Six Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathy is a school of medical philosophy and practice that focuses on improving health and treating disease chiefly by assisting the body’s intrinsic ability to recuperate from illness and injury. According to the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (www.aanmc.org), naturopathic doctors practice the following six principles:

First do no harm. The process of healing includes the manifestations of symptoms, so any therapy that interferes with this natural healing process by masking symptoms is considered suppressive and should be avoided.
The healing power of nature. The healing power of nature has two aspects: first, that the body has the ability to heal itself and it is the naturopathic doctor’s role to facilitate this natural process; and second, that nature heals. Following this principle includes getting enough sleep, exercising, proper nutrition, and, if needed, additional “earth food,” such as herbs or algae (a living organism). Plants can gently move the body into health without the side effects caused by some synthetic chemicals in modern pharmaceuticals.
Identify and treat the cause. For healing to take place, practitioners must remove the underlying root causes of disease. These root causes can exist at many levels: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It is the naturopathic doctor’s role to identify the root cause, as well as alleviate suffering by treating symptoms.
Treat the whole person. A core tenet of naturopathy is the belief that health must go beyond treatment of immediate symptoms and instead care for the person’s entire well-being. That means treating the whole body, as well as the spirit, soul, and mind.
The physician as teacher. The naturopath’s role also is to educate the patient in naturopathic practices and encourage patients to “take responsibility for their own health.” This cooperative relationship between doctor and patient is essential to healing.
Prevention. The ultimate goal of the naturopathic physician is prevention. The emphasis is on building health, not fighting illness. NDs do this by fostering healthy lifestyles, healthy beliefs, and healthy relationships.

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