by Heather Colman
The term naturopathic treatment covers a broad range of modalities that come
under the umbrella of alternative medicines. All natural therapies aim to work
with the body in treating the cause of illness, not just the symptoms. They
also treat people holistically, taking into account not only their physiology,
but also psychology and lifestyle.
Some examples of healing methods that come under this umbrella would be
acupuncture, both Chinese and western herbal medicine, Indian ayurvedic
medicine, chiropractic and massage, macrobiotics and energy work such as reiki
and thought field therapies. Some are more accepted by doctors as having
something to offer patients in assisting with maintaining their health, while
others are frowned upon as being useless scams.
Naturopathy as a label has only been around for about one hundred years, but most
alternative healing methods it covers are tradition-based medicines that have
been used for much longer than we can prove. Ancient Egyptians, Native American
Indians and Aborigines, to name a few, have used what they find in nature to
heal their people and some of their recipes are successfully used today. It is
important to remember that all potent and potentially harmful medicines that are
pharmaceutically produced have some plant derived ingredients. They are simply
concentrated to the point where they are very powerful and sometimes damaging.
Naturopaths have a motto that has been used since the 1800's and that is to "do
no harm". Where prescription medications can have long-term side effects and
even cause short-term discomfort, Naturopathic medicines are subtle in
assisting. They work with the body, not against it and positive results can be
felt quickly.
A Naturopathic medicine for a common cold for example will be ingredients to
enhance the immune system, to help the body decongest and reduce inflammation,
and probably something that is antiviral and antibacterial to eradicate germs
more quickly. The medicines they use only encourage the bodies own ability to
do all these things itself. If you buy an over the counter pharmaceutical
treatment, it may cover your symptoms, but can deplete the immune system,
dehydrate you and give you a false impression of health so you don't allow your
body the rest it needs to recover. If your immune system is able to beat any
illness on it's own, it will be more robust and capable next time it is faced
with similar circumstances.
Seeing a Naturopath when you are in good health can also be a great idea. You
can discuss things like Naturopathic medicines for energy levels, sleeping
patterns, moods and even homeopathic mixtures to prevent generic diseases which
may run in your family. There are many different ways they can help with
general health, and the less stressed you are and the stronger your immune
systems, the less likely you will be to get sick in the first place. Now days,
visits to the Naturopathic center are usually covered by health insurance, so
you can get similar insurance benefits as you would going to the doctor.
Disclaimer: The information above should not be interpreted as medical advice. Please talk to a qualified professional for more information about Naturopathic Treatments.
About the Author: [Copyright © 2007, Heather Colman. Find more of Heather's articles at eBook Palace. Her articles are available for syndication. Reprinting individual articles is permissible provided no changes are made.]