What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Many people in America aren’t familiar with naturopathic medicine. If you fall into this category, then take a few minutes to understand the basics of this exciting approach to health. It’s not some “out there” new-age practice. Instead, naturopathic medicine uses natural therapies that are rooted in science to achieve true, lasting health outcomes.
Your Guide to Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and treating the root causes of illness and disease rather than just managing symptoms. It encompasses a range of natural and non-invasive therapies, including nutrition, herbal medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, and lifestyle counseling.
At Carolinas Natural Health Center, we embrace naturopathic medicine because it works. We’ve seen hundreds of people find relief from symptoms that traditional medicine simply couldn’t fix.
Naturopathic medicine also emphasizes prevention and encourages patients to take an active role in their health by making healthy lifestyle choices–such as eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and managing stress. Our team is happy to work in collaboration with other healthcare providers to ensure that our patients receive comprehensive and coordinated care.
Before getting into the details of our approach, let’s lay out some of the benefits of choosing naturopathic medicine over other forms of healthcare.
Benefits of Naturopathic Medicine
It’s unfortunate that so many people aren’t aware of naturopathic medicine, because our approach to health is beneficial in many ways. You won’t believe how good you feel when you follow one of our personalized treatment plans customized to your unique health situation.
With naturopathic medicine, you can
- Feel more vibrant than you’ve felt in decades
- Get to the root cause of your symptoms
- Lower your body’s overall toxicity
- Find relief for symptoms you’ve accepted as a “normal” part of life
- Stop wasting money on ineffective treatments
Now, let’s explore the six pillars that outline the answer to, “What is naturopathic medicine?”
The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
Don’t let the Latin intimidate you. What we mean by this pillar is that the body has the ability to heal itself. When we start from this principle, we’re able to recommend treatments that work with your body, not against it. Prescription drugs often work against the body’s natural healing powers. Naturopathic physicians identify and remove obstacles to recovery, enabling this healing ability in their patients.
Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam)
Behind every symptom is a root cause. Much of modern medicine focuses on suppressing symptoms, which is a short-term approach to health. The practitioners at Carolinas Natural Health Center instead focus on whole body health and healing the patient naturally from the inside out.
First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
Too many doctors are quick to recommend invasive surgeries and chemical-filled prescriptions to patients in discomfort. But sometimes, these interventions cause more harm than good. And they may be irreversible.
When we ask, “What is naturopathic medicine?” we are looking to minimize the potential harm to the patients. That’s why we use natural methods and medicinal substances that are free of unpleasant side effects, treat the root cause of your health problems, and acknowledge and respect everyone’s individual healing process.
Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
The healing journey requires a partnership between doctor and patient. This partnership is fueled by education, so that you can take charge of your own health. There are few “quick fixes” in medicine. Instead, you need to know how your body works so that you can make the necessary choices for a long and healthy life.
Treat the Whole Person
Each person is a complex, interconnected system of body, mind, emotions, and genetics. Naturopathic physicians treat each individual by taking into consideration various physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, and social factors. It’s vital to treat the whole body instead of focusing simply on its various parts.
Prevention
Naturopathic physicians emphasize the importance of being proactive when it comes to disease prevention, health risk factors, and hereditary susceptibility to disease. It is our job to guide patients to make appropriate interventions in order to prevent illness.
Let Our Team Answer Your Questions About “What is Naturopathic Medicine?”
We believe that naturopathic medicine can help you, but that means you need to get in touch with our team. We’re excited to meet you!
During our conversation, you can tell us about how you’re currently feeling and any goals you have for your health. That way, we can share specific ways naturopathic medicine can benefit you. But to start, here are a few symptoms that respond well to naturopathic medicine:
- Fatigue
- Indigestion
- Chronic pain
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Weight loss and weight gain
If you’re ready to take the next step to whole-body health, we invite you to get in touch with us!