Underlying Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Underlying Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
What Type of Training do Naturopathic Doctors Receive?
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The naturopathic profession has agreed on six underlying principles of naturopathic medicine.  Naturopathic doctors strive to hold to these basic tenants in their practices.  These tenants include:

1. The healing power of nature - NDs employ therapies with the intent to support the natural ability of the body to heal itself.
2. First do no harm - Naturopathic doctors prefer to use safe, non-invasive therapies wherever possible.  Licensed NDs are trained to know when a patient must be referred for emergency care and are happy to cooperate with other health care practitioners of various specialties.
3. Find the cause - NDs strive to find and remove obstacles that may be preventing true healing from taking place.  These obstacles can be physical, chemical, environmental, mental/emotional, dietary or lifestyle-related.
4. Doctor as teacher - A high premium is placed on patient education in the naturopathic profession.  We seek to educate and empower our patients to lead healthy lives on every level.
5. Treat the whole person - Disease affects the whole person.  NDs attempt to help their patients heal all aspects of their lives.
6. Preventive medicine - Preventing disease is much better than (and much less expensive) than treating disease after it occurs. Preventive medicine is a major component of naturopathic practice.