What is naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathic medicine emphasizes preventing disease, encouraging the body’s inherent healing ability, treating the whole person and educating patients to be partners in their own health care. While firmly science-based, modern naturopathic medicine also preserves the century-old wisdom of successful natural therapies—the practice of naturopathy includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods. Doctors of naturopathic medicine are trained and guided by the Principles of Naturopathic Medicine:
First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
To use the least intervening treatment method to minimize risk of harmful side effects and/or the suppression of symptoms
The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
Naturopathic medicine recognizes the body’s innate ability to heal itself—the role of the naturopath is to identify and remove the obstacles to cure, whether these obstacles are mental, emotional, spiritual or physical and to stimulate the body’s healing ability
Identify and Treat the Cause (Tolle Causum)
To discover and remove the underlying cause preventing health and well-being by addressing the root of the problem and to restore the natural balance in which the body strives to exist. Treating only the symptoms does not allow for permanent or long-lasting health.
Treat the Whole Person (Tolle Totum)
Taking into consideration all the elements that creates a person’s life (diet/lifestyle, relationships, spiritual beliefs, work, environment, stress, etc) that affects their overall health and well-being, not simply their symptoms.
Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
Doctors have a responsibility to educate their patients regarding their health, thereby empowering them to be knowledgeable, more informed and better able to make sensible choices, as they are ultimately responsible for their own health.
Prevention (Preventare)
Recognizing prevention as a means to reduce and avoid future health imbalances for patients by promoting and teaching the benefits of healthy lifestyle choices, stress management and diet.
Common conditions treated by naturopathic medicine:
Anxiety/Depression
Allergies/Food Sensitivities
Colds/Flu
Digestive Problems
Environmental Toxicity/Chemical Sensitivity
Headaches/Migraines
Lyme Disease and Co-infections
Sleep Disturbances/Insomnia
Menopausal Symptoms
PMS and other Hormone Imbalances
Stress
Weight loss
Fatigue
Low Libido
Pain/Inflammation
Autoimmune Conditions
Skin Problems (acne, eczema, psoriasis, etc)
Supportive therapies for cancer and other chronic conditions