The Principles of Naturopathy - a Needed Update
The core principles of naturopathy have guided holistic care for generations—but the world we live in now is more complex, more chaotic, and honestly, more exhausting. This isn’t about throwing out the old wisdom, but about expanding it. About making space for nuance, for lived experience, for systemic realities. In this post, I’m revisiting each principle through a modern lens—one that acknowledges the pressure to be “well” in a world that often makes it feel impossible, and one that reflects how I practice naturopathy: human-first, flexible, and deeply grounded in both science and care.
In a world that often values speed over slowness, consumption over connection, and symptom suppression over root-cause healing—naturopathy offers a steady, grounded alternative. At the heart of this approach are the principles that guide how we care for the whole person, not just their diagnosis.
I wanted to expand on these principles here because they’re more than just philosophical ideas—they’re what guide my practice every day. As someone who works one-on-one with people navigating health challenges, I see how relevant these principles are in the modern world.
But I also believe we need to approach them with nuance. “Removing obstacles to healing” sounds simple—until you consider how many of those obstacles are structural, like poverty, burnout, or lack of access to healthcare. “Treating the whole person” means understanding not only their physical symptoms, but also their lived experiences, their communities, and the systems they’re moving through.
This blog post is a deeper dive into the values that underpin naturopathic care, how I interpret them as a practitioner, and what they can look like in real life—outside of wellness clichés and in the messiness of being human.
The Core Principles of Naturopathy (and the human reality behind them)
First, Do No Harm
This one seems obvious—but it goes deeper than just being “gentle.” It means we’re constantly checking: will this herb interact with a medication you’re on? Will this protocol add more stress to an already overwhelmed system? It’s about supporting the body without pushing it too hard, and always working with your current situation, not against it.
The Healing Power of Nature
Your body wants to be well. It’s wired for balance. But that doesn’t mean healing is easy—or accessible. The “healing power of nature” sounds beautiful (and it is), but we have to talk about access: access to good food, clean water, rest, time, and connection. It’s not about going off-grid or buying fancy health products. Sometimes it’s as simple as a daily walk, cooking a nourishing meal, or getting enough sleep.
Identify and Treat the Root Cause
Symptoms are messengers, not enemies. The goal isn’t to shut them up—it’s to listen. But root cause work is complex. It’s not always a neat answer. Sometimes the “root” is chronic stress. Or trauma. Or poverty. Or being unsupported. This principle asks us to be curious, not reactive—to look deeper, without making assumptions.
Treat the Whole Person
Your gut, hormones, nervous system, immune system, mental health—they’re all connected. But so is your environment. Your relationships. Your job. Your identity. We’re not just looking at what’s happening in your body—we’re looking at what’s happening around you. Real healing happens when we stop separating physical symptoms from emotional or social context. You’re a whole person. You deserve to be treated like one.
Doctor as Teacher
It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about having real conversations. I want you to feel equipped to make choices for yourself, not dependent on a supplement routine. Sometimes that means sharing what I know, and sometimes it means helping you unlearn what you’ve been told about your body. You don’t need to be “perfect” to be well.
Prevention is Key
Yes, we want to support your body before things break down. But let’s be real—most people don’t come to naturopathy until something’s already not working. Prevention is a privilege. It requires time, space, and support. If that’s not your reality right now, that’s okay. We can still start. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Sometimes the most preventative thing we can do is help you get through the day with a little more ease.
These principles are the backbone of naturopathy—but they’re also deeply personal. I come back to them often, not just in how I work with clients, but in how I care for myself and navigate the contradictions of being in this industry. Because it is contradictory sometimes. We’re told to promote wellness in a world that doesn’t always make it easy to be well.
My job isn’t to sell you a perfect lifestyle. It’s to meet you in the mess—where you are, with what you have—and figure out how we can bring a little more ease, clarity, and support into your life. That might look like food and herbs. It might look like nervous system care or just space to feel heard. It always looks different.
I believe in science, and I believe in intuition. Yes, wellness can feel hard in a society that profits from our disconnection. Yes, healing can feel out of reach when access is limited and care feels like a privilege. But I still believe in small, powerful acts of nourishment. And I believe in doing this work differently—rooted in care that sees the full picture.
If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you.
Millie x
