Naturopathic medicine treats health conditions by using the body's inherent ability to cure. Naturopathic physicians aid the curing process by incorporating a variety of alternative methods based on the patient's individual needs. Diet, lifestyle, work, and personal history are all considered when determining a treatment regimen.

  The spirit of naturopathic medicine is reflected in the definition of health advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO)-"a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of infirmity." In fact, WHO, in a report on traditional medicine, has recommended the integration of naturopathic medicine into conventional health care systems.

 

  Naturopathic medicine is not a single modality of curing, but an array of curing practices, including diet and clinical nutrition; homeopathy; acupuncture; herbal medicine; hydrotherapy; therapeutic exercise; spinal and soft-tissue manipulation; physical therapies involving electric currents, ultrasound, and light therapy; therapeutic counseling; and pharmacology.