About - What is a Naturopahic Clinic?
An Introduction to Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine is a specific primary health care profession that emphasizes prevention and treatment as well as optimal health through using therapeutic substances and methods that encourage a person's inherent self-healing processes. Empirical, scientific, traditional and modern methods are all used in practicing naturopathic medicine.
The foundation for naturopathic medical practice is based on the following principles:
Nature's Healing Power: An inherent self-healing process within humans that is intelligent and ordered is recognized by naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic physicians work to identify as well as remove any obstacles to recovery and healing, and also augment and facilitate the inherent self-healing process for their patients.
Identify and Treat Causes: Naturopathic doctors look to identify underlying causes of an illness and remove them instead of just trying to suppress or eliminate symptoms.
First Do No Harm: There are three guidelines that naturopathic physicians follow in order to avoid patients being harmed:
- Use medicinal substances and methods that minimize risk of developing harmful side effects, through using the least amount of force that is necessary for diagnosing and treating health conditions.
- Avoid suppressing symptoms in a harmful way whenever possible.
- Acknowledge, respect and work with the self-healing process of the individual.
Doctor as Teacher: Naturopathic doctors provide their patients with education and also encourage them to take responsibility for their own health. These physicians also recognize and make use of the therapeutic potential that exists within the patient-doctor relationship.
Treat the Entire Individual: Each patient is treated by a naturopathic physician by taking the person's physical, emotional, mental, social, environmental, genetic and other factors into account. Given that spiritual health is included in total health, individuals are encouraged by naturopathic physicians to pursue their own personal spiritual development in addition to their physical health.
Prevention: The prevention of disease is emphasized by naturopathic physicians through assessing risk factors, susceptibility and heredity to disease, and through making the appropriate interventions along with their patients so that illness can be prevented.
Naturopathic Practice
The following therapeutic and diagnostic modalities are included in naturopathic practice: naturopathic obstetrics (natural childbirth), injection and intravenous therapy, prescription medication, acupuncture, homeopathy, minor surgery, counseling, hygiene, public health measures, naturopathic physical medicine (which includes naturopathic manipulative therapy, botanical medicine, nutritional medicine as well as laboratory and clinical diagnostic testing.