Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary care that emphasizes prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances that encourage the body's inherent self-healing process.
The Six Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
1. **First, Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)** - Naturopathic physicians follow three guidelines to avoid harming the patient: utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful effects, avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms, and acknowledge, respect and work with the individual's self-healing process.
2. **The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)** - The body has an inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. The physician's role is to identify and remove obstacles to recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.
3. **Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam)** - The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of disease rather than just eliminate or suppress symptoms.
4. **Doctor as Teacher (Docere)** - Beyond treating disease, the naturopathic physician must educate patients and encourage self-responsibility for health.
5. **Treat the Whole Person** - Each patient is viewed as a whole person, taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors.
6. **Prevention** - The ultimate goal of naturopathic medicine is prevention. This is accomplished through education and encouraging patients to take responsibility for their own health.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your initial consultation will typically last 60-90 minutes. Dr. Blake will take a comprehensive health history, discuss your health goals, and may perform a physical examination. Based on this evaluation, a personalized treatment plan will be developed that may include nutritional guidance, botanical medicine, physical medicine techniques, and mind-body therapies.
Is Naturopathic Medicine Right for You?
Naturopathic medicine can be beneficial for a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, digestive disorders, fatigue, stress, and many other health concerns. If you're interested in a holistic approach that addresses the root causes of your health issues, naturopathic medicine may be the right choice for you.