Naturopathy is built on 6 basic principles:

1.     Primum non nocere- First do no harm! Naturopathic treatments are designed to support the body and gently assist it towards optimal health. Naturopathic philosophy regards illness as a purposeful process of the organism, which requires all therapeutics to be complementary to and synergistic with this healing process.

2.     Vis Medicatrix Naturae- Use the Healing Power of Nature. Naturopaths believe that nature heals through the response of the life force. Natural remedies and treatment are therefore prescribed to maintain and restore health. Interventions are applied in co-operative partnership with the patient.

3.     Tolle causam- Identify and treat the cause. Naturopaths maintain that illness does not occur without a cause. Symptoms are regarded as expressions of the body’s attempt to heal but are not perceived as the cause of disease. Practitioners focus on finding the underlying causes of disease and removing obstacles to health and recovery in order to facilitate and augment the inherent healing process.

4.       Tolle Totum- Treat the Whole Person. Naturopathy recognizes the integrity of the whole person and considers the multi-factorial aspects that lead to manifestation of ill health. The complex interaction of physical mental, spiritual, emotional, genetic, social and environmental factors are all taken into account in the formulation of specific holistic treatment plans that ensure each person is treated according to his or her own unique set of symptoms and reactions.

5.       Docere- The Physician as teacher. Combined with accurate diagnosis and appropriate prescription, the naturopathic practitioner focuses on educating and empowering the patient to participate in and take responsibility for their own healing process.

Pre occupo est optimus remedium- Prevention is the Best Cure. Naturopaths assess risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and make appropriate interventions to avoid further harm and risk to the patient. The naturopathic emphasis is fundamentally on building health, rather than fighting disease