Naturopathic medicine principles & therapies

Naturopathic Medicine

Also known as Nature Cure, or Natural Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine is founded on traditional beliefs in the power of the body to heal itself. The examination and laboratory testing are focused on finding the underlying functional causes of disease. The root cause of illness is identified and is the focus of treatment, rather than the symptoms. Treatments combine dietary changes and noninvasive therapies to stimulate the healing process and vital force of the patient.

The principles of Naturopathic Medicine include:

• Healing Power of Nature
• Identify and Treat the Cause
• First Do No Harm
• Doctor as Teacher
• Treat the Whole Person
• Prevention

• Nutritional Consultation

Whole foods, special diets and food supplements help build the foundation for alleviating physical and psychological disorders. The food paradigm is viewed as food as energy, food as medicine, and food as information. It can be helpful to take a trip to an organic food store to learn how to buy whole foods and what to look for on labels. This helps build a healthy relationship with food, which is focused on long-term health benefits.

• Detoxification

Removing excess toxins and minimizing toxin exposures are keys to optimizing liver and gastrointestinal system function. A nutritional and supplemental program can help restore proper detoxification pathways and elimination of waste, as well as improve absorption of nutrients.

• Herbal Medicine

Herbal remedies may be prescribed to restore the body’s self-healing mechanism and vital force. Herbal remedies are extracted from leaves, flowers, roots and other plant parts. They may be used in capsules, teas, tinctures, baths, or topically. The synergistic effect of using the whole plant instead of isolating active constituents is what differentiates plant medicine from drug therapies.

• Homeopathy

This system of medicine is based on the theory that “like cures like”. A substance that causes symptoms of illness in a healthy person can actually treat the same symptoms in someone who is ill, when properly diluted. Homeopathic medications are diluted repeatedly; leaving only the energetic blueprint of the substances that caused the illness – now transformed into a remedy. That energy stimulates the body’s self-healing abilities.

• Aromatherapy

Essential oils are applied in various methods, such as massage, diffusion, baths, orally and with acupuncture, to treat physical and emotional states. Essential oils are distillation extracts of the aromatic compounds of plants.

• Targeted Neurotransmitter Therapy

Specific amino acids, vitamins and herbs are used to treat imbalances in the neurotransmitter system of the body. Neurotransmitters are the communicating molecules between the immune, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and nervous system. Lab tests are used to assess specific imbalances and a nutritional prescription is customized for each individual patient. This therapy is used to treat such things as fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, addictions, cravings and weight management.

• Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

Natural hormones, extracted from plants, closely mimic the body’s hormones and can be used to balance the female and male endocrine system during times of depletion.

• Flower Essences

Homeopathic flower infusions are used to gently treat emotional or spiritual imbalances and restore harmony to body, mind and spirit. Flower essence blends are customized for the patient’s specific situation.

• Mind-body Medicines

This explores the interaction between emotional, spiritual and physical factors in the balance of one’s health. Some of the techniques may include meditation, visualization, journaling, artwork, imagery, biofeedback and hypnosis.

• Lifestyle Counselling

Counselling helps evaluate the choices one makes in life and how those choices impact one’s health and balance of the body, mind and spirit. Counselling can focus on stress management, finding your life purpose, or adapting a positive perspective on life.

• Fertility Enhancement

Natural Medicine is used to enhance fertility and promote optimal wellness during pregnancy. Treatments include The Mayan Abdominal massage to restore proper alignment of the uterus and ovaries, detoxification, nutritional prescriptions, and hormone balancing.