Natural Medicine and Weight Loss at Excelon Health

Helpful Definitions in Natural Health and Alternative Medicine:

Alternative medicine:    Medical practices and systems that are not within “conventional medicine” which is the way most M.D.s practice. Essentially this includes any therapy that is not pharmaceutical drugs or surgery. This can be nutritional therapies, supplements, homeopathy, orthomolecular medicine, acupuncture, and any number of other systems of healing. Therapies that are considered “alternative medicine” in the US may be part of main-stream medical practice in other countries. Naturopathic medicine is considered to be alternative. Also called natural medicine, complementary medicine or natural healthcare.

Holistic medicine:    Any medical system that addresses the body as a whole, rather than by individual organ system (like the digestive system or circulatory system). The basic idea is that if anything is going wrong in the body it probably influences the way the rest of the body functions. Naturopathy and classical homeopathy are holistic medicine.

Integrative medicine:    The combination of both conventional and alternative therapies. Naturopathic medicine is considered integrative in States where NDs are licensed to prescribe. In Texas Naturopathic doctors work with MDs to provide integrative care.

Naturopathic medicine:    A system of medicine that has the same training and view as conventional medicine (M.D.s) but which uses therapies that are predominantly natural and non-toxic including clinical nutrition, homeopathy, botanical medicine, orthomolecular medicine, and counseling. Naturopaths often work in conjunction with their patient’s MDs and specialists (such as oncologists, cardiologists and endocrinologists)to deliver fully integrated medicine.

Classical Homeopathy:    A system of medicine based on the principle of “like cures like.” Homeopathy uses small doses of various substances to stimulate the body to heal from within. This is used as a main-stream system of medicine throughout India and Europe.

Orthomolecular medicine:    The use of substances normally found in the body for therapeutic purposes and at therapeutic doses. This can include vitamins, minerals, and even hormones.