Naturopathic Medicine | Philosophy

Naturopathic medicine embodies the best of both worlds.  Naturopathic physicians are trained in both conventional and holistic medicine.  Therefore, we can provide comprehensive medical care, which emphasizes prevention, and addresses health problems in way that supports health and wellness.

What is Naturopathic Medicine

The modern practice of naturopathic medicine is based on traditional methods of healing and cutting edge scientific research.

Typical naturopathic treatments include herbal medicine, diet and nutritional counseling, homeopathy, therapeutic use of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids, physiotherapy, spinal manipulation, mind-body medicine, and occasionally pharmaceutical drugs.  Whenever possible, naturopathic doctors use supportive and non-suppressive treatments in order to allow the body to naturally heal.  When appropriate, natural supplements may be used to in the place of pharmaceutical drugs to control symptoms with fewer side effects.

Six principles explain the naturopathic approach to doctoring:

1. vis medicatrix naturae - The Healing Power of Nature

2. Treat the Whole Person

3. primum no nocere - First Do No Harm

4. tolle causm- Identify and Treat the Cause

5. Prevention is the Best Cure

6. docere- Doctor as Teacher

 

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians has defined the practice of naturopathic medicine as follows:

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct method of primary care - an art, science, philosophy and practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness.

Naturopathic physicians seek to restore and maintain optimum health in their patients by emphasizing nature's inherent self-healing process, the vis medicatrix naturae. This is accomplished through patient education and the use of natural therapies.