Naturopathic medicine practiced in psychological illnesses
Naturopathic medicine doesn't addresses health issues of the body without looking at the mind, nor does it treat psychological problems without addressing physical issues. Psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive behavior can come from or be aggravated by problems such as liver congestion, heavy metal toxicity or lack of essential fatty acids in the diet.
While allopathic doctors are quick to prescribe antidepressants to balance brain chemistry and up the serotonin levels, naturopathic medicine looks at the wider picture to determine if there are bodily or nutrition imbalances that could be the source of the problem.
The approach of naturopathic medicine could be untraditional, using modalities like acupuncture, light therapy or hypnotherapy to promote mental ease. Doctors of naturopathic medicine also know that emotional distress is not an isolated problem, but rather interconnected with the rest of the body. It can lead to physical illness and vice versa.
Naturopathic medicine doesn't just advocate the use of one cure to heal on a psychological level but rather uses a mix of modalities to create emotional, mental and physical balance. Counseling could be mixed with nutritional balancing and stress management techniques like biofeedback therapy.
Naturopathic medicine provides the most comprehensive response to the growing problem of psychological illness among Americans. It offers a multitude of integral solutions that support drug-free, life long mental health.
Use of biofeedback therapy in naturopathic medicine
Biofeedback therapy teaches patients to control their own biorhythms. By learning to control physiological functions such as heart rate, muscle tension, and brain waves, biofeedback can be an effective stress reducing treatment for many psychological disorders includes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
While patients diagnosed with ADHD are traditionally are treated with Ritalin and Adderall, some people can't tolerate or don't benefit from these stimulant drugs. The patients helped by the drugs do not get relief without paying a price.
Side effects from Ritalin and Adderall include sleep problems, weight loss, jitters, and stomach upset. For those with no side effects there is concern about the ramifications of long term use. Naturopathic medicine offers gentler solutions without the side effects.
"A new study, published in the December issue of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, indicates that ADHD kids who had weekly sessions of biofeedback therapy for a year were able to reduce or eliminate their medication and maintained the same level of improvement in focus and concentration as when they had been on drug therapy." (my.webmd.com/content/article/57/66030.htm?z=1728_00000_1000_ln_04)
The approach of naturopathic medicine to depression
It is hard to heal when you are down. Depression is perhaps one of the most debilitating health issues because it suppresses immune function, kills motivation and slows momentum to get better. While antidepressant drugs are useful for lifting people out of a slump and getting them back on track to feeling good and helping themselves, it is a band aid cure for most people. It addresses the symptoms instead of the underlying problem.
The approach of naturopathic medicine to treating depression is to change the underlying patterns in a patient's life that brought about the depression. This approach can address imbalances or attitudes and thus prevent relapse in the future.
Practitioners of naturopathic medicine are likely to support hypnotherapy treatment for depression with cognitive and behavioral therapy to consciously root the work done on the subconscious level. Often a naturopath will also support these psychological treatments with physical ones such a herbs, dietary changes and acupuncture.
Many plant substances are powerful medicines. Where single chemically-derived drugs may only address a single problem, botanical medicines are able to address a variety of problems simultaneously. Their organic nature makes botanicals compatible with the body's own chemistry; hence, they can be gently effective for treating depression with few toxic side effects.
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