Naturopathic Principles

The guiding principles of Naturopathy

In developing a treatment plan for each patient I take guidance from the principles that are the foundation of Naturopathy.  The overall goal of the Naturopathic approach is to strengthen people’s individual vital force and so their own innate healing ability:  to stimulate and support systemic homoeostasis.

The principles of Naturopathy, and my interpretations of them, are:

First, do no harm.

To select the most gentle, non-invasive treatment/s that can stimulate healing, not suppress symptoms, based on the individual’s needs and the stage of the disease.  (Of course, in some cases emergency, suppressive and aggressive treatment is required for the continuation of life.)

The healing power of nature.

In an optimal state the human life force is attuned to and is as one with nature and homoeostasis is maintained.  Nature provides all that is required for maintaining health when the vital force is unimpeded.  The aim of Naturopathy is to restore this optimal state – or if permanent damage has occurred or obstacles cannot be avoided than to achieve and maintain as close as possible to optimal is the goal.

Identify and treat the cause rather than the effect.

Many factors in a person’s life may contribute to their illness.  The aim is to identify these factors and eliminate or minimise them, peeling back the layers to reveal the root cause.  There are often multiple factors that cause or perpetuate illness – what did come first?  For example hormonal imbalance, digestive insufficiency, food choices, environmental toxins, difficult relationships etc etc – these all affect and combine with each other to imbalance health.

Treat the whole person.

While your illness may appear to affect just one part of your physical body or is considered psychological, in reality your whole system is affected by the disharmony.  The system that is a human being is an interaction between the parts that make up the whole – no part operates on its own.  Nor do we live isolated from external factors - we are constantly interacting with other people, other living beings, our environment and the energetic fields that surround us.  All the interwoven factors of a person’s life need to be considered for successful healing.

The practitioner is a teacher.

The Naturopath offers information and knowledge to the patient so that they may feel more in control of their health.  This sharing of knowledge, motivation and support is all part of the strengthening of the patient’s innate healing ability, for now and for long term well being.

Prevention is the best cure.

With understanding of one’s weaknesses and strengths and awareness of the potential contributors to future illness, maintaining health and avoiding disease in the future is possible.