What does a Naturopath do?

Naturopath Melbourne

A range of therapies and treatments are available to improve people’s livelihoods. Among them, is naturopathy, which aims to help in preventing diseases by approaching common root causes. Naturopathic therapies include things such as changes to diet, lifestyle and nutrition, as well as massage, and acupressure.

Let’s now learn more about it in detail. Below is a brief introduction, including the qualification needed to practice naturopathy and the reasons to choose naturopathic treatments.

Who treats naturopathy?

A naturopath is a health practitioner who treats people with natural therapies. It is also known as a system of health care which promotes the self-healing mechanisms of the human body. They collaborate with other medical practitioners for treatment or diagnosis when needed. 

Qualification required to be a naturopath

To become a naturopath, you need to complete graduate-level study in a conventional medical science. This could be study in subjects like gynecology, pathology, pharmacology, cardiology, biochemistry, neurology, pediatrics, immunology and neurology. Naturopaths also have to graduate medical college after meeting admission requirements that are the same as for a medical science college. 

In addition, the standard medical curriculum advises that naturopathic students have to do extensive coursework on natural therapies that include different theories from homeopathy, nutrition, physical medicine, lifestyle counseling, hydrotherapy, botanical medicines and exercise therapy studies.

What kind of treatments do they provide?

The major goal of this treatment is to treat the whole person, which means mind, spirit and body. It doesn’t only stop the symptoms of the illness, but also heals it from the root cause.

The doctor spends can spend up to two hours examining the patient. They will ask questions related to your lifestyle habits, health history and stress levels, including ordering lab tests. They may use other techniques such as:

  • Blood analysis
  • Iridology
  • Kinesiology
  • Hair analysis
  • Stool and urine analysis
  • Functional testing

Treatment they provide

A naturopath employs a range of non-invasive treatment techniques and these include
  • Herbal medicine to support the body.
  • Homeopathy to stimulate the body.
  • Hydrotherapy to stimulate body heat and blood flow, using hot and cold water.
  • Physical therapies, like bio-puncture, massage, mechanotherapy or acupressure.
  • Lifestyle counselling which addresses all aspects of your daily routine. This will identify and address the impact that stress and life events have on your health, and assisting you to make effective changes to your lifestyle.
They also go through some additional treatments like
  • IV therapies
  • Minor surgery
  • Colon therapy
  • Chelation therapy
  • Prescribing
When you receive treatment, it’s important to note your condition at each appointment. You can then track your treatment process since your first appointment. 

Reasons to consult a naturopath

  1. It is natural treatment
    They will advise you on medicine which is self-healing. All the treatments are safe, gentle and natural and can even be personalized according to the needs of individual. These natural treatments include hydrotherapy with water, flower spirits and other treatments like dietary changes and herbal medicine, among others. In general, they can make a treatment plan to suit people of all ages and backgrounds to achieve great results. 
  2. Offers a holistic approach to health care
    The mode of self-healing that focuses on the person’s whole body is known as holistic medicine. It aims to treat the root cause of problems rather than simply focusing on the symptoms. Once, the cause is identified and treated, the chances of the illness returning are very low after the treatment is completed. 
  3. It’s a popular alternative medicine
    It is a popular alternative medicine. People who start taking this treatment may have found that other treatments failed to produce beneficial results. Seeing a naturopath is a similar process to seeing a GP. First, they will study your medical history and order some lab tests to confirm their diagnosis. They will likely, however, have different point of views in regards to the present condition of your body and how to treat it.

Conditions that an expert can commonly treat 

There are many illnesses which can be treated by naturopaths such as,
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Diabetes
  • Acne
  • Eczema
  • Arthritis
  • Cancer (as adjunctive care)
  • Obesity
  • Infertility
  • Insulin resistance
  • Headaches and migraines

Final thoughts

There are many different ways to practice naturopathy. Some people prefer traditional while others prefer treatments which are only scientifically founded. So, it’s essential to see an expert that suits your belief system because when you feel more relaxed and comfortable with your doctor, you will likely see better results.