The Symbolism of Our Logo
The logo used to represent our naturopathic medical practice is a blending of three separate symbols of healing, power, and balance:
- 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.
Native American People also identify this symbol as a "Dream Catcher."
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.