What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic Medicine combines safe and effective traditional therapies with the most current advances in modern medicine. Naturopathic medicine is appropriate for the management of a broad range of health conditions affecting all people of all ages.  

Naturopathic Doctors, (ND’s) are the highest trained practitioners in the broadest scope of natural medical modalities. In addition to the basic medical sciences and conventional diagnostics, naturopathic education includes therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy, and pharmacology.  

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care, recognized by the National Institute of Health.  It is an art, science, philosophy and practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness. Naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles which underlie and determine its practice. These principles are based upon the objective observation of the nature of health and disease. 

The goal of naturopathic medicine is to work with the body’s natural physiologic functions which are constantly trying to maintain a healthy homoeostasis.  Often times, symptoms are confused as being the disease, instead of being understood as the body’s attempt at regaining homeostasis.  Because of this awareness, ND’s look beyond the symptoms to understand the underlying cause of the condition.  Treatment recommendations are made based on the understanding of physiology and are chosen upon the basis of patient individuality. Naturopathic doctors are trained as primary health care practitioners, whose diverse techniques include modern and traditional, scientific and empirical methods.

For more information visit the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians or the Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians.