Principles of Naturopathy

In 1989, Dr. Jared Zeff co-wrote the Definition of Naturopathic Medicine with Dr. Pamela Snider. The following principles are from that definition.

For more about the history of naturopathy and the development of these principles, read their co-written paper, Unifying Principles of Naturopathic Medicine Origins and Definitions.

Comprehensive Definition of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care - 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, and are continually reexamined in the light of scientific advances. Methods used are consistent with these principles and are chosen upon the basis of patient individuality. Naturopathic physicians are primary health care practitioners, whose diverse techniques include modem and traditional, scientific and empirical methods. The following principles are the foundation for the practice of naturopathic medicine:

PRINCIPLES

I. The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
The healing power of nature is the inherent self-organizing and healing process of living systems which establishes, maintains and restores health. Naturopathic medicine recognizes this healing process to be ordered and intelligent. It is thenaturopathic physician's role to support, facilitate and augment this process by identifying and removing obstacles to health and recovery, and by supporting the creation of a healthy internal and external environment.

II. Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam)
Illness does not occur without cause. Causes may originate in many areas. Underlying causes of illness and disease must be identified and removed before complete recovery can occur. Symptoms can be expressions of the body's
attempt to defend itself, to adapt and recover, to heal itself, or may be results of the causes of disease. The naturopathic physician seeks to treat the causes of disease, rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.

III. First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
Naturopathic physicians follow three precepts to avoid harming the patient:

Naturopathic physicians utilize methods and medicinal substances, which minimize the risk of harmful effects, and apply the least possible force or intervention necessary to diagnose illness and restore health.
Whenever possible the suppression of symptoms is avoided as suppression generally interferes with the healing process.
Naturopathic physicians respect and work with the vis medicatrix naturae in diagnosis, treatment and counseling, for if this self-healing process is not respected the patient may be harmed.

IV. Doctor As Teacher (Docere)
The original meaning of the word "doctor" is teacher. A principal objective of naturopathic medicine is to educate the patient and emphasize self-responsibility for health. Naturopathic physicians also recognize and employ the therapeutic
potential of the doctor-patient relationship.

V. Treat the Whole Person (Tolle Totum)
Health and disease result from a complex of physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal
spiritual development. Naturopathic medicine recognizes the harmonious functioning of all aspects of the individual as being essential to health. The multifactorial nature of health and disease requires a personalized and comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment. Naturopathic physicians treat the whole person taking all of these factors into account.

VI. Prevention (Preventare)
Naturopathic medical colleges emphasize the study of health as well as disease. The prevention of disease and the attainment of optimal health in patients are primary objectives of naturopathic medicine. In practice, these objectives are
accomplished through education and the promotion of healthy ways of living. Naturopathic physicians assess risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and make appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to
prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine asserts that one cannot be healthy in an unhealthy environment and is committed to the creation of a world in which humanity may thrive.

PRACTICE

Naturopathic Methods
Naturopathic medicine is defined primarily by its fundamental principles. Methods and modalities are selected and applied based upon these principles in relationship to the individual needs of each patient. Diagnostic and therapeutic
methods are selected from various sources and systems and will continue to evolve with the progress of knowledge.

Naturopathic Practice
Naturopathic practice includes the following diagnostic and treatment modalities:
utilization of all methods of clinical and laboratory diagnostic testing including diagnostic radiology and other imaging techniques; nutritional medicine, dietetics and therapeutic fasting; medicines of mineral, animal and botanical origin;
hygiene and public health measures; naturopathic physical medicine including naturopathic manipulative therapies; the use of water, heat, cold, light, electricity, air, earth, electromagnetic and mechanical devices, ultrasound, and therapeutic
exercise; homeopathy; acupuncture; psychotherapy and counseling; minor surgery and naturopathic obstetrics: (natural childbirth). Naturopathic practice excludes major surgery and the use of most synthetic drugs.

The Therapeutic Order is visually represented here as a triangle with the the least invasive interventions to the most targeted and forceful. At the bottom is the foundation, which is the first step.

1. Establishing the Foundation for Optimum Health. This means removing obstacles to health by addressing diet, stress, trauma, unhealthful habits, etc., which have contributed to the development of disease. Self healing can begin once the causes of illness are removed and the person's vitality is restored.

