The Philosophy of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic
medicine is a system of medicine that assists in the restoration of health by
following a set of specific rules. A
basic assumption is that nature is orderly, and this orderliness is designed to
result in ongoing life and well being. This
dependable orderliness is believed to be guided by a kind of inner wisdom that
everyone has. This inner wisdom can be assisted to return a person to their
best balance by naturopathic treatments.
Naturopathic philosophy
believes that health is not just freedom from disease; it is the state in which
body, mind and spirit are able to achieve their full potential
Naturopathic medicine is
based on several principles, outlined below;
The Healing Power of
Nature
Each individual has an
inherent healing mechanism within the body that responds to treatment to heal
itself, restore health and ward off disease with natural means.
First Do No Harm
Naturopathic medicine
utilizes the most non-invasive and natural treatments to minimize the risk of
harmful side-effects, yet recognizes the need for higher-level intervention
when necessary. The less invasive the
therapy, the less disruptive it will be to the patient’s integral whole.
Identify and Treat the
Cause
It is the goal of the
Naturopathic physician to find and treat the root cause of illness, not just
the symptoms of disease. When only the
symptoms are treated, the underlying causes remain, and the patient may develop
a more serious, chronic disease.
Treat the Whole Person
Wellness and illness are
the result of a complex interaction of physical, mental, emotional, genetic and
environmental and other causes.
Naturopathic physicians focus on each aspect of these individual
complexities to find the cause of illness and develop appropriate treatment.
Prevention is the Best
Cure
Physicians help patients
recognize their choices and how those choices affect their health. By
providing wellness counseling in the form of dietary recommendations, exercise
prescription, and lifestyle management, Naturopathic physician seek to prevent
disease.
Physician as Teacher
The original meaning of
the word “doctor” was “teacher”.
Naturopathic physicians educate, empower, and motivate individuals to
learn and take responsibility for their own health.
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