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MoonDragon's Alternative Health Information
Medicinal Therapies
NATUROPATHY
Also known as "Natural Medicine" or "nature cure", naturopathy developed in the late 19th century, founded on an ancient belief in the power of the body to heal itself. Naturopaths believe that the body's natural state is one of equilibrium, which can be disturbed by an unhealthy lifestyle. They look for the underlying causes of a problem rather than treating symptoms alone, combining diet and non-invasive therapies where possible to stimulate the healing process. Naturopathy is practiced throughout the Western world and some of its principles have been adopted by conventional medicine.
MAIN USES OF NATUROPATHY
Degeneration and long term conditions, such as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma.
MoonDragon's Health & Wellness: Arthritis
Depression.
High blood pressure, hardening of the arteries.
PMS and menstrual problems.
Skin conditions.
Gastrointestinal problems, such as ulcers.
Anxiety, stress.
Headaches & fatigue, CFS.
HISTORY
Some aspects of naturopathy have common ground with other ancient holistic health systems, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, which share the belief that the body has an innate power to heal itself. In naturopathy this power is known as "vital force". Many of the principles of naturopathy can be found in the work of the Greek physician Hippocrates. Writing in the 5th century B.C., he said that health could be maintained by a balance of rest, exercise, and plain food in moderation, while cures should be as natural as possible to stimulate the body's ability to heal itself.
The term "naturopathy" was coined in 1895 by Dr. John Scheel of New York, but the system grew out of the "nature cures' popular in 19th century spa towns in Austria and Germany. These emphasized the benefits of hydrotherapy, fresh air, sunlight, and exercise. Naturopathy was also influenced by the work of French physiologist Claude Bernard in the 1850s. Bernard developed the concept of le milieu interieur (the body's internal environment), the equilibrium of which, he maintained, was vital for good health, or "homeostasis".
Naturopathy was introduced in the US in the 1890s by Benedict Lust, a follower of the German monk Father Sebastian Kneipp, who had established health spas in Europe. Lust founded the American School of Naturopathy in New York in 1896. The practice flourished in the US and in 1909 California became the first state to recognize it as a therapy. By the late 19th century, John Kellogg (famous for his breakfast cereals) was using natural therapies at his sanatorium in Battle Creek, Michigan. In 1918-19, the naturopath Henry Lindlahr set out the principles of naturopathy in his Philosophy of Natural Therapeutics. Advances in pharmaceuticals and surgery in the 1930s swept natural methods aside in the US, and it was not until the 1960s that interest revived.
Naturopathy is widely practiced in many countries. In Germany, there are several thousand state-licensed naturopaths, or Heilpraktiker (health practitioners), and, as in the Us, Canada, the UK, Australia, and the Netherlands, they are reasonably autonomous. In some states, naturopaths are recognized as family practitioners. Italy, Spain, and Israel also have growing numbers of naturopaths.
KEY PRINCIPLES
Modern naturopaths believe the body will always strive toward good health, or homeostasis (see below), and that the body is its own best healer. They maintain that many factors, such as an unhealthy diet, a lack of sleep, exercise, or fresh air, any emotional or physical stress, pollution in the environment, even negative attitudes, allow waste products and toxins to build up in the body and upset self-regulation. This in turn can overload the immune system and weaken the vital force, the body's innate ability to maintain good health. If this vital force is weakened, the body becomes susceptible to viruses, bacteria, and allergens.
Naturopaths believe that symptoms such as fever or inflammation are signs of the body's self-healing powers at work, and advise against suppressing such symptoms, since that can cause disorders to "go underground", becoming chronic and causing further degeneration. Rather than treating symptoms directly, naturopaths work to improve underlying health so that the patient is less susceptible to infection.
Naturopathic treatments are as non-invasive as possible. Some practitioners specialize in a particular approach, while others draw on a wide range of techniques. Some of the most commonly used treatments include clinical nutrition and fasting (diet is a very important part of naturopathic medicine); hydrotherapy, physical therapies, including osteopathy or chiropractic, massage, and physiotherapy; counseling and lifestyle modification; herbal medicine; homeopathy; Traditional Chinese Medicine; light therapy; touch therapies including massage, acupressure, shiatsu, and reflexology; and yoga.
THE THEORY OF NATUROPATHY
Naturopathy is a multi-disciplinary approach that uses the healing power of natural resources, such as whole foods, medicinal herbs, and fresh air and water, to allow the body to heal itself. Treatment is given to support what naturopaths term the "triad of health": the musculoskeletal structure of the body, its internal biochemistry, and emotional well-being.
HOMEOSTASIS
Naturopaths believe that self-healing depends on a "vital force", which helps the body fight disease and maintain equilibrium, known as homeostasis. An unhealthy lifestyle can throw this process off balance, weakening the vital force.
NATUROPATHIC TREATMENT
Naturopathy uses a range of therapies to enhance the body's self-healing powers. These aim to work by improving digestion and circulation, increasing the elimination of waste products, and boosting the immune system.
EVIDENCE & RESEARCH
The therapeutic benefits of a whole-foods diet and other naturopathic practices, such as regular exercise, relaxation, and the use of massage for stress relief, have been endorsed by medical research.
