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What is naturopathic medicine? Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary
health care - an art, science, philosophy and practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease. Conventional,
or allopathic, medicine has a growing dependence on pharmaceuticals and surgery. However, naturopathic physicians aid
the healing process by incorporating a variety of alternative methods that stimulate the body's innate healing abilities.
They use a variety of therapies in the prevention and treatment of disease, including herbal medicine, clinical nutrition,
minor surgery, homeopathy, bodywork, and lifestyle counseling. Naturopathic medicine attempts to find the underlying
cause of the patient's condition rather than focusing on symptomatic treatment.
What is naturopathic physical medicine? Naturopathic physical medicine involves the
evaluation, diagnosis and non-operative treatment of painful musculoskeletal diseases. Diagnostic modalities include
a comprehensive history, a detailed and specific physical examination, radiological evaluations and local anaesthetic blocks.
Therapeutic modalities encompass manipulations, massage, soft tissue techniques, ultrasound, diathermy, trigger point injections,
prolotherapy injections, stretching, and therapeutic exercise. Pharmaceutical, nutriceutical, herbal, and homeopathic
based treatment are also tailored to the individuals needs.
What is prolotherapy? Prolotherapy stimulates the body to repair areas of chronic
pain. Its effectiveness is wide-ranging and includes pain associated with the back, the neck, all joints throughout
the body, arthritis, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, sciatica, herniated discs, and Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
(TMJ). Athletes who suffer from sporting injuries and chronic sprains would also benefit from prolotherapy. Most
chronic musculoskeletal pain is due to weakness of ligaments and tendons. Joints, such as the knee and shoulder, often
develop instability as well as weakening of the internal cartilage surfaces, and these are often improved by intra-articular
(inside the joint) injections of dextrose and other irritant solutions. The injection causes the body to heal itself
through the process of inflammation. In the case of weakened or torn fibrous tissue, inflammation induced at the site
of injury results in 30-40% strengthening of the attachment points. In fact, prolotherapy is the only clinically proven
treatment that has been shown to rebuild, thicken, and strengthen cartilage.
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