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Naturopathic treatments are directed
toward removal of the underlying causes of illness and not simply
relief of symptoms. Naturopathic medicine, or naturopathy, is an alternative approach to health care that emphasizes preventive measures to maintain health; patient education and active participation in therapy; and noninterference with the body's natural healing processes. In most states of the United States, naturopaths (practitioners of naturopathy) do not prescribe synthetic drugs or practice major surgery. Naturopathy is not a distinctive or unique tradition of alternative medicine. It is best described as a collection of therapies or treatment methods that share a common philosophy of health care and draw upon a variety of alternative traditions ranging from traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic thought to Greek medicine and European homeopathy. The term naturopathy, or nature cure, was first used in 1895 by Dr. John Scheel, a physician practicing in New York City. Scheel was drawing on traditions of natural healing that went as far back as Hippocrates (c. 400 BC), as well as on more recent traditions, such as the 19th century German custom of vacationing at hot springs or health spas. Bennedict Lust, who popularized naturopathy in the United States around the turn of the century, defined naturopathy as a discipline covering a range of natural healing techniques, including hydrotherapy, herbal medicine, and homeopathy. Lust maintained that natural cure of disease required patients to adopt what he called corrective habits and new principles of living, as well as giving up the "evil habits" of overeating, the use of tea and coffee, and consumption of alcohol. The list of treatments associated with naturopathy grew in an unsystematic fashion until 1951, when Dr. Paul Wendel published a book titled Standardized Naturopathy. His book described nearly 300 different forms of naturopathic treatment. Naturopathy was popular in the United States until the mid-1930s, when legislation was passed that restricted the licensing and practice of naturopathic practitioners. There has been a revival of interest in naturopathy in the United States and Canada since the 1970s. This trend reflects greater public awareness of the connections between dietary habits and lifestyle and the development of chronic illnesses, as well as disenchantment with the side effects of synthetic medications. Most contemporary naturopathic practitioners have been trained in family practice or general medicine. As of 1998, there are four accredited colleges in the United States and Canada that offer degrees in naturopathic medicine. Ten states (Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and Washington) have licensing procedures for naturopathic practitioners. Purpose The purpose of naturopathic medicine is to assist patients in maintaining good health and preventing illness through a variety of techniques or treatments that utilize natural substances or principles. Naturopathic treatments are holistic -- intended to benefit all dimensions of the patient's being rather than focused on a specific physical condition or organ -- and as noninvasive as possible. Naturopaths define health as a condition of positive well-being, not as the absence of disease. The philosophy that underlies naturopathic medicine is called vitalism. Vitalism is the belief that life cannot be reduced to a collection of physical and chemical data, and that the human body has an innate wisdom or inner drive toward vitality and health. Following this belief, naturopaths expect patients to be active participants in recovering or maintaining their health, rather than passive recipients of medications or surgical procedures. Naturopathic treatments are directed toward removal of the underlying causes of illness and not simply relief of symptoms. Symptoms are regarded as positive indications of the body's self-healing capacities and interior wisdom in responding to disease agents. The naturopathic physician tries to assist the body in this process rather than suppressing or fighting the symptoms. Naturopathic treatments are available for a wide range of chronic disorders, as well as acute illnesses. Detoxification therapy is an important principle of naturopathic medicine. Naturopaths maintain that a person's basic level of health is largely determined by the body's ability to rid itself of toxic substances. These toxic substances are derived from two sources: the outside environment, which poisons the body with heavy metal contaminants, other industrial chemicals, pesticides, drugs, alcohol, and artificial food additives; and internal toxins. Naturopaths define these internal toxins as resulting from protein breakdown together with toxic substances generated by bacteria and yeast in the digestive tract. Fasting is a commonly recommended feature of a naturopathic detoxification program. Many patients undertake periodic fasts of three to five days during which they are allowed only water or unsweetened herbal tea. Other features of naturopathic detoxification include the use of vitamin C, fiber and mineral supplements, and botanical preparations. Precautions Naturopathic medicine is not recommended for conditions requiring major or specialized surgery, such as orthopedic problems, gunshot wounds and other severe trauma, acute abdominal pain, dental emergencies, and similar crises. Some naturopaths, however, are trained to perform minor surgical procedures, including circumcision, skin biopsies, setting bone fractures, and draining abscesses. Description Naturopaths may use one or more types of therapy in treating patients. Most practitioners regard diet and nutrition as the core of naturopathic treatment, although some choose to specialize in specific approaches. Depending on the location and character of the patient's illness, a naturopathic physician may recommend any of the following forms of treatment. Nutrition Naturopaths use dietary regimens for the treatment of many chronic conditions, including acne, arthritis, asthma, depression, colitis, eczema, hypertension, and gout. In general, naturopathic diets emphasize the use of natural or unprocessed foods. Whole foods, as these are termed, include primarily beans, grains, vegetables, and fruit. Naturopathic medicine does not insist on pure vegetarianism, but recommends consuming less red meat and replacing it with chicken and fish. The recommended diet has lower levels of meat and protein intake than most Westerners are used to. Analysis of nutrition patterns and advice about diet and exercise are a major part of a naturopath's initial consultation with a new patient. As was mentioned earlier, short-term fasts and fiber supplements play an important role in naturopathic detoxification programs. Herbal medicine Naturopaths in the United States have borrowed elements of Native American, Ayurvedic, and Chinese herbal medicine in their treatments of specific diseases. Naturopathic practitioners receive training in traditional herbalism as well as standard medical pharmacology. Herbal medicines are frequently used in naturopathy to strengthen weakened immune systems, as tonics, and as nutritional