Naturopathic medicine treats health
conditions by utilizing the body's inherent ability to heal.
Naturopathic physicians aid the healing process by incorporating a
variety of alternative methods based on the patient's individual needs.
Diet, lifestyle, work, and personal history are all considered when
determining a treatment regimen.
The spirit of naturopathic medicine is
reflected in the definition of health advocated by the World Health
Organization (WHO) -- "a state of complete physical, mental, and
social well-being, not merely the absence of infirmity." In fact,
WHO, in a report on traditional medicine, has recommended the
integration of naturopathic medicine into conventional health care
systems.
Naturopathic medicine is not a single
modality of healing but an arrayof healing practices including diet and
clinical nutrition; homeopathy; acupuncture; herbal medicine;
hydrotherapy; therapeutic exercise; spinal and soft tissue manipulation;
physical therapies involving electric currents, ultrasound, and light
therapy; therapeutic counseling; and pharmacology.
PRINCIPLES OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
Although the term naturopathy or
naturopathic medicine was not used until the late nineteenth century,
its philosophical roots date back thousands of years. Drawing from the
healing wisdom of many cultures including Indian (Ayurveda), Chinese
(Traditional Chinese Medicine), Native American, and Greek
(Hippocratic). Naturopathic medicine is a system of medicine based on
six time-tested principles:
- The healing power of nature: The body
has considerable power to heal itself, and the role of the
naturopathic physician is to facilitate this natural process with
the aid of natural, nontoxic therapies.
- Treat the cause rather than the
effect: Naturopathic physicians seek the underlying cause of a
disease rather than simply suppressing the symptoms. They avoid
suppression of the natural healing wisdom of the body such as fever
and inflammation. Symptoms are viewed as expressions of the body's
natural attempt to heal while the causes can spring from the
physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual levels.
- First, do no harm: By employing safe
and effective natural therapies, naturopathic physicians are
committed to the principle of causing no harm to the patient.
- Treat the whole person: The individual
is viewed as a whole, composed of a complex interaction of physical,
mental/emotional, spiritual, social, and other factors. This
multifactorial approach results in a therapeutic approach in which
no disease is automatically seen as incurable.
- The physician is a teacher:
Naturopathic physicians are first and foremost teachers who educate,
empower, and motivate the patient to assume more personal
responsibility for his or her health by adopting a healthy attitude,
lifestyle, and diet.
- Prevention is the best cure:
Naturopathic physicians are preventive medicine specialists.
Prevention of disease is accomplished through education and a
lifestyle that supports health.
HOW DOES NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE WORK?
In the naturopathic system of medicine,
disease is seen as a manifestation of the natural causes by which bye
body heals itself. For example, fever and inflammation are viewed as the
body's way of dealing with an imbalance that is undermining the healthy
functioning of the body. However, if the cause of the imbalance is not
removed, the inflammatory responses will continue, either at a lower
level of intensity or intermittently. This can be the origin of chronic disease.
Healing a chronic disease requires removal of the underlying cause. This
usually culminates in a return of an acute episode, called a
"healing crisis" or "reaction", a keynote of
naturopathic medical theory. Following this the condition improves.
Although naturopathic physicians
emphasize therapeutic choices based on individual interest and
experience, as well as the legal parameters of the state in which he or
she practices, they maintain a consistent philosophy. All have been
trained in the basic tools of natural therapeutics, and most work with
diet and nutrition while specializing in one or more other therapeutic
methods.
After identifying which conditions in the
patient manifest in illness, the naturopathic physician advises the
patient on the methods most appropriate for creating a return to health.
In order to become free of illness, it is often necessary for the
patient to make both dietary and lifestyle changes. Homeopathy or
acupuncture are often used to stimulate recovery. Herbal medicines may
be used as tonics and nutritive agents to support and strengthen
weakened systems, while specific nutritional agents such as vitamin and
mineral supplements and glandular tissue extracts might also be
utilized. Hydrotherapy and various types of physical therapy may be
required. Additionally, it is important that major emotional stresses be
eased to allow the digestive system to function in the relaxed
environment required for proper digestion.
Finally, underlying many illnesses is a
spiritual disharmony. This may be experienced as a feeling of deep
unease or insufficient strength will necessary to sustain the healing
process. For lasting good health to be established, this disharmony must
be overcome. Naturopathic physicians can play an important role in
guiding patients to discover the course of action most appropriate.
CONDITIONS BENEFITED BY NATUROPATHIC
MEDICINE
Naturopathic medicine can be applied in
any health care situation, but its strongest area is in the treatment of
chronic and degenerative disease. Naturopaths are, for the most part,
licensed primary care/general practice family physicians. For severe,
acute traumas such as a serious automobile accident, emergencies of childbirth, or
orthopedic problems requiring corrective surgery, naturopathic medicine
is not recommended although it can contribute to such cases, especially
in the recovery phase.
