The 6 principles of Naturopathic Medicine
Philosophy
The 6 principles of Naturopathic Medicine stand as its distinguishing marks.
1 This is a basic principle for all healthcare providers. It is part of our philosophy as Naturopaths to use the most gentle least invasive techniques and products.
Sometimes it is better to “not treat” if it is seen that the treatment will make the condition worse.
2 As physicians it is our duty to inform and educate patients about the steps to achieving and maintaining their health goals. This is not possible in a 5 or 10 minutes visit to a healthcare provider. We take the time to understand the key parts of your concerns and to provide you with the knowledge to move forward in your health journey. Only when patients are actively involved in their own healthcare goals can there be real progress.
3 The root cause of many conditions may and most often lie elsewhere in the physiology of the body. It is vital that underlying conditions are addressed in order to be able to make changes with the presenting symptoms.
4 It is essential to consider the body as an integrated whole in all its physical and emotional dimensions. We are a product of our genetics but it doesn’t end there. Just because there may be genetic traits that have been handed down to us, it does not mean that in our lives we will fall prey or be influenced by these traits. Everything we eat, drink, breathe and think has an impact on the function of our bodies and thus how we express our genes.
5 There are stories of imperial court doctors in ancient China who were only paid if they kept the Emperor well !! This might be hearsay but the practice is not.
We now realise that in order to live happily and in good health we need to live in accordance with our body’s natural rhythms, eat nutritious food, drink clean water, avoid the foods and drinks that are well documented to deteriorate our health and give ourselves space and time for mental breaks, from the activity of the day, with more time spent being instead of always doing. By adopting a living philosophy in accordance with these values we can prevent disease before it manifests.
6 Our body’s own innate healing systems are often misunderstood or disregarded in a world of quick fix modalities and health treatments and protocols. The body heals a cut, grows new skin, repairs a broken bone, effectively kills bacteria and viruses every minute of our day, produces fever to kill invading pathogens. When we can understand the true power of our own healing mechanisms, we can be more informed, more confident and healthier.