01 History & Philosophy

Question 1

What is the definition of Naturopathy?

Answer 1

A system of healthcare that promotes the body’s own healing systems.

Question 2

Name some naturopathic therapies.

Answer 2

Nutrition.
Fasting.
Hydroptherapy.
Naturopathic Manipulations.
Herbal Medicine.
Acupuncture.
Homeopathy.

Question 3

What are the 5 naturopathic principles?

Answer 3

1) The healing power of nature.
2) Treat the cause not the symptom.
3) Treat the whole person.
4) Prevention is better than cure.
5) Education.

Question 4

What are other words for ‘Vital Force’ and how are we in control of it?

Answer 4

Qi. Prana.

It can be stimulated or suppressed.

Question 5

What 6 things stimulate the vital force?

Answer 5

Fresh Air.
Sun.
Good water.
Healthy Diet.
Fasting/Detoxing.
Natural Therapies.

Question 6

What are the 3 ‘W’s when treating the cause of an illness (and not the symptom)?

Answer 6

Why is it there?
Where did it come from?
What is the cause?

Question 7

When treating the whole person, what does it mean to recognise a patients individuality?

Answer 7

To take into account a persons own physical, mental, genetic, environmental and social situations and other factors.

Question 8

What does educating a patient mean?

Answer 8

By giving them a better understanding of health, how to attain and maintain it, and how to avoid getting sick?

Question 9

Define ‘Health’?

Answer 9

Abundant vitality. The best possible physical, mental and emotional state to be in.

Question 10

What 3 things does a naturopathic nutritionist focus on?

Answer 10

1) Use of whole and organic food as medicine.
2) Importance of detoxification and cleansing.
3) Look at a persons constitution (TCM/Ayurveda).

Question 11

What is a nutrient?

Answer 11

A substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and life.

Question 12

Define nourishment.

Answer 12

Food/substance necessary for growth, health and good condition.

Question 13

What’s the definition of nutrition?

Answer 13

The process of obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.

Question 14

What are superfoods? Name a few.

Answer 14

Foods that contain all or nearly all the vitamins, minerals, trace elements a body needs.
Algae, sprouts, bee pollen.

Question 15

What is junk food, what can it include, what does it hinder?

Answer 15

Un-natural foods, altered or not suitable to maintain health and growth.
Can include chemicals, sweeteners, GMO, pesticides etc)
Hinder cellular communication.

Question 16

What is the meaning of Ayurvedic medicine and how long has it been around?

Answer 16

Ayur=Life
Veda=Knowledge
Use of air, herbs & water.

Question 17

How long has TCM been around?

Answer 17

Approx 3000 years.

Question 18

When did Hippocrates live, what was his saying and what process of healing did he advise?

Answer 18

468-377 B.C.
The food by thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.
First use food to treat illness, then herbs, then intervention.
Nature is the physician of man.

Question 19

What does ancient Greek medicine have a lot in common with, and what is it the original source of?

Answer 19

TCM and Ayurveda.

Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Chiropractic.

Question 20

In hydrotherapy, what do these uses of water stimulate?
Cold water.
Hot Water.
Alternating hot and cold water?
Applications?
How is water used internally by the body?

Answer 20

Cold: Decreases circulation and numbs area.
Hot: Relaxes muscles, increases circulation.
Alternating: Increases blood flow, therefore oxygen and nutrients to cells.
Applications: Compresses, wraps, baths, steams, saunas.
Water acts as a solvent and carrier of nutrients and wastes.

Question 21

What is the benefit of water treading?

How is it done?

Answer 21

Stimulates circulation. Strengthens immune system.
Fill a large receptacle, knee deep with cold water.
With warm feet, march on the spot in the water until deep sensation of cold appears (1-2 mins).
Stand out of water, dry, put on socks and move around.

Question 22

What is allopathy?

Answer 22

Allos - against. Pathy - disease.
Treats symptoms with chemicals/drugs.
Regards symptoms as disease, not the cause.
Suppresses symptoms which drive disease deeper into the body.

Question 23

What is homeopathy?

