Naturopathy and the changing paradigm shift towards holistic healthcare

Naturopathy and the changing paradigm shift towards holistic healthcare

We are in the middle of a paradigm shift. Our understanding of health and medicine is expanding and both doctors and patients are taking a holistic, integrated approach. Patients are becoming better informed through the Internet, word of mouth, and diligent research that there is something significantly missing in medicine from the current standard of care in the American health care system. What they find and flock to is a group of physicians who have also embraced this expanded approach to medicine. Some of these practitioners took a more holistic approach after realizing something was missing from their medical training and sought postgraduate training to supplement their understanding of holistic medicine. Other practitioners discovered their passion before entering medical school and studied naturopathy.

So this begs the question: What is naturopathy and where does naturopathy fit into the paradigm shift?

What is this field of medicine?

Naturopathic physicians (NDs) are integrative medicine specialists who combine extensive education and training in natural and conventional medicine and emphasize the use of the safest, least invasive methods to treat disease by restoring health. Training includes a 4-year graduate program, National Board examinations in the basic and clinical sciences, and curricula including basic sciences, clinical sciences, diagnostic techniques and testing, pharmacology, minor surgical procedures, and a range of natural therapies including botanical medicine, nutrition and nutritional biochemistry, physical medicine, homeopathy, Eastern and Chinese medicine, and mind/body medicine.

Integral to this medicine is a unified philosophical approach to health, summarized in The Principals of Naturopathic Medicine, which recognizes the body's innate wisdom and healing ability (Vis Medicatrix Naturae) and the role of the physician in treating disease by restoring the body to its natural and balanced state (Tolle Causum). Treatment programs include multiple modalities including nutritional and lifestyle modifications, homeopathy, botanical medicine, nutraceuticals, IV nutrient therapy and, when warranted, pharmaceutical interventions. NDs begin with the least invasive therapies and progress to higher levels of intervention only when necessary. This approach is described in the so-called “Therapeutic Order”.

The principles of naturopathy:

1. First do no harm, Primum Non Nocere - this principle is the basis of every doctor. NDs follow a therapeutic order that emphasizes using the least force to restore health, using the least toxic and minimally invasive interventions, and only progressing to more toxic and invasive interventions when necessary

2. The Healing Power of Nature, Vis Medicatrix Naturae – First described by Hippocrates as the healing power of nature. It is a person's life force that enables an individual to overcome illness. Naturopathy recognizes an inherent, orderly and intelligent self-healing process in every person. ND's actions to identify and remove barriers to healing and recovery and to facilitate and enhance this inherent self-healing process.

3. Identify and Treat the Cause, Tolle Causam - The doctor attempts to identify and eliminate the underlying causes of the disease rather than simply eliminating or suppressing the patient's symptoms.

4. Doctor As a teacher, Docere-NDS educate their patients and promote self-responsibility for their health. They also recognize and utilize the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.

5. Treat the whole person – NDs treat each patient with consideration of the physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, spiritual and other factors that contribute to one's health.

6. Prevention – NDs emphasize prevention of disease-predictive factors, heredity, and disease susceptibility and work to make the right disease prevention decisions in partnership with their patients.

Naturopathic therapeutic order

1. Establish health conditions - identify and remove confounding factors - establish a healthier regime

2. Stimulate the healing power of nature (vis medicatrix naturae): the self-healing processes through low-effort methods such as constitutional hydrotherapy, homeopathy, acupuncture

3. Treat weakened or damaged systems or organs (via botanical medicine, homeopathy, orthomolecular nutrients, glandular, homeopathy and other minimally invasive, safe, natural therapies).

• Stärkung des Immunsystems
• Toxizität verringern
• Entzündungsfunktion normalisieren
• Stoffwechselfunktion optimieren
• Ausgleichsregulierungssysteme
• Regeneration verbessern
• Lebenskraft harmonisieren

4. Correct structural integrity

5. Address pathology:

a. Use specific natural substances, modalities or interventions

b. Use certain pharmacological or synthetic substances

6. Suppress or surgically remove pathology

Why naturopathy?

As Gandhi said, we must “be the change you want to see in the world.” ND practices the change they want to see in medicine. Despite the fact that it has not gained widespread acceptance in the United States healthcare system, these physicians have taken a “leap of faith” knowing that integrative medicine is the best medicine and will ultimately achieve not only parity but notoriety. Naturopathy goes beyond simply integrating multiple therapies and modalities into treatment. It contains an integrativeApproachon all aspects of health and well-being. From the first day of an ND's medical training and throughout practice, every body system, function, disease and treatment is viewed from a holistic perspective. It is very likely that almost every integrative doctor shares at least some of these philosophical tenants, regardless of whether they are “naturopathic” or “holistic” or “alternative.” It is also likely that many integrative practitioners differ in some philosophies, treatments, and approaches. A common philosophical approach combined with diverse styles, opinions, ideas and discoveries promotes evolution, progress and change. Therefore, the philosophy and practice of naturopathy is part of the evolving consciousness and paradigm shift towards a more holistic and integrative approach to healthcare that will soon become the new standard for conventional medicine.

– Dr. Stacey Kupperman, ND