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what is it?
Naturopathy is based on the belief that the body has a natural ability to heal itself, if circumstances are right. Illness is said to result when the individual's 'vital force' or 'inner vitality' weakens, allowing viruses, bacteria and allergens to get through the body's defences. In common with many other complementary therapists, naturopaths believe that body, mind and spirit are inter-related. Imbalances caused by stress, inadequate sleep, lack of exercise and fresh air and an accumulation of 'toxins' from processed foods and environmental pollution can affect the whole person. Emotional strain, for example, can cause bodily symptoms like a skin rash.
Rather than tackle symptoms independently, the naturopath will try to identify underlying causes of an imbalance and then seek ways of restoring the inner self-regulating harmony, known as 'homeostasis,' that sustains the vital force. Treatment is as non-invasive as possible and draws on a wide range of therapies, depending on the naturopath's areas of expertise.
Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, laid the guidelines for naturopathy 2,500 years ago. Health, he said, could be maintained by the correct balance of rest and exercise and plain food in moderation, and cures should be as natural as possible. Modern naturopathy developed with the 19th century water cures and spa towns of Germany and Austria. In the 1890s it was introduced to the US where it continues to flourish, thanks to the revival of interest in natural medicine in the 1960s. In some US states, naturopaths are recognised as family doctors. In Germany, there are several thousand state-licensed naturopaths.
what it's supposed to do
Naturopathy is claimed to help a wide range of conditions, but is said to be particularly effective for skin problems, degenerative and chronic ailments like arthritis and asthma, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, PMS and gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome.
what happens
The first appointment may last an hour, during which the practitioner takes a full medical history and asks detailed questions about your lifestyle, eating and sleeping patterns and personal habits. You may be given a routine medical examination that checks blood pressure, lungs and heart, reflexes and spinal joints. Further tests could include X-rays, and blood and urine samples. Some naturopaths also use more unconventional tests — for instance an examination of your irises, said to indicate the state of internal organs (iridology), sweat or hair analysis for any mineral imbalances or toxic metal accumulations, or muscle resistance testing (kinesiology).
Treatments are tailored to the individual and may be cleansing or strengthening, and often both. Cleansing, or detoxification, is aimed at removing an accumulation of waste products from the system. It may include fasting, which could be as extreme as three to five days on only water, fruit or vegetable juices. Strengthening treatment aims to build up a weakened constitution with nutritional supplements and dietary changes (generally more fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, water and less animal fat, caffeine, alcohol, sugar and processed and refined foods).
Hydrotherapy, or water treatment, is important as it improves the circulation, which in turn nourishes and decongests the tissues, helps flush waste products from the body and even boosts the immune system. Cold water is stimulating, sending blood to the internal organs and relieving inflammation; hot water is relaxing, easing stiffness by increasing blood flow to the skin and muscles and reducing blood pressure. Water treatments are given either as hot or cold showers (sometimes alternating), baths, whirlpools, water jets, steam rooms, saunas, body wraps and compresses.
Other treatments can include herbal medicine, homeopathy, massage therapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, shiatsu, reflexology, yoga, light therapy, acupressure and counselling. You may also receive advice on breathing patterns, exercise and relaxation techniques.
Between 4 and 30 weekly sessions may be needed, depending on your condition, but the naturopath would expect steady improvement, perhaps punctuated by relapses known as 'healing crises'.
what's the evidence?
Medical research confirms the importance of many of the tenets of naturopathy. A diet with a plentiful intake of antioxidant-rich fresh fruit and vegetables and low in saturated animal fats has been shown to help build resistance to disease and protect against cancer, coronary heart disease and degenerative eye disorders.
precautions
Go to the safety first section of 'before you start' for some general precautions to take into account when considering a complementary therapy.
- Do not fast or follow a restricted diet without supervision of a qualified naturopath.
- A responsible naturopath should refer you to your GP if diagnosis reveals a serious or life-threatening condition.
- Always check any symptoms with a doctor.
- Don't discontinue conventional medication without consulting your GP.
how to find a practitioner
Naturopathy is an unregulated profession, which means that anyone can call themselves a naturopath, set up a naturopathic college or school or establish a register. Ensure a practitioner is a member of the British Naturopathic Association. This is the professional body of naturopaths who are registered with the General Council and Register of Naturopaths (GCRN). Members have graduated from colleges and schools accredited by the GCRN, which maintains a code of ethics, professional insurance and a disciplinary procedure.
» help and info
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(July 2002)
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