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Naturopathy doesn't follow a single road to good health. This approach to health care embraces a wide array of noninvasive techniques and therapies. Some are as basic as nutrition or stress reduction. Others are more firmly planted in "alternative medicine," such as homeopathy. As you can tell from the term "naturopathy," it is a natural approach to health care. Different naturopathic practitioners use various therapies to a common end: Stimulating and supporting your body's own healing ability.

Many practices associated with naturopathy date back centuries, but modern naturopathy was founded and named by German physician Benedict Lust in the 1890s. It gained popularity in the U.S. in the early 1900s. By the late 1920s, there were thousands of naturopaths practicing in the U.S. But within a few decades, conventional medicine, i.e., "drug therapy" medicine, came into prominence and naturopathy faded. The tide turned in the 1970s as Americans developed a new appreciation of alternative approaches to medicine.

Basic principles of Naturopathy:

·         The healing power of nature.

Naturopathy contends that the body has the inherent ability to heal itself and, when working at an optimal level, to ward off disease. Naturopathy is intended to help your body do just that.

·         Treat the whole person.

Naturopaths work from the perspective that health and disease are more than just germs and infection. Mental, physical, spiritual and environmental factors each play a role. Naturopaths take all of these factors into consideration when developing treatment. So where a conventional health care professional may prescribe medication to suppress symptoms, a naturopath may look for alternative approaches, since the goal is to restore health, not simply banish illness.

·         First, do no harm.

 Traditionally, naturopathy focuses on gentle, non-invasive therapies that enhance the healing process. It is this principle that underlies the reluctance to turn immediately to drugs for a cure. Naturopaths generally avoid methods that merely relieve symptoms without addressing the cause. This is the foundation of another principle:

·         Identify the cause.

Instead of treating symptoms, naturopaths seek to identify and treat the underlying cause. Symptoms are not the cause of illness-they simply indicate that your body is out of balance. The cause is often more difficult to identify. It could be anything from a vitamin or mineral deficiency to an emotional problem. By identifying and addressing (or removing) the cause, the symptoms can be relieved rather than suppressed.

·         Prevention.

Naturopaths place great emphasis on preventive care. Naturopaths assess your risk factors and make suggestions that will support your good health.

·         The physician as teacher.

Naturopaths see themselves as teachers and try to teach patients about how to take responsibility for their own health. This may involve suggesting nutritional, emotional, dietary or other lifestyle changes.

There are only a select few scientific studies on the effectiveness of naturopathy in general. Such studies would be hard to develop, since naturopathy includes a broad array of therapies and remedies. Many of the individual therapies, such as nutrition and acupuncture, have been proven effective in scientific tests. Others, such as some forms of hydrotherapy , generate more skepticism in the scientific community.

Naturopaths are willing to work cooperatively with their conventional-medicine counterparts. So you should continue your existing treatments while seeking care from a naturopath. Be sure to keep all of your health care professionals apprised of all treatments you are receiving.

When to Visit a Naturopath

You might want to visit a naturopath for a number of reasons. Perhaps you have a chronic condition that just isn't responding to conventional care. Or you may want to improve your overall health. You don't have to suffer from a particular condition to visit a naturopath. In fact, you might find a naturopath helpful for any condition.

Naturopathy is particularly well suited for chronic conditions such as asthma, muscle pain, allergies and arthritis, as well as disorders that may have a stress- or diet-related factor, such as digestive problems, insomnia, skin disorders and fatigue. Naturopaths also treat colds, flu and bronchitis. Some are trained in natural childbirth and many treat premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menstrual and menopausal problems.

If you have a serious condition that requires hospitalization, major surgery or emergency treatment-for instance, if you have a broken bone seek conventional medical assistance. You can receive followup care from your naturopath, which may speed healing and recovery.