What is Naturopathic Medicine?
"A distinct primary health care profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing process. The practice of naturopathic medicine includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods." - American Association of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine is a form of medicine that is dedicated to identifying the underlying causes of disease and uses the unique healing power of nature to address imbalances. It combines ancient modalities with current tools of western medicine and science. The philosophy is rooted in the recognition that all aspects of health (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) are interconnected and that you can not expect a return to health from the suppression of symptoms alone. Naturopathic medicine utilizes the most natural, least invasive and least toxic therapies to promote wellness with restoration of vital energy and a sense of integrated wholeness as the underlying goals of treatment. Above all, it honors the body’s innate wisdom to heal itself.
As naturopathic physicians, we abide by six fundamental principles:
First Do No Harm We choose the most non-invasive and least toxic treatments utilizing the minimum dose necessary for each patient to feel relief.
The Healing Power of Nature Naturopathic medicine recognizes the inherent self-healing process that everyone possesses and which is ordered and intelligent. Combined with remedies from nature that have been used for centuries, and sometimes even millennia, the healing power of nature, both from within and without, frequently prevails to return the body to health and wholeness.
Identify and Treat the Cause We seek to identify and remove the underlying cause(s) of illness rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.
Doctor as Teacher We educate our patients on healthful lifestyle choices and encourage self-responsibility for health.
Treat the Whole Person We treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, we encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual development.
Prevention We emphasize the prevention of illness by addressing lifestyle factors that often cause or greatly contribute to disease.