What is Naturopathic Medicine?

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

If you are like most people, you've heard of naturopathic medicine but are not exactly sure what it is. Are naturopaths doctors? Is is simply using home remedies? Like ginger and honey tea for a sore throat? This article gives a brief overview of just what is meant by naturopathy, a branch of medicine that is gaining credibility in the Western world.

So is a naturopath a doctor?

Maybe. Basically, naturopaths usually fall into one of two categories. A naturopath physician been educated as a physician in the field of naturopathy. Standards vary among various provinces and states, but it can be stated that naturopathic physician does have specific training and is licensed as such. A traditional naturopath does not have the requisite education that would deem them as a naturopathic physician.

Let's be clear. Your family doctor may well have lots in common with a naturopath, but naturopathy is a distinct school of medicine, based on specific principles and an approved education.

So how is a naturopath different from my family doctor?

Well, first we will assume that your doctor is not actually a naturopath! That done, let's move on. A naturopath will have had a specific education, and the nature of that education will depend on your location. If you feel more comfortable with a naturopathic physician than a traditional naturopath, you can easily find these professionals listed in health directories where you live.

Do naturopaths provide different care than regular GPs?

Yes, naturopathy rejects the traditional medical model and seeks instead to be a teacher to her patients. A naturopath won't dash off a prescription for an anti-biotic and send you on your way. Here are some of the principles that guide their work:

Treat the whole person

A naturopath will see any health issue you may have as being interconnected not only with your entire physical body but with who you are and how you live. Long interviews are conducted between patient and naturopath so that she feels she has a sense of the whole you, and how you can best manage your health.

Do no harm

Aggressive or intrusive treatments are a last resort for the naturopathic physician. The idea is that taking measures to make a change a lifestyle is always preferable to a surgery or medication.

Prevention

Naturopathy is heavily focused on preventive medicine. The credo is not to wait until a serious health issue occurs but to construct a plan for health that staves off illness and disease. A naturopath will focus on your genetic history and your individual health history, attempting to access risk and plan accordingly.

Self-healing

Homeopathy generally puts a lot of stress on the theory that the body can heal itself of many ailments. We need to help it do so, by living as whole and healthy beings, but we need to work toward self-healing rather than rely on traditional intrusive measures.

This article gives a basic sense of the ideas behind the homeopathy movement. Visiting a local homeopathic's office may be the best way to get a sense of this science mixed with art.