Naturopathy is a complementary and alternative medicine which emphasizes the ability of the body to heal and maintain itself, which practitioners believe is innate. Naturopathic practice may include different modalities such as abstinence, acupuncture, colonic irrigation, counseling, chiropractic, diet, exercise, herbalism, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, environmental medicine, manual therapy, orthomolecular medicine and relaxation. Practitioners emphasize a holistic approach to patient care, and may recommend patients use evidence-based medicine alongside their treatments. Naturopathy has its origins in a variety of world medicine practices, including the Ayurveda of India and Nature Cure of Europe. It is practiced in many countries but subject to different standards of regulation and levels of acceptance.

Naturopathic practitioners prefer not to use invasive surgery, or most synthetic drugs, preferring natural remedies, for instance relatively unprocessed or whole medications, such as herbs and foods. Practitioners from accredited schools are trained to use diagnostic tests such as imaging and blood tests before deciding upon the full course of treatment. If the patient does not respond to these treatments, they are often referred to physicians who utilize standard medical care to treat the disease or condition.

The naturopathic philosophy is to stimulate the healing power of the body and to treat the root cause of disease. For many patients, this difference in approach to health provides them with a new perspective and awareness. By addressing the root cause(s) of disease and through the appropriate use of natural therapies many patients with chronic illness have found tremendous benefits.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Naturopathic doctors are guided by six principles. This set of principles, emphasized throughout a naturopathic doctor's training, outlines the naturopathic approach to health and healing and forms the foundation of this distinct form of health care.

First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
Naturopathic medicine follows three principles to avoid harming the patient:

1) utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects;

2) avoid, when possible, the harmful suppression of symptoms;

3) acknowledge and respect the individual's healing process, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat illness.

Your naturopathic doctor chooses remedies and therapies that are safe and effective, to increase your health and decrease harmful side effects.

The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
Your naturopathic doctor works to restore and support the powerful and inherent healing ability of your body, mind and spirit and to prevent further disease from occurring. Naturopathic doctors identify and remove obstacles to recovery, facilitating and augmenting this ordered and intelligent healing ability.

Identify and Treat the Cause (Tolle Causam)
The primary goal of your naturopathic doctor is to determine and treat the underlying cause rather than simply managing or suppressing the symptoms. The underlying cause may be due to diet, lifestyle habits, life events, posture or environment. Symptoms are viewed as expressions of the body's natural attempt to heal.

Treat the Whole Person
Each person is unique and requires individualized care. In treating the cause of any condition your naturopathic doctor takes into account not only your physical symptoms, but also mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, spiritual and other factors. Disease affects the entire person, not just a specific organ or system. Your nutritional status, lifestyle, family history, feelings, environmental stresses, and physical health are all carefully evaluated and addressed.

Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
Your naturopathic doctors will assist you in understanding health and illness. He/she will provide with an understanding of the factors that affect your health and help you balance and become more capable of maintaining your own health. Naturopathic doctors also acknowledge the therapeutic value inherent in the doctor-patient relationship.

Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Your naturopathic doctor applies all of the above principles in a proactive form of disease prevention and health promotion. Naturopathic doctors emphasize healthy daily habits, they assess risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and make appropriate interventions to prevent illness. Health is more than just the absence of disease. Health entails daily functioning on the highest possible levels, and is obtained by proper nutrition, exercise, a balanced lifestyle, positive emotions, thoughts and actions. The capacity for optimal wellness or an improved quality of life is inherent in every body.

Research studies conducted by Naturopathic Physicians at Bastyr University giving an indication of the type of scientific research that is conducted in Naturopathic Medicine.

Energy intake and meal portions: associations with BMI percentile in U.S. children. Huang TT-K, Howarth N, Biing-Hwan L, Roberts SB, and M McCrory. Obesity Res; 12(11): 1875-85, Nov 2004.

