The Symbolism of Our Logo

• The Rod of Asclepius, in which a single serpent entwines around a shepherd's staff. This symbol is named after the mythological Greek figure Asclepius, the son of Apollo, who was a renowned healer. However the symbol is actually much older, being associated with a similar device wielded by Moses (Exodus 4:2-5; Numbers 21:4-9; see also John 3:14). Today, this symbol is widely used to represent conventional Western medicine.

• The Thunderbird, which is a symbol of power and protection that is shared by diverse Amerindian peoples, including tribes in the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest, the Plains, and the Northeast. The representation varies among tribes, ranging from Northwestern totem poles, to rock-wall art in El Paso, to finely crafted Zuni jewelry. The latter was used as an inspiration for our logo. We use the Thunderbird to symbolize the contributions to naturopathic medicine by herbalists and other traditional practitioners of the healing arts.

• The Taoist Yin-Yang symbol, which is inscribed in the center of the Thunderbird, represents the oriental philosophy of balancing opposing forces (earth/sky, moist/dry, etc.) to achieve healing and optimal health.

Together, these symbols combine to produce an effect similar to another ancient symbol, the Caduceus - a winged staff upon which two (not one) serpents entwine. This alchemical symbol represents the mythological Greek figure Hermes. The Caduceus is mostly used to represent the publishing industry, but is sometimes associated with the medical arts.

About the Web Site Design

An important feature of this web site is its ability to adapt to the preferences of viewers. Rather than using a fixed layout, the web pages rearrange themselves to accommodate the size of the viewing window chosen by the viewer. In addition, the font size can be adjusted for maximal viewing comfort. This results in a somewhat less controlled presentation which may offend the sensibilities of graphic design artists, but which favors usability by our patients.

We hope you enjoy our web site, and invite your comments.