Naturopathic Medicine

First, Do no harm

• This is a common principle amongst health care providers. The goal of the ND is to help you with the least invasive and toxic therapies. An important part of your health care treatment is receiving informed consent - this refers to the treatment's benefits, risks and possible alternative treatments.  When a condition is outside of a NDs scope, they will refer.

The healing power of nature

• NDs utilize nature and use it as medicine - like botanical herbs and hydrotherapy
• Also, NDs recognize the bodies innate ability to heal itself - like the paper cut you once had. NDs will promote this healing process in many ways using the naturopathic modalities (lifestyle and nutritional counselling, botanical medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine/acupuncture, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, and physical medicine)

Identify and treat the cause

• Symptoms of illness can be the expression of what it occurring deeper within. NDs will try to figure out why your health is in its disease state and remove obstacles to healing.

Doctor as teacher

• The latin root of the word "doctor"  is "docere" meaning "teacher". NDs want you to be educated and engage in your health care. When you better understand your health and body, you are better able to make decisions that can help you achieve your health goals

Treat the whole person

• NDs acknowledge that we are more than just our diagnosis and embrace all levels of what it is to be human. This includes your physical body, your emotions and mental health state, as well as your spiritual (not limited to religion) state. When making health decisions it is important to acknowledge the person as a whole. 

Prevention

• Higher quality of life and optimal health is easier to achieve if preventative measures are taken whenever it is possible. NDs take a comprehensive health history to find any potential areas that may be at risk for future disease.