What is Naturopathy?

By Elizabeth Wright

Naturopathy is defined as “A system of health care which encourages and promotes the body’s natural self-healing mechanisms using an eclectic approach”.

It is a preventative health system focusing on identifying and eliminating the root cause of disease, not the symptoms. One of the other key principles of Naturopathic Medicine is the Vis Medicatrix Naturae (The healing power of Nature). This is the notion that, given the right conditions, the human body will self-heal and return to balance. Naturopathic practitioners treat the whole person; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. There is no distinction between the different states, and they must all be addressed to ensure abundant health.

A Naturopath is a health practitioner who applies natural therapies, and these can range from Acupuncture, Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy to Colon Hydrotherapy and BioResonance. In order to decide the best course of treatment for the individual, a range of diagnostic methods may be used. Pulse taking, iris analysis, tongue analysis and blood pressure, to name a few. These can originate from different medical systems such as TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ayurvedic (Indian Medicine) or Western; depending on the practitioner. Results and observations will be taken into account alongside a detailed case history.

Typically, a Naturopath will include more than one natural healing practice in their spectrum of treatment methods and refer the client on to other practitioners, where they do not have the knowledge themselves.

Personally, I chose to specialise in Herbal Medicine and Iridology. When I first qualified, I was based at a graduate clinic (Neal’s Yard), seeing clients for initial consultations and follow-ups. However, there are many other ways to use your qualification. Naturopaths can work with clients online or with corporate companies, educational establishments and communities. Or in my case a mixture of all. In addition to being the President of the Association of Naturopathic Practitioners, in 2019, I founded a company, iNaturopath Limited. The business focuses on working with community gardens, charities, corporates and individuals, based mainly in London and Spain. This can involve anything from consultations with clients, on a one to one basis, to running group wellbeing workshops, hosting talks, writing articles or being part of a retreat. Natural health has an important role in so many areas of life, and it’s becoming increasingly popular and in demand. There is so much potential with regards to where a career as a Naturopath can take you; it’s really up to you and what motivates and inspires you!

There are around 12 Naturopathic Principles, and the most important ones are as follows: • Vis Medicatrix Naturae - The healing power of Nature • Treat the root cause, not the symptoms • Do not harm • Treat the whole person • Naturopath as teacher; empower the client to take responsibility for their own health through systems of self-care • Prevention is better than cure

In the 1st century AD, Dioscorides (a Greek physician) wrote the first illustrated herbal medicine book known as De Materia Medica.

Brief Naturopathic History

The roots of Naturopathy can be traced back to 15,000 BC, where Shamanic rituals depicted paintings on cave walls in France outlining treatments for healing the mind and soul. In 3000-1000 BC, Ayurveda Medicine began to emerge in Ancient India. Ayur (life) and Veda (science) is a sacred medicinal system using a holistic philosophy incorporating herbs, fasts, cleansing diets, enemas and baths. In 2,700 BC Chinese Herbalism was discovered by Shen Nong.

The principles of Naturopathy were first used in the Hippocratic School of Medicine in 400BC. Hippocrates (468-377 BC) The Father of Medicine was famous for his quote “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. He also believed in treating the individual and not the disease and was famous for saying “It is more interesting to know the person who has the disease than to know the disease the person has”.

In the 1st century AD, Dioscorides (a Greek physician) wrote the first illustrated herbal medicine book known as De Materia Medica. He was a follower of Hippocrates school of thought and continued to uphold his approach to medicine. Another Greek physician, surgeon to the gladiators and personal physician to Marcus Aurelius, Claudius Galen, also adopted the Hippocratic teaching. His influence and approach lasted for many years, influencing medicine up until the middle ages. He also believed in approaching medicine with a view to balance the mental, physical and emotional states.

In the UK, Henry VIII was a huge advocate of Herbal Medicine in particular. He created The Herbalists Charter to protect herbalists from the interference of doctors of the day (mainly barbers and surgeons). The Charter still exists today and is part of English Common Law; enabling herbalists to treat clients with herbal medicine to this day.

