Why is the patient ill?
A Naturopath treats the whole person
to restore health, taking into consideration the physical, mental/emotional and
circumstantial/environmental factors. The Naturopath will refer to all of these in order
to diagnose and treat any condition, and concentrates
on the patient’s state of health and not
the symptoms of disease. In other words, the Naturopath is more interested in why a patient is ill. How often do we fail to ask
why am I sick, what is the cause? Instead, we receive powerful drugs. But in Naturopathic teachings, you cannot treat
toxicity with toxicity.
Internal cleansing is often the cure
Much of the work of the Naturopath
today lays in resolving body toxicity from un-excreted metabolic wastes, chemical
pollution by industry (of the air, food and water) and drugs. Detox programmes are central
to the quest for health and self-healing. This is achieved by supervised fasting (no food
intake other than water), restricted dietary regimen such a juices of vegetables, fruit or
grains, and intestinal herbal cleaning preparations such as Dr Gray’s Intestinal
cleansing programme. Most often no further treatment is needed when a thorough cleansing
programme of the bowel, liver, kidneys, lungs and skin have been undertaken.
A young man in his mid twenties
suffered from severe eczema all his life which ointments, lotions, steroid drugs failed to
cure. He was offered a restricted diet of natural organic brown rice and mung beans by a
Naturopath. These two foods have a strong cleansing
action on the blood and internal organs. Within six weeks the young man’s eczema had
disappeared. His skin was clear, he had reduced in
weight, and overcame his addiction to fried foods and chocolate.
The vital diet
 The modern refined foods, high sugar and salt diet, leads to
the other major concern for the naturopath - nutrient deficiency. Failure to eat a wide
and varied diet does not allow the body to replenish what is used in daily living. The
result: lack of energy, frequent colds and flu, insomnia and vulnerability to many chronic
conditions. The acid/alkaline balance of the blood is severely compromised with the
frequent intake of acid forming foods – tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, white refined
sugar, and meat and dairy products.
Whole-food nutrition is vital for
healthful living and for healing. The best-known nutritional cure for chronic and
degenerative diseases is the Gerson™ Therapy, but by no means the only one. Dr Max
Gerson pioneered modern nutritional healing. His therapy uses fresh organic foods and
juices to flood the body with nutrients to resolve deficiency and eliminate toxicity.
Charlotte Gerson, his daughter, continues his therapies..
How a diagnosis is made
In assessing a patient, a Naturopath
may use various diagnostic tools such as iridology, pulse readings, visual signs (face,
mouth, nails), and will also refer to conventional test results that the patient may bring
from their doctor or request certain medical tests be done.
The Naturopath will seek to identify where the cause of the disease lies. Diabetes,
for example, is a symptom, but the Naturopath, in helping to restore health may treat one
or several of the major organ systems of the body, most usually the liver, and not
necessarily the pancreas.
Catherine Nash, an IT consultant,
spent years of suffering with undiagnosed endometriosis, and was Naturopathically cured.
It took years of ‘doing the rounds’ with GP’s before she finally sought
Naturopathic help. She was given a new dietary regimen – no dairy, meat, or eggs, and
no white refined products such as pasta, white bread, and white rice, which she admits was
hard to follow in the beginning. She also had to learn to cook! Detoxification with herbs
to cleanse the liver was also offered since most gynaecological problems stem from liver
imbalance. Over the months her condition became noticeably better and she is now
completely clear of the former complaints. Catherine is studying at the London CNM –
wishing to help others in the way she was helped.
Which problems can be helped?
Conditions regularly treated by the
Naturopath include menstrual problems, adverse menopause symptoms, fibroids, polycystic
ovary syndrome, and other uterine conditions. Digestive disorders so common today such as
IBS, Candida, Crohn’s, bowel irregularity, respond remarkably well to sound
nutrition, herbal remedies and lifestyle changes. Even
headache and migraine can be banished forever under the guidance of a
Naturopath.
Diagnostic techniques of the
Naturopath:
Iridology is a traditionally favoured tool. The
eyes indicate the truth of body organ systems even before it manifests as a disease.
Visual diagnosis: the face, tongue/mouth, and
nails give indications of the conditions the patient is experiencing.
Pulse diagnosis: Used by practitioners schooled in
Chinese Medicine.
One can also diagnose through reflex zones – areas which link to various
inner organ systems.
Kinesiology, or muscle testing, is another
informative diagnostic technique.
Above all, perceptive questioning, is
essential. Patients often hold the answers to a
problem, though they may not be aware of them. The skilled practitioner listens - nothing is dismissed as
incidental.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cornelis
van Dalen has more than ten years experience as a Naturopathic practitioner. He may be
contacted on 01883 652 310 or email: CvanDalen@ukgateway.net
Links:
Association of Naturopathic
Practitioners (ANP), referral register and information
www.naturopathy-anp.com or tel: 01883
652 310
College of Naturopathic Medicine
(CNM) www.naturopathy-uk.com or info@bestcare-uk.com
NB
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