How is naturopathic medicine performed?

Clinical nutrition: In most cases of disease or wellness, nutritional counseling and support are a major component of Naturopathic treatments. Naturopathic physicians use dietetics, natural hygiene, fasting, and nutritional supplementation in practice.

Botanical medicine: Botanical medicine is often used to treat many ailments.

Homeopathic medicine: Homeopathy is a system of medicine that is based on the Law of Similars, sometimes described as "like cures like." For example, a substance that causes vomiting when used full strength may be thought to prevent vomiting when used in a very low concentration.

Physical medicine: Naturopathic medicine has its own methods of therapeutic manipulation of muscles, bones, and spine. Physicians also use ultrasound, diathermy, exercise, massage, water, heat and cold, air and gentle electrical pulses.

Oriental medicine: Oriental medicine is a complimentary healing philosophy to naturopathic medicine. Meridian theory offers an understanding of the unity of the body and mind, and adds to the Western understanding of physiology.

Naturopathic obstetrics: Naturopathic physicians provide natural childbirth care in an out-of-hospital setting. They offer prenatal and postnatal care using modern diagnostic techniques.

Psychological medicine: Mental attitudes and emotional states may influence, or even cause, physical illness. Counseling, nutritional balancing, stress management, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and other therapies are used to help patients heal on the psychological level.

Minor surgery: As general practitioners, naturopathic doctors (N.D.s) perform in office-minor surgery such as repairing superficial wounds or removal of foreign bodies or cysts.

You should read product labels, and discuss all therapies with a qualified healthcare provider. Natural Standard information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

We begin with a person, not a disease process. We also begin with a different series of assumptions about the person and the body. Our goal is to treat the cause, not the symptoms. In finding that cause, we will educate patients about their bodies.