This is part of the oath that every doctor takes upon completing medical school. We always work for the highest good for our patients and the best possible outcome given the individual circumstances. In naturopathic medicine, it means we try to choose natural or comparatively gentler interventions first. The least invasive options ought to be exhausted before higher force interventions are tried.

We recognize that different interventions are appropriate for different conditions. Someone with a broken wrist needs surgical attention first and foremost, while a patient with pre-diabetes would benefit from dietary and lifestyle counseling to prevent the progression to diabetes.

Patients with low back pain may be familiar with this “progression of force.” Conservative approaches are tried first: weight loss, over-the-counter (OTC) pain pills and physical therapy (PT) are usually the first line options. If these fail to bring relief, steroid shots are usually next and surgery is the last resort. However, during that first trial of therapy, we can also add chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga, stretching, cold laser, herbal medicine and dietary counseling to the list of effective interventions. The naturopathic tool kit is quite large and we always seek to use the simplest, least risky options first.

Does this principle resonate with your own health beliefs? Are you looking for a new kind of partnership with your primary care provider? If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my bio to get in touch. I offer free 15-minute consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your own home.

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