Naturopathic Guide
Naturopathic Guide
Naturopathy
The term naturopathy originates from the Greek root for suffering (“pathos”) and the Latin root for birth (“natura”) and suggests “natural healing.” Figure 1. Naturopathy is a form of healthcare that combines modern treatment with traditional methods. It includes alternative, natural therapies to modern medicine [1].
Figure 1: Nature and Naturopathy
Naturopathic medicine is a system that uses natural remedies to help the body heal itself. It embraces many therapies, including herbs, massage, acupuncture, exercise, and nutritional counseling. Naturopathy was brought to the United States from Germany in the 1800s, but some of its treatments are centuries old. Today, it combines traditional treatments with some aspects of modern science [2].
Naturopathic physicians are trained to diagnose, treat and manage acute and chronic conditions. Rather than focusing on a collection of individual symptoms, a naturopath looks at a person as a whole body, mind and spirit [3]. Naturopathy is one among the various systems of traditional health care available in India. This is also called the science of healthy living. The naturopathy system of healing is based on the philosophy of natural healing with its own concepts of health, disease, and management. Naturopathy lays equal importance on both preventive and curative aspects of health care. Moreover, naturopathic protocols are easy to follow and can be integrated well into your daily routine. This is one of the reasons that Naturopathy is becoming popular globally [4].
Hippocrates and Thomas Allinson
The term "naturopathy" originates from "natura" (Latin root for birth) and "pathos" (the Greek root for suffering) to suggest "natural healing".[5] Naturopaths claim the ancient Greek "Father of Medicine", Hippocrates, was the first advocate of naturopathic medicine, before the term existed.[6] Naturopathy has its roots in the 19th-century Natural Cure movement of Europe. In Scotland, Thomas Allinson started advocating his "Hygienic Medicine" in the 1880s, promoting a natural diet and exercise with avoidance of tobacco and overwork. [7] Figure 2, 3
John Scheel and Benedict Lust
The term naturopathy was coined in 1895 by John Scheel, and purchased by Benedict Lust, whom naturopaths consider to be the "Father of U.S. Naturopathy”. Lust had been schooled in hydrotherapy and other natural health practices in Germany by Father Kneipp, he sent Lust to the United States to spread his drugless methods.[8] Lust defined naturopathy as a broad discipline rather than a particular method, and included such techniques as hydrotherapy, herbal medicine, and homeopathy, as well as eliminating overeating, tea, coffee, and alcohol.[9]
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the first known use of "naturopathy" in print is from 1901.From 1901; Lust founded the American School of Naturopathy in New York. In 1902, the original North American Kneipp Societies were discontinued and renamed "Naturopathic Societies". In September 1919, the Naturopathic Society of America was dissolved, and Benedict Lust founded the American Naturopathic Association to supplant it. [10] Naturopaths became licensed under naturopathic or drugless practitioner laws in 25 states in the first three decades of the twentieth century. Naturopathy was adopted by many chiropractors, and several schools offered both Doctor of Naturopathy (ND) and Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degrees. Estimates of the number of naturopathic schools active in the United States during this period vary from about one to two dozen. [11] Figure 4 and 5
Flexner Report
After a period of rapid growth, naturopathy went into decline for several decades after the 1930s. In 1910, the Advancement for Teaching published the Flexner Report, which criticized many aspects of medical education, especially the quality and lack of scientific rigor. The advent of penicillin and other "miracle drugs" and the consequent popularity of modern medicine also contributed to naturopathy's decline. [10]
Beginning in the 1970s, there was a revival of interest in the United States and Canada, in conjunction with the "holistic health" movement.[11] Figure 6. As of 2009, fifteen U.S. states, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia licensed naturopathic doctors,[13] and the State of Washington requires insurance companies to offer reimbursement for services provided by naturopathic physicians.[14] On the other hand, some states such as South Carolina and Tennessee prohibit the practice of naturopathy.[15]
The United States IHS (Indian Health Service) began accepting naturopathic doctors in their clinics and practice in 2013, also making loan repayment available to ND's. In 2015, a former naturopathic doctor, Britt Marie Hermes, began writing critically about her experience being trained in and practicing naturopathic medicine. Her blog garnered a large following among skeptics while enraging some proponents of alternative medicine. [16, 17]
After the 1930s
It was during the 1920s and up to 1937 that Naturopathy was at its height. Naturopaths such as Lindlahr, Lust, Kellogg and Carroll were spreading the word of Nature Cure and Naturopathy and having huge success in their sanatoriums in curing people of many aliments. The research of Tilden, McDonagh and Bechamp verified the underlying principles of naturopathy, and many journals and books were written for the public to educate them into taking responsibility for their own health. The naturopathic journals of the 1920’s and 1930 provided a lot of valuable insight into the prevention of disease and the promotion of health. Dietary advice focused on correcting poor eating habits, increasing the amount of fibre in the diet and reducing red meat. [18]
In the 1940s and 1950s, a broadening in scope of practice laws led many chiropractic schools to drop their ND degrees, though many chiropractors continued to practice naturopathy. From 1940 to 1963, the American Medical Association campaigned against heterodox medical systems. By 1958, practice of naturopathy was licensed in only five states. [11]
In 1968, the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare issued a report on naturopathy concluding that naturopathy was not grounded in medical science and that naturopathic education was inadequate to prepare graduates to make appropriate diagnosis and provide treatment; the report recommends against expanding Medicare coverage to include naturopathic treatments. In 1977 an Australian committee of inquiry reached similar conclusions; it did not recommend licensure for naturopaths. [12]
Naturopathic Doctor and Natural Medicine
A naturopathic doctor (ND) is a healthcare professional who practices naturopathic medicine.
