Naturopathic Medicine Rooted in Holistic Healing
Alternative Healing Therapies Meet Mainstream Medicine
Oct 1, 2009
Naturopathic medicine is becoming a fast-growing alternative to mainstream medical care. This system of care is based on the idea that the human body has the ability to heal itself.
Naturopathic doctors have a holistic viewpoint, seeing the patient as a whole, instead of just one or two symptoms. They focus on finding and curing the underlying root of the problem to prevent symptoms from recurring.
Naturopathic Education
How does naturopathic education differ from a conventional medical school? A licensed naturopathic doctor, or ND, is educated in all the same basic sciences as a regular medical doctor. However, the difference is that the naturopathic doctor has graduated from a four-year graduate-level naturopathic medical school, instead of a regular medical school.
At naturopathic medical colleges, students focus on preventing disease, and keeping their patients well. Holistic healing methods that are studied include clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, herbal therapy, psychology, and counseling. In order to become a licensed naturopathic doctor, a student must pass state board exams, just like a conventional medical doctor.
How Does Naturopathic Medicine Differ from Mainstream Medicine?
There are six principles that naturopathic physicians follow:
- Let nature do the healing. A naturopathic doctor has a strong belief that the body will heal itself, if given the chance. In order to facilitate healing, patients are encouraged to eat a better diet, and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
- Instead of covering up symptoms, it's necessary to find the underlying cause, and treat that. Otherwise, the symptoms will just return.
- Do no harm. Naturopathic physicians use low-risk treatments that have no side effects. These include homeopathy, herbal remedies, and dietary supplements. The treatment plans are customized for each patient, since everybody responds to a certain treatment differently. A naturopathic doctor recognizes symptoms, like fevers, that are the body's attempts to heal itself, and doesn't try to suppress these symptoms unless they become dangerous.
- Patient education is a cornerstone of naturopathic treatment. A naturopathic practitioner encourages patients to become responsible for their own health by teaching them about healthy lifestyle choices like good nutrition and regular exercise, along with the basics of physical and emotional self-care.
- The naturopath understands that every person is unique, both physically and emotionally. People don't all respond to a treatment in the same way, due to environmental, genetic, spiritual, and social differences. Instead of trying to use a one-size-fits-all treatment, naturopathic physicians customize treatment for each individual.
- Lastly, naturopathy focuses on preventing illness by assessing a patient's risk factors for developing a certain disease. It may be possible to reduce or eliminate these risk factors to prevent an illness from developing in the future.
Where Do Naturopathic Physicians Work?
A naturopathic doctor practices privately, or in a hospital or clinic, just like a regular medical doctor. In fact, integrative medicine, where conventional and naturopathic physicians work together, is becoming more common.
Naturopathic practitioners can treat all medical conditions, and provide care for both individuals and families. They can prescribe drugs, although they do emphasize natural treatments like herbs and homeopathy. Although these doctors don't perform major surgery, they do minor procedures in the office, including stitching up cuts and removing cysts.
Many patients view naturopathic physicians as being the best of both worlds. This combination of traditional healing methods and modern medical practices is safe and cost-effective. It's no wonder that interest in naturopathic medicine is increasing.
Sources:
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
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