Modalities of Naturopathy
The Main Modalities of Naturopathy are comprised of
Diet Therapy:
It is the main modality under Naturopathy which stresses that the food must be taken in natural or maximum natural form only. Fresh seasonal fruits, fresh green leafy vegetables and sprouts are excellent form of natural foods. These diets are further broadly classified into following three types:
Eliminative Diet: Liquids- Lemon water, Citric juices, Tender coconut water ,Vegetable soups, Butter milk, Wheat juice.
Soothing Diet: Fruits, Salads, Boiled or steamed vegetables, sprouts, and vegetables etc.
Constructive Diet: Wholesome flour, Unpolished rice, little pulses ,sprouts, curd etc.
Fasting Therapy
It is an important modality comes under Naturopathy. Mental preparedness is essential to yield effective results in fasting. According to Naturopathy there is only one cause of disease i.e. accumulation of morbid matter and only one cure i.e. elimination of morbid (toxic) matter from the body. Fasting is an effective treatment for removing the disorders of mind and body and is a process of providing rest to digestive system.
Mud Therapy
It is one of the important modality, which is very simple but highly effective. The mud used for therapeutic purpose is neat and clean and free from contamination of stone pieces or chemicals, manure etc., and is taken from 5 to 6 ft. depth from the surface of the ground.
Hydrotherapy
Water is a main component of Naturopathy. It is an ancient method of treatment used mainly for preserving health, relieving the inner congestion and curing different types of diseases. Taking bath in clean and fresh water is very effective as it opens up the pores of skin, imparts lightness and alertness to the body, all systems and muscles of body are activated and the blood circulation improves.
Massage Therapy
It plays an important role in Naturopathy treatment procedure. It is a scientific and systemic manipulation of the tissues and organs of the body, aims at improving the blood circulation and also at strengthening muscles and bodily organs. Taking Sun bath after massaging the whole body is a well known health practice in India during winters. It bestows combined benefits of massage and Sun rays therapy.
Chromo therapy
The seven colours of spectrum i.e. Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red are used in Naturopathy as therapy which have different therapeutic properties and effects. Chromo therapy is applied by coloured bottles filled with water or oil and exposed to Sun rays for specified hours. This colour charged water is used as an external application for skin disorders and is also ingested as a tonic for digestive disorders.
Air Therapy
Fresh air, an important part of Naturopathy is most essential for good health. The advantage of air therapy is achieved by taking air bath daily for at least 20 minutes. Walking in fresh air is a best form of air bath. It is more advantageous when combined with morning cold rub and exercises. Air bath has soothing and tonic effect upon the millions of nerve endings all over the surface of the body and enhances the elimination process.
Acupressure
Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers or any blunted objects to press key points called as ‘Acu Points’ (Energy stored points) on the surface rhythmically on the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s life force to aid healing.
Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points, while acupressure uses the gentle but firm pressure of hands or any blunted objects, but acupuncture employs needles, Acupressure has been practiced as a healing art for at least 5,000 years. This complete health system has been documented for use in treating over 3000 conditions. Now acupoints are commonly treated utilizing transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (aka TENS) and laser light from laser or LED diodes in specific wavelengths shown to have rapid and lasting effects.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the procedure of inserting and manipulating fine filiform needles into specific points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes. The word acupuncture comes from the Latin acus, “needle”, and pungere, “to prick”.
According to traditional Chinese medical theory, acupuncture points are situated on meridians along which qi, the vital energy, flows. There is no known anatomical or histological basis for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians.
In China, the practice of acupuncture can perhaps be traced as far back as the Stone Age, with the Bian shi, or sharpened stones. Acupuncture’s origins in China are uncertain. The earliest Chinese medical text that first describes acupuncture is the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine (History of Acupuncture) Huangdi Neijing, which was compiled around 305–204 B.C. Some hieroglyphics have been found dating back to 1000 B.C. that may indicate an early use of acupuncture.According to one legend, acupuncture started in China when some soldiers who were wounded by arrows in battle experienced a relief of pain in other parts of the body, and consequently people started experimenting with arrows (and later needles) as therapy.Acupuncture spread from China to Korea, Japan and Vietnam and elsewhere in East Asia. Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century were among the first to bring reports of acupuncture to the West.
Magnet Therapy
Magnet therapy is a clinical system in which human ailments are treated and cured through the application of magnets to the body of the patients. It is the simplest, cheapest and entirely painless system of treatment with almost no side or after effects. The only tool used is the magnet.
Magnetic treatment is applied directly to the body parts by the therapeutic magnets available in different powers or as general treatment to the body. Also magnetic belts are available for different parts e.g. Abdomen, knee, wrist etc. Magnetic necklaces, glasses and bracelets are also used for treatment.
