Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct
system of healing - a philosophy, science, art and practice which seeks to promote health by stimulating and supporting the
body's inherent power to regain harmony and balance. Although the term naturopathy was first used at the turn of the century,
the philosophical basis and many of the methods of naturopathic medicine are ancient, some dating back at least to 1000B.C.It
was practiced in Ancient India
Philosophy of Naturopathy
The philosophy of naturopathic medicine is based upon three
basic principles. The first principle is that the body possesses the power to heal itself through its internal vitality and
intelligence. This vital force is the foundation of naturopathic philosophy and all the naturopathic practitioner does is
to create the most favourable conditions to stimulate and enhance this healing power of nature.
The second principle is that disease is a manifestation of the vital
force applying itself to the removal of obstructions to the normal functioning of organs and tissues. The naturopathic practitioner
always seeks to discover and remove the basic causes of disease whether they be:
Chemical; i.e. an imbalance in the chemistry of the body fluids
due to dietary deficiency or dietary excess, retention of waste products due to inefficient functioning of the lungs, kidneys
and bowels, or poor circulation of body fluids;
Mechanical; i.e. muscular tensions, strained ligaments, stiff
joints, poor posture due to occupational factors, as well as spinal misalignments, leading to an interference in the functioning
of the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system generally;
Psychological; i.e. impaired function induced by stress, which may
be due to worries and upsets in personal and domestic life and/or anxieties and pressures at work.
The third principle is that naturopathic medicine is a holistic
approach to health. In other words, disease affects the whole person - body, mind and spirit, and not simply an isolated organ
or system. Each person responds in unique ways to his or her environment, each has individual strengths, weaknesses and needs.
Their body's reactions to the same stress may be very different depending on their level of health, inherited tendencies,
previous medical history, etc. In treating the whole person the naturopathic practitioner searches for causes at many levels,
and attempts to eliminate the fundamental cause of illness, not simply to remove symptoms.
The Naturopathic Philosophy advocates a number of principles:
Naturopathy promotes health through education and non-invasive
natural agents.
1. Do no harm
Primum non nocere is taken from the Hippocratic Oath. Certainly
anybody who is sick does not need any therapy or treatment which can harm him/her. Since perscription medication has such
a potential to make a well man sick, many wonder how it can be expected to make a sick man well. Traditional naturopathy embraces
only therapies or procedures which are designed to enhance healing and produce wellness.
2. Recognize the healing power of nature
Vis medicatrix naturae. The human body is created with the
capacity to heal itself and to maintain homeostasis. There is a healing power in nature and this principal is the basis for
all of naturopathy. Naturopathy is a system designed to work in harmony with nature in the restoration and support for the
inherent natural healing systems of the body.
3. Identify the cause
Tolle causam. In allopathic medicine the name of the disease
is actually the name of the symptom in Greek. For example, the term "arthritis" is made up of two Greek roots "arthro" which
means having to do with the joint and "itis" meaning pain or inflammation. Allopathic doctors seek to treat the joint pain
by reducing the joint pain. This can be done with the use of pain killers, nerve blockers or any number of procedures. Naturopaths
are committed to removing the joint pain by finding and removing the cause. Perhaps this may prove to be a calcium and/or
mineral deficiency caused by either a primary or secondary nutritional deficiency. Or perhaps the cause could be from an injury
or possibly from an over acid condition in the body. For naturopaths, the correction of the cause is the most plausible way
of eliminating the symptoms and restoring health to the person.
4. Involve the total person
Naturopathic doctors are aware that a person can have a physical,
spiritual or emotional illness. The chosen therapy is determined by what kind of problem the person is experiencing. You can
not be well or healthy if you have a spiritual or mental problem even if you appear perfectly fit. Naturopaths use various
counseling, stress management and bio-feedback techniques for those experiencing emotional or spiritual problems. Most naturopathic
practitioners are capable of also using Biblical counseling as restorative therapy. Reading the writings of the fathers of
naturopathy, you will find they were Godly people who recognized the Creator and gave Him the honor for all healing.
5. Teach rather than treat
Naturopathic philosophy places the responsibility for wellness with
the individual. Man is the steward of his body and the doctor is the teacher or advisor to the individual on how to maintain
health. One recognizes that a headache is not an aspirin deficiency but rather the result of some imbalance within the body.
Some principle of health has been violated and the body is responding with pain. Naturopaths should evaluate the connotation
and advise or teach their clients what lifestyle, nutritional, emotional or dietary changes should be made to alleviate the
condition. The condition is alleviated by the clients making those changes and not by some outside agency.
