To come up with a naturopathy definition, start with naturopathy’s fundamental premise: that the body has an innate ability to heal itself. Benedict Lust, the founder of American Naturopathy, believed that a person achieves optimal health by embracing the healing power of nature in these ways:
• Eating raw foods
• Exercising regularly
• Getting fresh air and adequate exposure to sun
• Hydrotherapy
• Using plant-based (herbal) remedies
Oath is Part of Naturopathy Definition
A good naturopathy definition takes into account the Hippocratic Oath. Traditional medical doctors and naturopathic doctors both take an oath to “first, do no harm.” For the naturopath, this translates into avoiding:
• Invasive treatments
• Surgery
• Drugs
Moreover, naturopaths provide individuals with the tools to make better health care decisions.
Naturopathy Treats Cause
The medical model of traditional medicine focuses on treating signs and symptoms of disease. Naturopaths believe that the diseases are not cured by modern medicine, but retreat into a remissive state. Naturopaths, on the other hand, focus on curing what they believe is the underlying cause.
Naturopaths Seek to Strengthen Innate Response
Naturopathy focuses on strengthening the body’s natural innate ability to combat germs by using the body’s:
• Natural protective barrier, the skin
• pH level of body fluids
• Internal temperature regulation
• Circulating White Blood Cells
• Immune response to foreign substances
Naturopathy Definition Involves Holistic Health
While traditional medicine tends to focus its success on eliminating the outward signs of disease, naturopathic investigations focus on exploring the effects of illness on the entire holistic person (body-mind-spirit).
Emotional duress, for example, can manifest itself physically by exhibiting symptoms of intestinal upset. The naturopath would focus on relieving the emotional duress, while the doctor would focus on relieving the intestinal symptoms.
BIO: Dr. Mundorff is a Registered Nurse and Board Certified Naturopath, and not a medical doctor. She is the author of several books. Her latest book, Take Control: A Guide to Holistic Living is an innovative health guide, which helps the reader learn how to regain control of their health by discovering the practical effectiveness of combining alternative and modern medicine. Contact her at bridges2hlth@aol.com.
Also by this author, Polyarthralgia/Fibromyalgia Connection, Polyarthralgia/Fibromyalgia Treatment, Healthy Eating for Osteoporosis: The Importance of Vitamin D, and Health Transitions from Summer to Fall: Boosting the Immune System.