Use of complementary and alternative medical providers by insured cancer patients in Washington State. Lafferty WE, Bellas A, Baden AC, Tyree PT, Standish LJ, and R Patterson. Cancer, April 2004.

Vitamin C and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a case-control study. Zhang C, Williams MA, Frederick IO, King IB, Sorensen TK, Kestin MM, Dashow EE, and DA Luthy. J Reprod Med, 49(4): 257-66, April 2004.

Estrogen plus progestin and colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women. Chlebowski RT, Wactawski-Wende J, Ritenbaugh C, Hubbell FA, Ascensao J, Rodabough RJ, et al., and M Kestin. N Engl J Med, 4; 350(10): 991-1004, March 2004.

The effect of Echinacea purpurea treatment on prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in children. Weber W, Taylor JA, VanderStoep A, Weiss N, Standish LJ, and C Calabrese. Journal of Investigative Medicine, Vol. 52, No. 2, March 2004.

In vitro incubation of human feces with daidzein and antibiotics suggests interindividual differences in the bacteria responsible for equol production. Atkinson C, Berman SH, Humbert O, and JW Lampe. Journal of Nutrition, 134:3, 2004.

Eat right and exercise for lower homocysteine levels and less chance of heart disease. Koutoubi S, and FG Huffman. Ethn Dis, 14:160, 2004.

Serum total homocysteine levels, folate, and b-vitamins intake and coronary heart disease risk factors among tri-ethnic college students. Koutoubi S, and FG Huffman. Ethn Dis, 14:64-72, 2004.

Efficacy and safety of Echinacea in treating upper respiratory tract infections in children. Taylor J, W Weber, L Standish, H Quinn, J Goesling; M McGann, and C Calabrese, ND, MPH. Journal of American Medical Association 290(21), December 2003.

Estrogen plus progestin and the risk of coronary heart disease. Manson JE, Hsia J, Johnson KC, Rossouw JE, Assaf AR, Lasser, NL, Trevisan M, et. al., Kestin M. N Engl J Med, 349(6): 523-34, August 7, 2003.

Changes in diet, physical activity, and supplement use among adults diagnosed with cancer. Patterson, RE, ML Neuhouser, MM Hedderson, SM Schwartz, LJ Standish, DJ Bowen. J Am Diet Assoc. 103(3): 323-328, March 2003.

Evidence of correlated functional MRI signals between distant human brains. Standish, LJ, LC Johnson, L Kozak, T Richards. Altern Ther Health Med, 9(1), January 2003.

Safety and reliability of lactobacillus supplements in Seattle, Washington (A Pilot Study). Berman, S, D Spicer. Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine, 1(2), 2003.

Dietary Risk Factors for Invasive and In-situ Cervical Carcinomas in Bangkok, Thailand. Shannon J, Thomas DB, Ray RM, Kestin M, Koetsawang A, Koetsawang S, Chitnarong K, Kiviat N, and J Kuypers. Cancer Causes Control, 13: 691-9, 2002.

Coronary heart disease risk factors among tri-ethnic college students. Koutoubi S and FG Huffman. The Internet Journal of Cardiovascular Research, 1:1, 2002.

Types of alternative medicine used by breast, colon, and prostate cancer patients: predictors, motives, and costs. Patterson R E, Neuhouser N M, Hedderson MM, Schwartz SM, Standish LJ, et.al. J Alt & Comp Med, 8(4): 477-485, 2002.

Complementary and alternative medical treatment of breast cancer: a survey of licensed North American naturopathic physicians. Standish LJ, Greene K, Greenlee H, Kim JG, and C Grosshans. Altern Ther Health Med, 8(4): 93-99, 2002.

5-Aminolevulinic acid-based photochemical internalization of the immunotoxin MOC31-gelonin generates synergistic cytotoxic effects in vitro. Selbo PK , Kalhus O, Sivam G, and K Berg. Photochem Photobiol, 74(2): 303-10, August 2001.

