The term ‘Naturopath’ is an Anglicized version of the term ‘physician’ which was used by Hippocrates from the Greek root word ‘physikos’ meaning ‘nature’.

This suggests that every practitioner of medicine should be skilled in Nature and must strive to know what man’s constitution is and what the relationship is wrt food, drink, occupation and the effects that each of these has upon the other.

The term Naturopathy encompasses many disciplines. Modern naturopathy grew out of the healing traditions of the 18th and 19th centuries and now also incorporates scientific advances in modern medicine, so blending advances in modern medicine with the ancient traditions of Ayuverdic Medicine, Chinese Medicine, Unani & Tibetan medicine, incorporating homeopathic principles together with scientific homotoxicology. It is the best aspects of both worlds, with its primary focus being on supporting the body to do what it was designed to do: to heal itself, Naturopathy has therefore become an amalgamation of different disciplines all of which aim to treat the body naturally and respect and acknowledge the vital energy in the body.  The strength or weakness of our vital force will determine whether and which pathogens/diseases/illnesses we will be prone to.

Our genetic make-up together with our lifestyle and our medical history, determine the strength or weakness of our vital force, based on the degree of suppression which has hampered our foundation from which health or disease will flourish.

The guiding principles of naturopathy underlie its practice and are given in brief below:

• Work with the healing power of nature, trusting the body’s inherent powers of recovery when obstacles to cure are removed.
• Identify the cause – address the underlying cause of illness rather than just treating symptoms.
• First do no harm – use the most natural, least toxic and least invasive therapies first.
• Support the whole person – assess not just the physical condition but also factors that influence health and well-being.
• Therapist as teacher – educate people in the art of self-care and the steps they need to take to achieve optimal health.
• Prevention – encourage the promotion of health and prevention of disease.

Naturopathic nutrition further acknowledges that:

• Individuals have a unique interaction with nutrients.
• Food selection, preparation and eating is a healing art.
• Whole foods are greater than the sum of their parts. This means that isolated components of a food do not necessarily have the same effect upon the body than if the food in its natural form was eaten. Science is continually trying to isolate the active compound in a food that offers the health benefits. If it can isolate the compound it can then make a copy which can be patented and used as a drug. Naturopathy seeks to use those therapies which are most efficient and which have the least potential to harm the patient. The concept of harm includes suppression or exhaustion of natural healing processes including inflammation and fever. Therapeutic modalities are applied in a rational order, determined by the nature of the healing process. The natural therapeutic order is:
  • 1. Re-establish the conditions for health
    • Identify and remove disturbing factors: this could be detrimental dietary influences or toxic exposure for example.
    • Institute a more healthful regimen
  • 2. Stimulate the Vis Medicatrix Naturae (the self-healing processes) via dietary changes, reducing the toxic load of the person, exercise, supporting eliminations etc.
  • 3.  Address weakened or damaged systems or organs
    • Strengthen the immune system
    • Decrease toxicity
    • Normalize inflammatory function.
    • Optimise metabolic function.
    • Balance regulatory systems
    • Enhance regeneration
    • Harmonise with the life force
  •  4. Correct structural integrity via osteopathy, chiropractic or other body work such as Bowen or Alexander Technique.
  • 5. Address pathology: use herbs, vitamins and minerals, acupuncture, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, counselling

There are six core principles to naturopathic medicine:

•  First do no harm “promum non nocere”
•  The healing power of nature “Vis Medicatrix Naturae”
•  Find the cause “tolle causam”
•  Treat the whole person “holism”
•  Preventive medicine
•  Doctor as teacher “docere”