In today’s health-conscious world, it is not uncommon for people to supplement their healthcare with additional treatment. This may include visits to a chiropractor, sessions with a massage therapist, or consulting a lifestyle coach. One practice that seeks to integrate multiple forms of alternative and complementary medicines into one holistic approach to wellness is naturopathy.
A Focus on Nature and Our Place Within It
A naturopath is a person who adheres to the principles of naturopathic medicine. This is an alternative form of healthcare that uses more natural resources for diagnosis, treatment, prevention and maintenance, such as botanical medicine and hydrotherapy. Relying on the patient’s own body as a source of healing whenever possible rather than introducing outside chemicals, naturopathic medical providers take a whole-body approach to wellness.
A Piece of the Healthcare Puzzle
Because of the integration of drug-free therapies and healing techniques that focus on prevention, naturopathy and other alternative forms of medicine are a great complement to more traditional approaches. While naturopathic practitioners do not tend to utilize chemical therapies – such as prescription medications – in their own course of treatment, their techniques can usually be applied to an existing wellness plan, including those that involve scheduled prescriptions. In this way, naturopathy and other complementary forms of medicine are ideal as additions to whatever a patient’s primary care physician may suggest for maintaining their overall wellbeing.
While the idea of turning to alternative medicines may raise doubt in some, many would be surprised to know that they may already be adhering to the principles of naturopathy. Taking organically based vitamins or supplements, focusing on mental and physical health being in tune with one another and seeking information from mainstream doctors on how to maintain health outside the clinical setting are all highlighted in the tenants of naturopathic healing. These are things many people already do to take care of themselves and enhance the effectiveness of their primary healthcare. For this reason, calling on the services of a naturopath may be a more natural fit for most people than they’re even aware of!
