Naturopathy, also known as Naturopathic medicine, is a medical system or a form of treatment based on a theory that suggests one does not require surgery and medicine to cure an ailment. The term Naturopathy, derived from the Latin word ‘Naturo’, was first used in 400 BC by Hippocrates. Hippocrates believed that a patient must be observed as a ‘whole’ to understand and identify his health condition and the condition treated by implementing the laws of nature.
Naturopathy focuses on preventing various health problems, and the treatment procedures emphasise a balanced diet, regular exercise and management of stress. Today, naturopathy treatment combines modern treatment forms with traditional methods. The uniqueness of naturopathy treatments and their benefits, such as cleansing the body of ailments and helping individuals rejuvenate, has popularised this treatment form.
Principles of Naturopathy
We have often relied on our body’s ability to heal itself rather than depending on medicines. Naturopathic treatment also includes the same process. It encourages the body’s inherent ability to heal without relying on medicine or surgery. Through the Naturopathic treatment approaches, you can discover the healing power of mother nature, which is considered the least invasive and least toxic form of treatment that helps to boost one’s overall well-being.
Naturopathy believes in interconnection and interdependence and works based on six fundamental principles. The six principles that govern Naturopathy are:
Do not Harm
‘Do not Harm’ is one of the primary principles that naturopathic doctors or therapists abide by. Naturopathic experts look into the condition and treat the ailment by removing the underlying cause from its roots. They always ensure that they only use non-invasive and gentle treatment methods.
Healing Power of Nature
Naturopathic experts work on the principle that nature can heal any possible ailment and heal individuals, restore their health and maintain it without the person having to rely upon any form of medicine. Naturopathy helps the patient identify the condition themselves and aids them in the treatment process by creating a healthy environment, mentally and physically.
Identify and Treat the Cause
A Naturopathy doctor is different from other doctors. When a naturopathic doctor treats a patient, they don’t look at the current medical condition but look at the individual as a ‘whole’ to identify the underlying cause for their condition. Though the identification process may require time, the result is always reliable because naturopathy focuses on eradicating the health condition from your body rather than just suppressing it.
Doctor as Teacher
A Naturopathy doctor is also a teacher because they not only help you identify the underlying cause of your health condition but also help and guide you to take responsibility and emphasise the concept of self-help. This way, naturopathic doctors also help build a doctor-patient relationship that assists the doctor in treating them and the patient to open up to the doctor regarding their ailment.
Treat the Whole Person
What makes Naturopathic treatment distinct from other forms is that Naturopathic doctors not only diagnose the medical condition but also identify the root cause of the condition. Moreover, they make us understand the interconnectedness of our bodies and how the environment and our lifestyle can impact our health.
Disease Prevention
The primary objective of Naturopathy is not just to ensure the patient’s optimal health but also to ensure that the disease is eliminated from the roots. That is why, in the process of treatment, naturopathic doctors educate and promote the idea of a healthy lifestyle, set a couple of rules on their diet and also encourage certain physical activities that ensure that they are healthy and can live a happy life without the fear of getting the disease again.
How does Naturopathy help in Unlocking Wellness?
In Naturopathy, medical experts adopt a holistic approach to treatment that is holistic and non-invasive. This approach is tailored to meet the individual’s needs, ensuring that their requirements are carefully considered and taken into account. Naturopathic experts identify the root cause of the issue and treat it rather than just controlling the symptoms that are causing the issue. These are some of the ways in which Naturopathic treatments can be helpful:
- Naturopathy relies on all the natural resources such as vitamins and herbal medicines; these remedies help in curing ailments and provide all the relief without any side effects.
- The second advantage of Naturopathic treatment is that it is a personalised treatment, where the experts focus on the individual’s personal needs and design a treatment plan that is suitable for the individual. This approach is effective because it helps the individual heal effectively.
- Unlike many other treatments, naturopathy takes a different approach to the process of diagnosis. When diagnosing a condition naturopathic doctors do not just look into symptoms that are causing the ailment, rather, they look into the root cause of the illness. This helps in addressing the underlying issue that is causing the ailment and may also help in long-term healing.
- Another advantage of Naturopathic treatment is that one can opt for this treatment even when they are under other conventional medications, and that is because it not only reduces the unwanted effects of traditional medications and therapies but also gives relief from the pain that is caused by the process and also increases their mobility.
Ayurveda and Naturopathy
When talking about Naturopathy, one of the questions that pops into our minds is, “Are Naturopathy and Ayurveda the same?” Even though both Ayurveda and Naturopathy may seem similar to many, the fact is that they are two distinct forms of treatment.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine that focuses on balancing the three doshas in the body, Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Naturopathy is a form of treatment developed during the 15th and 16th centuries in Germany and Europe. Naturopathy is a form of treatment that emphasises the body’s ability to heal naturally without any form of medicine, whereas in Ayurveda, medicine is common.
Both Ayurveda and Naturopathy treatments consider the physical, emotional and mental aspects of a person’s health, but the approach to /treatment between the two practices vary.
The following are some of the differences between Naturopathy and Ayurveda:
- Naturopathy focuses more on providing natural treatments for various diseases; Ayurveda deals with the prevention of diseases.
- Naturopathy is considered a holistic approach, and Naturopathy doctors mainly focus on using the powers of nature to cure ailments. Ayurveda, on the other hand, is a branch of medicine that unifies mind, body and soul.
- Naturopathy, as the name implies, focuses on natural healing, where the doctors will modify your diet and recommend changes in your lifestyle to avoid needing surgery. Ayurveda may incorporate a combination of surgeries and herbal medicines.
FAQs
1. What are the various conditions that Naturopathy can treat?
Naturopathy is considered a holistic approach to healthcare, and it aims to help the body in the natural healing process. There are many conditions that naturopathy can address, and some of them are:
- Digestive Disorders,
- Allergies and Asthma
- Fatigue and Low energy levels
- Hormonal Imbalances and
- Stress-related conditions
2. What are the various treatment modalities used in Naturopathy?
The treatment methods in Naturopathy include:
- Regulation of eating, drinking, and various other activities that you do in your everyday life and establishing these habits regularly.
- Elementary remedies such as water, air, lights etc.
- Chemical remedies such as scientific food selection and combination, simple herb extracts, and veto chemical remedies.
- Mechanical remedies such as corrective gymnastics, massage therapies, yoga and meditation, are adopted in case of accidents or surgeries.
- Natural and spiritual remedies such as scientific relaxation, constructive thoughts, normal suggestions etc.
3. What are some of the chronic conditions that Naturopathy can help with?
Some of the chronic conditions that Naturopathy can help with include:
- Chronic Stress and Fatigue
- Diabetes
- Mental Health Conditions
- Weight management and obesity-related conditions
- Cardiovascular conditions like high cholesterol
4. Will there be dietary changes if you opt for Naturopathy?
Yes. Dietary changes are the key component of naturopathy. Naturopathy doctors also suggest that a significant change in diet can contribute to the health and well-being of an individual. However, the dietary changes recommended by naturopathy doctors vary from one individual to another. Some dietary changes include more or whole unprocessed foods, personalised meal planning, elimination diets, and mindful eating.
5. Can Naturopathy help in stress management?
Yes, Naturopathy can help in stress management and promote the overall well-being of the patient, and these are some of the ways Naturopathy helps in managing stress:
- Modification in lifestyle like regular exercise and practising various relaxation techniques like yoga.
- Emphasising a balanced diet to support overall health.
- Incorporating mind-body practices like mindfulness, yoga, acupuncture and massage to promote relaxation, and reduce muscle tension.
