The intention of Naturopathic Medicine is best understood by its six foundational principles.

Principles of Naturopathic Medicine:

The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)Naturopathic medicine recognizes the body’s inherent ability, which is ordered and intelligent, to heal itself. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to recovery, and to facilitate and augment this healing ability.

Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam)The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness, rather than to eliminate or merely suppress symptoms.

First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
Naturopathic medicine follows three principles to avoid harming the patient:

-utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects;

-avoid, when possible, the harmful suppression of symptoms;

-acknowledge and respect the individual’s healing process, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat illness.

Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
Naturopathic physicians educate the patient and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also acknowledge the therapeutic value inherent in the doctor-patient relationship.

Treat the Whole Person
Naturopathic physicians treat each individual by taking into account physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual path.

Prevention
Naturopathic physicians emphasize disease prevention, assessment of risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine strives to create a healthy world in which humanity may thrive.

Naturopathic Practice

The current scope of naturopathic practice includes, but is not limited to:

Clinical Nutrition
A cornerstone of naturopathic practice is that food is the best medicine.  Many medical conditions can be treated more effectively with foods and nutritional supplements than by other means, with fewer complications and side effects.  Many pharmaceuticals can be strengthened and targeted more safely with knowledge of nutritional sciences.  Naturopathic physicians use dietetics, natural hygiene, fasting, and nutritional supplementation in their practice.  These methods can be used as either alternatives to mainstream medicine, or as complementary and in concert with it, depending on the desires of the patient.

Botanical Medicine
Many plant substances are powerful medicines.  Whereas a single chemically derived drug may address a single problem, botanical medicines are able to address a variety of problems simultaneously.  Their organic nature makes botanicals compatible with the body’s own chemistry;  hence, they can be gently effective with fewer toxic side effects.  Their availability and safety make them more useful and affordable for home care of chronic conditions.

Naturopathic Obstetrics
Naturopathic physicians may provide natural childbirth care in either an out-of-hospital setting, or in a hospital.  They offer prenatal and postnatal care using modern diagnostic techniques.  The naturopathic approach strengthens healthy body functions so that complications associated with pregnancy can be prevented or minimized.

Homeopathic Medicine
Homeopathic medicine is based on the principle of “like cures like.”  It works on a subtle yet powerful electromagnetic level, gently acting to strengthen the body’s healing and immune response.  Because these are both effective and very safe, naturopathic physicians share a respect for this system of medicine with practitioners of many other healing arts.

Physical Medicine
Naturopathic medicine has its own methods of therapeutic manipulation of muscles, bones, and the spine.  Our physicians also use ultrasound, diathermy, exercise, massage, water, heat and cold, air, and gentle electrical pulses to treat acute or chronic physical injury.  Many recent advances in Sports Medicine and exercise physiology are essentially adaptations of herbal and homeopathic materials into the modern arena.

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 levels other than the physical.

Minor Surgery
As general practitioners, naturopathic physicians may do in-office minor surgery, including repair of superficial wounds, removal of foreign bodies, cysts, and other superficial masses. (Dr Miki does not perform minor surgery but she is happy to make referrals).

Each naturopathic practitioner utilizes his or her own unique skill set and may or may not incorporate the modalities listed above.  Interview your practitioner before deciding if he or she is a good match for your health care requirements.

After spending many years practicing naturopathic medicine as her primary modality, Dr Miki discovered that her strongest calling is as an energy healer, using shamanic methods as well as acupuncture as her primary tools.  She lives her life and runs her practice very much in alignment with the naturopathic principles listed above.  She incorporates her knowledge as a naturopathic physician in every session; frequently offering diet and lifestyle recommendations, suggesting herbal or food supplements, using homeopathy and in working with her patients on acute and chronic issues, to assist in bringing them to a state optimal health.