Discover Naturopathic Medicine Fairfield County

By Janine Hughes


A large number of adults have investigated one or more alternatives to traditional medical therapies. The number of people suffering from various conditions, who use this type of therapy, is increasing at a significant rate. Many folks with diseases like cancer and diabetes have turned to naturopathic medicine Fairfield County practitioners are providing. There is an increasing number of people who are choosing this type of medicine because they want to reduce the number of prescription medications they are taking.

It is very important for folks to understand the principles of this kind of medicine before making a change from traditional practices or using it to compliment it. The alternative treatments can be used in conjunction with or in lace of conventional therapies. With this alternative therapy the genetic, physical, social, spiritual, and mental makeup of each person is considered.

Naturopathy uses a combination of therapies that are non toxic. These therapies include but are not limited to acupuncture, herbs, and massage. Incorporating changes to nutrition, diet, and exercise enhance the natural ability for the body to heal itself and fight disease. Practitioners of naturopathic medicine hold to six basic principles that are similar to the Hippocratic Oath that doctors of traditional medicine follow.

These basic principles of naturopathic medicine are available on the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians website. The philosophies of this alternative therapy are comprised of several of the principles that traditional physicians follow. The first of the six principles of naturopathy is trust the natural ability the body has for healing itself. The doctor works with the patient to promote self healing.

The practitioner identifies and treats the causes of illness by looking further than symptoms and underlying causes. The naturopathic practitioner focuses on finding the cause of the symptoms so they can be treated. When the source of the problem is addressed, it is likely that the symptoms will not return. This practice makes more sense than simply masking the symptoms with medications.

As with the Hippocratic Oath, the next principle states that practitioners do no harm. To hold to this principle, only the least invasive, least toxic and most natural therapies are to be used to treat patients. These doctors do their best to use only the lowest risk procedures and make certain to customize each individual patient plan for wellness. The doctor treats every person as an individual and as a whole considering their spiritual and physical being.

The practitioners envision themselves as teachers. The common goal is educating the patients to help them reach and maintain their best health. Although they promote self responsibility for personal health, the doctors work with them to educate on the component of healthy living. Additionally, they address the patients exercise habits, nutrition, and diet.

The focus of the naturopathic doctor is preventing disease and promoting health and wellness. They achieve this by treating the person as a whole. Health threats, using a family health history and heredity, are thoroughly evaluated to identify susceptibility to specific diseases. Using the evaluation, the practitioner is able to find the right treatment on an individual patient basis.




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