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Naturopathic Medicine
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Naturopathic Medicine is a distinctively natural approach to health and healing that recognizes the integrity of the whole person. Naturopathic Medicine is heir to the vitalistic tradition of medicine in the Western world, emphasizing the treatment of disease through the stimulation, enhancement, and support of the inherent healing capacity of the person. Methods of treatments are chosen to work with the patient's vital force, respecting the intelligence of the natural healing process.

The practice of Naturopathic Medicine emerges from six underlying principles of healing. These principles are based on the objective observation of the nature of health and disease, and are continually reexamined in light of scientific analysis. It is these principles that distinguish the profession from other medical approaches:

1) The healing power of nature. vis medicatrix naturae

The body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent; nature heals through the response of the life force. The physician's role is to facilitate and augment this process, to act to identify and remove obstacles to health and recovery, and to support the creation of a healthy internal and external environment.

2) Identify and treat the cause. tolle causam

Illness does not occur without cause. Underlying causes of disease must be discovered and removed or treated before a person can recover completely from illness. Symptoms are expressions of the body's attempt to heal, but are not the cause of disease. Symptoms, therefore, should not be suppressed by treatment. Causes may occur on many levels including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The physician must evaluate fundamental underlying causes on all levels, directing treatment at root causes rather than at symptomatic expression.

3) First do no harm. primum no nocere

Illness is a purposeful process of the organism. The process of healing includes the generation of symptoms which are, in fact, an expression of the life force attempting to heal itself. Therapeutic actions should be complimentary to and synergistic with this healing process. The physician's actions can support or antagonize the actions of the vis medicatrix naturae. Therefore, methods designed to suppress symptoms without removing underlying causes are considered harmful and are avoided or minimized.

4) Treat the whole person. The multifactorial nature of health and disease

Health and disease are conditions of the whole organism, a whole involving a complex interaction of physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. The physician must treat the whole person by taking all of these factors into account. The harmonious functioning of all aspects of the individual is essential to recovery from and prevention of disease, and requires a personalized and comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment.

5) The physician as teacher. docere

Beyond an accurate diagnosis and appropriate prescription, the physician must work to create a healthy, sensitive interpersonal relationship with the patient. A cooperative doctor-patient relationship has inherent therapeutic value. The physician's major role is to educate and encourage the patient to take responsibility for health. The physician is a catalyst for healthful change, empowering and motivating the patient to assume responsibility. It is the patient, not the doctor, who ultimately creates/accomplishes healing. The physician must strive to inspire hope as well as understanding. The physician must also make a commitment to his/her personal and spiritual development in order to be a good teacher.

6) Prevention. Prevention is the best 'cur'

The ultimate goal of any health care system should be prevention. This is accomplished through education and promotion of life-habits that create good health. The physician assesses risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and makes appropriate interventions to avoid further harm and risk to the patient. The emphasis is on building health rather than on fighting disease.


Naturopathic philosophy serves as the basis for naturopathic practice. The current scope of naturopathic practice includes, but is not limited to:

Clinical Nutrition

That food is the best medicine is a cornerstone of naturopathic practice. Many medical conditions can be treated more effectively with foods and nutritional supplements than they can by other means, with fewer complications and side effects. Naturopathic physicians use dietetics, natural hygiene, fasting, and nutritional supplementation in practice.

Botanical Medicine

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 with few toxic side effects.

Homeopathic Medicine

Homeopathic medicine is based on the principle of 'like cures like.' It works on a subtle yet powerful electromagnetic level, gently acting to strengthen the body's healing and immune response.

Physical Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine has its own methods of therapeutic manipulation of muscles, bones, and spine. N.D.'s also use ultrasound, diathermy, exercise, massage, water, heat and cold, air, and gentle electrical pulses.

Oriental Medicine

Oriental medicine is a complimentary healing philosophy to naturopathic medicine. Meridian theory offers an important understanding of the unity of the body and mind, and adds to the Western understanding of physiology. Acupuncture provides a method of treatment which can unify and harmonize the imbalances present in disease conditions, which, if untreated, can result in illness.

