What Is A Naturopath?
Naturopathy is a system of primary health care that is based on a philosophy that distinguishes it from current mainstream or orthodox medical practice. The goal of naturopathic practice is to treat any underlying disorders and to seek the cause of illness as well as to restore normal body function by enhancing the body’s own inherent healing abilities.
Today more than ever, many people are looking for a more natural medicine and holistic approach to health-care. The more enlightened person is looking for a CAUSE of their health problems, not just a treatment for symptoms, an approach many are all too familiar with when it comes to seeing a health care professional.
Please be clear that Eric is not recommending against use of pharmaceutical drugs. Rather, he asserts that “the best medicine” first addresses the causes. Drugs are should only be used as a last resort if addressing the causes does not produce the desired clinical results or patient safety requires transient use. According to Dr. Joseph Pizzorno, a founder of Bastyr University: “The only cure for the health care system is to address causes, not only symptoms.”
The naturopathic physician views symptoms of disease as warning signals of improper functioning of the body and unfavourable lifestyle habits. Knowing this, you can appreciate why treatments are individualised to each person. The cause has to be found if possible and dealt with, whether it be structural, nutritional or emotional.
When Eric was practicing as a naturopath, he was committed to delivering to our patients the highest quality natural medicine care, using a holistic, preventative and educational approach to empower people to achieve and maintain their optimal health, wellness and vitality.
Eric retired from clinical practice in 2019 but remains active online through his You Tube channel and many websites, including this website.
In Australia and New Zealand, there does not appear to be a singular definition of the philosophies that underpin naturopathic practice, but essential to most is the unshakeable belief in the healing power of nature that is, living systems have an inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health.
The role of the Naturopath is thus to recognise and remove barriers or impediments to the healing process. Naturopathy can provide people with the tools to take charge of their health and well-being and offers the best hope of preventing some of most serious and life-threatening diseases.
Because naturopathy deals with the whole person, encompassing both physical and social-emotional issues, it is the most effective prevention for lifestyle-related diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, which rate as this country’s three biggest killers.
Whereas conventional Western medicine tends to deal with physical complaints only, often in isolation, naturopathy takes in complete physical condition plus lifestyle factors such as nutrition and exercise and emotional or stress concerns.
In the last twenty years, public desire for greater control in the health care process and a growing dissatisfaction with high tech solutions to health problems has renewed interest in the natural methods of preventive health care. This trend has increased demand for naturopathic services as people seek ways to improve their health, cope with day-to-day stresses and avoid illness.
Your health, vitality and well being permeate every aspect of your life, not just your physical body, but particularly the quality and quantity of your life. By providing a holistic, less invasive and more natural health system, naturopathic medicine holds the enormous potential to change people’s lives for the better.