With its emphasis on In other acute
cases, such as ear infections and common prevention and natural illnesses with fever, the naturopathic
physician addresses care,
naturopathic the associated pain, infection, and fever of the condition,
as medicine may offer long- well as
any related concerns of the patient. How this acute term savings to the condition might relate to
underlying causes such as diet, life consumer.
stresses, and occupational hazards, is also addressed. The physician
will then usually prescribe a variety of means to deal with the
immediate problem.
In chronic cases, the procedure is
different. Typically, a thorough case exploration will detail the
history and nature of the patient's symptoms and complaints, his or her
complete health history, and the patient's lifestyle. Finally a physical
examination and appropriate laboratory tests are performed. For
naturopathic physicians, understanding the patient as an individual is
essential when searching for causative factors, particularly in the
areas of the physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual.
After determining causative factors, the
physician will discuss his or her findings with the patient, and an
attempt will be made to tie together and interpret the symptoms.
Symptoms usually relate to a central
problem that has many manifestations. As an example, many symptoms can
be tied to the effects of toxemia on the different systems of the body
such as the immune system, nervous system, or circulatory system. Others
may be due to emotional factors such as a chronic urinary tract
infection when there is a history of sexual abuse.
Finally, dietary factors are determined
and appropriate changes are recommended. Any other perceived causes are
addressed with either counseling, exercise, or other methods of
treatment.
HEALING THE PERSON, NOT THE DISEASE
Naturopathic medicine does not focus on
disease symptoms but rather the underlying cause. For example, the body
has four major organs that assist in elimination: The lungs, kidneys,
bowels, and skin. Most skin diseases are viewed by naturopathic
physicians to be the result of excessive metabolic toxicity in the body
forcing the skin to be used as an extra route of elimination. The skin
excretes both water-soluble and oil-soluble wastes through the sweat and
oil glands. Because the elimination of toxins is irritating to the skin,
the result is often various forms of skin-related disorders such as
dermatitis and acne.
A women suffering from dermatitis, an
itchy and often inflamed skin rash, sought the help of Jared Zeff, N.D.,
L. Ac. , of Portland, Oregon. She was also partially blind from an
incurable condition known as tetinitis pigmentosa, a progressive form of
retinal degeneration which results in blindness. After assessing her
condition, Dr. Zeff viewed the dermatitis as a result of the elimination
of toxins through the skin generated by maldigestion. He prescribed a
safe diet to help improve her digestion and recommended a series of
hydrotherapy treatments also to improve digestion and to stimulate other
mechanisms of elimination. Dr. Zeff also prescribed a botanical
digestive tonic, and later a homeopathic remedy.
As a result of Dr. Zeff's diagnosis and
subsequent treatment, not only did the woman's dermatitis begin to
clear, but she reported to Dr. Zeff that instead of seeing him as a
blurry shape, she was able to make out the specific features of his
face. Her eyesight improved to the point where she could read large
print books. Dr. Zeff had not specifically sought to improve her retinal
degeneration, assuming it was not possible for her destroyed tissue to
be regenerated. Her story is just one example of the body's amazing
capacity to recuperate.
Another patient of Dr. Zeff was an older
gentleman afflicted with bladder cancer. Although this form of cancer
has a high rate of success from conventional treatment, his had not
responded to chemotherapy. When Dr. Zeff applied pressure to specific
reflex points of the patient's body, he was told they did not hurt even
though he could see pain expressed in the man's face. When questioned
more deeply, it was discovered that the patient's only child had
committed suicide five years previously. The man had been unable to
grieve and had apparently shut off his feelings which resulted in a
physical manifestation of feeling cut off from his body.
Dr. Zess prescribed a diet and a series
of hydrotherapy treatments. He also instructed the patient's wife on how
to treat her husband at home. She assisted with the hydrotherapy
sessions and administered a therapeutic touch technique taught by Dr.
Zeff that involved placing her hands over and under her husband's
bladder and sacrum for ten minutes each session. Because she was also
not well, suffering from chronic bronchitis, Dr. Zeff outlined for her a
specific diet as well as a dose of Ignatia, a homeopathic remedy to
relieve the effects of suppressed grief. Dr. Zeff also instructed the
couple to walk together for half an hour each day.
In both the husband and wife, the cause
of their illnesses - the grief and the inability to release it - was the
same, yet on the physical level the unexpressed grief manifested
differently. Their illnesses were addressed by informal discussion, a
referral to a counselor, and a homeopathic remedy as well as mutual
treatments between husband and wife. In ten weeks, the patient was
rechecked for cancer. Not only had it disappeared, but his wife's
chronic bronchitis had also cleared up.
