2. IDENTIFY AND TREAT THE CAUSE

Illness does not occur without cause. The underlying causes of disease must be discovered and treated before a person can recover completely from an illness. Causes may occur on many levels including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The doctor must evaluate fundamental underlying causes on all levels and direct the treatment at the root causes rather than at symptomatic expression.

3. FIRST DO  NO HARM

Illness is a purposeful process in the body of an individual and the doctor's actions can either support or antagonize this process. Therapeutic intervention should be complimentary to and synergistic with the healing process. Therefore, treatment programs that are designed to suppress symptoms without removing the underlying causes of the condition are considered harmful and avoided or minimized.

Although the doctors at the Integrative Health Centre do not use drugs or surgery, they are well trained to recognize where conventional medical treatment must be utilized, and refer to the appropriate medical practitioners.

4. TREAT THE WHOLE PERSON

Health and disease are conditions of the whole individual, a whole involving a complex interaction of physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. The doctor must treat the whole person by taking all of these factors into account. The harmonious functioning of all aspects of the individual is essential for both the recovery, and prevention of disease.

Beyond an accurate diagnosis and appropriate prescription, the doctor must work to create a healthy, sensitive interpersonal relationship with the patient. A cooperative doctor-patient relationship has inherent therapeutic value and their major role is to educate and encourage the patient to take responsibility for his or her health.

The ultimate goal of any health care system should be prevention. This is accomplished through education and promotion of life-habits that create good health. The doctor assesses risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and makes appropriate interventions to avoid further harm and risk to the patient. The emphasis is on building health rather than on fighting disease.