Go back to top

Naturopathic Medicine / Integrative Medicine

Home > Service > Naturopathic Medicine / Integrative Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic Medicine is a unique and distinct system of health care that emphasizes the use of prevention and natural therapeutics. The doctors who practice naturopathic medicine, called naturopathic doctors (NDs), are trained to serve as primary care general practitioners who are experts in the prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment of both acute and chronic health conditions.

What is a Naturopathic Doctor?

A naturopathic doctor (ND) is a licensed physician who has graduated from an accredited four-year, post-graduate, residential naturopathic medical school, and has been board certified. The training consists of comprehensive study of the conventional medical sciences, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology, immunology, clinical and physical diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis, cardiology, gastroenterology, gynecology, etc, as well as detailed study of a wide variety of natural therapies. NDs are authorized to practice as doctors in 15 American states, Puerto Rico, and 5 Canadian states.


The aim of the ND is not only to control symptoms of disease, but to address and treat the true causes of disease. NDs try to avoid the use of prescription drugs whenever possible, in order to minimize harmful side-effects and the unnecessary strain that drugs can place on the body. They prefer instead, to focus on overall health through preventative medicine, improvement of lifestyle, and by addressing both the physical symptoms as well as mental well-being. Moreover, the ND places great importance on patient education, encouraging patients to take control of their own health. The primary goal of the ND is to recognize and encourage the inherent self-healing power of the individual.

Naturopathic doctors are guided by six principles:
  1. Do No Harm
  2. The Healing Power of Nature
  3. Find the Cause
  4. Treat the Whole Person
  5. Preventive Medicine
  6. Doctor as Teacher

This set of principles, emphasized throughout a naturopathic doctor's training, outlines the philosophy guiding the naturopathic approach to health and healing, and forms the foundation of this distinct health care practice.


Naturopathic doctors use a variety of natural and non-invasive therapies, including clinical nutrition, homeopathy, botanical medicine, hydrotherapy, physical medicine, and counseling. Naturopathic treatments are effective in treating a wide variety of conditions without the need for additional intervention. Naturopathic doctors are also able to function within an integrated framework, and naturopathic therapies can be used to complement treatments used by conventionally trained medical doctors. The result is a patient-centered approach that strives to provide the most appropriate treatment for an individual's needs.


In the United States, the naturopathic medical profession's infrastructure includes accredited educational institutions, professional licensing, national standards of practice, peer review, and a commitment to state-of-the-art scientific research.

What Are the Office Visits Like?

Dr. Ozawa will take time with you. During your first appointment, he will take your health history, find out about your diet, stress levels, life style, and discuss why you're there. Dr. Ozawa may perform an examination and order diagnostic tests. Dr. Ozawa keeps himself up-to-date on the latest scientific research and incorporate this evidence into their treatments. Dr. Ozawa will work with you to set up a customized health management strategy. If necessary Dr. Ozawa will refer you to other health-care practitioners.


A first visit with a patient may last one to two hours and follow-up visits range from 30 to 60 minutes, although this varies depending on the condition. Dr. Ozawa needs sufficient time to ask questions and understand the patient's health goals. Dr. Ozawa also does an appropriate examination and teach his patients about managing their condition and improving their health. Dr. Ozawa may also use diagnostic tests to fully understand their patient's health status. Besides taking the time to carefully and fully assess a patient's root problem, Dr. Ozawa speaks and understands the language of conventional medicine. Dr. Ozawa can diagnose the way MDs do—yet, they bring to the patient a whole new arsenal of treatments and insights. Instead of waiting for a disease to emerge, Dr. Ozawa works to head it off before it happens.

Contact Us Have a question about our services?
Please Call Us at 310-326-8625 or use Mail Form to contact us.

Integrative Medicine

What is Integrative Medicine?

Integrative Medicine is a healing oriented discipline that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and client, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapies. Integrative Medicine uses evidence-based disciplines in the various fields of natural medicine coupled with conventional medical therapies.

Integrative Medicine in our Health Care System

Since the 1960's, Americans have become increasingly familiar with the terms alternative medicine and complementary medicine, and have applied them to healing methods such as massage, acupuncture, and nutrition therapy. However, mounting scientific evidence on the safety and efficacy of such treatments has led to the creation of a new term INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE.


Integrative Medicine combines mainstream medical therapies with non-conventional complementary therapies. However, Integrative Medicine only uses complementary therapies for which there is some high-quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness. In short, Integrative Medicine utilizes all appropriate, evidence-based therapies to achieve health.

Criteria & Principles of Integrative Medicine

  1. All factors that influence health, wellness, and disease are taken into consideration, including mind, spirit, and community, as well as the body.
  2. The Client and practitioner are partners in the healing process.
  3. Effective interventions that are natural and less invasive should be used whenever possible.
  4. Appropriate use of both conventional and alternative methods facilitates the body's innate healing response.
  5. Alongside the concept of treatment, the broader concepts of health promotion and the prevention of illness are paramount.
  6. Integrative Medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically.
  7. Practitioners of Integrative Medicine should exemplify its principles and commit themselves to self-exploration and self-development.
  8. Good medicine is based in good science. It is inquiry-driven and open to new paradigms.

Contact Us Have a question about our services?
Please Call Us at 310-326-8625 or use Mail Form to contact us.