What is naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a branch of medical care that uses holistic care methods to:
- Diagnose, prevent, and treat acute and chronic illnesses
- Establish and restore optimal health
- Support the body’s self-healing processes
Naturopathic medicine doesn’t emphasize treating your symptoms. Rather, it emphasizes healing the underlying cause of your symptoms. It improves your outcomes and lowers your health care costs.
How does naturopathic medicine work?
Naturopathic medicine works using guiding principles called the “Therapeutic Order.” When you visit Pacific Coast Integrative Health, Caitlyn Fanning, ND, applies these principles to your health care. The progressive steps of the Therapeutic Order include:
Remove obstacles to health
The first step in naturopathic medicine is to remove those things that are disrupting your health. Common culprits include factors such as poor diet, inadequate sleep, excessive stress, disruptive coping mechanics, trauma, and toxic exposures.
To remove these obstacles, Dr. Fanning curates an action plan. When you follow the plan and eliminate health impediments, your body can begin to heal itself.
Stimulate the body’s self-healing mechanisms
The second step of naturopathic medicine is activating the “Vis Medicatrix Naturae,” or the body’s innate healing process.
To do so, Dr. Fanning can engage any number of therapies, such as botanical medicine therapy, counseling, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, physical medicine, acupuncture, and physical medicine.
Strengthen weakened systems
Sometimes, in order to heal, you need more than the stimulation of your body’s self-healing processes. When this is the case, Dr. Fanning offers medication and/or therapies that help repair, strengthen, or support the optimal function of an organ or system.
Examples of such medicines and therapies include botanical medicine, manual therapies, endocrine balancing, supplements, homeopathy, counseling, and acupuncture.
Correct structural integrity
Dr. Fanning uses this principle of naturopathy to improve and maintain function in the muscular and musculoskeletal systems.
To correct structural integrity, she may employ any number of physical therapies, such as massage therapy, cranio-sacral therapy, spinal manipulation, or electrotherapy.
Use natural therapies to address pathology symptoms
Sometimes, Dr. Fanning must address your symptoms as well as the root cause of your ailment. In this case, she uses natural substances that won’t add any toxicity into your body or further tax it.
Use pharmaceutical substances
When absolutely necessary, Dr. Fanning can prescribe you traditional pharmaceutical drugs to manage your symptoms or halt the progression of your illness.
Use high-force, invasive therapies
If she deems it necessary, Dr. Fanning can refer you to a medical doctor trained in high-force, invasive therapies, like chemotherapy or surgery. She often supplements these types of therapies with holistic treatments.
Is naturopathic medicine right for me?
Naturopathic medicine offers you a chance to receive medical care that addresses the root cause of your illness and supports the health of your body and mind. If traditional medicine has failed you, or if you’re interested in health care that doesn’t rely on pharmaceuticals, try naturopathic medicine.
If you’re ready to get started on the naturopathic path, schedule an appointment with Dr. Fanning at Pacific Coast Integrative Health today. To get in touch with her, call or use the online booking tool.
