The following principles are the foundation of naturopathic medical practice:

First Do No Harm:

When working with a client, naturopathic doctors seek to begin with recommendations that will cause minimal to no harm, risk or side effects. NDs are also trained to understand when prescription medications, surgeries and other methods may be required to prevent further harm for an individual and to refer a client to another practitioner or specialist when necessary.

The Healing Power of Nature:

Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in people that is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic doctors act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate the inherent self-healing process.

Identify the Causes:

The naturopathic doctor seeks to identify and address the underlying causes of illness rather than to only eliminate or suppress symptoms.

Doctor as Teacher:

The word doctor comes from the latin word docere, meaning teacher. Naturopathic doctors work to educate and empower their clients so that they can take an active role in understanding and managing their health.

Treat the Whole Person:

Naturopathic doctors treat each client by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, structural, social and other factors.

Prevention:

Naturopathic doctors emphasize the prevention of disease by assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and by making appropriate interventions in partnership with their clients to prevent illness.