Naturopathic Medicine is a comprehensive approach to health care. Naturopathic Doctors are authorities in natural medicine and preventative health care, integrating scientific knowledge with traditional healing wisdom. Naturopathic treatment addresses the root causes of illness, rather than treating or suppressing symptoms. As naturopathic medicine is a holistic approach to health, lifestyle is considered extremely relevant. Your ND can help identify risk factors and make recommendations to help optimize your physical, mental and emotional well being.

Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

• First to do no harm: Naturopathic Doctors are trained to use safe and effective treatments that must not harm their patients or have harmful side effects. By always being mindful of the power of naturopathic medicine and the strength of each patient, the Naturopathic Doctor strives to above all else, do no harm to the patient.

• To co-operate with the healing powers of nature: These healing powers are mirrored through the treatments utilized by Naturopathic Doctors, including the use of plants, homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, hydrotherapy, and stress management.

• To address the fundamental causes of disease: Rather than merely treating the symptoms of disease, the Naturopathic Doctor can affect substantial quality in the lives of patients by addressing the root cause of disease. This cause can be physical, mental, emotional, or, as is usually the case, a combination of the above.

• To heal the whole person through individualized treatment: Individualized treatment is the key to treating the root cause of disease. As each person is different and unique, the disease process also affects each person individually and therefore must be treated individually.

• To teach the principles of healthy living and preventive medicine: Education is the core of preventative medicine, a cornerstone of Naturopathic Medicine. If your Naturopathic Doctor addresses the cause of disease in each individual patient, and educates the patient on this cause and how to prevent it, (s)he will be able to give you the tools to prevent further disease and  positively affect the patient’s quality of life.

Naturopathic Oath

• This oath is taken by every Naturopathic Doctor upon Graduation.

“I dedicate myself to the service of humanity as a practitioner of the art and science of naturopathic medicine.

By precept, education and example, I will assist and encourage others to strengthen their health, reduce risks for disease, and preserve the health of our plant for ourselves and future generations. I will continually endeavour to improve my abilities. I will conduct my life and practice of naturopathic medicine with integrity and freedom from prejudice. I will keep confident what should not be divulged.

I will honour the principles of naturopathic medicine:
1. First, to do no harm.
2. To co-operate with the healing powers of nature.
3. To address the fundamental causes of disease.
4. To heal the whole person through individualized treatment.
5. To teach the principles of healthy living and preventive medicine.

With my whole heart, before these witnesses, as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, I pledge to remain true to this oath.”

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