ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE PRACTICES/ REFERENCING ASSIGNMENT                

Alternative Health Care Practices/Referencing Assignment

Today, the world of science has advanced rapidly, introducing diverse methods and alternatives to improving health on the whole. With controversies and upheavals of utilizing conventional allopathic medicine rising, many individuals have been turning to more natural and traditional ways to cure, sustain, and prolong their wellbeing.  According to the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (2010), Naturopathic Medicine is a distinctive health care system which combines the contemporary scientific knowledge with natural and established forms of medicine. Naturopathy focuses on arousing the remedial power of the body while treating the primary cause of an illness. In addition, while determining the root cause of an illness, Naturopathy perceives the symptoms of an illness as warning signs of bodily dysfunction, as well as adverse standards of living (Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, 2010).

There are six major factors that form the foundation of naturopathy. First principle is “First Do No Harm”. This principle signifies the importance of employing methods which are safe and effective, while optimizing one’s health and minimizing negative side effects. The second principle is the “The Healing Power of Nature”, which insinuates the concept of the body’s innate ability to restore health. The third principle implies the necessity to “Identify and Treat the Cause”; naturopathy stresses that it is crucial to detect and treat the central cause of a health problem instead of focusing on its symptoms. The fourth principle, “Treat the Whole Person”, emphasizes the instability of health must be handled comprehensively, rather than as a portion or individually. The fifth principle, “Doctor as a Teacher”, indicates the accountability that naturopaths hold to educate their patients and further sanction them and to become responsible for their own wellbeing. Finally, the sixth principle of “Disease Prevention and Health Promotion” accentuates on taking action depending on projected problems according to existing disparities, genetic vulnerability and other lifestyle decisions (Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, 2010).            

In order to assist an individual in restoring the stability of good health, Naturopathic Medicine considers the underlying constituents of health such as, biochemistry, biomechanics, and emotional tendency (NaturoDoc, 2010). The initiation of naturopathy remedies was instigated through the use of herbs and foods for medicine, revelation to clean atmosphere and sunlight, as well as hydrotherapy; the deployment of hot and cold water such as steam or sauna (NaturoDoc, 2010). Even into the 21st century, naturopathic medicine has been the leading medicine employed largely by humans. As indicated by Dr. Lee (2010), more than 65% of people prefer herbal and traditional medical arts as their primary medical alternative. According to naturopathic philosophy, organisms carry an instinctive capability to restore themselves. By concentrating on the immune, hormonal, nervous, and detoxification systems of the body, this procedure can be accomplished; proper steadiness among the preceding systems can help reinstate health (NaturoDoc, 2010). One can comprehend the concept of body’s self-healing ability better if he or she considers that homeostasis is the chief attribute of any healthy organism. For instance, flu; when someone’s body is attacked by a pathogen, the body will react by emitting fever, nausea, and drowsiness to combat the virus. Interestingly, by providing proper nourishment and relaxation, the symptoms of the flu will boost up the immune system allowing the body to overcome the sickness, revitalizing healthiness.

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Naturopathy in its own essence offers several natural therapies to those in need. Some of the many treatments include clinical nutrition, botanical medicine (phytotherapy), and Chinese medicine (acupuncture). Naturopathic Treatment focuses on improving health through dietary changes and the intake of supplements to nourish one’s body. It perceives nutritional counseling and support as key dynamics in disease prevention and wellness. To continue, Botanical Medicine (Phytotherapy) has been around prior to the invention of synthetic pharmaceuticals. Many drugs utilized contemporarily are obtained through medicinal plants. The employment of botanical medicine has been validated through modern scientific investigations and has been found ...

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