Philosophy of Healing
Naturopathic medicine differs
from conventional medicine in many ways. Both Licensed Naturopaths and
medical doctors have extensive post graduate training focusing on the basic
sciences: Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, immunology,
pharmacology etc. After mastering these studies conventional doctors focus
on hospital training in medicine, while Naturopathic students learn about
alternative therapies and do their clinical training in Naturopathic clinics
as well as conventional medical clinics. Both are licensed and regulated
by medical boards.
The major difference comes
with the philosophy of Naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic philosophy is
defined by the following beliefs:
1. To first do no harm, any
treatment used should have the least negative impact while achieving the
highest level of benefit for the patient.
2. The healing power of nature.
A belief that the natural world offers cures to illness in the form of
plant medicines, homeopathic preparations, natural healing modalities such
as manipulation, acupuncture etc. This also encompasses the belief that
the human body can cure itself if obstacles to that natural healing process
are removed. This philosophy provokes us to use treatments that augment
the body's natural defenses rather than override them with powerful medications.
3. Treat the whole person.
Viewing illness as something which affects us on many interrelated levels,
mentally, emotionally, spiritually as well as physically. Understanding
that each part of us is related and interconnected with the whole being
and that what affects one part affects the other parts as well.
4. Doctor as teacher, teaching
our patients how to live, to make changes that have long term benefits
so that our patients achieve the ability to maintain a healthy, balanced
state of being.
5. Prevention, the highest
form of cure. The best medicine is to recognize and prevent disease. Naturopaths
go beyond conventional medicine in utilizing in depth interviews and unique
methods of assessment to identify trends towards disease. Often problems
such as minor nutritional deficiencies and lifestyle choices can be corrected
so that problems never manifest.
6. Find the cause of the illness.
The goal of Naturopathic medicine is to treat the cause, not just the effects
of illness. For instance if a patient suffers from osteoporosis it is not
enough to give that patient a calcium supplement, but to analyze why the
problem occurred. The answer may be in poor diet, absorption problems due
to digestive disturbance, interference with absorption from medication
side effects, biochemical abnormalities or some other reason. When the
underlying problem is corrected it results in a true cure.
Doctor Orlowski embraces the
philosophy of Naturopathic medicine. She also has a master’s degree in
Traditional Chinese medicine which focuses on establishing balance in people
through acupuncture and other healing techniques which enjoy a five thousand
year history. In her opinion, we are holistic beings. We are not a collection
of separate, disconnected parts, a heart, lungs and muscles; every part
of our bodies is interconnected with the rest or our body. Anything that
we do to any part of that body affects every other part in some way. Beyond
this we are not just flesh, body, mind and spirit we have many levels,
each of these levels of being are interconnected and affect each other.
Our health care must reflect this multi-dimentiality.
Doctor Orlowski combines her
knowledge of many alternative healing therapies with use of the Cranial
Rhythmic Assessment, (CRA) in order to “communicate,” with her patient’s
higher selves to achieve the highest level of healing. Her goal is to help
her patients achieve physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being
so that they can achieve self actualization.
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