Estimated Effects of Whole-system Naturopathic Medicine in Select Chronic Disease Conditions: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Naturopathic medicine (NM) is a holistic approach to primary care that almost always employs multi-modal interventions, i.e. nutrition and lifestyle change recommendations plus dietary supplements. While evidence supports individual elements of NM, the whole practice is often critiqued for its lack of evidence.

Efficacy of Integrated Yoga and Naturopathy With Physiotherapy or Acupuncture for Low Back Pain: A Parallel, Two-Arm, Randomized Trial

“…In the case of CLBP, an optimal strategy involves a multidisciplinary and systematic approach encompassing a range of medical, psychological, physical, and interventional modalities to maximize therapeutic efficacy [28]. A systematic review assessing the outcomes of multimodal treatments administered by North American naturopathic physicians suggested that although several studies had limited sample sizes, the results consistently indicated that the utilization of wholesystem naturopathic medicine was linked to enhanced health outcomes and improved quality of life among patients with chronic conditions or those at risk of developing them [29]. According to Arankalle's review, a wide range of people with musculoskeletal disorders may benefit greatly from implementing a naturopathy and yoga protocol that includes lifestyle changes, therapeutic fasting, dietary modifications, and modalities, such as hydrotherapy, mud therapy, massage, physiotherapy, yoga, and exercise therapy [18].…”