe that our natural state is health so our work is about identifying what is inhibiting our body’s ability to heal itself.
3) We are all biochemically and genetically unique. There is no one size fits all when it comes to healthcare. Solutions must be designed to treat the individual not the condition or disease.
4) Healing is a dynamic combination of nutrition, lifestyle, genetics, psycho-emotional, spiritual, socioeconomic and environmental factors. Root cause takes into account the whole person and seeks to rebalance body, mind and spirit to resolve or mitigate ill health.
5) Health is a state of immense vitality not just the absence of disease. A Root Cause approach is a huge shift away from the disease-centric approach to healthcare.
6) The body functions as an ecosystem not simply a mechanistic machine. What happens within us is a complex web of relationships and the more we understand this, the more insight we gain into how to cultivate balance in our bodies.
A Root Cause approach is the most effective model for treating chronic conditions, which most people struggle with on a daily basis.
Below are some examples :
Insulin Resistance
Irritable Bowel
Chronic Fatigue
Obesity
Cholesterol Imbalance
High Blood Pressure
Low Thyroid
Anxiety
Diabetes
Fibromyalgia
Menopausal Symptoms
Autoimmune Disease
Insomnia
Sugar Cravings
Examples of Root Cause Factors:
Undiagnosed Food Sensitivties
Hormonal Imbalances
Poor Sleep
Suppressed Emotions
Unresolved Trauma
Relationship/ Family Stress
Job Stress
Low Nutrition
Digestive Imbalances
Lack of Exercise
Chronic Inflammation
Toxin Exposure
Examples of Root Cause Interventions
Making changes in food choices
Restoring digestive health
Mindful eating
Integrating regular movement and exercise
Improving sleep hygiene
Incorporating stress management tools
Cultivating self awareness
Getting proper hydration
Using targeted supplementation with herbs, vitamins
What Are the Advantages of a Root Cause Approach:
1) Creates enduring and sustainable health outcomes
2) Builds an empowering relationship with body, food and Self
3) Avoids drugs that mask the symptoms and set the stage for root imbalance to worsen over time
4) No drug side effects
Bottomline, when you embrace a holistic approach to your health, it opens up so much more possiibiity, more to discover about ourselves, more healing modaliies to explore and try.
Instead of more willpower, shame and blame we’re invited to become more curious and more self-compassionate which in turn makes us more resilient.
A Root Cause approach gives us a roadmap to heal and nourish our whole being and access a deep level of vitality.
As a Holistic Health Coach, I know that a big key is resourcing yourself with the right level of guidance, accountability and support. So if this is resonating with you, let’s talk.
For more on this listen to this week’s amazing podcast guest:
Mind Body Soul Medicine – With Kristin Grace McGary, Health & Lifestyle Alchemist
