The 6 Basic Tenets of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine is guided by six basic tenets that shape how Naturopathic Doctors understand health, illness, and healing. These principles focus on the healing power of nature, finding the root cause of illness, treating the whole person, preventing disease, and educating patients so they can take an active role in their health.
“Vis Medicatrix Naturae”
The Healing Power of Nature
The human body has an innate healing ability that is intelligent and orderly. One of my highest goals is to facilitate and enhance that self-healing mechanism and to alleviate any obstacles to cure.
“Tolle Causam”
Identify and Treat the Cause(s)
Symptoms of disease are the body’s way of communicating that something is out of balance. Rather than just treating symptoms, Naturopathic Doctors work to find and treat the root cause of the illness.
“Primum Non Nocere”
First, Do No Harm
All Doctors take the oath to “Do no harm,” but the healing methods, treatments and substances used by Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) inherently have a lower risk of harm to the patient, whether by direct action or side effect.
“Docere”
Doctor as Teacher
Naturopathic doctors recognize and value of the doctor-patient relationship and invest time to truly understand the patient as a whole person. Also, NDs educate their patients to make informed decisions and to take responsibility for their health.
“Tolle Totum”
Treat the Whole Person
Naturopathic doctors understand that humans are more than just their physical bodies. We consider the physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and even spiritual aspects when treating the whole person.
“Prevenir”
Prevention
Naturopathic doctors educate patients on how to prevent disease. They seek to understand risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and then make appropriate interventions in the best interests of their patients.
At Healing by Nature, these tenets guide the way Dr. Lori DiBacco works with each patient. Rather than simply covering up symptoms, naturopathic medicine looks for what is out of balance and supports the body’s natural ability to heal. With the right information, guidance, and care, you can begin to reclaim your health the natural way.