The Naturopathic Way With The CNM

By Lynnette Prigmore

 
What is a Naturopath?
A naturopath is a fully trained health professional that integrates the knowledge of western science with the practice of natural medicine to promote optimal health in clients. A naturopath works on the principles that prevention is better than cure, that there is always an underlying cause to a disease and that nature has its own innate ability to heal itself if given the right conditions. A naturopath is able to use many natural, non-toxic and gentle therapies to promote a state of wellness within a client. These therapies may or may not include nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, detoxification, massage, flower essences and acupuncture.
 
 
The origins of Naturopathy
The principles of naturopathy were first used by the Hippocratic School of Medicine in about 400B.C. The famous Greek philosopher Hippocrates believed in viewing the whole person in regards to finding a cause of disease and using the laws of nature to induce cure. It was from this original school of thought that Naturopathy takes its principles. These principles are as follows:
 
  1. The healing power of nature- that nature has the innate ability to heal itself if given the right circumstances
  2. Identify and treat the cause- that there is always an underlying cause, be it physical, mental or emotional
  3. First do no harm- a naturopath will never use treatments that may create other conditions
  4. Treat the whole person- all aspects of a person’s being is taken in to consideration when preparing a treatment plan
  5. The physician as teacher- a naturopath will try empower a client to take responsibility for their own health, and teach them ways to care for their own wellbeing
  6. Prevention is better that cure- a naturopath may remove toxic substances and situations from a person’s lifestyle to prevent the onset of further disease.
 
What does a treatment consist of?
An initial consult with a naturopath normally takes about an hour. During this time the naturopath will ask questions on the person’s condition, their medical history, their diet and lifestyle and any conventional treatments that they may be taking. The consulting naturopath may then use iridology (looking in to the iris), or tongue and nail diagnosis to get a better picture of the complete health state of the client. If needed, pathology testing such as hair, stool or blood analysis may be recommended.
 
Once all of the information is gathered, a treatment plan is formulated that looks at all areas of the person’s life, to enable the body to have the optimum chance to heal itself. The treatment plan may include advice on diet, lifestyle, exercise, herbal medicine, homeopathic treatments or other suitable remedies. A naturopath may also refer the client to other practitioners to go for an integrated health care approach.
 
Where can I train as a Naturopath?
The College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) is one of the UK’s largest naturopathic training providers and runs Diploma and Degree courses in Naturopathy and Naturopathic Nutrition, as well as Homeopathy, Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. The CNM first opened in England in May 1998 when Hermann Keppler (CNM Principal) and his wife Nicole moved from Germany to England. Hermann also had been running colleges in Germany for 15 years prior to this and at that time was a practicing Homeopath and Naturopath. He now focuses the majority of his time and knowledge on ways to improve the CNM, although he does still practice on a smaller level. The CNM is dedicated to training successful and qualified practitioners and its courses are fully recognised by the relevant regulating bodies. With 12 colleges in the UK, Ireland and recently opened Dubai, there really is no better or more established college to train if you are looking to become a Naturopath. For more information or to receive a prospectus, please call: 01342 410505, email: info@naturopathy-uk.com or view: www.naturopathy-uk.com