The naturopathic physician is trained to draw on conventional standards of care and algorithms when making diagnostic and treatment decisions. This is part of naturopathic medicine’s philosophy of medical pluralism.
The therapeutic order constructs on the ordered process of healing vis medicatrix naturae (Healing Power of Nature). This healing process is stimulated with health promoting systems that include nutritional supplements, low dose botanical medicines and constitutional hydrotherapy. Visit Website to learn more.
Principle 1: Treat the Whole Person
The primary goal of a naturopathic physician is to facilitate healing through empowering the individual to harness their own vital force. This means the naturopathic physician must address the patient in their totality of expression – the physical, emotional, environmental and spiritual aspects of their health and disease. In this way the naturopathic physician may utilize a variety of therapeutic tools to meet the needs of each unique situation.
In addition to gathering information through the case history, naturopathic physicians conduct physical examinations and laboratory tests in order to better understand the patient’s health and their underlying causes of illness. They work with the patient to identify and remove obstacles to cure and utilize methods that support and encourage the natural healing process.
Naturopathic doctors are also trained to recognize the importance of preventing illness before it occurs. They can do this through promoting wellness, encouraging healthy lifestyle choices and providing patients with the necessary resources to achieve this.
This holistic approach to care is a central tenet of naturopathic medicine and is the foundation of the therapeutic order construct. This construct acts as a touchstone for NDs, as it reminds them to consider the implications of their care on all family members and that every decision must be made using the least amount of force possible in the best interests of the patient and family. This approach is consistent with the ethical principle of nonmaleficence.
Principle 2: Identify and Treat the Cause
The naturopathic doctor seeks to identify and treat the underlying cause of illness rather than simply treating the symptoms. This includes assessing your diet, lifestyle habits, emotional and spiritual well-being, environment, genetic and hereditary susceptibility, and posture. By discovering and removing the root cause, your naturopath will allow you to experience healing on a deeper level.
The first tenet of naturopathic medicine is “First, do no harm.” Naturopaths prioritize safe and effective natural substances that avoid toxicity and additional burden to an already distressed system. They are trained in pharmacology and able to assess drug-herb and drug-nutrient interactions. As their scope of practice permits, naturopaths can also prescribe medications or refer to medical colleagues.
NDs work in partnership with patients to develop wellness and disease prevention strategies. They promote healthy daily habits, assess risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease, and make appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients. They encourage their patients to eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and manage stress. They also teach their patients to recognize and respond to early signs of disease so they can take action before the onset of full-blown symptoms. In doing so, they foster an attitude of responsibility for one’s own health and wellbeing. The naturopathic physician teaches their patients to be proactive in identifying and managing risk factors for chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
Principle 3: Encourage Self-Healing
The body has the inherent capacity to heal itself, a belief that is embodied in the first of the six naturopathic principles: First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere). Naturopathic doctors are trained in identifying and treating the cause of disease. They believe that symptoms are expressions of the body’s attempt to defend itself or adapt and recover. It is this cause that must be addressed in order to achieve complete recovery.
Naturopathic physicians use modalities that allow the body to heal itself, such as nutritional therapy, physical therapies like massage, spinal manipulation, craniosacral therapy and more, and other natural interventions, including detoxifying fasts and other lifestyle practices. They also encourage patients to reconnect with the natural world, recognizing that health comes from a healthy environment.
NDs have the ability to utilize a variety of treatments, including supplements and pharmaceuticals, but they always start with the least forceful treatment possible and only move on to more invasive therapies if needed. This approach, called the Therapeutic Order, is a core principle of naturopathic medicine that promotes holistic care and the naturopathic philosophy of vis medicatrix naturae. Interested in learning more about the therapeutic order? Check out AMA’s great advocacy tools that help to set the record straight on scope of practice for NDs.
Principle 4: Educate the Patient
The naturopathic physician serves as a teacher, empowering patients to harness their own healing abilities and encouraging self-responsibility for health. The original meaning of the word “doctor” was teacher, and a principal objective of naturopathic medicine is to use the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship to encourage lifelong learning and self-empowerment.
As a core tenet, the first principle of naturopathic medicine is “Primum Non Nocere,” or “First Do No Harm.” This is based on the belief that the body’s natural state is one of health and wholeness; the goal is to support and enhance this process through identifying and removing barriers to cure. Naturopathic doctors choose methods and medicinal substances that are the least invasive and harmful, while taking into consideration the patient’s values, preferences, and experience level.
The naturopathic physician understands that disease is a complex interaction of physical, mental, emotional, dietary, genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. In order to promote optimal health, naturopathic physicians take into account all of these factors and encourage patients to consider their spiritual well-being. They also emphasize prevention by assessing risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to illness, as well as recommending healthy lifestyle changes in partnership with their patients.
Principle 5: Prevent Disease
The naturopathic doctor’s role is to promote wellness, not just treat disease. This is done by encouraging healthy lifestyle practices and addressing the underlying causes of disease through a variety of health promoting therapies, such as diet, exercise, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, and herbal medicine. The naturopathic physician also takes into consideration the patient’s spiritual well-being and encourages patients to pursue their own spiritual path.
The principle of first do no harm (prima facie platina) refers to the naturopathic philosophy that it is always safer for patients and more effective to prevent disease than to treat a disease once it has manifested. To do this, naturopathic physicians perform a comprehensive and detailed medical history to identify potential risks, heredity, and susceptibility to disease.
They then develop an individualized treatment plan that addresses the whole person, taking into account their physical, mental, emotional and genetic characteristics and the social context in which they live. They then work in partnership with their patients to build healthy internal and external environments, address the underlying causes of disease and strengthen the body’s regulatory systems. If necessary, they may also prescribe medications and perform minor surgery or other forceful interventions when they are safe for the patient. This is called the therapeutic order. This is based on the six principles of naturopathy and the foundation of a strong doctor-patient relationship. It is this trust that allows naturopathic doctors to use their knowledge and skills to prevent disease.
Principle 6: Promote Wellness
Rather than merely alleviating symptoms, naturopathic doctors (NDs) work to identify and address the underlying cause. This allows for lasting health improvements and reduced reliance on pharmaceutical intervention.
Naturopathic Medicine combines today’s medical knowledge with time-honored natural healing practices to treat disease and promote wellness. Its philosophy roots itself in holism and celebrates the connection between all things. It encourages patients to become active participants in their health and gifts them with the tools that they need to thrive long-term.
When assessing an individual, naturopathic physicians take into account their physical examination, medical history, and laboratory tests to help understand the root causes of their disease or illness. They also focus on educating individuals so that they can make more informed health choices to prevent future disease and maintain wellness.
In order to stimulate the body’s innate self-healing process, NDs use health promoting modalities such as nutrition, low dose botanicals, homeopathy, and constitutional hydrotherapy. This helps to strengthen the immune system, decrease toxicity, optimize metabolic function, balance regulatory systems, and improve structural integrity.
As more and more people are becoming aware of the dangers of conventional medicine, they are looking for safer and more effective treatment options. As a result, more and more people are turning to naturopathic care, which blends modern science with time-honored natural healing methods. With the six principles in mind, naturopathic doctors (NDs) prioritize harmonious and least invasive techniques to treat disease and promote wellness.
