When it comes to natural non-invasive treatments, there are two scopes of fields in which you can enter: homeopathy and naturopathy.
While they are similar in their approach, many differences separate their approach to treating patients. Understanding the key fundamentals, particularly the philosophies behind each and the methods of treatment, can help you choose which one is best for you.
Naturopathic and Homeopathic Philosophies
While they might be different in many ways, they have similar philosophies in which they approach patients. Having an understanding of the key foundations can make a massive difference to your overall experience.
Naturopathic Philosophy Foundations
There are six distinct principles of naturopathic:
- The Healing Power of Nature: This is based on the belief that the body has an inherent tendency toward health. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) aim to remove obstacles blocking the path towards healing.
- First Do No Harm: This refers to minimizing the risk of the side-effects of the treatment. The idea is to use as little force as possible and work with the patient and where they’re at in their healing process.
- Identify and Treat the Cause: While treating the symptoms is crucial, it is about seeking out and removing the sickness’s root cause.
- Doctor as Teacher: NDs should take the time to teach their patients about their bodies and how they can aid in their health and recovery, including diet and lifestyle choices.
- Treat the Whole Person: It is not just about the body; it is about the mind and spirit. Everything that impacts the health of the individual (environmental, social and genetic) should be treated.
- Prevention of Illnesses: A key factor of naturopathy is that prevention is the best form of medicine. Reducing risk factors that impact the sickness is ultimately the best course of action for patients.
Homeopathic Philosophy Foundations
Homeopathic philosophy has four major foundational components:
- The Law of Similars: Homeopathy is based on the concept “that a drug capable of producing morbid symptoms in a healthy person will cure similar symptoms by the disease”.
- The Minimum Dose: A similar approach to naturopathy, this philosophy believes that the best medicine is the least invasive, and therefore, the most effective cure.
- The Single Remedy: As opposed to pharmaceutical medicine, homeopathy provides a single remedy or approach for a cure. It is also called “similimum” and is considered the ultimate cure for people.
- The Provings: Provings are detailed notes on the patients’ mental, physical and spiritual state. These provings are then used as indications and are part of the treatment of the case.
Method of Treatment
In regards to the method of treatment, this is how both are applied to their patients:
With homeopathic practitioners, you can expect:
- Intake procedures discussing a patient’s health history, the health history of their family and lifestyle choices, particularly diet, activity and environment
- After diagnosing the treatment, homeopathic practitioners will treat symptoms with a simple remedy (following their philosophy above)
- Homeopathic medicine can include plants and minerals
At naturopathic clinics, you can expect:
- Similar intakes form discussing history, lifestyle and conditions.
- Medicine will include all sorts of alternative and general medical tools. This can consist of botanical and physical medicine, hydrotherapy, diet and nutrition, therapy, exercise and lifestyle counselling.
The Overlap
One key factor that has to be acknowledged is some naturopathic practitioners, such as the experts at The Inner Wellness, can use homeopathy as one of its many tools to treat patients. Homeopathic doctors tend to just stick to their own foundations to help people.
Therefore, you might experience both sets of treatments when visiting a practitioner that is an expert in both fields.
Most importantly, seeking treatment is your best choice. If pharmaceutical medicine is not helping you with your treatment, then it seeking an alternative, natural route can be the best course of action.