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Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of medicine that is defined by its philosophy and the use of an eclectic mix of natural therapies (homeopathy, nutrition, herbs, hydrotherapy, physical medicine, etc.) to bring about health and balance. The tenets of naturopathic medicine include:

• Healing power of nature - honoring the body’s natural inclination and ability to heal itself.
• First do no harm - using natural healing modalities which benefit the body and minimize adverse side effects.
• Identify and treat the cause of disease - addressing the root cause of ill health as opposed to treating only symptoms.
• Heal the whole person - supporting all aspects of health: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and environmental.
• Prevention is the best cure - promoting healthy diet and lifestyle choices to prevent serious, chronic disease and to optimize wellness.
• Doctor as teacher - providing education about health and disease to patients.

Licensed naturopathic physicians (N.D.) attend a four-year graduate-level naturopathic medical school. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician is trained in clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, physical medicine, Chinese medicine, and mind-body medicine including stress-management and counseling. In order to achieve licensure, a naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams. Naturopathic physicians are currently licensed in 15 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Licensed naturopathic physicians must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually.

ND’s are trained as primary care, general practice physicians. They treat all medical conditions, can perform minor surgery, and are trained to utilize prescription drugs if needed. The scope of practice of naturopathic physicians is determined by state licensing boards.

Information on accredited naturopathic schools can be found on the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges website: www.aanmc.org.  The accredited naturopathic schools are:

Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington
Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in Vancouver, BC
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, ON
National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR
National University of Health Sciences in Chicago, IL
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Phoenix, AZ
University of Bridgeport  in Bridgeport, CT

To find an ND in your area or to get more information about naturopathic medicine, click here and follow one of the links to the national and state naturopathic associations.