"The
natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force
in getting well."
- Hippocrates
Naturopathic medicine is the art and science of healing based on
an underlying principle that the body has the innate ability to
heal itself. We often think of nature as being that which we are
surrounded by when we go for a walk in the forest, sit near a river
or look up at the sky - and it is, but we forget that we too are
a part of nature. Understanding this we see that when we talk about
the healing power and support of nature we're not only talking about
the properties of different plants, herbs or environments, but also
the capacity we each have within our own selves to create healing
and balance.
Focusing
on prevention and patient education, a naturopathic doctor works
with individuals to identify and treat the underlying causes of
illness. It is not about treating conditions or disease, rather
it is about working with a whole person - body, mind and spirit
- to identify the root cause and find a way to restore a place of
balanced wellness.
Naturopathic
medicine encompasses a wide range of therapeutic systems, including
clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine,
homeopathy, environmental and physical medicine. The treatments
selected are different for each person, always chosen for their
unique situation.
The
Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
1. First
Do No Harm (primum non nocere)
Naturopathic
Doctors are committed to using methods and medicines that minimize
the risk of harmful side effects, always choosing the least force
necessary to diagnose and treat. They strive to avoid the harmful
suppression of symptoms and instead work to identify and remove
obstacles to recovery, while supporting the individuals own self-healing
capacity. ND's are trained to identify which patients they can
treat safely and when it is in the best interest of the patient
to refer them to other health care practitioners.
2. The Healing
Power of Nature (vis medicatrix naturae)
Naturopathic
Doctors recognize, respect and promote the self-healing power
of nature inherent in each individual human being. Given the right
circumstances, the body will move towards health and the ND works
to support this through entirely natural interventions.
3. Treat
the Cause (tolle causum)
Naturopathic
Doctors seek to identify and remove the underlying cause of illness,
rather than merely eliminating or suppressing individual symptoms.
4. Doctor
as Teacher (docere)
Naturopathic
Doctors share information and knowledge with their patients and
encourage self-responsibility for health. Naturopathic Doctors
treat each patient by taking into account individual physical,
mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social factors.
5. Treat
the Whole Person
Hippocrates
once said "it is more important to know what sort of person
has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has".
This reminds us that each person is unique and complex and needs
treatment that is based on their individual situation, taking
into account all aspects of their being.
Naturopathic doctors recognize that a person can have a physical,
spiritual or emotionally rooted illness. Everything within the
body is connected, therefore we must treat everything as being
connected - body, mind and spirit.
6. Prevention
is the best medicine
Naturopathic
Doctors believe that health is a process and restoration of present
health helps to maintain future health. They put emphasis on prevention
by assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease
and initiating appropriate interventions in partnership with their
patients to support health and wellbeing.
The
Naturopathic Doctors Oath
I dedicate myself to the service of humanity
as a practitioner of the art and
science of naturopathic medicine.
By precept, education and example, I will assist and encourage others
to strengthen their health, reduce risks for disease, and preserve
the health of our planet for ourselves and future generations.
I will continually endeavor to improve my abilities.
I will conduct my life and practice of naturopathic medicine with
integrity and freedom from prejudice.
I will keep confident what should not be divulged.
I will honour the principles of naturopathic medicine:
First, do no harm.
To co-operate with the healing powers of nature.
To address the fundamental cause of disease.
To heal the whole person through individualized treatment.
To teach the principles of healthy living and preventive medicine.
With my whole heart, before these witnesses, as a Doctor of Naturopathic
Medicine,
I pledge to remain true to this oath.
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