Naturopathy encourages self-healing using natural therapies such as herbal medicine. The focus is on integrative and preventative medicine. The idea is that the body is always trying to achieve ‘homeostasis’ or balance. When balance is achieved, the body works in perfect order, every chemical message to each system working like a masterpiece of choreography. The foundation of all Naturopathic treatment is based on six key principles. The principles are based on the nature of health and disease.
Six Naturopathic Principles
- Focus on prevention: The ultimate goal of a healthy life is prevention. It is easier to maintain balance than to restore ill health. The emphasis is always on health and homeostasis rather than ameliorating disease. The physician assesses all risk factors, including genetic and environmental and susceptibility to disease. Using this information helps to assess risk factors. It is the responsibility of the physician to create an environment conducive to health and wellness
- The Healing power of nature: the body has an inherent ability to heal and will always be striving to maintain and restore health. There is a life force that drives healing and it is ordered and intelligent. The physicians role is to facilitate this healing process
- Identify and treat causes: All illness in the body has an underlying cause. This cause should be discovered to support the healing response. Naturopathic medicine aims to treat underlying or root cause of disease, not symptoms. The physician must ascertain physical, mental and spiritual drivers of ill health. When these factors are addressed and root cause is treated, symptom relief will result.
- Do no harm: Any symptom in the body is evidence of the body itself trying to maintain and restore health. Disease itself, is in fact, the life force attempting to heal and maintain balance. The physicians actions should therefore not suppress or antagonize the symptoms and any methods that do this would be considered harmful
- Treat the whole person: Every human is a complex organism, involving physical, spiritual, emotional, environmental, genetic and social interactions. All of these factors should be considered by the physician during recovery and prevention of disease. All treatment requires a comprehensive and personalized approach.
- Doctors as teachers: All physicians have a duty to educate the patient and encourage responsibility for his or her own health. Ultimately, it is the patient, not the physician, that accomplishes healing. It is also the commitment of the physician to live by all the principles and ethos they are encouraging in practice.