The Hippocratic Oath for You

It is customary for medical school graduates to take an oath as they graduate from school and enter the profession of medicine. This practice stems from Hippocrates, widely consider the father of western medicine.  There are many facets of the oath ranging from answering to deity, providing free medical education, practicing confidentiality, not working beyond our expertise, proscribing abortion and avoiding personal relationships with patients.  The most widely known tenant is in regarding doing no harm.  The original version states:

I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice (www.pbs.org).


I recently saw a patient who told me she was trying to apply the Hippocratic oath to her own body, meaning she was trying to first, do no harm to her body.  As I thought about that concept, it sat rather well with me.  I spend much of my day as a physician preaching the admonition to first do no harm and second do your body right.  Harm comes in many forms.  The human body is an incredible organism capable of self repair and growth.  For most of us, if we give it the chance to work right, we will have the means to live a long, healthy life.  If the body is forced to deal with self inflicted damage, it's defenses will wear down and it won't have as much energy to spend on normal processes to keep the body going strong.  


The easiest form of harm to conceptualize comes from that which we ingest.  This ranges from that which we eat as food, the medicine that we take and the supplements that we consume.  I have discussed all of these previously in earlier posts (see categories: watch what goes in).  Illicit drug use, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption are the most important toxins to get a handle on.  Each is truly a poison and will only lead to harm.  Other chemicals such as caffeine and artificial sweeteners are less dangerous and not as well understood but should be avoided or limited at least.  The more food we eat off of bushes, picked from trees or dug out of the ground, the better off we will be (God's food).  The less processed food (that which comes out of cans, boxes and wrappers) we consume, the less toxins we have to process (Man's food).  Keep it simple and keep it healthy.  


Harm also comes in the form of exposure to infectious diseases.  Those we do not follow safe sexual practices may harm themselves for the rest of their lives.  Good hand washing skills are important to limit exposure. Simple measures such as coughing into the crook of one's elbow instead of the hand may not keep us from being ill but it may for our close contacts.  Using helmets on bikes and motorcycles and seat belts in cars can be life saving.  Being smart about sun exposure and using sunscreen is another simple measure to avoid harm.  We can do harm to our bodies by getting too little sleep.  Stress, likewise, can adversely affect our health.  


Lastly, there is sometimes a need to experience short term harm for beneficial long term effects.  Avoiding a prescribed medication due to possible side effects, while ignoring a serious health condition can cause serious harm in the future.  Exercise also falls into this category.  Muscles and bones get stronger, only after first being broken down, thus the adage, "no pain, no gain."  Again, our physical body is a marvelous structure.  You are the steward of this great gift.  Will you take the oath?  Will you accept the challenge?  First, do no harm.