Can naturopathy provide answers to the escalating health care costs in India?

10.1016/j.jtcme.2014.11.006

Jaya Prasad Tripathy

health promotion ； naturopathy ； public health ； india ； cost-effectiveness

Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine

5卷2期（2015 / 04 / 01）

63 - 65

英文

There are substantial areas of overlap between naturopathy and public health, which include a focus on health rather than disease, a preventive approach, and an emphasis on health promotion and health education. Public health can look to naturopathy for answers to the emergence of chronic disease through natural therapies, many of which can take the role of primordial and primary prevention of several diseases. Some selected naturopathic therapies include nutrition, hydrotherapy, fasting therapy, yoga, behavioral therapy, and health promotion. We must reorient our focus on prevention and wellness to make a true impact on escalating health care costs. With the National Health Policy in India emphasizing the need for integrating the Indian Systems of Medicines with modern medicine, now is the right time for naturopathy and public health to come together to provide a holistic health care system.

1. CCRH Research Policy. Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Government of India. Available at: http://ccrhindia.org/imrpolicy.pdf Accessed 15.12.14.
2. Akerele, O(1988).Medicinal plants and primary health care: an agenda for action.Fitoterapia,59,355-363.
3. Bennerman, R(ed.),Burton, J(ed.),Chen, WC(ed.)(1983).Traditional Medicine and Health Care Coverage.Geneva, Switzerland:World Health Organization.
4. Bradley, R,Kozura, E,Buckle, H,Kaltunas, J,Tais, S,Standish, LJ.(2009).Description of clinical risk factor changes during naturopathic care for type 2 diabetes.J Altern Complement Med,15,633-638.
5. Bradley, R,Oberg, EB(2006).Naturopathic medicine and type 2 diabetes: a retro-spective analysis from an academic clinic.Altern Med Rev,11,30-39.
6. CHP Group. Integrating Evidence-based and Cost-effective CAM into the Health Care System; 2010. Available at: http://www.chpgroup.com/images/Documents/WhitePapers/CHP_Group_CAM_White_Paper_2011-02.25.pdf. Accessed 25.11.14.
7. Herman, PM,Craig, BM,Caspi, O(2005).Is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) cost effective? A systematic review.BMC Complement Altern Med,5,11.
8. Herman, PM,Poindexter, BL,Witt, CM,Eisenberg, DM(2012).Are complementary therapies and integrative care cost-effective? A systematic review of economic evaluations.BMJ Open,2,e001046.
9. Leung, B,Verhoef, M(2008).Survey of parents on the use of naturopathic medicine in Children-characteristics and reasons.Complement Ther Clin Pract,14,98-104.
10. Ma, J,Urizar, GG, Jr,Alehegn, T,Stafford, RS(2004).Diet and physical activity counseling during ambulatory care visits in the United States.Prev Med,39,815-822.
11. Mokdad, AH,Marks, JS,Stroup, DF,Gerberding, JL(2004).Actual causes of death in the United States, 2000.JAMA,291,1238-1245.
12. National Institute of Complementary Medicine(2010).,New South Wales, Australia:University of Western Sydney.
13. Nugent, R(2008).Chronic diseases in developing countries: health and economic burdens.Ann NY Acad Sci,1136,70-79.
14. Wardle, J(2008).,Brisbane:The Network of Researchers in the Public Health of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
15. Winslow C. The Evolution and Significance of the Modern Public Health. New York, NY: Yale University Press; 1923.
16. World Health Organization(2010).Benchmarks for Training in Naturopathy.Geneva, Switzerland:World Health Organization.