Naturopathic Principles
Primum Non Nocere - First Do No Harm
Naturopathic medicine achieves this by utilizing methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, while allowing the individual's innate healing process to restore balance.
Vis Medicatrix Naturae - The Healing Power of Nature
Naturopathic doctors recognize an ordered and intelligent ability to heal self-healing process that is innate to each individual. The goal is to work with the body's innate healing process instead of suppressing it.
Tolle Causam - Identify and Treat the Cause
The primary goal of a naturopathic doctor is to determine and treat the underlying cause rather than simply manage or suppress symptoms. Symptoms are viewed as expressions of the body's natural attempt to heal.
Treat the Whole Person
In treating the cause of any condition, naturopathic doctors take into account not only your physical symptoms, but also mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, spiritual and other factors. Disease affects the entire person, not just a specific organ or system. As Hippocrates said, "It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has."
Docere - Doctor As Teacher
Naturopathic doctors assist their patients in understanding health and illness which empowers them to take responsibility for their own health.
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Health is more than just the absence of disease. Health entails daily functioning on the highest possible levels, and is obtained by proper nutrition, exercise, a balanced lifestyle, positive emotions, thoughts, and actions. Naturopathic doctors apply all of the above principles in a proactive form of disease prevention and health promotion.