Naturopathy – Getting Better With Nature Cure!
Naturopathy believes that all the diseases arise due to accumulation of morbid matter in the body and if such matter is removed by some means, it paves the way for cure or relief. It also believes that the human body has inherent self constructing and self healing powers.
Naturopathy was practiced in ancient Greece (400 BC). Dr Benedict Lust is considered to be the the founder of modern-day naturopathy who practiced the art of natural healing and introduced it in the US in 1892. Dr Lust established the American School of Naturopathy in 1902.
Naturopathy is a form of alternative medicine where natural medicines are used for healing. It uses a holistic approach to cure an illness. Naturopathy looks at illness as a form of healing. Its focus is always on healing and health rather than disease. Naturopathy was practiced more widely in the US than in other countries, in early 20th century.
Naturopathy involves modifications of diet, lifestyle, and similar natural ways to cure the person.
Naturopathy is a system of healing science stimulating the body’s inherent power to regain health with the help of five great elements of nature. Naturopathy is a call to “Return to Nature” and to resort to simple way of living in harmony with the self, society and environment.
Medical doctor practicing Naturopathy understands the body, soul and mind of a person first and then decides about the treatment. Naturopathy focuses mainly on two areas – the healing ability of body and the lifestyle of a person.
Naturopathy takes holistic view of the health. It takes into consideration all factors responsible for diseases such as — not so natural habits in living, working, sleeping, relaxation, thinking, sexual indulgence etc. It also considers the situational & environmental factors that disturb the normal functioning of the body and lead it to a morbid, weak and toxic state.
Naturopathy focuses on correcting all the factors involved in the disease state and allow the body to recover itself. Naturopath helps in Nature’s effort to cure disease by applying correct natural modalities and regulating the natural forces to work within safe limits. The five main modalities of treatment are air, water, heat, mud and space.
( Panchamahabhutas – five natural elements in Ayurveda ).
Some of the major principles of Naturopathy :
Basic cause of disease is morbid matter. Bacteria develop after the accumulation of morbid matter in the body. Morbid matter creates favourable condition for bacteria to develop.
Chronic diseases are the outcome of wrong treatment and suppression of the acute diseases.
Nature is the greatest healer. Body has the capacity to prevent itself from diseases. Body also regains health naturally / if treated with naturopathy.
Patient is treated in Naturopathy and not the disease.
Nature Cure treats patient simultaneously at all four levels : physical, mental, social (moral) and spiritual.
Naturopathy believes in — “Food is Medicine”.
Naturopathy doesn’t follow a single road to good health. This approach includes a wide array of noninvasive techniques and therapies.
There are many approaches followed in Naturopathy, major ones are as follows :
Water – Therapy / Hydrotherapy : It is the most ancient of all the remedial agents. It produces several types of physiological effects based on temperature and duration.
Air – Therapy: Good health requires fresh air. Air therapy is used in different pressures and temperatures, in variety of disease conditions.
Fire – Therapy: Here different temperatures are used through different heating techniques. These produce different specific effects.
Fasting Therapy : Clogging causes disease. Fasting is the best therapy to get rid of clogging in body and mind.
Mud – Therapy: Mud absorbs, dissolves and eliminates the toxins and rejuvenates the body. It is employed in treatment of various diseases like constipation, skin diseases etc.
Food-Therapy : Your food is your medicine. This is the main slogan of Nature Cure.
Massage–Therapy: Massage acts as tonic & stimulant. It creates sedative effect. It is an effective substitute for exercise.
“Accupressure” – Different points on hands, feet & body are associated with different organs. If pressure is applied on these selected points, related organs can be cured of their ailments.
“Magneto-Therapy ” : South and North poles of magnets of different powers and shapes are employed in treatment. Magnets are applied directly on different parts of the body. Charged water or oil is also used in magnetotherapy
Chromo – Therapy : Seven colours of Sun ( violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red ) are employed through irradiation or body or by administering charged water, oil and pills for treatment.
Naturopathy takes time to heal diseases but most of the time it ends in successful results. But you need concentration, belief and dedication to attain the best results in naturopathy.
By : Pradeep Mahajan
Pradeep Mahajan is a free-lance writer. He is an engineer-MBA and management consultant by profession & practice. Visit http://www.health-fitness-wellness.com for more useful & interesting information on health, fitness & wellness.