Photo credit: @ashleylynnphotosvancouver
I always knew I wanted to be a health care practitioner but was unsure that conventional medical school really fit my purpose and goals. Instead, I went to the Boucher Naturopathic Medical Clinic for help with personal health concerns. The student clinician was able to spend one whole hour going through my health concerns, health history and health goals.
I experienced what it really meant to dedicate time and space to build a relationship with your patient. By embodying the principles of naturopathic medicine, there was an instant alignment in my values, morals and lifestyle.
First, Do No Harm (Primum non nocere)
Naturopathic doctors follow the therapeutic order, allowing us to use the least invasive, and most effective treatments. This means listening to a patients health history and concerns and providing and weighing all the treatment options.
The Healing Power of Nature (Vis medicatrix naturae) Naturopathic doctors recognize that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself. My purpose is not to cure or suppress your dis-ease, but to guide you along your individual health journey.
Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle causam) Often, suppressing symptoms forces the dis-ease to present elsewhere in the body, leading to more symptomatic treatment. There is a therapeutic order to treatment that naturopathic doctors follow. We first identifying and remove any obstacles and find the root cause.
Doctor as Teacher (Docere) There is time for questions, to educate and support and recalibrate your treatment plan. This inherently is the greatest gift I can share by providing curated knowledge so the internet doesn't overwhelm you and each patient understands their treatment plan.
Treat the Whole Person (Tolle totum)
The body works as an integrated whole, including mind, body and spirit. The naturopathic approach recognizes all the intertwining variables so all of the patients concerns are addressed.
Prevention (Praevenic) My favourite one. Of course, there are times where our body's health status fluctuates but there are ways to optimize our health so that the body is resilient in times of change and stress. One of my biggest passions is dementia/Alzheimer's prevention. The symptoms may present in your sixties or seventies, but the building blocks start much earlier.
My goal is to provide you with the space to discuss and learn and challenge your body and mind. Together, we create long lasting sustainable healthy habits that compound into your optimal lifestyle.
In health,
Dr. Patricia Wu, ND
Reference: https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2010.0830