More and more people are turning to alternative forms of health maintenance and prevention today. Whether it’s the increasing cost of healthcare or focus on a more natural approach to treatment, naturopathic medicine is becoming more and more prevalent. Here’s an overview of how naturopathic medicine is defined and the foundation of the practice.
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians defines naturopathic medicine as follows:
“Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing process. The practice of naturopathic medicine includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods.”
The founding principles of naturopathic medicine are centered around treating causes instead of symptoms, prevention, natural treatment options, patient education, and treating all aspects of a person from physical to spiritual health.
It’s important to try and diagnose the cause of an illness to truly treat the illness instead of just trying to treat or suppress symptoms. It’s also critical to recognize that all aspects of a person play a role in their health, not just their physical aspects. If you are experiencing a lot of stress in your life, that may contribute to physical ailments for many reasons. The same is true for the reverse, if you are experiencing chronic pain, you might start to experience depression, stress, or anxiety.
Some things you can expect to accomplish with a naturopathic doctor range from establishing the foundation for your health to helping you manage chronic disease more effectively. Achieving overall health and wellbeing can be extremely difficult in today’s busy world. A naturopathic doctor can help give you more tools to stay healthy and educate you on what causes the issues you might be experiencing. Consider making an appointment with a naturopathic doctor if you are seeking more of a preventative approach to your health.
