Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
The naturopathic philosophy is to stimulate the healing power of the body and treat the underlying cause of disease. Your doctor will treat both acute and chronic conditions using naturopathic treatments which are specialized to each individuals personal needs. Naturopathic doctors are guided by 6 fundamental principles of medicine, which are:
1. First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
Naturopathic medicine aims to minimize harmful side effects and ensure safety of each patient.
2. The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
This is in reference to the innate ability of the human body to heal itself. Your doctor will recognize and support this inherent property by gently facilitating the healing process using gentle natural therapies.
3. Identify and Treat the Cause (Tolle Causam)
The primary goal of naturopathic medicine is to determine and treat the underlying cause rather than simply managing or suppressing the symptoms. The underlying cause may be due to diet, lifestyle habits, life events, posture or environment. Symptoms are viewed as expressions of the body's natural attempt to heal.
4. Treat the Whole Person
Naturopathic treatment takes into account your physical symptoms as well as your mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and spiritual factors. Since disease affects the entire person, not just a specific organ or system, it is key to treat each individual as a whole.
5. Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
Your doctor is your teacher and adviser in health. Their duty is to empower you to take control of your health by educating, advising you of what you need to know about your health.
6. Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The role of every naturopathic physician is to promote a proactive form of disease prevention and health promotion. Their role is to emphasize healthy daily habits, assess risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease, and make appropriate interventions to prevent illness.
The naturopathic philosophy is to stimulate the healing power of the body and treat the underlying cause of disease. Your doctor will treat both acute and chronic conditions using naturopathic treatments which are specialized to each individuals personal needs. Naturopathic doctors are guided by 6 fundamental principles of medicine, which are:
1. First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
Naturopathic medicine aims to minimize harmful side effects and ensure safety of each patient.
2. The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
This is in reference to the innate ability of the human body to heal itself. Your doctor will recognize and support this inherent property by gently facilitating the healing process using gentle natural therapies.
3. Identify and Treat the Cause (Tolle Causam)
The primary goal of naturopathic medicine is to determine and treat the underlying cause rather than simply managing or suppressing the symptoms. The underlying cause may be due to diet, lifestyle habits, life events, posture or environment. Symptoms are viewed as expressions of the body's natural attempt to heal.
4. Treat the Whole Person
Naturopathic treatment takes into account your physical symptoms as well as your mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and spiritual factors. Since disease affects the entire person, not just a specific organ or system, it is key to treat each individual as a whole.
5. Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
Your doctor is your teacher and adviser in health. Their duty is to empower you to take control of your health by educating, advising you of what you need to know about your health.
6. Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The role of every naturopathic physician is to promote a proactive form of disease prevention and health promotion. Their role is to emphasize healthy daily habits, assess risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease, and make appropriate interventions to prevent illness.