What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine blends centuries-old natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in the study of health and human systems, covering all aspects of family health from prenatal to geriatric care.

A Naturopathic Physician (ND) is a primary care general practitioner trained as an expert in natural medicine. Naturopathic medicine concentrates on whole-patient wellness. The medicine is tailored to the patient and emphasizes prevention and self-care. Naturopathic medicine attempts to find the underlying cause of the patient’s condition rather than focusing solely on symptomatic treatment. For example, congestion might be caused by a food allergy or an environmental factor-a naturopathic physician would focus diagnosis and treatment on these casual factors. Naturopathic physicians cooperate with all other branches of medical science referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate.

What Types of Treatments Does a Naturopathic Physician Offer?

Naturopathic physicians perform physical examinations, laboratory testing, gynecological exams, nutritional and dietary assessments, metabolic analysis, allergy testing, X-ray examinations, and other diagnostic tests. They are the only primary care physicians clinically trained in the use of a wide variety of natural therapeutics. They combine and adapt these treatments to the needs of the individual based on a cogent philosophy that acknowledges the patient as a participants.

Naturopathic Medicine is effective in treating most health problems, both acute and chronic. Some of the therapies used by naturopathic physicians are described below:

Clinical Nutrition is a cornerstone of naturopathic medicine. It refers to both the practice of using of food to maintain health and the therapeutic us of food to treat illness. Scientific research has shown that many medical conditions can be treated as effectively with food and nutritional supplements as they can by other means, with fewer complications and side effects.

Homeopathy is a powerful system of medicine that is more than 200 years old. This medical system uses highly diluted substances to cure illness. Homeopathic remedies act to enhance the body’s innate immune response and rarely have side effects. Some conditions that do not respond well to conventional medicine will respond to homeopathic therapies.

Botanical Medicine is the use of plants as medicine. Many plant substances are powerful medicines that are safe and effective when used properly. A resurgence of scientific research in Europe and Asia is demonstrating that some plant substances are superior to synthetic drugs in clinical conditions.

Physical Medicine includes naturopathic manipulation of the muscles, bones and spine. Heat and cold, gentle electrical impulses, ultrasound, hydrotherapy and exercise therapy are also used.

Natural Childbirth is offered by naturopathic physicians with additional specialty training. These physicians offer prenatal and postnatal care using the most modern diagnostic techniques. When natural childbirth is not medically appropriate because of high risk, patients are referred for appropriate care.

Oriental Medicine includes acupuncture, acupressure and oriental botanical medicine to diagnose and treat disease.

Counseling and Stress Management. Mental attitudes and emotional states can be important elements in healing illness. Naturopathic physicians’ training includes counseling, nutritional balancing, stress management, hypnotherapy, biofeedback and other methods.

Minor Surgery, including repair of superficial wounds and removal of foreign bodies, cysts and other superficial masses, with local anesthesia as needed.

The existence or absence of licensing laws may affect the doctor’s scope of practice. Ask your naturopathic physician for more information about these or other treatments.

How are Naturopathic Physicians Regulated?

Currently, 15 states 4 provinces, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors required to graduate from a four-year, residential naturopathic medical school and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination in order to receive a license. Licensed naturopathic physician must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually, and will have a specific scope of practice defined by their state’s law. The states that currently have licensing laws for naturopathic physicians are as follows:

The Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

The Healing Power of Nature. Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in the person which is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.

Identify and Treat the Causes. The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness, rather to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.

First Do No Harm. Naturopathic physicians follow three precepts to avoid harming the patient:

Doctor As Teacher. Naturopathic physicians educate their patients and encourage self-responsibilities for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.

Treat the Whole Person. Naturopathic physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual developments.

Prevention. Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease—assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine is committed to the creation of a health world in which humanity many thrive.

How is a Licensable Naturopathic Physician Trained?

Naturopathic medical colleges are four-year, graduate level medical schools with admissions requirements comparable to those of other medical schools. The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree (ND) is awarded after classroom, clinic and practical study. NDs are trained in medical sciences including:

Throughout the four years, there is training in naturopathic therapeutics, including therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, natural childbirth, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy, and other therapies.

The accrediting agency for naturopathic medical schools and programs in North American is the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). The CNME is the only naturopathic accrediting body in the United States that is recognized by the US Department of Education.

There are presently six colleges accredited by the CNME in the United States:

- Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA
- National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Portland, OR
- University of Bridgeport, College of Natural Medicine, Bridgeport, CT
- Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Science, Tempe, AZ
- Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto
- The Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine, Vancouver, B.C.