Recently under the fire of criticism and scandal, naturopathy does not have a good press today in France. However, we are seeing a real demand from the public for a more humane, more integrative medicine, one that listens to its patients and of their needs. Overwhelmed, and locked in a system that no longer listens to them, doctors suffer from a cruel lack of time and resources to receive and properly treat their patients. This then turns to so-called “alternative” medicines: naturopathy, sophrology, acupuncture, just as many so-called “gentle” and “natural” techniques, but which can above all pride themselves on giving time and listening to those who use it, something that is now disappearing in conventional medicine.
But is this phenomenon the result of a simple crisis in our health system or the sign of a deeper problem? Could we make room for these new medicines, which advocate a return to basics and comprehensive patient care?
Do we have the capacity to advance our vision of medicine, in order to offer the most complete and qualitative monitoring possible? In any case, this is the bet launched by these new practitioners.
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Naturopathy suffers from an image degraded by numerous scandals and abuses of all kinds. However, its primary intention is laudable, and was once the role of the family doctor: to inform and educate patients about a correct lifestyle, allowing full vitality and full health. Contrary to what some unscrupulous practitioners may say, naturopathy does not aim to cure, but rather to support the process of care and healing by implementing a vital hygiene plan, supposed to guide the consultant towards better well-being. Supplementation with natural products and excipients only occurs as a second intention and must not conflict with any treatments implemented by the doctor.
The naturopath does not pretend to be a doctor, because there are doctors; he must provide support in order to complement traditional care, take the time to listen, understand and analyze the life and habits of his consultant and advise him as best as possible to improve his problem. The naturopath is a hygienist, and above all an educator.
This is why alternative medicine is profoundly useful to our healthcare system: because it not only fills what conventional medicine does not do, or more due to lack of means or time, but also takes the time to educate the public. to good health; a necessary need in the era of social illnesses linked to our sedentary lifestyle, our diet poor in essential nutrients and our destructive lifestyle habits. And it is through a tree system, made up of qualified and qualified practitioners, all interconnected, that the patient can be cared for in the most efficient way possible.
The problem of qualification and recognition: The main problem that arises today is the lack of control and structure around the profession; this not being regulated, anyone can declare themselves a naturopath overnight, without having to provide any proof of their qualification. The mention “self-taught” must be added when the naturopath is not qualified, but in practice this is rarely the case. Short training courses lacking a solid knowledge base are flourishing everywhere: short cycle training (generally 6 months), with no scientific or anatomical basis and a light approach to “patient” care, give a semblance of legitimacy to practitioners who are sorely lacking in practice once they graduate. The figures speak for themselves: only 10% of naturopathy students end up setting up in a practice. The SPN (Union of Naturopath Professionals) as well as various organizations and schools have been trying for years to initiate a dialogue with the Ministry of Health around the supervision of the profession, without success. Because although the naturopathy is integrated and practiced within a defined legal framework, it is not recognized as traditional first-line medicine, as several countries have done (South Africa, Germany, Australia, Belgium, China, Denmark, Great Brittany, Ireland, Israel, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland as well as the Indian continent, a dozen states of the USA and 5 provinces of Canada (British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan2).
How can we supervise such a broad and sometimes vague practice, made up of more and more practitioners each year, all trained in a different school and with a unique vision of the profession? How can we give legitimacy to our practice as a naturopath, in a society that is inclined to welcome them but faced with a healthcare system that is profoundly against alternative medicine?
Become a good naturopath – give credibility to your practice:
There is no secret: only training with a solid knowledge base and comprehensive support allows you to become a good naturopath. It is estimated that complete training should be around 1500 hours (level 3 training, or the highest level). Clinical practice with consultants must also be part of the training, because just like any health professional, only contact with “patients” allows you to sharpen your practice. Finally, the training must have a complete scientific basis, another prerequisite to ensure its legitimacy. On average, a 1500 hour training course takes place over 1.5 to 2 years. Be careful with short training courses (6 months to 1 year) which do not allow you to be fully trained. Certain specific accreditations can guide you (FENA accreditation, OMNES, RNCP training in France for example); or turn to training abroad, in countries that recognize naturopathy (Canada for example).
Beyond the training itself, there are certain principles that can guide your practice and allow you to give it credibility:
1. Rely on other healthcare professionals – work collaboratively
A good care system is an interdependent care system, drawing on the expertise of a whole host of specialist practitioners in their field. Do not be afraid to say that you do not know and refer your consultant to another professional when the problem goes beyond your scope of expertise, this shows seriousness.
2. Not wanting to “care”, but wanting to “take care”
The naturopath does not treat, he takes care. His role is to educate his consultant about a healthy lifestyle and to advise him on the right actions/remedies. We don’t prescribe anything, we don’t diagnose anything, we don’t treat anything. No treatment should be changed or stopped without the advice of the doctor.
3. Demonstrate rigor and seriousness – continue to educate yourself
It is important to continue to educate yourself on the latest scientific advances and discoveries, and always keep your knowledge up to date. Education does not end at graduation, but continues throughout life. Informing yourself, researching, educating yourself means reducing your margin of error and taking rigorous and serious care of your consultant. This places an important responsibility in your hands: that of advising him and taking care of his health; this should be respected.
4. Educate other health professionals about naturopathy – educate the public
Instead of entering into confrontation with the medical profession and resolving our differences, let us seek to explain our practice, to support it with scientific and concrete evidence and to encourage dialogue. We also seek to educate the general public about the interest of naturopathy and its benefits. A new era is dawning for our healthcare system, as medicine advances. The place of traditional medicine is now being discussed and the benefits of this approach can be seen, as demonstrated by the patients who have benefited from it. Tomorrow we will perhaps have the capacity to supervise the profession and offer the public a revolutionary approach to medicine, a clever blend of knowledge from yesterday, today and tomorrow. All that remains is to continue to inform ourselves, adapt and evolve with the world around us, the promise of just as many new challenges and public health issues to take up.
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