Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine

 Naturopathic medicine focuses on the treatment of disease through the stimulation, enhancement, and support of the body’s innate healing ability. It is based on the idea that an individualized approach to health and healing allows for effective treatment of all patients. Doctors do not heal patients; patients heal themselves. Naturopathic Doctors are licensed physicians clinically trained in natural therapeutics. Methods of treatment include botanical medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, diet, nutritional supplementation, exercise therapy, and lifestyle counseling.

The naturopathic medical practice is based on the same bio-medical foundation as that of conventional Medical Doctors, but their philosophies and approaches to treatment differ considerably. The philosophy of Naturopathic Medicine is centered on six main principles that are the foundation of the profession. When all these principles are applied to treating a patient, it allows for patients to achieve a state of optimal wellness. The following principles make Naturopathic Medicine different from all other approaches:

• Primum no nocere: First of All, Do No Harm. This principle deals with two areas. First, Naturopathic doctors use therapies to treat their patients that are safe and effective. They are educated and trained to treat patients safely so no further harm is done. Second, the healing process involves a generation of symptoms, which are a manifestation of the body attempting to heal itself. Treatment should be complementary to and synergistic with the healing process versus antagonizing and suppressive. Suppressing symptoms without removing the cause is considered harmful and should be avoided or minimized.

• Vis medicatrix naturae: The Healing Power of Nature. Naturopathic physicians act in cooperation with the Healing Power of Nature. The body possesses the inherent capability to create, maintain, and restore health. The physician's role is to facilitate and enhance this process with natural and non-toxic therapies. The physician works to discover and detect obstacles to health and recovery, and to remove or treat them once identified. They support the patient to assist in the creation of a healthy internal and external environment, so nature may takes its course.

• Tolle causam: Find the Cause. Naturopathic Physicians address the fundamental causes of disease. Illness does not occur without an origin or cause. Naturopathic doctors direct treatment at the root cause of a patient’s illness, rather than treating the symptomatic expression. Symptoms are manifestations of the body's natural attempt to heal, but are not the cause of disease. In order for a person to recover completely from illness, an underlying cause of disease must be revealed and removed or treated.

• Tolle Totum: Treat the Whole Person. Naturopathic Physicians heal the whole person through individualized treatment. Health is based upon harmony among all the features and characteristics of a person. The physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors of a person’slife affect their health. This requires a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment in order to find the most effective route of healing for the patient.

• Docere: Doctor as Teacher. Naturopathic Doctors teach the principles of healthy living and preventative medicine. They strive to educate, empower, and motivate patients to take responsibility for their own health. It is the patient, not the doctor, who ultimately achieves healing. Building a healthy, cooperative doctor-patient relationship has an intrinsic therapeutic value. The physician acts to enable the patient to heal by teaching with knowledge, compassion, hope, and faith.

• Prevenire: Prevention is the Best Medicine. Prevention should be of vital importance in any health care system. Prevention is optimally attained through education and a lifestyle that supports health. Naturopathic Doctors are preventive medicine specialists. Physicians evaluate risk factors and susceptibility and intervene when necessary to decrease risk and prevent illness. Developing and supporting health works more effectively than fighting disease.