Naturopathic medicine is a distinct type of primary health care emphasizing a holistic approach to disease prevention and treatment, encouraging the body’s natural healing abilities, and educating patients about health-promoting lifestyles. Naturopathic physicians blend centuries-old knowledge of natural therapies with current scientific advances in health and human systems. The scope of practice includes all aspects of family and primary care from pediatrics and geriatrics, and all natural medicine modalities.

Founded upon a holistic philosophy, naturopathic medicine combines safe and effective traditional therapies with the most current advances in modern medicine. Naturopathic medicine is appropriate for the management of a broad range of health conditions affecting all people of all ages.

Naturopathic physicians (N.D.s) are the highest trained practitioners in the broadest scope of naturopathic medical modalities. In addition to the basic medical sciences and conventional diagnostics, naturopathic education includes therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, natural childbirth, classical Chinese medicine, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy, pharmacology and minor surgery.

First Do No Harm
Naturopathic Physicians use safe, gentle treatment modalities to improve patient health with as little risk for adverse effects as possible.

The Healing Power of Nature
Natuopathic Medicine acknowledges and respects the innate intelligence of the human body. Naturopathic Physicians see symptoms as the expression of the individuals own Vital Force working to return the individual to optimal health.

Find the Cause
Naturopathic Medicine addresses nutritional, lifestyle, emotional and physical factors which contribuite to the development of illness. Suppression of symptoms without treatment of underlying causes is counter to health improvement.

Treat the Whole Person
Health or disease comes from a complex interaction of mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, dietary, genetic, environmental, lifestyle, and other factors. Naturopathic physicians treat the whole person, taking these factors into account.

Doctor as Teacher
The original meaning of the word "doctor" is teacher. A principle objective of naturopathic medicine is to educate the patient and emphasize self-responsibility for health. Naturopathic physicians also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.

Prevention
The naturopathic approach to health care can prevent minor illnesses from developing into more serious diseases. Patients are taught the principles with which to live a healthy life and by following these principles, they can prevent major illnesses.

Naturopathic Doctors are trained at accredited, four-year, post-graduate naturopathic medical schools. The comprehensive medical training includes studies in basic medical sciences, clinical and physical diagnosis, laboratory and diagnostic imaging studies, clinical medical sciences, naturopathic philosophy, pharmacology, and a wide variety of natural therapeutics. In order to become licensed practitioners, Naturopathic Doctors are required to successfully pass national board exams in the basic and clinical medical sciences as well as all of the Naturopathic therapeutics.

Doctors of Naturopathic Medicine use a variety of natural and non-invasive therapies, including clinical nutrition, lifestyle counseling, physical medicine, hydrotherapy, massage therapy, botanical medicine, homeopathy, stress management, and natural hormone therapy. Naturopathic Doctors may have additional training and certification in craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, somatic therapy, and natural childbirth. Naturopathic therapies are effective in the treatment of many disease conditions without additional intervention. Naturopathic Medicine is also beneficial in an integrated medical framework, complementing the treatments of conventionally trained medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, chiropractic doctors, and licensed acupuncturists. This results in a patient-centered approach striving to meet the needs of the individual person.