Naturopathic Medicine
6 Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
1. First do no harm: Primum No Nocere
The generation of symptoms is a purposeful process of healing which is an expression of the life force attempting to restore itself. Therapeutic actions should be complementary to this healing process. The physician's actions can support or antagonize the actions of the vis mediatrix naturae -- the healing power of Nature. Therefore, methods designed to suppress symptoms without removing the underlying causes are considered harmful and should be avoided or minimized.
2. The healing power of nature: Vis Mediatrix Naturae
The body has a natural ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent. The physician's role is to facilitate this process and identify and bring awareness to obstacles that don’t support the natural healing process.
3. Identify and treat the cause: Tolle Causam
Underlying causes of disease must be discovered and removed or treated before a person can recover completely from illness. Symptoms express the body's attempt to heal, but are not the cause of disease. Symptoms, therefore, should not be suppressed by treatment. Causes may occur on many levels including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The physician must evaluate fundamental underlying causes on all levels, directing treatment at root causes rather than at symptomatic expression.
4. Heal the whole person: Tolle Totum
Health and disease are conditions of the whole body that involve multifaceted interactions of many factors. The naturopathic physician must treat the whole person by taking these factors into account. The harmonious functioning of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects are essential to recovery from and prevention of disease. This requires a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment.
5. The physician as teacher: Docere
The physician’s major role is to educate and encourage the patient to take responsibility for his or her own health. The physician is a supporter and motivator for healthful change. It is the patient, not the doctor, who ultimately creates/accomplishes healing. Teaching with hope, knowledge, and understanding, the physician acts to enable patients to heal.
6. Prevention: Prevention is the best cure
Promotion of prevention of disease is accomplished through education of lifestyle habits that create optimal health. The physician learns to assess risk factors and to address them appropriately. Building health works better than removing established chronic disease.
1. First do no harm: Primum No Nocere
The generation of symptoms is a purposeful process of healing which is an expression of the life force attempting to restore itself. Therapeutic actions should be complementary to this healing process. The physician's actions can support or antagonize the actions of the vis mediatrix naturae -- the healing power of Nature. Therefore, methods designed to suppress symptoms without removing the underlying causes are considered harmful and should be avoided or minimized.
2. The healing power of nature: Vis Mediatrix Naturae
The body has a natural ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent. The physician's role is to facilitate this process and identify and bring awareness to obstacles that don’t support the natural healing process.
3. Identify and treat the cause: Tolle Causam
Underlying causes of disease must be discovered and removed or treated before a person can recover completely from illness. Symptoms express the body's attempt to heal, but are not the cause of disease. Symptoms, therefore, should not be suppressed by treatment. Causes may occur on many levels including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The physician must evaluate fundamental underlying causes on all levels, directing treatment at root causes rather than at symptomatic expression.
4. Heal the whole person: Tolle Totum
Health and disease are conditions of the whole body that involve multifaceted interactions of many factors. The naturopathic physician must treat the whole person by taking these factors into account. The harmonious functioning of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects are essential to recovery from and prevention of disease. This requires a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment.
5. The physician as teacher: Docere
The physician’s major role is to educate and encourage the patient to take responsibility for his or her own health. The physician is a supporter and motivator for healthful change. It is the patient, not the doctor, who ultimately creates/accomplishes healing. Teaching with hope, knowledge, and understanding, the physician acts to enable patients to heal.
6. Prevention: Prevention is the best cure
Promotion of prevention of disease is accomplished through education of lifestyle habits that create optimal health. The physician learns to assess risk factors and to address them appropriately. Building health works better than removing established chronic disease.
