Your Body Is the Medicine: An Overview of Self-Healing

This post is an introduction to Your Body Is the Medicine – a Global Healing series that dives into eight self-healing systems, how they work, and what you can do to reignite your innate healing abilities.

In an ideal world, your body would be the only medicine you need. Unfortunately, modern living means we are all exposed to a barrage of environmental toxins, external stressors, and unnatural products that hinder our innate ability to heal.

Noncommunicable (chronic) diseases are responsible for 74% of all deaths globally, and they are the result of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors ^[1]. While this is certainly devastating, there is a glimmer of hope.

In many ways, you have control over your physiology, environment, and behavior. By understanding the way your body is constantly working to keep you healthy and supporting those healing systems with intentional choices, you can also have control over your health outcomes.

The Body's Self-Healing Systems

Your body is a machine so advanced it can repair itself, adapt to new challenges, and operate tirelessly for decades. A series of intricately coordinated processes are designed to maintain balance and heal you. 

Inflammation Response 

Inflammation is commonly thought of as a negative thing. However, it's a sign that your body is healing ^[2]. When tissues are damaged, your body releases chemical signals – like histamines and cytokines – which increase blood flow so white blood cells can eliminate pathogens, clear debris, and promote healing. Redness, swelling, heat, and sometimes pain are signs that the body is working to repair itself.

Digestive System

Your digestive system – mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, intestines – breaks down food so your blood can absorb nutrients essential for repairing tissue, creating energy, and maintaining cellular function. Specialized cells in the gut lining act as a barrier to toxins, preventing them from entering the bloodstream and redirecting them through the intestines for elimination through waste. It also plays a key role in immunity, as 70-80% of immune cells live within your gut microbiome ^[3]. 

Immune System

Your immune system identifies and eliminates harmful invaders like viruses, bacteria, and abnormal cells. It relies on innate immunity (general defenses like skin and mucous membranes) and adaptive immunity (specialized responses involving memory cells). When functioning optimally, it recognizes threats, neutralizes them, and remembers them to prevent future illnesses ^[2].

Neurons

Neurons transmit electrical signals that help maintain homeostasis. This vast network keeps your internal healing systems functioning optimally despite external conditions – like regulating your body temperature in the freezing cold or sweltering heat ^[4]. It also uses positive and negative feedback signals to keep you safe and healthy ^[5]. You get positive feedback from beneficial experiences (like feeling happy after connecting with someone you love) and negative feedback from harmful situations (like feeling pain from an injury).

Respiratory System

Your respiratory system includes your nose, mouth, throat, voice box, windpipe, and lungs. It fuels mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) with oxygen required for cellular energy production and tissue repair. As it takes in oxygen, it expels carbon dioxide and facilitates the removal of metabolic waste and other toxins through the digestive system ^[6].

Skin

Your skin – your largest organ – acts as a physical barrier against environmental threats and plays an active role in self-healing. When wounded, keratinocytes (the outermost layer of your skin) and fibroblasts form new tissue, produce collagen, and release growth factors to regenerate damaged skin ^[7]. It also uses immune cells to support a healthy inflammation response, migrate cells, and fight infection.

Cardiovascular

Your heart pumps blood through a network of arteries, veins, and capillaries to deliver oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and immune cells to tissues while removing waste products. When injury or infection occurs, your blood helps repair tissue by sending clotting factors, white blood cells, and growth factors to the damaged area. Your cardiovascular system helps maintain homeostasis throughout your body, keeping you alive and functioning optimally ^[8]. 

Liver

Your liver is a true marvel of biology. As your main detoxification organ, it maintains a healthy internal environment by filtering toxins, metabolizing drugs, and breaking down old or damaged blood cells. But perhaps most incredibly, the liver is the only solid organ that can regenerate itself to maintain a consistent liver-to-bodyweight ratio. Unlike your lungs, kidneys, and pancreas, which adapt to tissue loss but do not regenerate, your liver can regrow up to 100% of lost tissue ^[9].

In today's world, these intricate systems are constantly under siege from environmental toxins, processed foods, chronic stress, and more. 

