Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathy is based on the principle of treatment by natural effective factors and self-healing or self-management of diseases. Its historical origin is the term “naturopathy” by the Munich physician Lorenz Gleich (1798-1865). He defined the term as follows: “Healing without drugs and blood extraction, with cold and heat, drinking cold water, compresses, diet and fresh air”. Native effective factors are as follows:

  • Air
  • Water
  • Earth
  • Light
  • Plants
  • Minerals
  • Natural forms of nutrition
  • Climatic factors
  • Exercise and sparing
  • Promotion of natural rhythms and time orders

The process

Natural healing methods are based on the principle of hygiogenesis. It is the autoregulatory self-healing of the body through a targeted therapeutic stimulation with natural stimuli. Hygiogenesis pursues the goal of normalization (return to normal bodily functions), sparing (relief of metabolism through fasting, for example), and strengthening (improvement of performance capacity). Many aspects of naturopathy can already be found in ancient medicine. The following methods belong to the classical natural healing methods:

  • Order therapy: health training and relaxation methods.
    Order therapy is based on the premise that a regular lifestyle has an impact on our well-being and can help alleviate symptoms caused by unhealthy lifestyles. Stress and irregular eating are just a few examples of lifestyles that are harmful to the body.
  • Respiratory and exercise therapy or massage: – manual lymphatic drainage– classical massage – reflexology: segmental massage, connective tissue massage, colon treatment (targeted massage of the intestine), periosteum treatment (special massage that specifically stimulates the periosteum and thus bone metabolism)- pressure jet massage under the water.
  • Nutritional therapy – whole foods- raw foods- partial fasting – total fasting according to Buchinger (in addition to water and tea, juices and vegetable broth are also allowed)- Mayr fasting (this fasting cure is based on the principle of sparing, cleaning and training, milk and rolls are additionally allowed, vital substances (micronutrients) such as vitamins are substituted)- special diets- Schroth cure (low-salt, low-fat and low-protein diet in combination with drinking and dry days on which under half a liter of water is drunk).
    Nutritional therapy promotes a healthy body from the inside out. Only when the human body receives the nutrients and vital substances (macro- and micronutrients) it needs for its many functions, it feels well and healthy.
  • Hydro- and thermotherapy:- Castings- Washes- Packs and wraps- Baths: herbal baths, hyperthermia baths, air baths, steam baths- Sauna.
  • Phytotherapy: therapy by medicinal plants, which are administered, for example, as an infusion.

These five sub-disciplines are also called the “five pillars of naturopathy”. In addition, there is the physical medicine or balneology. These procedures belong to the classic natural healing methods and are now integrated into conventional medicine. Physical medicine is based on the application of effective factors such as pressure, traction, torsion, heat, cold or light. The following procedures belong to it:

  • Thermotherapy
  • Hydrotherapy (water treatment)
  • Electrotherapy
  • Climatherapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Massages

In addition to the classical naturopathic treatments, there are the advanced naturopathic treatments. These include:

  • Ausleitende procedures: – bloodletting (is a healing method known since ancient times and widely used until the 19th century. During bloodletting, a sometimes not inconsiderable amount of blood is taken from the patient. )- Cupping (cupping bells are attached to the skin with negative pressure)- Leech therapy – diaphoretic (diaphoretic), diuretic (diuretic), laxative (laxative) and emmenagogue (menstrual) procedures.
  • Symbiosis control or microbiological therapy (restoration of the balance of intestinal flora).
  • Neural therapy (the aim is the remote effect on functions of the organism through a local anesthesia / local anesthesia).
  • Thalassotherapy (curative treatment by active substances from the sea).
  • Light therapy (eg.B. Treatment of depression)

The third category of natural remedies, so-called other natural remedies include, for example:

  • Oxygen therapy
  • Manual medicine (chiropractic or osteopathy)
  • Acupuncture

When is a naturopathic treatment necessary? In principle, the naturopathic treatments are applicable in many ways. Naturopathy is also based on the holistic treatment of the patient. Especially for the treatment of chronic diseases, disability or damage after serious illness (eg apoplexy – stroke) naturopathic treatments are of great importance.

Your benefit

As a supplement to conventional medicine or in a cure, naturopathic procedures are a useful measure. The diversity of these procedures allows therapy to be adapted to the individual needs of the patient.