What Is Naturopathy?
Naturopathy is a form of alternative medicine based on the idea that the body has an innate capacity to fight disease and heal itself. Naturopaths improve health and treat illness by treating the person holistically, tapping a person's own internal body, mind, and spirit resources. Naturopathy comprises a blend of different therapies, all attempting to restore the body to health in the most natural, noninvasive way possible by stimulating the body's own healing powers. Naturopathic treatments can include manual therapy, hydrotherapy, herbalism, and environmental medicine, as well as other modes of alternative medicine such as aromatherapy, homeopathy, and acupuncture. A consultation usually includes analysis of your medical history, lifestyle, diet, exercise habits, stress, relationships, sleep patterns, and mental and spiritual health.
Naturopaths believe that the physical symptoms of disease are caused by an underlying problem in the mind, spirit, and body. If you see a naturopath for a headache, for instance, his first task would be to diagnose the cause of the headache, whether it was low blood sugar or emotional stress.
Naturopathic practitioners uphold six basic principles:
- Nature has the power to heal
- Treat the cause, not the effect
- Treat the whole person
- Do no harm
- Encourage prevention
- Act as a teacher
