The main difference between wellness care and standard medical care is that wellness care seeks to turn on the natural healing ability.  Wellness care does not add anything to the system; instead, it removes anything that might INTERFERE with normal function.  Wellness care trusts that the body would know what to do it nothing were interfering with it.  Standard medical care, on the other hand, seeks to treat a symptom by adding something from the outside—a medication, a surgery, or another procedure.

Inside-Out vs. Outside-In
If a patient has high blood pressure, a standard medical approach would be to choose a drug that lowers blood pressure, and ask the patient to take the drug.  Whether it’s a nutritional issue, faulty control by the nerve system, or a manifestation of stress, the medication could decrease the blood pressure, but leave the underlying cause of the problem unaddressed, running the risk of side effects complicating the person’s recovery.

The Wellness Approach
Wellness is a state of optimal conditions for normal function … and then some.  The wellness approach is to look for underlying causes of any disturbance or disruptions (which may or may not be causing symptoms at the time) and make whatever interventions and lifestyle adjustments to optimize the conditions for normal function.  That environment encourages natural healing and minimizes the need for invasive treatment, which should be administered only when absolutely necessary.  When the body is working properly, it tends to heal effectively, no matter what the condition.  When the body heals well and maintains itself well, there is another level of health that goes beyond “asymptomatic” or “pain-free,” and reveals an open-ended opportunity for vitality, vibrant health, and an enhanced experience of life.  This is true for mental and emotional health, as well as physical health.  While some people may suffer psychological disorders, creating an atmosphere of mental and emotional wellness will address all but the most serious problems.