Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine is a system of medicine that blends age-old therapies with current research. It offers natural, non-invasive treatments ranging from prenatal and newborn care to geriatric concerns.

Naturopathic physicians work in cooperation with other medical practitioners, and refer when appropriate.

A Naturopathic Physician is a primary care general practitioner trained in natural medicine. Naturopathic Medicine focuses on bringing a patient back to health by treating the underlying cause of the patient’s condition rather than focusing on symptoms. This type of medicine focuses on the needs of the individual patient, and emphasizes prevention. For example, the cause of one patient’s migraines may be related to food sensitivities, whereas another patient’s migraines may have begun after a traumatic car accident. A naturopathic physician will identify these individual causes and treat them accordingly.

Naturopathic philosophy and principles:

• The Healing Power of Nature- Vis Medicatrix Naturae: The inherent ability of the body to establish, maintain, and restore health is one of the most powerful elements of life itself. It is an ordered process with an emphasis on removing obstacles to cure.
  
  
• Identify and Treat the Cause- Tolle Causum: Symptoms are the body’s cry for help, they are not the cause of disease. Instead of treating disease symptoms through suppression or elimination, naturopathic physicians identify and treat the cause.
  
  
• First, Do No Harm- Primum non Nocere: Naturopathic physicians utilize methods and medicinal substances which carry minimal risks and side effects, and they apply the least possible amount of intervention necessary to diagnose illness and restore health.
  
  
• Doctor as Teacher- Docere: The Latin word for doctor- docere- means teacher. A core element of naturopathic medicine is to teach, guide, encourage, and empower patients in their quest for optimum health.
  
  
• Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic physicians respect and promote healing on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual.
  
  
• Prevention: Risk factors, hereditary susceptibility, and cellular changes all play a role in the development of illness. Naturopathic physicians emphasize prevention by considering these elements prior to frank disease.
  
  
• Wellness: Naturopathic physicians strive for true wellness of the body, mind, and spirit in their patients.
  

Some facts regarding Naturopathic Physicians:

• Naturopathic Physicians are licensed doctors of Natural Medicine who have successfully completed four years of Naturopathic Medical School and who have passed rigorous national and state licensing exams.
  
• Naturopathic physicians are educated to provide primary health care services, including diagnostic and laboratory procedures, physical exams, minor office procedures, venipuncture, manual manipulation, prescribing a variety of pharmaceuticals, topical and local anesthetic administration and radiology.
  
• Naturopathic physicians often work with other health care providers to provide a team approach to health care.

For more information on Naturopathic Medicine, please visit the American Academy of Naturopathic Physicians website.