| |
| |
|
| |
|
| Home
| Naturopathic Philosophy |
|
Naturopathic
Philosophy |
| |
The
word “physician” originates from the Greek root
"phusis" meaning “from nature.” |
| The
practice of Naturopathic
Medicine emerges from six underlying principles of holistic
healing. These principles are based on the objective observation
of health and disease,
and are continually re-examined in light of modern medical science.
|
•
Vis medicatrix naturae.
The
healing power of nature.
The body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and
restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent;
nature heals through the response of the life force. The physician's
role is to facilitate and augment this process, to act to identify
and remove obstacles to health and recovery, and to support
the creation of a healthy internal and external environment.
|
• Tolle
causam.
Identify and treat the cause.
Illness does not occur without cause. Underlying causes of disease
must be discovered and removed or treated before a person can
recover completely from illness. Symptoms are expressions of
the body's attempt to heal, but are not the cause of disease.
Symptoms, therefore, should not be suppressed by treatment.
Causes may occur on many levels including physical, mental,
emotional, and spiritual. The physician must evaluate fundamental
underlying causes on all levels, directing treatment at root
causes rather than at symptomatic expression. |
• Primum
no nocere. First
do no harm.
Illness is a purposeful process of the organism. The process
of healing includes the generation of symptoms which are, in
fact, an expression of the life force attempting to heal itself.
Therapeutic actions should be complimentary to and synergistic
with this healing process. The physician's actions can support
or antagonize the actions of the vis medicatrix naturae. Therefore,
methods designed to suppress symptoms without removing underlying
causes are considered harmful and are avoided or minimized.
|
• Treat
the whole person. The
multifactorial nature of health and disease
Health and disease are conditions of the whole organism, a whole
involving a complex interaction of physical, spiritual, mental,
emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors.
The physician must treat the whole person by taking all of these
factors into account. The harmonious functioning of all aspects
of the individual is essential to recovery from and prevention
of disease, and requires a personalized and comprehensive approach
to diagnosis and treatment. |
• Docere.
The
physician as teacher.
Beyond an accurate diagnosis and appropriate prescription, the
physician must work to create a healthy, sensitive interpersonal
relationship with the patient. A cooperative doctor-patient
relationship has inherent therapeutic value. The physician's
major role is to educate and encourage the patient to take responsibility
for health. The physician is a catalyst for healthful change,
empowering and motivating the patient to assume responsibility.
It is the patient, not the doctor, who ultimately creates/accomplishes
healing. The physician must strive to inspire hope as well as
understanding. The physician must also make a commitment to
his/her personal and spiritual development in order to be a
good teacher. |
• Prevention.
Prevention
is the best "cure"
The ultimate goal of any health care system should be prevention.
This is accomplished through education and promotion of life-habits
that create good health. The physician assesses risk factors
and hereditary susceptibility to disease and makes appropriate
interventions to avoid further harm and risk to the patient.
The emphasis is on building health rather than on fighting disease. |
| Please
take advantage of our free 15 min. phone
consultation. To make an appointment, please contact
White Oak Center. |
|
|
| |
| © 2005 White Oak Medical Center, LLC.
All rights reserved. |
