After showcasing some promising results in this medical sphere, naturopathy is gaining attention, especially from the past few years. This has shown a positive impact on the number of increasing Australian naturopaths.

As per PubMed, the total number of Australian naturopaths registered was around 4000 in 2017. Now, the number has risen to 4600, which is likely to grow aggressively by the end of 2022. It is one of the highly recommended complementary therapies available in Australia today, with up to 4.9 million consultations done annually.

Let’s get into the details of naturopathy:

Naturopathic therapy and medicine is a detailed system using different natural remedies that helps in self-healing. It encompasses different therapies, including – acupuncture, herbs, massage, prescribing nutritional supplements, recommending exercises, and so on. All in all, it can be referred to as a perfect blend of traditional treatments and other modern science practiced today.

It uses a set of principles to craft an effective naturopathic treatment plan for an individual. It includes –

  1. Understanding the underlying symptoms – Instead of stopping the symptoms, a naturopathic practitioner resolves all underlying mental and physical issues in the body, spirit, and mind.
  2. The art of self-healing – Analyzing and eliminating the obstacles for faster recovery, which results in speedy healing using natural processes. This process does not leave any negative impact on the body.
  3. Education blended in the treatments – A highlighting factor about naturopathic doctors is teaching the art of self-care during treatment. It empowers the sufferer to follow a healthy lifestyle bringing much-required changes in the daily routine.
  4. Harmless medication and therapy – The prescribed medicine and treatment should not put the human body at risk.
  5. Prevention – It is a good practice to remove all the toxic elements from your lifestyle and body while helping you practice a healthy regime.

How does it work?

The ultimate goal of naturopathic treatment is to treat the whole person in all aspects, including – body, spirit, and mind. It works as an ideal way to heal a health issue’s root causes and not just stop the symptoms. This is the reason why a naturopathic practitioner may take up to 1 or 2 hours to examine the sufferer’s body and mind. During this course, the practitioner may ask you a few questions revolving around your lifestyle habits, health history, stress level experienced, and so on.

Afterward, the practitioners work on preparing a detailed health plan highlighting all weak sections to work on. Here, It’s common for experts of naturopath australia to utilize advanced functioning testing allowing thorough investigation. This approach assists in preparing a comprehensive case underlying the cause of health issues along with the present imbalances in the body.

Besides the advanced functioning testing approach, naturopaths may include – touch, massage, and releasing pressure on the body as crucial steps to bring a required balance in the body. This is often referred to as naturopathic manipulative therapy.

Who offers such treatments?

The above-mentioned information may have answered it somewhere, but that’s not the whole truth. Here is a detailed illustration of who offers naturopathic treatments and therapies.

#1 – Naturopathic Physicians – They may also be referred to as ND (naturopathic doctors) or NMD (doctors of naturopathic medicine). Usually, they hold a four-year graduate degree to start this practice officially and legally. ND specializes in – psychology, nutrition, complementary therapies, herbal medicines, homeopathy, and much more. Some countries and states demand a license to start your practice as an ND. This may require qualifying for an entrance test.

#2 – Healthcare professionals – There are many chiropractors, general medical practitioners, doctors of osteopathy, dentists, nurses, etc., trained for naturopathic medicine. However, they may have legit proof of degree or relevant educational background before serving as a naturopath.

#3 – Traditional naturopaths – Such doctors do not attend an educational degree or hold a license. Their education and practice area may vary as compared to the licensed naturopaths.

Naturopathy helps treat what kind of health issues?

Naturopathic medicine proves helpful for a series of health problems, including:

  • Frequent headache
  • Allergies
  • Obesity
  • Fertility problems
  • Chronic body ache
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Digestive issues

Some licensed naturopathic practitioners are eligible to perform minor surgeries but under supervision. A standard illustration can be – stitching the minor wounds. As a result, many healthcare centers consider them primary healthcare service providers.

What are possible treatments?

Naturopathic practitioners craft a medical plan based on the medical history. Therefore, the treatment or set of medicines prescribed may vary (based on the principles defined above). Naturopathic treatment may include:

  1. Nutrition and dietary changes
  2. Slight behavioral changes like – doing exercises.
  3. Practicing detoxification regularly.
  4. Psychotherapy.
  5. Usage of herbal nutritional supplements in the diet.
  6. Hydrotherapy (it is a water-based treatment).
  7. Homeopathy (a natural medicine treatment type).
  8. Manipulative therapy like – putting excessive pressure on the different body parts to establish a better body balance.

A recent study conducted by PubMed suggested that naturopathic treatments can prove helpful to control type 2 diabetes.

Different uses explained

Let’s face the fact that naturopathic treatments may not be the first source of healing a health issue, but they may prove helpful at some stage of undergoing treatment. Besides common health problems, it helps to soothe some serious health aspects, including:

  1. Type 2 diabetes
  2. Cardiovascular diseases
  3. Anxiety
  4. Depression
  5. Polycystic ovary syndrome
  6. Chronic conditions
  7. Musculoskeletal pain

When is the right time to see a naturopathic doctor?

This holistic approach to improving your health is a boon to humanity, but only when practiced at the right time. As soon as you start seeing any health disorder taking a toll on your lifestyle, consider consulting a practitioner immediately.

A bonus tip: It’s advisable to consult a naturopath before changing your medicine or naturopathic therapy approach. This can result in a hormonal imbalance in the body.

The bottom line

Naturopathy is a perfect combination of conventional healthcare practices and traditional medication processes. It works to bring the body to a neutral state, helping you overcome different health issues using natural remedies. A practitioner is likely to use other naturopathic methods to support modern treatment results and healing processes.