Naturopathic Medicine
The practice of naturopathic medicine is the promotion of health, the
assessment of the physical and mental condition of an individual, and the
diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases, disorders and dysfunctions
through education, common diagnostic procedures, and the integrated use of
therapies and substances that promote the individual's inherent self-healing
processes.
Naturopathic doctors (ND’s) provide primary and adjunctive health care to
people of all ages, focusing on the rational use of natural therapies to
support and stimulate healing processes. Naturopathic doctors promote health
and prevent illness, and diagnose and treat disease in a manner consistent
with the body of knowledge and standards of practice for the profession.
Naturopathic therapies are selected to treat the individual's presenting
condition, taking into consideration their particular symptoms and overall
health status. The underlying principles that guide the naturopathic
doctor's selection of therapies for individual patients are:
First, do no harm
To co-operate with the healing powers of nature
To treat the root causes of disease
The primary role of doctor as teacher
To treat the whole person through individualized care
Prevention of disease through healthy lifestyle
The body of knowledge that underlies treatment
modalities used in modern naturopathic medical practice incorporates both
traditional knowledge and the latest advances in medical science.
Naturopathic therapies are selected to treat the individual's presenting
condition, taking into consideration particular symptoms and overall health
status.
Naturopathic medicine is unique in that each naturopathic doctor is trained
in all of the treatment modalities described below, and most importantly in
their integrated use:
Botanical Medicine: Plant substances have been utilized safely and
effectively for centuries in the prevention and treatment of disease. Their
clinical uses and effects are described in detail in traditional literature,
and they are the subject of an increasing amount of new scientific research.
Documentation exists that demonstrates the safe and effective use of many
botanical medicines over generations. Botanical medicines have
pharmacological properties that necessitate their use by appropriately
trained health care providers.
Clinical Nutrition: The relationship
between nutrition and wellness, or between inadequate nutrition and disease,
is well documented and is a cornerstone of naturopathic practice.
Naturopathic application of clinical nutrition involves the use of dietetics
and specific nutritional substances for the prevention and treatment of
disease, the correction of dietary inadequacies and the promotion of
wellness.
Counseling: A tenet of naturopathic medicine is that emotional health
and physical health are interdependent. Naturopathic practice includes the
integrated use of counseling techniques along with such methods as stress
management and biofeedback when indicated.
Homeopathic Medicine: Homeopathic medicine was originally developed
during
the 18th century by the German physician, Hahnemann, and is widely used
throughout the world. Minute amounts of substances prepared and prescribed
according to strict homeopathic principles are used to evoke a physiological
and/or psychological response.
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