The very term “Naturopathy” comes from the 19th century and means “nature cures” which is a reference to holistic health care in general.
Naturopathy is a philosophy that promotes the ability of the body to heal and take care of itself.
Practitioners of the Naturopathy method are primarily concerned with the personal care that their patients receive and that each person is unique and will respond in a different manner to treatment based on their genetics, biochemistry, structure and emotions.
First and foremost, a “Naturopath” will assess a patient’s condition before prescribing any type of treatment. By incorporating these methods, the Naturopath can understand how the body will react and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
The Naturopathy Principles
There are six core principles that a Naturopath follows in the treatment of their patients.
- Identify & Treat the Cause
- Use Natural Healing Power
- Do No Harm
- Treat the Entire Person
- Prevention is Better than the Cure
- Be a Teacher First
These six principles help a Naturopath to successfully treat patients early on and help them overcome their conditions using natural, effective means. By treating the entire person, the body can be made whole again. However, if there is a key principle, it is to use preventative measures to ensure that any acute disease or condition is avoided.
The History of Naturopathy
The History of Naturopathy
The Naturopathy philosophy goes back to Hippocrates who stated that in order to find the causes of ailments, the entire person needed to be viewed as a whole. Also, the “Do no harm” statement also comes from Hippocrates as well.
Naturopathy evolved over the years in many different countries, although Europe was a predominant source of this philosophy. The actual term did not come about until 1895 when “Naturopathy” was coined by John Scheel, although Benedict Lust is actually considered the father of this particular movement.
Lust spent many years in Germany perfecting this natural approach he borrowed Scheel’s term to describe the broad range of practices that it entailed from herbal medicine, hydrotherapy and homeopathy as well as avoiding overeating. Lust founded the American School of Naturopathy in 1901 which flourished for years until the discovery of penicillin in the late 1920s which shifted the emphasis of care away from the Naturopathy methods. However, since the 1970s Naturopathy has been revived and today is a strong part of the holistic movement in health.
The Naturopathy Treatment
Although there are some similarities to how Naturopathy works as compared to the methods used in most countries today, there are some differences that do set this philosophy apart.
Consultation & Diagnosis
Consultation & Diagnosis
Here, you speak to the Naturopath for about an hour regarding more than just the condition you are currently experiencing, but your lifestyle, diet, medical history and more to present a proper picture of your overall health. At this point, a physical exam occurs which may include the following tests;
- Candida
- Urine
- Fecal
- Blood
- Diagnosis of the Tongue
Essentially, this is the information-gathering part of the Naturopath method to determine what issues are currently facing the patient. Once the information has been assessed, the diagnosis is made and the treatment recommendations are made. Usually, the advice includes lifestyle, diet, homeopathic methods and herbal medicine treatments which are part of the entire program.
Sessions
The number of sessions that you need will depend on what exactly has been diagnosed and the treatment that is given. In most cases, patients will start seeing meaningful results by the end of the sixth treatment. However, it will depend on the exact condition being treated. Quite often, the treatments are once per month with an evaluation to see what progress is being made.
Treatment Types
There are a number of different treatments that Naturopathy uses in order to improve the body. The treatments themselves are determined by the patient’s needs which may include the following;
- Acupuncture
- Homeopathy
- Iridology
- Botanical Medicine
- Brainwave Entrainment
- Kinesiology
- Hydrotherapy
- Ozone Therapy
- Cranial Osteopathy
- Psychological Counseling
- Reflexology
- Rolfing
- Traditional Chinese Medicine and more
Education & Nutrition
Education & Nutrition
This is a very important part of the treatment as the Naturopath delivers sound advice so that you can not only overcome the condition that you have but prevent many of the diseases and other conditions that might present themselves in time. Diet, exercise, proper breathing, detoxification and stress management play key roles in your education.
What you eat plays a very important role in how your body will respond when under stress. Naturopathy emphasizes the importance of proper nutrition and helps fuel your body to deliver when it is important. Plus, detoxification is vital to getting your body to respond properly and help prevent diseases and other conditions.
How to Become a Naturopath
There are no laws in the UK that have been established about Naturopathy, however, there are professional organizations that provide the standards and practices that also demonstrate the right ethics needed to practice naturopathy.
There are a number of professional organizations that can help you become a Naturopath and practice this particular form of treatment.
- Association of Naturopathic Practitioners
- British Naturopathic Association
- General Council and Register of Naturopaths
- General Naturopathic Council
Each of these organizations has standards and practices that can be followed to put you on the path to becoming a naturopath. The key is to choose the organization that best suits your needs and follow its practices properly.
Overall, Naturopathy is the means by which a person can be treated for a number of different conditions, but also a way to prevent many diseases and other medical conditions of the body from occurring. For those who want to learn more about Naturopathy, discovering the immense amount of information and history available is a good start. Plus, https://www.australiannaturaltherapistsassociation.com.au/explore-natural-therapy-treatments/ to get a proper evaluation and treatment will help you build up a better body, improve your nutrition and put you on the right path to success when it comes to your health.
