Naturopathy and Self-Healing

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in today’s blog. We are discussing Naturopathy and how our body is capable of healing itself. We will also discuss certain supportive methods of healing that Naturopathy embraces. You can read or view the video blog below. Enjoy!

Naturopathy is an alternative medicine system that believes in the healing power of nature. According to the naturopathy philosophy, our body has the capacity to heal itself of any disease if it is aided by the right natural elements. Naturopaths focus on educating people to make appropriate lifestyle changes to increase their body’s capacity to heal.

A Typical ND Visit

Similar to a visit with an MD, a visit to a naturopathic doctor begins and moves very similarly. A treatment typically begins with the ND (naturopathic doctor) taking down your physiological and psychological history as well as details about your lifestyle and diet. You may also be asked to undergo certain tests so the ND can examine your digestive process and figure out if you suffer from any nutritional deficiencies. The final diagnosis is made after taking into consideration your current spiritual, emotional as well as physical health.

It is during the post-diagnosis phase that the two approaches (MD v. ND) diverge. The naturopath may suggest one or more of the following therapies to increase your body’s natural healing capacity:

• Nutritional therapy; i.e., you may be advised to avoid certain foods and make others a part of your daily diet
• Herbal Medicine
• Homeopathic treatment
• Hydrotherapy, including drinking natural spring water, aqua exercises, taking herbal baths, etc.
• Detoxification to rid your body of certain toxins that may have built over your life
• Meditation, guided imagery, Past-Life Regression and Hypnosis
• Counseling or coaching to support making healthy life style changes, such exercising, eating healthy, sleeping on time, etc.
• Acupuncture
• Physical medicine, i.e. hot and cold compresses, muscle manipulation through sound waves and sometimes massages

A person who is curious about naturopathy can seek naturopathic treatment to cure all sorts of dis-eases, from short-terms ones like sore throats, fevers, coughs and colds, to chronic diseases like arthritis, asthma, cardiac problems, etc. Though naturopathy is a popular alternative medicine system and is based on several sound scientific principles, it has been often criticized for its reliance on techniques that do not enjoy the mainstream support and belief of the Western medical community at large (homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, etc., to name a few).

There are several medical experts who have argued that naturopathy is too simplistic and pseudoscientific even though naturopaths are required to undergo intensive medical training; detractors of the therapy argue that NDs do not have in-depth knowledge about health care and their course covers only a fraction of what doctors who practice primary healthcare are required to learn.

Despite this criticism, however, naturopathy is becoming more mainstream and widely accepted throughout the world because of its reliance on natural healing techniques. If you are a follower or currently under the ongoing guidance of Western medicine or mainstream medical treatments, I strongly recommended you continue your medical journey and discuss potential alternatives with your MD to see if there is a natural fit between these two approaches. You may be able to locate a practitioner who is trained and holds both MD/ND licensing and training. As always, we encourage you to research and communicate regularly and actively with your doctors to ensure you are using the right approach for your personal situation. Being open and questioning allows to you be empowered and stay involved in choices regarding your own healing.

Until next time, embrace your inner wisdom.

Namaste,
Karen