Since Natural Rearing is based on the principles of Animal Naturopathy, it was a very natural transition for me, Krystal, to become a Certified Small Animal Naturopath (CSAN). I am often asked: “What is that?”
Animal naturopathy, its philosophy, and components have been around for hundreds of years. With the rise of allopathy, it went overlooked until recent years. A growing number are now turning to it as the primary healthcare for their animals.
Animal naturopathy is beautiful, elegant, and simple. It touches every living species and every aspect of life. It is both proactive and solution-oriented.
What it is not is a fad; it’s a lifestyle.
Because an Animal Naturopath can target a wide variety of conditions without the use of drugs or surgery, many clients want to integrate their animal’s medical treatment with natural methods. Some clients seek them because their animal has a condition that has not been helped through conventional allopathic means. Still, others are being proactive and want guidance in maintaining wellness.
Animal Naturopaths are for people who want to fully participate in their animal’s wellness, need guidance and support, have a desire to learn new things and dissolve old patterns. Animal Naturopaths are not for those wanting a quick fix, not willing to think outside the conventional box, or willing to put forth the effort and make changes.
Naturopathic Principles
Animal Naturopathy is based on six principles:
1) Healing Power of Nature– The body has an innate ability to heal itself. Animal Naturopaths support and assist the body in this process.
2) Identify and Address the Cause– Animal Naturopaths are trained to find and remove underlying obstacles to health rather than simply eliminate or suppress symptoms.
3) First Do No Harm– Animal Naturopaths use natural methods and medicines that minimize the risk of harmful side effects.
4) Teach– The word “doctor” means teacher. Through education, Animal Naturopaths empower the client and encourage individual responsibility for their animal’s health.
5) Target the Whole Animal– The causes of illness may occur on a physical, mental, or emotional level. Animal Naturopathy uses a multi-dimensional approach taking all aspects into account.
6) Prevention is the Best Cure– Animal Naturopaths emphasize building health to keep existing health challenges from developing into a more serious or chronic state.
Why Use an Animal Naturopath?
The benefit of a naturopathic approach to animal health is just that, health! Animal naturopathy will assist your animal’s body in building, repairing, and maintaining health. The highly skilled Animal Naturopath can provide critical information to clients (animal guardians) that they may never come across on their own or while working with an allopathic practitioner.
Homeostasis is a word often heard in animal naturopathy. It is the state of harmonious balance and rhythm among mind, body, spirit, and environment. While homeostasis naturally fluctuates, nature’s laws cannot be ignored without certain consequences; imbalance is guaranteed. This also dishonors the animal.
There are eight Laws of Health in animal naturopathy none of which are optional: Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunshine and supplements, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust. A handy acronym to remember them is NEWSTART. When you provide each element homeostasis returns to your animal, deep health is established, and there are no symptoms of illness.
The goal of an Animal Naturopath is to help the animal feel better without causing harm or uncomfortable side effects, rejecting the use of drugs and surgical intervention. They respect the expression of symptoms as the body’s attempt to heal and know that symptoms are not the disease or the cause of disease.
Animal Naturopaths have been trained in, and have the ability to determine the underlying cause of illness and to stimulate the body’s own healing ability. This is why animal naturopathy can be so effective where other systems fail.
What Conditions Can Animal Naturopaths Address?
Animal Naturopaths can address most conditions and health challenges. Although they do not take the place of veterinarians, they fill a gap in guiding animal guardians on the steps needed to help their animal achieve optimal health. Animal Naturopaths cannot legally “diagnose, prescribe, or treat”. Animal naturopathy can be used alone or in tandem with conventional veterinary medicine.
It is important to note that an absence of symptoms does not mean an animal is in optimal health. Health comes through giving the body everything it needs to maintain wellness.
What Methods Do Animal Naturopath’s Use?
A few of the many tools Animal Naturopaths utilize:
Nutrition: Animal Naturopaths have extensive training in assessing nutritional status and species appropriate diets, vitamin, and mineral supplementation.
Botanicals: Scientific studies have validated the use of plants as medicine (phytotherapy). Animal Naturopaths turn to herbs for immune support, to normalize bodily function, improve digestion, etc.
Aromatherapy: Animal Naturopaths are trained in the safe use of therapeutic essential oils.
Flower Essences: Based on the non-invasive approach discovered by Edwin Back, M.D. in the 20th century, Animal Naturopaths utilize flower essences which address the emotional component of most disease processes.
Homeopathy: Animal Naturopaths may recommend homeopathic remedies based on an animal’s unique characteristics to address all sorts of acute or chronic illness.
Bodywork: Acupressure, chiropractic, and massage are forms of bodywork often recommended by Animal Naturopaths.
What Happens in a Consultation?
A health and lifestyle assessment of the animal is taken. The Animal Naturopath takes into consideration the complex interaction of physical, mental, emotional, genetic, and environmental factors when assessing an animal. A health plan or protocol in relation to the individual animal will be discussed. If needed, the animal may be referred for laboratory or other tests, or to a specialist for further consultation. A Follow-Up visit is scheduled for 2 to 4 weeks after any regimen is started.
When Will I See Results?
Most clients report fairly rapid results. In chronic illness, the client can expect to undergo at least one month of therapy for every year the illness has resided. The Animal Naturopath attempts to support the animal’s own system to address the imbalance(s) that have damaged its health. Best results come through positive changes and the persistence to maintain these long enough for the body to realign its natural state of optimal health or homeostasis.
The road to health can be quite complex. An Animal Naturopath is an important ally in building a wellness plan.
I hope this information encourages you to turn to an Animal Naturopath as the first line of defense for your animals’ health!
For more information and to schedule a consultation for your companion, please visit Radiant Animal Wellness.