Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Naturopathic Treatment - A Post Cancer Alternative To Restore Overall Health

By Stephen Daniels

Naturopathic medical practitioners, whether working with cancer or any other types of illness, have the fundamental belief that this form of medicine is an art, a science, and a philosophy. It is a practice of diagnosis, treatment and the prevention of future illness. These healers believe in the premise that the human body has an innate ability to heal itself, so they treat the whole body, rather than just the sick portions.

Naturopathic practitioners don't only treat disease - their goal is to restore health to the individual. To this end, they develop customized holistic treatment plans that combine what they feel to be the best of modern medical science and traditional natural approaches. Often, patients may choose to see a naturopath after their disease has been treated by a conventional physician. Once health is restored, future treatments will center on maintenance of health.

Most people are aware that conventional cancer treatments like surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and nuclear medicine are very hard on a patient's body. Cancer is especially frightening because, while the disease itself causes much pain and suffering, the treatment is often so painful, expensive, and debilitating, sometimes making the patient feel worse than the disease itself.

Increasingly, those who are undergoing traditional cancer treatment turn to naturopathic care for additional support. Fear of chemotherapy's side effects as well as pain and disfigurement from surgery, and unknown effects of radiation therapy, is helping to foster greater interest in natural remedies such as herbs, nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle adjustments both to prevent this illness and to restore patients to health after a conventional course of cancer treatments have been completed.

While conventional medical practitioners focus on eliminating the cancer disease by destroying the tumor, naturopaths will try to find what is causing the growth. Until the cause of the illness is identified and eradicated, true optimal health for the patient cannot be achieved.

Much of the population has increasing skepticism regarding the artificial medications that are so heavily advertised and prevalent throughout conventional medical practices. Treatment of the body as a whole, the fundamental tenet of naturopathy, is a logical and appealing idea. As people embrace the concept of holistic medicine as a way to live a longer, healthier life, demand for natural treatments is increasing significantly.

Naturopaths use many different ways to gain an accurate picture of an individual's overall health. One highly advanced biofeedback testing technique is called Autonomic Response Testing (ART). This method utilizes hands-on techniques along with high-tech Signal Enhancers and a polarization filter to give clearer feedback from the body. Diifferent areas of the body including the tissues and psychology of an individual are investigated to assess levels of health and illness.

Practitioners of naturopathic medicine work to create a full body treatment plan that recognizes each individual's unique physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, sexual and spiritual makeup. It is the interaction, or mis-interaction of all these components of the human body that allows wellness, or creates disease in the body.

Natural post cancer treatment plans may include any or all of the following components: nutrition, botanical (flowers and herbs) medicine, homeopathy, classical Chinese medicine, hydrotherapy, manipulative therapy, environmental medicine and minor surgery. The naturopath will try to address whatever is required to treat the entire body, boost the immune system and treat the patient on a mental and emotional level as well, with the long term goal of enhancing the patient's overall energy, well-being, and quality of life. - 14130

About the Author:

No comments: