Naturopathic Medicine - Is it Alternative Or Complimentary?
The very essence of this ANSWER lies within YOU!!
Naturopathic Medicine is most commonly referred to as Alternative Medicine. Alternative to what? It was the very beginning of medicine and is still the medicine for the future - Do you think?

As a Naturopathic Medicine is not hairy, fairy about your health, but serious commitment is taken into consideration with every area of your life in order for health and vitality to be an important part of your life.

Naturopathic Health Professionals are formerly trained to understand the connections between lifestyle, diet, genetic, environmental, mental, emotional and spiritual influences on the wellbeing of a person. Therefore, a naturopath will take a holistic approach to health rather than see body parts as isolated from the rest of the body and its functioning. Health also needs to be understood in the context of one's surroundings such as environment, and family and social interactions.

In practice, as a naturopath I will endeavour to find out as much as possible about YOU so that as a practitioner I can make links between those influences and YOUR current state of health. The insight gained from this information will help determine what advice and/or therapies or remedies may be needed for each person at that particular point in life. The emphasis is always on determining the organs and tissue involved and the base cause/causes of these problems.
So why see a Naturopath? We live in the 'information age'. The media, internet, books and other sources of information are readily available to most people. Therefore, when the body wants attention by producing specific symptoms information about this is already available from doctors, the health food store or pharmacy, the media or the internet.

There is one thing, though, that not even the internet can supply: individualized treatment. There are many people who have been given the same diagnosis, but none will have the same life with all its past history, genetic make-up, life events, habits etc. Each person is unique, and therefore any approach to restore health needs to be tailored to one's particular needs. Naturopaths are uniquely equipped for this by searching for imbalances regarding how the body functions metabolically (the chemical reactions that are taking place in the body), what other influencing factors play a role, and attempting to correct those - ideally before there are outward signs and symptoms of disease and before organs are irreparably damaged.
The role of the naturopath is to be A Naturopath is to assist with restoring and maintaining healthy bodily functions with the use of herbal, homoeopathic medicines, nutrition and nutritional supplementation so as to assist with the body's own unique healing process without doing any further harm.

As a Naturopath I will also educate so as to empower You in the best way to maintain health. Supporting you with healthy lifestyle processes and dietary issues that will help with keeping your body functioning at its optimal level.
There are times, however, where good nutrition is not enough to regain health, as is the case in nutrient depletion with stress, toxic overload or in certain illnesses. Therefore, naturopathic recommendations often include nutritional supplements, herbal and homoeopathic medicine. As your Naturopathic practitioner you receive not only one on one consultation but also individually prescribed herbal and homoeopathic remedies.

Naturopathic Medicine doesn't replace Conventional Medicine as Conventional Medicine doesn't replace Naturopathic Medicine. However in some circumstances Naturopathic medicine can be used alone, whereas to improve the effectiveness of Conventional medicine it would be advantageous to encompass the utilization of Naturopathic Practitioners within the Health System.
Working together giving each person every opportunity of GREAT HEALTH:

Implementation of any medicine or treatment to regain HEALTH should be allowing YOU to take CONTROL; Not the MEDICINE or TREATMENT taking control of YOU!!!!

This is brought to you as "Food for Thought" not as to eliminate any genuine, honest and ethical forms of health treatments, but to give you a broader view of what your health options can be. It is brought to you from formulative years of study along with 20 plus years plus of working hand in hand with my clientele to support their health needs as a Naturopathic Health Professional

Empowering You to Optimal Health Julie Doherty N.D

Author's Bio: 

Julie Doherty N.D Biography
Julie Doherty is a Fully Accredited Naturopathic & Massage Practitioner the with Australian Traditional Medicine Society Ltd.
Having completed Professional Qualifications in Naturopathic Medicine: Herbal Medicine: Homoeopathic, Nutritional Medicine: Holistic Massage Therapy: Body Work: & Natural Beauty Therapy. This has enabled Julie to follow her dream of supporting people to  overcome their health issues & heal their body with the use of a combination of Naturopathic, Herbal, Homoeopathic & Nutritional  Medicines & Therapies to become well without causing further harm or complications
Julie is involved in supporting other health care professionals with treatment protocols for people who are on prescription medication, chemo therapy and other related health care procedures 
Julie’s vision and passion has been & still is to assist each person to become well with the least invasive & most effective treatments.
Whilst working with like minded people.
Over the past 25 years, Julie Doherty has successfully treated & assisted people with various areas of ill health and disease from the common cold, skin ailments through to cancer.
Julie’s approach is to enable each person to have the best “Quality of life possible” whilst making your treatments effective, affordable and manageable incorporating these strategies into each person's everyday living. Respecting each person's culture and individual characteristics.
Julie is a sought-after public speaker, lecturer & author providing community talks, facilitated & implementing professional related courses.
Julie is a published blogger and recognized for her expert knowledge as an author with Self Growth supporting & providing assistance with healthy life protocols.
Julie has been recognized by the Stanford Who's Who and the Continental Who's Who for her dedication and recognition of excellence as a Health Care Practitioner, Executive, Entrepreneur and Professional standards of ethics.
What makes the work of Julie Doherty stand out? The successful testimonials of her clients becoming well both-young and old, from a wide range of disease and signs of ill health: It has been commented about her humanness, her humour, her willingness to reveal so much of herself, her belief and commitment to her industry and clients, and the easy-to-understand style of her communicating and her simplistic way of explaining treatments and programs to become well. Her understanding of the interconnectedness when their is a problem with health and it is out of balance that it is never just one thing, so addressing all related causes of the health problem/problems that she addresses with you.
To compliment our healthy treatment programs Julie has formulated a Skin, Hair & Body Care Range that is good for you “Just For You”, not only will it have your skin looking great, healthy & vibrant. Your skin needs to be fed good healthy nutrients the same as your body.