Naturopathy relies on nature and inherent power of human body & mind
Naturopathy is the holistic approach to human wellness and a way to educate about healthy living. It is the most ancient health care mechanism that amalgamates modern scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine. Relying on the healing power of nature, Naturopathy stimulates the human body’s ability to heal itself. It is the science of disease diagnosis, treatment, and cure using natural therapies including dietetics, botanical medicine, homoeopathy, fasting, exercise, lifestyle counselling, detoxification, chelation, clinical nutrition, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulation, spiritual healing, environmental assessment, health promotion, and disease prevention.
Kinds of therapies
Different kinds of therapy are given to the patients under Naturopathy like diet therapy, fasting therapy, mud therapy, hydrotherapy, masso or massage therapy, acupressure, chromo therapy, air therapy, magnet therapy.
Naturopathy heavily relies upon nature
Naturopathy relies on the fact that nature is the greatest healer. The human body possesses the power to protect itself from diseases and retrieves it. In the process of curing the entire human body is targeted to heal the disease. Naturopathy successfully heals chronic ailments and is also effective in treating them in a comparatively lesser time. In Naturopathy treatment, the suppressed diseases are brought to the surface and are eliminated permanently. Naturopathy successfully treats all aspects of the human body like mental, physical, social, and spiritual. Naturopathy treats the body as a whole. In Naturopathy, it is believed that food is the only medicine and no external medications are used. Naturopathy believes that performing a prayer based on one’s spiritual faith is an important part of treatment.
Ministry of Ayush spearheads it
According to ‘AYUSH in India 2019’, the annual statistical publication of the Ministry of Ayush, there are 14 naturopathy hospitals and 93 naturopathy dispensaries in the country. The National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN), Pune is an autonomous body under Ministry of Ayush and is engaged in propagation and promotion of naturopathy. NIN provides naturopathy treatment to general public through its OPD. Also, naturopathy treatment facilities are provided by Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy (CRIYN), New Delhi which is under Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN), New Delhi- an apex body for research in the field of Yoga & Naturopathy.
National AYUSH Mission
Under the centrally sponsored scheme of the National AYUSH Mission (NAM), there is a provision for infrastructural development of AYUSH under-graduate institutions and post-graduate institutions. Under NAM scheme, financial assistance is provided to the State/UT Governments as per the proposals submitted by them in their respective State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) and as per the NAM guidelines. State/UT Governments may avail the eligible financial assistance by submitting the proposal through state annual action plan as per the NAM guidelines.
‘AYURVEDAGRANTHASAMUCCAYAH’ and NAMASTE
A web portal ‘AYURVEDAGRANTHASAMUCCAYAH’ for brining all major classical compendia of Ayurveda, has been brought into being. Development and maintenance of NAMASTE (National AYUSH Morbidity and Standardized Terminologies Electronic) Portal is also a welcome step in popularizing Naturopathy and Ayurveda. A central sector scheme was also launched during 2020-21 to encourage private investors to invest in AYUSH sector to establish world class, state of the art super speciality hospitals/day care centres of AYUSH systems including Ayurveda to promote export of medical value travel services.
Ayurveda education system
In order to streamline the Ayurveda education system, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine has been constituted on 20.09.2020 in place of Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM). Total 184 new ASU & H colleges have been permitted to conduct under graduate and post graduate courses during 2015-20. The efforts have resulted in additional 16,824 under-graduate seats and 2258 post graduate seats. The under graduate and post graduate admissions in AYUSH education have been initiated through National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) and All India AYUSH Post Graduate Entrance Test (AIAPGET) respectively to make process transparent and merit based.
Mitigation of COVID-19
Various steps for the mitigation of COVID-19 through AYUSH system of medicine and to showcase it globally have been taken like issuing advisories on protecting people from COVID and staying healthy, release of Home care guidelines for children and advisory for AYUSH practitioners about prophylactic care in Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Naturopathy and its advantages
By educating about the root cause of one’s health issues, Naturopathy always aims to make people aware of healthy changes in order to get well. From advising on dietary and lifestyle changes to guiding towards achieving emotional wellbeing, Naturopathy holds a prominent place in the world of medicine. If we take a broader glance at today’s scenario, Naturopathy is widely known for its advantages and hugely applauded for its various modes of therapies. It has been accepted as an independent system of medicine and presently, there are 12-degree colleges that are imparting a five and half year’s degree course of Bachelor of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences (BNYS).
