Naturopathic medicine is a comprehensive system of medicine. Its focus is on treating the underlying causes of symptoms. It blends natural therapies with modern ones. Naturopathic doctors are trained as primary health care practitioners who are licensed to diagnose, perform laboratory testing, and treat accordingly. Naturopathic medicine addresses both acute and chronic illnesses. All licensed naturopathic doctors in the state of California have attended a 4-year medical school and maintain medical licenses overseen by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. The therapies that might be delivered by a naturopathic doctor include nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, vitamin injection therapy, lifestyle counseling, hormonal therapy and many others. While all of these therapies can be important, the goal of all naturopathic therapies is to correct the various imbalances that lead to the experience of symptoms.
The first office visit typically includes an extensive history and a focused physical exam. It is also common to briefly review any lab work that has been done in the past and order new labs as needed. Depending upon the complexity of the case, the first visit might conclude with a treatment plan and follow-up instructions, or it might be the first of a series of visits necessary for gathering all the relevant information that allows for a comprehensive treatment program.
Naturopathic doctors adhere to the following principles to promote the health and well-being of their patients:
- Do No Harm - Naturopathic doctors utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects
- Identify and Treat the Cause – Naturopathic doctors address the underlying causes of illness rather than simply suppressing symptoms.
- The Healing Power of Nature - Naturopathic doctors recognize that each individual possesses an inherent ability to heal. Naturopathic doctors support and promote this healing process by removing any obstacles to health.
- Treat the Whole Person - Each patient is an individual, an integrated whole, consisting of body, mind, and spirit. Naturopathic medicine addresses the nature of health and disease within the context of each individual’s experience.
- Doctor as Teacher – Educate patients in the steps to achieving and maintaining optimal health.
- Prevention – Naturopathic doctors emphasize disease prevention by promoting healthy lifestyle, diet, and specific therapies.
- Wellness– Wellness follows the establishment and maintenance of optimum health and balance. Wellness is a state of being healthy, characterized by positive emotion, thought and action. Wellness is inherent in everyone, no matter what dis-ease(s) is/are being experienced. If wellness is really recognized and experienced by an individual, it will more quickly heal a given dis-ease than direct treatment of the dis-ease alone. (This principle was adopted by Bastyr University and added to the six principles.)
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