Naturopathic doctors (NDs) follow six guiding principles that serve as a philosophical platform for all of naturopathic medicine. The principles influence how NDs think about medicine, make clinical decisions, and most importantly, how you are treated as a patient. First, do no harm is one of these six core principles.
Naturopathic doctors follow a hierarchy in patient evaluation. to do no harm, NDs:
1. Acknowledge and respect the individual’s healing process, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat illness.
2. Avoid, when possible, the harmful suppression of symptoms.
3. Use treatments that minimize the risk of harmful side effects
The body works hard on its own to support recovery from injury and illness. But certain genetic, environmental, and behavioral/lifestyle factors can slow or prevent optimal healing and recovery. Naturopathic doctors spend extra time with patients to identify and remove these obstacles to recovery in order to facilitate healing.
Naturopathic doctors view symptoms as nature’s attempt to correct imbalances. Consequently, naturopathic treatments are geared toward allowing the body to reestablish balance and heal rather than suppressing symptoms, which can disable the body’s most primary way of communicating that something is wrong.
Naturopathic doctors choose the gentlest and least-invasive therapies first to achieve the desired outcome for each patient. NDs apply their rigorous training in clinical nutrition, behavioral medicine, botanical medicine, and other natural therapies to provide the most beneficial and least harmful treatments.
For those patients who need to be on medications, naturopathic doctors can help to prevent side effects.
For example, here’s how a naturopathic doctor would apply”first, do no harm”to a patient who is diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The ND would:
• Carefully examine and adjust the patient’s diet and lifestyle to identify and address behaviors that may be underlying causes for stomach discomfort and heartburn, such as overeating, alcohol consumption, spicy foods, lying down after eating, stress, and more.
• Use lab tests and other clinical diagnostic approaches to assess the operation of the sphincter muscle and/or address inflammation in the lining of the esophagus, stabilizing these systems with natural supplements if appropriate.
• Aim to avoid or eliminate the prescription of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Prilosec, which can impair digestion, damage the body’s microbiome, are linked to depression, and other side effects.
Studies are beginning to emerge demonstrating that 70 percent of those receiving a prescription for a PPI do not benefit from the prescription.
Because of their focus on the most natural, least toxic approaches to health care, naturopathic doctors may be a good fit for people looking for a more comprehensive perspective on health concerns, or for those seeking nondrug therapies.
