How Naturopathic Medicine Works
Naturopathic medicine is a healing art form. Its modern techniques are combined with ancient knowledge distinguishing it from any other type of medical practice.
There are core principles intertwined in naturopathy that ensure the fundamental issues of health and wellness are addressed in the best way possible.
Today we are going to explore some of the core principles that define modern and ancient knowledge into the exquisite and wondrous healing technique called naturopathy.
Nature’s Healing Powers
The healing powers of nature work with the living systems in your body. Naturopathic doctors understand that nature creates an inherent self-organizing process to heal your unique body.
We utilize advanced testing to find the source of your problems and the intelligence of nature to combat them. This system removes the obstacles to health and recovery and supports the creation of health.
How Does it Work?
Naturopathic medicine is concerned with the healing of the whole person, which means healing the body, spirit, and mind. It aims to also treat the root of the problem as opposed to concentrating on treating symptoms.
A disorder in the body does not occur without a cause, and that cause may have originated from an internal or external source. The underlying cause of your ailment or disease has to be appropriately identified and removed for recovery to take place.
The doctor examines you for one or two hours and asks you about your health history, stress levels, and even your lifestyle. If it is necessary, he will order a lab test.
The goal is to recognize where your symptoms are coming from and eliminate the source from your body rather than suppress your ongoing symptoms.
Once the naturopathic doctor is sure about your health conditions, they will formulate a health plan for you to follow. The health plan will include healthy diet options, work out and physical activities, and natural medicines.
The Do No Harm Precepts
There are three precepts that naturopathic doctors follow to ensure that their patients are not harmed.
The First Precept
The first is to utilize the medicinal substances and methods which use the least possible pressure on the body.
That suppression of symptoms is avoided at all costs. This is because it can interfere with your body’s natural ability to heal and process the ailment at hand.
Naturopathic doctors respect the laws of vis medicatrix naturae. This is a Latin rendition of the Greek phrase attributed to Hippocrates, which translates to “nature is the physician of disease.”
The Second Precept
Secondly, we recognize that a doctor is a teacher, which is actually the original meaning of the word doctor. Naturopathic doctors are here to teach you about how to heal your body.
You will learn exactly why your doctor recommends specific treatments and what those treatments are doing to heal your body.
The goal is to create a therapeutic relationship between you and your Naturopathic doctor.
The Third Precept
Lastly, we vow to treat the person as a whole, recognizing that this means treating mind, body, and spirit. Health and disease can result from many different factors. These factors can include physical, mental, social, genetic, and environmental.
Total health involves spiritual health, so it is ubiquitous for your naturopathic doctor to encourage meditation and healthy habits in your daily life.
Your body has a multivocal way of expressing itself. To figure out the nature of your health or disease, we take a comprehensive approach to your individual diagnosis and treatment.
Prevention of Disease
We create special treatment plans that are based on natural therapies which aim at prevention of disease and the attainment of optimal health. Some of these treatment plans include exercise, detox, diet, and of course natural herbs.
Physical Exercise
Most natural doctors will incorporate the use of physical exercise as part of your treatment. According to statistics, less than 5% of adults in the United States participate in 30 mins workout each day, and only one in every three adults will consistently get the required amount of exercise each day.
Diet and Detox
You may also need to do a detox diet which will rid your body of any harmful toxins. Detoxing your body usually incorporates the cutting off of certain foods from your diet, fasting, and the use of fruit and vegetable smoothies to clean those organs and your blood!
Changing your diet is a great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It can help by improving your energy levels, mood, skin, and your life in general.
Natural Herbs
Naturopathic doctors like to use herbs to cure and prevent conditions such as anxiety and depression. Herbal medicine has active ingredients made from plants or parts of plants such as leaves, roots, and flowers.
Today, medical herbalists are backed up by science, which has made a lot of natural medicines safe to use. However, it is essential to avoid self-diagnosis and only use the supplements that are prescribed by your herbalist.
Your Healing Body
Remember that naturopathic doctors have taken a precept to become your teacher to show you how your body works, and how to treat it with love and kindness.
We utilize ancient knowledge and modern science to help you become your best self. Your body is a vessel for healing, and your mind has the power to chime in and help out.
Meditation can help you send love and kindness to your body, and positivity helps the healing process immensely. Schedule an appointment with me in Washington, DC today, and we will go over a treatment plan that is specialized for you.
Washington, DC is leading the way in naturopathic medicine and is one of the places in the states where you can find practitioners like Dr. Karen Threlkel.
Let’s work together with compassion and care to rethink health care, heal your body, and breath vitality.
