During a lecture when studying, a teacher shared a story with us that struck a chord with me about the naturopathic approach to healing. He was also British and spoke of a time when he was waiting, and waiting, for a bus to arrive. During this time he said that his eyes rested upon a blocked drain in the gutter. It was full with debris, leaves, a crisp packet, and other rubbish as the rain water tried in vain to pass into the drain itself.
After some time observing the accumulated mess, he surmised that if, out of all the trapped waste that had gathered there, if he just pulled out this one twig, it would allow the rest to shift and the flow would resume. This was an analogy of how a Naturopath thinks laterally, considering the links between various physical, mental and emotional symptoms, as well as past medical and environmental factors etc.
It is only at this point, following a period of consultation and questioning, will a Naturopath decide upon the course of treatments that would best in order to assist client to return to homeostasis.