By Maryse Isma                            

 Special to CSMS MagazineYes, naturopaths favor natural healing techniques. But that does not mean    they are not well versed in science. Naturopathic healing combines elements of herbal medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, bodywork, homeopathy and exercise. Like many alternative modalities, naturopathy treats by supporting and enhancing the patient’s inherent ability to heal and maintain good health.            All illness has a cause which can be physical, emotional, mental or spiritual, or a combination of some or all of these. Symptoms indicate the body’s attempt to fight the disease—they are not the disease itself and should not be suppressed.            The naturopath seeks to treat root cause, not symptoms. Naturopathy is one of the few complementary medicines (like chiropractic) that require its practitioners to complete four-year, postgraduate training with admission requirements similar to those of US medical schools.            Having been available in the US for about 100 years, naturopathy has had resurgence in the past two decades. There are now 12 states (plus the commonwealth of Puerto Rico) that will license naturopaths, including Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii, with more to follow to the near future.            Using a prevention-oriented and cause-versus-symptom approach to care, naturopaths take detailed medical histories of patients, unlike any you are likely to undergo in an HMO.            Naturopaths believe in the body’s ability to cure itself and regard disease as a violation of natural law. Any number of conditions responds well to naturopathic healing, including cold, flu, allergies and digestive ills, as well as particular autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The future looks bright for naturopathic medicine—and for its increasing pool of patients.            How to Find a Qualified Naturopath            There are only three colleges of naturopathic medicine in the US Department of Education and accredited by the council on Naturopathic Education (CNME):            Bastyr University, 14500 Juanita Dr. NE            Kenmore, WA 98028, 425-823-1300 (tel)            425-823-6222 (fax), www.bastyr.edu            National College of Naturopathic Medicine            049 SW Porter St., Portland, OR 97201            503-552-1555 (tel), www.ncnm.edu            Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine            And Health Sciences, 2140 East Broadway,            Tempe, AZ 85282, 480-858-9100 (tel),            www.scnm.eduTo locate a naturopath in your area, contact:             The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians            3201 New Mexico Ave. NW, Suite 350            Washington, DC 20016            866-538-2267,            202-895-1392 (tel)            http://naturopathic.orgAlso see Learning about what’s good or bad for your skin