Side Effects of Naturopathic Remedies
Natural Medicine
Naturopathy is a form of medicine and treatment that uses all-natural treatments. There are different methods of treatment, and each uses the power of nature to heal the entire body. The practice focuses on healing the physical body, mental awareness, emotions, genetic problems, environment caused issues, and social concerns.
Basic methods of natural medicine include:
- Acupuncture
- Color therapy
- Herbal medicine
- Homeopathy
- Hydrotherapy
- Meditation
- Reflexology
There are many natural remedies that have been studied to help relaxation and stress relief, which in general relieving stress has been proven to help aid and strengthen the immune system. Natural medicine is not 100 percent proven effective on all illnesses and conditions, but there are many practitioners who swear by natural treatment.
If you have a severe illness or you think that you have a more advanced case, it is always advised that you seek medical treatment from a conventional doctor. Naturopathic practitioners will advise you to do the same, as they believe that one should do no harm, which includes aiding symptoms that they can suppress but also referring a chronic patient to other forms of treatment to help the body and patient.
Natural treatments are, in general, safer and healthier for the body, but sometimes you may need to explore other forms of treatment, depending on your case.
Side Effects of Natural Medicine
Naturpathic medicine is an alternative form of medicine and treatment that is best when used in conjunction with other conventional medicines, versus as a sole substitute treatment. With this in mind, you will find that there are fewer side effects with natural medicine than with conventional medicine, but there are risks of drug interaction and improper knowledge and training of your practitioner.
Because most naturopathic medicines involve some use of an herbal supplement, you need to watch out for what other medications you are using, as some herbs will interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications. If you decide to try herbal treatments in conjunction with any prescription medications, you want to make sure that your natural practitioner and your conventional doctor both know what your plans are. You want to make sure that there aren't going to be any complications from drug interactions.
Make sure that you check ingredients and verify dosages, as not all brands and bottles will have the same concentration of the active ingredient.
Some of the natural diets that involve restrictive guidelines, may not be ideal for your body or illness, which is why if you've decided that a complete diet change is what you want to try, you need to consult your conventional doctor first. The last thing that you want to do is to worsen your health.
Natural medicines can benefit some illnesses like arthritis, asthma, skin problems, high blood pressure, infections, fatigue, and depression, but you want to make sure that whatever form of treatment that you opt to try is going to be safe for you and not anyone else. You and your body is your main concern.
Typically, those people who try natural medicines have already tried most conventional treatments, and want to try everything, but the treatment is not the only thing that should be researched. You really need to keep in mind that not all practitioners have proper knowledge or experience, and you should do your research before choosing a naturopathic practitioner because all-natural treatments and medications are not subject to the same regulations as conventional medicine.
Guide to Naturopathy
Disclaimer: Please be aware that the advice in
this article should in no way replace that of a licensed physician. If
you have any questions, you want to consult your
doctor so that you can get treatment options.