"Let your food be your  medicine

and medicine be  your food"

Hippocrates

CYPRUS  NATURAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION

Cyprus Natural Therapy Association is registered by the Republic of Cyprus in accordance with the Societies & Institutions Laws 1972, 1973 (Regulation 4).

CYPRUS ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES ASSOCIATION (Reg. No. 1457)

We are living in one of the most exciting periods in human history. Virtually every aspect of human life is undergoing radical conceptual changes. In the fields of Holistic Health, Naturopathy, Nutrition, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Osteomyology etc., increasing trust is being placed on the healing forces of the individual, rather than on drugs.

Alternative Therapy –Naturopathy/Acupuncture/Osteopathy/Nutrition (Nature Cure) is a complete and scientific way of curing practically most forms of disease by natural methods such as Natural Nutrition, Fasting, Naturopathic Body  Manipulation, Electrical Methods, Acupuncture, Homeopathic Remedies, Herbs, Vitamins & Minerals,  Therapeutic Exercise and Massage.

All members of our Association are holders of European/UK approved qualifications in Alternative Therapy Practices and are experts in their profession who can prescribe naturally and supervise the correct methods of treatment with which to bring back the sick person to health rapidly and completely, provided, of course, the  breakdown and degeneration of organs and tissues has not gone beyond the point of no return.

Our Aims

• To continue making available contribution to the general public by providing safe and competent practitioners committed to continuing   professional development and the maintenance of the highest standards of ethical practice.

• To help the public become aware of the Natural Therapies. (Naturopathic, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Nutritional practice, etc.)

• To act in the best interest of our members.

Naturopathic Principles

• Prevention is better than cure.

• Total Health is our approach.

• The body under normal natural conditions is a self sustaining organism.

• The whole person is treated and not the disease.

• The individual is unique.

• The actual cause of the health problem is identified and not the disease.

THE ROLE OF THE ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE IN CYPRUS

To offer something that conventional (orthodox) medicine are failing to deliver.

• Gentle medicine, safer medicine

• Natural medicine

• Holistic approach and individual medicine  

• Taking personal responsibility

• A more relaxed approach

• Prevention rather than cure

Gentle and safer medicine

What attracts people to Natural/Complementary medicine is that this kind of medicine is GENTLER form of therapy than most conventional treatments. It is considered a kinder and gentler, with a much reduced risk of causing harm to those who use it.

Complementary medicine does not treat the patient  according to the Law of the Opposites used by the Conventional doctors, but according to the Law of the Similars. This means that when we give to patient natural remedies (vitamins, minerals, herbs, homeopathics, natural diet, detoxification  and other bio-energy treatments we work according to the LAW of SIMILARS. Why? Because we do not go against/kill, suppress  the symptoms of a disease instead we help the symptoms to do their work efficiently and bring balance to the disturbed energy levels of the body.

Orthodox medicine claim that it treats disease according to the Law of the Opposites, which means that it will suppress /treat the symptoms to cure the patient. The symptoms are taken as the cause of the problem. As a matter of fact conventional medicine treats by acting against the disease. This means that if they give a synthetic medicine to a HEALTHY person will produce disease to him. If they give the same dose, the same medicine to a SICK person will produce Health/cure.

This Law of the Opposites is a very strange Law: If a medicine makes the HEALTHY person SICK, imagine what is going to happen if this the same medicine, same dose etc is given to the SICK ( already exhausted and deficient in energy levels and vitality). I think that this will cause more disease as the  symptoms will be masked and the healing power will stop functioning and if this continues on for long time the original condition will get worse, and chronic, degenerative.

Surely the Complementary medicine is much safer than orthodox medicine. The reason is drugs produce contrary symptoms to the disease, so we have these severe adverse reactions most people have experienced when they have taken such drugs.



