What Is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathy translates to “natural healing.” Naturopathic medicine is a distinct approach to healthcare that combines the principles of natural medicine with modern diagnostic methods to help identify the underlying causes of illness, restore healthy function, and support long-term wellness.
Rather than focusing only on managing symptoms, a naturopathic doctor looks at the whole person and asks an important question:
Why is this happening?
This root-cause approach considers how nutrition, hormones, thyroid function, gut health, stress, sleep, lifestyle, genetics, environmental exposures, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, and other factors may be contributing to a patient's symptoms.
Naturopathic medicine emphasizes the body's inherent ability to heal and regulate itself—traditionally referred to as the Vis Medicatrix Naturae, or the healing power of nature. The role of the naturopathic physician is to identify potential obstacles to health and create an individualized treatment plan designed to support healthier function.
Treatment may include herbal medicine, nutritional supplementation, therapeutic nutrition, detoxification support, lifestyle medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, physical medicine, prescription medications, IV therapy, vitamin and nutrient injections, and other therapies when appropriate.
The treatment plan is based on the individual—not simply the diagnosis.
Functional Medicine Testing & Comprehensive Lab Testing
A root-cause approach often requires looking deeper than symptoms alone. Naturopathic doctors may use conventional laboratory testing as well as specialized functional medicine testing to better understand a patient's health.
Depending on the individual, comprehensive lab testing and functional medicine labs may evaluate:
Hormones and endocrine function
Thyroid function
Nutrient and vitamin status
Blood sugar and metabolic health
Inflammation
Digestive and gut health
Gastrointestinal function
Food sensitivities when clinically appropriate
Iron and anemia markers
Cardiovascular and lipid markers
Liver and kidney function
Other individualized biomarkers based on symptoms and health history
Patients searching for hormone testing, food sensitivity testing, functional medicine testing, or comprehensive lab testing may benefit from an individualized evaluation to determine which tests are actually appropriate for their symptoms and health goals.
The goal is not simply to order more laboratory tests—it is to select meaningful testing and interpret those results within the context of the whole person.
Natural Treatments Tailored to the Individual
Once potential contributing factors have been identified, a naturopathic doctor develops an individualized treatment plan.
Depending on the patient's needs, naturopathic treatment may incorporate herbal and botanical medicine, targeted supplementation, vitamins and minerals, nutritional therapy, detoxification support, gut health protocols, acupuncture, homeopathy, lifestyle changes, hormone support, prescription medications, IV therapy, vitamin injections, and other natural or integrative therapies.
Treatment is designed around the individual, with the goal of using appropriate and effective interventions while supporting the body's natural ability to restore balance.
The Six Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
1. The Healing Power of Nature — Vis Medicatrix Naturae
Naturopathic medicine recognizes the body's inherent capacity for healing, regulation, and restoration. Naturopathic physicians work to identify potential obstacles to health and support the body's natural healing processes.
2. Identify and Treat the Cause — Tolle Causam
Rather than focusing exclusively on suppressing symptoms, naturopathic medicine seeks to identify and address underlying causes and contributing factors.
This principle is central to the root-cause approach used in naturopathic and functional medicine.
3. First Do No Harm — Primum Non Nocere
Naturopathic physicians seek to use treatments that are appropriate for the individual while minimizing unnecessary risk. Whenever possible, treatment begins with effective interventions that support normal physiological function while considering the risks and benefits of each therapy.
4. Doctor as Teacher — Docere
Education is an important part of naturopathic medicine. Patients should understand their health, their treatment options, and the reasoning behind their care.
The goal is to create a collaborative relationship in which patients are empowered to make informed decisions about their health.
5. Treat the Whole Person
Health is influenced by much more than an isolated symptom or laboratory value.
A naturopathic doctor considers the patient's physical health, nutrition, hormones, digestion, sleep, stress, emotional wellbeing, genetics, environment, lifestyle, and personal health history when developing a treatment plan.
This whole-person perspective is one of the foundations of both naturopathic and functional medicine.
6. Prevention
Naturopathic medicine emphasizes identifying risk factors and supporting health before disease progresses.
Nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, laboratory monitoring, hormone and metabolic health, supplementation when appropriate, and healthy lifestyle habits can all play important roles in prevention and long-term wellness.
Naturopathic & Functional Medicine in Spokane
If you are searching for a naturopathic doctor or functional medicine practitioner in Spokane, Wellness Tree Clinic offers individualized care designed to look beyond symptoms and investigate the bigger picture.
Our approach may combine naturopathic medicine, functional medicine testing, comprehensive laboratory testing, herbal medicine, supplementation, nutrition, detoxification support, acupuncture, IV therapy, vitamin injections, hormone evaluation, and other natural and integrative therapies based on your individual health needs.
Whether you are struggling with fatigue, hormone imbalance, thyroid concerns, digestive problems, gut health, sleep, anxiety, metabolic concerns, or chronic symptoms that have been difficult to understand, our goal is to help uncover potential contributing factors and create a personalized path forward.
Your symptoms tell part of the story. Naturopathic medicine looks at the whole picture.
The principles of naturopathic medicine described above are adapted from the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.