Naturopathic Medicine is a system of medicine founded on the most time tested medical principle: the healing power of nature. The goal of the naturopathic physician is to restore the natural functioning of the body through the use of substances and treatments that enhance the body’s innate ability to heal. In Naturopathic Medicine, each client is treated as an integrated whole, and the symptoms of disease are seen as indicators of improper functioning and unfavorable habits of lifestyle. The primary goal of treatment is to identify and address the underlying cause of illness, and to avoid symptomatic treatments that may have adverse effects on the body’s ability to heal itself.

The state of Naturopathic Medicine today is such that we are becoming the primary preventive family practice doctors. We exemplify the type of health care system for which the federal and state governments are seeking.

Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

The Healing Power of Nature (vis medicatrix naturae)
The body has an inherent ability to heal, which is ordered and intelligent. Identify and remove obstacles to healing and support the body’s innate abilities.

Identify and Treat the Causes (tolle causam)
Identify and remove the underlying causes of illness, rather than eliminating or merely suppressing symptoms.

First Do No Harm (primum non nocere)
Use methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects. Avoid, when possible, the harmful suppression of symptoms; and acknowledge and respect the individual’s healing process, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat illness.

Doctor as Teacher (docere)
Educate the patient and encourage self-responsibility for health.

Treat the Whole Person (tolle totum)
Treat each individual by taking into account physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social factors.

Prevention
Emphasize disease prevention, assessment of risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and make appropriate interventions to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine strives to create a healthy world in which humanity may thrive.

Wellness
Wellness follows the establishment and maintenance of optimum health and balance. Wellness is a state of being healthy, characterized by positive emotion, thought and action. Wellness is inherent in everyone, no matter what dis-ease is being experienced. When truly recognized and experienced by an individual, wellness will more quickly heal a given dis-ease than direct treatment of the dis-ease alone.