CAM OPTIONS, INC.
Anthony Speroni, N.D., N.H.D., President
Dr. of Naturopathy ● Dr. of Natural Health
Board Certified

Hypnotherapist ● Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Consultant
Certified Advanced Biofeedback Technician ● Educator

Naturopathy

Naturopathy

Whole medical systems involve complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved independently from or parallel to allopathic (conventional) medicine.  Many are traditional systems of medicine that are practiced by individual cultures throughout the world and can be traced back in history over thousands of years.  Major Eastern whole medical systems include traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic medicine, one of India's traditional systems of medicine.  Major Western whole medical systems include homeopathy and naturopathy.  Other systems have been developed by Native American, African, Middle Eastern, Tibetan, and Central and South American cultures.  This page contains information specifically regarding naturopathic medicine - naturopathy.

Naturopathy, a whole medical system, is a system of healing, originating from Europe, that views disease as a manifestation of alterations in the processes by which the body naturally heals itself.  Naturopaths (practitioners of naturopathy) believe the body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health.  The naturopath’s role, therefore, is to facilitate and augment this process, to act to identify and remove obstacles to health and recovery, and to support the creation of a healthy internal and external environment.  Naturopathic medicine emphasizes health restoration as well as disease treatment.

Health and disease are conditions of the whole organism.  This whole involves a complex interaction of physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors.  Practitioners of naturopathy educate the public with information directing attention about the whole person and remind the public that considering all of these factors is what forms the foundation for present wellness and potential for long-term good health.  Should health weaken or fail, naturopathy again reminds us that the harmonious functioning of all aspects of the individual is essential to recovery from and prevention of disease, and requires a personalized and comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment.

The term "naturopathy" literally translates as "nature disease."  Today naturopathy, or naturopathic medicine, is practiced throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.  There are six principles that form the basis of naturopathic practice in North America (not all are unique to naturopathy):

1. The healing power of nature
2. Identification and treatment of the cause of disease
3. The concept of "first do no harm"
4. The doctor as teacher
5. Treatment of the whole person
6. Prevention

These six principles, above, are based on the objective observation of the nature of health and disease, and are continually reexamined in light of scientific analysis.  It is these principles that distinguish naturopathic medicine from other medical approaches in the world.

The "natural" state of the body is health.  Thus, naturopathic medicine takes the position that Illness does not occur without cause.  Underlying causes of disease must be discovered and removed or treated before a person can recover completely from any illness and return to living a life optimally.  Symptoms are expressions of the body’s attempt to heal and inform the conscious mind that there is a problem within.  Thus, symptoms are neither the cause of disease nor the sole issue commanding attention. Symptoms, for this reason, should not be suppressed by treatment, in almost all cases.  The true causes of disease may occur on a variety of levels including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.  The naturopath must evaluate fundamental underlying causes on all levels, directing his or her attention and the attention of the ill person at root causes rather than at symptomatic expression(s).

Naturopaths teach that the process of healing includes the generation of symptoms, which are, in fact, an expression of the life force attempting to heal itself.  Naturopaths also teach that all therapeutic actions should be complimentary to and synergistic with this healing process.  Therefore, methods designed to suppress symptoms without removing underlying causes are considered harmful and are avoided or minimized throughout naturopathy.

The core modalities supporting these principles include diet modification and nutritional supplements, herbal medicine, acupuncture and Chinese medicine, hydrotherapy, massage and joint manipulation, and lifestyle counseling.  Treatment protocols combine what the practitioner deems to be the most suitable therapies for the individual patient.

While naturopathy differs from other whole medical systems in philosophical approaches to the prevention and treatment of disease, it does share a number of common elements with other whole medical systems.  These systems are based on the belief that one's body has the power to heal itself.  Healing often involves marshalling multiple techniques that involve the mind, body, and spirit.  Treatment is often individualized and dependent on the presenting symptoms.

