Naturopathy

  David Arikian  –

What is Naturopathy?

Naturopathy can alleviate a wide range of conditions and is suitable for all ages.  Some of the more common conditions treated include fatigue, stress related ailments, digestive problems, PMT and general aches and pains.  However, you do not need to be unwell to benefit from naturopathy.

Naturopathic treatments boost the body’s natural healing potential, restoring harmony and preventing disease.

What is Naturopathic Medicine? 

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of health care that takes a comprehensive, individualized approach to address the root cause of illness.  Naturopathic doctors, being highly trained primary care providers, combine scientific knowledge with a wide range of natural therapies to promote health and well being.

Recognizing that illness or disease can be influenced by several factors, naturopathic doctors take an integrative approach, exploring not only physical, but mental, emotional, environmental and genetic aspects, when comprising an individualized treatment plan.

The primary goal of treatment is to address the underlying cause of disease rather than suppressing symptoms, and to support the natural healing process of the body, with an emphasis on health education, and prevention.

Naturopathy is a holistic approach to wellness based on the principle that the body has theinherent ability to heal itself.  Using the healing power of nature and gentle therapeutic techniques, the body, mind and emotions are supported during the healing process. Naturopathic principles are based on treating each person as an individual and treating the whole person, not just the affected area.

Naturopathy encompasses a variety of treatment methods including:

• Herbal Medicine to help prevent and treat various illnesses
• Dietary and Nutritional advice for restoration of balance, detoxification and prevention of disease
• Lifestyle advice to promote well-being and to reduce stress
• Hydrotherapy using the healing power of water to stimulate the immune system and the body’s natural defenses
• Flower essences to enhance the emotional aspect of healing
• The use of compresses and packs to stimulate organ function and to reduce pain
• Soft tissue manipulation to rebalance the body’s systems, to reduce pain and to enable detoxification
• Homoeopathy

PRINCIPLES OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE :

                    First do no harm  
                    Support the natural healing  process of the body
                    Identify and address the root cause of disease
                    Treat the whole person through individualized treatments
                    Teach the principles of healthy living
                    Focus on preventative medicine

COMMON CONDITIONS TREATED:

• Men’s and Women’s health,
• Digestive disturbances,
• Anxiety and Depression,
• Cardiovascular concerns,
• Metabolic concerns,
• Endocrine disorders,
• Fibromyalgia,
• CFS,
• Muskuloskeletal conditions,
• Skin conditions,
• Ear infections,
• Allergies,
• Autistic spectrum disorder,
• ADHD,
• Weight loss,
• Stress management,   and many more!

David Arikian,  treats patients of all ages

Naturopathy, or naturopathic medicine, is a system of medicine based on the healing power of nature.  Naturopathy is a holistic system, meaning that naturopathic doctors (N.D.s) or naturopathic medical doctors (N.M.D.s) strive to find the cause of disease by understanding the body, mind, and spirit of the person. Most naturopathic doctors use a variety of therapies and techniques (such as nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and acupuncture).

There are two areas of focus in naturopathy:    one is supporting the body’s own healing abilities, and the other is empowering people to make lifestyle changes necessary for the best possible health. While naturopathic doctors treat both short bouts of illness and chronic conditions, their emphasis is on preventing disease and educating patients.

What is the history of naturopathy?

The modern form of naturopathy can be traced to 18th- and 19th-century natural healing systems. Such systems include hydrotherapy (water therapy), which was popular in Germany and nature cure, developed in Austria, based on the use of food, air, light, water, and herbs to treat illness.

Benjamin Lust, a German immigrant, first introduced naturopathy to the United States in1902 when he founded the American School of Naturopathy. The school emphasized the useof natural cures, proper bowel habits, and good hygiene as the tools for health. This was the  first time that principles of a healthy diet, like increasing fiber intake and reducing saturated fats, became popular.

In the mid-1920s to 1940, the use of naturopathic medicine declined. It was not until the 1960s that naturopathic-style holistic medicine became popular again. Today, naturopaths are licensed care providers in many states. They offer a variety of natural therapies, including homeopathy, vitamin and mineral supplements, Traditional Chinese Medicine, relaxation techniques, and herbal remedies.

What should I expect from a visit to a naturopath?

A visit to a naturopathic doctor, or N.D., will be similar to a visit to your family doctor. Your first visit may take more than an hour. The doctor will take a very thorough history, asking about your diet, lifestyle, stress, and environmental exposures.

Your visit to Dr. Arikian will be somewhat different to other Naturopaths as he uses Cyclotronic Balancing  and CST which is incredibly accurate in detecting problem areas, rather than the conventional tests analysis; i.e.  examining digestive contents etc. This method of analysis can be intrusive to the client.

