You’ve probably heard quite a bit about naturopathy and functional medicine, but here’s a really good question: what are they? What’s the difference? What advantages does a doctor of naturopathy degree carry?
Function/Science-Based Medicine
For starters, look at the two definitions. Functional medicine seeks to address the cause of diseases. Every symptom, therefore, is a contributing factor to the person’s illness. With science-based medicine ,you have a methodology that connects the research base to clinical practice. In other words, all of the available studies and research that have been compiled into books, online databases, and more are put to practical use.
On the other hand, naturopathic medicine favors natural remedies – think herbs, massage etc. – as a way for the body to heal itself. Naturopathy takes the body and applies the belief that there are web-like interconnections across the psychological processes and the organic processes, and they affect each other.
Prevention in Naturopathy
Someone who has a doctor of naturopathy degree will emphasize prevention under the belief that the body will be able to heal itself naturally using more of a home-remedy approach. Also, it focuses on the underlying causes rather than simply treating that disease at its source.
It is important to note that this methodology and way of thinking is not new by any stretch of the imagination. It has been around for thousands of years likely will be around for thousands more.
These doctors treat the body as one living, breathing organism rather than a compartmentalized machine, often with two-hour long examinations that include information about your lifestyle and habits.
