Naturopathic Medicine

Today’s healthcare system has become a lot more diverse than in the past. Not only are there a wide variety of doctors specializing in everything from head to toe and specific conditions and disease, but also there are hospitals, clinics, and medical offices available to treat your every ailment. So with all these options, how do you know where to go and what type of physician and treatment to choose? With the rise of drugs and surgery in the 20th century also came the danger of overuse, complications and side effects. Conventional medicine, which was the mot widely, trusted healthcare system in the US turned against its patients and become a political game involving drug companies, lobbyist and hospital kickbacks. Society has made a choice to look for safer, more cost effective healthcare. Naturopathic medicine is not a new area of medicine. Eastern cultures have been using natural medicine for ages. It has only recently taken off in the US due to the drawbacks of conventional medicine. Americans especially are looking for a more natural, safer and effective way to treat disease, cure ailments and restore health. Naturopathic medicine provides this through the use of diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, and natural therapies. Naturopathic medicine is based on the belief that the human body has its own innate healing abilities. Naturopathic physicians facilitate and enhance the body’s abilities to ward off and combat disease unlike conventional medicine, Naturopathic medicine views the patient as a whole person. Not just the symptoms they present. The human body is made up of complex, interrelated system therefore Naturopathic physicians look to resolve the underlying problems, which are the cause of ones symptoms. The Naturopathic approach composes comprehensive treatment plans specific to a single person, which combines the best modern medical practices and traditional natural medical approaches. Integrative partnerships with conventional medical doctors has made for more effective treatments, increased patient satisfaction and restored health. Naturopathic practice is based on six principles founded on medical tradition and scientific evidence. These principles guide Naturopathic physicians in their consultation, examination, and treatment plans. The first principle is the basis for which Naturopathic medicine is founded. The body has an innate ability to heal itself. The objective is finding and removing the barriers to self-healing. Naturopathic physician nurture this process by changing bad habits, unhealthy diets or inactivity. Next, they must assess symptoms and find the underlying cause. Conventional medicine treats the symptoms, which will continue to return unless the root cause is addressed. Naturopathic medicine seeks to find and treat the cause of ones symptoms. Naturopathic physicians ensure their patients safety by following three precepts: using low risk procedures and healing compounds, not suppressing symptoms and customizing diagnosis and treatment to each patient. Prescribing dietary supplements, herbal extracts and homeopathy in place of drugs or invasive surgery provides few to no side effects, emphasizing the principle of the patient’s safety above all. Symptoms are a way for the body to self heals, by suppressing them you are just covering up the real underlying cause. Not every treatment path fits every patient. Conventional medicine has the same treatment parameters for diagnosis regardless of the patient. Every person perceives pain in different ways, just as the y heal in different ways, therefore the treatment needs to be tailored to the patient and not just the diagnosis. Educating patients should be done throughout the treatment process. This doesn’t simply apply to after diagnosis or how to treat. Patients are taught how to heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and how to prevent further illness not only to the physical body. Healing the body as a whole includes mental, emotional and spiritual aspects as well. Learning how to prevent future illness through a healthy diet, exercise, relaxation and overall lifestyle is the job of a Naturopathic physician. rnNaturopathic medicine uses tools that are readily available to safely, naturally, and effectively resolve your medical needs. If you need to make a change to your healthcare needs, look for a Naturopathic physician in your area today.