NATURAL MEDICINE & HOLISTIC APPROACH:

Natural:

Unlike the synthetic, highly sophisticated and refined products used by medical people, the complementary remedies and treatments used by Alternative /Complementary Therapists are derived from NATURAL SOURCES. Complementary medicine offers natural medicine from our strongest LINK, the Mother Nature ( herbs, vitamins, minerals etc…The SYNTHETC  PILL given by the orthodox medicine contains an isolated chemical compound. Pharmaceutical companies take one chemical from the plant, leaving behind the hundreds of other compounds and also the minerals, vitamins, fibers, that accompany the one chemical in the live plant. Each raw herb has a unique combination of chemicals in it.

A HERB’S MEDICINAL EFFECT IS THE RESULT OF THE SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITY.

All chemicals contained in the herb are working together. By ingesting a synthetic chemical isolate containing molecule chains altered in the laboratory we are depriving of ourselves of the full healing effects of the herb from which the chemical came. So offer Natural, non-toxic remedies which have no side effects and they help rather inhibit the body’s function.

Holistic approach and individuality:

Complementary medicine practitioners offer treatments which are based on holistic philosophy. They consider the body as a UNIT which means that each tiny part of the body and in turn each  of its systems is intimately connected to every part and every other system. So when the function of any part of the body is less than 100%,the rest of the body is affected in some way or the other. The medical science is concentrating on particular diseases and treat the symptoms that manifested.

The Alternative/complementary practitioners do not ignore the fundamental principle that no matter what part is of the body shows signs of illness or injury, every other part of the body is affected. So a whole body approach is offered to the patient. If a patient comes with cancer of the lungs will not be viewed merely as a pair of lungs. The problem may be connected to psychological factors, environmental factors. The patients are being offered a treatment  not according to the name of disease as conventional medicine . The complementary medicine practitioners see individuals as UNIQUE. The body-mind –spirit is taken into account.

10 patients may suffer from Migraine Headache but the treatment will be offered will not be the same. One may suffer from migraine due to psychological factors, and another patient may suffer migraine when exposed to damp or cold weather, or from bad eating habits. The treatment is tailored to individual needs, as each person will produce symptoms and signs unique to them, and react differently to any given set of circumstances.


A more relaxed approach:

The patient is able to spend much more time (usually up to 1 and ½ hours ) with the therapist than he is with the conventionally trained doctor. The environment in which the patients are seen is generally more cosy and relaxed, there is no waiting room full of sick people outside. The patients are given the time and opportunity to explain all their symptoms-complaints etc.

Taking personal responsibility:

Complementary medicine practitioners encourage patients to take more personal responsibility for their own health. Complementary medicine patients take a much more active role in making decisions about their treatment. They do not wait until they are ill before visiting the doctor, they go before they develop symptoms, or when they want to boost their well-being and overall-health. Support the patient’s efforts in gaining and maintaining control of their own health.


Prevention is better than cure:

"One Gram of prevention is better than a ton of Cure."

One of the important roles of the Alternative Medicine is to teach people to prevent their diseases rather than cure them. We believe that many illnesses may be prevented by maintaining the patient’s emotional, spiritual, and physical in balance and harmony at all times.

Alternative Medicine practitioners (Naturopaths, Nutritional Therapists, Bioenergy therapists, etc) are concentrated on Prevention and Lifestyle therapy.
The Alternative movement is sending a message to the public that there is an Alternative natural therapy, gentle therapy without the severe adverse Reactions of the many synthetic chemical drugs and conventional practices.

This prevention can be succeeded by the use of the Natural Therapy Methods such as Naturopathy, Homeopathy,  Acupuncture, Osteopathy, Nutritional Therapy.. etc.methods which are using natural means such as detoxification of the environmental (Food toxins, psychological toxins, natural herbs, vitamins ,minerals, amino-acids, organic foods, osteopathic manipulative adjustments, acupuncture to rectify energy imbalances and strengthen the IMMUNE SYSTEM, and increase the ENERGY LEVELS of the body to overcome the condition, whether this is pain, swelling  or Cancer.

Our role is to inform people, the healthy and sick that alternative medicine is here to help them with a different kind of preventive and treatment approach to their health problems.

