What Is
Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathy, or Naturopathic Medicine, is a distinct, integrated
system of primary health care offered by licensed physicians. It
consists of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of human disorders
by the therapeutic use of natural methods and materials. These might
include Clinical Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, Hygiene, Homeopathy,
Naturopathic Manipulation, or ancient medical systems like those
of China or India.
Naturopathic Medicine in practice considers the fundamental
components of health - biochemistry, biomechanics, and the emotional
predisposition - in order to help a person restore the balance
that we describe as good health. This philosophy empowers the
individual as being responsible for the level of health they
experience. Naturopathic Medicine offers safe, cost-effective
solutions for many of our nation's healthcare problems. Competance
and respect for tradition, the scientific method, and innovation
are hallmarks of a naturopathic medical practice.
The Philosophy of Naturopathic Medicine
Living things have an innate ability to heal themselves. Our
vital force promotes self-cleansing, self-repair, and therefore
self-healing. This process can be achieved by focusing on the
immune, hormonal, nervous, and detoxification/elimination systems
of the body. Once these systems are in balance, restored health
is a probability.
Naturopathic doctors treat their patients holistically, taking
into consideration the individual's biochemistry, biomechanics,
and emotional predispositions. The body's self-healing ability
can be better understood if one takes into account the fact that
homeostasis, or biological balance, is the main characteristic
of any healthy system.
A good example is fever. When the body is invaded by a pathogen
(a substance capable of producing illness or disease), the body
will usually respond by producing a fever to fight the invader.
If the body is properly supported through nutrition and rest,
the fever will turn up the immune system and permit the recovery
of health.
Other examples are the immune system,
hormonal system, nervous system, and detoxification/elimination
pathways, which all work as a unit to ensure our survival.
If given the proper support, care, and the chance to function
freely without suppression, they can bring the system back
to a state of balance or "ease" (as
opposed to "dis-ease").
There are no panaceas or magic bullets. Each individual has
his or her own unique set of symptoms and reactions which will,
in turn, dictate the approach the Naturopathic doctor takes to
treat them. This is why each person seeking help from a Naturopathic
doctor will receive an individualized treatment protocol. Naturopathic
medicine is practiced either as a primary system of medical care,
or as a complementary adjunct to conventional medical treatment.
The goal of Naturopathic Medicine is to develop optimal wellness
for each patient, and to teach the principles of ideal health.
Although Naturopathic doctors are educated and trained to treat
acute and chronic disease, prevention is the ultimate goal. This
is based on the Naturopathic philosophy of wellness enhancement
-- not disease management.
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