Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
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The Healing Power of Nature
The body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. The
physician's role is to facilitate and augment this process, to act to identify and
remove obstacles to health and recovery. The physician's treatment must support
the healing power of nature and therapy must be congruent with the internal order
of the organism
Treat the Whole Person
The harmonious function of all aspects of the individual is essential to health.
Imbalance in one area affects the whole. Therapy must be a personalized and
comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment.
First Do No Harm
The physician must be mindful of consequences of side effects of treatment. The
more gentle the therapy, the less disruptive it is to the patient on the whole.
Physician as Teacher
The physician's major role is to educate and encourage the patient to take
responsibility for health, and to be a catalyst for healthful change. It is the patient,
not the doctor, who ultimately creates or accomplishes healing.
Prevention
Health is a reflection of how we choose to live. The ultimate goal of naturopathic
medicine is prevention, accomplished through education and promotion of
life-habits that create good health. The emphasis is on building health rather than
on fighting disease.
Principles of Naturopathic Medicine