What is naturopathy and to whom is it suitable?

There is traditional medicine, but there is alternative. If the former is more or less clear, the latter seems vague to many. Treatment methods such as naturopathy, homeopathy, and functional medicine often merge. Most people do not know what these approaches are and how they differ from each other. Let's figure it out together!

The first step is to understand the philosophy and basic principles that underlie any approach. In this article, we will understand what naturopathy is and how, with its help, you can prolong your youth, feel a surge of strength and even get rid of depression. 

Philosophy of Naturopathy 

1. A holistic approach. A holistic approach should take into account the physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, spiritual and social factors that contribute to the health of each individual. Of course, not only naturopath do this. But here it is important how the process goes. It is very difficult to consider all these variables in one short visit, and naturopath, as a rule, spend much more time with patients than most ordinary doctors. So one visit to a naturopathic doctor may take an hour or two of your time.

2. Definition and disposal of the root cause of the disease. Like doctors practicing functional medicine, naturopaths do not stop asking, “Why?” Their goal is to understand the underlying causes of the disease, and not just treat the symptoms.

3. Your body has an innate ability to heal itself. First of all, the work of a naturopathic doctor is to identify and remove obstacles to treating the body. When working with a patient, doctors also use different medicines and supplements, but only if they contribute to the natural healing of the body and are natural remedies. This principle is the main difference between naturopathic medicine and traditional Western medicine. 

4. A doctor is a teacher. Naturopathy always seeks to completely cure the patient, to help him in maintaining health and well-being throughout his life. Therefore, a huge role in the treatment is played by teaching the patient the principles of life in accordance with the postulates of naturopathy. In relation to the patient, the naturopathic doctor seeks to give him the opportunity to take responsibility for his health on himself and explain how his own body works.

5. Start with the most natural and effective treatment. If changing the diet and lifestyle can help the patient achieve his goals, the doctor begins with this and only then moves on to more artificial methods of treatment. For example, if a doctor works with a patient with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), a common digestive disorder, then he starts with methods such as changing the diet and managing stress. In most cases, naturopaths first exhaust the entire list of available effective and natural remedies before moving on to medicines. 

6. 6. Prevention is the basis of everything. And last but not least: in naturopathic medicine, special attention is paid to prevention. This means that you are not waiting for the problem to occur. A naturopathic doctor works with patients not only to cure a particular illness, but also to assess risk factors and a genetic predisposition to diseases.