Naturopathy, naturopathic practice or naturopathic medicine is based on the principle of the life force inherent in all organisms. This natural life energy controls all bodily processes such as metabolism, reproduction, growth and adaptation.
What is naturopathy?
Naturopathic healing methods favor a holistic approach and rely on minimal use of surgery and medications. Naturopathic healing methods favor a holistic approach and rely on minimal use of surgery and medications. The term naturopathy derives from the basic concern of understanding the nature of a disease, and in this respect was closely associated with medical treatment per se until the 19th century. It was not until the development of modern diagnostic and treatment methods of today’s scientific-technical medicine that the term naturopathy was coined in 1895 in order to preserve the knowledge of proven conventional healing methods. In naturopathy, healing is to be effected less by external treatment and more by activating the body’s self-healing powers. For this purpose, natural methods are used that correspond to the movement processes and complex mechanisms of action of the body as well as to the very own basic principles of nature. Naturopathy is assigned to alternative or complementary medicine as a field of application.
Function, application, effect and goals
In the broad subject area of naturopathy fall both treatment methods of folk medicine and natural medicine for self-treatment and professional care by naturopaths and naturopathic doctors. The treatment forms of naturopathy are characterized by varying degrees of acceptance by the conventional medical community. The German Association for Naturopathy considers Vinzenz Prießnitz (1799 to 1851) to be the father of naturopathy. Later, the priest and scientist Sebastian Kneipp developed from it a therapeutic system with 5 pillars. Exercise, water therapy, nutrition, order therapy and herbal medicine are still considered the basic building blocks of naturopathy today. Exercise therapy, formerly also known as physiotherapy, is designed to rebuild the person being treated after an injury or illness through an individually tailored exercise and treatment program. As a dynamic process of natural healing, the therapy is adapted to the healing process as the patient becomes more resilient – the exercises begin with physical relief or pain-induced rest and progress to targeted loading of the musculoskeletal system. Water therapy (hydrotherapy) is used in naturopathy for the stabilization of various bodily functions in addition to prevention, regeneration and rehabilitation. Here, naturopathy relies primarily on the stimulating effect of the temperature stimulus of the various aggregate states. Watering with warm and cold water, sauna visits, baths, wraps or compresses achieve a variety of therapeutic effects. A complex field of naturopathy is healthy and balanced nutrition. Within the framework of dietetics, treatments are supported by an appropriate sparing diet. Here, naturopathy focuses primarily on a long-term dietary change that detoxifies the body and keeps the metabolism in balance. These processes can be promoted by various fasting cures. In naturopathy, this is also the starting point for order therapy, which emphasizes a balanced lifestyle in harmony with the inner and outer nature. Last but not least, herbal medicine is one of the oldest elements of naturopathy or medical treatments. It focuses on the therapeutic use of prepared medicinal plants as tincture, essential oils, tea or extract.
Risks and dangers
Even in naturopathy, any treatment without a reliable diagnosis can cause side effects. However, proper dosage and perfect matching can minimize this risk. As with other forms of treatment, naturopathy also carries the risk of misdiagnosis. Since there is still a great deal of trust placed in the procedures of naturopathy, the level of naturopathy training in particular plays a crucial role. In this way, it can be prevented that diseases which are not professionally diagnosed are treated incorrectly or not treated at all in case of misdiagnosis, while the patient is exposed to unsuitable treatment programs of naturopathy.Otherwise, naturopathy is easily associated with quackery. A comprehensive medical history is therefore an absolute prerequisite and self-treatment should only be carried out to a manageable extent. Otherwise, there is a risk of acute aggravation or the onset of chronic disease states. In addition, the complete abandonment of cooperation between conventional medicine and naturopathy appears risky. Many physicians today are open to a combination of both healing approaches and strive to find a suitable solution for the benefit of the patient.
