Brent Osborn-Smith

Naturopathy is a system of primary health care which works by harnessing rather than opposing the individual’s own efforts towards an optimal expression of their physiological, physical, and psychological health. 

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As an example of this, fatigue and a moderate fever will be viewed as positive physiological responses, when someone is unwell.  The patient will be encouraged to go to bed, rest and sweat things out rather than suppress them over a longer period using coffee and paracetomol.  The body is not stupid and knows that while infections might reproduce merrily at 37 degrees centigrade, things become much more difficult for them at 39!

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A Naturopath is defined as one who applies natural therapies. These include healing practices such as Acupuncture and Nutritional Medicine as well as Psychological Counselling amongst many others.  Not all naturopaths employ all the treatment modalities which fall under the naturopathic umbrella, however.  More esoteric approaches such as iridology, herbalism or homeopathy will usually need to be sought individually.

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Naturopathic Principles address the current endemic of pollution in modern life, the pervasiveness of technology, our poor diets and sedentary lifestyles and so on.  In view of this, the importance of natural methods of healing has never been higher.  The body has an amazing ability to regenerate and heal itself, however, once any underlying problems have been identified. 

 

Illnesses will display their symptoms to different people in different degrees and ways.  The severity and course of any health issues will depend, therefore, on individual manifestations of inner imbalances - which may be due either to physical, emotional, or mental causes - as well as any intrusion by external factors.

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​Naturopaths adapt their approach based on the principles of Naturopathic Medicine with the aim of promoting, restoring and maintaining existing backgrouind levels of health.  This is underpinned by the following principles:

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• The Healing Power of Nature or Vis Medicatrix Naturae: There is a ‘vital force’ or ‘life force’ which drives the self-healing or self-correcting mechanisms of the body.

• The Triad of Health, which describes the connection and interaction between the structural, biochemical and mental/emotional components of all living beings. Dysfunction in one area invariably leads to disruption elsewhere.

• The Uniqueness of the Individual:  People are genetically, biochemically, structurally and emotionally different from one another. Each person responds in a unique way to mental/emotional, structural, nutritional, social or cultural influences.

 

Naturopathic Practice dictates that the naturopath should always seek to:

 

• Do no harm.

• Employ methods which work alongside with the body’s own healing abilities and self-correcting mechanisms.

• Avoid treatments which may work against these mechanisms and which suppress the natural course of a disease.

• Address the underlying causes of dysfunction, wherever possible.

• Reduce the burden of load - It may not always be possible to identify a single underlying cause.  More often, a number of contributory factors can be identified, each of which can be addressed individually.

• Consider the use of short-term measures to control any symptoms which have slipped out of control and could become dangerous.  Long-term health restoration measures are a much greater priority, however.

• Attempt to address all aspects of the Naturopathic Triad of Health.

• Employ simple approaches before more complex ones, wherever possible.

• Support patients’ own efforts in gaining, maintaining and appreciating control of their personal health.