Our Philosophy

HEALTH, in a human being, is the perfection of bodily organization, intellectual energy, and moral power.

HEALTH is the fullest expression of all the faculties and passions of man, acting together in perfect harmony.

HEALTH is entire freedom from pain of body and discordance of mind.

HEALTH is beauty, energy, purity, holiness, happiness.

HEALTH is that condition in which man is the highest known expression of the power and goodness of his Maker.

When a man is perfect in his own nature, body, and soul, perfect in their harmonious adaptations and action, and living in perfect harmony with nature, with his fellow man, and with God, he may be said to be in a state of HEALTH.

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The above passage is an excerpt from Esoteric Anthropology, a medical textbook written in 1853 by Thomas Nichols, M.D.

This eloquent definition of a topic so often and vigorously debated will hopefully put to rest the idea that health is simply the absence of illness or injury, as described by the Oxford Dictionary.

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Health is a state of being, not just the presence of things (strength, energy, vitality), or absence of things (pain, malaise, sickness). Being in a state of health requires balanced wellness in four key domains: physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual.

We can define these separately, but only in the context that all four are intimately connected, and any illness or imbalance in one, will inevitably lead to dis-ease in the others:

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• Physical - How your body functions. Your digestion, energy levels, muscle strength, joint and bone integrity, aerobic capacity, skin and hair appearance, heart health, visual and hearing acuity, etc.

• Cognitive - How your brain functions. Focus, clarity, decisiveness, a sharp memory, and an ability to learn new things are signs of robust mental health.

• Emotional - How you process and feel emotions. Wellness in this domain includes keeping stress under check, not overreacting to minutia, practicing gratitude, feeling a range of emotions appropriately, having confidence, rejecting apathy, and maintaining a sense of compassion for others.

• Spiritual - Your connection to the Divine. The purely materialistic among us are the least happy. Even if you’re not religious or spiritual in the traditional sense of the words, at least try to see the Divine in something. If nothing else, see it in yourself. If you believe you were created - and not a cosmic accident - then it should be obvious why wasting your mind and body would be displeasing to your creator. “The body is a temple.”

 

For the sake of brevity, we can combine cognitive and emotional into “mental”, or pertaining to the mind. A simpler way, then, to classify this system is: Mind, Body, Spirit.

 

"The way to good health lies in nourishing the mind and emotions, rather than merely repairing the body.” – Chinese Proverb

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It is Paragon’s thesis that upwards of 99% of chronic diseases in the modern world are a result of lifestyle choices and environmental toxicities. Cancer, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, allergies, asthma, IBS, and unexplained organ failures were rare to nonexistent just 150 years ago. Our world and our daily choices have become so hostile to life, we have given rise to almost every major cause of death… seemingly voluntarily.

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Although certain diseases can be pinned on a specific cause, in general, all of the toxic elements of the 21st century contribute to diseases. Food additives like colorings, preservatives, emulsifiers, and gumming agents, genetic crop modification, agricultural chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides, top soil erosion, industrial air and water pollution, chemical based personal hygiene and household cleaning products, excessive blue light and EMF exposure from computers, cell phones, and Wi-Fi routers, a pill for every ill, microplastics in almost every product (including polyester clothing), Instagram jealousy, and a massive shift from blue-collar to white-collar work over the last two centuries leading to sedentary lifestyles, have all combined to decimate the human body.

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It's hard to escape from these toxic, inflammatory, carcinogenic, psychologically damaging, and metabolism destroying elements, but there is a way. This company wouldn't exist if there wasn't. But if we are going to help large portions of the population reclaim their health, major changes are in order. 

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Firstly, we need to move to a holistic care model that prioritizes lifestyle and diet, and relies on pharmaceutical and surgical interventions only as a last resort. Secondly, we need to realign financial incentives for healthcare companies and practitioners to focus primarily on prevention and cures, and secondarily on symptom management.

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PHC is a health coaching company, and we cannot diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. But we can certainly educate, and help our clients rebalance their bodies and lives. 

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​We do this through our four key principles: Naturalism, Bio-individuality, Intuitive Living, and Self-Healing. 

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Essentially, naturalism is the idea that that which is closer to the way nature intended it to exist is purer and more whole, and will integrate more seamlessly with biology. Food is an easy example: genetic modification, processing, and keeping livestock in poor conditions all deviate from naturalism. 

 

"Right living" is a Cherokee term for how to achieve optimal health. It is naturalism defined. 

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Bio-individuality simply means each person has different genetics and physiological functioning. Although staying within the bounds of right living should always be indicated, minor tweaks will obviously be necessary form person to person. This is where an experienced coach can help! 

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​Intuitive living means going within for the answers. If you can tap into your “gut” feelings and truly listen to your body, you will have a personalized lifestyle plan already tailored to your needs. But you need to know how to drown out cravings and temptations that don't serve you!

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Self-healing describes the phenomenon quoted by Hippocrates in the header. Following these principles will create the internal environment necessary for self-healing to occur. In short, the body knows how to heal itself. It just needs the right conditions. 

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Please read our 12 keys to gain a further understanding of how we help our clients heal. 

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“Illnesses do not come upon us out of the blue. They are developed from small daily sins against Nature. When enough sins have accumulated, illnesses will suddenly appear.” – Hippocrates

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“Life in all its fullness is mother nature obeyed.” – Weston A. Price​