In alternative medicine, the term 'Natural Therapy' refers to an eclectic self-care system that is primarily concerned with building and restoring health through prevention techniques and healthy lifestyles. In natural therapy, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders is undertaken by the therapeutic use of natural methods and materials.
The philosophy underlying natural therapy is that all living things have an innate ability to heal. This innate ability flows through us as energy or 'vital force' and it promotes self-cleansing, self-repair and self-healing. If the path of this vital force is blocked, external symptoms appear and a 'dis-ease' is diagnosed. Once the flow of this energy is restored, good health too will be restored.
Natural therapy stipulates that the immune system, nervous system, hormonal system and detoxification pathways all work as a unit. This ensures our survival. If given proper support, care and nurture the body will find its sense of balance automatically, WITHOUT the use of medicine.
Natural therapy places a great deal of emphasis on a hands-free, non invasive approach to curing maladies. There are no magic bullets and quick fixes. Each individual will have his own unique set of symptoms. Depending upon the symptoms, the therapist decides his course of treatment. And each individual takes his own time to recover.
The goal of natural therapy is to develop optimal good health for all patients and to teach patients the principles of good health. Natural therapy is used as a complementary system of healing that adequately speeds up the body's natural ability to heal. Prevention is the ultimate goal, though therapy also includes management of symptoms.
Natural therapy usually includes a wide variety of treatment systems. Some of them are:
Clinical nutrition: Nutrition is the cornerstone of good health. Many diseases and conditions can be improved through changes in diet alone.
Herbal Medicine or Phytotherapy: Natural therapy relies very heavily on the use of medicinal herbs. Herbs are characterized by their minimal toxicity and maximum effect. Since herbs do not accumulate in the body, they also do not have any lasting ramifications. When selected properly, herbs offer safe, powerful and effective healing.
Traditional Chinese medicine: Pulse diagnosis, herbs, acupuncture, acutouch are all included in this system of medicine. Dating back to almost 3,000 years ago, this stream of medicine has recently caught a lot of attention in the West.
Body manipulation: Used in conjunction with other therapies, this treatment uses a variety of systematic movements that help heal musculoskeletal and neurological problems.
Lifestyle modification: Natural therapy places full responsibility of one's health on one's own shoulders. Treatments are based on assessing risk factors connected to the lifestyle, diet and environment of each individual. Each of these factors is considered while developing a treatment plan.
Natural therapy can assist in curing a wide variety of clinical conditions.
- Acute conditions like headaches, sore throat, asthma and allergies
- Chronic illnesses like migraine, arthritis, heart diseases and gastrointestinal diseases.
- Stress related mental and emotional problems.
- Physical injury and trauma including post-operative pain.
Different kinds of natural therapies suffered a setback because results are slow in coming. What most people do not realize is that though results may take long, the effects last a lifetime. There is usually a complete recovery from symptoms because the physician tries to boost the body's natural resistance to dis-ease and discomfort.