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~ Back to Alternative Therapies Index Page ~  Naturopathic medicine is the art and science of disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention using natural therapies including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathic manipulation, traditional Chinese medicine/acupuncture, and lifestyle counseling. 1 After seeing a naturopathic doctor, most people realize that naturopathic medicine is a primary health care system and not simply used as a compliment to allopathic, or mainstream, medicine. It is a distinct science that blends modern scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine and is committed to ongoing state-of-the-art scientific research. Over the last six decades, we have come to associate allopathic medicine with the term “traditional”. However, truly traditional medicine began decades earlier on another continent. It is only with the advent of pharmaceuticals that we tend to partner the beginnings of traditional medicine but this couldn’t be further from the facts. The introduction of pharmaceuticals into the medical field simply began a new era, which grossly overshadowed its roots. 
Naturopathic medicine also offers the patient the opportunity of being a full participant in their recovery process. A naturopathic doctor will enlist a patient’s innate mechanisms for self-healing, and if necessary, assist these mechanisms with remedies of a non-pharmaceutical nature. For example, a naturopathic doctor may advise an adjustment to a patient’s diet and sleeping habits. In this way, the patients take on a large part of the control for their own recovery.Naturopathic medicine not only examines the symptoms a patient presents with, but considers the individual as a whole, including a patient’s physiological, structural, psychological, social, spiritual and environmental elements of their lifestyle that may be contributing to their dis-ease. Symptoms are seen as warning signs that the body is not functioning as it is meant to and needs to be restored to a balanced, or homeostatic, state. The primary concern is to treat the underlying cause of the disease and not just the symptoms. Treatments are chosen based on the individual patient and not just their symptoms. Two patients might present with the same symptoms but will generally be given two different courses to follow based on their individual needs and circumstances. Carol Roy is a Natural Health Practitioner, registered with Natural Health Practitioners Canada, who received her diploma from the Alternative Medicine College of Canada in Montreal, Quebec. With 9 years experience in her area of expertise, naturopathic medicine, Carol has also trained to become a fully qualified Reiki Master, Quantum Touch ® Practitioner and Reflexologist. contents of this article, are for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, nor a replacement for prescriptions, nor an endorsement of any specific type of treatment. Always seek medical advice for any health concerns from a qualified medical health care professional before using any recommendations and/or information contained in Nutter's articles. References 1. Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors http://www.cand.ca/index.php?78&L=0 |
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