Naturopathic Doctors adhere strongly to six guiding principles that outline the fundamental naturopathic approach to health and healing. These principles separate naturopathic medicine from other forms of health care:
First Do No Harm
Naturopathic Doctors treat using safe and effective therapies and medicines. They emphasize gentle approaches to care in order to minimize side effects, stimulate the body’s own healing power, and optimize health.
Act in Co-operation with the Healing Power of Nature
Naturopathic Doctors know how smart the human body, mind, and spirit is and work towards stimulating the body’s natural healing powers in order to treat disease and ultimately prevent its reoccurrence.
Identify and Treat the Cause
The ultimate goal of your Naturopathic Doctor is to identify and treat the underlying cause of illness, rather than masking and suppressing irritating symptoms.
Treat the Whole Person
Disease affects the entire individual, not just a particular organ or system. Naturopathic Doctors offer a holistic approach to health by carefully assessing all realms of the being including physical, mental, emotional, environmental, and familial factors. Combined with your input, an individualized treatment plan can then be formulated with the expertise of your ND.
Doctor as Teacher
Being an active participant in your own path to wellness is of utmost importance. Your Naturopathic Doctor will help you to understand health and wellness and the contributing factors that can swing your body out of balance. This enables you to have more confidence in maintaining your own health.
Emphasize Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Naturopathic Doctors use the above principles to actively promote health and prevent disease by assessing and intervening for individual risk factors and familial susceptibility of specific diseases.