Intro to Naturopathic Medicine ©Dr. Kevin Passero Ridgely Ave Annapolis, Md

Naturopathic Medicine What is it? Naturopathic Medicine blends centuries-old natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in the study of health and human systems. Naturopathic Medicine blends centuries-old natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in the study of health and human systems.

The Six Principles 1) The Healing Power of Nature. Naturopathic Doctors believe that the natural state of the body is to be healthy. Our jobs are to help the patient identify and remove obstacles to healing and allow the body to heal itself. 1) The Healing Power of Nature. Naturopathic Doctors believe that the natural state of the body is to be healthy. Our jobs are to help the patient identify and remove obstacles to healing and allow the body to heal itself.

The Six Principles 2) Identify and Treat the Causes. The Naturopath seeks to identify and remove underlying causes of illness, rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms. 2) Identify and Treat the Causes. The Naturopath seeks to identify and remove underlying causes of illness, rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.

Symptoms as messengers Naturopathic Medicine attempts to find the underlying cause of the patient’s condition. Naturopathic Medicine attempts to find the underlying cause of the patient’s condition. Much of modern medicine, conventional and alternative is focused on symptom management. Often this means neglecting the possibility of an underlying cause. Much of modern medicine, conventional and alternative is focused on symptom management. Often this means neglecting the possibility of an underlying cause. Symptoms are messengers, and what happens when we shoot the messenger? We don’t know from where the message came. Symptoms are messengers, and what happens when we shoot the messenger? We don’t know from where the message came.

The Six Principles 3) First Do No Harm. 3) First Do No Harm. The Naturopathic Doctor implements this third rule with the following precepts The Naturopathic Doctor implements this third rule with the following precepts Utilize methods and medical substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects. Utilize methods and medical substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects. Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms. Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms. Acknowledge, respect and work with the individual’s self-healing process. Acknowledge, respect and work with the individual’s self-healing process.

The Six Principles 4) Doctor As Teacher. 4) Doctor As Teacher. As Doctor’s we not only believe it is our job to help people improve their health, it is also our job to educate them so they can be responsible for their own health as well. As Doctor’s we not only believe it is our job to help people improve their health, it is also our job to educate them so they can be responsible for their own health as well. Encouraging self-responsibility for one’s health is a major goal for the Naturopathic Doctor. Encouraging self-responsibility for one’s health is a major goal for the Naturopathic Doctor.

The Six Principles 5) Treat the Whole Person 5) Treat the Whole Person This is achieved by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social and spiritual factors. This is achieved by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social and spiritual factors.

The Six Principles 6) Prevention 6) Prevention Prevention involves assessing individual risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions in partnership with the patients to prevent illness. Prevention involves assessing individual risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions in partnership with the patients to prevent illness.

How are ND’s trained? Naturopathic Medical colleges are four-year, graduate level medical schools with admission requirements comparable to those of other medical schools. The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree (ND) is awarded after classroom, clinic and practical study. Naturopathic Medical colleges are four-year, graduate level medical schools with admission requirements comparable to those of other medical schools. The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree (ND) is awarded after classroom, clinic and practical study.

ND’s are trained in medical sciences including Anatomy Anatomy Neurology Neurology Pathology Pathology Obstetrics Obstetrics Pharmacology Pharmacology Lab diagnosis Lab diagnosis Cardiology Cardiology Biochemistry Biochemistry Minor surgery Minor surgery Immunology Pediatrics Clinical and physical diagnosis Physiology Radiology Microbiology Gynecology Dermatology

What NDs do Clinical Nutrition Clinical Nutrition This refers to both the practice of using food to heal people and using food to maintain optimal health. This refers to both the practice of using food to heal people and using food to maintain optimal health. Nutritional supplements are often employed to further help people optimize nutritional intake for their particular needs. Nutritional supplements are often employed to further help people optimize nutritional intake for their particular needs.

What NDs Do Homeopathy Homeopathy Homeopathy is a form of medicine that uses extremely diluted preparations of substances to cure illness. Homeopathy is a form of medicine that uses extremely diluted preparations of substances to cure illness. As a medicine, it is unparalleled in its ability to effect people on a physical, mental and emotional level while at the same time having virtually no side effects or drug interactions. As a medicine, it is unparalleled in its ability to effect people on a physical, mental and emotional level while at the same time having virtually no side effects or drug interactions.

What NDs Do Botanical Medicine Botanical Medicine Plant substances are safe and powerful tools in the treatment of many illnesses. Plant substances are safe and powerful tools in the treatment of many illnesses. Most modern pharmaceuticals are originally derived from plant compounds. Most modern pharmaceuticals are originally derived from plant compounds.

The Egg of Health