What Is Naturopathy

Exploring alternative medicine is a focal point for many of us today.  There are different practices and disciplines, so I thought it would be helpful to explore a few of them over the next few weeks.  I thought we’d begin with a discussion of naturopathy.

Treating your body and enhancing your health naturally is an important goal for many of us. Naturopathy offers many options for natural remedies and preventative care that can be alternatives to conventional medicine. If you have ever wondered just what naturopathy is or what it includes, here is a little information about it.

Naturopathy, also known as naturopathic medicine, is a system of healing and prevention that utilizes natural remedies to allow the body to heal itself. Naturopathy takes a holistic approach to health and healing that looks for ways to keep the mind, body, and soul both balanced and healthy.

The goals of this type of healing are to treat the whole person and to address the cause of illness, not merely the symptoms, through techniques like acupuncture, exercise, nutrition, herbal medicine, and mental health exercises.

The promotion of wellness is key to naturopathy, and as the patient of a naturopathy practitioner, you will receive a unique wellness plan that employs non-toxic and natural therapies. These are designed to target your individual physiological and psychological needs.

Because of a focus on education and prevention, naturopathic practitioners spend time with you supplying education on a number of critical issues that concern your health including, among others, nutrition, exercise, stress management, and habits that create a healthy lifestyle.

Naturopathy is used in several ways around the world. Some people use it to treat specific health issues while others turn to naturopathy for their primary care. You may also use naturopathic techniques in combination with conventional medicine.

Naturopathic medicine finds its roots in traditional herbal practices that have been in use for thousands of years. As a study of health practice, though, naturopathy evolved into a formal medical system in Europe during the 19th century.

Early naturopaths were trained in Europe to use techniques such as herbal medicine and hydrotherapy.  As naturopathic traditions grew in various countries, and these traditions were shared among practitioners, the modern practice of naturopathy began to evolve.

Today’s practices incorporate not only traditional practices from all over the world but also various theories and modalities that are aligned with the naturopathic principles.

As a modern medical practice, naturopathic medicine is grounded in North America, as the U.S. and Canada both have accredited education programs and structured licensure and regulation requirements that have standardized and legitimized the naturopathic traditions.

Within the naturopathic practitioner community, there are many professional associations, governing boards, and specialized groups that provide continuing education today. Naturopaths in North America were the practitioners who created most of the established theories used today. They also codified the naturopathic principles that guide all naturopathic practices used around the world.

From its humble roots in herbal medicine, today’s naturopathy is a modern system of medicine that combines healthcare with science and philosophy to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness. The principles that guide naturopathic care are continually reviewed and refined, based on new scientific understanding. They are increasingly applied through both modern and traditional methods.

There is merit in treating the whole person; that is merit in discovering why certain symptoms may be presenting themselves rather than simply trying to suppress or eliminate the symptoms alone.

Helping You Achieve Major Wellness!

Cheryl A Major

I am a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. My TV show, “Thin Strong Healthy”, airs on WestfordCat and is an offshoot of my blog http://ThinStrongHealthy.com   I offer ongoing information, live and online courses and personal health coaching to help you feel better and be healthier.  Follow me on Twitter @CherylAMajor.  

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