In 1991, a study of ear infections in children, undertaken by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, claimed that naturopathy was an effective alternative to antibiotics and surgery. At the Bastyr University Clinic in Seattle, the Healing AIDS Research Project treated 16 HIV-positive patients along naturopathic lines for a year, using vitamin supplements, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, and herbal remedies. The results of their trial, published in 1992, revealed that 12 of the 16 reported improved well-being and none of the group developed AIDS.
CONVENTIONAL MEDICAL OPINION
Many long-held naturopathic notions, such as the importance of a diet that is high in fiber and antioxidants, and low in salt and fat, have since been adopted by conventional medicine. Stress management and exercise, now accepted by conventional practitioners as important to health, have been stock-in-trade in naturopathy for most of the 20th century. Conventional preventive medicine, though it might not admit it, owes a lot to the naturopathic tradition.
CONSULTING A PRACTITIONER
The first visit to a naturopath may last up to an hour as he will want to build up a complete picture of your physical and emotional well-being. He will probably give you a routine medical examination, including tests on your blood pressure, lungs and heart, spinal joints, and reflexes. The practitioner may also arrange for X-rays, blood, urine, and other tests. In addition, he may carry out non-conventional tests, examining your irises, analyzing your sweat or hair, or using kinesiology muscle tests.
STANDARD TESTS
Naturopaths assess the patient's health with a wide range of tests to build up a complete picture.
A naturopath may diagnose your condition in terms unfamiliar to conventional practitioners, such as "toxic accumulation" and "leaky gut". Treatment falls into two broad categories.Catabolic (cleansing) treatment is given for conditions caused by a buildup of waste products, and may include fasting to assist detoxification.
Anabolic (strengthening) treatment is aimed at building up a weakened constitution with nutritional supplements and changes in the diet.
The practitioner may give advice about breathing patterns, exercise, and relaxation. Some naturopaths are also trained in counseling skills and techniques such as hypnotherapy. Advice is tailored to individual needs, and willing participants in treatments and a positive mental attitude are crucial. Your health should improve steadily, possibly with temporary relapses known as "healing crises" as detoxification takes effect.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q: How long does a treatment session last?
A: The first session lasts about an hour. Subsequent sessions last 20 to 40 minutes.
Q: How many sessions will I need?
A: Between 4 and 30 weekly sessions, depending on the condition. A qualified naturopath will refer you to your conventional practitioner if he feels that your condition requires surgery or treatment beyond his expertise.
Q: Will it be unpleasant?
A: The naturopath may ask you to give up some favorite foods for a time.
Q: Will there be any aftereffects?
A: Symptoms may appear to worsen before improving as the body tries to eliminate toxins and return to a homeostatic state.
NATUROPATHIC TREATMENT FOR SINUSITIS
Sinusitis is an infection of the membranes lining the air-filled cavities (sinuses) in the bones around the nose, causing throbbing pain and fever. Naturopathic treatment for the condition will be tailored to the patient's individual needs, and will vary according to whether catabolic or anabolic principles are applied.
The naturopath will first ask about the patient's lifestyle and take a detailed medical history. If the sinusitis is thought to have resulted from toxins in the body or from exposure to pollutants, catabolic treatments such as fasting may be recommended. On the other hand, if the patient's overall health is poor, and his self-healing powers are not strong enough to rid the body of infection, a health-promoting whole-foods diet and food supplements will be used, based on anabolic principles. Other options might include soft-tissue massage and cold compresses to stimulate circulation.
A PATIENT'S NATUROPATHIC EXPERIENCE
Joan, a 31-year old marketing executive, had "weakness" of the right side and extreme fatigue: "The naturopath believed it was chronic fatigue syndrome and put me on a very plain diet with lots of fruit, vegetable juices, and water. I was prescribed the herb Echinacea to build up my immune system, and lots of supplements. She asked me to make some lifestyle changes - I had been driving to work through a tunnel full of exhaust fumes, so I traveled by train instead. After being sick for 18 months, within three or four weeks I was feeling much better."
PRECAUTIONS
Do not fast or follow a restricted diet without supervision by a qualified naturopath.
SELF-HELP
One of the many foundations of naturopathic medicine is diet, and you may be given a specific juice fast and diet to follow at home. The practitioner may prescribe nutritional supplements to complement the changes in your diet, and may also advocate hydrotherapy or self-massage.
General guidelines for leading a more healthy lifestyle include the following:
MINERAL WATER: Drinking 2-8 glasses daily helps the body to eliminate waste products.
SUPPLEMENTS: There is no substitute for a healthy diet. However, vitamins B-complex, E, and C, and a multi-mineral preparation may help if you are in a stressful or polluted environment.
BREATHING: Breath deeply, from the bottom of the lungs, for two minutes twice a day.
FRESH AIR: Spend time outdoors in moderate sunshine to increase vitamin D production.
SKIN BRUSHING: Using a loofah or special brush before a bath helps eliminate waste products and improve the circulation.
MEDICINAL THERAPIES
MoonDragon's Alternative Therapy: Naturopathy
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