Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine is a subset of primary health care that incorporates science with nature. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are medically trained primary health care providers that diagnose, treat, and manage patients with acute and chronic conditions. Naturopathic doctors address disease and dysfunction at the level of the body, mind, and spirit.
Naturopathic doctors utilize various modalities such as nutrition counselling, lifestyle counselling, botanical medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (including acupuncture), orthomolecular medicine and neutraceuticals, and physical medicine.
The underlying philosophy of naturopathic medicine is to treat the root cause of disease in order to heal, rather than symptom suppression. Naturopathic medicine adopts an individualized and patient-centered approach; thus all treatments are tailored to the biochemical uniqueness of the individual. Naturopathic doctors support the body and its inherent ability to heal itself.
Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
Prium, non nocere
Vis medicatrix naturae
First do no harm.
Naturopathic doctors choose the least invasive, and most gentle treatments that are necessary for each patient.
Vis medicatrix naturae
Vis medicatrix naturae
Utilize the healing power of nature.
Naturopathic doctors recognize and use the body's inherent ability to heal itself.
Tolle causam
Identify and treat the root cause.
Naturopathic doctors identify, address and remove the underlying causes of disease.
Docere
Doctor as teacher.
Naturopathic doctors empower patients to take responsibility for their own health. They also acknowledge the therapeutic value in the doctor-patient relationship.
Tolle Totum
Tolle Totum
Treat the whole person.
Naturopathic doctors treat the patient, not the disease. A naturopathic assessment addresses the nutritional status, lifestyle, family history, physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social factors in a person’s life.
Praevenic
Tolle Totum
Prevention.
Naturopathic doctors promote a focus on overall health, wellness and disease prevention.