Washington DC Naturopathic Medicine focuses on finding the root cause of a patient’s illness. It is the practice of healing with the least amount of harm and supports the body’s innate ability to heal itself.

In naturopathic medicine, all aspects of health are taken into consideration. These include the mind, body, spirit and community. Naturopaths use conventional and complementary methods to facilitate the body’s innate healing response. They also believe in using effective interventions that are natural and less invasive.

Early naturopaths believed that man was part of the universe and nature. He embodied the same vital force (qi) that made up all things, and that illness was caused by disconnection from this source. They realised that this vital force is strongest in a healthy person. They aimed to restore this vitality by encouraging balance through proper nutrition, water treatments, rest and exercise. They also aimed to eliminate harmful agents such as pollution, poor diet, stress and bad habits.

Throughout their years of training, naturopaths learn to recognise when the body needs help and to know how to work alongside other healthcare professionals. Naturopathic doctors have a strong desire to help patients and are happy to collaborate with other healthcare professionals, as they understand that the patient is always right.

As a primary care physician, naturopaths educate their patients to take responsibility for their own health. They support the creation of a positive internal and external environment, encourage a balanced lifestyle, help to remove toxic substances, and assist in restoring structural integrity.

NDs can diagnose most health conditions, however, some require the input of a specialist to establish an accurate diagnosis. In these cases, the naturopathic doctor will refer their patient for further diagnostic testing and an official diagnosis from a medical professional. NDs are also licensed in some states to order lab tests for their patients and to prescribe medication, however, this is strictly limited.

Nutritional Medicine

Nutritional medicine is a cornerstone of the naturopathic approach to health. NDs assess, monitor and evaluate a patient’s dietary choices and provide nutritional guidance to optimize the body’s capacity to heal itself. This includes the use of dietary supplements (vitamins and herbs) in a safe manner, with consideration to how these might interact with prescription drugs and how large doses can cause side effects.

NDs recognize that the food and drink we consume play a major role in our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. In addition to recommending appropriate dietary choices, naturopathic doctors encourage patients to make healthy lifestyle changes. They support the creation of a healthy internal and external environment, promote conservation of vital energy, help to remove obstacles that inhibit healing and support the body’s inherent ability to cure itself.

Using therapeutic hydrotherapy, naturopathic physicians apply a variety of cooling and warm water therapies (such as steam, hydro massage, cold packs and hot tubs) to soothe pain, reduce swelling, improve circulation and promote general wellness.

Naturopathy grew out of the “nature cure” movement, which began in Europe during the early 1800s and was based on the idea that health was a state of wholeness. Early naturopaths believed that the same life force that made up the universe and nature flowed through man and that disconnection from this source caused illness. They used natural treatment methods such as water treatments, rest, sunshine and fasting to restore this connection.

While naturopathy may offer an alternative approach to managing your condition, it is important that you continue to follow your doctor’s care plan. NDs are trained to recognize when naturopathic treatment is appropriate, and to consult with medical colleagues in the case of complex or serious conditions.

Homeopathic Medicine

Homeopathy is based on the principle that a substance that causes symptoms in healthy people can, in very diluted forms, trigger your body’s natural healing responses. A naturopath will select a remedy based on your symptoms and overall health history. The remedy may be in liquid, granules, powder or tablets. You might also be advised to make lifestyle changes.

Homeopaths believe that the same vital force that makes up the universe and nature flows through all of us — making our bodies, minds and spirits interconnected. When this vital force is disrupted, illness can occur. Early naturopaths believed this force could be restored through water treatments, rest and diet.

In the 1900s, science was becoming increasingly important in people’s lives, and naturopathy lost favor as wonder drugs like antibiotics and steroids became available. But naturopathy has continued to evolve and is today used for ailments including digestive problems, skin conditions and chronic pain.

During a homeopathic appointment, the practitioner will ask questions about your emotional and mental state. Then they’ll look at a database of remedies and choose one that best matches all of your symptoms, both physical and emotional. Sometimes these remedies can cause your symptoms to get temporarily worse, called “aggravation.” During this time, you should tell your homeopath about any new or changing symptoms.

Some naturopaths seek to legitimize homeopathy by appealing to the concept of “scientific pluralism.” But that’s just a backdoor way of rejecting evidence-based medicine and calling for complete arbitrariness. It also misunderstands what science is: the process of eliminating myth and speculation using critical rationalism, the scientific method, and empirical observation.

Botanical Medicine

As part of the naturopathic philosophy, NDs treat each person with the idea that the body’s innate healing processes can be supported through therapies that stimulate and strengthen these natural self-healing mechanisms. Those therapies may include clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, constitutional hydrotherapy, homeopathy and mind-body medicine.

Herbalism, or botanical medicine is the use of plant extracts in liquid tinctures, infusions, capsules and tablets that help shift energy patterns, assist with digestion and alleviate symptoms. These herbs, which are derived from parts of plants (including leaves, flowers, seeds, root, bark, twigs and stems), have been used by many cultures for thousands of years. They are the basis of the herbal pharmacopoeias that were the principal form of treatment prior to the advent of pharmaceutical medications in the mid 1900’s.

These botanicals are considered safe, although the dose and the preparation of the botanical play a critical role in safety. For example, a cup of tea with a botanical may have mild action while a tincture or extract contains concentrated amounts of a specific constituent that can be toxic if taken in excess.

NDs are trained in identifying drug-herb and drug-nutrient interactions and will refer to medical colleagues as appropriate. As a result, naturopathic physicians are very knowledgeable in the use of modern pharmacology and can safely utilize pharmaceutical drugs when necessary.

When the root causes of a disease are identified, naturopathic doctors work to remove the obstacles that are preventing health. This can include environmental, physical, emotional, genetic, and social factors. Naturopathic physician’s will also provide patients with wellness advice to support them in their pursuit of a healthy lifestyle and the restoration of their inherent innate healing processes.

Physical Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine recognizes an innate, intelligent healing process in all living systems that establishes, maintains and restores health. This process is organized, ordered and intelligent. It is the role of a naturopathic doctor to facilitate this natural healing process by removing obstacles and supporting the creation of a healthy internal and external environment.

NDs use physical modalities such as spinal manipulation, massage therapy, physiotherapy and craniosacral work to maintain and improve the musculoskeletal system. This is done in conjunction with diet, exercise and therapeutic lifestyle approaches.

The concept of a “vital force” which permeates the universe and nature, and flows through all living organisms including man is central to naturopathy. Early naturopaths believed that disease results from disconnection from this vital force. Naturopathy seeks to reconnect the body to the source of its well-being and to a sense of personal responsibility for one’s health.

In naturopathic practice, the doctor is a teacher (docere) as well as a healer. The doctor educates the patient on dietary, lifestyle and spiritual practices that will enable the patient to prevent illness and promote wellness.

After World War II, medical research became increasingly focused on technological advancements and pharmaceuticals. A growing distrust of high-tech solutions and a desire for greater control over one’s health has brought about a resurgence in interest in naturopathy. Many patients find that naturopathic treatment methods provide a more effective approach to disease prevention and healing than conventional drugs, which often cause unpleasant side effects. NDs are trained in the pharmacology of medicinal plants and pharmaceutical drugs, and are able to identify drug-herb and drug-nutrient interactions. They are also able to recognize when a pathology is beyond their scope of practice, and they will refer to medical colleagues.