Application Procedure

Should you wish to make an application for registration, you must download the application pack, which contains all the papers and information necessary for your application. The documents are also available individually from our download page. Once the Secretary receives your application for registration, he will check it to make sure that all relevant sections have been completed, that the correct fee has been submitted, and that all necessary paperwork has been attached. If everything is correct, he will send you an acknowledgement of receipt, and will forward the papers to the Registration Committee, who will consider the application. As a rough guide, the Registration Committee will report its initial findings to the Secretary within six weeks, who will then notify you of the result.

The Registration Committee goes through five steps when considering an application:

• it may accept the application without reservation;

• it may request that an applicant submit additional information for further consideration. Once such information is received, the Committee may accept or reject the application or request the applicant to attend an interview or sit an examination;

• it may request that the applicant attends an interview with the Committee. Following the interview, the Committee may accept or reject the application, or require the applicant to sit an examination.

• it may require the applicant to sit an examination to demonstrate his or her knowledge of the principles and practice of Alternative Therapy. Further information on the structure and cost of the examination would be provided at this point. If the applicant passes the examination, the Committee will accept the application, but should the applicant fail the examination, the Committee will reject the application;

• it may reject the application. In such a case, the applicant is entitled to ask for the decision of the Committee to be reviewed by an Appeal Panel consisting of the  vice President, President and immediate past President of the GCRAT, whose decision will be final. If the Appeal Panel recommends rejection of the application, the registration fee and processing fee will be refunded.

If you wish to continue and make an application for registration, please return the completed forms, with the correct payment, to the Secretary's office.

Requirements for registration

Membership of the GCRAT is confined to those who had undertaken full-time or part –time training in Alternative Therapy from approved Schools /Colleges /Universities abroad or Cyprus In addition, the Registration Committee is able to consider, and in some suitable cases accept, applications from practitioners whose qualifications may be different from those outlined above, so long as the practitioner meets the minimum levels of naturopathic competence described here.

It is important to remember that the GCRAT is a British Register. Registration is confined to those practitioners trained and working in the UK, or trained overseas but resident in the UK. Practitioners trained and working overseas are not normally considered for registration.

Benefits of registration

Benefits of registering with the GCRAT include:

• membership of the largest CY Alternativbe Therapy registering body;

• a voice, and influence, in Cyprus, European and international government processes which might affect our right to practice;

• representation or affiliation with other like-minded bodies, such as the ANP Association U.K  and  CMA –Complementary Medicine Association UK and other Alternative Therapy Councils Associations and Organizations in UK.

• public relations carried out by the Register on behalf of alternative Therapists and registered practitioners;

• access to publications, such as the Register of Members, leaflets for practice promotion, amongst others.

Registration also brings automatic membership of the Cyprus Alternative /Acupuncture and  Naturopathic Association, benefits of which includes:

• subscription to The Cyprus Alternative Therapies   Journal;

• reduced cost attendance at the Annual Conference and at regular Study Days for continuing post-graduate education;

• access to the Association's locum service, for those looking for work, or looking either for locums or assistants;

• access to reduced cost medical malpractice insurance, as well as specific practice policies;

• a members' helpline, to help with any professional problems or difficulties.

Minimum Levels of Alternative Therapy  (Naturopathy/Homeopathy/Acupuncture/Osteopathy/  Reflexology/Aromatherapy Competence)

In order to apply Alternative  therapeutic techniques safely and competently a practitioner must have sound knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, nutrition, naturopathic principles and basic medical therapeutics. A practitioner must have acquired sufficient depth of knowledge of the principles of medicine and the pathological processes of underlying disease and be aware of the physiological basis of, and current concepts regarding, naturopathic treatment.

A practitioner must be capable of taking and interpreting a pertinent case history which should include information about the patient's present complaint including predisposing, precipitating and maintaining factors as well as information about the patient's medical, physiological, social and family history.

