Naturopathy

……… “A system of health care which encourages and promotes the body’s natural self-healing mechanism using an eclectic approach”……

Naturopathy is dedicated to the study of nature’s healing powers. It can be traced back to shamanic rituals on cave paintings in France (15000 BC), Ayurvedic Medicine from India (3000-1000 BC) and the discovery of Chinese Herbalism in China by Shen Nong (2700 BC). Hippocrates (468-377 BC), the father of medicine, recognised that disease was a disturbance of the balance of harmony within the body. He is famous for his well-known phrase “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. Other famous Naturopaths who have contributed greatly in taking Naturopathic Medicine forward include Dr Edward Bach (Bach flower therapy), Dr John Harvey Kellogg, Dr.Bernard Jensen, Swiss Herbalist Alfred Vogel, Maurice Blackmore and Dr. Max Gerson.
Traditional methods used by naturopaths are fasting, diet, nutritional therapy and supplementation, hydrotherapy, hygiene, massage, sunshine, exercise and relaxation techniques, Bach flowers, acupuncture, etc.

Naturopathic Principles
There are 6 fundamental principles in Naturopathic Medicine:

The Healing Power of Nature
There is a “Vital Force” that, given the right conditions, will self-heal.

Identify and Treat the Causes
Look beyond the symptoms (“the branches”) and treat the underlying cause (“the root”).

Do No Harm
Use of natural, least invasive and least toxic therapies.

Doctor as Teacher
Empower the patient to take responsibility for his/her own health.

Treat the Whole Person (Physically, Mentally, Emotionally and Spiritually)
The patient is treated, NOT the disease. We should not ask what the problem is, but why.

Prevention is preferable to cure
Focus on wellness and disease prevention through education.