Like many other forms of complementary medicine, naturopathy has risen in popularity in recent years thanks to growing recognition of the potential of natural therapies to improve our health and well-being. Naturopathy’s holistic focus and fundamental belief in the ability of the body to heal itself make it well-suited to a wide range of health conditions.
Naturopaths are consulted by 6.2% of the adult population in Australia, and approximately 1 in 10 Australians with chronic diseases such as sleep disorders (13.6%), type 1 and 2 diabetes (11.9%), mental health disorders (9.0%) and asthma (8.7%) consult with a naturopath.
This guide dives into naturopathy treatment to help answer some common questions about naturopathy, including ‘What is naturopathy recommended for?’ and ‘What are the benefits of naturopathy treatment?’
What is naturopathy?
Naturopathy is a distinct system of complementary medicine based on the fundamental principle that the body has an intrinsic ability to heal itself. It emphasises the promotion of health, disease prevention, patient education and empowering self-responsibility through the diversity of treatments, tools, and natural remedies used. Rather than focus solely on the area of the body that is affected, or only on the symptoms a person is experiencing, naturopathy treatment involves the entire body and aims to address the root cause of health issues.
The principles of Naturopathic medicine have developed from a diverse historical background including traditions of Hippocratic health, herbal medicine, nature cure, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, nutrition, and manipulative therapies.
The naturopathic profession is based on two fundamental philosophies of medicine (vitalism and holism) and the six core principles of practice:
- First, do no harm (primum non nocere)
- The healing power of nature (vis medicatrixnaturae)
- Treat the cause (tollecausam)
- Treat the whole person (tolletotum)
- Doctor as teacher (docere)
- Disease prevention and health promotion
What treatment does naturopathy involve?
The diversity of therapeutic systems and modalities underpinning Naturopathic medicine form a cohesive framework, that acknowledges the biomedical model of health and illness, whilst also supporting the whole person and the psychological, spiritual and social aspects of their health and wellbeing.
The philosophy, theory, and principles of Naturopathy are translated to clinical practice through a range of therapeutic modalities, and a highly individualised treatment plan is prescribed to the patient.
The WNF (World Naturopathic Federation) has identified seven core modalities within Naturopathy:
- clinical nutrition and diet modification/counseling
- applied nutrition (use of dietary supplements, traditional medicines, and natural health care products)
- herbal medicine
- lifestyle counselling
- hydrotherapy
- homeopathy, including complex homeopathy
- physical modalities (based on the treatment modalities taught and allowed in each jurisdiction, including yoga, naturopathic manipulation, and muscle release techniques)
There is a growing body of evidence supporting some of the core treatment tools used in naturopathic medicine, including dietary and lifestyle interventions and specific botanical medicines and nutritional supplements.
What is naturopathy recommended for?
Naturopathy is grounded in the belief that it’s essential to treat the whole person, rather than focus solely on one condition or one part of the body in isolation.
This is reflected in the ‘whole-system’ approach that sees Naturopathic practice as a holistic system that simultaneously addresses the multiple dimensions of an individual patient including physical, mental, spiritual, family, community, and environmental factors.
Naturopathy is a complementary healthcare intervention for a broad range of conditions:
- Digestive or gastrointestinal issues, such as Irritable Bowel Disease
- Fatigue and low energy levels
- Inflammatory conditions, ranging from general aches and pains to degenerative illnesses such as arthritis
- Stress-related ailments, like sleeping issues
- Hormone imbalances, such as those caused by impaired thyroid function
- Women’s health issues, including fertility issues, contraception advice and premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Men’s fertility issues
- Skin and hair concerns
- Weight problems, including obesity
- Cardiovascular issues
- Migraines and headaches
According to a 2019 study that examined the results of 33 published studies of naturopathic treatments, naturopathy was found to be effective in treating a wide variety of health issues, including cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal pain, type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, depression, anxiety, and a range of complex chronic conditions.
What are the benefits of naturopathy treatment?
A Naturopath’s ability to appropriately apply and recommend natural methods of healing to a presenting patient, is of considerable benefit, particularly in the modern-world landscape and the growing burden of internal and external stressors.
