Unit 5: Naturopathy

The art of modern naturopathy is to be able to blend advances in modern medicine with ancient traditions. Science is beginning to prove what the ancient Eastern medical traditions have been teaching for centuries. This unit aims to bring the science of Western medicine and the ancient Eastern knowledge together in the hope that practitioners can truly understand how to help their patients.

In this unit you will learn about the early history of naturopathy (early pioneers and influencers, different schools of thought, the rise and fall of naturopathy), naturopathy today, the therapeutic order, naturopathic philosophy (mechanism/reductionism), the vitalistic approach, the cause of disease, the microzyme theory of Antoine Bechamp, a healthy terrain, the role of other therapies such as Ayurveda, homeopathy etc. in naturopathy, naturopathic detoxification, naturopathic nutrition theory (stress, electrolyte balance, acute and chronic eliminations), naturopathic case-taking, naturopathic techniques (linseed tea, skin brushing, hot and cold showers, hot rubbing, Epsom salt baths, castor oil packs, enemas, water enemas, Aloe Vera enemas, Chamomile enemas, magnesium enema, flaxseed tea enemas, coffee enemas, liver and Gall Bladder flush, infra-red saunas), the healing crisis and the definition of functional medicine.                     

A naturopath will give and suggest the least possible to bring the body back into balance. Unless we understand the healing power of nature, and the natural laws that we have learnt from Eastern medicine, we will always struggle to understand what our client needs in order to be able to return to health.

Naturopathy Course 

Units: 1
Study Hours: 100
Credits: 10
Time: Estimated 2 months (timing up to you)
Enrolment period: 4 months (with option to extend)
Books: Purchased separately
Certification: Certificate in Naturopathy
Study Options: E-learning (online) or Correspondence (paper)

Aims of the course

• To understand the history of naturopathy and the many disciplines that have merged together to form it
• To understand the philosophy that underpins naturopathic practice
• To understand how naturopaths view disease and the progression of disease
• To appreciate how the body works as one unit and how structural changes, diet, lifestyle and emotional stressors all combine to create disease symptoms.
• To learn simple naturopathic techniques and when to use them in practice

Naturopathy has become an amalgamation of different disciplines, all of which aim to treat the body naturally and respect and acknowledge the vital energy in the body. Although the therapies differ, the underlying message of promoting health and supporting the body’s own healing processes runs through them all. They are: healthy living, natural diet, detoxification, exercise, physical therapy and mental, emotional and spiritual healing, all using natural therapeutic agents. The schools of thought that influenced naturopathy include hydrotherapy, nature cure, eclectic school of medicine, the hygienic system, autotoxicity, homeopathic medicine, herbal medicine, osteopathy and chiropractic, exercise and spirituality.

Why study Naturopathy?

An understanding of Naturopathy provides an insight in to disease symptoms that few other disciplines can match. Not only does it provide knowledge of what the body is trying to achieve with its myriad of symptoms that health practitioners are continually confronted with, but it also provides simple answers in the form of dietary and lifestyle changes together with naturopathic techniques. Learning naturopathy gives you the tools to fully understand your clients’ symptoms and how to help them return to improved health.

Contents

1. Introduction 

2. History of Naturopathy 
Early history 
Early Pioneers and Influencers of Naturopathy 
Different schools of thought 
The rise and fall of naturopathy 
Research project 

3. Naturopathy today
The Therapeutic Order 

4. Naturopathic Philosophy: Part 1
Mechanism (Reductionism)
The Vitalistic Approach 

5. Naturopathic Philosophy Part 2: The Disease Process The Cause of Disease
The Microzyme theory of Antoine Bechamp
A Healthy Terrain 

6. Naturopathic Philosophy: Part 3: Movement of Disease Ayurveda
Five Element Theory (TCM)
Greek/Unani Medicine
Tibetan Medicine
Homeopathy & Hering’s Law of Cure
Homotoxicology and Disease Evolution 
Naturopathy and Detoxification 

7. Naturopathic Nutrition Theory
Learning objectives
Stress 
Electrolyte balance
Acute and Chronic Eliminations 

8. Naturopathic case taking
Learning objectives  

9. Naturopathic Techniques
Learning objectives
Linseed Tea (also known as flaxseed tea) 
Skin brushing 
Hot and cold showers 
Hot tubbing 
Epsom salt bath 
Castor Oil packs 
Enemas 
Water enemas 
Aloe Vera enema 
Chamomile enema 
Magnesium enema 
Flaxseed tea enema
Coffee enema 
Liver and Gall Bladder flush 
Infra-red saunas 
Healing Crisis 

10. Functional Medicine and Conclusion
Functional Medicine
Conclusion 

Assessment Questions