Naturopathic
medicine is a distinct primary health care system that blends modern
scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine. The
naturopathic philosophy is to stimulate the healing power of the body
and treat the underlying cause of disease. Symptoms of disease are seen
as warning signals of improper functioning of the body, and unfavourable
lifestyle habits. Naturopathic Medicine emphasizes disease as a process
rather than as an entity.
Treating
both acute and chronic conditions, naturopathic treatments are chosen
based on the individual patient - their physiological, structural,
psychological, social, spiritual, environment and lifestyle factors. In
addition to diet and lifestyle changes, natural therapies including
botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, hydrotherapy, homeopathy,
naturopathic manipulation and traditional Chinese medicine/acupuncture,
may also be used during treatments.
In
Canada, the naturopathic medical profession's infrastructure includes
accredited educational institutions, professional licensing, national
standards of practice, participation in many federal health committee
initiatives, and a commitment to state-of-the-art scientific research.
Source: Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors
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