Naturopathy is an authentic model for integrative health, particularly in the modern world, combining an evidence-based model for health alongside rich traditional knowledge and influence. In its essence, it promotes a patient-centred relationship and fosters collaboration with other health care practitioners to support the patient’s best interests and optimal health outcomes.
Whether you want to take a naturopathic approach to treat a specific illness, or you’re simply looking to boost your overall health, there are numerous benefits of naturopathy treatment.
These include:
- Tailored and holistic support. While individual naturopathy treatments can be beneficial, the real value comes from working with an experienced naturopath to devise a personalised treatment plan. An experienced naturopath will be able to work with you to identify the underlying drivers of your ailment, and develop a holistic, tailored plan to improve your health.
- Disease prevention. Through lifestyle changes, and the use of natural therapeutic techniques, naturopathy can help to improve your health and prevent disease before it starts.
- Reduced stress. Naturopaths can work with you to incorporate techniques into your daily routine that can help you to manage stress. In turn, this can help to reduce the negative health impacts of stress on the body and the onset of secondary symptoms or health conditions.
- Reduced inflammation. Fighting chronic low-level inflammation within the body is essential for fending off disease as we age. Due to the complexities underlying chronic inflammation, a Naturopath uses extensive case-taking and investigative tools to identify and treat the causative and sustaining factors behind inflammation, such as a poor pro-inflammatory diet, ongoing stress and/or trauma, or a generally sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle. Naturopaths may also recommend specific herbal medicines, or homeopathic remedies that have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Improved nutrition. Naturopaths can work with you to modify your diet to reduce your intake of inflammatory foods (such as ultra-processed foods and refined carbohydrates) and increase your intake of foods known to reduce inflammation, such as those high in fibre and antioxidants. Dietary counselling is a cornerstone to Naturopathic medicine with personalised nutrition advice and tailored dietary plans considering emotional, social and environmental factors as well.
- Improved immune function. The immune system is the body’s first line of defense against potential infection and disease, therefore ensuring its robust function is a core objective within naturopathy’s holistic approach. Naturopathic strategies such as specific herbal and nutritional supplements, nutrition and diet optimisation, reducing stress, supporting quality sleep, reducing environmental toxin exposure, exercise and utilising manual body therapies can all assist in strengthening an individual’s immunity and natural defense.
- Enhanced overall health. You don’t need to be experiencing a specific condition to benefit from naturopathy. Whether it’s adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, increasing the amount you exercise, or incorporating stress-management techniques into your daily routine, naturopathy treatments work to improve your overall health. This makes them a great complement to western medicine, as they can promote self-healing and thereby make other treatments more effective.
What training do naturopaths have?
The majority of naturopaths operating in Australia have tertiary qualifications from a registered university or college.
Naturopathic Practitioners are also members of professional bodies, such as ANTA. These bodies typically only accept members with Bachelor’s Degree tertiary qualifications in the field of naturopathy.
Sources
- Myers, S. P., & Vigar, V. (2019). The State of the Evidence for Whole-System, Multi-Modality Naturopathic Medicine: A Systematic Scoping Review. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 25(2), 141–168. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2018.0340
- Snider, P., & Zeff, J. (2019). Unifying Principles of Naturopathic Medicine Origins and Definitions. Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), 18(4), 36–39.
- Wardle, Jonathan & Steel, Amie & Casteleijn, David. (2019). An evidence based overview of naturopathic practice in Australia. Australian Journal of Herbal and Naturopathic Medicine. 31. 9-13. 10.33235/ajhnm.31.1.9-13.
- Zeff, J., Snider, P., & Myers, S. (2019). Naturopathic Model of Healing-The Process of Healing Revisited. Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), 18(4), 26–30.
- Wardle, J.L., Adams, J., Lui, CW. et al. Current challenges and future directions for naturopathic medicine in Australia: a qualitative examination of perceptions and experiences from grassroots practice. BMC Complement Altern Med 13, 15 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-15
- Sarris, J., & Wardle, J., (2019) Clinical Naturopathy: An Evidence-based Guide to Practice. Netherlands: Elsevier Health Sciences.
- Micozzi, M. (2019). Fundamentals of Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine. (6th ed.) Saunders
