What is naturopathic medicine?

What is naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathic medicine (or naturopathy) is based on the belief that the body can heal itself. It aims to improve health, prevent disease, and treat illness through the use of organic foods and exercise; a healthy, balanced lifestyle; and the use of treatments from other areas of complementary medicine. (These treatments include ayurveda, homeopathy, and herbal therapies.)

Naturopathy was developed in the late 1800s in the United States. Today, both naturopathic doctors and tradition naturopaths practice naturopathic medicine. A licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) attends a 4-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical school where he or she studies basic sciences and therapies such as herbal medicine, homeopathy, and bodywork. Naturopaths may attend training programs that vary in length and content, but they usually aren't licensed.

Most naturopathic doctors and naturopaths believe in natural therapies, such as nutrition and lifestyle counseling. They tend to avoid treating with prescription medicines but may prescribe herbal medicines, homeopathic dilutions, or nutritional supplements.

What is naturopathy used for?
Some people use naturopathic medicine to promote good health, prevent disease, and treat illness. Most naturopathic doctors can treat earaches, allergies, and other common health problems.

Is naturopathy safe?
Two common concerns about naturopathy are the use of fasting and a bias against vaccines.

• Talk with your medical doctor before fasting. Fasting means not eating or drinking, or consuming only liquids for a period of time. Fasting can be dangerous, especially if you have a disease such as diabetes.
• Some naturopathic doctors and naturopaths do not believe that immunization is necessary. But you may want to protect yourself or your child by getting vaccines.

Talk with your medical doctor about any complementary health practice that you would like to try or are already using. Your medical doctor can help you manage your health better if he or she knows about all of your health practices.

Naturopathy licensing varies from state to state. Not all states require naturopathic doctors to be licensed. Also, not all naturopathic training programs are the same. Some schools grant degrees that are not accepted by state licensing boards. In the United States, the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) is the only agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit naturopathic programs and colleges.

Before you choose a naturopathic doctor, find out if the person graduated from an accredited college. Also check to see if your state has licensing laws that govern the practice of NDs. If your state licenses NDs, ask the ND if he or she is licenses. 

What to do when the flu hits home

Each year the flu may not only impact you, but also the people around you. Your first line of defense is to get a flu shot, which may reduce your risk of flu illness.

If you or a loved one experience flu symptoms such as a fever, cough or sore threat, visit your doctor or urgent care clinic right away. Get plenty of rest and take the following measures for recovery:

-Treat fever and cough with the over-the-counter medicine. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs to relieve your symptoms.

-Drink plenty of water and other clear liquids to prevent fluid loss (dehydration).

-Avoid direct contact with household members to help prevent others from getting sick

To help prevent spreading the flu:

-Wash your hands regularly
-Wipe down doorknobs, beside tables, bathroom sinks, toilets, phones and toys.
-Clean bed linens and laundry with normal laundry soap, and dry on a hot setting. Be sure to hold all dirty laundry away from your face and body.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that has been practiced for centuries. It's based on the theory that energy, called chi (say "chee"), flows through and around your body along pathways called meridians.

Acupuncturists believe that illness occurs when something blocks or unbalances your chi. Acupuncture is a way to unblock or influence chi and help it flow back into balance.

Acupuncture is done by putting very thin needles into your skin at certain points on your body. This is done to influence the energy flow. Sometimes heat, pressure, or mild electrical current is used along with needles.

What happens during acupuncture?
Your acupuncture provider will give you an exam and ask questions about your pain and how well you are functioning. He or she will also ask about your overall health.

Then your provider will look for places (called points) on your body to access the chi that is blocked or not flowing right. Each of the points relates to certain health problems or body functions.

Your provider will look for landmarks on your body - using certain muscles or bones, for example - to find the points so that he or she can place the needles.

After the provider find the points, he or she will quickly tap very thin needles into your skin. He or she will probably place several needles. Some may be placed deeper than others, depending on what the provider believes is needed to restore the flow of chi.

Every provider is different, but in most cases treatment lasts for 15 minutes to an hour. You have several visits to complete your treatment. Some people have ongoing visits.

What does it feel like?
You may feel slight pressure when a needle goes in. Most people find that it doesn't hurt. The area may tingle, feel numb, itch, or be a little sore. Providers believe that this is a sign that the energy flow, or chi, has been accessed.

After the needle is placed, your provider may roll the needle slightly back and forth. Or he or she may use heat or electrical current on the needle.

What is acupuncture used for?
People use acupuncture to relieve pain and treat certain health conditions. You can use it by itself or as part of a treatment program. Studies have found promising results for the use acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy, chemotherapy, andd postsurgery pain. Acupuncture  also may be useful for:

-Stroke rehabilitation, which involves relearning skills that a person lost because of brain damage from a stroke.

-Headache.

-Menstrual cramps.

-Tennis elbow.

-Fibromyalgia, or widespread pain and tenderness of muscle and soft tissue.

-Myofacial pain, caused by spasm in the muscle.

-Low back pain. For people who have low back pain, acupuncture may help decrease pain and increase activity. Some studies show that acupuncture reduced pain and disability related to back problems more than usual treatment.

-Carpal tunnel syndrome, or pressure on a nerve in the wrist that results in tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain of the fingers and hand.

-Asthma, or inflammation in the tubes that carry air to the lungs, resulting in periodic episodes of difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing.

-Drug addiction. Acupuncture may help reduce symptoms of withdrawal after a person stops taking a drug he or she is addicted to. It may also help prevent a relapse. More studies are needed to learn about the benefits of acupuncture.

-Dental pain.

-Labor pain.

Is acupuncture safe?
In general, acupuncture is safe when done by a certified provider. A state licensure ensures that the provider has a certain level of training and follows certain guidelines. But there are still a few states where acupunture is not licensed.

In very rare cases, problems may occur after acupunture. You could get an infection, especially if the needles aren't sterile. But licensed providers throw away their needles after one use. Make sure your provider uses a new pack of sterile needles every time.

Talk with your doctor if you have other questions about the safety of acupuncture. Always tell your doctor if you are using a treatment like acupunture.

Choosing an acupunturist
Check to see if your state licenses providers.

Many providers also may have a certificate from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. This is a nonprofit group that promotes standards in acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Ask your doctors and friends for recommendations.

You also may want to pick a provider who:

-Will work on a treatment plan with you, your doctor, and other health professionals.

-Clearly explains what he or she is doing during treatment.

-Explains how often you may need treatment and how much it will cost.