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Naturopathy maintains that the body can heal itself if given the right circumstances and conditions. It uses a range of treatments to stimulate the body’s own healing powers (‘vital force’). Treatments include nutrition, dietetics, herbal medicine, homoeopathy and tactile therapies like massage, acupressure and Bowen technique. Many of the foundations of naturopathy – such as the importance of diet, clean fresh water, sunlight, exercise and stress management – have been adopted by conventional medicine. It is now recognised by mainstream medicine as a valuable and effective treatment for a variety of disorders.
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Aims of Naturopathy:Naturopathy has a strong focus on the prevention of health problems and the early detection of a person’s likelihood of developing a health disorder (predisposition). Naturopathy is also very effective at treating acute and chronic health issues. Naturopathy aims to:
The range of disorders commonly treated by naturopaths includes:
In order to maintain its health, the body regulates itself to stay within certain physiological limits no matter what the outside environment might be. For instance, body temperature needs to be kept constant. On a cold day, the body will conserve heat by constricting the blood vessels close to the skin and directing blood flow to favour internal organs. On a hot day, the body will dilate blood vessels close to the skin and evaporate body heat with perspiration. Many other elements – such as blood gases, hormones and water – also need to be maintained within strict limits. The process of maintaining this healthy internal balance is called homeostasis. Naturopathy believes that illness is more likely to occur if the body is ‘knocked out’ of homeostasis by lifestyle or environmental factors. The central idea is that the human body is capable of maintaining a healthy state if barriers such as excessive stress and poor nutrition are eliminated. This power to self-heal is called ‘the vital force’. |
Treatment:Your naturopath will want to know about your diet, lifestyle, family background and environment, as well as the history of your illness or complaint. This range of information is important to the practitioner, who seeks to discover the cause of the illness and treat you as a whole person, rather than target the symptoms alone. As well as taking a comprehensive health history, the naturopath might employ other assessment techniques, such as:
A range of non-invasive treatments The naturopath employs a range of non-invasive techniques and these include (but are not limited
Special considerations Fasting is sometimes recommended. Make sure you are in the hands of a qualified and reputable naturopath before you start a fast. Things to remember
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More Information: Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association Tel. (03) 9811 9990 |
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