Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Frequently Asked Questions
12. What is naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathy originated in Europe, but it also includes ancient and modern therapies from other traditions. Naturopathy attempts to help the body heal itself, and naturopaths consider a person's physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, and social circumstances when evaluating treatment. The emphasis is on supporting health rather than fighting disease.
Practitioners of naturopathy prefer to use treatment approaches that they consider to be the most natural and least invasive, relying on methods other than standard medications and surgery. They focus on changes in diet and lifestyle and on preventing disease, together with CAM therapies such as herbs and massage.
