What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic Medicine is a form of healthcare that prioritizes customized approaches and whole-person wellness with the belief that all patients, all humans have an innate, natural capacity to heal.

Naturopathic Doctors provide care based on these foundational principles:

• The Healing Power of Nature

• First Do No Harm

• Find the Cause

• Treat the Whole Person

• Prevention

• Doctor as Teacher

• Wellness

In addition to these foundational principles, naturopathic doctors are trained to use a "therapeutic order" that prioritizes minimally invasive treatment such as diet, lifestyle, and herbs over drugs and surgery. While more invasive treatment may be necessary or appropriate for some patients and/or certain disease processes, the naturopathic approach to care highlights our belief in the patient's innate capacity to heal.

The naturopathic therapeutic order includes approaching care in the following way:

1. Re-establish basis of health

2. Identify cause and remove the obstacles to cure

3. Stimulate healing processes

4. Support weakened or damaged systems/organs

5. Restore structural integrity

6. Address pathology

7. Palliative treatment

What is a Naturopathic Doctor?

Naturopathic Doctors complete intensive four-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical school programs and take rigorous professional board exams to become licensed as primary care providers in their respective states. A Naturopathic Doctor (ND) is educated in the same basic sciences as a Medical Doctor (MD) but studies natural and holistic approaches to treatment in addition to pharmaceutical management.

For more information on the training, education, and practice of Naturopathic Physicians, please refer to the website of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. 

If this is the type of medical care that YOU desire?

If you are not already a patient, we we would love to welcome you to our clinic! You can check out our full services here or schedule an appointment here or by contacting the front desk at (206) 486-8383.

We hope to see you soon!

Neighborhood Naturopathic Team