What is naturopathic medicine?
A naturopathic physician (N.D.) has completed a postgraduate medical education specializing in natural medicine. Naturopathic medicine practitioners are distinct from acupuncturists, chiropractors, osteopaths and medical doctors. They are uniquely trained to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to assist your body's innate healing process.
Naturopaths are skilled in the use of natural therapeutics, including clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy. They tailor these approaches to the needs of an individual patient. Naturopathic physicians cooperate with all other branches of medical science, referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate.
Education for naturopathic medicine practitioners
As most traditional physicians, naturopathic doctors are trained in a four-year graduate school accredited by a council authorized by the U.S. Department of Education. In their first two years, naturopathic medicine students complete advanced science courses and study from standard medical textbooks.
They learn to utilize modern diagnostic and laboratory equipment and tests. And from day one naturopathic medicine students study and practice the naturopathic guiding principles.
Principles of naturopathic medicine
FIRST DO NO HARM
Naturopathic medicine dictates non-invasive treatments which minimize the risk of harmful side-effects. Naturopaths are trained to know which patients they can treat safely and which ones they need to refer to other health care providers.
FIND THE CAUSE
Every illness has an underlying cause which can often be found in certain aspects of one's lifestyle, environment or diet. Naturopathic medicine is geared to helping find and remove the underlying cause of poor health.
THE HEALING POWER OF NATURE
Natural forces act powerfully through the healing mechanisms already present in your mind and body. These forces maintain and restore health naturally. This is called the homeostatic principle of physiology. When these mechanisms break down, naturopathic medicine works to restore and support these natural and inherent healing systems. It works by using methods, remedies and techniques that are in harmony with natural processes.
TREAT THE WHOLE PERSON
Health or disease comes from a complex interaction of physical, emotional, dietary, genetic, environmental, lifestyle and other factors. Naturopathic medicine treats patients as whole people taking in all these factors. In this approach, naturopathy is similar to the wisdom of ancient healing systems such as Indian Ayurvedic medicine, oriental medicine, Native American medicine and homeopathy.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
Naturopathic medicine takes a preventative approach. It can stop minor illnesses from developing into more serious or chronic degenerative diseases. Patients are taught the principles by which they can prevent major illnesses and live a healthy life.
Most patients who see naturopathic physicians are already chronically ill and many are severely compromised by ill health. Here naturopathic physicians work to restore true health. Even though the goal of every naturopath is to prevent disease, the reality is that most patients come to them in a state of chronic disease. Naturopathic medicine excels in the treatment of chronic disease.
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