A Principled Approach to Health: The Five Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is a rational system of healing that is governed by five basic principles. 

1) First, Do No Harm

This should be fairly self-explanatory and is said to be followed by everyone in Western Medicine but is getting a little murky. Many professionals justify giving toxic treatments with the view that the patient would be better off on the medication then if nothing was done. This doesn't get around the idea of trying to avoid negative side-effects at all costs (Do NO harm!). The justification of a toxic treatment occurs because of a refusal to look outside of the medical profession.  Naturopathic modalities tend to be much gentler on the body and are less likely to cause side effects (But still have the potential to do so.) then western medicine. They are often supplementing a deficiency that the body needs to function better rather then suppressing a enzyme system and disrupting already unbalanced biochemistry. As a result much less side effects occur while allowing the body to heal.  

2) Act in Co-Operation with the Healing Power of Nature

As I mentioned above naturopaths try to work with the body rather then against it. There is an appreciation for Vitalism rather then materialism in that many naturopathic modalities allow for a spiritual/energetic realm rather then just explaining things with a reductionist mindset. Naturopathy tries to work with the body's physiology by supporting proper functioning while giving essential nutrients that may be missing or insufficient (like vitamins and minerals). Symptoms tend not to be suppressed since they are an outward expression of the bodies attempt to heal itself. Suppressing the symptom would ultimately be working against the bodies own intelligence in how to heal itself. 

3) Seek, Identify and Treat the Fundamental Cause of Illness 

In order to become cured of an illness, the underlying cause needs to be corrected. Naturopathic Doctors seek to correct the root problem rather then suppressing symptoms. If a symptom is just temporarily relieved and returns shortly after withdrawing treatment then it wasn't being addressed properly. Suppressing symptoms long term can lead to further weakening of the body and worsening health outcomes. The cause of a disease has to be positively identified to get to a cure.

4) Treat the Whole Person using Individualized Treatments.

Naturopathic Doctors have a holistic view of the body and acknowledge that the root cause of a condition can be found on the physical, mental, or spiritual/emotional level or on all three levels simultaneously. Examples of non-body root cause issues include trauma from PTSD, eating disorders, and grief. Everyone is a individual and deserves to be treated as such and not an average of a population. Naturopathic Doctors often use multiple treatment modalities and tailor the treatments to their individual patients. Many naturopaths utilize multiple health paradigms in practice (TCM,  Western medicine, Ayruveda, etc) allowing them to treat from a paradigm that best fits the patients symptoms and worldview. 

5) Teach the Principles of Healthy Living and Preventative Care

Naturopathic Doctors are not doing their jobs of treating the root cause if they are making their patients dependent on their services or supplements. Teaching a patient how to change their environment, diet, and lifestyle to be able to prevent disease from reoccurring and taking ownership of their health should be the long term goal of a naturopath. Some resources split this last principle into two; preventative medicine and teaching healthy living to patients. 

By keeping true to these principles Naturopathic Doctors are able to maintain a consistent identity while being able to make large differences in the lives of their patients and those in their communities. 

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Reference: World Health Organization: Benchmark for Training in Naturopathy