Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is an alternative to conventional medicine based on the idea that with the help of special diets, herbs, and other natural supplements the body will heal itself. Overall, it is a less intrusive approach to healing than conventional medicine, which relies largely on drugs that treat symptoms, but not root causes. Naturopathy is very popular all over the world, including Europe, where herbal medicine is the medicine of first choice for close to half of German physicians and close to 25% of the prescriptions written in France are homeopathic.

Though the term Naturopathy was coined in 1895, this type of medicine had been practiced for hundreds, if not thousands of years prior. In the mid and late 1800s in the United States, the standard medical schools taught herbal, homeopathic, and nutritional medicine along with surgery and other more heroic type medicines.

Gradually, the pharmaceutical direction to isolate components of the herbs created more potent, but potentially more toxic drugs. Further, with the advent of antibiotics, the long-term adverse consequences of drugs were not understood and the slower, more gradual effects of Naturopathic medicine almost pushed it into disuse in the early 1900s. The current resurgence is due to, a recognition of both the accomplishments and the limitations of the current medical system, and the efficacy of Naturopathic medicine.

The foundation of Naturopathic medicine is the vitalistic philosophy of the "healing power of nature." This means that within every human organism there is a healing energy, which includes our immune system in the fuller sense of both the physical and the psyche, which is responsible for our wellness and our ability to heal and maintain health

Following this first premise is the second, that the therapies used to support and stimulate this healing power of nature must be in "the gentlest, least invasive, most efficient manner possible".

The third Naturopathic premise is "to diagnose and treat the cause". Naturopaths do not simply treat the manifestation of the disease but rather search for the cause and treat it.

To accomplish these goals, Naturopathic medicine incorporates many therapeutic modalities: herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutrition, hydrotherapy, food, exercise therapy, physical therapy, manipulation of the bony and soft tissues, lifestyle and counseling.

Naturopathic medicine treats the patient from the preventive stage through to serious, chronic and debilitating disease. Therefore, people can go to Naturopaths for colds, bronchitis, allergies, as well as for heart disease, diabetes, and malignant diseases.

To summarize, naturopathic medicine principles are:

FIRST DO NO HARM

Naturopathic medicine employs non-invasive treatments, which minimize the risk of harmful side effects.

FIND THE CAUSE

Every illness has an underlying cause, which can often be found in certain aspects of your lifestyle, environment or diet. Naturopaths are trained to find and help you remove the underlying cause of your poor health.

THE HEALING POWER OF NATURE

Natural forces act powerfully through the healing mechanisms already present in your mind and body. These forces maintain and restore health naturally. This is called the homeostatic principle of physiology. When these mechanisms break down, naturopathic physicians work to restore and support these natural and inherent healing systems. They do so by using methods, remedies and techniques that are in harmony with natural processes.

 

TREAT THE WHOLE PERSON

Health or disease comes from a complex interaction of physical, emotional, dietary, genetic, environmental, lifestyle and other factors. Naturopathic physicians treat you as a whole person taking these factors into account. In the approach, naturopathy is similar to the wisdom of the past as seen in ancient healing systems such as Ayurvedic medicine of India, oriental medicine, Native American medicine and homeopathy.

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

The naturopathic approach to health care can prevent minor illnesses from developing into more serious or chronic degenerative diseases. Patients are taught the principles by which they can prevent major illnesses to live a healthy life.

Internationally, Naturopathic medicine has both popularity and acceptance with the Conventional and Naturopathic doctor working in a more integrative manner. Much of our research comes from countries that will fund studies in which there will not be a patentable product. Hopefully, that situation will change in North America and individuals can choose the type of medical care best for them.