Natural Therapies and Complementary Medicine

What are natural therapies?

Naturopathy or natural therapies are terms that cover many different therapeutic disciplines or approaches. These disciplines include herbal medicine, nutrition, acupuncture, homoeopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic, traditional Chinese medicine, aromatherapy, and remedial therapy such as massage and kinesiology. Practitioners who practice as natural therapists may specialise in one area, for example they may be a herbalist or a homeopath.  A natural therapist who uses a number of these approaches is referred to as a naturopath.

Complementary medicine

This term is used to suggest that any of the disciplines of healthcare, including western medicine can be used together for the management of health complaints. This term has become more popular than "alternative medicine" which suggests that natural therapies are an alternative to mainstream western medicine. Natural therapies are often referred to as complementary medicine, and in reality all forms of healthcare may complement each other.

Naturopathy is concerned with treating the whole person and the underlying cause rather than just dealing with the symptoms. This is why natural therapies are often called holistic medicine. The patient is viewed with independent physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and cultural aspects. To treat holistically requires that the individual patient’s patterns of thought, behaviour, work, and culture are taken into consideration in assessing how these factors may have contributed to the health complaint, as well as in recommending treatment, which is ideally tailored to meet the individual's different needs and circumstances.

Naturopathy regards health as a positive state of physical and mental wellness. Rather than disease being diagnosed at the end stage, illness is detected at the earliest stage by looking for risk factors, examining the diet for deficiencies/inadequacies and looking for changes in the functioning of the body.

Definitions of the different disciplines of natural therapy

Herbal medicine

The use of herbs prescribed for the treatment of complaints. This is the oldest known form of medicine.

Homeopathy

This works on the principle that "like cures like"; i.e. a substance which can produce a certain set of symptoms in a healthy person, will cause similar symptoms to disappear in a sick person, when given in a highly diluted (homeopathic) form.

Nutrition

Dietary advice, identifying potential food intolerances related to health problems and the use of nutritional supplements.

Acupuncture

The stimulation of acupuncture needles inserted in specific acupuncture points located on acupuncture channels to regulate the energy (Qi), which is transported around the body through these channels.

Remedial therapy

The use of therapeutic massage for the treatment of muscle tension, tendon and ligament injuries. Massage techniques may include relaxation, sports massage, deep tissue, shiatsu, trigger point techniques and aromatherapy (using essential oils).

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

The use of Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and Chinese remedial therapy

Osteopathy and chiropractic

Manipulative therapies based on the science of human mechanics. Often used for the treatment of spinal pain, but there is a strong belief that the structure of the spine greatly influences health. Chiropractic places chief importance on the integrity of the spine. The osteopath also emphasises the role that the soft tissue has on skeletal framework and general health of the body.

Additional resources

“Alternative healing: What you should know (Your guide to complementary medicine and therapies)”
By Sarah Heinzman
McPhersons Printing Group 2004
The Australian Women’s Weekly Health Series

 Natural Therapies and Complementary Medicine (86.42 KB)

 Natural Therapies and Complementary Medicine (4 MB)

How to find a natural therapist

Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA)
Freecall: 1800 817 577
www.anta.com.au

Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)
Ph: (02) 9809 6800
http://www.atms.com.au

National Herbalists Association of Australia
Ph: (02) 8765 0071
www.nhaa.org.au


Content Updated July 2007