NATUROPATHIC PRACTICE Naturopathic philosophy serves as the basis for naturopathic
practice. The current scope of naturopathic practice includes, but
is not limited to:
- Clinical Nutrition
That food is the best medicine is a cornerstone of naturopathic
practice. Many medical conditions can be treated more
effectively with foods and nutritional supplements than they can
by other means, with fewer complications and side effects.
Naturopathic physicians use dietetics, natural hygiene, fasting,
and nutritional supplementation in practice.
- Botanical Medicine
Many plant substances are powerful medicines. Where single
chemically-derived drugs may only address a single problem,
botanical medicines are able to address a variety of problems
simultaneously. Their organic nature makes botanicals compatible
with the body's own chemistry; hence, they can be gently
effective with few toxic side effects.
- Homeopathic Medicine
Homeopathic medicine is based on the principle of "like cures
like." It works on a subtle yet powerful electromagnetic level,
gently acting to strengthen the body's healing and immune
response.
- Physical Medicine
Naturopathic Medicine has its own methods of therapeutic
manipulation of muscles, bones, and spine. N.D.'s also use
ultrasound, diathermy, exercise, massage, water, heat and cold,
air, and gentle electrical pulses.
- Oriental Medicine
Oriental medicine is a complimentary healing philosophy to
naturopathic medicine. Meridian theory offers an important
understanding of the unity of the body and mind, and adds to the
Western understanding of physiology. Acupuncture provides a
method of treatment which can unify and harmonize the imbalances
present in disease conditions, which, if untreated, can result
in illness.
- Naturopathic Obstetrics
Naturopathic physicians provide natural childbirth care in an
out-of-hospital setting. They offer prenatal and postnatal care
using modern diagnostic techniques. The naturopathic approach
strengthens healthy body functions so that complications
associated with pregnancy may be prevented.
- Psychological Medicine
Mental attitudes and emotional states may influence, or even
cause, physical illness. Counseling, nutritional balancing,
stress management, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and other
therapies are used to help patients heal on the psychological
level.
- Minor Surgery
As general practitioners, N.D.'s do in office-minor surgery
including repair of superficial wounds, removal of foreign
bodies, cysts, and other superficial masses.
Source: Naturopathic Medicine Network
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