As a Naturopathic Doctor, I view the individual as an integral whole, made up of physiological, structural, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects, and influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors.
The Basis of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine is based on the belief that the human body has an innate healing ability. Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) view the individual as an integral whole, made up of physiological, structural, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects, and influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors. Symptoms of disease are seen as warning signals of improper functioning in one or more of these areas.
NDs approach each person individually first by seeking out the underlying cause of imbalance and then by crafting comprehensive treatment plans that blend the best of modern medical science and traditional natural medicine to restore balance and ultimately to achieve optimal health and wellness. NDs teach their patients to take control of their health using diet, exercise, lifestyle changes and cutting edge natural therapies.
A naturopathic doctor isn’t going to just put a band-aid over your issue.
Together we’ll dive a little deeper and figure out what’s actually driving your symptom(s).
6 Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
01 — DO NO HARM
“Primum non nocere”
Utilize methods and medical substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects and use the least force necessary to diagnose and treat.
Avoid (when possible) the harmful suppression of symptoms.
Acknowledge, respect and work with the patient’s unique and individual self-healing process.
02 — POWER OF NATURE
“Vis medicatrix nature”
Naturopathic Medicine recognizes an inherent ordered and intelligent self-healing process. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery which facilitates and augments this inherent self-healing process.
03 — IDENTIFY CAUSES
“Tolle causum”
Naturopathic physicians understand that symptoms will only return unless the root illness is addressed. Rather than cover up symptoms, they seek to find and treat the cause of these symptoms.
04 — BE A TEACHER
“Docere”
Naturopathic medicine believes that doctors must be educators, as well as physicians. That’s why naturopathic physicians teach their patients how to eat, exercise, relax and nurture themselves physically and emotionally. They also encourage self-responsibility and work closely with each patient.
05 — TREAT THE WHOLE
“Tolle totem”
Naturopathic physicians know that there are many factors that affect health. They treat each patient by taking into account physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social and spiritual aspects of their lives.
06 — PREVENTION
Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease. Proactive medicine saves money, pain, misery and lives. They evaluate risk factors, heredity and make appropriate interventions to prevent future illnesses.
Start a new relationship with your health.
The Education of the Naturopathic Doctor
A licensed naturopathic physician, or doctor of naturopathic medicine, attends a four-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as a medical doctor (M.D.), but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness.
In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician is required to complete four years of training in clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling. A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care, general practice physician.
The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic doctors (ND’s) are licensed physicians in 22 of the 50 United States and the district of Columbia. The largest natural medicine college is located in Toronto Canada. The ND is the top of the field when it comes to treating modern disease without drugs or surgery. While most ND’s practice a specific niche (lyme, cancer, fatigue, womens helath) all ND’s are schooled to be primary care physicians cross trained in variety of treatments including botanical medicine, herbalism, homeopathy, acupressure, physical medicine, diet and lifestyle counseling.