The first step to healing is to eliminate anything blocking the body's natural recovery processes—referred to as “removing obstacles to cure.” Naturopathic practitioners work with patients to address common barriers like poor nutrition, chronic stress, digestive issues, inadequate sleep, toxic exposure, trauma, and socioeconomic challenges. By removing these obstacles, the body’s natural vitality is restored, self-healing is activated, and other therapeutic treatments can have a more significant impact. This step aligns with the naturopathic principle of "Treat the Cause."

The body possesses an inherent wisdom known as the "Vis Medicatrix Naturae"—the natural healing ability. Naturopathic medicine aims to engage and enhance this self-healing process. Practitioners utilise therapies like nutrition, botanical medicine, lifestyle counselling, acupuncture, homeopathy, and hydrotherapy to stimulate this healing force, allowing the body to restore itself.

When bodily systems are weakened, they often require more than just stimulation. This step focuses on supporting and repairing underactive or overactive systems. Techniques may include herbal medicine, hormone balancing, nutritional supplementation, counselling, manual therapies, and acupuncture, targeting specific tissues, organs, or even emotional health to achieve optimal function.

Structural integrity is key to overall health. Naturopathic care may involve physical therapies such as spinal adjustments, massage, electrotherapy, and craniosacral therapy to maintain and restore muscular, skeletal, and fascial balance. Therapeutic exercises, biomechanics optimisation, and physical therapy are also used to support proper alignment and movement.

While the goal of naturopathic care is to restore overall health, there are times when specific conditions need direct attention. In such cases, naturopathic practitioners use safe, effective natural therapies that minimise toxic load and side effects. These treatments aim to alleviate symptoms without disrupting the body’s innate healing abilities.

There are situations where pharmaceutical interventions are necessary to manage symptoms or stop a disease from progressing. Naturopaths understand that symptom suppression can limit insight into the underlying causes, so these interventions are used cautiously, with the aim of eventually returning to less invasive treatments. As pharmaceuticals are outside of a naturopath’s scope of practice in Australia, they are likely to refer to a medical practitioner who can prescribe these substances.

In severe cases, invasive or high-force therapies may be necessary to stabilise a patient or alleviate significant symptoms before addressing deeper issues. Though these approaches may reduce symptoms, they do not resolve the root causes and are typically seen as a temporary measure until the patient can safely work towards true healing. Similar to the 6th principle, a naturopath will likely refer on if a client requires this level of support.

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct approach to healthcare, guided by core principles and the structured framework of the Therapeutic Order to provide comprehensive, individualised care.