Holistic Health Practices/Part 28

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What is naturopathy?

Naturopathy is an approach to health and disease which assumes that natural methods of treatment are preferable to synthetic treatments such as drugs and surgery. Naturopathy is based on the idea that illness is due to an accumulation of toxins or waste products in the body. Physical symptoms are the body’s attempt to rid itself of these toxins.

The basic problem with naturopathy is that its methods are characteristically ineffective when confronting serious illness, and its bias against modern medicine only compounds the problem. Further, the definition of “natural” is frequently subjective; “natural” treatment may include the methods of occultic medicine. Here, naturopathy employs a wide range of New Age treatments having occultic potential such as radionics, homeopathy, meditation, and yoga.

Thus, naturopathy may inhibit correct diagnosis of a problem, permitting a curable illness to assume serious or incurable proportions; it may also offer ineffective treatments and involve clients in occultic methods. Nevertheless, with theoretical revision and practical safeguards, naturopathy could function as a commendable model for preventive health care and treatment of minor ailments. However, Christian enthusiasts should exercise caution; naturopathy as a whole is part of New Age medicine.

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