Naturopathic medicine is an alternative medicine approach that emphasizes using natural medicine and a “whole person” approach to prevent, diagnose, and treat health conditions.
Naturopathic Medicine
In 2011, the House of Delegates of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) approved this definition of naturopathic medicine:
“Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary [healthcare] profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing process. The practice of naturopathic medicine includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods.”[19] Figure 7.
Naturopathic Techniques
Naturopathic techniques or medicines are driven by the mantra of following the curative power of nature. Naturopathic practitioners believe in natural and home remedies to restore the body of its inherent balance. These practitioners concentrate on the causes that brought about the imbalance rather than focusing on the external symptoms that come about as a manifestation of the imbalance. Naturopathy understands that disregarding the underlying causes can prove to be extremely harmful for the body and its mechanisms. Naturopathic techniques also sport the uniqueness of having no side effects and are extremely beneficial for the body. These techniques do not eclipse the symptoms that show but remove the underlying cause to a massive extent. The important thing to remember here is that naturopathic techniques focus its remedy on a specific part or portion of the victim’s body instead of treating the entire patient. In addition to this it is also important to remember that naturopathic techniques maximize prevention of further outbreaks of the disease by ensuring that the patient receives a complete alteration of his or her lifestyle and habits. They do so by refurbishing almost entirely dietary charts and drafting a common course of action that inculcates healthy practices like exercise, meditation, and exposure to clean water and sunlight. [20] Figure 8.
Goals of Naturopathy
The ultimate goal of naturopathic care is restoring balance in the body to support its natural healing process.
At its core, naturopathic medicine is distinguished by six underlying principles:
1.First, Do No Harm:
Use the most natural, least invasive and least toxic therapies.
2.The Healing Power of Nature:
Trust in the body's inherent wisdom to heal itself.
3.Identify and Treat the Causes:
Look beyond the symptoms to the underlying cause.
4.Doctor as Teacher:
Educate patients about the steps to achieving and maintaining health.
5.Treat the Whole Person:
View the body as an integrated whole in all its physical and spiritual dimensions.
6.Prevention:
Focus on overall health, wellness and disease prevention. [8] Figure 9.
Principles of Naturopathic Medicine:
Healing Power of Nature
It is a known fact that any living being on this planet is capable of healing. The healing process starts as soon as a individual suffers from a illness or an injury. Human cells are capable of regenerating themselves to heal and rejuvenate from time to time. Hence, the task of the physician or any medical practitioner is to aid in that natural healing process of human beings.
Health workers as Teachers
This principle emphasizes on the importance of making the patient or any individual aware about their health conditions. This is the task of the health worker to educate them so that they are able to make appropriate decisions regarding their health. [21]
Prevention and Wellness
According to this principle of naturopathy it is emphasized that any health condition must be prevented rather than being cured after getting affected by it. Hence it is advisable that overall wellness should be kept in mind and prevention should be the first step towards healthy life. One should not wait for the disease to get worse rather take preventive measures beforehand to tackle the problem.[22]
Treat the Cause
This principle states that in order to cure any disease completely and in less amount of time, the root cause should be known in the first place. Simply by reducing the symptoms one cannot cure the disease completely. Hence, the cause must be identified and cured as soon as possible.
Treat the Whole Person
According to this principle, the naturopathic treatment considers the treatment of one disease as the treatment of the entire body of an individual. Since one single disease somehow affects other organs of the body as well, therefore the overall wellbeing and treatment of the individual is of utmost importance. [23]
What Does Naturopathic Care Involve?
Naturopathic physicians use a blend of traditional treatment methods (such as performing minor surgery and ordering labs or x-rays) and holistic therapies (such as leveraging botanical medicine) to manage a broad range of health conditions.
Many of the therapies they rely on support the body’s intrinsic self-repair mechanisms. Rather than simply treating a patient’s symptoms through naturopathic remedies then sending them on their way, they look for underlying imbalances and the root causes of ailments. Then they are able to determine what is truly necessary to support and re-balance the body’s natural healing process. Healing methods for naturopathic doctors can include nutrition counseling, botanical medicine, homeopathic treatment, hydrotherapy and minor surgery. [35]
Naturopathic Approaches
Following are some of approaches that can be used under naturopathic treatments
Dietary Advice
Following a properly balanced diet are an efficient way of keeping one’s body and mind healthy. There are many diseases that result due to a lack of proper diet in the body. Hence it must be kept in mind that in order to have a healthy body there should be the intake of an adequate amount of healthy diet suitable for each individual depending upon the age, weight, or any health complications. [24]
Herbal Remedies
Another way of approaching a healthy body or curing a disease is through herbal remedies. For many years traditional medical practitioners used medicinal herbs as a source for treating various major and minor diseases like cold and cough, tuberculosis, diarrhea, etc.
