Definitions

Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct system of primary health care - an art, science, philosophy and practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness. Naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles which underline and determine its practice.



 Principles

Its based upon the objective observation of the nature of health and disease, and are continually reexamined in the light of scientific advances. Naturopathic Medicine treats the underlying cause, not just the sign and symptoms itself.



 Naturophatic Doctor

Diagnosed, treats and cares for patients, using system of practice that bases treatment of physiological functions and abnormal conditions on natural laws governing human body.

 Philosophy of Naturopathic Medicine

Utilize The Healing Power Of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)

Nature acts powerfully through the healing mechanisms of the body and mind to maintain and restore health. Naturopathic physicians work to restore and support these inherent healing systems when they have broken down, by using methods, medicines, and techniques that are in harmony with natural processes.

First Do No Harm (Prinum Non Nocere)

Naturopathic physicians prefer noninvasive treatments, which minimize the risks of harmful side effects. They are trained to know which patients they can treat safely, and which ones they need to refer to other health care practitioners.

Find The Cause (Tolle Causam)

Every illness has an underlying cause, often an aspect of the lifestyle, diet, or habits of the individual. A naturopathic physician is trained to find and remove the underlying cause of a disease.

Treat The Whole Person

Health or disease results from a complex interaction of physical, emotional, dietary, genetic, environmental, lifestyle, and other factors. Naturopathic physicians treat the whole person, taking these factors into account.

Preventative Medicine

The naturopathic approach to health care can prevent minor illnesses from developing into more serious, chronic, or degenerative diseases. Patients are taught the principles with which to live a healthy life; by following these principles, they can prevent major illnesses

Did You Know That:

In 1983 the World Health Organization recommended the integration of naturopathic medicine into conventional health care systems.

Graduates of accredited naturopathic medical colleges are required to have more hours of study in basic sciences and clinical sciences than graduates of Yale or Stanford medical schools.

The "anti-cancer" diet recognized by the National Cancer Institute was first published in a naturopathic medical textbook in the 1940s.

Graduates of accredited naturopathic medical colleges receive more formal training in therapeutic nutrition than M.D.'s, osteopathic physicians, or registered dietitians.

Today there are over one thousand licensed practicing naturopathic physicians (N.D.'s) in the United States.

As of August 1996, twelve states in the U.S. and five provinces of Canada now license naturopathic doctors as primary-care physicians. (It is projected that all fifty states will license naturopathic physicians by the year 2010.

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