Naturopathic medicine is a system that uses natural remedies to help the body heal itself. It draws from a variety of healing modalities, including herbs, massage, acupuncture, exercise, and nutritional counseling. Although it was brought to the United States from Germany in the 1800s, some of its treatments are centuries old. Let’s take a closer look at what naturopathic medicine has to offer.
Naturopathic medicine has many benefits over conventional medicine because it is focused on treating the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—rather than just focusing on symptoms. This holistic approach can lead to long-term health improvements that conventional medicines may not be able to achieve. Additionally, naturopathy is focused on preventive care and avoiding drugs or surgery unless absolutely necessary. As such, naturopaths strive to use natural remedies whenever possible and only resort to pharmaceutical treatment when all other options have been exhausted.
Treatments Used in Naturopathy
Naturopathy utilizes a wide range of treatments depending on the individual’s needs and preferences. Some common treatments include lifestyle advice such as dietary changes; herbal medicine; biomagnetic therapy; homeopathy; and nutritional therapy. Naturopaths also often use acupuncture as well as hands-on healing techniques like Reiki or Healing Touch Therapy.
The Role of Naturopaths
The role of a naturopath is to provide guidance and support during your journey towards health and wellness. They work with you to identify any underlying causes for an illness or disease you may be suffering from so that you can begin making changes that will result in long-term health improvements rather than simply masking symptoms with pharmaceutical medications for short-term relief. Your naturopath will consult with you about diet changes, lifestyle modifications, supplements or herbs you can take for various conditions, as well as any other therapies they believe would benefit your specific situation.
