What is Naturopathic Medicine? (and what makes this approach different)
Distinct and comprehensive health care system that combines the best of modern science and natural medicine to provide individualized treatment.
This growing field of medicine seeks to treat the root causes of disease to restore optimal health.
Involving a wide range of modalities, selected treatments emphasize effective measures that impose the least harm.
6 Principles of Naturopathic Medicine1
First Do No Harm
- NDs select treatments with the least harmful effects (while still being effective).
- They’re trained to weigh benefits/risks to identify if higher-force interventions are indeed the safest option for you.
Identify and Treat the Cause
- Instead of only suppressing symptoms, NDs strive to also discover and treat the root causes of those symptoms.
Treat The Whole Person
- NDs recognize that body systems don't act in isolation.
- Disease stems from a complex interaction of factors.
- To treat your physical symptoms, NDs also examine your other body systems, mental, genetic, lifestyle, and environmental contributors.
Healing Power of Nature
- Your body consists of amazingly intelligent systems that are designed to heal itself (when given the correct tools).
- Disease occurs when something is too overwhelming for those systems to overcome.
- NDs first identify and remove obstacles to recovery. Then restore and support your inherent systems to achieve optimal health.
Doctor as teacher
- Health care should not be a one-way interaction where doctors tell you to take prescriptions without you understanding why.
- NDs prioritize you understanding your health to best achieve and maintain wellness.
Prevention
- Health care should not only be for late-stage illnesses or when symptoms arise.
- NDs can help assess risk factors to prevent the development of unwanted diseases.
6 Principles of Naturopathic Medicine1
Therapeutic Order of Naturopathic Treatment1
ND clinical decision-making is governed by these guidelines to fit your specific needs, maximize patient benefit, and reduce harm potential.
1
Remove obstacles to health
2
Stimulate self-healing mechanisms
3
Restore damaged systems
4
Physical alignment
5
Natural symptom control
6
Synthetic symptoms relief
7
