Naturopathy is a natural approach to health and healing: both are a way of life and a concept of healing. Its primary goal is the establishment and maintenance of optimum health, achieved by teaching and promoting the principles of wellness, and treating with natural therapy or natural substances (homeopathic, herbal, mineral and vitamin supplements) as opposed to relying on pharmaceuticals in order to restore a dynamic balance to the body and mind.

It is a distinct, integrated system of primary health care, based on the vitalistic principles of naturopathic philosophy and holism, which is able to treat a wide range of disorders and imbalances. Vitalism treats disease through the support and stimulation of the body’s own inherent healing capacity i.e. the vital force promotes self-cleansing and self-repair and subsequently self-healing. Naturopathy incorporates several fundamental components of health, including biochemistry, biomechanics, and emotional temperament i.e. it takes into account the multifactorial nature of the illness, in order to restore healing and balance to the body and mind.

Fundamental to the practice of naturopathy, is recognition of the integrity of the whole person, which takes into account physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, genetic, social and environmental factors: respect for the healing processes of Nature; and empowerment of the individual to take responsibility for his or her own health process – in partnership with treatments and education provided by the practitioner.

Food is the best medicine.

Naturopathic treatments originated as a system of using food, herbs, air, sun, and water as healing agents to restore health. The same principles still apply in modern-day practice, with some innovations, but primarily it still consists of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders by the therapeutic use of diverse natural methods and materials, such as:

• Medical nutrition: which incorporates supplementation with nutraceuticals, diet and fasting.
• Botanical and homeopathic remedies.
• Iridology as a diagnostic tool.
• Physical medicine: ultrasound, exercise, hydrotherapy, body and colon cleanse, detoxifications, massage, manipulations, magnets, acupressure, acupuncture, reflexology and aromatherapy
• Counselling, which incorporates: diet, lifestyle and stress management, biofeedback, hypnotherapy and stress management.

The naturopathic mode of healing ensures that each individual is treated according to their own unique set of symptoms and reactions. Since these indicators govern the naturopathic doctor’s approach towards therapy, each person receives an individualised treatment protocol.