The Seven Principles of
Naturopathic Medicine
 The Healing Power of Nature. Naturopathic
medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in the person
that is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify
and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and
augment this inherent self-healing process.
Identify and Treat the Cause. The
naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying
causes of illness, rather that to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.
First Do No Harm. Naturopathic
physicians follow three precepts to avoid harming the patient:
- Utilize methods and medical substances which minimize the risk
of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose
and treat.
- Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms.
- Acknowledge, respect and work with the individual’s self-healing
process.
Doctor As Teacher. Naturopathic
physicians educate their patients and encourage self-responsibility
for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential
of the doctor-patient relationship.
Treat the Whole Person. Naturopathic
physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual
physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social and
other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health,
naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal
spiritual development.
Prevention. Naturopathic
physicians emphasize the prevention of disease — assessing
risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions
in partnership with their patients to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine
is committed to the creation of a healthy world in which humanity may thrive.
The Hierarchy of Therapeutics is
the philosophy of using medicines with the least force necessary
to bring about a long lasting, non-suppressive therapeutic effect
in someone who is sick.
This is a very rational, decision making process for the physician
based on knowledge, experience and good intuitive sense into a
patient’s vital force and the seriousness of the illness.
It is important in patient care because using the least force intervention
to bring about success allows for minimal side effects and patient
trauma. On the other hand, if a physician decides to use an intervention
that is not strong enough for the patient’s illness, the
treatment will be unsuccessful, and the patient, although experiencing
minimal side effects and trauma, will not have been cured. The
Hierarchy of Therapeutics is visibly best depicted on a spectrum:
 Low Force Interventions |
|
High
Force Interventions |
Energetic
Medicine |
Lifestyle and
Dietary Intervention |
Nutritional
Supplements |
Pharmaceutical
Drugs |
Surgery |
Homeopathy
Acupuncture
Constitutional Hydro
Reiki
Prayer
|
Exercise
Weight Loss
Changing to a Healthy Diet
Allergy Elimination
Quitting Smoking |
Botanicals
Vitamins
Minerals
Accessory Nutrients
I.V. Nutrients
|
Chelation Therapy
Cholesterol Lowering RX
Anti-hypertensives
Anti-psychotics
Antibiotics |
Cardiac Bypass
Angioplasty
Resection
etc.
|
|
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