Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care—an art, science, philosophy and practice of diagnosis, and treatment and prevention of illness. Naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles that underlie and determine its practice. These principles include the healing power of nature (vis medicatrix naturae), identification and treatment of the causes (tolle causam), the promise to first do no harm (primum non nocere), doctor as teacher (docere), treatment of the whole person, and emphasis on prevention. These principles give rise to a practice that emphasizes the individual and empowers him or her to greater responsibility in personal health care and maintenance.
Naturopathic Evaluation
What makes Eastern medicine different from the traditional Western medicine?
Eastern medicine, which encompasses Naturopathic medicine, emphasizes the individual and empowers him or her to greater responsibility in personal health care and maintenance. It places a greater emphasis on prevention, as mentioned above, instead of just treating the problem or surface level symptoms.
Eastern medicine places a heavy emphasis on nature and it’s instinctual healing capabilities. Naturopathic medicine believes that everything our bodies need to heal are found innately in the world around us, and focuses on herbs, tinctures, natural supplements, long-standing healing remedies such as acupuncture, Chinese Medicine and natural alternative therapies such as IV therapy and hydrotherapy.
Within Naturopathic medicine, the mental/emotional aspect of a patient’s health is considered of the utmost priority and is one of the first variables addressed when seeing a natural doctor.
Why would I seek a NMD (Naturopathic medical doctor) over a MD (medical doctor)?
Many patients come to Naturopathic medicine after exhausting all efforts with conventional medicine. For many, their health issues aren’t being resolved and quite often, getting worse. Naturopathic doctors view the “whole person” instead of just “their symptoms” to find an approach to healing that specifically address the root problem(s), to expedite healing and to achieve wellness once again.