Overview: Naturopathy or Naturopathic Medicine
According to the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) website ʺthe word naturopathy comes from Greek and Latin and literally translates as nature disease. A central belief in naturopathy is that nature has a healing power (a principle practitioners call vis medicatrix naturae).ʺ
The latest statistics released by the National Health Interview Survey revealed an estimated 729,000 U.S. adults and 237,000 children used a naturopathic treatment in one year.
Research has revealed naturopathic medicine may be the least type of alternative or complementary medicine used.
The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) website stated, ʺnaturopathy, or naturopathic medicine, is a system of medicine based on the healing power of nature. Naturopathy, a holistic system, strive[s] to find the cause of disease by understanding the body, mind, and spirit of the person. There are two areas of focus in naturopathy: one is supporting the body's own healing abilities, and the other is empowering people to make lifestyle changes necessary for the best possible health.ʺ
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians website claimed naturopaths follow these key principles:
• Let nature heal
• Identify and treat causes
• First, do no harm
• Educate patients
• Treat the whole person
• Prevent illness
Also, naturopaths use the following types of treatments:
• Acupuncture
• Detoxification
• Exercise therapy
• Herbal medicines
• Homeopathy
• Hydrotherapy
• Lifestyle counseling
• Nutritional counseling, including dietary changes (such as eating more whole and unprocessed foods) and use of vitamins, minerals, and other supplements
• Physical medicine, such as therapeutic massage and joint manipulation
• Psychological counseling
• Spirituality
There are three types of naturopathic practitioners in the United States. These include:
• Naturopathic physicians
• Traditional naturopaths
• Other health care providers who offer naturopathic services or holistic therapies (dentists, nurses, chiropractors, doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine, etc.)
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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