Causality

From Health Facts
Jump to: navigation, search
Latest Edit: Iva 2011-05-30 (EDT)

Causality is typically viewed as being either:

  • Linear: Linear causality is based on the belief that there is a direct relationship between one cause and one effect. Based on this assumption it is feasible to test individual drugs or treatments in isolation. The concern is that many people are on multiple drugs at the same time as well as different supplements, herbs and dietary and lifestyle habits. Although potential adverse interactions and events are often listed, there is minimal consideration for the overall impact of the drug or treatment on the rest of the body nor the acknowledgment that linear relationships are not indicative of real life. These theories have been beneficial in explaining many complex processes in the body, and continue to save many lives. Yet there are concerns, both within and outside the field of conventional medicine, that this approach has it's limitations.
  • Mutual: Mutual causality acknowledges that similar conditions often produce dissimilar results based on external factors and internal feedback influences. For example, it is seldom possible to say that one factor caused a direct change in health; often there are many different factors, with varying degrees of impact. Similarly, a single factor can have many different impacts because of the uniqueness of each person. Naturopathic medicine recognizes this and realizes there is seldom one treatment for any specific symptom or disease that works for everyone.