Hydrotherapy
The human body consists of 70% of water. This means that water plays a significant role in the overall health and wellbeing of an individual. Water is said to have many properties which used effectively is capable in curing various diseases of the human body. [25] Figure 10.
Iridology
Iridology is the approach through which the iris of the human eye is analyzed to identify any illness or disease present in the body. It is believed that by studying the iris of an individual the medical practitioners can identify many diseases that might be present in the human body. Figure 11.
Massage
Massage is an effective approach of naturopathy that helps in curing various health related issues like joint pain, sprain, headache etc. massaging any part of the body increases the flow of blood in that region thereby reducing stress of the nervous system. [26] Figure 12.
Nutritional Supplements
Majority of diseases that are found in human body are due to the deficiency of one or more vitamin or protein etc. hence adequate amount of nutrition are essential for maintain a healthy mind and body. In case of unavailability of these nutrients in natural form, their supplements are also recommended by the medical practitioners that are easier to consume and are more accessible in today’s time.
Osteopathy
It is a manual therapy that involves bones, muscles and tissues to cure diseases by simply manipulating the musculoskeletal framework. This approach is a drug-free approach a focus on the external treatment of the health problems like back pain etc. [27] Figure 13
Methods
Naturopaths are often opposed to mainstream medicine and take antivaccinationist stance.
The particular modalities used by a naturopath vary with training and scope of practice. These may include herbalism, homeopathy, acupuncture, natural cures, physical medicine, applied kinesiology, colonic enemas,[28][29] chelation therapy, color therapy, cranial osteopathy, hair analysis, iridology, live blood analysis, ozone therapy,[30] psychotherapy, public health measures , reflexology, rolfing, massage therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine. Figure 14
Nature cures include a range of therapies based on exposure to natural elements such as sunshine, fresh air, or heat or cold, as well as nutrition advice such as following a vegetarian and whole food, fasting, or abstention from alcohol and sugar. Physical medicine includes naturopathic, osseous, or soft tissue manipulative therapy, sports medicine, exercise, and hydrotherapy. Psychological counseling includes meditation, relaxation, and other methods of stress management. [31][32]
A 2004 survey determined the most commonly prescribed naturopathic therapeutics in Washington State and Connecticut were botanical medicines, vitamins, minerals, homeopathy, and allergy treatments. An examination published in 2011 of naturopathic clinic websites in Alberta and British Connecticut found that the most commonly advertised therapies were homeopathy, botanical medicine, nutrition, acupuncture, lifestyle counseling, and detoxification. [29]
In 2020, a survey of methods used by naturopaths in fourteen countries reported that 27% of clients received acupuncture, 22% homeopathy, 16% "other energetic medicines", and 13.5% were given hydrotherapy. A mean of 4.0 "treatments" were provided to each customer. One-third (33%) of patients consulted with only the naturopath to manage their primary health concern.[32]
Types of naturopathic treatment
Ayurvedic Treatment
Ayurved is an ancient medicine form developed in India almost 1000 years ago and the wisdom of it is still relevant in modern times. Ayurved works on the principle of bringing the balances between the Tridoshas in the body which are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. According to the dominance of the particular Dosha various ailment could be present in the body of the particular individual. Ayurvedic medicines prepare concoctions from various natural resources plants etc. which are highly medicinal in nature and are given to people with ailment. Figure 15.
Homeopathy Treatment
It is an alternate form of medicine developed in Germany by a physician named Samuel Hahnemann in the year 1796. The underlying concepts of homeopathy are largely based on the fact that human body can cure itself if stimulated by a certain medicine and proper healing can be initiated from within the body. The idea of homeopathy is ‘like cures like’, where the medicine is prepared using natural materials from animals or plants and then diluting it further to prepare the medicine. [33]
Nutritional Treatment
Nutrition therapy is the treatment of a chronic medical condition like diabetes mellitus, through changes in diet, by adjusting quantity, quality and methods of nutrient intake. This is done under the guidance of a trained nutritionist. Nutrition, more specifically nutritional science, is the science that studies the physiological process of nutrition, interpreting the nutrients and other substances in food in relation to maintenance, growth, reproduction, health, and disease of an organism.
Yoga and Meditation
Yoga and meditation works on the overall well-being of the individual. They work on creating a balanced physiology and psychology. Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that has series of asana which are body postures and kriyas which are breath work. These kriyas and asana are exceptionally well designed to bring about harmony in the body and mind of the person. Meditation also comes under asana and is a practice of mindfulness which helps person to remain calm and grounded. Figure 16
