What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of holistic natural primary health care: an art, science, philosophy and practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness. It is healing the way nature intended, based on the following fundamental principles:
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Vis Medicatrix Naturae: Each person has a vitality that will help them heal naturally. Nature cures; and the physician’s highest calling is to foster the curative properties of nature that lie within each person.
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Tolle Causam: Treat the cause of disease by removing the obstacles to cure. Naturopathic physicians are trained to seek and address the root of illness, rather than masking symptoms.
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Treat the individual: Each person is unique in their manifestation of health and disease. So, treat each individual rather than giving the same generic prescription to everyone.
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Holistic approach: Treat the person as a whole being, not just the total sum of body parts. The most effective treatments address the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual spheres as they manifest together in each individual.
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Prevention: While optimizing health today, naturopathic physicians also look ahead to prevent future illness and recurrence of illness. This can be accomplished through careful attention to symptoms and the patient’s family history, thorough review of laboratory findings, and proper examination of the individual’s physical, mental and emotional health.
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Primum non nocere: First do no harm. Naturopathic physicians strive to use the least invasive treatments with the fewest side effects: nutrients, foods, herbs, homeopathic remedies, hands-on bodywork, counseling, therapeutic exercise, and the like.
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Docere: “Doctor” in Latin literally means teacher. Offering guidance and education to others empowers them to make healthier life choices, and to empower each person to take control of his or her own health.
Naturopathic Physicians
Naturopathic Physicians (N.D.s) are primary care and specialty doctors who address the underlying cause of disease through effective, individualized natural therapies that integrate the healing powers of body, mind and spirit. They integrate scientific research with the healing powers of nature, using therapies that support and promote the body’s natural healing process, leading to the highest state of wellness. They are the only primary care physicians clinically trained in the use in the following wide variety of natural therapeutics:
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Clinical Nutrition
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Botanical Medicine
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Homeopathic Medicine
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Physical Medicine
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Lifestyle Counseling and Stress Management
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Ortho-Bionomy
Clinical Nutrition
Naturopathic physicians understand that what you eat is the basis for your health. Adopting a healthy diet is often the first step towards correcting health problems. Many medical conditions can be treated more effectively with foods and nutritional supplements than they can by other means, and with fewer complications and side effects. Naturopathic physicians may use specific individual diets, fasting, and nutritional supplements with their patients.
Botanical Medicine
Plants have powerful healing properties. Many western pharmaceutical drugs have their origins in plant substances. Naturopathic physicians use plant substances for their innate healing effects and nutritional value.
Physical Medicine
Naturopathic medicine includes methods of therapeutic manipulation for muscles and bones. Naturopathic physicians also employ therapeutic exercise, massage, hydrotherapy, gentle electrical therapies, ultrasound, and heat and cold.
Ortho-Bionomy
Also known as Somatic Re-education, Ortho-Bionomy is a gentle, non-invasive, osteopathically-based form of body therapy which is highly effective in working with chronic stress, injuries and pains or problems associated with postural and structural imbalances. The practitioner uses gentle movements and positions of the body to facilitate the change of stress and pain patterns. Ortho-Bionomy is very effective in helping alleviate both acute and chronic pain and stress patterns by reducing chronic muscle tension, soothing the joints, increasing flexibility, improving circulation, and relaxing the entire body. It stimulates inner awareness to awaken within the individual a sense of natural balance and well-being, both physically and emotionally. The inner wisdom of the body is recognized and affirmed. Self healing occurs as the person remembers their natural ability to move away from pain and toward ease.
Lifestyle Counseling and Stress Management
Mental attitudes and emotional states can be important elements in healing and disease. Naturopathic physicians are trained in counseling, nutritional balancing, stress management, hypnotherapy, and biofeedback. They also attend to environmental and lifestyle factors that affect their patients’ health.