The ultimate goal, however, of any health care system should be prevention.  Prevention is something accomplished through education, promotion of life-habits that create good health, and a lifestyle that supports long-term well-being.  For this cause, the naturopath assesses risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease; then, he or she is in a position to make appropriate suggestions regarding interventions that will help individuals avoid further harm, while diminishing risk.  The emphasis, in the system of naturopathic medicine, is on building health rather than on fighting disease.

FLORIDA LAW and NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
The following is excerpted from The 2005 Florida Statutes, CHAPTER 462, NATUROPATHY:

As of mid-year 2006, the State of Florida continued to not license any new naturopaths as naturopathic physicians.  Florida law, however, does allow naturopathic education, research, and consultation.  All states in the U.S.A. that do license naturopathic physicians (NDs), as of mid-year 2006, require a doctoral-level resident course of at least 4100 hours of study from a college or university recognized by the state’s licensing board.  The education emphasizes prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease and promotion of optimal health.  The education also emphasizes skill in bridging both conventional and natural medicine perspectives, providing individuals with knowledgeable advocates in making informed healthcare choices.  Over the last thirty (30) years, the naturopathic profession worked to develop the highest standards of education and professional accountability.  Naturopathic medical colleges provide the rigorous training that produces doctors who practice the kind of integrated health care the public is demanding.

Naturopathic medical students today attend four year, graduate-level naturopathic medical schools, whose mission is educational excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease and promotion of optimal health. The education also emphasizes skill in bridging both conventional and natural medicine perspectives, providing patients with knowledgeable advocates in making informed healthcare choices.  If you would like to know more about a typical college's Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Curriculum and are, perhaps, yourself interested in becoming a naturopathic physician,, you may review one on-line at:  http://www.nuhs.edu/show.asp?durki=51.  Their front page says, "As a student in the naturopathic physician program at National, you will study the same basic sciences as an M.D., but you will learn holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness.
     "Following your undergraduate studies, you will complete four years of training in clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling so that you can encourage your patients to make lifestyle changes in support of their personal health. To review our trimester by trimester curriculum ..."

NATUROPATHIC CONSULTATION
Throughout the United States, today, there are thousands of highly-trained, well-educated naturopathic consultants who do not practice medicine and who are not physicians, but are also credentialed with such initials as ND and NHD.  These naturopaths provide clients with educational materials and information regarding naturopathic elements including, but not limited to, Acupressure, Alexander Technique, Applied Kinesiology, Aromatherapy, Aura Healing, Ayurveda, Bach Flower Remedies, Bioelectromagnetic medicine, Biofeedback, BioWaves Sound, Botanicals, Brain wave therapy, Chelation Therapy, Chinese Herbs, Chiropractic, Colloidal Silver, Colonic Irrigation, Color Therapy, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Divine Intervention, Edgar Cayce Method, Electrodiagnostics, Energy Therapies, Environmental Medicine, Feldenkrais Method, Feng Shui, Flower Essence Therapy, Foot Detoxification, Guided Imagery, Healing Touch, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Hormone Supplements, Hypnotherapy, Iridology, Kinesiology, Light Resonance, Light/Color Therapy, Macrobiotics, Magnetic Therapy, Massage Therapy, Meditation, Midwifery, Mind-Body Medicine, Movement Education, Myofascial Release, Naturopathic Medicine, Network Chiropractic, Neurofeedback, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Neuromuscular Therapy, Nutrition Counseling, Nutritional Supplements, Ozone/Oxygen Therapy, Pain Management, Polarity Therapy, Pranic Healing, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Qi Gong, Reflexology, Reiki, Rife Frequency Therapy, Rolfing, Shiatsu, Spiritual Direction, Tai Chi, Therapeutic Touch, Touch for Health, Trager Method, Trigger Point Therapy, Vibrational Beauty, Visualization, Western Herbs, and Yoga.  These elements are all part of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and as a group of systems, practices, and products are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. CAM practitioners employ forms of these elements that are used in addition to (complementary) or instead of (alternative) conventional medical approaches. These practices generally are not considered standard medical approaches.