Naturopathic Counseling

What Is Naturopathic Counseling?

Naturopathic counseling emphasizes the body's potential to heal itself and focuses on prevention and balance. Practitioners explore options including botanical supplements, nutritional counseling, and treating environmental toxicities.

What Is the Background of Naturopathic Counseling?

• Naturopathic counseling was first practiced in the United States in 1895. It developed as an eclectic integration of European "nature cure" and Native American herbalism.
• The resurgence of naturopathic counseling was spurred by the opening of several regionally accredited graduate schools of naturopathic medicine in the 1970s.
• Naturopathic counseling is currently licensed in 17 states, and there are more than 2,000 naturopaths nationwide.

What Are the Indications for Naturopathic Counseling?

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) considers naturopathic counseling to be an Alternative Medical System, which places it in the same category as Traditional Chinese Medicine. NCCAM is sponsoring research to investigate the benefit of this approach. Naturopathic counseling has been used for:

• Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
• Diabetes
• Fibromyalgia
• Hypertension
• Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Migraine headache
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Perimenopausal symptoms

What Are the Contraindications for Naturopathic Counseling?

• Medical emergencies (heart attack, appendicitis, and cholecystitis, for example)
• Use as the sole treatment for cancer
• Known interactions with specific prescription medications