Italy, land of sun, sea, pizza ... and natural cures? Italians who rely on complementary medicines are on the rise: among these, naturopathy in Italy is on the rise. Let's see how and how much.

Naturopathy in Italy: the data speak for themselves

Eleven million Italians rely on alternative medicine . These are the data from a 2010 Eurispes survey. In Italy about 19% of the population relies on natural cures, including naturopathy, for the care of their health. More than 30, 000 doctors also use natural remedies in the therapies suggested to their patients.

The numbers bode well as they indicate an increase in the number of people who choose to treat themselves with naturopathy, always in a non-invasive, non-chemical way, in line with their body's self - healing powers.

Curiosity: who relies on naturopathy?

To rely on naturopathy are often very knowledgeable people about complementary therapies, via the Internet or through word of mouth among friends. Or they are mothers who choose naturopathy and natural products for the health and body care of their children.

In Italy there are more women (about 5 and a half million), adults, especially between 35 and 44 years. About 10% of children under 14 are treated with unconventional treatments.

Italian legislation on the matter: where are we?

In Italy, naturopathy does not yet have a clear law that protects operators and users from fraud and false therapists. However, there are spontaneous movements of consumers and sector operators. We report, among others, the establishment of the Holistic Movement, on 22nd September 2010 in Rome at Palazzo Marini, in the presence of the Honorable Domenico Scilipoti, a doctor. "Each of us - concludes the Hon. Scilipoti - comes from different backgrounds, but a common path unites all of us, the one made by the many inner battles, of deep introspections, to the continuous discovery of who we are and the balances that regulate our common harmonious living ". Do the words coincide with the actions necessary for the recognition of naturopathy in Italy?

Currently in Italy the professional profile of the professional in naturopathy and in general of the operators of Bio-Natural Disciplines is not yet legally recognized . There are only regional laws (in Lombardy, Tuscany, Liguria, Emilia Romagna). In 2011, however, a movement was launched in Italy that proposed a popular law on unconventional medicines: the goal was to collect the 50, 000 signatures needed to present a proposed law of popular initiative that would clarify the area of medicine intervention natural resources, on the requirements necessary to become professionals in unconventional therapies, and establish a code of professional ethics to follow.

The institutions move ... little but move

Even in the official sphere we can recognize some progress in recognizing the validity of naturopathy in Italy, within complementary medicines. Let's look at some examples.

In Tuscany, within the Usl 3 Pistoia, four complementary medicine clinics have opened: from homeopathy to acupuncture to phytotherapy. The services are accessible by appointment to the Cup and ticket.

In Lombardy, the state university of Milan, Bicocca has called for the academic year 2011-2021 the "Master in Health Systems, Traditional and Non-Conventional Medicines". It is a course to train professionals able to integrate the different areas of intervention for the single disciplines within the health structures.

I want to do something too! How can I do?

First of all, for yourself, you can do something indispensable: look for serious and professional naturopathic therapists. Then pass the word to anyone who needs the same kind of treatments!

For those wishing to participate in person, there is the possibility of joining with a signature to the definition, in Italy, of a law on natural medicines that makes the necessary and necessary clarity.