I can’t not share this with you. It’s a mild obsession of mine. It’s my

Naturopathic Doctors’ Oath

 I dedicate myself to the service of humanity as a practitioner of the art and science of naturopathic medicine.

By precept, education and example, I will assist and encourage others to strengthen their health, reduce risks for disease, and preserve the health of our planet for ourselves and future generations.

I will continually endeavour to improve my abilities.

I will conduct my life and practice of naturopathic medicine with integrity and freedom from prejudice.

I will keep confident what should not be divulged.

I will honour the principles of naturopathic medicine:

First, to do no harm.

To co-operate with the healing powers of nature.

To address the fundamental causes of disease.

To heal the whole person through individualized treatment.

To teach the principles of healthy living and preventative medicine.

With my whole heart, before these witnesses, as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, I pledge to remain true to this oath.

I have something to get off my chest about this oath. I look at it every day – it hangs on the wall in my clinic room. I can barely look at it without getting misty. I get to “service of humanity” before my eyes start the onion cutting dance**.

It is very powerful to me for a number of reasons:

a) My job is bigger than my daily to do list, and my patient cases – Naturopathic medicine paints the world I see, provides structure and philosophy for the life I lead, and mentors all my thought processes.

b) My work makes a difference, a big difference. Because of the work I do, people feel better. Not only do people fart less, or ache less, or panic less, but they regain happiness. As their bodies heal, and they get back to the things they love to do, their minds and emotions heal as well.

Joy becomes their normal state.

Love and laughter oscillate through others to create a happier, more peaceful world. This is how I take “service of humanity,” and truly believe that I contribute to world peace one healthier, happier patient at a time.

c) I remember my convocation from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. We were “backstage” (says the dancer) preparing to enter the hall, and some of my alphabetically proximal classmates and I were getting ourselves alphabetized.

My reflex to cry upon reading my oath stems from this moment.

I knew that no matter whom of my colleagues I ended up standing beside to say this oath that day, I would be proud to do so. I share this oath with the most amazing individuals from the most diverse backgrounds I’ve ever encountered in my life.

It is a privilege and an honour to uphold its values with other Naturopathic Physicians across the globe.

I love this oath.

I want it to permeate everything that I do; my lifestyle, my work with my patients, the company I keep.

If you’re still reading this (and thank you for doing so), consider what words you live by.

What guides your life? 
How deep does that guidance go? On what levels is your life affected by those words? In the case of the Naturopathic Doctor’s oath, it touches every aspect of my life, and more deeply every day, in a way that makes me proud, satisfied, and a whimpering Winchester.

If you want to read more, check out this blog article I wrote about HOW Naturopathic medicine works.

(**PS onions make you cry because they contain sulfur based compounds. They are highly antimicrobial, and can be made into a sore throat tonic syrup by soaking half an onion overnight in honey, diluting the now oniony honey in water and gargling. Gargle along to your favorite song before swallowing.)

To your healthy, thriving, delightful life,