What is naturopathy?

Hevert is dedicated to naturopathy. But what does naturopathy actually mean? The term “naturopathy” encompasses various methods that activate the body’s own ability to heal itself – either with naturally occurring substances or with stimuli and the body’s own natural reactions to them.

What does naturopathy mean to Hevert-Arzneimittel?

Hevert-Arzneimittel defines “naturopathy” in much the same way as the customary definition.¹ In particular, naturopathy includes

a range of non-drug-based therapies (naturopathic treatments) as well as
the therapy with plant-based substances or medicinal products (naturopathic medicines).

What do naturopathic treatments mean to Hevert-Arzneimittel?

Hevert regards the conventional naturopathic treatments as including methods that are not based on treatment with preparations, such as

Hydrotherapy (the use of water to treat acute or chronic complaints, to build up resilience, or for prevention, rehabilitation and/or regeneration)
Balneotherapy (the use of water from natural spas with a high content of dissolved materials for medicinal baths, drinking cures and inhalations)
Nutritional therapy (use of nutritional findings for preventing, curing and alleviating the symptoms of illnesses)
Exercise therapy (therapeutic use of active and passive exercise to prevent, cure and alleviate the symptoms of illnesses)
Use of heat and cold, earth and light

In addition to conventional methods, complementary methods form part of naturopathic treatments, such as

Mind/body medicine (encouraging a healthy lifestyle by incorporating the mind, psyche, body and behavior (particularly nutrition, exercise, meditation and relaxation techniques))
Manual medicine (such as physiotherapy, chirotherapy, osteopathy, massage techniques, shiatsu)
Acupuncture and its related methods, such as acupressure, injection acupuncture (homeosiniatry) and electroacupuncture

What do naturopathic medicines mean to Hevert-Arzneimittel?

To Hevert, naturopathic medicines are primarily those medicinal products that fall under “special therapeutic approaches” according to the German Sozialgesetzbuch legislation, namely phytotherapeutic, homeopathic and anthroposophic therapies. Hevert distinguishes between the following types of treatment:

Rational phytotherapy (use of medicinal plants of proven quality, effectiveness and harmlessness as medicinal products)
Traditional herbal medicine (use of plant-based materials based on knowledge passed down through the generations in various cultural groups) such as preparations from traditional European medicine (TEM), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or Ayurveda from India
Classical homeopathy (the use of plants, minerals and other natural substances in accordance with the Hahnemann homeopathic principles of dilution and similarity)
Homeopathic complex remedies (the use of plants, minerals and other natural substances in accordance with the Hahnemann homeopathic principles of dilution and similarity in indication-dependent combinations of single remedies)
Anthroposophy (the use of combinations of plants, minerals and other natural substances in accordance with the anthroposophic teachings of Rudolf Steiner)

In addition to the product groups mentioned previously, Hevert-Arzneimittel regards naturopathic medicines as including further preparations that are typically used in naturopathic practice as part of and/or in support of classical or integrative methods. These include

Micronutrients
Orthomolecular therapies (involving administering high doses of vitamins and minerals)
Activated charcoal from coconut shells
Local anesthetics for use in neural therapy

Hevert also counts as naturopathic medicines some preparations that are classified by German law not as medicinal products but as medical devices, cosmetics, dietary supplements, balanced diet products or general food products. The compounds used are what make the difference.

In addition to the production and development of naturopathic medicines, Hevert-Arzneimittel supports naturopathy through research (basic and clinical), research funding (cooperations with universities and other research institutes, the Dr. Wolfgang Hevert Prize) and by collecting, preserving, developing and publishing concepts for naturopathic therapies. Not only for its own company, but also for the whole market, Hevert is committed to a liberal definition of the legal framework and to the preservation of the widest possible diversity of naturopathic preparations and active ingredients.

How is naturopathy compatible with conventional medicine?

People today have greater access than ever to information regarding therapy and medicinal product options. When it comes to their own health in particular, they want to assert their right to make their own decisions. We believe that more respect should be given to individual preferences and the choice to use naturopathic treatment options. As far as Hevert-Arzneimittel is concerned, that will improve not only individual health, but also general trust between patients, prescribers and product ambassadors.
Naturopathy is aimed at treating each person as a whole and at diagnosing and treating the causes of illnesses. It is intended to activate the body’s own ability to heal itself. For many illnesses and minor ailments, some may therefore consider it reasonable first to opt for a naturopathic approach, primarily to treat the causes of an illness and not just its symptoms. This can also be a way to avoid some of the side effects that can be more likely to occur in conventional medicine. In the case of serious illnesses, such as cancer, or when the body’s self-healing power has already broken down, it is generally necessary to turn to conventional medicine.
Hevert-Arzneimittel expressly advises against trying to treat every illness with naturopathy alone, and especially against doing so without seeking professional advice. This applies particularly when the body’s self-healing power is already too weak to be activated by complementary medicine. However, even in the case of life-threatening illnesses, some find naturopathy very useful as an accompaniment to conventional treatments. This can often be perceived as enhancing the efficacy of conventional treatment and reducing the occurrence of side effects. In addition, the diagnostic methods of conventional medicine (such as interpreting lab results) form a key basis for naturopathic diagnosis and choice of therapy. The idea that conventional medicine and naturopathy can make ideal complements for each other is supported by the number of doctors with additional certifications in naturopathy who have completed their studies in conventional medicine and then gone on to gain qualifications in naturopathic methods so that they can offer their patients holistic and integrated approaches to therapy.
Hevert-Arzneimittel believes in this symbiosis of conventional medicine and naturopathy as well. With its preparations and its naturopathy academy, Hevert aims to help maintain therapeutic diversity in the context of integrative medicine. Therapists, pharmacists and patients should be supported on a daily basis in being able to choose the best of both worlds.

¹ With regard to the definition of naturopathic treatments, classic naturopathic treatments and naturopathic medicines, see Karin Kraft, Rainer Stange (ed.). Lehrbuch Naturheilverfahren [Textbook of naturopathic treatments]. Stuttgart: Hippokrates, 2010.