Core Principles

Naturopathic medicine follows these core principles:

The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae) ~ 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 (Tolle Causum) ~ 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 (Primum Non Nocere) ~ 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 (Docere) ~ The original Latin definition of the word "doctor" is teacher. One of the main objectives of naturopathic medicine is to educate the patient and emphasize 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 dis-ease — 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.

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) an individual might experience. If wellness is truly recognized and nurtured within that individual, he/she will heal more quickly, as compared to their healing with direct treatment of the dis-ease alone.