What is it? Who needs it?

      In todays rapidly changing world people are becoming increasingly aware that modern medical methods of treatment are giving way to “new” innovative approaches. Why? Because the medical community meets the needs of only 30% of our population, the other 70% are outside the range of modern medicine. They are left to either care for themselves or find other alternatives. This article is about one of those alternatives—Naturopathy (Natural Health Care or Nature’s Cures).

What is it?

            According to Hippocrates, the father of modern day health care, there are two distinct ways to approach sickness, ill health or diseases. One is to eliminate the symptoms that appear and the other is to restore the person to optimum health. Hippocrates thus distinguished partial symptomatic healing from total holistic healing. He knew that treating disease as a set of symptoms merely stops the current obvious symptoms of illness (useful in emergency situations). But, even though the symptoms have been halted another level of sickness goes untreated, the cause, which continues to progress in the person because the underlying cause is still present. An example of this today is the use of painkillers for the relief of headaches. The outward pain goes away but the cause of the headache (say a tight neck or toxic diet) remains and progresses to a deeper level of imbalance leading to migraines, or shoulder pain, or digestive problems. Naturopathy relies on safe and effective natural methods that work on reversing the cause of ill health as well as being concerned with symptom removal.

            A medical doctor is a Medical General Practitioner and is trained in the use of drug therapies and surgery designed to alleviate and “cure” the symptoms of illness and disease. (If the only thing you have been trained to use is a hammer everything looks like a nail). They are licensed to diagnose and treat illness and diseases. This is Hippocrates’ first approach described above and is what most people are interested in today, chasing symptoms.

            A naturopathic doctor is a Natural General Practitioner and is trained in the use of natural therapies and remedies designed to correct the cause as well as eliminate the symptoms of illness and disease. (If you have been trained to see the house as a whole the choice of tool depends on the job required). They are not licensed to diagnose and treat diseases. However, the Naturopath can evaluate your state of health and correct the cause through natural means. This is Hippocrates' second approach described above and can be traced as far back into history as Egypt, Ancient America, Greece and Europe.

                      
                 The Traditional Naturopathic Doctor

          Today there are many versions of Naturopathy, from modern medical mixes (minor surgery and some drugs) to the more traditional non-medical. My interest is in the traditional approach. When surgery and drugs are preferred or required I send people to the appropriate specialist.

            A Traditional Naturopathic Doctor is one who uses a therapeutic system that uses natural remedies such as nutritional therapy (vitamin and mineral supplements, diet adjustment, foods and herbs), structural therapy (corrective massage, spine and joint manipulation, acupressure and/or acupuncture), psychotherapy (counseling, body/mind connection, dream interpretation, spiritual education). The health fields of homeopathy, chiropractic, physical therapy, psychotherapy, iridology, herbology and nutrition are all specialty offshoots of Naturopathy.

            Using standard symptom evaluation procedures to start with the Naturopath also employs techniques such as Iridology (analysis of the color part of the eyes) to evaluate conditions like inherent organ weakness, inflammation or toxic interference. Kinesiology or muscle testing detects structural weakness, nutritional deficiency, organ health, infection, dis-ease or psychological issues. If necessary, Biochemical analysis is used (urine and saliva analysis) to determine if any biochemical imbalances exist. The Traditional Naturopathic Doctor has outstanding success with many chronic illnesses including the mysterious “great mimicker” chronic yeast infection (candidiasis), allergy correction without shots, chronic fatigue syndrome (the overachievers illness), chronic back pain, etc.

Who needs Naturopathy?

            People who go to Naturopaths become aware early on that personal responsibility is important for improved well-being. It is for this reason that Naturopathy is not for everyone, only those who are ready to take personal responsibility for his or her own health care. There is a great sense of accomplishment when a person’s efforts in collaboration with those of the doctor produce positive results.

            One client said the she couldn’t believe that she was going to have a whole hour with a doctor and be able to talk about her health conditions in detail. The person who wants an education in lifestyle changes, attitude adjustment, nutritional and structural therapy will benefit greatly from the services of the “Natural Doc”