What is Animal Naturopathy?
Since animal naturopathy isn't widely known of in the United States yet, we are often asked what exactly is Veterinary or Animal Naturopathy?
The word naturopathy may be a new word to many here in the U.S. however, naturopathy has been around since the fall of Adam and Eve.
The definition of naturopathy is a philosophy and system of prevention of disease first and then treatment of disease that avoids drugs and surgery and emphasizes the use of nature or natural agents such as exercise, water, herbs, etc. to assist the body in bringing its self back into balance and health.
The word veterinary is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as: of, relating to, practicing, or being the science and art of prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease and injury in animals and especially domestic animals. Veterinary naturopathy is just as the two words imply in their definitions.
There are only a handful of people with doctorates in veterinary naturopathy in the world. However, there are more and more Animal Naturopaths coming on the scene every year. Neither veterinary naturopaths nor animal naturopaths are "veterinarians".
Here is where the confusion comes in. Today's veterinarians are in the business of disease care, they hold doctorate titles from colleges that teach them beyond anatomy, biology, chemistry and surgery. They are taught how to use modern, high tech equipment to diagnose while the pharmaceutical companies teach them which drug to prescribe or use to treat or suppress the symptoms of the dis-ease or illness the animal is presenting with.
In contrast, animal naturopaths are taught anatomy, physiology, how nature works prevent and heal. Animal naturopaths are first, educators in the use of nature's laws and remedies that assist the animal's body to be strengthened, balanced and naturally ward off dis-ease or illness while healing its self.
Animal naturopathy is true health care, it is all about preventing illness from ever coming into existence in the first place by supporting the vital force (life force/Chi or innate immune system) within the body . When illness is manifesting its self, the use of nature's laws and remedies are then put into use for the express purpose of assisting the body in putting its self back into a harmonious balance (health) and then maintaining that health/balance.
Naturopathy looks at illness, particularly an acute illness as the body working to remove “morbid matter”, cleaning house, balancing its self, getting things back into harmonious working condition. The "symptoms" that are noticeable are simply signals that the body is working to eliminate what ever is causing the imbalance.
Naturopathy is truly holistic (wholistic) in its approach to aiding the body, mind and spirit to heal. Naturopathy looks for the cause of the symptoms and works, to again, aid the body in removing that cause naturally and assisting the body to become balanced again. Naturopathy looks at illness as a form of healing and unlike conventional disease care, does not suppress the symptoms or the body's efforts to rid its self of the cause of the illness.
The cornerstone of naturopathy is proper, species appropriate nutrition. What we feed our pets is critical to keeping their bodies in balance. Naturopathy is about understanding our animals’ true/wild nature and honoring that rather than forcing them to eat processed foods that are not able to be properly digested and then become recognised as toxins in their body.
Naturopathy is all encompassing of nature's remedies (herbs, essential oils, homeopathy, hydrotherapy massage, etc.) and all natural modalities fall under the scope of naturopathy and the laws of health: proper nutrition, rest, fresh air, sunshine, regular exercise, pure fresh water and trust in divine power.
Veterinary and/or Animal Naturopaths consult, educate, instruct and empower animal owners to be responsible for the health of their animals rather than surrendering that power to someone else. While we consider ourselves true doctors - the word "doctor" originally meant "teacher" or physicians, (the word physician is from the Greek word, "physis" which translates and means "nature"), the conventional medical world will not allow us to call ourselves such even if we hold a doctorate degree. Animal naturopaths are really nature teachers!
Animal Naturopathy is based upon 6 principals, see these principals here
If you would like to know more about animal naturopathy or are interested in becoming a certified animal naturopath, please consider taking our courses and register now for the Fall sessions.
NOTE: A.C.A.N. Certified Animal Naturopaths and practitioners certified in animal naturopathy do not provide medical diagnosis, prescribe medications or perform surgical procedures. A.C.A.N. expects Certified Animal Naturopaths and those certified in animal naturopathy only provide the professional services set out in the Scope of Practice and strictly adhere to the Code of Ethics identified on this website. A.C.A.N. cannot be held responsible for anyone not acting within the Scope of Practice or not adhering to the Code of Ethics herein.