5 questions you need to ask your naturopath about natural remedies

Naturopathy is an alternative form of medicine that is fast gaining in popularity because it takes a holistic view of an individual s health and works with natural substances to correct health problems. Naturopaths make use of natural remedies that are obtained from plant, animal and mineral sources. When you consult a naturopath for your health issue, it is important you get a few ideas clear by asking for relevant information. So, here are 5 basic questions you need to ask your naturopath about natural remedies

What form of treatment will you use to help me?

Naturopathy involves the use of different methodologies. Some of these are cures based on the use of herbs and homeopathic medicines; others are techniques such as massage, acupuncture or chiropractic adjustment. Often, a naturopath will also advise a change in lifestyle to ensure adequate nutrition, regular exercise and mental relaxation. The ultimate purpose is to heal the individual at all the affected levels physical, mental and spiritual. (Read: How diabetes can be treated with naturopathy)

Do I need to modify my diet?

Naturopathy places a lot of emphasis on a healthy diet that is rich in vegetables and fruits to provide the body with essential vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and phytoconstituents with antioxidant properties. The diet of most people today cannot really be called healthy because it includes more of processed or junk foods and less of healthy natural foods. So, it is quite likely that your naturopath will recommend some change in your eating habits. Equally important, some foods may interfere with the effectiveness of the herbal or homeopathic remedies the naturopath prescribes. Therefore, it is important to know what to eat and what to avoid to derive the maximum benefits from your naturopathic therapy. (Read:What to expect at the naturopath s office)

Can I continue with my allopathic medicines while on naturopathy?

If you are new to naturopathy, it may be difficult to immediately place your trust solely in this form of treatment. So, you may feel the urge to continue with your allopathic medicines even as you experiment with naturopathy. Here, it is important to understand that herbs and homeopathic remedies may interact with your allopathic medicines in such a way as to result in either a lowering of their effectiveness or outright toxicity. Therefore, speak openly with your naturopath and take his or her advice about whether you can continue with your allopathic medicines when on naturopathic remedies. (Read:World Heart Day 2014: How Naturopathy can give your heart a helping hand)

How long will it take for me to fully recover?

Naturopathy is a form of treatment that seeks to administer healing of the root cause of any health problem, not merely reduce the symptoms. Therefore, it is quite likely that the healing process may take a few days or weeks or even months depending on the severity of the health problem. Also, since each person is different and responds differently to a given form of treatment, there may be individual differences in the rate of recovery. Accustomed as we are to the rapid relief provided by allopathic medications, waiting for days and weeks for our condition to improve can cause us to lose faith in the healing potential of naturopathic remedies. Knowing well in advance about the recovery period can help us stay committed to the treatment regimen and also understand when we ought to question the efficacy of the treatment.

Will there be any side effects using natural remedies?

The general concept that most people have is that because naturopathy uses natural remedies, there will be absolutely no side effects. However, this is not exactly true in the absolute sense. Some herbs can cause certain side effects and some homeopathic remedies cause an initial aggravation of the health problem before it begins to clear up. Having information about what to expect helps you stay mentally prepared and alert to deal with such effects.

As researchers are increasingly discovering, many ailments have multiple layers to them. Therefore, they need to be treated with different methods medicines, physical techniques and mental relaxation. Naturopathy is a form of healing that uses this as its basic principle and works at different levels depending on the particular health problem to be addressed. Getting clear information about these principles can help increase your trust in this healing process and this, in turn, plays a role in helping you get the maximum benefits of the therapy. (Read:How to cope with cancer the naturopathy way)

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