Naturopathic Obstetrics

Naturopathic physicians provide natural childbirth care in an out-of-hospital setting. They offer prenatal and postnatal care using modern diagnostic techniques. The naturopathic approach strengthens healthy body functions so that complications associated with pregnancy may be prevented.

Psychological Medicine

Mental attitudes and emotional states may influence, or even cause, physical illness. Counseling, nutritional balancing, stress management, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and other therapies are used to help patients heal on the psychological level.

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Basic Facts of Unitary Homeopathy

The founder of homeopathy was Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843). Based on his observations, he formulated the so-called PRINCIPLE OF SIMILARITY, which states that a given substance can cure in a diseased person the symptoms that it produces or causes in a healthy person.

Homeopathy is a well-described, scientifically based system of approaching health and disease. "Scientific" because the insights are based on reproducible experiments. "Well-described" because from these observations a number of precise basic fundamental rules became evident, first among them the "similarity principle."

Hahnemann published his ideas and experiences in a book called the Organon. The first edition appeared in 1810 and he wrote the last edition (which appeared posthumously) in 1842. As was the custom in those days, he gave numbers to each paragraph in which he explained his different concepts. What is so striking is that Hahnemann’s fundamental concepts still hold true today nearly 200 years later. This is not to say there has been no progress in homeopathic thought but rather to the fact that subsequent investigators have been able to confirm and reconfirm these basic principles. Every serious study of homeopathy even today begins with a study of the Organon.

What is Unitary Homeopathy?

Although homeopathy is only 200 years old, it is now practiced in a variety of ways, most of which bear little resemblance to what Hahnemann taught. In the public mind the word "homeopathy" has become so vague that for some it means only an "alternative medicine" and for others a combination of homeopathic medicines that you buy in the health food store, one mixture for allergies, another for headache, etc.

Unitary homeopathy (often called classical homeopathy) must be differentiated from all other so-called forms of homeopathy. The hallmarks of unitary homeopathy are:

  • A thorough interview to discover the totality of signs and symptoms. This total picture is our most important guide to the medicine. By "signs" we mean that which can be objectively assessed by the physician. By "symptoms" we mean what the patient himself feels subjectively.
  • How a homeopathic medicine acts is found out by administering it to healthy volunteers and recording the symptoms the volunteers report. By repeating these trials often, we get a complete profile of the medicine. Such trials are known as "provings." All homeopathic medicines have been "proved" on healthy volunteers to learn how they act.
  • The total picture of the patient should be as similar as possible to the drug picture of the selected remedy. This is known as similia similibus curentur (let similars be cured by similars). The medicine should match the so-called characteristic (striking, unusual, and uncommon) symptoms of the patient as closely as possible.
  • Since a homeopathic remedy corresponds only superficially to a particular disease, it must be customized to match the individual with that disease, a process we call "individualization." The very same illness in another patient will most often be cured with an entirely different remedy – thus we could have two different remedies that cure two different patients with the same disease.
According to the homeopathic way of thinking, a disease originates from a disturbance of the patient’s "vital force." This is the life force energy that sustains life. As the origin of disease occurs on this energetic level, the homeopathic remedy has also to be on this level.
  • Such an energetic medicine is made by diluting the remedy and succussing (shaking) it. All homeopathic medicines are "potentized", i.e., diluted and succussed. This method of preparation imparts considerable energy to each substance.
  • "Unitary" homeopathy means that only one remedy is given at a time because only one remedy can correspond perfectly to the total picture of the patient. A prescription that does not aim for this totality is not homeopathic.

Taking the Homeopathic Remedy

Homeopathic medicines can be administered in drops, grains (approx. 3mm in diameter) or globules (approx. 1mm in diameter). The medicine is taken once, meaning that a given number of drops, grains or globules are taken on a single occasion and only once. Sometimes the medicine is repeated, e.g., two times a day or every three hours, etc.

You must follow the instructions carefully. Usually the remedy is repeated until a reaction occurs. When a dose is taken can be important. Usually you will be instructed to take it before a certain meal, usually breakfast. It is best is to eat no food, alcohol, tea or coffee before taking the remedy. Also do not brush your teeth at that time. After a couple of minutes the remedy is absorbed and you can eat breakfast.