WHAT IS A NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN TRAINED
TO DO?
Modern naturopathic doctors provide
complete diagnostic and therapeutic services. As family doctors, many
practice natural childbirth (usually in the home setting), pediatrics,
gynecology, and geriatrics. Naturopathic physicians make recommendations
on lifestyle, diet, and exercise, and utilize a variety of natural and
noninvasive healing techniques.
The current scope of treatments
naturopathic physicians are trained in includes: Clinical nutrition;
botanical or herbal medicine; homeopathy; acupuncture; hydrotherapy;
physical medicine including massage and therapeutic manipulation;
counseling and other psychotherapies; and minor surgery.
- Clinical nutrition: The use of diet as
a therapy serves as the foundation of naturopathic medicine. There
is an ever-increasing body of knowledge that supports the use of
whole foods and nutritional supplements in the maintenance of health
and treatment of disease.
- Herbal medicine: Plants have been used
as medicines since antiquity. Naturopathic physicians are
professionally trained herbalists and know both the historical and
medicinal uses of plants.
- Homeopathy: The term homeopathy is
derived from the Greek word homoios meaning "similar", and
pathos meaning "suffering". Homeopathy is a system of
medicine that treats a disease with dilute potentized remedies that
will produce the same symptoms as the disease when given to a
healthy individual. The fundamental principle operating here is that
like cures like. Homeopathic medicines are derived from a variety of
plant, mineral, and chemical substances.
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture is an ancient
Chinese system of medicine involving the stimulation of certain
specific points on the body to enhance the flow of vital life energy
qi along pathways called meridians. Acupuncture points are
stimulated by the insertion and withdrawal of needles, the
application of heat (moxibustion), acupressure (deep finger
pressure), lasers, electrical means, or a combination of these
methods.
- Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy uses water
in all its temperatures (hot, cold), forms (ice, steam), and methods
of application (sitz baths, douches, spas, whirlpools, saunas,
showers, immersion baths, packs, poultices, foot baths, fomentation,
wraps, colonic irrigations), in the maintenance of health or
treatment of disease. It is one of the most ancient methods of
treatment. Hydrotherapy has been used to treat disease and injury by
many different cultures including the Egyptians, Assyrians,
Persians, Greeks, Hebrews, Hindus, Chinese, and Native Americans.
- Physical medicine: Physical medicine
refers to the use of physical measures in the treatment of disease.
These include: Therapeutic exercise, massage, joint mobilization
(manipulation) and immobilization techniques, and hydrotherapy.
Physical medicine also includes physiotherapy equipment such as
ultrasound (high frequency sound waves that act as a micro-massage
to tissues, stimulating or restoring function of blood circulation),
diathermy (high frequency currents used to generate heat within the
body), electric currents used in the body to stimulate function or
relieve pain, and light therapy (applications of light that are used
to stimulate heating responses in the body
such as endocrine function or increased circulation).
- Counseling and lifestyle modification:
Counseling and lifestyle modification techniques are essential to
naturopathic medicine. A naturopathic physician is formally trained
in the following counseling areas: 1) Interviewing and responding
skills, active listening, body language assessment, and other
contact skills necessary for the therapeutic relationship; 2)
Recognition and understanding of prevalent psychological issues
including developmental problems, sexual dysfunction, abnormal
behavior, addictions, and stress; 3) Various treatment measures
including hypnosis and guided imagery, counseling techniques,
correction of underlying organic factors, and family therapy.
- Minor surgery: Some naturopathic
physicians are trained in a variety of minor surgical techniques.
These include laceration repair (sutures), skin biopsies, skin
lesion removal, sclerosing therapy for spider veins and varicose
veins, noninvasive hemorrhoid surgery, abscess incising and
draining, circumcision, and the setting of fractures.
THE FUTURE OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
"To the uninformed, naturopathic
medicine as well as the entire concept of natural medicine appears to be
a fad that will soon pass away," says Michael Murray, N.D., of
Seattle, Washington. "To the informed, however, it is quite clear
that naturopathic medicine is at the forefront of the future."
One of the great fallacies promoted by
the United States medical establishment is that there is not firm
scientific evidence for the use of many natural therapies. "This
assumption is simply not true," according to Dr. Murray. "In
fact, during the last ten or twenty years there has been a literal
explosion of information in the scientific literature supporting the use
of natural medicine."
Today, science and medicine have the
technology and understanding necessary to appreciate many aspects of
natural medicine. It is becoming increasingly common for medical
organizations which in the past have spoken out strongly against
naturopathic medicine to embrace it, endorsing naturopathic techniques
such as lifestyle modification, stress reduction, exercise, and a
high-fiber diet.
