In alternative medicine, the term ‘Natural Therapy’ refers to an eclectic self-care system that is primarily concerned with building and restoring health through prevention techniques and healthy lifestyles. In natural therapy, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders is undertaken by the therapeutic use of natural methods and materials.

The philosophy underlying natural therapy is that all living things have an innate ability to heal. This innate ability flows through us as energy or ‘vital force’ and it promotes self-cleansing, self-repair and self-healing. If the path of this vital force is blocked, external symptoms appear and a ‘dis-ease’ is diagnosed. Once the flow of this energy is restored, good health too will be restored.

Natural therapy stipulates that the immune system, nervous system, hormonal system and detoxification pathways all work as a unit. This ensures our survival. If given proper support, care and nurture the body will find its sense of balance automatically, WITHOUT the use of medicine.

Natural therapy places a great deal of emphasis on a hands-free, non invasive approach to curing maladies. There are no magic bullets and quick fixes. Each individual will have his own unique set of symptoms. Depending upon the symptoms, the therapist decides his course of treatment. And each individual takes his own time to recover.

The goal of natural therapy is to develop optimal good health for all patients and to teach patients the principles of good health. Natural therapy is used as a complementary system of healing that adequately speeds up the body’s natural ability to heal. Prevention is the ultimate goal, though therapy also includes management of symptoms.

Natural therapy usually includes a wide variety of treatment systems. Some of them are:

Clinical nutrition: Nutrition is the cornerstone of good health. Many diseases and conditions can be improved through changes in diet alone.

Herbal Medicine or Phytotherapy: Natural therapy relies very heavily on the use of medicinal herbs. Herbs are characterized by their minimal toxicity and maximum effect. Since herbs do not accumulate in the body, they also do not have any lasting ramifications. When selected properly, herbs offer safe, powerful and effective healing.

Traditional Chinese medicine: Pulse diagnosis, herbs, acupuncture, acutouch are all included in this system of medicine. Dating back to almost 3,000 years ago, this stream of medicine has recently caught a lot of attention in the West.

Body manipulation: Used in conjunction with other therapies, this treatment uses a variety of systematic movements that help heal musculoskeletal and neurological problems.

Lifestyle modification: Natural therapy places full responsibility of one’s health on one’s own shoulders. Treatments are based on assessing risk factors connected to the lifestyle, diet and environment of each individual. Each of these factors is considered while developing a treatment plan.

Natural therapy can assist in curing a wide variety of clinical conditions.

- Acute conditions like headaches, sore throat, asthma and allergies

- Chronic illnesses like migraine, arthritis, heart diseases and gastrointestinal diseases.

- Stress related mental and emotional problems.

- Physical injury and trauma including post-operative pain.

Different kinds of natural therapies suffered a setback because results are slow in coming. What most people do not realize is that though results may take long, the effects last a lifetime. There is usually a complete recovery from symptoms because the physician tries to boost the body’s natural resistance to dis-ease and discomfort.

Alternative medicine for dogs is quickly gaining in popularity as more pet owners seek natural ways to treat their pets without depending on pharmaceutical therapies. Instead of relying on drugs, pet lovers are focusing on the whole animal.

To learn more about different types of natural medicine and treatments for canines, read on.

Osteopathy and Chiropractic Care

Studies show that manipulations of the body and bone structure based upon a firm understanding of anatomy are effective for limiting human back pain, joint pain and spinal column discomfort. In 1996, the American Veterinary Medical Association reported “sufficient clinical and anecdotal evidence exists to indicate that veterinary chiropractic can be beneficial.”

While virtually no research has been carried out on the value of osteopathy for dogs, anecdotal evidence suggests the treatments are effective and especially helpful during recovery after an injury or accident.

Acupuncture Needles

Acupuncture serves as an alternative “medicine” for dogs and is typically used as an effective painkiller. Painkilling drugs work by mimicking the brain’s pain-killing chemicals like endorphins. Acupuncture, instead, stimulates the release of natural endorphins.

Remember that acupuncture for dogs should only be performed by a veterinary acupuncturist and should not be done by an acupuncturist who only works on people. It is a medical procedure and should be treated as such. Instead, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation in your area.

Herbal Therapies

Most pharmaceutical drugs come from herbs and plants, but they isolate a particular chemical or component of the plant. In herbal medicine, the whole plant is used rather than only a single part. Also, many herbal remedies are seen as a complimentary program with each herb prescribed to a variety of ailments.

While many veterinarians understand herbal remedies and will accept that various treatments have a medicinal value, they are also hesitant to prescribe or recommend herbal therapies. This is because toxic doses of herbs are largely unknown for dogs. So, before you undertake an herbal medicine program with your dog, do your research carefully.

Relaxation and Massage

Relaxation is a critical part of good health - improving our breathing, anxiety, muscle pain and stress. The same holds true for dogs, and many veterinarians will actually prescribe massage and relaxation as treatment for pain, anxiety, stress or sleeping problems.

Homeopathy

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association - “clinical and anecdotal evidence exists to indicate that veterinary homeopathy may be beneficial.” And though no high-caliber studies of homeopathic medicines have been carried out on dogs, it’s a treatment course that’s increasing in popularity.

More and more veterinarians are beginning to prescribe alternative medicine for dogs, from touch therapy treatments to herbal remedies. So, ask your vet about natural therapies during your next visit as a health option for your pet.

During your research, though, be aware that there is still a lot of general medical community skepticism - both for people and pets - concerning alternative medications. Consequently, you will need to be vigilant in your fact-gathering investigation to ensure you are neither duped by a scam nor dissuaded from persuing legitimate health options for your pet.

Natural health is an eclectic self-care system of natural therapies that builds and restores health and wellness by working with the natural recuperative powers of the human body.

Natural health is a totally reasonable and respectable approach to health care. It refers to the beliefs, concepts, and attitudes held by those who practice natural health care. There are similarities that run throughout all natural health practices

Natural health has nothing to say about the creation of life, beliefs in religion, and other worlds or dimensions other than that all health, wellness, illness, and healing can be positively affected by simple and inexpensive natural therapies.

Nothing about natural health prevents its alternative healing methods from being used alongside conventional medical treatment. Thus, natural health can be viewed as a complementary or adjunctive form of therapy.

The wellness movement champions a number of natural health concepts. Everyone is responsible for their own health. Stress reduction is usually a major focus of the wellness community. Wellness programs offer holistic medicine techniques to improve your natural health.

Natural health care treatment also refers to

• Men, women and child health,

• Weight loss program,

• Maintaining a healthy mind and soul,

• Different types of therapies

• Exercises such as yoga and other forms of physical activity that helps our body,

• Holistic medicine,

• Nutritional supplements and

• Herbal medicine.

Natural health care products help you as well as your body to heal on its own by using certain products or techniques. Companies have hence forth come with products that work naturally without disturbing the functions and increasing the immunity and energy level of the body with advised usage.