Identify and Treat the Cause
Critical to healing is identifying the cause of illness without focusing solely on symptoms. Alleviating symptoms are important for patient comfort, but the goal is to address the deeper root of the health problem to prevent its recurrence.

First Do No Harm
Symptoms are considered part of the healing process as they alert the patient to an imbalance that has arisen in their body. It is the intention of the naturopathic physician to address an illness without unnecessarily disturbing the body’s natural healing process. Preventing the natural healing process disrupts the body’s inner rhythm and defense mechanisms.

Treat the Whole Person
To function optimally, the human body in all its complexity, must utilize mind, body, and spirit to maintain the delicate balance of health. Too often, illness is looked upon as merely a physical disturbance, yet it is well-documented that psycho-social stress alone can cause immune suppression, resulting in lowered immune defenses. An individual’s spiritual well-being also influences overall health. It is one’s spiritual connection and faith that allows one to cope with stress, believe in healing, and complete the circuit between the mind and body.

In naturopathic medicine, especially in cases of chronic illness, patients will be counseled to pursue their health goals through physical, mental, and spiritual avenues.

The Physician as Teacher
Since the human body doesn’t come with an operator’s manual, it is the role of the physician to educate patients about maintaining optimal health and correcting imbalances that arise. It is through education that patients of naturopathic medicine become aware of ways to aid the natural processes of maintaining and restoring health. This is the essential component of the patient taking an active role in their own health and well-being, with the guidance and support of the physician.

Prevention
Building a strong foundation of health is a philosophical cornerstone of naturopathic medicine. Like building a solid and secure home, it is the primary focus of naturopathy to promote and support prevention through healthy dietary and lifestyle choices. Being proactive, rather than reactive, allows for one to better ensure an optimally healthy and longer life. Additionally, individual risk factors and genetic predisposition are addressed to better design a personalized health and treatment plan.

Scope of Practice
Naturopathic physicians are trained and licensed as primary care physicians. During the four-year medical school curriculum, students complete two years of basic sciences and two years of clinical sciences. In order to be a licensed naturopathic physician, one must pass both the national basic sciences and clinical sciences board examinations. Naturopathic physicians use standard laboratory and diagnostic tests in addition to more progressive functional medicine tests to treat a vast array of diseases and disorders.

Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests
A licensed naturopath can perform routine annual physical exams and order all conventional laboratory and diagnostic test such as x-rays, MRI, and CT imaging. Naturopaths also utilize functional medical tests such as ELIZA allergy testing, comprehensive digestive and stool analysis, adrenal stress index, metabolic typing, and more.

Clinical Nutrition
Food is the most natural and best medicine. The use of whole foods and nutritional supplements allow the body to regain a healthful balance. Nutritional analysis and counseling is at the core of the naturopathic approach to health and prevention.

Botanical Medicine
Commonly referred to as herbal medicine, the use of plant-derived substances can be powerful tools for addressing health concerns. Drawing on thousands of years’ use and knowledge of botanical medicine, naturopaths can use these medicines in a standardized form, as a whole herb, or in combination.

Physical Medicine
Naturopathic physicians are trained in a wide variety of physical medicine techniques including therapeutic manipulation of the spine and joints, ultrasound, diathermy, microcurrent, muscle stimulation, massage, heat and cold therapy, traction, and many other modalities.

Psychological Medicine
Naturopathic physicians are also trained to use a multitude of techniques to assist their patients in gaining perspective and to balance their mental health, thus affecting overall health. Techniques frequently used include counseling, stress management, biofeedback, neurofeedback, hypnotherapy, EFT, and flower essences.

Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a 200-year-old system of medicine, practiced throughout the world. It is based upon the principle of like cures like, called the Law of Similars. This means that a substance that is capable of producing symptoms in a healthy person, when specially prepared in high dilution, can bring relief to a person who is ill and suffers from similar symptoms. Homeopathy is used effectively to treat both acute and chronic problems, and is designed to positively affect the body¹s vital force.