In vivo documentation of photochemical internalization, a novel approach to therapy. Selbo PK, Sivam G, Fodstad O, Sandvig K, and K Berg. Int J Cancer, 92(5): 761-6, June 1, 2001.

Associations of mind-body interventions with quality of life in HIV-1 positive individuals. Standish LJ, Fitzpatrick A, Berger J, Sanders F, Brumback B, and C Calabrese. Alternative Therapies, May/June 2001.

Alternative medicine use in HIV-positive men and women: demographics, utilization patterns and health status. Standish LJ, KB Greene, S Bain, C Reeves, F Sanders, RCM Wines, P Turet, JG Kim, C Calabrese. AIDS Care, 13(2): 197-208, April 2001.

Protection of Helicobacter pylori and other bacterial infections by garlic. Sivam GP. J Nut, 131(3s): 1106S-8S, Mar 2001.

Use of alternative medicine by children with cancer in Washington State. Neuhouser ML, RE Patterson, SM Schwartz, MM Hedderson, DJ Bowen, Standish LJ. Preventive Medicine, 33: 347-354, 2001.

Why alternative medicine cannot be evidence-based. Tonelli M, and TC Callahan. Academic Medicine, 76(12): 1213-20, 2001.

Dietary soy isoflavone intake in older Japanese American women. Murguia RM, LaCroix AZ, Lampe JW, van Belle G, Kestin M, Sumitani M, Graves AB, Larson EB. Public Heath Nutr, 5:943-52, 2001.

Dysmenorrhea, PMS, and musculoskeletal complaints. R DiPasquale. Journal of the American Herbalists Guild, 2(2), 2001.

Systemic immunotoxin treatment inhibits formation of human breast cancer growth in nude rats. Engebraaten O, Sivam G, Juell S, and Fodstad O. Int J Cancer, 88(6): 970-6, Dec 2000.

Photochemical internalization increases the cytotoxic effect of the immunotoxin. Selbo PK, Sivam G, Fodstad O, Sandvig K, Berg K. Int J Cancer, 15:87(6): 853-9, Sep 2000.

A Phase I trial of andrographolide in HIV-positive patients and normal volunteers. Calabrese C, SH Berman, JG Babish, X Ma, L Shinto, M Dorr, K Wells, CA Wenner, LJ Standish. Phytotherapy Research, 14: 333-338, 2000.

Literature review on the top 10 CAM substances used by HIV-positive participants in the AMCOA study. Berger J, C Reeves, K Greene, LJ Standish, C Calabrese. J Naturopathic Med, 9(1): 20-31, 2000.

Botanical medicines with gynecological anticancer activity: A literature review. Wenner CA, K Parker, M Simon, L Adams, K Greene, LJ Standish. JAMWA, 54(4): 184-190, 195, 1999.

The women’s health trial feasibility study in minority populations: changes in dietary intakes. Coates RJ, Bowen DJ, Kristal AR, Feng Z, Oberman A, Hall WD, George V, Lewis CE, Kestin M, Davis M, Evans M, Grizzle JE, and CK Clifford. Am J Epidemiol, 149:1104-12, 1999.

Echinacea for respiratory infection: an evidence based clinical review.
Barrett B, M Vohmann, C Calabrese. J Fam Practice, 48(8): 628-635, 1999.

Literature Review: Most frequently used alternative and complementary therapies and activities by participants in the AMCOA study. Greene KB, J Berger, C Reeves, A Moffat, LJ Standish, C Calabrese. JANAC; 10(3): 60-73, 1999.

A crossover study of the effect of a single oral feeding of medium chain triglyceride oil vs. canola oil on post-ingestion plasma triglyceride levels in healthy men. Calabrese C, S Myer, S Munson, P Turet. Alternative Medicine Review; 4(1): 23-8, 1999.

Screening alternative therapies for HIV: the Bastyr University AIDS Research Center. Reeves C, C Calabrese, LJ Standish, S Bain. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, Feb. 12(2): 87-89, 1998.

