The practice of naturopathy focuses on the body’s ability to heal itself. Practitioners believe that the body’s natural healing processes will ward off disease and promote health.
Naturopathic doctors, or NDs, are trained as primary care physicians and focus on the least invasive, least toxic therapies. Read more about naturopathy and explore the great resources available that set the record straight for policymakers fighting scope creep. Visit https://medicinetothrive.com/ to learn more.
Naturopathic doctors (NDs) believe that your body has an inherent ability to heal itself if provided the proper conditions. This is based on the same principle that explains how a cut heals itself or that your kidney can filter out excess fluids. Naturopaths use therapies that support this healing process, such as diet and clinical nutrition, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, herbal medicine and physical therapy.
Your naturopath will spend an hour or longer on your first visit talking about not only the symptoms that brought you in, but also details of your family history, lifestyle and general health. You may be asked to provide lab and test results as well as information about any medications you are taking, whether prescription or not.
NDs will identify the cause of your symptoms by conducting a thorough assessment. They view the symptoms of an illness as warning signals that indicate the presence of imbalance in the body. The goal is to find the cause and address it rather than suppressing the symptoms, which can often lead to additional problems down the line.
The naturopath will work with your body to treat the root causes of your illness. This is the basis of the Therapeutic Order, which outlines how treatment should progress to avoid harming the body. Treatment starts with the least invasive strategies, such as lifestyle changes or herbs, and only moves on to more invasive techniques when necessary.
In addition to their assessment, naturopaths will recommend therapies that are most appropriate for you and your condition. They may include lifestyle changes, such as stress management or exercise. Bodywork, such as therapeutic massage or Bowen manipulation, may also be recommended. Some naturopaths have training in natural childbirth.
The naturopath will use their knowledge of the latest science and research to help guide the treatment plan. They will be able to explain the benefits of natural therapy and their potential side effects, as well as how they interact with any medications you are currently taking. Remember to always inform your naturopath about any herbs, supplements or drugs you are taking so they can monitor your response to treatment and ensure that they are safe for you.
Identify and Treat the Causes
Identifying the cause of illness and treating it is one of the primary goals of a naturopathic doctor. Unlike traditional medicine, which may simply mask symptoms with prescription drugs, naturopathic doctors find ways to address and treat the root of the problem to help patients heal more quickly. This approach also reduces the likelihood of recurrence or additional complications down the road.
This involves a wide range of therapeutic methods such as herbal medicine, physical therapy, acupuncture, and lifestyle counseling. Each patient is treated as an individual, and these therapies can be used individually or in combination to support the body’s natural healing processes. Using these techniques, naturopathic doctors seek to balance all aspects of a person’s health, including emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing.
The naturopathic philosophy is that there is an innate healing power within all of us. This is why finding and addressing the root cause of illness is so important to NDs. They look at multiple factors that contribute to the ailment, such as environmental influences, genetic predispositions, and physical imbalances.
In addition, naturopathic physicians understand that each person has unique susceptibilities and manifestations of their condition. For example, if a person has a vata constitution, they are likely to be aggravated by cold and dry foods, excessive worrying, and movement in excess of their needs.
When determining the cause of the ailment, naturopathic doctors will use physical assessments, lab tests, medical imaging and medical histories to make their diagnosis. Once they know the underlying cause of the issue, they will develop a treatment strategy that supports the body’s natural healing mechanisms.
Naturopathic doctors are trained in a wide range of therapeutic modalities that they can use to help their patients heal more quickly and effectively. They will utilize these in their treatments to complement modern medications and surgical procedures, rather than replace them. This can make the difference in getting you back to a normal, healthy life sooner than you might expect. And, because naturopathic medicines are safer than most pharmaceuticals, they may have fewer side effects. This is especially true when compared to conventional medications.
Treat the Whole Person
As mentioned earlier, naturopathic doctors recognize that disease and illness stem from complex interactions between all aspects of an individual: their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self. This concept, known as the ‘Treat the Whole Person’ principle, is at the core of naturopathic medicine.
As such, naturopathic physicians view symptoms as the body’s attempt to communicate an underlying imbalance. Therefore, NDs seek to understand and treat the underlying cause of disease rather than the specific symptom(s). NDs use a wide range of therapeutic modalities to accomplish this goal including, but not limited to: diet and clinical nutrition, behavioral change, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, botanical medicine and acupuncture.
The idea behind treating the whole person is that a person has an innate ability to heal themselves, given the right conditions are met. Licensed naturopathic doctors are trained to recognize and harness this innate healing process. By assessing a patient’s risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease, NDs can make preventive interventions to help people live healthier lives.
Naturopathic medicine also focuses on the importance of preventive care. As such, NDs educate patients on lifestyle habits that can improve their health and promote wellness. This includes healthy eating, exercise and stress management, as well as addressing a patient’s hereditary risk factors and environmental exposures.
Lastly, naturopathic doctors focus on educating patients about the causes of their condition so they can take control of their health and wellness. This entails teaching patients about the steps they can take to reduce their risk of disease and how they can utilize their innate healing process when needed.
Ultimately, naturopathic medicine can play a significant role in the future of healthcare and can provide an important complement to conventional medical advancements. However, integrating this approach into existing healthcare systems will require substantial effort and support from multiple stakeholders. Fortunately, there are already dedicated naturopathic doctors working within established academic and clinical settings who have the knowledge and expertise to drive this transformation. This includes both the VA and naturopathic schools in the US, as well as integrated practices in integrative healthcare organizations.
Prevention is Key
The concept of preventing disease is an essential one in naturopathic medicine. Illness and disease does not occur without cause, so identifying the causes and removing them allows healing to take place. NDs support the creation of a healthy internal and external environment, they work with patients to conserve vital energy, they help to remove toxins, they assist in restoring structural integrity, and they encourage individuals to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
The naturopathic doctor treats the whole person and addresses all aspects of health, including mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, physical and spiritual. The goal is to create a state of wellness, which is inherent in everyone and can be realized by anyone. Wellness is defined as the establishment of optimum health and balance, characterized by positive emotion, thought, and action. It is believed that if wellness is recognized and experienced by an individual, it will heal a given disease more quickly than treating the symptoms alone.
Naturopaths focus on educating patients about wellness and disease prevention, empowering them to make more informed choices that lead to a healthier life. The word doctor comes from the Latin docere, meaning “to teach.” NDs strive to embody this philosophy in their practice by teaching through example and encouraging patients to implement naturopathic principles into their daily lives.
As such, naturopaths will often provide dietary and exercise guidance to their patients and may recommend nutritional supplements or herbs. These treatments undergo rigorous testing to ensure that they are safe and effective. Furthermore, NDs are trained to recognize potential interactions between natural and pharmaceutical medicines.
In addition to preventing illness, naturopaths are also focused on reducing the risk of developing long-term health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity, through early identification and intervention. This is achieved by addressing risk factors, such as cholesterol and blood pressure, through diet, exercise and stress reduction techniques.
NDs are a great option for individuals looking to find relief from chronic conditions. However, it is important to note that naturopathy is not a substitute for your primary care provider. Whenever seeking treatment from any practitioner, be sure to do your research to find the right fit for you. Check that the naturopath is licensed by the appropriate regulatory body, and ask about their education, training and experience.