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What is Naturopathic
Medicine
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Naturopathic physicians
are general medical practitioners who are
specialists in natural medicine. They are
extensively trained in modern medical
science at accredited medical schools.
Naturopathic physicians treat disease and
restore health using therapies from the
sciences of clinical nutrition, herbal
medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, counselling,
hydrotherapy and more. We tailor a personalized
treatment plan based on the needs of the individual,
often working hand in hand with other branches of
medical science. The patient is encouraged to take
responsibility for their health and is educated on
how to use safe, natural approaches to optimize
their health.
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Credentials:
Naturopathic physicians
undergo rigorous medical training. To be licensed in
British Columbia they are required to complete an
undergraduate degree including "pre-med" sciences.
They then must receive at least four years of
post-graduate training from an accredited naturopathic
medical college. Graduating students receive a
doctoral degree, "N.D.", Doctor of Naturopathic
Medicine. Extensive board exams are then written to
become licensed to practice as a primary care
physician in B.C.
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Philosophy and Principles of Naturopathic
Medicine
There are six time tested medical
principles on which naturopathic medicine is based. These
principles make as much sense in today’s modern world as
they did 200 years ago.
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First Do No Harm. Naturopathic
physicians seek to do no harm with medical treatments by
employing safe and effective natural therapies. They seek
to produce "side-benefits" not side-effects.
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Nature has healing powers.
Naturopathic physicians believe that the body has
considerable power to heal itself. It is the role of the
physician to facilitate and enhance this process and with
the aid of natural, nontoxic therapies.
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Identify and treat the cause.
Naturopathic physicians are trained to seek the underlying
causes of a disease rather than to simply suppress
symptoms. Symptoms are viewed as expressions of the body’s
attempt to heal, while the causes can spring from the
physical, mental / emotional and spiritual levels.
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Treat the whole person. Naturopathic
physicians are trained to view an individual as a whole,
composed of a complex set of physical, mental / emotional,
spiritual and social, and other factors.
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The physician is a teacher.
Naturopathic physicians are primarily teachers, educating,
empowering and motivating patients to assume more personal
responsibility for their health by adopting a healthy
attitude, lifestyle, and diet.
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Prevention is the best cure.
Naturopathic physicians are preventive medicine
specialists. Prevention of disease is accomplished through
education and encouraging life habits that support health
and prevent disease.
Treatments And Services Available
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