The System of Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine (or naturopathy) is a medical system that focuses on the body's vitalistic ability to heal and maintain itself. Naturopathic philosophy favors a holistic approach, and finding the least invasive measures necessary for symptom improvement or resolution, thus encouraging minimal use of surgery and unnecessary drugs. According to the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges, "Naturopathic medicine is defined by principles rather than by methods or modalities. Above all, it honors the body’s innate wisdom to heal." Naturopathic physicians practice according to the six fundamental principles of naturopathic medicine:

Six Fundamental Principals

The Healing Power of Nature

​Our bodies have such a powerful, innate instinct for self-healing. By finding and removing the barriers to this self-healing - such as poor diet or unhealthy habits - naturopathic physicians can nurture this process.

Identify and Treat the Causes 

​Naturopathic physicians understand that symptoms will only return unless the root illness is addressed. Rather than cover up symptoms, we seek to find and treat the cause of these symptoms.

First Do No Harm 

​Naturopathic physicians follow three precepts to ensure their patients’ safety:

1. Use low-risk procedures and healing compounds—such as dietary supplements, herbal extracts and homeopathy—with few or no side effects.
2. When possible, do not suppress symptoms, which are the body’s efforts to self-heal. For example, the body may cook up a fever in reaction to a bacterial infection. Fever creates an inhospitable environment for the harmful bacteria, thereby destroying it. Of course, the naturopathic physician would not allow the fever to get dangerously high.
3. Customize each diagnosis and treatment plan to fit each patient. We all heal in different ways and the naturopathic physician respects our differences.

Educate Patients

​Naturopathic medicine believes that doctors must be educators, as well as physicians. That’s why we teach our patients how to eat, exercise, relax and nurture themselves physically and emotionally. We also encourage self-responsibility and work closely with each patient.

Treat the Whole Person

​Each of us have a unique physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, sexual and spiritual makeup. The naturopathic physician knows that all these factors affect our health. That’s why we include them in a carefully tailored treatment strategy.

Prevention

​"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" has never been truer. Proactive medicine saves money, pain, misery and lives. That’s why naturopathic physicians evaluate risk factors, heredity and vulnerability to disease. By getting treatment for greater wellness, we’re less likely to need treatment for future illness.

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