Naturopathy is a holistic form of medicine, which stresses maintenance of health and prevention of disease. It looks at the patient's individual genetic make up and environment, and then works with the body’s own efforts to achieve optimum health. When a person becomes unwell the basic approach of the practitioner will be to discover the cause of the complaint, then use the most natural, least invasive therapy available. This will encourage the self-healing power of the body. Naturopathy is suitable for all ages and can be an effective treatment for all manner of illnesses. But it should be regarded as not just a treatment, but a total approach to healthcare.