The Two Fundamental Principles of Medicine and Healing

I've been ruminating on medicine and healing for a while now and it seems to me there are two fundamental principles:

1) The physician cannot actually heal or cure anything. He or she can only assist in creating the optimal conditions for the body to heal itself, and this is the primary goal of medicine of any kind.
2) if the physician cannot do anything to help create those conditions, at the very least, he or she must do no harm to the patient or contribute to conditions which are adverse to the body healing itself.

     It occurs to me that this is true no matter what kind of healing we are talking about, whether it is physical, psychological, or even spiritual. Without miraculous intervention, the only person who can heal a creature is that creature itself. Someone else can help create the optimal conditions for healing, but they cannot do the healing for the creature in need of healing. The immune system has to seek and destroy invading germs. Damaged cells have to be destroyed and replaced. The psyche must work through the trauma in order to put the trauma behind it. No one can do these things for the injured mind and body, the mind and body must repair themselves.
     As Christians, and just as human beings really, it should be our practice to always create the optimal conditions for healing for those around us, regardless of the nature of the wound or trauma. This involves simple compassion and a willingness to set aside one's own needs for the well being of the other. It involves being willing to see the injury the other person or even animal has sustained and to recognize the symptoms of injury. Even if we cannot actively help, we should be careful not to cause further trauma as much as we are able. Our mindset should be that of genuine physicians that truly care about those injured around us, and to be mindful of our own injuries and care for those as well. What physician is able to care for a patient when they themselves have festering wounds?
     There are those who do not need our help, those who are frankly beyond our help, and those whom we can give help to. Part of doing no harm is to recognize who is who accurately. This comes with experience and mindful observation over time. There are too many who might write off a grievously injured person as though already in the grave. Still, there are too many who would seek to "help" those who just don't need it.
     In any event, regardless of the nature of the injury, we must seek to do no harm to those around us. This is especially true because we frequently cannot see the wounds or trauma which they carry because of how well they might hide them. Those who are clearly hurting can be tended to right away, but those who hide their wounds for fear of being injured more must be actively looked out for and assessed accordingly.
     Finally, we do not want to kill the patient. This, ultimately, is the motive behind "do no harm." We do not want to make their condition worse, and we do not want to push their injury to where it becomes terminal. And with many injuries, this is all too easy to do. The wrong treatment, a misdiagnosis, neglect of the wound; all of these can send the patient's condition off of a cliff. Therefore we must approach each and every person or creature which crosses our path with the utmost respect, compassion, and mindful awareness of both their trauma and our own limitations. It is all too easy to do harm by way of one's own ignorance in attempting to do the right thing.
     Creating the optimal conditions for the mind, body, or spirit to heal itself should be our goal with each and every creature with which we come into contact. Doing no harm to them if we cannot should be ever present in our conscious mind.