What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is based on the philosophy that our bodies have an innate ability to heal themselves. It is therefore the doctor's job to identify and remove the obstacles to cure and give the body what it needs for healing and restoration. Naturopathic Doctors strive to bring the body back into balance.
Naturopathic medicine views symptoms as messengers. The body uses symptoms such as pain, fever, fatigue, or nausea, to tell us that something is out of balance within the system and needs to be corrected for the body to be well again. Naturopathic Doctors thus do not simply suppress these symptoms with medication, but work to find the underlying causes of the symptoms, to listen to what the body is trying to say, and then provide the tools for the body to return to wellness.
Naturopathic medicine views the body as an intricate, interconnected, whole being. The mind is an integral part of this being, and body and mind cannot be separated, nor can individual systems (such as the digestive tract or the joints) be separated from each other. Naturopathic Doctors view each person as a whole, and while we investigate the functions of each body system, we are trained to consider all systems together, not separately. Naturopathic medicine also views all people as individuals. Each person has a distinct biochemical individuality that makes them unique and gives them individual needs. Two patients with the same medical diagnosis may not share the exact same symptoms. A medication or remedy that works for one patient may not work for another patient. The vitamin needs of one body may be greater or less than the vitamin needs of another body. Naturopathic Doctors take that individuality into account to devise treatment plans that will work best for you.
Naturopathic Doctors are trained in a wide variety of modalities, including nutrition and therapeutic vitamins, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, physical manipulation, counseling, mind-body medicine, functional medicine, lifestyle education, and detoxification strategies. Any combination of these may be used with each individual to tailor a program that is specific to your needs.
Naturopathic medicine views symptoms as messengers. The body uses symptoms such as pain, fever, fatigue, or nausea, to tell us that something is out of balance within the system and needs to be corrected for the body to be well again. Naturopathic Doctors thus do not simply suppress these symptoms with medication, but work to find the underlying causes of the symptoms, to listen to what the body is trying to say, and then provide the tools for the body to return to wellness.
Naturopathic medicine views the body as an intricate, interconnected, whole being. The mind is an integral part of this being, and body and mind cannot be separated, nor can individual systems (such as the digestive tract or the joints) be separated from each other. Naturopathic Doctors view each person as a whole, and while we investigate the functions of each body system, we are trained to consider all systems together, not separately. Naturopathic medicine also views all people as individuals. Each person has a distinct biochemical individuality that makes them unique and gives them individual needs. Two patients with the same medical diagnosis may not share the exact same symptoms. A medication or remedy that works for one patient may not work for another patient. The vitamin needs of one body may be greater or less than the vitamin needs of another body. Naturopathic Doctors take that individuality into account to devise treatment plans that will work best for you.
Naturopathic Doctors are trained in a wide variety of modalities, including nutrition and therapeutic vitamins, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, physical manipulation, counseling, mind-body medicine, functional medicine, lifestyle education, and detoxification strategies. Any combination of these may be used with each individual to tailor a program that is specific to your needs.
How are Naturopathic Doctors Educated?
Naturopathic Doctors (ND) are trained at one of five accredited medical schools in the United States. These comprehensive four year graduate clinical programs involve intensive training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, and medical diagnosis, as well as training in pharmacology, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, clinical nutrition, physical manipulation, counseling, and several other mind-body modalities. NDs are trained and licensed to be primary care physicians in 16 states, and legislation for licensure is pending in several other states, including New York.
The five accredited U.S. Naturopathic Medical Schools are:
Bastyr University www.bastyr.edu
National College of Natural Medicine www.ncnm.edu
National University of Health Sciences www.nuhs.edu
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine www.scnm.edu
University of Bridgeport www.bridgeport.edu
The five accredited U.S. Naturopathic Medical Schools are:
Bastyr University www.bastyr.edu
National College of Natural Medicine www.ncnm.edu
National University of Health Sciences www.nuhs.edu
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine www.scnm.edu
University of Bridgeport www.bridgeport.edu
