What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic Medicine, much like Functional Medicine, focus on getting to the root cause of an individual’s concern and emphasize prevention and the self-healing process through the use of healthy living and natural therapies.
Like peeling the layers of an onion back, Dr. Pedi focuses on identifying the underlying causes of disease and using evidence-based naturopathic therapies including clinical nutrition, lifestyle education, botanical medicine, and supplementation to address the cause with the goal of having a lasting benefit beyond symptom suppression.
Naturopathic Principles
The underpinnings of naturopathic medical practice are found in the following six principles:
The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
Naturopathic medicine recognizes the body’s inherent ability to heal itself. Naturopathic physicians identify and remove obstacles to recovery to facilitate this healing ability in patients.
Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam)
The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness, rather than eliminate or merely suppress symptoms.
First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
Naturopathic medicine follows three principles to avoid harming the patient:
Use methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects;
Avoid, when possible, the harmful suppression of symptoms;
Acknowledge and respect the individual’s healing process, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat illness.
Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
Naturopathic physicians educate the patient and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also acknowledge the therapeutic value inherent in the doctor-patient relationship.
Treat the Whole Person
Naturopathic physicians treat each individual by taking into account physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual path.
Prevention
Naturopathic physicians emphasize disease prevention, assessment of risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine strives to create a healthy world in which humanity may thrive.