supplements. Homeopathy The philosophy of homeopathy is one of the modalities included in the course of study at all the naturopathic schools. Most naturopathic physicians are well versed in acute homeopathic prescribing. It is considered a specialty area of focus for naturopaths who work with constitutional homeopathy. Acupuncture Acupuncture is a modality that is a separate area of study and licensing in all states except Arizona, where it is integrated into both naturopathic training and practice. However, there are naturopathic physicians who also carry an acupuncture license. In addition, the Transcendental Meditation (TM) philosophy and diagnosis, as well as Chinese traditional herbal medicine, can be practiced by licensed naturopathic physicians without additional license. Hydrotherapy Hydrotherapy has been an important method of naturopathic treatment since the 19th century, particularly in the German-speaking parts of Europe. Present-day practitioners in the United States use hydrotherapy to treat a multitude of disorders and disease processes, as well as for constitution building and circulation enhancement. Physical medicine Physical medicine refers to all forms of naturopathic treatment that involve exercise, massage or soft tissue work, alignment assessment, or manipulation of the joints. It also includes the use of ultrasound, diathermy, light therapy, and other physiotherapies. Naturopathy can be integrated with osteopathy in the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal complaints and injuries. Psychological counseling The holistic orientation of naturopathy includes an emphasis on the psychological and spiritual dimensions of human life. The patient's general "life stance" is considered a major factor in the prevention and treatment of diseases, particularly those that affect the immune system. Naturopathic physicians receive formal training in psychology and counseling techniques, including the use of hypnosis, guided imagery, and family therapy. Naturopathic counseling has incorporated some ideas from the human potential movement, in that it encourages the patient's positive personal growth and self-discovery as well as recovery from specific mental and emotional disturbances. Preparation Preparation for naturopathic treatment depends on whether the patient has an acute or chronic disorder. In acute cases, the naturopath will treat the immediate illness while offering advice about diet or other aspects of the patient's life that appear to be associated with the illness. For example, a patient seeking treatment for a cold might be advised to take zinc and other dietary supplements to prevent future colds as well as be given a botanical medicine to shorten the course of the present infection. Naturopaths prepare patients with chronic diseases for treatment through a lengthy initial interview that can last an hour or more. The practitioner will ask detailed questions about the patient's lifestyle, as well as his or her medical history. Naturopaths, like homeopaths, will note the patient's general emotional tone and character traits, as well as physical features. Naturopaths perform physical examinations, blood tests, and similar diagnostic workups in the same way as mainstream practitioners. Following the laboratory tests, the naturopath will discuss his or her findings with the patient, along with recommendations about nutrition, psychotherapy, or lifestyle modification. This discussion is intended to educate the patient about naturopathy and encourage his or her active participation in treatment decisions. A congenial relationship between the naturopath and the patient is regarded as an essential part of holistic health care. Risks One risk of any alternative treatment that concerns some patients is the possibility of a missed diagnosis. In the case of naturopaths, that risk is relatively low. Naturopaths practicing in the United States are required to complete a conventional course of premedical training at the undergraduate level, followed by four years of study in an accredited naturopathic institution. The curriculum is similar to that of other medical schools with the exception of its emphasis on preventive diagnosis and naturopathic therapies. Another risk concerns the misuse of botanical medicines. Some preparations of this type are potentially harmful to human beings if taken in large doses or used in combination with prescription medications. Most problems involving botanicals, however, are the result of self-treatment on the part of the lay public and not of consultation with naturopaths. The training that naturopathic practitioners receive in standard pharmacology, as well as natural remedies, is a safeguard against improper use of plant medicines. Persons who are under the care of a naturopath should follow his or her directions regarding botanical medications, obtain them from reputable sources, and not attempt self-treatment. Normal results Normal results are recovery from or resolution of the disorder for which the patient sought treatment. Key Terms Acupuncture The use of fine needles to stimulate certain points along the body's meridians, or energy pathways, in order to improve the body's flow of vital energy. Although acupuncture originated within Chinese medicine, it is now often taught to naturopaths in the United States as part of their professional training. Constitutional homeopathy Homeopathic treatment directed at a patient's long-term underlying weakness, evaluated on the basis of recurrent symptom patterns. Detoxification The process by which the body rids itself of harmful substances taken in from the environment or produced internally. Naturopathic medicine recommends periodic fasting and the use of various dietary supplements and botanical preparations to assist the body's detoxification. Diathermy A method of treatment that uses high-frequency electrical currents to generate heat in body tissues. Fasting Temporary abstention from food for religious or health reasons. In naturopathy, periodic fasts are recommended to speed up the body's detoxification process. Homeopathy A system of medicine that treats
a disease with highly diluted natural substances that would produce
the same symptoms as the disease when given to healthy persons.
This is the principle of "like cures like." Hydrotherapy Any type of therapy belonging to a group of alternative treatments that use water for the relief of various diseases or injuries, or for cleansing the digestive tract. Early naturopaths recommended hydrotherapy for a wide range of emotional as well as physical disorders. Noninvasive Any treatment or procedure that does not require the cutting or penetrating of body tissues. Osteopathy A system of medicine that emphasizes the manipulation of the patient's muscles and bones to relieve certain disorders and restore the body to proper alignment. Vitalism The philosophy of life that underlies naturopathic medicine. Vitalism defines life as an autonomous force which cannot be explained in biological or chamical terms. Further Reading For Your Information Books Periodicals Organizations Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Gale Research, 1999. |
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