WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
The overwhelming dependence on toxic medications and invasive medical care may seem like the norm in the U.S. But worldwide, studies have found that 65 to 80 percent of the world takes a more holistic approach to their health.
Some worry that holistic medicine is dangerous to their health. Others don’t know enough about it to seek the resources they would need to integrate it into their own lives. That’s where Naturopathic Medicine comes in.
Whether you’re new to natural medicine or looking to start practicing it in your own life, keep reading. We’re breaking down what you need to know about Naturopathic Medicine, it’s principles, and why it may just be the future of healthcare.
WHAT IS NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE?
If this is the first time you’ve ever heard of Naturopathic Medicine, you might be thinking that it’s yet another health trend circulating the web. But in fact, Naturopathic Medicine has been around for more than a hundred years.
Over 2,000 years ago, a Greek philosopher by the name of Hippocrates suggested that nature had healing properties. But while natural remedies have been practiced throughout history, the first school educating professionals on how to utilize naturopathic medicine wasn’t established in the U.S. until 1902.
Naturopathic Medicine is a primary health care area that focuses on total-body treatment, prevention of illness through risk management, and self-treatment through healthy living.
Modern Naturopathic Medicine is governed by several distinct principles. The following principles are the foundation that all naturopathic treatments are built on.
NATURE WORKS TO HEAL ITSELF
Our bodies are designed to do anything they can to heal themselves. Naturopathic doctors recognize this. Which is why the focus of their treatment is on removing the obstacles that are preventing a person’s body from healing itself.
TREAT CAUSES, NOT SYMPTOMS
Because their treatments are designed to aid the body in healing itself, doctors practicing naturopathic medicine treat the underlying causes of an illness or condition, rather than the symptoms.
Whether you have a headache, back pain, or a rash, those are symptoms. They may be uncomfortable, and treating them may provide relief. But this can also cause a dependency on the medicines or treatment used because if you don’t fight the cause of these symptoms, they are likely to return again and again.
TREATMENTS SHOULD NEVER CAUSE ADDITIONAL HARM
Many mainstream medications and medical treatments involve harsh side effects. Sometimes the side effects are as bad or worse than the symptoms of the condition that they are designed to treat. Other times, intensive treatments are chosen when a less harmful treatment might have been equally effective.
Naturopathic physicians focus on providing treatment that doesn’t further harm the patient. The practice of treating the underlying cause of an illness or condition rather than the symptoms works in conjunction with this principle.
DOCTORS ARE ALSO TEACHERS
One of the biggest benefits of naturopathic medicine is the creation of a mindset that helps patients live healthier lives. To reach this goal, naturopathic doctors are constantly working to educate their patients on how they can be responsible for their own health.
OUR WHOLE BODIES NEED TREATMENT
Naturopathic medicine doesn’t end with prescribing a single drug or treatment. Instead, a variety of treatments are implemented to help a patient’s entire body get healthy and stay that way. Naturopathic doctors often recommend practices to increase a patient’s spiritual well-being as well; a healthy mind makes for a healthy body.
PREVENTION IS KEY
Treating an illness or condition before it lands a patient in the hospital is always a plus. One of the principles of naturopathic medicine is the prevention of illness by assessing each individuals’ risk factors for different conditions, and treating them before they become an issue.
Risk assessment is achieved through practices through specialty labs, and include stool testing, food allergy testing, functional assessments, and even genetic testing to measure an individual’s chances of developing certain conditions or illnesses.
THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE IS NATURAL MEDICINE
In the last 10 years alone, there has been a 10 percent increase in Americans taking one prescription medication and a 20 percent increase in Americans taking two or more prescription medications. With the rising cost of prescription drugs and other medical treatments, as well as the dangers of addiction and misuse, this is a dangerous trend.
Natural medicine is a safe, effective alternative. It helps to cut down on dependence on harmful drugs and medical treatments, while also empowering patients to take action to keep their bodies healthy. This holistic approach encourages individuals to take responsibility for their bodies in a world where everything else is dictated by technology, society, and other influences.
If you’re ready to try Naturopathic Medicine for yourself, we can help. LIVV in San Diego offers a variety of Concierge Natural Medicine services that can help you take control of your total body health and start living a healthier life today.
Dr. Jason Phan NMD – LIVV Natural Health | Naturopathic Medical Doctor specializing in IV Vitamin Therapy, PRP (platelet rich plasma)/Regenerative Injections, Men’s and Women’s Health, and Optimal Living.
