What Is Naturopathy?
Naturopathy is a medical system based on a collaboration of health care approaches and traditional healing practices that were popular and commonly used in the European region during the 19th century. There are several reasons why individuals elect to be seen by naturopathic practitioners, such as the treatment of disease or illness, primary care, and overall well-being. In regions such as the United States, traditional naturopaths, naturopathic physicians, and other providers of health care practice naturopathy. Examples of specific approaches commonly utilized by naturopathic practitioners include lifestyle and dietary changes, reduction of stress, homeopathy, exercise therapy, psychotherapy, dietary supplements, herb supplementation, manipulative therapies, practitioner-guided detoxification, acupuncture, massage, and counseling. Common health problems that bring patients to visit naturopaths include all types of allergies, issues with fertility, obesity, chronic pain, frequent headaches, digestive problems, hormone imbalances, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
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How It Works
The ultimate objective of naturopathy is to treat a patient as a whole, including healing the body, mind, and spirit. Naturopathy also focuses on the healing of the underlying causes of a patient's symptoms instead of just trying to heal the symptoms themselves. An initial examination by a naturopathic practitioner may take a couple of hours. They will inquire about a patient's stress, lifestyle habits, medical history, diet, and other aspects of their life. A naturopath may order lab tests to look for nutritional deficiencies or other clues to the underlying cause of a patient's symptoms. They then put together a personal health plan for the patient, focusing on the aspects of prevention and education. The naturopath may offer the patient tips on how to manage their stress properly, what to include in (and exclude from) their diet, and what kind of exercise regimen to follow. Naturopathic physicians are also referred to as doctors of naturopathic medicine and naturopathic doctors. Naturopathic physicians have an accredited four-year degree and learn the same standard principles of science conventional doctors do. However, doctors of naturopathy study further into psychology, nutrition, herbal medicine, and homeopathy. In some states, naturopathic physicians have to become licensed to practice.
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Comparison To Traditional Medicine
The comparison between naturopathy and traditional medicine is disputed among the medical and naturopathic communities and their practitioners. It costs money to see both types of practitioners, and medical insurance rarely covers naturopathy. Although the topic is controversial, it is clear naturopathy focuses on using natural and self-healing forms of treatment with priority over forms of treatment that involve medications and medical procedures to treat a patient. In other words, they are not against using traditional forms of treatment, but they believe in trying naturopathic methods first. This principle is called the therapeutic order, where the safest and most natural treatments available are given priority. Traditional medicine tends to give more urgency to treatments that involve the use of medical procedures and medications if it is clear based on the physician's medical training and expertise, that changes in lifestyle and diet cannot independently treat the patient's illness. Traditional medicine takes a weighted approach when choosing how to treat patients, considering the safety of treatment while also giving great consideration to its efficacy by weighing out the risks and benefits of a treatment. Both traditional medicine and naturopathy draw from scientific ideas, so the comparison between the two ultimately comes down to a patient's personal preference and beliefs.
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