Naturopathic

Naturopathic medicine, also called natural medicine, or nature cure medicine, is a holistic treatment system which recognizes the body as being self-healing-an organism that has the power to heal itself, as long as the environment and other conditions are right for this self-healing to occur. Naturopathic remedies tend to be plant-based, or based on other types of natural products.

While naturopathy is a somewhat self-contained system of treatment, a naturopathic doctor is typically someone who has trained in conventional medicine, including diagnosis and treatment, but has specialized in using naturopathic techniques. However, traditional naturopaths, who have not received any conventional medical training, also exist, but they are not considered primary care providers.

Six Core Principles of Naturopathy

There are six important principles pertaining to naturopathy, by which naturopathic medical practitioners are guided when working with their patients.

1. "First, do no harm": a naturopathic doctor must provide the most effective healthcare they can, while presenting the least amount of risk to their patients as is possible.

2. A naturopathic doctor must recognize and promote the power of self-healing that is inherent in everyone.

3. The doctor should strive to treat the cause of a patient's symptoms, rather than simply suppressing or eliminating symptoms.

4. The doctor is also a teacher-they should educate, inspire, and encourage their patients to be responsible for their own health. It's also important for doctors to develop positive, healthy relationships with their patients. These principles are crucial, because the naturopathic philosophy holds that the patient has within themselves the power to heal their body, and the doctor must be able to help patients begin their self-healing.

5. Every patient should be treated holistically, and with respect to their individuality of personality, symptoms, and needs. No two patients will be treated the same way, even if they have the same symptoms.

6. Health should be promoted as preventative as well as treatment-based, and health to promote well-being should be emphasized.

Another important principle of naturopathy is that naturopathic remedies are based on natural products and processes, and also that particular types of remedies or treatments are never ruled out. This means, for example, that when visiting naturopathic clinics, you might encounter a wide variety of different remedies-aromatherapy, botanical medicine, homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, and even physiological-based medicine. It's important for both doctors and patients to remain open-minded, and explore all the possibilities when discussing treatment options.