Naturopathic
Medicine is the system of primary health care which works with the individual's
efforts towards the optimal expression of physiological, physical, and
mental/emotional health.
What
is a Naturopath?
A
Naturopath is a person who applies treatment modalities based on the principles
of Naturopathic Medicine.
Naturopathy
is an approach to health care which aims to promote, restore and maintain
health. The following principles underpin the practise of Naturopathy:
The
Healing Power of Nature or Vis Medicatrix Naturae: There is a 'vital
force' or 'life force' which drives the self-healing or self-correcting
mechanisms of the body.
The
Triad of Health, which describes the connection and interaction between
the structural, biochemical and mental/emotional components of all living
beings. Dysfunction in one area invariably leads to disruption elsewhere.
The Uniqueness of the Individual: People are genetically, biochemically,
structurally and emotionally different from one another. Each person
responds in a unique way to influences whether they are mental/emotional,
structural, nutritional, social or cultural.
Naturopaths
also recognise that:
Health
is more than the absence of disease. It is dependent upon a multitude
of factors and is a reflection of a harmonious interaction with our
environment.
Acute
disease processes are different from chronic processes. The acute response
is the body's attempt to restore health often through enhanced processes
of elimination. Suppression of such healing processes contributes to
the potential for chronic breakdown.
Disease
processes involve activation of the body's homeostatic mechanisms. Health
is homeostasis - a dynamic equilibrium.
The
individual requires suitable foods for nourishment, clean water, fresh
air and sunlight, as well as appropriate exercise, rest and relaxation.
Prevention is preferable to cure.
The
defining elements of Naturopathic practise are that Naturopaths:
Work
with the body's own self-correcting mechanisms or efforts to maintain
homeostasis.
Endeavour
to address all aspects of the Triad of Health.
Regard
education and co-operation of the patient as highly as treatment of
the patient.
Address
lifestyle factors which are contributing to the problem and re-educate
the patient into a lifestyle more conducive to health.
Aim to establish health on a cellular level by improving circulation
and innervation, nutrition, detoxification and elimination.
Naturopathic
Treatment
PRINCIPLES
The
Naturopath always seeks to:
Do
no harm.
Employ
methods which work with the body's healing power and self-correcting
mechanisms and avoid treatments which may work against these mechanisms
and which suppress acute diseases.
Deal
with underlying causes of dysfunction where possible.
Reduce
the burden of load. It may not always be possible to identify the underlying
causes of the problem, but often a number of contributory factors can
be identified. It is preferable to reduce the overall burden on the
body using established naturopathic means.
Sometimes
it may be necessary to use short term measures which assist in the removal
of symptoms for the comfort or safety of the individual, however it
is important to also employ long-term health restoration measures.
Attempt
to address all aspects of the Naturopathic Triad of Health.
Employ
simple treatments before more complex, where possible.
Support patients' efforts in gaining and maintaining control of their
own health.
PRACTISE
Because
Naturopathy is above all an approach to health care, there are many treatment
modalities which can be employed. However, they are always applied in
a way which works with the body's own healing efforts and are used in
accordance with the principles of treatment previously specified. Treatments
may primarily be concerned with the biochemical, structural or mental/emotional
depending upon the nature of the problem.
The
core naturopathic modalities are:
Clinical
Dietetics and Applied Nutrition.
Detoxification
techniques.
Hydrotherapy
/ Colonics
Physical
Therapy. Examples include osteopathy/chiropractic (by an appropriately
registered practitioner), naturopathic physical manipulation, manual
lymphatic drainage, massage and other soft tissue techniques e.g. neuromuscular
technique/fascial release.
Psychotherapeutic
techniques.
Medical
Herbalism
Offering
advice regarding a healthy lifestyle.
Many other therapies may be employed as part of naturopathic practice
(where the practitioner has gained a suitable additional qualification)
Assessment
PRINCIPLES
The
Naturopath aims to identify the causative factors which are creating functional
disturbance. This would include evidence of both sub-clinical disease
and any gross pathology. In order to make an assessment it is necessary
to recognise that
Underlying
causes of dysfunction should be identified where possible.
Structural,
biochemical and mental/emotional factors may all contribute to the patient's
condition.
The
individual genetic make-up of the patient, the inherited miasmata and
the environment are predisposing factors in the expression of disease
and will contribute to the individual's experience of that disease.
There is often multifarious causation. A diverse range of factors may
play a role in disease processes. There is usually a cumulative effect
of predisposing factors and a final excitatory or trigger factor.
PRACTISE
Naturopathic
assessment may include the following elements;
Case
history taking
Analysis
of lifestyle and environment
Clinical
examination
Clinical
tests
Laboratory
testing
Iridology
Assessment
Subtle energy diagnostic methods
Education
An
integral part of naturopathic treatment includes being able to educate
the patient in all elements of healthy living.
PRINCIPLES
The
Naturopath should:
Recognise
the level of knowledge and acceptance of an individual and assist them
in gaining insight into their health.
Lead
by example. Naturopaths must make efforts to follow a lifestyle which
is complementary to these guidelines.
Recognise
that the individual plays an essential part in their own health restoration.
Guide
their patients into accepting more responsibility for their own health.
Stimulate a healthy independence from, rather than dependence on, the
practitioner.
PRACTISE
The
Naturopath should be able to offer well informed advice in the following
areas;
The
Naturopathic principles of health and disease, how the patient became
unwell, what is keeping them unwell, how they can get well and how they
can stay well.
Diet
and nutrition, including nutritional supplementation.
Detoxification
including fasting and elimination.
Physical
exercise.
Management
of acute diseases/healing crises.
Hydrotherapy
and phytotherapy for home use.
Breathing
and breathing exercises.
Relaxation
and stress management.
Natural
fertility awareness.
Preconceptual care, pregnancy and natural childbirth. (It is acknowledged
that delivery of the infant is restricted to those who are registered
to practise as midwives or medical doctors. Referral should therefore
be made to a suitable midwife).
The
use of herbs is the oldest form of medicine on our planet and is still
the front line of treatment for over 75% of the worlds population.
'In short they work.'
The
above gives a an overview of semester one and the training in Diploma
of Naturopathy & possible Diploma of Herbal Medicine... graduates
now have a Bachelor of Health Science (Complementary Medicine) degree
with this training. 3-4 year full-time course.
