There are many different forms of medicine and it can get confusing to understand what each branch actually does. If you’ve wondered about the difference between a homeopath, allopath, and naturopath read on for clarification.
Allopathic medicine is what you would consider typical Western medicine. This is medicine that uses pharmaceuticals, surgery, and other modern practices. This is a term that many providers of alternative medicine use as a distinction between typical Western medicine and more natural approaches.
Homeopathy is a type of alternative medicine that began in Germany in the early 1800s. This type of medicine practices the “law of similars” which promotes the idea of using a medicine that creates the symptoms similar to the symptoms a patient is experiencing form the illness.
It also follows the principle that one remedy should treat all of the symptoms. This type of medicine uses very small doses of medicine and it focuses on making certain that the mind, body, and spirit are equally treated.
Homeopathic medicine does emphasize healthy behaviors such as good nutrition and exercise, but it focuses more on how those behaviors affect one spiritually rather than just physically.
Finally, naturopathic medicine is a type of medicine that has a broader scope. Homeopathy is a type of naturopathic medicine, but not all naturopathic medicine is homeopathic.
This type of medicine includes any medicine that is natural such as Chinese medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, or manipulation. Usually when one talks about a naturopathic doctor, it is someone who has received a medical education and may even be licensed to perform specific procedures.
If you’re interested in alternative medicine, you’ll want to do your homework as you look for a naturopathic practitioner or a homeopathic practitioner to make sure that you get the treatment that you really want.
There really aren’t any standard definitions for these types of medicine, so you may find that someone refers to himself as a general naturopath, but practices a very specific type of healing.
And some people use the term homeopathic incorrectly when they mean to say the more general term of naturopath. When you start to look for alternative healthcare providers, know that you may have to do a little extra research and ask specific questions in order to find the type of care you desire.
All forms of medicine can have advantages and disadvantages, but it helps to start with a working knowledge of accurate terms.