How to Take the Medicine

Follow the instructions of your physician. Drops can go directly into your mouth or be dissolved in water and then administered in teaspoonful doses. Grains and globules can be placed under the tongue. It is better not to touch the remedies, so use the cap of the vial or tube. Store your homeopathic remedy in a place where there is no sunlight or strong odors and where it is neither too hot nor cold. This way it will remain active for a long time.

Homeopathic remedies are sufficiently diluted so that no poisoning will occur if a child should accidentally ingest a tube of granules, though it is possible that he might prove the medicine so you might have to consult your homeopathic physician.

After you have taken your medication it is important to observe yourself. Be sure to keep the follow up appointment which will be two to eight weeks after the initial appointment. Typically in the treatment of a chronic illness the follow up will be one to two months later. The better the treatment goes the longer will be the intervals between appointments until you are eventually cured. Cure is not simply the disappearance of one or several complaints but an optimally stable equilibrium physically as well as well as psychologically.

Adapted from the forthcoming book
by Frederik Schroyens, M.D.:
Getting in Touch with Yourself,
Finding Your Homeopathic Remedy

For more information on homeopathy, visit HomeopathyRadio.com

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Acupuncture is a restorative therapy that uses tiny, threadlike needles or filaments to stimulate the body's natural healing response. Archeological evidence suggests acupuncture may have been used to relieve joint pain or arthritis as long ago as 3200 BC in the Alps region of Western Europe. Written records in China document acupuncture's place in a highly developed medical system dating back to 300 BC.

Due to its effectiveness, acupuncture has grown rapidly in popularity among Americans seeking relief from chronic health problems. The National Institutes of Health estimates that over eight million U.S. adults have received acupuncture treatments in their lifetime, with around two million U.S. adults receiving acupuncture in 2003 alone.

Current clinical research is validating that acupuncture is an effective choice for certain health conditions. Researchers are also uncovering clues about how acupuncture works by studying how the technique stimulates changes in the subcutaneous connective tissues as well as by documenting how acupuncture affects brain activity.

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We provide massage services which are tailored to your needs, whether this is issue-specific pain reduction and/or general relaxation. We strive to provide you with the best treatment possible by creating a safe and comfortable environment, and by continually advancing our skills and participating in continuing education classes/workshops.

The goal of Integrative Bodywork is to incorporate as many techniques as necessary to facilitate overall relaxation and encourage release of emotional blocks and general stress. Each client is treated in a very personal and individual manner.

Swedish Massage

For relaxation, a basic massage technique where long, smooth strokes and kneading is used to relax the muscles.

Expectant Mother Massage

A massage that enhances your sense of well-being for both you and your baby.

Deep Tissue Massage

Muscle therapy using deep pressure to help reduce muscle spasm and chronic pain.

Sports Massage

A combination of stretching, compression and gliding techniques to help relieve and prevent muscle soreness and ease tired joints that result from over exertion.

Oncology Massage

Helps clients/patients with cancer to reduce anxiety , pain, nausea, fatigue, depression, muscular tension and emotional stress.

Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massage is a ancient art which combines hot stones and swedish massage techniques. The stones act like small heating pads transferring deep, soothing heat to areas of need, that increases circulation to the hands and feet while calming to nerves and warming the body.
Hot Stone Massage

Myofascial Release Massage

Myofascial Release (MFR) is the application of slow, sustained pressure and movement into the fascial system. This work is used to eliminate restrictions and adhesions in connective tissue. MFR is an effective therapeutic approach in the relief of neck, and back pain, fibromyalgia, limited range-of-motion and headaches. MFR helps to restore fluidity and increases range-of-motion.


Chair Massage

A 5 minute to 20 minute massage session at any outdoor or indoor location. Sessions can focus on relaxation or specific complaints. Chair massage is especially appropriate for office, company parties, and other locations where a number of people may want to try out massage but for a shorter session and don’t need to take off your clothes. It’s a nice introduction to massage.
Massage Chair
(Click for a larger image)



For more information, visit Massage Professionals of Randolph.

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