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