It's easy to mistake recurring symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or digestive issues as problems to be suppressed rather than signals that your body is asking for support. 

Rethinking Symptoms as Signals

In many medical systems, particularly conventional Western medicine, the immediate priority is to alleviate discomfort as soon as possible. Take a pain reliever to “cure” a headache or an antacid when digestive issues appear. 

While these treatments can bring temporary relief, they don't address the deeper issues that cause concern in the first place. Over time, this approach can lead to a neverending cycle. Symptoms may reappear, worsen, or end up requiring more drastic measures.

Instead of treating symptoms or simply enduring them, listen to what your body is trying to tell you – view symptoms as signals rather than burdens. Then, you can make informed decisions that support self-healing.

Addressing the Root Cause

Addressing the root of health issues – the reason your self-healing systems aren't functioning as they should – offers profound benefits. By focusing on underlying factors that contribute to feeling unwell, you can create lasting change in your health and reduce the likelihood of future issues. Your self-healing systems will function the way they are designed to, and frustrating symptoms will no longer hold you back from living life to the fullest.

Reviving your self-healing systems also promotes a sense of empowerment and control over your health. When you take time to understand why you feel a certain way, you become an active participant in your healing journey and develop a deeper connection to yourself. People who use this method of healing often experience greater vitality, more consistent energy, improved mental clarity, and enhanced emotional well-being ^[10]. 

Supporting Self-Healing Systems

Self-healing requires a proactive approach and daily effort. The three Foundations of Self-Healing – Cleanse, Revive, and Balance – serve as guidelines for restoring your body's innate abilities. 

The Foundations of Self-Healing

Cleanse

Cleansing is the process of eliminating accumulated toxins from the body. Environmental toxins can burden the liver, kidneys, and other organs and hinder their ability to perform essential functions. Effective cleansing involves consistent practices that support the body's natural detoxification pathways.

Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins, eat fiber-rich foods to support digestion and elimination, and incorporate foods that promote liver health. Reduce exposure to harmful chemicals in household products and personal care items that insidiously increase your toxic load. Implement safe, targeted cleanse programs and methods that support natural detoxification pathways, 

Revive

Nutrients are essential for reviving self-healing systems that were once damaged or overwhelmed by toxins. A well-rounded diet will give your body what it needs to repair tissues, support cellular function, and regulate vital systems.

Eat a variety of whole, unprocessed foods rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats – omega-3 fatty acids support a healthy response to inflammation, while antioxidants from colorful fruits and vegetables support cellular health. Additionally, fermented foods and probiotics can improve gut health, nutrient absorption, and immune function. Fill nutritional gaps with high-quality, all-natural supplements that reinforce the building blocks for all of your body's processes.

Balance

Health is not just about the physical body – it's a balance in all aspects of life. Mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being are intertwined with physical health. Chronic stress, poor sleep, and unresolved emotional issues can all interfere with the body's ability to heal itself.

Living a balanced life means nurturing the mind and spirit with mindfulness, meditation, and connecting with nature. It also means prioritizing activities that support mental clarity and emotional resilience, such as journaling, spending time with loved ones, or engaging in creative pursuits. Holistic living encourages you to listen to your body's needs, honor your emotions, and integrate practices that foster a sense of peace and joy. 

Symptoms are not your enemy – they're guides that alert you of what you need to heal. Take control of your health outcomes by exploring the principles of self-healing shared here. Start making small, impactful changes today. 

Your Body Is the Medicine is a Global Healing series that dives into eight self-healing systems, how they work, and what you can do to reignite your innate healing abilities. 

In part two of the series, we dive into inflammation response and how it plays a key role in your body's overall healing journey. 

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†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.

Dr. Edward Group, DC

FOUNDER | HEALER | ADVOCATE

Dr. Group, DC is a healer and alternative health advocate, and an industry leader and innovator in the field of natural health who is dedicated to helping others. He is a registered doctor of chiropractic (DC), a naturopathic practitioner (NP), and proud alum of Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management. Dr. Group, DC is the founder of Global Healing – a mission and vision he has shared through best-selling books and frequent media appearances. He aims to spread his message of positivity, hope, and wellness throughout the world.

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