Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

• Do no harm: Illness is a purposeful process of the organism.  The process of healing includes the generation of symptoms which are an expression of the life force attempting to heal itself.  Therapeutic actions should be complementary to and synergistic with this healing process.  The physician's actions support the healing power of nature.
• The healing power of nature: the body has an inherent ability to establish, maintain, & restore health.
• Identify and treat the cause: Illness doesn't occur without a cause.  Underlying causes of disease must be discovered, removed and treated before a person can recover completely from illness.  Symptoms express the body's attempt to heal, but are not the cause of disease.
• Heal the whole person: health and disease are conditions of the whole organism - the harmonious functioning of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects are essential to recovery from and prevention of disease.
• The physician as a teacher: the physician is a catalyst for healthful change, empowering and motivating the patient to assume responsibility.  It is the patient who ultimately creates and accomplishes healing.
• Prevention: the ultimate goal of any healthcare system should be through prevention of disease.  This is accomplished through education and promotion of life-habits that create good health.