Identify and Treat the Causes | Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

The third principal of naturopathic medicine is to 𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐅𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐒.⁣

While this may seem like common sense, some treatments don't actually address the cause of disease or ailments. It may be that a treatment (like diet, medication, etc..) is only treating and acting on the symptoms that a patient is experiencing. ⁣

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐇 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 & 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.⁣

For example, if you are dealing with a sore back, an ND might recommend or prescribe a pain relieving medication or supplement, recommend you to a chiropractor, remove inflammatory foods from the diet and offer therapeutic massage or acupuncture to address the body directly. ⁣

Perhaps you've lost your period or it's a bit wonky. An allopathic doctor may recommend some blood work and starting the birth control pill. While this isn't wrong, an ND might request more in depth blood work, look at your diet, consider the Chinese Medicine diagnosis and work with you to restore proper hormone functioning. ⁣

So, here is something to think about: are you addressing the cause of your ailment, or are you just treating it?