A practitioner must be able to conduct and interpret an appropriate clinical examination which will include:

• an examination and evaluation of the biomechanics of the patient and a reasoned assessment of the fundamental biomechanical interrelationships within the body's structure

• the use and interpretation of appropriate and currently acceptable clinical testing procedures and auxiliary investigations, including a clinical examination of the nervous system.

A practitioner must be trained to make an appropriate differential diagnosis based upon current knowledge. This should include awareness that pain associated with certain visceral diseases can mimic pains originating from within the musculo-skeletal system. It is essential therefore that a practitioner should be able to distinguish between pain of a biomechanical nature and that of visceral origin as well as determine whether a pain is derived from the site where it is experienced or referred from another part. A practitioner must be trained to record systematically all relevant information and findings and be able to communicate these, and their relevance, to the patient's general practitioner and/or other health care practitioner.

A practitioner must also be aware of the absolute and relative contra-indications to naturopathic treatment. The practitioner must also be aware of his/her limits of competence and be able to recognize when the patient is suffering from a condition where naturopathic treatment may be inappropriate and which accordingly requires referral to a registered medical practitioner. On completion of an initial examination, the practitioner should be in a position to determine whether naturopathic treatment is appropriate, and if so formulate an appropriate treatment plan and prognosis. The practitioner should be able to communicate his or her findings, diagnosis, prognosis (and possible prophylaxis) to the patient in such a way that the patient's own expectations are taken into consideration. Naturopathic treatment embraces a wide range of therapeutic techniques.

Practitioners should be familiar with at least the core techniques of  Alternative  and specifically naturopathic /Osteomyology  techniques and know how to apply and modify them appropriately to the patient's particular condition. The following therapies are considered to be of primary importance in the naturopathic treatment of disease: nutrition and dietetics, fasting, structural adjustment, hydrotherapy, encouragement of a healthy life-style and health education. In naturopathic philosophy it is just as important, if not more so, to explain to the patient why disease occurs and what the patient can do for him or herself to maintain the new, improved level of health given to them by naturopathic treatment. In this way the patient is given responsibility for his or her health.

Practitioners should be aware of the hazards of inappropriate and over treatment, and be capable of evaluating, assessing and reassessing the patient's changing condition and any other ongoing therapeutic procedure that the patient may be receiving. To sum up, the practice of alternative therapy (naturopathy/homeopathy/acupuncture/osteopathy) requires a depth of medical and biomechanical knowledge with a repertoire and refinement of technical skills that short undergraduate courses alone cannot adequately hope to provide. In order to absorb the professional skills and ethical values essential for safe and competent practice all student naturopaths require a continuity of clinical experience combined with substantive interaction with professional lecturers, clinicians and peers in an environment which allows for a synthesis of theoretical learning and practical experience.

Education

An integral part of naturopathic treatment includes being able to educate the patient in all elements of healthy living.


Principles

The Alternative Therapist should:

• Recognise the level of knowledge and acceptance of an individual and assist them in gaining  insight into their health.

• Lead by example. Naturopaths must make efforts to follow a lifestyle which is complementary to these guidelines.

• Recognise that the individual plays an essential part in their own health restoration.

• Guide their patients into accepting more responsibility for their own health.

• Stimulate a healthy independence from, rather than dependence on, the practitioner.

Practice

The Naturopath should be able to offer well informed advice in the following areas:

• The  Alternative Therapy (Naturopathic/Acupuncture/Homeopathy/osteopathy)  principles of health and disease, how the patient became unwell, what is keeping them unwell, how they can get well and how they can stay well.

• Diet and nutrition, including nutritional supplementation.

• Detoxification including fasting and elimination.

• Correct use of Acupuncture needles.

• Physical exercise.

• Management of acute diseases/healing crises.

• Hydrotherapy and phytotherapy for home use.

• Breathing and breathing exercises.

• Relaxation and stress management.

• Natural fertility awareness.

• Preconceptual care, pregnancy and natural childbirth. (It is acknowledged that delivery of the infant is restricted to those who are registered to practise as midwives or medical doctors.

• Referral should therefore be made to a suitable midwife).