Answer 23

Homeo - similar/same to.
Cures like with like.
Uses special substances to stimulate the body’s own healing processes.
Treats whole person.
View symptoms as expressions of the dis-ease.

Question 24

What are some basic applications of healing sure like with like?

Answer 24

Fever - use lukewarm water, not cold.
Frost bite - use snow, not heat. Warm gently/slowly.
Sunburn/burns - use warm, drink warm things, don’t shock wth cold.
Hangover - sip or smell alcohol next day.

Question 25

What 6 areas can suppression of symptoms occur?

Answer 25

Emotions/needs/dream/desire/sorrow/worries.
Natural body secretions - anti-perspirants.
Local applications. - creams, corticosteroids.
Surgical removals.
Re-occuring infections.
Palliatives - drugs, antibiotics, pain killers etc.

Question 26

What should a good therapist always keep in mind to support?

Answer 26

Treat to support the patients own body self healing mechanisms.

Question 27

What is type 2 diabetes usually triggered by?

Answer 27

Lifestyle - usually faulty diet.

Question 28

What us type 2 diabetes characterised by (2 main things)?

Answer 28

High blood glucose levels.

Insulin resistance.

Question 29

What is insulin resistance and what happens in response?

Answer 29

Where cells become unresponsive to normal insulin levels produced by the pancreas. Therefore, more insulin is required which exhausts the pancreas and it stops producing it.

Question 30

What types of food excess causes insulin resistance?

Answer 30

Processed carbs (fructose, grain, wheat).
Trans/hydrogenated fats.
Low fibre.
Lack of exercise.

Question 31

What is the allopathic approach to treating type 2 diabetes, and what are the side effects?

Answer 31

Drugs that decrease insulin resistance and/or low blood sugar levels.
Not a large emphasis on dietary changes.
Weight gain. Cholesterol & triglyceride increase. Higher blood pressure.
Increased risk of death due to above.

Question 32

What is the naturopathic approach to type 2 diabetes?

Answer 32

Comprehensive dietary changes.
Natural supplements that lower blood sugar.
Exercise.
Stress reduction.

Question 33

What is the TCM body clock?

Answer 33

It’s believed that certain organs work more/harder at certain times of the day. Specific symptoms may either relate to the organs time, or the organ related to the opposite time on the clock!

Question 34

What concept is the core of TCM? Explain yin/yang meals.

Answer 34

Yin and Yang concept.

A meal should have a balance in yin and yang to be healthy for the body.

Question 35

Although no foods are completely yin or yang, each contain more of one than the other. How are yin and yang foods described?

Answer 35

Yin - cool, contracting, cooling in property.

Yang - warm, expanding, warming in property.

Question 36

What are some yin/cooling foods?

Answer 36

Generally low caloric fruits, green veg, seaweed.
Plant - wet - sweet foods.
Raw foods - better for spring/summer.
Processed food is more yin.
Nightshade family and sweet tropical fruits.
Rice (grown in water).

Question 37

What are some Yang/warming foods?

Answer 37

Higher caloric foods - fatty, flesh, cheeses, nuts.
Animal derived.
Salty foods.
Most root veg, red meat, ginger.
Best eaten autumn/winter.
Fresh food is more yang.
Wheat (grown in sun).

Question 38

What are some basic yin and yang health conditions?

Answer 38

Yin - too much sugar, not enough food = lethargy, anaemia, depression.
Yang - too much animal products and salt = bad breath, acne, high blood pressure.

Question 39

How does cooking alter yin and yang of foods?

Answer 39

Water is cooling, so food cooked in water or steam, makes them more yin.
Whereas cooking by fire, roasting, baking, frying will make foods more hot/yang.

Question 40

How do yin/yang foods affect metabolism? Name examples.

Answer 40

Yang/heating foods stimulate metabolism.
Garlic, onions, horseradish, ginger, chicken, eggs, duck, lamb, wheat, sesame seeds, walnuts, lemon, apples, olives and aged cheeses.

Yin/cooling foods calm/sedate metabolism.
Milk and dairy products, fresh cheeses, yogurt, mint, bananas, most tropical fruits, lettuce, cucumber, melons, watermelon, fish.