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Naturopathic
Medicine
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Definition: A form of medicine based
on the philosophy that the body has innate healing power, naturopathic
doctors treat the underlying cause of illness using botanical medicine,
homeopathy, traditional Asian medicine, diet and supplements, and
hydrotherapy. Prevention by teaching healthy lifestyle habits and
treating the whole person rather than an affected part are also
philosophies of naturopathic medicine.
Naturopathy, as its name implies,
is a more natural approach to medicine than
traditional medical schools. Naturopathy is not
as widely or traditionally accepted as
allopathic (M.D.) or osteopathic (D.O.) medicine
is currently, but naturopathy is growing in
popularity.
According to
the Association of Accredited Naturopathic
Medical Colleges, naturopathic physicians are
trained as primary care physicians, and their
medical services may include botanical medicine,
homeopathy, nutrition, and, in some states,
acupuncture or oriental medicine.
Additionally, naturopaths may
also combine the above methodology with some of
the more traditional medical sciences such as
pharmacology, minor surgery, laboratory testing,
and psychology. However, they are trained to use
natural remedies to treat patients rather than
resorting to traditional pharmaceuticals and
manufactured medications.
There are currently only four
accredited naturopathic medical schools
nationwide. They are located in Arizona,
Connecticut, Oregon, and Washington. There are
several naturopathic medical schools in Canada
as well.
According to the AANMC,
naturopathic medical education is similar to
allopathic medical education in a number of
ways. Naturopathic medical students attend a
four-year graduate program to earn the N.D.
degree (Doctor of Naturopathy). N.D. students
study many of the same sciences as allopathic
students, including anatomy, biochemistry,
physiology, neuroscience, and immunology.
“Students of naturopathic
medicine use the Western medical sciences as a
foundation on which to build a thorough
knowledge of holistic, non-toxic therapies and
develop skills in diagnosis, disease prevention
and wellness optimization,” states the AANMC.
Another excellent resource for
learning more about naturopathy is the American
Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP).
According to the AANP website, visited January
25, 2008, 15 states currently have licensing
boards for certifying naturopathic physicians to
practice in the state. Those states are: Alaska,
Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of
Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana,
New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and
Washington. Additionally, the US territories of
Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands also license
naturopathic physicians. As of July 2009,
Minnesota will also license naturopathic
physicians.
Naturopathic doctors are commonly
referred to as general practitioners of the
complementary and alternative health care world.
They are trained in the modalities of herbal
medicine, acupuncture, clinical nutrition, dietary
supplements, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, bodywork and
lifestyle counseling.
Initial visits with a naturopathic doctor begin with
a complete health history and physical examination.
Lab tests or other diagnostic tests may be
necessary.
In addition to a conventional medical history, a
naturopathic doctor asks about factors such as diet,
lifestyle, and environment in order to identify all
of the factors contributing to the illness and the
way these factors affect the mind, body and spirit.
The naturopathic doctor then formulates a treatment
plan which may include one or more of the above
modalities.
Philosophy
Naturopathic medicine is based on the following six
principles:
- Vis Medicatrix Naturae
- The Healing Power of Nature. The belief that
the body has an innate ability to heal itself.
The naturopathic doctor provides therapies that
support this process.
- Docere
- Educating the patient is an important part of
the treatment plan.
- Primum non nocere
- The principle to first do no harm is
fundamental to the naturopathic practice.
- Tolle causam
- To treat the causes of the disease, rather
than the symptoms.
- Holistic approach
- Each person's treatment is individualized and
takes into consideration all the presenting
symptoms and causative factors.
- The belief that prevention is
the best medicine for good health.
Prevalence
Naturopathic medicine is practiced throughout the
English speaking world, most notably the United
States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and
New Zealand.
Educational Requirements Naturopathic
medicine is one of the most regulated complementary
health professions in North America. It is a
licensed primary health profession in 11 U.S. states
(and Puerto Rico) and 4 Canadian provinces.
In North America, graduates from five naturopathic
medical schools are permitted to write the
Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations
(NPLEX) to become licensed in the regulated
jurisdictions.
The naturopathic program at these five schools is a
four year, full-time graduate program that includes
courses familiar to conventional medical practice,
such as physical and clinical diagnosis, anatomy and
pathology, as well as training in the naturopathic
modalities.
The five naturopathic medical schools in North
America are:
- Bastyr University
- National College of
Naturopathic Medicine
- South West College of
Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences
- University of Bridgeport
- Canadian College of
Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathy seeks to encourage the body’s
ability to heal itself through changes in lifestyle and
diet, as well as herbs, massage, and joint manipulation.
Dr. Susan Pilgrim explains that naturopathy
focuses on the vital force of life that is inherent in the
whole person. When the body is ill, it goes through a
self-cleansing process. The underlying conditions that
promote the illness must be eliminated. Self-responsibility
for health and healing is strongly promoted. However, herbs
are considered nutritional supplements and should be
discussed with your physician.
Herbs
Many people prefer to take natural
supplements over pharmaceutical chemical compounds. Herbal
bitters, carminative oils, and herbal teas are just a few of
the effective ways to relieve the symptoms associated with
digestive disorders.
Carminative oils are made from a variety
of herbs, usually including caraway, fennel, and peppermint.
They are commonly used to relieve indigestion and gas.
Herbal bitters refer to individual herbs or a combination;
the most well known is Swedish bitters.
I have a bunch of herbs, now what?
Make an infusion. The herbs can be
steeped in very hot water, usually for 1 to 3 minutes.
Place the herbs in a tea strainer or make your own
reusable tea bags out of cheesecloth.
Here are popular herbal remedies for
relieving indigestion and bloating:
- One tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
taken ten minutes before a meal works as a good
digestive aid, especially for fatty food.
- Ginger in cooking, teas, dried
powders, essential oils, or capsules works for morning
sickness and nausea.
- Aloe Vera juice can be helpful for
IBS symptoms.
Herbal Tea
Green tea can be very soothing; it is
thought to have medicinal properties as well. Green tea
consumption is associated with a decreased risk of cancer
because of its glutathione s-transferees (GST), a
cancer-fighting enzyme produced in the body that helps to
detoxify carcinogens.
Why is green tea so good for you?
Researchers believe it is due to polyphenols, which are
chemicals with potent antioxidant properties. Early evidence
suggests the antioxidant effects of polyphenols may even be
greater than that of vitamin C. However, it is the
polyphenols in green tea that are responsible for its
slightly bitter taste.
Essential
Try adding lemon or cucumber slices to
water for a refreshing twist. Decaffeinated herbal teas
are also a great way to hydrate.
Adding two to three tablespoons of citrus
juice (orange, grapefruit, lemon, or lime) to one cup of
green tea improves the stability of catechins (antioxidants
that help prevent cancer, stroke, and heart disease). Steep
one tea bag in hot water three to five minutes, then add the
juice.
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