Nutrition & Naturopathy

Naturopathy is an approach to healing based on using natural remedies and supporting your body's natural ability to heal and be well. The human body is an incredibly complex system, but naturopathic medical doctors -- NMDs -- work to understand how that system interacts with its environment. Nutrition -- what substances go into that system -- is a major part of this field.

Two Approaches

Naturopathic treatments focus on two approaches to healing and wellness. It begins by addressing lifestyle issues that could be causing poor health, of which nutrition plays a major part. The second angle is recommending practices that support the body's natural immune and healing processes. Part of this angle is altering what the patient eats, to reduce substances that harm healing and increase those that can improve it.

Nutrition Counselling

Nutrition counselling is a major part of the naturopathic healing process. An NMD will subject a new patient to a battery of tests, some of which use surprisingly modern techniques. Based on those findings, he will recommend specific changes to the diet. At this phase, most patients will recognize the suggestions of their NMDs. It will closely mirror much of the nutrition advice they get from personal trainers, health authors and the USDA.

Healing and Nutrition

Supporting your body's healing processes begins with the same nutrition counselling that comprises much of the lifestyle advice received from an NMD. Reducing sugars and increasing intake of vitamin C and zinc alone can greatly improve how quickly you recover from illness and injury. An NMD might also recommend taking one or more herbal dietary supplements -- specific traditional remedies that can help the body fight many chronic ailments.

Cautions

Naturopathic nutrition makes extensive use of herbal remedies. Herbal treatments are not as closely regulated as drug treatments in the United States. The most serious concern about this status is the possibility of drug interactions. Be certain to let both your MD and your NMD know about all the pharmaceuticals and herbal treatments you are taking. Otherwise, you risk potentially disastrous effects from the combination of incompatible active ingredients.