What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic doctors are health care professionals who are dedicated to helping you achieve your optimal personal health.

Naturopathic medicine is a type of medical practice that uses natural therapies to promote the body’s ability to heal itself on all levels. The most important aspects of naturopathic medicine are to discover and treat the root causes of disease as opposed to just the symptoms, and to promote optimal health and prevent illness.

The education of naturopathic doctors is extensive, with a minimum of eight years of post-secondary education in clinical and medical sciences, including four years of naturopathic medical school.

The strength and uniqueness of naturopathic medicine is founded on six principles:

1. Support the healing power of nature: The body has an incredible ability to heal itself when the obstacles to cure are removed and the optimal healing environment is provided.
2. Identify and treat the causes: It’s better to diagnose and remove the underlying causes of illness than to just temporarily treat the symptoms of disease.
3. First, do no harm:  Safe, effective natural medicines are used that have a minimal risk of harmful side effects.
4. Treat the whole person: To successfully treat the whole person, it’s necessary to consider all of the physical, mental, emotional and environmental factors that are contributing to the current state of health.
5. Emphasize prevention: Future illnesses can be prevented by carefully assessing current risk factors and making appropriate changes.
6. Doctor as Teacher: Naturopathic doctors openly share knowledge with their patients and encourage active participation in achieving optimal health goals.