Naturopaths use natural and holistic methods to harness the body’s power to heal itself. They offer complementary medicine and focus on preventive care and the root cause of a problem. They do not offer drugs or surgery but can provide herbal, homeopathic, and acupuncture treatments, as well as nutritional and life advice. Naturopathy originated in the late 1800s and has varying regulations and certifications worldwide. Patients should research regulations and interview healthcare professionals before seeking naturopathic care.
A naturopath is a doctor who believes in harnessing the body’s natural power to heal itself using natural and holistic means. The exact qualifications and certifications of a naturopath vary widely as regulations differ across the world. As a general rule, a naturopath offers complementary medicine rather than primary care, and a naturopath may choose to refer a patient to another physician to treat certain conditions.
Naturopathy assumes that the body naturally strives for well-being and stability and that, with a little help, the body can be encouraged to be healthy. To achieve this, the naturopath relies on various treatments, from massage therapy and other physical treatments to counseling. The intent is for the patient and caregiver to work together as a team, approaching the patient’s body holistically. Like many other alternative medical practices, naturopathy focuses heavily on preventive medicine and the root cause of a problem rather than just treating the symptoms.
Drugs and surgery are not offered by a naturopath, although a patient who clearly needs these services will be referred to a physician by a reputable naturopath. The naturopath can offer herbal, homeopathic and acupuncture treatments, as well as nutritional and life advice. The patient and naturopath team can also design a healthy exercise program aimed at increasing strength and well-being. Most naturopaths believe they are empowering patients rather than just treating them.
The roots of naturopathy can be traced back to the late 1800’s when a number of American physicians began to consider alternative medical treatments because they lost faith in the medical establishment. Some of these individuals were also aware of the potential commercial value of “natural” medicine. The first schools for the study of naturopathy were founded in the early 1900’s and continued to attract numerous students until the 1940’s when mainstream medicine developed antibiotics and synthetic drugs. Patients still see a limited number of naturopaths today, although not as many as before.
In some cases, a naturopath may be a licensed physician with a focus on natural remedies belonging to a trade association that monitors the practice of naturopaths. In other cases, a naturopath may be a more traditional alternative care provider. Patients interested in seeing a naturopath may want to research regulations in their region to understand what they are getting into. It’s also an excellent idea to interview any healthcare professional about individual certifications and philosophy.
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