Balance the clinic

Naturopathy

Naturopathic medicine treats disease by utilising the body’s inherent ability to heal itself. Naturopathic physicians aid the healing process by incorporating a variety of natural treatments based on the patient’s individual needs. Nutrition, diet, lifestyle, work and personal history are all considered when determining a treatment programme. Naturopathic medicine is not a single modality of healing, but an array of healing practices, often described as the GP of natural health care. A naturopathic approach will include diet and clinical nutrition, homeopathy, reflexology, iridology, herbal medicine, hydrotherapy, exercise, massage, counselling and other associated therapies.

Principles of naturopathic medicine

In the naturopathic system of medicine, disease is seen as a manifestation of the causes by which the body naturally heals itself. The main principles are:

• First principle: ‘do no harm’.
• The body is able to heal itself.
• Nurture the healing power within an individual.
• Treat the cause of the disease rather than the obvious physical symptoms.
• Treat the whole person.
• The Naturopath is an educator.
• The prevention of the disease is far easier than the eventual treatment.