Vitalism

What is Vitalism?

“Life is growth and growth is change. The only death is stagnation.”
- Henry Lindlahr, founder of Nature Cure in America and Vitalist extraordinaire.



Vitalism is the study and the cultivation of the vital force, that power which comes from Life and Nature. Vitalism is not a pseudo science, but rather the science of life and empiricism. It is based on more than 3,500 years of human experience and observation; Greek-Arabic, Ayurvedic, Chinese Daoists/Chinese Medicine, Eclectic and Physiomedicalists (as well as many other traditional peoples) are all based in the practice of Vitalism. Vitalism is not a band-aid, but rather addresses the root cause of many symptoms of poor health; in herbalism it is a strategy for the resolution of both acute and chronic illness.

Vitalist Practices May Include Any Combination of:

Prayer and reflections, meditation, eating right for our bodies and food sensitivities, increasing sleep, hydration, proper digestion of food, stretching, increasing gentle physical and movement of the body, hydrotherapy, positive affirmations, and spending more time in nature.


Some Benefits of Vitalism and a Vitalist Practice:

Strengthens the consciousness of personal responsibility.
Strengthens will power and self-control, the bases of natural healing.
Incites purpose and calling as well as gratitude, forgiveness and tolerance.
Avoids heroicism and suppressive therapies and instead cultivates vital power, the “physician” within.
Allows for healing crises - a vital response for which the system has been preparing.

Lindlahr reminds us that Vitalism is from “beginning to end one grand, true prayer.”


Pictures from Tacuinum Sanitatis.
References: Lindlahr M.D., Dr. Henry. Nature Cure. 1922.
© 2007 Amy Rouse & Backyard Remedies.