What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Natural medicine is natural medicine is natural medicine. We do not need to fly to a new country and attend an expensive private university to learn about how nature heals. We have it in our backyards, in our native traditions, ancient wisdom teachings and in our DNA. However this particular concept and practice of Naturopathic Medicine as offered as accredited doctoral programs at US universities such as Bastyr, grew out a Natural Cure movement in Europe that spread to the United States. Here at Bastyr, naturopathic medicine developed into a distinct form of primary health care that emphasizes prevention and the self healing process through the use of natural therapiesthat are built on a scientific foundation. What does this mean? Science is concerned with reproducible results of physical reality that are measurable with instruments. If any process or outcome cannot fit into this definition, it is not considered science. That is fine. In fact, it was exactly this scientific foundation that brought me here. I was yearning for a rigorous and systematic approach to learning about medicines in nature and the healing arts. But how many things in life do we experience as very real that cannot be considered scientific -- i.e. cannot be measured, controlled or reproduced? Many! And probably more than all the scientific phenomena we learn about in school! Including our experiences together on the Yoga Mat. The beauty about the Naturopathic Physician is that our schooling and clinical experience provide us with the scientific basis of Nature Medicine; in addition we become equipped with an extremely wide range of tools and scope of practice that go way beyond modern scientific methodology. This means that we simply become a facilitator and guide to the self healing process on all levels of existence: Physical, Emotional, Mental, Intuitive, Spiritual. We ought to be aware of all the options available -- from the most scientific to the most woohoo -- and must become masters at knowing which would be the most effective for each individual to cultivate Ma’at: Ultimate Balance between these five aspects of Being. This will be my lifelong learning and teaching. The journey continues....