What is Naturopathic Medicine?

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• Naturopathic medicine is a distinct health care profession, emphasizing

   prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic

   methods that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing process.

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• Naturopathic medicine is not simply the diagnosis and treatment of disease

   with natural agents. It is a practice based upon the restoration of health.

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• The practice of naturopathic medicine includes modern and traditional,

   scientific, and empirical methods.

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• Although health is the natural state of the being, it is influenced by the

   interactions of the person with the existing environment, both internal

   and external.

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Principles of Naturopathic Medicine.

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The Healing Power of Nature

Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in people that is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.

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Identify and Treat the Cause

The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.

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First Do No Harm

Naturopathic physicians follow three primary guidelines to avoid harming the patient:

• Utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful

   side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat;

• Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms; and

• Acknowledge, respect, and work with individuals’ self-healing process

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Doctor As Teacher

Naturopathic physicians educate their patients and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.

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Treat the Whole Person

Naturopathic physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual development.

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Prevention+Wellness

Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease and promotion of wellness by assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, health habits, and diet and by making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness.