Naturopathy:
The Science of Natural Health
by
Robert S. Harris, N.D., P.M.D., TFTdx
Naturopathic doctor/wellness consultant
WHAT
IS A TRADITIONAL NATUROPATH?
Although
the term "Naturopathy" originated in the late
19th Century, the art can be traced back through
Germany into Greece, to Hippocrates himself,
and even beyond. There have always been people
who understood that healing will occur naturally
in the human body, if it is given what it
truly needs, that is, proper diet, pure water,
fresh air, sunlight, exercise, and rest. For
these people, the emphasis has not been on
finding disease and killing it, but rather
on helping the body establish its own state
of good health. Today, these people are known
as Traditional Naturopaths.
While
Traditional Naturopaths recognize that allopathic
health care is, at times, necessary, they
understand that many accepted allopathic treatments
can be harmful. Allopathic philosophy holds
that disease is caused by external agents,
chiefly bacteria and viruses. According to
this belief system, a cure will result when
these offending agents are eliminated. In
addition, allopathic belief also tends to
look at the symptom and the disease as one
in the same, so that when the symptom has
been eliminated, it is presumed that the disease
is "cured."
The
Traditional Naturopath, however, sees a symptom
as nothing more than a signal that something
is wrong. According to Naturopathic belief,
when a symptom alone is eliminated, it is
most likely being suppressed. Unless the original
cause has also been eliminated, the symptom
may return later in a chronic form.
Although
the term "Doctor" is generally held to mean
"Medical Doctor," the practice of the
Traditional
Naturopath may be more true to the old meaning
of that word. The origin of the word "doctor"
was the Latin "docere," which meant "to teach."
A Traditional Naturopath does exactly that,
teaching skills that will carry clients into
a healthy, strong, and independent future.
Basic
Principles of Traditional Naturopathy
In
helping their clients, Traditional Naturopaths
follow a number of basic principles. Among
them are:
DO
NO HARM. "Primum non nocere" is part of
the Hippocratic oath. Traditional Naturopaths
do not use harmful substances, such as drugs
and pharmaceuticals, and do not rely on dangerous
procedures, such as surgery.
RECOGNIZE
THE HEALING POWER OF NATURE. Traditional
Naturopaths understand that the body has an
innate capacity for self-healing. They are
equipped to educate their clients in setting
up the proper external and internal environments
so that healing can take place.
FIND
AND ELIMINATE THE CAUSE. All "dis-ease"
has some kind of cause. Self-healing can occur
when that cause has been eliminated. Traditional
Naturopaths help clients evaluate their lifestyles,
identify the cause of their problems, and
take corrective action.
TEACH
HEALTH. Traditional Naturopaths teach
their clients how to achieve and maintain
good health. This empowers their clients and
enables them to participate in the process
of staying well.
HONOR
THE TOTAL PERSON. A person is never simply
a headache, or a backache, or a sore throat.
Unless there has been an injury, seldom does
any problem occur in isolation. Traditional
Naturopaths understand that people are physical,
mental, and spiritual beings, and that one
"dis-ease" affects all areas of life.
PREVENT
"DIS-EASE." In teaching their clients
how to achieve a state of balance, Traditional
Naturopaths are helping them remain healthy
into the future.
About
Dr. Harris
Robert
S. Harris, N.D., P.M.D., TFTdx, is a naturopathic,
nutrition, and wellness practitioner and educator
with over ten years experience in teaching
and counseling individuals and groups in matters
of holistic health and wellness. He has written
several books, including "From Despair
to Hope: The Real Story of AIDS," and
maintains a private counseling practice based
in Frankfort, New York, and helps to improve
the health and wellness of individuals nationwide.
His training includes:
- Diagnosis
in Thought Field Therapy, with Roger Callahan,
Ph.D.
- Touch
for Health Kinesiology, with Margaret Hewes,
R.N.
- Naturopathic
Health Sciences, with Chester P. Yozwick,
N.D., Ph.D.
