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Naturopathic
Medicine, or Naturopathy, is a practice
of preventing, assessing and treating conditions
of the human mind and body. By integrating
conventional health sciences with a range
of natural therapies and traditional medicines,
naturopathy treats the patient's mental,
emotional and physical states for a lasting
effect.
The foundation of Naturopathy is the philosophy
of the "healing power of nature".
This means that the body has its own healing
energy within and with the help of naturopathic
treatment, the body can repair itself and
recover from illness if it is in a healthy
and supportive environment.
The Role of the Naturopath
A Naturopath aims to educate, empower and
motivate the patient to assume more personal
responsibility for his or her health by
adopting a healthy attitude, lifestyle and
diet. They do not simply treat the manifestation
of a disease and its effects but rather
search for the cause and treat it, rather
than the effect. Prevention of disease is
accomplished through naturopathic education
which builds a lifestyle that supports health
and wellbeing.
Benefits of Naturopathy
A Naturopath is trained to employ safe and
effective natural therapies that will support
and stimulate the healing power of nature
in the gentlest, least invasive and most
efficient manner possible. Naturopaths use
a range of methods to assist in the healing
process including Herbal Medicine, nutrition
– diet and lifestyle recommendations, vitamins
and minerals, flower essences, Homeopathy,
hair, tongue, and nail analysis, Iridology
and massage.
The individual is viewed and treated in
naturopathic medicine as a whole, composed
of a complex interaction of physical, mental,
emotional, spiritual, social and other factors.
Thus patients suffering from everyday colds
as well as some more serious, chronic conditions
such as allergies may benefit from naturopathic
treatment.
An initial appointment with a Naturopath
will take 1hr 15mins in which your medical
history and general lifestyle will be reviewed
in order to determine a naturopathic treatment
regimen suited to your individual needs.
Diagnostic procedures such as physical exams,
blood and urine analysis may be required
in order to establish a treatment and health-promoting
program. Naturopathy is suitable for everyone,
from infants to the aged. |