What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine utilizes natural, non-toxic therapies to promote the health and wellness of the individual. Treatment by a naturopath often focuses on prevention, diet and lifestyle changes, and stimulation of the body's innate ability to heal. Naturopathic medicine attempts to treat the underlying cause, rather that treating the symptomatic expression of disease. Optimal health can be achieved when the cause of disease is addressed! Naturopathic medicine can be combined with other forms of health care to create a complementary team. The primary goal is your optimal health and wellness.
Naturopathic Philosophy
There are six basic tenets of Naturopathic medicine, which guide a Naturopathic doctor (N.D.) in his/her treatment of patients. These principles are sworn to be upheld by licensed naturopathic doctors.
First Do No Harm
Naturopathic physicians follow three precepts to avoid harming the patient:
The Healing Power of Nature
Naturopathic Medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process, which is ordered and intelligent. The body has the innate ability to establish, maintain, and restore health.
Identify and Treat Causes
Illness does not occur without cause. The physician's role is to facilitate and augment the body's own ability to heal, and to identify and remove obstacles to health and recovery.
Treat the Whole Person
Naturopathic physicians treat each patient as unique individuals. Health and disease result from complex interactions between physical, mental/emotional, biochemical, genetic, and environmental factors.
Prevention
Naturopathic physicians assess risk factors and inherited susceptibility to disease, which can help identify and prevent the future development of chronic disease.
Doctor as Teacher
The naturopathic physician's major role is to educate and encourage the patient to take responsibility for one's health. The physician must strive to inspire hope as well as understanding in order to facilitate the healing process.