After exploring how America’s healthcare system is broken, ineffective, and expensive, you have likely come to the realization that sick care can’t provide lasting solutions for the wellness and vitality you crave.

You probably also have come to the conclusion that mind-body medicine is more than a balancing act of brain biochemistry and that the United States’ undertreated mental health struggles won’t be fixed by a pill.

So, what’s next?

Along with providing statistics on the sad state of the nation’s healthcare system in my preceding posts, I have also given a solution:

Naturopathic and functional medicine can be incorporated into the current medical model. This can help to shift it from a transactional, acute, disease-management approach to a transformational experience that reclaims vitality and wholeness.

This mindset that utilizes holistic treatment options can be given at the individual level and expanded out into groups, communities, and into society as a whole.

In this article, I will explain how the naturopathic medicine movement can spread and how I personally will be reaching out to the global community and offering more opportunity for those who don’t have access to one-on-one holistic care.

The Naturopathic Medicine Movement is Spreading…

Unlike the current situation, there is a type of contagion that healthcare needs!

This is “catching” the mindset that the concept of health should embody principles that stress the importance of maintaining wellness, whole-person care, patient centered treatments, and patient empowerment.

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending this year’s American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) convention virtually. Although Zoom fatigued, I wasn’t sure what the world’s situation would be in July. Based on last year’s conference being more invigorating and interactive than expected from an online event, I knew I wouldn’t regret the hybrid experience.

To say I was not disappointed by these few days of immersive learning and reconnecting with colleagues is an understatement! Who knew being locked in my home office with my cat could be so exciting?

The spotlight of the 2021 AANP convention was based on “Leading with Innovation and Transformation.” I have always been impressed with how naturopathic medicine has been able to walk the fine line of staying true to its roots as it also keeps pace with modern medicine and applies the healing that is most needed in a changing society.

Modalities and methods may differ, but the implementation of what it takes to restore health in the individual, as well as honoring planetary well-being, is shared by all who took the Naturopathic Oath. The philosophies of naturopathic medicine stand firm as our guidelines. As listed on the AANP website, these principles include:

1. The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae): Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in people that is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.
2. Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam): The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.
3. First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere): Naturopathic physicians follow three guidelines to avoid harming the patient: Utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat; avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms; and acknowledge, respect, and work with individuals’ self-healing process.
4. Doctor as Teacher (Docere): Naturopathic physicians educate their patients and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.
5. Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual development.
6. Prevention: Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease by assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and by making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness. (source)

Especially relevant this year were the concepts of treating the whole person, prevention, and doctor as teacher. Integrative health providers do not portray that one is a victim of circumstances, destined to their genetic history. Rather, they believe that actions taken with lifestyle, mindset, and nurturing connections with others and their surroundings can impact wellness outcomes and change one’s epigenetic impact.

The tools that we use, including essential oils, are in alignment with our form of medicine that honors our clients’ or patients’ own unique biochemistry and healing process. Furthermore, this is often done with incorporating the best of conventional medicine.

Moving from Unrest and Uncertainty to Embracing Empowerment

The more the year of 2020 went on, the more evident it was that the mainstream approach to health had missed the mark. The importance of prevention, building resiliency, and the impact of socioeconomics, social connection, and mental health on overall vitality and our defense and repair system seemed to be given only a side glance. Wasn’t anyone curious why certain populations were so susceptible over others?

With all the uncertainty and emotional, physical, financial, societal, and political unrest the past few years brought, they also brought with it hope and possibility for a better future. Naturopathic and functional medicine doctors are trained in accounting for individual vulnerabilities and setting up personalized wellness plans to address them, yet our expertise is often overlooked. Furthermore, naturopathic medicine also holds the promise of being an agent for change in mental health as it provides resources for coping more effectively.

It’s time for the shift.

Are You Ready for the Movement?

As my post series has made evident, naturopathic medicine is set up for changing the current sick care, “healthcare” system into a holistic, integrative healing system.

People’s demand for this is getting louder and the need for it is unprecedented.

This is on an individual, environmental, and global level.

Are you ready for it?

Healthcare has to change from the inside out, but also needs the people to support the movement.

How can you join?

I am making you a promise to offer naturopathic medicine to those who don’t have access to a ND or who feel they need a little more support, but not the full one-on-one experience.

Please be on the lookout for these opportunities coming soon.

I plan on making a big announcement for a FREE opportunity coming up in the fall.

So, make sure you visit my Facebook page, join my Facebook group and/or sign up for my email list to become informed of upcoming group and online, interactive programs.

Do it now so you don’t miss out.

In the conclusion of this series, I will discuss the holistic, environmental, and global health movement that naturopathic medicine is forging.

Please share your comments below.