What is Naturopathy?

In the dictionary, Naturopathic Medicine is defined as: “the integration of Alternative practices such as Botanical Medicine, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, and Oriental Medicine with modern scientific diagnostic methods and standard of care.” In a few words, Naturopathy is the usage of natural methods and non-toxic remedies to improve or restore health.

Naturopathy is one of the earliest known healing systems. We know that
Chinese have used acupuncture for centuries. The Greeks, especially
Hippocrates,1 described in their literature many Naturopathic principles like the
usage and benefits of water, diet, massage, herbs and physical therapies.
During the 19th century, Naturopathy was extensively developed with more than
20 Naturopathic schools in the United States (today there are only four). The
practice of Naturopathic medicines declined as the use of pharmaceutical drugs
increased. However, in the past several decades there has been a resurgence
of interest in Naturopathy. Today there are more people consulting a natural
health practitioner in the United States than their primary care practitioner.2


What are the main principles of Naturopathy?

• The body's Inherent ability to heal itself: The body, with the appropriate
use of non-toxic remedies, has the ability to recover its initial functions. For
that to be accomplished, the Naturopath needs to investigate and find all the
different causes of the symptoms expressed by the patient by conducting a
very detailed questionnaire. Then, if it is possible, the naturopath will help the
patient to remove, one by one, the obstacles (physical and emotional) that
blocked the body to use its own self-healing process.

• The notion of Intoxination 3.: Naturopaths consider that one of the reason
that people get sick is because their body is intoxicated by the consumption
of too many chemicals and prescription drugs, as well as inappropriate diet.
Thus, the Naturopath's first goal is to help the patient to clear this state of
intoxication.

• Prevent and educate: Information and education are very important keys
given to the patients to improve their quality of life. The Naturopath carefully
and thoroughly explains to his patients how to eat better, how to exercise, and
how to prevent most of the current diseases. This helps the patients to
become more autonomous by a better understanding of how their bodies
work. Thus, a typical Naturopathic consultation includes not only the
recommendation of certain remedies, but also the explanation of the reasons
the body may malfunction. As a consequence, the patient becomes more
and more knowledgeable and responsible for his own health.

• The idea of the Whole Person: To really understand and find the primary
causes of a person's disease, Naturopaths always consider all the factors
integrated in the patient's lives. This includes their physical health, but also
their psychological and emotional state, their environment, their genetic
inheritance, and their professional and social life.

• Nutrition: Good nutrition is the foundation of good health, Naturopaths take
a considerable time to explain to their patient how the change in their diet is important
to improve their health conditions. A personalized nutrition program is built with
the patient to meet his personal needs depending on his/her health problems.
Generally, improvements appear very quickly if the patient follows the diet
recommendations faithfully.

• Every person is unique: Naturopathy is very aware of the individuality of a
person. As everyone is a very unique human being with his own past, his
own story and his own sufferings, every treatment is personally adapted to
fulfill each patient's needs. Because everyone has a different health history, there is
not a standard treatment and not a standard dosage of the remedies.
Instead, Naturopaths recommend a specific and unique treatment to each
individual.


What can Naturopathy cure?

Naturopathy can treat almost all types of health problems from acute to chronic
symptoms. Indeed, there are limitations for Naturopathic medicine, as for any
type of technique or method. Naturopathy doesn't perform miracles. Today there
are more scientific researches conducted on natural remedies to understand how
they work. More and more physicians are accepting the concept of Naturopathy.
Naturopathy can help in certain areas where conventional medicine cannot, but
Naturopathy also needs the competence of conventional medicine. Naturopathy
is in fact a complementary medicine. When naturopathic and conventional
medicine work together, all the benefits accrue for the patients, and that is
certainly the most important point.

Who should consult a Naturopath?

Anyone who is concerned about his own health and wants to eliminate or reduce
the use of chemicals medications. Anyone who wants a better understanding on
how to prevent illness and cure it with natural remedies. Anyone who is ready to
make changes in his/her way of living and thinking. Naturopathy is wonderful for
babies, children, adults and the elderly. It is a family orientated medicine that
can improve everyone's health.
"The body is the temple of the soul", and we need to take care of our body very
carefully if we want to live a happy and healthy life.

1. Hippocrates (460-3777BC) considered as the father of medicine, "The Hippocratic Oath"
2. "Becoming a Savvy Consumer of Alternative Medicine", CNN.com, July 8,1999
3. Intoxination: A Naturopathic notion, which means that the body carries too many toxins.