Naturopathic medicine is used primarily for treating chronic illnesses. When a person is suffering a long-term illness, naturopathic medicine seeks to discover the cause of the problem. Once the cause is discovered a naturopathic doctor will work with the patient to develop a lifestyle that will restore balance. The naturopathic doctor is also trained in holistic medicines to help the patient return to health.
What is Naturopathy?
Naturopathy is a system of medicine that seeks to treat the individual, compared to conventional medicine that tends to focus only on the patient's symptoms. A naturopathic doctor (ND) will work with a patient to develop a system of treatments. This may include meditation, diet and relaxation as well as natural and holistic medical treatments. The naturopathic philosophy believes that the body will naturally return to a state of health if given the proper support and assistance.
Principles of Naturopathy
There are six principles of naturopathy that naturopathic doctors observe. They are: let nature heal, identify and treat causes, first do no harm, educate patients, treat the whole person and prevent illness. These six principles guide the doctor and the patient towards finding a natural, balanced, gentle treatment system that will support the whole body. By treating the causes of a condition, rather than treating only the symptoms, the naturopathic doctor works to discover the root of the problem and gently alter the cause of the disease.
Chronic Conditions
If you suffer from a chronic condition, naturopathy may offer a solution. Conditions that are often treated by a naturopath include fatigue, digestive disorders, difficulty conceiving, food or pollen allergies, arthritis, hormonal imbalance or mood disorders. These conditions are often a result of stress, imbalance in the body or improper nutrition. Learning to relax and take care of ourselves is difficult to do with all the many demands on our lives. But learning to eat right and taking a few minutes for meditation can improve health and well being.
Allowing Healing
A symptom is an indication that there is a problem in the body. A fever is the immune system's natural response to a dangerous infection. The body heats up to prevent the spread of the disease. A naturopathic doctor will allow the fever to run its course and cure the problem on its own, where conventional medicine would suppress the fever and then treat the infection with antibiotics. However, the naturopathic doctor will closely monitor the fever to make sure it does not reach dangerous levels and will suppress it if necessary.
Identifying the Cause
A naturopathic doctor works with a patient to develop a system that is unique to the individual. The doctor might help a patient develop the ability to meditate if the person is suffering from stress-related illnesses. Or if food allergies are the underlying problem, the naturopath will help the patient develop a diet that fits her needs. If a person is suffering from depression or mood swings, the naturopathic doctor will try to determine if the cause is a chemical imbalance caused by inadequate nutrition, or if stress relief is the necessary treatment. Naturopathic medicine is designed to help the patient return to a natural, balanced state of health.
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