Naturopathic Medicine
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine blends centuries-old natural therapies (such as herbs, nutrition, and water therapy) with current advances in medical science (like medical imaging, modern biochemistry, and lab testing). This type of medicine traces its roots to the ancient world: the “father” of naturopathic medicine is considered to be Hippocrates, from ancient Greece, who taught that clean water and a good diet were both essential and basic to health. Naturopathy also borrowed from the medical philosophies of India and China, and, later, drew from certain European methods such as the sauna and homeopathy.
In the 18th century, the practice of naturopathic medicine increased in reaction to the practice in Europe and America of blood-letting and the administration of toxic metals, such as mercury and arsenic, as treatments for disease. Some doctors of the time perceived these practices as doing more harm than good and chose to practice “naturopathically” instead. Since then the naturopathic approach has risen and fallen in popularity.
In the 19th century it gained wide acceptance as its efficacy was shown and as interest in prevention and healthy living increased, as demonstrated by the popularity of Kellogg’s Battle Creek Sanitarium and other establishments of its kind starting in the 1890’s.
By the turn of the 20th century there were over 100 naturopathic medical schools in the United States. But the technological advances of the 20th century, the subsequent increased use of more suppressive and intrusive medical techniques, and the powerful American Medical Association’s denial of membership to Naturopathic physicians would, by the 1940’s, lead to a sharp decline in the practice of naturopathic medicine.
In recent years as the use of managed health care has increased, so has patient dissatisfaction, leading to an increased demand for alternatives. Naturopathic medicine has been growing steadily in popularity as a source for scientifically-based “alternative” medicine. As of today there are six accredited naturopathic medical schools awarding Naturopathic Doctorates and over 800 licensed Naturopathic Doctors (ND’s) in North America.
Naturopathic physicians are the nation’s leading experts in natural medicine, as they are the only clinically trained, board-certified doctors educated in both conventional and natural therapies. As such they are able to integrate conventional and naturopathic medicine for the most effective treatment of their patients.
The Philosophy of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine focuses on prevention rather than intervention, makes a priority of treating cause rather than suppressing symptoms, commits to empowering and teaching patients to be in control of their health, strives to avoid using substances which do more harm than good to the patient, and acknowledges that nature has the power to heal.
The major difference between naturopathic and conventional medicine can be summed up as follows: naturopathic medicine works with the body’s own efforts to heal itself rather than attempting to suppress its symptoms of disease. For example, naturopathic philosophy would advocate keeping a fever within its most effective range to fight illness, rather than automatically suppressing it with acetaminophen or other drugs.
Another difference is that naturopathic physicians often spend between a half hour to 2 hours with a patient, versus 7 to 10 minutes typical in most HMO’s. Naturopathic medicine is not a one-size-fits-all type of medicine- everyone is different, and all patients need to be evaluated as individuals. The extra time spent allows the physician to evaluate the cause of symptoms, take time to explain testing and treatment regimens, and get to know the patient. For further information about naturopathic philosophy, please visit the American Association of Naturopathic Medicine’s website www.naturopathic.org.