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Natural Medicine
Also known as Naturopathy, Natural Medicine is a type of
healing whose practitioners attempt to help people heal by using and
encouraging the body's natural abilities to heal and regenerate itself after
illness or injury. Therapies used in Natural Medicine include herbal healing,
homeopathy, acupuncture, nutrition therapy, and aromatherapy, among other
things. In Natural Medicine, there is a preference for natural remedies such as
herbs and supplements, and an avoidance of drugs and surgery whenever possible.
The emphasis is on using holistic healing methods to prevent disease in the
first place, and then to allow the body to heal naturally after illness.
Natural Medicine looks at the patient as a whole person with interconnected
systems, instead of looking at each body part as an isolated area, much like an
auto mechanic concentrates on replacing the affected part only. Natural
Medicine trusts that the body has enough native intelligence to heal itself
much of the time, and the physician's role in this process is to remove
obstacles to healing and augment the natural healing process when possible.
To some extent, the idea is to stay out of the way and not interfere with
the body's natural healing. Heavy-handed conventional medical techniques can
sometimes be compared to using a sledgehammer to kill a fly.
Natural Medicine believes that the cornerstone of good health is proper
nutrition -- both to prevent illness before it happens, and also as part of
treatment when it does happen. Plants are also used for healing. The organic
nature of botanical medicines makes them more compatible with human body chemistry,
and so less likely to have toxic side effects. Homeopathic remedies work on the
principle of "like equals like."
Extremely tiny doses of the substance causing the illness are given to the
patient to encourage the body's resistance, much like how vaccinations work by
introducing a tiny amount of the disease being inoculated against.
There are a number of accredited universities in the United States that now
specialize in offering degrees in various branches of Natural Medicine.
Alternative healing is rapidly becoming accepted by the mainstream.
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