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Naturopathy:
Well Naturally! Do you take vitamins? Then you are practicing naturopathy. Do you try herbs before antibiotics, follow a healthy diet, seek chiropractic adjustment over pain pills, relax with essential oils, massage or meditation instead of a martini? If you exercise, give your body adequate rest, actively seek out fresh air, clean water and moderate doses of sunlight, then you are choosing the all-natural tenets of naturopathy. Ahhh. Feels good, too. These and other holistic health practices have been proven to enhance and maximize human homeostasis (internal balance) by seamlessly connecting those basic, in-common requirements of mind, body and spirit. Naturopathy has been called the original wellness program because it seeks to strengthen and maximize health as a buffer against disease. Natural health choices typically offer preventive, proactive precedents to conventional healthcare¹s harsher (and more reactive) treatment regimens. Traditional naturopaths do not practice medicine, perform operations, give injections or prescribe drugs; these invasive modalities are properly left to the medical profession. Within the U.S., naturopaths are a relatively new breed of complementary or alternative health practitioners who advise clients on natural choices that enhance health. Their treatments may include nutritional counseling for immunity-building, colonic cleansing for detoxification, hydrotherapy and/or aromatherapy for stress management, homeopathy, Reiki and other healing energy work. Traditionally, many holistic health practitioners have first discovered the “kinder and gentler” methods of natural health and holistic nutrition only after conventional medicine failed to address their unique health issues. Over time, as they continue to reap the benefits of holistic lifestyle choices, many become passionate about sharing the doctrines of natural health in empowering their families, friends, and then an ever-widening circle of clients, to choose healthier ways to live. Such was the case with Lloyd Clayton, N.D., of Birmingham, AL. Plagued since childhood with unresolved food allergies and asthma, the young computer programmer first set out to learn all he could about herbal alternatives. Back in the late 1970s when his peer group still associated words like “herbal essences” with shampoo products, he first established Dr. Clayton's Herbs as a cottage industry with two simple goals: to develop and sell top quality herbal products without animal testing, and to donate a share of all profits to environmental conservation. Abundance begat abundance, as Lloyd Clayton soon discovered that his eco-friendly customers were not content to merely buy and consume herbs, vitamins, mineral supplements and homeopathic remedies. His herb store clientele was also eager to learn and apply the principles of holistic health - as he himself had done. So in 1980 he once again “answered nature's call” by establishing Clayton College of Natural Health, offering holistic health education via distance learning. CCNH teachings include B.S., M.S., Ph.D. and N.D. programs, plus N.M.D. training for medical doctors only, as well as a specialized doctorate degree for chiropractors, other specializations in herbology and homeopathy, plus various certifications for healthcare professionals. Clayton College also offers three non-degree certifications in herbal studies. With roots predating Hippocrates, holistic health has continually evolved as a mainstay of healing cultures throughout the world. Yet only in the last quarter-century has high-tech, allopathic mainstream America begun to embrace a high-touch, naturopathic philosophy. Consider these current holistic health trends: * Almost 18.5% of all U.S. prescription users “mixed” herbal remedies or supplements in 1997. Pharmacies that once mapped and flagged potential drug interactions have expanded to track drug/herb and herb/herb interactions as well. * Journal of the American Medical Association reported that by 1998, more than half of our adult population had become alternative healthcare consumers. These individuals willingly paid as much money, out of pocket, for complementary / alternative treatments as they paid for conventional physician services. This is of particular note since health insurance typically reimburses allopathic care far more readily than naturopathic care. * As of March, 2000 the federal government's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is now funding 80 complementary / alternative studies. From a mere $2 million alternative health research budget in 1991, its funding now approaches $68.5 million. And at 20 years old Clayton College may be young, but its faculty and staff represent great professional depth and diversity - from master herbalists and classical homeopaths, to chiropractors and other physicians, nutritionists, mind/body counselors, registered nurses and energy/bodywork specialists, among others. CCNH research director Emanuel Cheraskin, M.D., D.M.D, has written 24 books including the ground-breaking Psychodietetics, which helped establish the mood/food connection, as well as Diet and Disease, a three-part series on Vitamin C, and his recent Human Health and Homeostasis, which extols the human body's innate tendency for holistic balance. Now in his mid-80s, Cheraskin attributes has own robust health to conscious living and holistic lifestyle choices: “Actually, I've always been a naturopath,” he concludes. “I just didn't know it had a name.” Mary
Grace McCord is the Director of Communication for |