Naturopathic Medicine
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct health care profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ innate self-healing process.
The practice of naturopathic medicine includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods. Naturopathic doctors correct the underlying disturbances that are contributing to a person’s illness rather than only suppressing symptoms.
What training do Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) receive?
Licensed naturopathic doctors attend a four year, accredited, residential naturopathic medical school program. They receive training in the basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology, histology, genomics, biochemistry, pathology, immunology and microbiology.
Naturopathic doctors are also trained in clinical sciences such as pharmacology, gastroenterology, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, gynecology, psychiatry, dermatology and minor surgery, plus all aspects of diagnosis using labs, imaging (x-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound) and physical examination.
Naturopathic doctors complete a clinical internship with over 1,100 hours of patient care and take rigorous board exams to become licensed or registered by a state or Canadian province.
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct health care profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ innate self-healing process.
The practice of naturopathic medicine includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods. Naturopathic doctors correct the underlying disturbances that are contributing to a person’s illness rather than only suppressing symptoms.
What training do Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) receive?
Licensed naturopathic doctors attend a four year, accredited, residential naturopathic medical school program. They receive training in the basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology, histology, genomics, biochemistry, pathology, immunology and microbiology.
Naturopathic doctors are also trained in clinical sciences such as pharmacology, gastroenterology, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, gynecology, psychiatry, dermatology and minor surgery, plus all aspects of diagnosis using labs, imaging (x-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound) and physical examination.
Naturopathic doctors complete a clinical internship with over 1,100 hours of patient care and take rigorous board exams to become licensed or registered by a state or Canadian province.
How do Naturopathic Doctors approach medical care?
Naturopathic doctors prioritize gentle, non-invasive therapies first and use drug treatments or surgery only when necessary. Prevention of disease is paramount to naturopathic practice and NDs work to intervene before illness develops. NDs are known for spending a considerable amount of time with their patients, in contrast to the short appointments that are common in the conventional setting.
NDs speak and understand the language of conventional medicine, but their philosophy is different. Naturopathic medical education places a greater emphasis on healthy lifestyles, natural therapies, and disease prevention. NDs also learn to use therapies such as Chinese medicine, physical medicine, counseling and homeopathy.
Naturopathic Medicine and Conventional Medicine are not exclusive of each other. The appropriate application of the philosophies is dependent upon both the condition and the patient themselves.
How do Naturopathic Doctors approach medical care?
Naturopathic doctors prioritize gentle, non-invasive therapies first and use drug treatments or surgery only when necessary. Prevention of disease is paramount to naturopathic practice and NDs work to intervene before illness develops. NDs are known for spending a considerable amount of time with their patients, in contrast to the short appointments that are common in the conventional setting.
NDs speak and understand the language of conventional medicine, but their philosophy is different. Naturopathic medical education places a greater emphasis on healthy lifestyles, natural therapies, and disease prevention. NDs also learn to use therapies such as Chinese medicine, physical medicine, counseling and homeopathy.
Naturopathic Medicine and Conventional Medicine are not exclusive of each other. The appropriate application of the philosophies is dependent upon both the condition and the patient themselves.