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Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
Although the term naturopathy or naturopathic medicine was not used until the late nineteenth century, its philosophical roots date back thousands of years. Drawing from the healing wisdom of many cultures including Indian (Ayurveda), Chinese (Traditional Chinese Medicine), Native American, and Greek (Hippocratic), naturopathic medicine is a system of medicine based on six time-tested principles:
The healing power of nature: The body has considerable power to heal itself, and the role of the naturopathic practitioner is to facilitate this natural process with the aid of natural, non-toxic therapies. Treat the causes rather than the effect: Naturopathic practitioners seek the underlying cause of a disease rather than simply suppressing the symptoms. They avoid suppression of the natural healing wisdom of the body, such as fever and inflammation. Symptoms are viewed as expressions of the body's natural attempt to heal while the causes can spring from the physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual levels. First, do not harm: By employing safe and effective natural therapies, naturopathic practitioners are committed to the principle of causing no harm to the patient. Treat the whole person: The individual is viewed as a whole, composed of a complex interaction of physical, mental/emotional, spiritual, social, and other factors. This multifunctional approach results in a therapeutic approach in which no disease is automatically seen as incurable. The practitioner is a teacher: Naturopathic practitioners are first and foremost teachers who educate, empower, and motivate the patient to assume more personal responsibility for his or her health by adopting a healthy attitude, lifestyle, and diet. Prevention is the best cure: Naturopathic practitioners are preventative medicine specialists. Prevention of disease is accomplished through education and a lifestyle that supports health.
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