What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct method of primary health care that combines centuries old natural, common-sense therapies with current advances in biomedical and diagnostic sciences covering all aspects of health, from prenatal to geriatric care.
Training: A Naturopathic Physician’s training includes a 4 year, graduate-level accredited residential naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an MD, but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. To be licensed in Oregon they must pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license by the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Examiners.
Principles of Naturopathic Medicine:
The following principles are the foundation of naturopathic medical practice:
1. The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae): Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in people that is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.
2. Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam): The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.
3. First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere): Naturopathic physicians follow three guidelines to avoid harming the patient: Utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat; Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms; and Acknowledge, respect, and work with individuals’ self-healing process.
5. Doctor as Teacher (Docere): Naturopathic physicians educate their patients and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.
6. Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual development.
7. Prevention: Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease by assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and by making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness.
Therapeutic Order:
The therapeutic order is the approach that naturopathic physicians use to guide patients to wellness. They start with the least force and move to more invasive measures as necessary.
1. Re-establish the basis for health. Remove obstacles to healing by establishing a healthy regimen.
2. Stimulate the healing power of nature. Use low-force methods such as hydrotherapy, nutrition, homeopathy and to stimulate the inherent healing ability of the body.
3. Tonify weakened systems. Use modalities to strengthen the immune system, decrease toxicity, normalize inflammatory function, optimize metabolic function, balance regulatory systems, enhance regeneration and harmonize life forces.
4. Correct structural integrity. Use therapeutic exercise, massage, craniosacral therapy and spinal manipulation to optimize structural function.
5. Prescribe specific natural substances for pathology. Use vitamins, minerals and herbs to promote health.
6. Prescribe pharmacological substances for pathology. Use pharmacological drugs to return to health.
7. Use higher Force Interventions such as surgery or suppressive drugs. Use aggressive therapies to attempt to maintain health.