In more recent years, there has been a wealth of influence from America and Europe; notably Germany and Austria. Significant contributors to the practice of Naturopathy include Samuel Thomson (1769-1843, USA), Dr. Edward Bach (18861936, UK), Dr. Max Gerson (1881 – 1959, Germany), Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (18521943, USA) and Dr. Bernard Jensen (1908 – 2001, USA) amongst many others.

The ANP, Naturopathic Evolution and What the Future Holds

The future for Naturopathy and Naturopathic practitioners is bright, and now more than ever, there is a need for a more natural, preventative approach to health.

In my role as President of the Association of Naturopathic Practitioners, I am very focused on supporting members to maintain high levels of competence through ongoing training as well as promoting Naturopathy and Natural Therapies to the wider public. We are the largest Naturopathic Association in the UK and Ireland and work closely with other professional associations, the government and like-minded groups to ensure that natural therapies are more widely available, accessible and protected for generations to come.

Despite recent challenges with the ongoing pandemic, we have been very focused on delivering against the main goals for the ANP in 2020 and beyond. Amongst many things, we have been working to:

• Increase our political presence and defend practitioners and their work.

• Petitioning on behalf of members; protecting the rights and freedoms of practitioners and the people who need to see them.

• Encourage our members to act at key political and social moments.

• Ensure Naturopathic health is available in the workplace; working with employee insurance schemes and NHS initiatives.

• Launching and scaling a mentoring scheme for our members to make sure they are supported post-graduation and throughout their careers.

• Providing an increased level of training and support via our online

CPD portal. • Relaunching our practitioner directory; enabling the public to search for a relevant practitioner in their area with ease.

It is so important that the general public are aware of the options that are available to them via natural therapies and our practitioners, and the communication from the ANP is vital in achieving this. Modern medicine is incredible for treating acute emergencies, but is challenged when it comes to dealing with chronic disease; an illness that has developed over time. I’ll be forever grateful for the doctors who saved my dad when he had meningitis, but in our modern society, chronic disease is rife, and there has to be another approach. This is largely due to the increase in stress and changes in our environment. The world is changing. We’re living a lot longer, and disease is manifesting itself in different ways due to the different threats we face in the modern age. In particular, stress, chemicals, modern technology and pollution. Pharmaceuticals alone are unable to deal with this. Longer life is great, but it should be a long life that is free from disease as far as is possible and optimise health and vitality.

If you’re able to gain more of an understanding of your own disposition and health, so you can look at potential areas where you may need support, even better. Start with the basics, and if you can also incorporate naturopathic methods and medicinal herbs into your life, all the better. Herbs, in particular, have a faster, deeper acting response on the body and are invaluable when it comes to treating chronic, long-term disease - something which is rife in our society and largely unsupported by pharmaceuticals.

Ayurveda Five elements and three doshas

Ether Vata

Air

Fire

Pitta Kapha

Water Earth

To find out more about the work we’re doing at the ANP or to become a member please visit our site here at www.theanp.co.uk Elizabeth Wright

Elizabeth is extremely passionate about Herbal Medicine and Naturopathy, having used both modalities to improve and optimise her own health. After 15 years of working in highly pressurised roles in the marketing and tech industry, at companies such as Estée Lauder, Burberry and Facebook, she knew it was time to make a change.

Having always had a keen interest in plants, nature and working with people, her ambition was to work with others to support them in improving the quality of their lives and finding sustainable balance. In 2013 she decided to retrain and turn her interests into a career.

Elizabeth graduated with a Diploma in Herbal Medicine and Naturopathy in 2017. Since then, she has gone on to complete further study in Iridology and Ayurvedic Medicine.

In addition to her role as President of the ANP, in 2018 she set up her own company, iNaturopath. The business is focused on delivering a personalised, plant-based approach to natural healing, working one to one with individuals, charities and corporations.

Elizabeth believes strongly in working with a personalised approach; taking the time and care to understand exactly where clients need support, in terms of holistic health and the goals they would like to achieve.