Salutogenesis – A better model of health for chronic disease?

The origins of health

Salutogenesis is the study of the origins of health and focuses on factors that support human health and well-being, rather than on factors that cause disease (pathogenesis). (wikipedia)

I’ve been researching approaches to treating states of chronic illness and those that could broadly be termed ‘psychosomatic’ – conditions whereby beliefs, state of mind and physical symptoms become thoroughly enmeshed and feed each other.

It’s so interesting that as you start to go into the causes of most chronic disease you find the root is almost always wrapped up in beliefs and behaviours that lead to a lifestyle that isn’t conducive to health.

Lifestyle is not always a simple choice

We must be so careful here not to imply that your lifestyle is a simple choice and that therefore, if you have a chronic illness, it’s your fault – Quite the opposite in fact!

We are mostly compelled to live and relate in ways that are beyond our awareness and understanding.

So the current western biomedical pharmacological model of health and disease operates from a pathogenic model. This approach postulates that health is a given and that medical intervention begins when symptoms of illness emerge, which are then treated using drugs and surgery. This is a fantastic model for treating acute illness like infections and physical trauma and I wouldn’t be here today without it.

But, it’s not so good at dealing with complicated chronic health conditions, because mostly by the time symptoms show up, the behaviour related pathogenic changes that lead to disease have already been happening for years.

A model of hope

So whereas pathogenesis seeks to get rid of disease, salutogenesis seeks, always, to improve health - it’s a subtle difference with far reaching implications.

A pathogenic model is inherently pessimistic and fear driven in that it seeks to avert risk, protect and then fight disease.

A salutogenic model is inherently optimistic in that it seeks to become resilient, flexible and robust so that disease would rarely become an issue in the first place.

A fear based model carries a theme of closing in, protection and vigilance. It is oppositional and combative; seeing disease as an external force to be wiped out. It is in it’s essence quite inflammatory.

Salutogenesis on the other hand is an approach full of hope, expansion and self agency – It moves toward the obstacles to health as they arise with the intention to understand and work with them in the best way available. It requires a positive state of mind that recognises that we have the responsibility, the capacity and capability to change (agency again).

Again, it’s the subtle shift in perspective that is significant – opening to health rather than closing down to disease.

Fostering a sense of coherence

Aaron Antonovsky, who developed the model, believed that a persons ‘sense of coherence’ was very significant in determining if they were moving towards health or disease.

This view resonates strongly with the principles of Biodynamic craniosacral therapy, whereby the aim is to work with each person to integrate the three aspects of life – the mind, body and spirit. An integrated human is inherently resilient and healthy.

Please get in touch if you would like to talk about craniosacral therapy and how it could help you feel more like you have some control over your health.