What’s Naturopathic Medicine?

The saying “prevention is better than cure” is the root of the philosophy behind Naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine is a particular field of study that aims to combine the knowledge of the healing power of nature with the study of current modern day conventional medicine to ultimately treat the individual with the belief that there is a least invasive method of treatment for whatever the given pathology. We live in a society where ease and convenience is what ultimately governs the decision of healthcare.

The goal of the Naturopathic physician is to be able to identify the underlying cause of a particular condition and then treat the whole person through health promotion and disease prevention. Naturopathic doctors are primary care physicians that study both methods of treatments, the natural health modalities and allopathic conventional therapies.

What’s so remarkable about NDs is that they are not just trained in one type of treatment. ND training includes studies of counseling, clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine and pharmacology. NDs are also able to prescribe conventional medications.

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) defines Naturopathic Medicine as “a distinct primary 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.”

What are The Six Principles of Naturopathic Medicine?

FIRST, Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)

Naturopathic Medicine uses the lowest-force interventions necessary to facilitate healing as well as employs higher-force modalities as appropriate to treat the pathology within the patient. The greatest and most effective medicine is the one that does the least harm.
The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)

In Naturopathic Medicine, the doctor sees and honors the innate healing power within all life forms. The ultimate role of the physician is to stimulate these intrinsic, spontaneous healing mechanisms to heal disease and create wellness. Naturopathic doctors use a variety of modalities to “stimulate the vis” when treating patients throughout their healing journey.
Identify and Treat the Cause (Tolle Causam)

Symptoms of pain and disease are evidence of an underlying imbalance. Instead of treating and suppressing the symptoms, Naturopathic Physicians recognize symptoms as messages. ND’s use these messages to discover and treat the root cause of the disease.
Treat the Whole Person (Tolle Totem)

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” - Aristotle
This quote helps give a clear picture of what this means to total health and wellness. When you combine the individual parts of the body, their collective impact is far greater and more efficacious than the impact of each part on its own. Naturopathic doctors understand the interconnectedness of our mind, body, environment, and lifestyle on our overall health. This whole person perspective gives insight to restore balance and health.
The Doctor as Teacher (Docere)

The word “Doctor” comes from the Latin word docere, which means “to teach.” The physician’s role is to educate, teach and empower the patient on how to understand what steps are needed to achieve and maintain optimal health.
Prevention is the Best Cure (Preventar)

Naturopathic Physicians teach preventative medicine to support patients’ wellness and decrease their risk of common chronic diseases that ultimately impacts daily wellness. We have the opportunity to prevent illness from manifesting when we live honoring the foundations of health (i.e. drinking water, quality nutrition, adequate sleep, clean air, and regular movement.)