Every profession has principles that they abide by to serve their clientele. To have a more enhanced understanding of how a Naturopathic Doctor could help with your healing journey, this blog post will explore what the naturopathic principles that Naturopathic Doctors abide by for their patients. As a reminder, Naturopathic medicine is an integrative and complementary approach to conventional medicine that utilizes the following principles of healing:
First, do no harm to the patient by using non-invasive treatments. This principle also includes understanding when naturopathic treatments are not suited for a patient and to instead refer the patient to a medical doctor to prevent harm.
Second, utilize both the healing power of the body and what nature can offer.
Third, identify and treat the cause of disease, as opposed to only symptoms, as all medical professionals should strive to do.
Fourth, when treating the concern, focus on all aspects–physical, mental, behavioural, emotional and spiritual–of the person in relation to their health
Fifth, the Naturopathic Doctor is a conduit to a person’s change through teaching the patient and keeping the patient accountable to their agreed upon goals.
Sixth, be mindful that health prevention is most predictive of optimal functioning.
Lastly, understand when pharmaceutical and surgical intervention are mandatory either separately or simultaneously during naturopathic care
Reasons to see a Naturopathic Doctor
Naturopathic Doctors can aid in many concerns using the above aforementioned principles.Common concerns–which by no means is an exhaustive list–that drive a person to get into contact with a Naturopathic Doctor are:
| Mood imbalances | Musculoskeletal issues | Hormonal imbalances | Fertility issues |
| Chronic pain | Weight management (high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes) | Dietary advice | Low immunity |
| Digestive Issues | Food allergies / Seasonal allergies | Lack of energy / fatigue | Work stress / home life stress |
More abstract reasons to see a Naturopathic Doctor are when a patient’s health concerns fall before the treatment that a Medical Doctor can prescribe. In this instance, naturopathic medicine can be a helping hand when the treatment options in conventional medicine are limited. Another reason to see an ND is to develop a strong therapeutic rapport. Due to the set-up of our healthcare system in Ontario, appointment times with medical doctors usually last no more than 15 minutes. As a result of this and wait time in between appointments, conventional medicine can sometimes be concentrated on treating the most pressing problem at the time of the visit yet not have the time or curiosity to explore the rest of the patient’s general well-being.Since Naturopathic Medicine is privately funded by the patient, there is more time to focus on general well being and developing that rapport. This time allowance could increase the patient’s awareness of other areas in their life that need to be improved on that they might not have otherwise addressed. This could then be brought to the attention of that patient’s entire allied circle of care if it is not within the scope of the Naturopathic Doctor to treat solely.