Treatment of HIV positive patients with complementary and alternative medicine: A survey of practitioners. Calabrese C, CA Wenner, C Reeves, P Turet, LJ Standish. Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 4(3): 281-287, 1998.

Assessment of trans-fatty acid intake with a food frequency questionnaire and validation with adipose tissue levels of trans-fatty acids. Lemaitre RN, King IB, Patterson RE, Psaty BM, Kestin M, and SR Heckbert. Am J Epidemiol, 48:1085-1093, 1998.

Safety of herbal supplements. Myers SN, Novack JP, and K Putnam. Topics in Clinical Nutrition 14(1): 42-51, 1998.

A scientific plan for the evaluation of alternative medicine in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Standish LJ, C Calabrese, C Reeves, N Polissar, S Bain, T O'Donnell. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Mar. 3(2): 58-67, 1997.

Perspectives on integrating experimental and epidemiologic research on diet, anthropometry, and breast cancer. Ballard-Barbash R, Birt DF, Kestin M, and IB King. Journal of Nutrition, 1997; 936S-938S.

Clinical and endocrinological effects of a menopausal botanical formula. Hudson T, LJ Standish, C Breed, et al. J Naturopathic Med 7(1): 73-6, 1997.

Naturopathic management of fibrocystic breast disease. J Guiltinan. J Nat Med, 7(1): 95-98, 1997.

Editorial: Moving from anecdotal to evidence in alternative cancer treatment. C Calabrese. J Nat Med, 6(1), August 1996.

Ethical reasoning in clinical genetics: A survey of cases and methods. Callahan TC, Durfy SJ, and AR Jonsen. The Journal of Clinical Ethics, 6(3): 248-253, 1995.

A trial of naturopathic medicine for the treatment of weight loss and diahhrea in HIV+ persons. Guiltinan J and A Parkinson. STEP Perspective, Vol. 6(3):2-3, 1994.

The naturopathic physician. Pizzorno JE. Miami Medicine, 65:25-6, 1994.

A pilot study using botanical medicines in the treatment of menopause symptoms. Hudson T, and LJ Standish. Alternative Medicine, 1(5): 3, 1994.

AIDS Update: The winter of our discontent. Standish LJ. Journal of Natural Medicine, 4(1): 35-37, 1993.

Report of the results of a double blind, randomized, single-dose trial of 2% aescin gel in experimental hematoma. Calabrese C, P Preston. Planta Medica, 59: 394-7, 1993.

Homeopathic proving of Candida parapsilosis. Lange A, DA Brown. Homeopathic Links, vol 5:21-2, Spring 1992.

Efficiency of trained cyclists using circular and noncircular chain rings. L Cullen. International Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol. 13, No 3: 264-9, 1992.

One-year open trial of naturopathic treatment of HIV infection class IV-A in men. Standish LJ, J Guiltinan, E McMahon, C Lindstrom. J Naturopathic Med, 3(1): 42-64, 1992.

Intestinal candidiasis, L. acidophilus supplementation and Crook's questionnaire. Blair DM, CS Hangee-Bauer, C Calabrese. J Naturopathic Med, 2(1): 33-6, 1991.

Neuroanatomical localization of cells containing gonadotropin-releasing hormone mRNA in the primate brain by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Standish LJ, Adams LA, Vician L, Clifton DK, and RA Steiner. Molecular Endocrinology, 1989.

Effects of garlic oil on platelet aggregation, serum lipids and blood pressure in humans. Barrie SA, JV Wright, JE Pizzorno. J Orthomolecular Med, 2(1): 15-21, 1987.

Comparative absorption of zinc picolinate, zinc citrate, and zinc gluconate in humans. Barrie SA, JV Wright, JE Pizzorno, E Kutter, PC Barron. Agents and Actions, 21(1-2): 223-8, Jun 1987.

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