Overview
Naturopathy is a unique form of healthcare that uses modern medicine with traditional methods.
Naturopathic medicine focuses on:
Optimising the body’s own capacities to heal
Preventing different medical conditions
Affiliating a personal responsibility to health
Emphasising diet, exercises, and stress management
The principles of naturopathy were first used in 400BC by the Hippocratic School of Medicine. These principles stem from the beliefs of the Greek philosopher Hippocrates, who is considered today the father of medicine.
During his life, Hippocrates emphasised the importance of addressing the patient as a whole to determine the underlying disease and treat it. In contrast, modern medicine focuses more on treating the underlying disease.
Interestingly, many modern doctors started using the principles of naturopathy to provide better healthcare quality and prevent relapses, especially when treating chronic illnesses.
You might be wondering, “how can I benefit from naturopathy?”
To answer this question, we will cover the principles, uses, benefits, and the reasons you should receive naturopathy treatments.
What is naturopathy?
Naturopathy incorporates a set of principles to create individual health plans.
These include:
Self-healing – promoting self-healing and removing obstacles that stand in the way of wellbeing.
Underlying condition – focusing on underlying diseases instead of treating the symptoms. Your naturopath resolves the underlying physical or mental illness by addressing your body, mind, and spirit.
Holistic treatment – your naturopath will recognize your individuality to address all aspects of your health.
Education in treatment – naturopaths emphasise self-care to empower people to learn how to self-heal.
Preventive measures – ensuring that you have a healthy lifestyle and that your body is free of toxins or unhelpful habits to prevent health concerns in the future.
No side effects – all treatment plans should not cause any side effects to improve current symptoms.
Examples of therapies used in naturopathy include high grade herbal medicine, nutritional supplementation, homeopathy, health coaching, flower essences and so much more.
Possible treatments
Most naturopaths include diet and nutrition as part of their treatment plan. This involves evaluating your diet to address health concerns and promote well-being. Even little things like adding in green leafy vegetables to aid bloating or lemon on foods to support digestion - but remembering what works for one person may not work for another.
As you may already know, nutrition is absolutely vital to improve your health and promote wellbeing. Therefore, naturopaths are using the potential benefits of healthy ingredients to overcome your current health concerns.
Other treatments used in naturopathy include:
Daily sunshine
Moving your body in restorative ways
Behavioural mortifications (e.g., lifestyle)
Herbal dietary supplements
Psychotherapy
Water therapy (i.e., hydrotherapy)
Manipulative therapy (e.g., pressure on certain areas of the body)
Need more proof? In a recent study, researchers found that naturopathic treatment to be very effective at controlling type 2 diabetes.
The uses of naturopathic medicine
In general, people seek conventional medicine when they need healthcare. However, if this does aid to improve health outcomes, naturopathic treatments may be effective.
In a 2019 review, researchers concluded that naturopathy may be effective in the following health problems:
Depression
Anxiety
Cardiovascular disease
Type 2 diabetes
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Musculoskeletal pain
Other chronic conditions
Another review found that herbal medicines, such as devil’s claw, cayenne, and white willow bark, are very effective at alleviating pain. And researchers found that naturopathic treatments help control postoperative health problems.
Benefits
While modern medicine treats patients following a case-to-case approach, naturopathic practitioners focus on your personal needs and follow you on a more personal level. In other words, naturopaths design the treatments while taking into consideration all of your needs.
Combining naturopathy with modern medicine is a great way to promote the body’s own self-healing mechanisms.
Why should you visit a naturopath?
1. Naturopathy is great at preventing dis-ease
The best part about naturopathy is the prevention of potential dis-eases while treating your current concerns. Empowering the self-healing processes of your body to improve your whole body humming and to stop future health problems.
2. Naturopathy may help you with your chronic condition
In addition to preventing dis-ease, naturopathy may help you control chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, hormone imbalance, menopause symptoms, weakened immune system, and infertility. You may also expect your symptoms of allergies, skin conditions, and migraines to improve after receiving naturopathy treatments. It is simply a great way to improve the symptoms of your chronic condition and getting to the root cause.
Note that naturopathy is not a replacement for conventional medical treatment. On the contrary, both approaches are complementary to one another.
3. Naturopathy does not involve invasive procedures
As we discussed above, one of the principles of naturopathy is not to cause side effects. Therefore, it makes sense that this practice is free of any invasive procedures and only focuses on promoting your own healing abilities.
Your practitioner will approach you in a holistic manner that covers your physical symptoms, nutrition, lifestyle factors, and emotions.
For instance, including herbal tonics and whole foods in your diet can strengthen your body with the necessary antioxidants it needs. Certain herbs and whole foods can have a rich science-based profile that supports their effectiveness. Remember we work based on research bot traditional and modern.
Your practitioner will always take advantage of this information to promote your health.
4. Naturopathy consultations are your healths investment
Besides the benefits we listed above, naturopathy consultations are reflective of the work involved in your consultation than most forms of healthcare.
Depending on your geography and national policies, the consultations of naturopathy range between 75-250 dollars per hour.
Just think about it! That is the equivalent of a facial or a massage. Unlike messages, however, naturopathy could improve your health in endless ways.
Takeaway message
Naturopathy is a special form of healthcare that focuses on treating you in a holistic way, using natural therapies.
I hope that this article managed to shed some light on the potential uses and value of a naturopathic consult.
If you are ready to start your journey to feeling good again, check out our service offerings page.
In good health,
Suzzi Hartery
BHSc Naturopath (Distinction) The Feel Good Society Founder & Head Practitioner
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