With stress being a major factor in many illnesses, it is imperative that we follow one of the tenets of naturopathic philosophy and “address the cause."

Without adding stress reduction techniques to our treatments, we run the risk of not doing all we can do to address our illnesses, or worse, of adding to our patients’ burdens through any increased physical or emotional strain caused by various prognoses and subsequent treatment plans (think cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy and the stress they cause).

Many patients with serious illnesses can begin to think their own bodies are betraying them, leaving their consciousness adrift in the middle of enemy territory. Let’s consider some ways to reconnect and use our own bodies to heal themselves.

These days, many cancer patients are benefitting from adding meditation, qui gong or tai chi, yoga or massage to their treatment regimens. Whether the benefit comes from mind over matter, on a quantum level, or through redirecting the flow of qi in its proper channels is debatable, but it is clear that these practices reduce overall stress and aid patients in dealing with their diagnoses.

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle Cancer Care Alliance) offers a variety of treatment options for their patients including yoga, tai chi, and meditation and works in conjunction with Bastyr University’s acupuncture department (http://www.fhcrc.org).

Other patients can also benefit from stress reduction techniques. For patients who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or other cardiovascular illnesses, meditation and biofeedback can be useful ways to address escalating numbers.

Mindfulness allows us to slow down, to regain control of our bodies and to prevent events, such as episodes of high blood pressure or stress-induced ulcers and heartburn. Using biofeedback to raise and lower your body temperature, as measured by a thermometer in your hand, effects a change in blood pressure as well.

Focusing on mindful eating and identifying triggers and emotions may seem simplistic, but can also have major benefits on emotional and physical health and well-being.

In today’s fast-paced society, reminding my patients to focus on one thing at a time, to be conscious of the choices they make and to adopt a habit of using one or more stress-relieving activity is a major part of their care. Not only is it beneficial to their bodies, but their spirits gain as well from slowing down.

There is a fullness to life all around us that is unnoticed as we rush from one thing to the next, making our minds absent from our decisions about the way we live and the things that we do. This way of living leads to illness.

To people who “have no time to be sick," I suggest that they consider it time to be well, instead. They say that life is about the journey, not the destination. There is an infinite amount of wonder in our everyday world and if we speed by, we miss it. And then what is the point?

Dr. Katie Baker is the owner of Stone Turtle Health, a naturopathic family clinic here in Ballard on 8th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 62nd Street. She can be reached at info@stoneturtlehealth.com with questions and or suggestions for column ideas.