Traditional Naturopathy

Nature has healing power, and natural forces of nature, such as water, air, sunlight, earth, electricity and magnetism may be engaged to help people heal. Naturopathy is the kindling, nurturing and increasing of an innate desire to heal that is present in all of us. This innate desire to heal is our vital force. Our vital force may be kindled and increased through the following techniques:

• Hydrotherapy
• Air and light baths
• Healthy diet
• Herbal remedies
• Homeopathy
• Massage and other body therapies
• Energy medicine including the use of color, sound, light, electricity, biophotons, applied kinesiology, electromagnetic therapies
• Body/mind therapies including psychotherapy

Naturopathy also teaches patients the necessity of transforming their daily habits, their lifestyles and their thought patterns.

As a form of integrative medicine, traditional naturopathy takes into account the whole person. It does not only treat the parts or just make symptoms disappear. The cause of the illness is treated, not the symptoms. Symptoms are viewed as ways in which the body is adapting to help itself heal. The origin of the illness is much deeper and must be addressed in order for the patient to heal. This means that the practitioner seeks to discover the relationship of symptoms to lifestyle imbalances, and the relationship among imbalances in different parts of the body.

In naturopathy, a partnership is developed between practitioner and patient. Patients are encouraged to take responsibility for their thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

The current situation of health and medicine is like an iceberg in water with only its tip visible above the water. Most of the iceberg is underwater because we do not notice our patterns of illness for many years, until unpleasant symptoms of chronic illness manifest.

The part of the iceberg that is underwater symbolizes all that has contributed to the slow development of illness. Beneath the surface is the story of how we have lived our lives, the development of our personalities, how we have made our choices, what we have kept hidden in our unconscious, relationship choices and how we have dealt with our stresses, pain, grief and joy.

An iceberg is mostly under water. Traditional naturopathy deals with the patterns of illness that lie beneath the water and go unnoticed. Traditional naturopathy heals from the inside out. Traditional naturopathy recognizes that three people with similar symptoms may each receive different healing programs because different life experiences and exposures may have led up to their illnesses.

And disease processes are not separate entities. Integrative practitioners do not give one treatment for high blood pressure, a second for diabetes, a third to help the cardiovascular system and a fourth to fight chronic illness. The interrelationships of all these symptoms are explored and their underlying causes are explored.

When correctly prescribed, traditional naturopathy brings into activity the vital force of healing that lies dormant in every person. This often results in an enhanced sense of well-being, vitality, and capacity for clear thinking.

Some of the information included on this page is borrowed with permission from Robert Zieve, MD, www.pinetreeclinic.com