Why a naturopathic approach to health?
Let Food by thy Medicine and Medicine be thy Food
The above quote is attributed to Greek philosopher and physician, Hippocrates ( c. 460 – c. 370 BC), who lived during ancient Greece’s classical period and has been deemed to be the ‘Father of Medicine’ and one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine in recognition of his many lasting contributions to the field,. Among his many notable achievement are the use of prognosis and clinical observation, the systematic categorisation of diseases, and the formation of the Hippocratic oath, which still underpins western medicine. All of this might seem rather mundane to us from our viewpoint now but it was groundbreaking at the time. Hippocrates argued for a rational approach to medical treatment based on close observation of the individual patient, rejecting the idea that illness was caused or cured by superstitions, spirits, or gods.[1]
Hippocrates also established the Hippocratic school of medicine from where ancient Greek medicine practice was revolution establishing it as a discipline distinct from other fields with which it had traditionally been associated - namely, theurgy and philosophy.
The principles of naturopathy were first used by the Hippocratic School of Medicine from approx. 400 BC, and it was from this original school of thought and practice that the field of Naturopathy takes its principles.
Principles of Naturopathy
The underlying tenets of naturopathy are that a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition is vital for maintaining good health and disease prevention.There is much within the realm of naturopathy that can positively impact many chronic conditions and improve overall health and wellness.
At a time when modern technology, environmental pollution, poor diet, and stress play a significant role in the degradation of health, a naturopathic approach to health and the ability to apply natural methods of healing are of considerable importance.
As a graduate of The College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) and in my professional capacity as a health coach I take an holistic approach and I adhere to the foundational principles of a naturopathic approach, which are:
Prevention is better than cure
A focus on overall health, wellness, and disease prevention
Do no harm - a naturopath will never use treatments that may create other conditions
Treat the whole person to restore balance and health based on all aspects of a person’s being and the interconnectedness of their bodies, environment, and lifestyle
Identify and treat the root causes of illness - there is always an underlying cause, be it physical or emotional
The naturopath as a teacher: a naturopath empowers the patient to take responsibility for his/her own health by teaching self care
Given the right circumstances, the body can heal itself
The healing power of nature - nature has the innate ability to heal
Other important factors also include:
Combine foods correctly to optimise and support digestion
Eat according to one’s constitution and condition
Fasting and detoxing as part of health and digestive maintenance
Emphasis placed on eating local, seasonal, whole, fresh, and organic foods, in a nutritionally balanced diet.
A naturopathic approach also extends to include a wide range of approved natural healing practices and modalities such as Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Iridology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and Herbal Medicine, as well as the use of modern methods like Bio-Resonance, Ozone-Therapy, and Colon Hydrotherapy amongst many others.
A whole health approach
A naturopathic approach is one that seeks to repair, remedy, support, balance, and prevent dis(ease) and illness, and it aims to do so without adding any synthetic chemicals, compounds, and treatments which can have negative and/or harmful effects on the body and its systems and therefore lead to other issues and complications arising.
Naturopathy takes a holistic approach to wellness and supports a person to live a healthy lifestyle.
Its foundations are based on the importance of a healthy diet, clean fresh water, sunlight, exercise, non toxic lived environment, and stress management. Naturopathy also aims to educate the person to look after their own health and the health of their family, minimising symptoms of any illness, supporting the body’s capacity to heal, and balancing the body so that illness is less likely to occur in the future. So it is also preventative in outlook and approach.
This is a whole health approach to wellbeing.
[1] Garrison, Fielding H. (1966), History of Medicine, Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, pps. 92-32.