The N.D. will normally do a physical examination, which may require tests. In addition to conventional tests.  A Digestive Stool Analysis  by a Colonic Specialist to examine your digestive process as well as to see which nutrients your body is absorbing, among other things.

Naturopathic doctors treat the whole person, which means they consider a variety of factors before they diagnose an illness. An N.D. might look at your mental, emotional, and spiritual state; your diet; your family history; your environment; and your lifestyle before making a diagnosis.

Some of the more common treatments used by a naturopath include:

• Nutritional counselling
• Herbal medicine
• Homeopathic medicine
• Acupuncture
• Hydrotherapy (water therapy) – These therapies include drinking natural spring water, taking baths, alternating hot and cold applications, and water exercise, all of which are thought to stimulate healing and strengthen the immune system.
• Physical medicine — This natural approach to healing involves using touch, hot and cold compresses, electric currents, and sound waves to manipulate the muscles, bones, and spine.
• Detoxification — This therapy removes toxins from the body by fasting, using enemas, and drinking lots of water.
• Spirituality — Personal spiritual development is encouraged as part of an overall health program.
• Lifestyle and psychological counseling — An N.D. may use hypnosis, guided imagery, or other counseling methods as part of a treatment plan.

Naturopaths consider patients to be participants in their health care, so you may be asked to make lifestyle changes (such as changing your sleeping, eating, and exercise habits).

What illnesses and conditions respond well to naturopathy?

Because naturopaths combine so many therapies, it is difficult to single out specific illnesses that respond well to naturopathy. Naturopaths treat both acute and chronic conditions from arthritis to ear infections (otitis media), from HIV to asthma, from congestive heart failure to hepatitis. N.D.s treat the whole person (rather than only treating a disease or its symptoms), aiming to help their patients maintain a balanced state of good health. Because of this holistic approach, naturopathy may be especially suited for treating chronic illnesses.

Is there anything I should look out for?

Be sure to let your medical doctor (M.D.) know about any naturopathic treatment, and let your N.D. know about any conventional medications you are taking. Some treatments caninteract with each other, and your healthcare practitioners will be better able to treat you if they know every therapy you are using. Do not take high doses of nutrients and herbs without your N.D.’ s supervision, because of potential toxic effects and drug-herb interactions. Please see the monographs on individual herbs and supplements for detailed information. Make sure that any major changes in your diet are approved by your doctors, so they don’ t undermine your health (especially in the very young, the elderly, and those with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes

AN INTERESTING ARTICLE ABOUT GUNPOWDER

Several years ago, the author read about homeopathic Gunpowder in Morgan’s Homeopathic Medicine: First Aid and Emergency Care and Sheppard’s The Magic of the Minimum Dose. After reading Clarke’s monograph, Gunpowder as a War Remedy, the author discussed it with a small group of rehabilitators. While Gunpowder was not well represented in repertories, Clarke and a few other homeopaths described homeopathic Gunpowderas highly effective with infected wounds. Clarke wrote:

“The great sphere of action of gunpowder is in cases of septic suppuration – or, in other words – of wounds that have become poisoned with the germs of putrefaction. … But Gunpowder my [may] also be used as a prophylactic.

That is to say, it will not only cure septic suppuration when present, but it will afford such protection to the organism against harmful germs, that wounds will be less likely to become septic in one who is under its influence….

Now the great point about Gunpowder is that it has a broad and clear indication that hardly anyone can miss – blood – poisoning. …

The poison quickly finds its way into the blood – boils, carbuncles, eruptions, abscesses, or other manifestations appear, showing unmistakably that the blood has been poisoned. To all these conditions Gunpowder acts as an antidote.”

This small group of wildlife rehabilitators was particularly interested in Gunpowder since it could be used as a prophylactic. Many very small animals, such as young birds, cats and dogs  are commonly admitted to rehabilitation with wounds caused by animals.

Even after aggressive wound cleaning and the use of Ledum and Hypericum, some of the wounds still became infected, especially those from cats.  Waiting until the symptoms of infection were apparent in order to select Lachesis, Hepar sulphuris, or other homeopathic medicines meant the infection could be well established and more difficult to treat, particularly in such small or young animals. A remedy that could be given immediately after the wound, but before the infection had become serious was obviously was of high interest.

“The Gunpowder with which we are concerned is the traditional Black Gunpowder, whose three cardinal constituents are sulphur, carbon, and nitre or saltpetre. …As sulphur, carbon, and saltpetre are three potent medicines known to pharmacy and physic, it is not surprising that a combination of the three should be a medicine of great potency. There is a certain piquancy in the fact that gunpowder is a remedy for the accidents of warfare….” Gunpowder as a War Remedy by John H. Clarke