2. Stimulate Self-Healing. The first principle of Naturopathic Medicine is that there is innate healing in nature. Under the right circumstances, the body should be able to heal itself. When removing obstacles is not sufficient, modalities such as hydrotherapy, homeopathy, botanical medicine, nutrition, physical medicine, and acupuncture can be used to help facilitate self-healing.

3. Support and Restore Weakened Systems. When specific organs or systems are weak those modalities are used to target those specific areas.

4. Address Physical Alignment. This step is the structural alignment of the muscles and bones, treated with massage therapy, manipulation, and other musculoskeletal modalities.

5. Natural Symptom Relief. The goal is to address the underlying cause of illness, and aid the body in healing. Sometimes, treatment of symptoms is necessary as well. Ideally, this is done with remedies that give relief without adding to the toxic load of the body, such as with homeopathy and botanical medicine. For this reason, most Naturopaths avoid much use of pharmaceutical prescription drugs.

6. Synthetic Symptom Relief. Sometimes the symptoms impair the quality of life of the patient, and pharmaceutical suppressions of disease and symptoms is the best course of action though ideally this is only temporary.

7. High Force Intervention. This may be though pharmaceutical drugs and/or surgery. Suppressing the pathology and symptoms in this way can prevent the underlying cause of illness to be addressed and removed. Ideally, forceful suppression is temporary and resumption of establishing the foundation for optimum health and stimulating self-healing will begin once the patient is not in acute distress.

PREVENTION

Naturopathic medical colleges emphasize the study of health as well as disease. The prevention of disease and the attainment of optimal health in patients are primary objectives of naturopathic medicine. In practice, these objectives are accomplished through education and the promotion of healthy ways of living.

Naturopathic physicians assess risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and make appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine asserts that one cannot be healthy in an unhealthy environment and is committed to the creation of a world in which humanity may thrive.

Suppression vs. Solution

The basis of modern medicine, with all of its miracles, is suppression. Drugs suppress and control the reactions, which are commonly interpreted as disease. The fever and inflammation are treated with suppressive medication as if these states were the problem, rather than the natural solution.

CHRONIC DISEASE

Chronic disease occurs as the disturbing factors accumulate, and the attempts by the body to get rid of these disturbances are suppressed. This allows the disturbance to penetrate deeper and deeper into the vital structures and functions of the body. Treatments by our doctors may preserve life or ease suffering. But what this amounts to is that these chronic disease states are “managed” by doctors, rather than cured.

To accomplish cures of chronic disease, in general, one begins at the beginning. First, identify disturbing factors. Again, this is usually found most dramatically in diet. One need not make absolute or perfect improvements in the diet; incremental improvements will prove effective.

Make positive changes, with a focus upon three things:

First, insure dietary adequacy: insure that all the necessary nutrients for health and healing are present in the diet, that there is enough of everything.
Second, insure a more healthful balance of nutrients, that there is not too much of something.
Third, identify and remove reactive foods if they are present.

Then identify the stressful elements in the person’s life and advise the person about their moderation, or act to reduce the effects of stress upon the body. This includes the suppressive effects of drugs and other medical interventions, toxic and traumatic exposures, as well as what might be called toxic relationships, and the whole host of that which we have identified as potentially disturbing factors.

Simultaneously, one can begin to stimulate the self-healing mechanisms, by means which are not in themselves suppressive or weakening. First, one should apply general stimulation to the healing processes. The single best way to do this is through constitutional hydrotherapy. Such a treatment is non-suppressive, counteracts the effects of stress upon the digestive system. This aids in detoxification of the blood because more blood is pumping through the liver and the kidneys. In addition, the stomach and intestines are relaxing and tonifying at the same time. It is a profoundly healing treatment. Constitutional hydrotherapy is used to treat all manner of acute and chronic disease, from infection to cancer. This treatment is used with infants and old people alike.

In my experience, appropriate dietary change, coupled with a simple stomach tonic and constitutional hydrotherapy will generate improvement in almost any disease condition.

Support Recovery

The next task is to evaluate the functional status of the various systems and organs and, if necessary, to support their specific recovery. This is the area where I find the greatest use for botanicals. One can identify botanical medicines, which will improve function in any system of the body.