"This illustrates the paradigm shift
that is occurring in medicine," says Dr. Murray. "What was
once scoffed at is now becoming generally accepted as an effective
alternative. In fact, in most instances the naturopathic alternative
offers significant benefit over standard medical practices. Undoubtedly
in the future many of the concepts, philosophies, and practices of
naturopathy will be vindicated. Certainly the future looks very bright
for naturopathic medicine."
IMPORTANT: Licensing is currently
available for naturopathic physicians in only seven states. It is
important to encourage your state government to license naturopathic
medicine in your state.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU VISIT A
NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN
A typical office visit with a
naturopathic doctor takes one hour. Your naturopathic physician
considers teaching you how to live healthfully one of his or primary
goals, so the time devoted to discussing and explaining principles of
health maintenance as well as your medical condition, is one of the
factors that sets naturopaths apart from conventional physicians who
often seem to be rushing from patient to patient.
The relationship begins with a thorough
medical history and interview process designed to view all aspects of
your lifestyle. If needed, the physician will perform standard
diagnostic procedures including a physical exam and blood and urine
analysis. Once a good understanding of your health and disease status is
established (diagnosing an illness is only one part of this process),
you and your doctor work together to establish a treatment and
health-promoting program.
ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NATUROPATHIC
MEDICINE
Naturopathic medicine grew out of the
alternative healing movement of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
The European tradition of "taking the cure" at natural springs
and spas had gained a foothold in America by the middle of the
nineteenth century, and this atmosphere helped make the United States
especially receptive to the principles of naturopathy.
The early naturopaths attached great
importance to a natural, healthy diet as did many of their
contemporaries. John Kellogg, a physician and vegetarian, ran the Battle
Creek Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan, which utilized natural
therapies such as hydrotherapy, while his brother Will built and ran a
factory in Battle Creek to produce health foods like shredded wheat and
granola biscuits. The Kellogg brothers, along with a former employee, C.
W. Post, helped popularize naturopathic ideas about food and at the same
time founded the cereal companies which today bear their names.
Naturopathic medicine flourished in the
United States until the mid-1930s at which point the medical profession
started to conglomerate into the single-view, omnipotent establishment
it is today. Naturopathic medicine and nearly every other natural
healing modality was effectively wiped out.
Yet naturopathic medicine has experienced
a tremendous resurgence in the last two decades. This is large due to
increased public awareness of the role of diet and lifestyle in the
cause of chronic disease as well as the failure of modern medicine to
deal effectively with these disorders.
WHERE TO FIND HELP
Licensing for naturopathic physicians in
the United States is currently available in seven states (Alaska,
Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, and Washington) as well
as in five Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba,
Ontario, and Saskatchewan). However, the profession is expanding, and
additional licensing efforts are underway in eight other jurisdictions.
There are currently two accredited colleges in the United States and one
in Canada. A third, the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, has
recently opened in Scottsdale, Arizona. These colleges offer degrees in
naturopathic medicine and in other health-related sciences. See below.
- American Association of Naturopathic
National College of Naturopathic Physicians
Medicine
2366 Eastlake Avenue, Suite 322 11231 S.E. Market Street
Seattle, WA 98102 Portland, OR 97216
206/323-7610 503/255-4860
Provides a directory of naturopathic physicians and Provides a
listing of naturopathic doctors in the offers referrals to a
nationwide network of accredited United States and offers a degree
program in or licensed practitioners. Publishes a quarterly
naturopathic medicine newsletter for both professionals and the
general public. Also offers a series of brochures and pamphlets on a
variety of subjects.
- Bastyr University Southwest College
144 - N.E. 54th 6535 E. Osborn Road
Seattle, WA 989105 Scottsdale, AZ
206/523-9585 602/990-7424
Bastyr University is an accredited educational A degree program in
naturopathic medicine that offers degree programs in the natural
health sciences. These include programs in naturo-pathic medicine;
homeopathy; midwifery; acupuncture; nutrition; Chinese herbal
medicine; marriage and family counseling; and applied behavioral
sciences.
Bastyr also offers a limited number of Distance Learning courses in
these areas for students unable to attend classes at its Seattle
Washington facility.
- The Institute for Naturopathic
Medicine Canadian College of Naturopathic
6-1/2 North State Street Medicine
Concord, NH 03301-1330 60 Berl Avenue
603/225-8844 Etobicoke, Ontario M8Y 3C7
A non-profit, charitable organization
dedicated to This school offers a diploma in naturopathic increasing
public awareness of the options and medicine.
The institute's mission is to change the emphasis of the health care
system from strictly disease management
to health promotion and disease prevention. It serves the needs of
consumers, the media, policy makers, medical educators, and others
for accurate and reliable information about health care
alternatives.
In addition, the Institute promotes research into the clinical
outcomes and cost effectiveness of
natural therapeutics.
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