What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic Medicine is…
a whole-body approach to medicine that focuses on prevention and advancement towards optimal health. It encourages the body’s innate ability to heal through traditional and modern, scientific modalities. Naturopathic doctors, NDs, work toward identifying the underlying cause and educate on the various options that can help aid in the resolution of chronic illness
Vis Medicatrix Naturae
The Healing Power of Nature
Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment the inherent self-healing process.
Tolle Causum
Identify and Treat the Cause
Naturopathic physicians seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness rather than to merely ameliorate or suppress symptoms.
Primum Non Nocere
First Do No Harm
Naturopathic physicians utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects. They use the least force necessary to diagnose and treat and will avoid, when possible, the harmful suppression of symptoms. Lastly, they acknowledge, respect, and work with individuals’ self-healing process.
Docere
Doctor as Teacher
Naturopathic physicians educate their patients on the importance of self-responsibility and accountability in their health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.
Tolle Totem
Treat the Whole Person
Naturopathic physicians treat each patient as an individual by taking into account physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors.
Praevenire
Prevention
Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease by assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and by making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients, to prevent illness.