What naturopathy actually is
Hi there,
I am doing a course on ‘naturopathic coaching’ online - yeah, I know. But I’m loving it!
And I’d like to share my view on what naturopathy actually is - a holistic (rather than reductionist) approach to healing. Or, in other words, it views the human body as a holistic system - not as a set of separate parts to be fixed in isolation from each other. While the traditional medical approach rightly asks “what part is failing, and how can we fix it?”, the naturopathic one asks “what is this person’s lifestyle foundation, and where does it lack support?”
That said, I want to emphasise that this is not meant to be an anti-establishment piece in any way. The traditional medical system has its place - in fact, there’s no doubt that it has saved countless lives - AND I’M ALL HERE FOR IT (please read our ‘about’ page). It’s just that, for many everyday issues, a more natural approach addresses root causes more effectively than symptom management, and that’s what naturopathy is focused on.
What naturopathy is built of - ancient wisdom, rebranded
Much of what goes into naturopathy as a practice has been around for centuries; herbs, hydrotherapy, an understanding of the healing power of sunlight, movement, and nutrition - these are all ancient concepts that have stood the test of time.
The only difference is that naturopathy as a movement has recently rebranded itself as something separate from traditional medicine, when in reality, the two are better thought of as complementary approaches.
That is, in my opinion, the right way to think about the relationship between naturopathy and traditional medicine - as two separate, but closely intertwined, practices.
What that means in practice, specifically this August
The British summer is a blessing in terms of enabling a naturopathic lifestyle - there’s more natural light around (the 9 pm sunsets still surprise me sometimes!), fresh fruit and vegetables are abundant around, and it’s generally nice weather to be outside in.
So, if you allow me, in line with my general philosophy of small, sustainable changes, here are a few things I’m going to be doing myself this month:
✨ Getting natural light exposure early in the day, when possible
✨ Drinking water first thing in the morning, before any coffee or tea
✨ Eating at least one seasonal product - something that was actually available in season this month, rather than out of season
See? That’s nothing earth-shattering, really - just small things you can incorporate into day-to-day life without any major challenges.
A brief note on what this series is, and isn’t
Going forward, this newsletter will be focusing on topics related to naturopathy, herbalism, and aromatherapy (alongside folk wisdom, fibre arts, etc etc etc).
That being said, I hope you understand that I am not going to be giving medical advice in any capacity. I am not a licensed practitioner, and the whole point of naturopathy is that it’s a foundational, holistic approach, not a replacement for traditional healthcare. If something in your body is actually wrong, it probably needs to be fixed - and that’s what doctors are for.
'Twas good to see you again.
Till next time,
Lorena xx