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The Healing Power of Nature: Nature
acts powerfully through healing mechanisms in the
body and mind to maintain and restore health. Naturopathic
physicians work to restore and support these inherent
healing systems when they have broken down, by using
methods, medicines, and techniques that are in harmony
with natural processes.
First Do No Harm: Naturopathic
physicians prefer non-invasive treatments which
minimize the risks of harmful side-effects. They
are trained to know which patients they can treat
safely, and which ones they need to refer to other
health care practitioners.
Find the Cause: Every illness
has an underlying cause, often in aspects of lifestyle,
diet or habits of the individual. A naturopathic
physician is trained to find and facilitate removal
of the underlying cause of disease.
Doctor as Teacher: The original meaning of the word
“doctor” is teacher. A principal objective
of naturopathic medicine is to educate the patient
and emphasize self-responsibility for health. Naturopathic
physicians also recognize and employ the therapeutic
potential of the doctor-patient relationship.
Treat the Whole Person: Health
or disease comes from a complex interaction of physical,
emotional, dietary, genetic, environmental, lifestyle,
and other factors. Naturopathic physicians treat
the whole person, taking these factors into account.
Preventive Medicine: The naturopathic
approach to health care can prevent minor illnesses
from developing into more serious or chronic degenerative
diseases. Patients are taught the principles with
which to live a healthy life; by following these
principles they can prevent major illnesses.
Classical Chinese Medicine uses
acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and qi gong to bring
the body back into balance. Chinese medicine is
holistic, looking at the body, mind and spirit as
one. The medicine’s philosophy is that symptoms
relate to a disease pattern, and by treating the
underlying pattern, health is restored.
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