Date of the last update: 29.12.2022
Many people who are interested in various varieties of unconventional medicine and natural healing methods want to tie their professional life to this field and start an individual practice. The way to do this may be to acquire the knowledge and qualifications necessary to work as a naturopath. From the article you will learn what naturopathy is and how to become a naturopath.
Table of Contents:
- What is naturopathy?
- Naturopathy in practice. What exactly does a naturopath do?
- Is a naturopath a doctor?
- How can one become a naturopath?
- Where can a naturopath work?
You can read this article in 3 minutes.
What is naturopathy?
The word “naturopathy” is derived from the Greek language. It was formed from two words: Natura and Pathos, meaning the study of disease through the lens of nature. The goal of naturopathy, like conventional medicine, is to restore a patient’s health. The main difference is that naturopathy is based on natural means in its methodology.
The aforementioned natural means include herbs, proper diet, physical activity, physiotherapy, massage, bioenergy therapy, acupuncture or reflexology, among others. Naturopaths also use other methods and techniques to work with patients. Their overriding goal is to provide holistic balance, and therefore physical and mental health, without relying on drugs known from Western medicine.
Naturopathy in practice. What exactly does a naturopath do?
A naturopath is, in the broadest generalization, a natural medicine specialist who uses a holistic approach to human health in his practice. In other words, a naturopath takes into account both the physical and mental, mental aspects of a person’s health. He also pays special attention to factors that can only indirectly be linked to a disease, such as a diet, physical activity or functioning under severe stress.
The naturopath’s goal is to eliminate the condition by going deep to the source of its origin, and therefore – to the root cause. The naturopath seeks to stimulate the natural self-healing process, using proper diet, breathing patterns, optimal hydration levels, physical activity, massage and acupuncture or mental health therapy.
Is a naturopath a doctor?
No, a naturopath is not a doctor, although he or she is practicing a medical profession. On the other hand, a doctor can also be a naturopath or use selected elements of naturopathy as part of his work with patients.
According to the official ministerial description of the profession, a naturopath “uses unconventional natural therapies and treatments such as herbalism, art therapy, diet, acupuncture, acupressure, hydrotherapy, iridology, and others in combination with the practices of classical medicine.” A naturopath can therefore use a variety of “tools” of natural healing methods, as well as provide advice on a broadly defined healthy lifestyle (life hygiene, healthy eating, physical activity). The goal of the above-mentioned activities is to improve the patient’s quality of life.
How does one become a naturopath?
Many people wonder how to become a naturopath? We hasten to answer! It is not necessary to have a university degree to become a naturopath. Although, of course, academic knowledge of medicine, biology or pedagogy will certainly be useful. In order to practice this profession, one must complete a professional course to become a naturopath, which generally lasts from 18 to 24 months. Classes are very often held in the form of weekend conventions.
The key task for candidates is to choose the right course from dozens of offers that can easily be found online. First and foremost, you should make sure that the people organizing and teaching the classes have the right experience and qualifications, which, in an age of easy access to information, should not be a big problem.
Another important aspect is whether completion of the course officially confers the right to practice as a naturopath, in accordance with the 2014 Regulation of the Minister of Labor and Social Policy on the qualification of professions and specialties. The naturopath’s occupation code is 323009, and the occupation category is “Practitioners of unconventional or complementary therapies.”
What is the course for future naturopaths like?
Courses for qualifying as a naturopath include such elements as:
- theoretical lectures,
- professional practice,
- workshops,
- individual and group projects,
- consultations with instructors,
- optional classes,
- exams.
Where can a naturopath work?
Naturopaths most often run their own individual practice within a private naturopathy office. Depending on their additional skills and qualifications, naturopaths may also work in bioenergetic, reflexology, physiotherapy or massage parlors.
Explore more: What is ecopsychology? Learn to live in harmony with nature!
Sources:
- Obwieszczenie Ministra Rodziny, Pracy i Polityki Społecznej z dnia 28 grudnia 2017 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu rozporządzenia Ministra Pracy i Polityki Społecznej w sprawie klasyfikacji zawodów i specjalności na potrzeby rynku pracy oraz zakresu jej stosowania, Dz. U. 2018 poz. 227.
- Ministerstwo Rodziny, Pracy i Polityki Społecznej, https://psz.praca.gov.pl/rynek-pracy/bazy-danych/klasyfikacja-zawodow-i-specjalnosci/wyszukiwarka-opisow-zawodow//-/klasyfikacja_zawodow/zawod/323009, dostęp: 18.11.2022.
