Naturopathic medicine is an integrative system of medicine that combines ancient, time-honored traditions with modern science. The focus is on comprehensive diagnosis and holistic treatment, with proactive prevention. Naturopathy uses the least invasive and most natural treatments to help restore balance and health to the body. As a form of primary care, Naturopathic medicine is the science, practice and art of diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases of the human body and mind. There are traditionally 6 Principles in Naturopathic Philosophy (a 7th has been recently added):
- Do No Harm
- Use the most impactful treatment with the least invasiveness: Naturopathic Doctors use vitamins, minerals, herbs, homeopathy and nutrition as their primary treatment modalities, which are effective with few to no negative side effects.
- Do not suppress symptoms: Symptoms serve as clues to help us find out the underlying illness. In fact, symptoms are the body’s own attempt to heal itself. For instance, if one develops a fever, that is the body’s attempt to heat itself up to kill the bad bugs (viral, bacterial or fungal). If we suppress a fever, we are allowing these bad bugs to flourish. The goal is to help the body to kill the bad bugs, so the fever can naturally subside. Of course, in dangerously high fevers, naturopathic doctors will take necessary steps to reduce fever and help kill the bugs.
- Individualized care: There is no one size fits all in naturopathic medicine. Everyone has their own ways of healing, and their abilities and preferences are taken into consideration. Naturopathic doctors customize treatments plans specifically for each individual.
- Find and Treat the Cause(s) – Although each disease has common triggers associated with it, each person has unique underlying factors contributing to their illness. Naturopathic doctors like to do the detective work to find the underlying cause (or causes). Rather than just masking the symptoms, we like to identify any obstacles to cure. When we can treat the cause, that is how lasting cure can happen.
- Use the Healing Power of Nature – Our bodies are designed for healing. Using the most natural treatments to support the body’s healing helps to restore balance and vitality.
- Treat the Whole Person – Naturopathic doctors treat the person, not the disease. Taking into account the unique physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of each person, we customize our treatments to fulfill the unmet needs.
- Educate Patients – Our goal is to empower our patients to make informed decisions about their own health. We educate our patients about how to create and sustain vibrant health. We encourage our patients to take responsibility for their health and we advocate for them.
- Prevention – Naturopathic doctors emphasize prevention by assessing risk factors, family history, genetics, and susceptibility to disease in order to prevent future illness and decline. Naturopathy strives to create a healthy world where all beings may thrive.
- Wellness – Through the healing work, we help our patients achieve optimal health, harmony, and vitality. Wellness is not just the absence of disease, it encompasses genuinely healthy physique, emotions, thoughts, and actions. As we nurture wellness in our patients, then, when disease arises, healing is quick and easy.
