Doctor as Teacher

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See Also First, Do No Harm (primum non nocere)
See Also Healing Power of Nature (vis medicatrix naturae)
See Also Treat the Cause (tolle causam)
See Also Treat The Whole Person (tolle totum)
See Also Disease Prevention and Health Promotion


Thomas Edison wrote, The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.
The successful doctor of the future will have to fall in line with the procession and do more teaching than prescribing. Henry Lindlahr, ND (1862-1924)

Treat the Cause is one of the six principles of naturopathic medicine.

Docere, or “doctor”, comes from the latin word “to teach” and a naturopathic physicians role is to educate on the factors that affect health so that individuals are more informed about the impact of their choices and so that they are more capable of maintaining their own health. It is through our choices about nutrition, exercise, spiritual well-being, posture, hygiene, rest, and sleep and our peace of mind, social,occupational and environmental situations that influence health.

Teaching takes time and hence most naturopathic visits are longer in order to allow sufficient time for the doctor to educate and teach the patient how to make and maintain the lifestyle choices and changes needed to assist them in achieving wellness. Many patients desire an understanding of why they are sick, what they can do to improve the situation, and what they have to change for the future. It is this awareness and understanding by the patient that determines long-term wellness, not the knowledge level of the doctor.

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