Naturopathic medicine is a distinct health care profession whose practitioners specialize in science-based natural medicine. Naturopaths are trained at four-year accredited, naturopathic medical colleges and are educated in the conventional medical sciences. Acute and chronic diseases are treated with a focus on healing the total person and promoting optimal health.

History of Naturopathic Medicine

As a distinct health care profession Naturopathic medicine is almost 100 years old. Its philosophy and therapies have their origins in the philosophy of Hippocrates and the healing wisdom of many cultures and times. At the turn of the century, practitioners of a variety of medical disciplines combined natural therapeutics in a unique way. They joined together to form the first Naturopathic medical societies. Naturopathic medical conventions in the 1920s attracted more than 10,000 practitioners. Early in the 20^th century there were more than 20 Naturopathic colleges, and Naturopaths were licensed in a majority of the states.

Naturopathic medicine experienced a decline in the 1940’s and 1950’s with the rise and popularity of pharmaceutical drugs, technological medicine, and a widespread belief that these therapies could eliminate all disease. It has experienced a resurgence in the last two decades, a health conscious public seeks out alternatives to conventional medicine. As a body of knowledge, Naturopathy continues to grow and evolve. As an organized profession, Naturopathic Medicine is committed to ongoing research and development of its science and incorporates elements of scientific modern medicine.

The Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

The Healing Power of Nature, Vis Medatrix Naturae. Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent ordered and intelligent self-healing process in the person. Naturopaths strive to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.

Identify and Treat the Causes, Tolle Causam. Naturopaths seek to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness rather than merely to eliminate or suppress symptoms.

First Do No Harm, Primum Non Nocere. Naturopaths follow three guidelines to ensure noninvasive treatment of the client:

Utilize methods and medicinal 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, Docere. Naturopaths educate their clients and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor/client relationship.

Treat the Whole Person. Naturopaths treat each client by taking into account an individual’s physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, spiritual, and other factors that contribute to one’s health.

Prevention. Naturopaths emphasize the prevention of disease factors, heredity, and susceptibility to disease, and work towards making the appropriate decision in partnership with their clients to prevent illness.