Autoregulatory Models

Hygiogenesis

The entire therapeutic approach to promoting autoregulatory self-healing processes (Matthiessen, 1994) was defined as hygiogenesis and represents an alternative approach to pathogenetically orientated, conventional medicine (Hildebrandt, 1977).

The philosophical concept behind this premise follows a teleological concept of health, which assumes that developments and events follow an inherent meaning and purpose and thus strive towards a goal.

Regulatory thinking in the process of disease and recovery means constantly asking the question: "What serves what purpose?" - Illnesses are seen as processes of adaptation, with the opportunity for maturation and reorientation as well as an increase in robustness.

Accordingly, therapeutic stimuli are understood as long-term measures that influence and change regulation. These must be adapted to the individual reaction situation through a finely tuned stimulus dose and stimulus duration as well as the choice of the time of application.

A distinction is made between three stimulus-response phases

• Protection,
• Normalisation and
• Strengthening.

Normalisation

In the normalisation phase, a return to normal function is achieved through targeted stimuli, which primarily target the control processes of the autonomic nervous system and follow biorhythmic intervals. The regulation process is referred to as functional adaptation.

Strengthening

The strengthening phase describes all training effects to increase performance with an increase in energy reserves, muscle building, cardiovascular training, but also adaptation processes due to climatic stimuli and adaptation processes.

Hygiogenetic principles of action

These hygiogenetic principles of action are opposed to the concepts of targeted interventions in conventional medicine and are intended to complement these in a meaningful way. From a naturopathic perspective, a distinction is made between artificial and natural therapy concepts (Hildebrandt, 1977) .

Tab. 1 - Artificial and natural therapy concepts

Artificial therapy	Natural therapy
Direct effect: causal analysis approach	Indirect effect: stimulus-response model
Pathogenetic orientation	Hygiogenetic orientation
Principles of action: Suppression, elimination Control, steering Replacement, substitution	Principles of action: Protection Normalisation Strengthening

Summary

Naturopathy uses natural remedies to stimulate self-regulatory processes aimed at overcoming disorder and illness in the direction of health. The range of methods essentially corresponds to Kneipp's methods. In therapy, it is important to continuously adapt the individual dosage of stimuli to the reaction situation in order to achieve an optimal degree of effectiveness of the interlocking methods.

Hygiogenetic measures always have an indirect effect by activating and training the individual reaction and responsiveness with targeted stimuli. In the course of therapy, the stimulus design is evaluated and adapted based on the reactions in order to achieve the desired regulatory change.

Naturopathic Regulatory Therapy

This includes all concepts for a healthy lifestyle in which the individual's personal responsibility for their health plays a central role. They aim to restore and maintain order in the sense of healthy life processes. Order therapy is generally time-consuming, but not very spectacular.

Principles of order

What is superfluous is omitted, what is missing is added. The former applies in particular to harmful factors that are known to increase the risk of illness.

The therapy, which takes place in detailed consultations between the therapist and the patient, is preceded by a detailed questioning of the patient's lifestyle. The therapeutic instructions are implemented in three steps:

• Information: The connections are absorbed intellectually.
• Changed attitude: The patient recognises the connections between the unhealthy lifestyle and is ready to make changes.
• Behavioural change: Behaviour, habits etc. are positively changed or stopped.

Order therapy orientated towards the various existential levels:

• Personal, individual level: poor diet, lack of exercise, abuse of stimulants and their interrelationships
• Socio-cultural level: family conflicts, stress at work, local environmental pollution
• Superordinate social systems: Reputation of the profession, global pollution, climatic conditions

Even if the content of the advice is often seemingly already known, individual counselling is all about conveying the information that leads to an individual change in behaviour. In order to create the scope for such self-reflection and to provide helpful support, a time frame that is orientated towards the circumstances of the individual case is essential.

Laws of Order according to Bircher-Benner

In 1937, the Swiss doctor Bircher-Benner (1867-1939) paved the way for modern order therapy with his book " Die Ordnungsgesetze des Lebens" and put forward various hypotheses that he called "laws - the realm of order" (Bircher-Benner, 1937) :

• Law of organisation of food: Arbitrary separation into individual components and one-sided preparation of food lead to one-sided and unfavourable nutritional effects. Vegetarian food should be favoured.
• Law of balance in nutrition: The diet should be balanced in terms of quantity, calorie intake and nutrients.
• The law of economics: food intake should just cover demand. We should also behave economically in other areas of life, i.e. nowadays, for example, we should also reconsider the frequency with which we use cars and aeroplanes.
• The law of the mouth: When eating, proper hygiene must be observed. Bites should be chewed sufficiently and food should be eaten in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
• The skin organ's law of order: skin that is appropriately exposed to sun, water, air, heat and cold increases health and well-being.
• The law of order of the lungs: The lungs need fresh and clean air at all times and in all places.
• The law of order of the relationship to gravity: Health in general and the functionality of the musculoskeletal system in particular require regular exercise.
• The law of order of the rhythm of life: The way of life should be adapted to the daily, monthly and annual rhythms. This affects, for example, the sleep/wake cycle or the work/holiday rhythm.
• The law of order of the soul: a poorly nourished and untrained body creates psychological problems. Every state of excitement leaves its mark on the psyche and soul. Persistent conflicts should be resolved.

Areas of Application

In principle, recommendations based on the principles of order therapy can usefully support the treatment of any illness. Practical experience shows that it is precisely the less spectacular tips, when implemented consistently, that often achieve surprising effects.

So far, there have been no studies that have specifically focussed on the effects of exercise therapy. Positive effects of individual aspects, such as a healthy diet or the effects of exercise therapy, have already been scientifically proven.

Mind Body Medicine

Chapter in planning.

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Sources and references

• Bircher-Benner, M. O. (1937). Ordnungsgesetze des Lebens. Bircher-Benner.
• Hildebrandt, G. (1977). Über die Wirkprinzipien der künstlichen und natürlichen Therapie und die Notwendigkeit chronobiologischer Begutachtung. In Büttner, G. & Hensel, H. (Hrsg.), Biologische Medizin: Grundlagen ihrer Wirksamkeit (S. 170–179). Verlag für Medizin Dr. E. Fischer.
• Matthiessen, P. F. (1994). Zum Paradigmenpluralismus in der Medizin. Hufeland Journal, 9, 61–71.

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Auth.: glt | Rev.: gbh | Ed.: pz | last modified May 16, 2025