NATURAL DEFENSES AND AUTOPROTECTION - NATUROTHERAPY, AN OLD CONCEPT OF HEALING IN A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Recent molecular-biological and molecular-genetic research has shown t hat important cellular-based autoprotective mechanisms are mediated by heat-shock proteins (HSPs) or stress-response proteins, also called ' chaperones'. This can happen because cells react to extracellular stim uli by activating signal transduction pathways which result in activat ing the genetic program. Molecular biologists and cardiologists are te mpted to evaluate these phenomena in respect to their potential meanin g for a better understanding of the complex notions of health and dise ase. When molecular geneticists or cardiologists talk about autoprotec tive or natural defense mechanisms, and physicians talk about salutoge nesis, they all mean something very specific. The phenomenon seen here belongs to the body's own defense mechanisms which make it capable of reacting to harmful influences and allow it to stabilize a structure and/or function of the body for a certain period. Here we see a connec ting link to the historically grounded term self-healing forces, which has challenged medical doctors in the different historical periods of medical science. They tried to explain these effects based on the cur rent model of the organism. Their understanding of this phenomenon pla yed a role in defining the concept of health and disease. Thus, it see ms very fitting to look back into history, since the phenomena discuss ed here as well as the insights into autoprotective mechanisms will co ntinue to influence medical understanding of health and disease.