Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care -an art, science, philosophy, and practice of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of illness. Naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles which underlie and determine its practice. These principles are based upon the objective observation of the nature of health and disease and are continually reexamined in the light of scientific advances. Methods used are consistent with these principles and are chosen upon the basis of patient individuality. Naturopathic physicians are trained as primary health care physicians whose diverse techniques include modern and traditional, scientific and empirical methods.

The following principles are the foundation for the practice of Naturopathic Medicine:

The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)

The healing power of nature is the inherent self-organizing and healing process of living systems that establishes, maintains, and restores health. Naturopathic medicine recognizes this healing process to be ordered and intelligent. It is the naturopathic physician's role to support, facilitate and augment this process by identifying and removing obstacles to health and recovery, and by supporting the creation of a healthy internal and external environment.

Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam)

Illness does not occur without cause. Causes may originate in many areas. Underlying causes of illness and disease must be identified and removed before complete recovery can occur. Symptoms can be expressions of the body's attempt to defend itself, to adapt and recover, to heal itself, or maybe results of the causes of disease. The naturopathic physician seeks to treat the causes of disease, rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.

First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)

Naturopathic physicians follow three precepts to avoid harming the patient:

Naturopathic physicians utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful effects and apply the least possible force or intervention necessary to diagnose illness and restore health.
Whenever possible the suppression of symptoms is avoided as suppression generally interferes with the healing process.
Naturopathic physicians respect and work with the vis medicatrix naturae in diagnosis, treatment, and counseling, for if this self-healing process is not respected the patient may be harmed.

Doctor as Teacher (Docere)

The original meaning of the word "doctor" is the teacher. A principal objective of naturopathic medicine is to educate the patient and emphasize self-responsibility for health. Naturopathic physicians also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.

Treat the Whole Person

Health and disease result from a complex of 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 development. Naturopathic medicine recognizes the harmonious functioning of all aspects of the individual as being essential to health. The multifactorial nature of health and disease requires a personalized and comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment. Naturopathic physicians treat the whole person, taking all of these factors into account.

Prevention

Naturopathic medical colleges emphasize the study of health as well as disease. The prevention of disease and the attainment of optimal health in patients are the primary objectives of naturopathic medicine. In practice, these objectives are accomplished through education and the promotion of healthy ways of living.

Naturopathic physicians assess risk factors, heredity, and susceptibility to disease, and make appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine asserts that one cannot be healthy in an unhealthy environment and is committed to the creation of a world in which humanity may thrive.

Naturopathic Methods

Naturopathic medicine is defined primarily by its fundamental principles. Methods and modalities are selected and applied based upon these principles in relationship to the individual needs of each patient. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods are selected from various sources and systems and will continue to evolve with the progress of knowledge.

Naturopathic Practice

Naturopathic practice includes the following diagnostic and treatment modalities: utilization of all methods of clinical and laboratory diagnostic testing including diagnostic radiology and other imaging techniques; nutritional medicine, dietetics, and therapeutic fasting; medicines of mineral, animal, and botanical origin; hygiene and public health measures; naturopathic physical medicine including naturopathic manipulative therapies; the use of water, heat, cold, light, electricity, air, earth, electromagnetic and mechanical devices, ultrasound, and therapeutic exercise; homeopathy; psychotherapy and counseling; acupuncture, injection and intravenous therapy; minor surgery; prescription medication; and naturopathic obstetrics (natural childbirth).

Training to Become a Naturopathic Doctor

Naturopathic Doctors attend four years of post-graduate doctoral medical training at an accredited naturopathic medical school where they are trained as primary care physicians integrating traditional healing methods with modern scientific medicine. The training involves four years of courses with two years of supervised clinical rotations toward becoming a primary care physician. The curriculum involves the basic sciences and clinical courses similar to most major medical schools with additional training in diet and nutrient therapies, botanical medicine, osseous and soft tissue manipulation, hydrotherapy, counseling, and homeopathy.

What is the Difference Between Naturopathic Doctors and M.D.s ?

In my opinion, the main difference is that ND's focus more time on patient care. In the United States, consultation time for conventional doctor's appointments averages perhaps 20 minutes. IN contrast, NDs spend between 1 and 2 hours face-to-face with patients n an initial appointment and 30 to 60 minutes in subsequent appointments. There are approximately 6000 NDs practicing in North America.

One other difference is our education. While very similar, there are some key differences, especially in botanical medicine and lifestyle modification. NDs are unique among medical practitioners in their depth of knowledge about diet and nutrition as it applies to specific patient care. For more information see this link.

So How Does An ND Compare To An MD ?

Both an ND and MD received an undergraduate degree in premedical studies, graduated from an accredited medical school, and have spent hundreds of hours working with practicing physicians in a clinical setting. MD’s are required to do a residency program where they complete rotations in many of the major fields of conventional medicine- surgery, pediatrics, family medicine, etc. ND’s complete majority of their clinical training in family based clinics. Residencies are available for ND’s after graduation, but are not mandatory. This is likely to change in the future when more states gain licensure and there are more practicing ND’s.

Here is a chart comparing the curriculum of naturopathic medical schools (Bastyr and NCNM) with conventional medical schools (Yale, Johns Hopkins, Wisconsin). The schools on the far right are 2 non-accredited naturopathic schools. Students graduating from these schools are NOT naturopathic physicians but may use the term “doctor” in states where naturopathic medicine is unlicensed.

Minnesota is unique in North America in that the state has licensed Naturopathic Doctors but also allows anyone to call themselves a Naturopath with any level or no level of training. And while there are some well-meaning practitioners in the State who do a fine job, there is no guarantee of their education, clinical training, or qualifications. So how do you tell the difference? Trained and Licensed Naturopathic Doctors have the exclusive right to the use of the term Naturopathic Doctor. If it is important to you you can look up all licensed NDs here.

So are you a Homeopath or what ?

There is a great deal of terminology used to describe Naturopathic Medicine, but they don’t all mean the same thing, and the majority of them shouldn’t be used interchangeably, but, unfortunately often are.

This is a brief description of most doctors. We are always happy to answer questions if you want to know more.

Naturopathic Physician

A person who obtained an undergraduate degree in premedical studies, a doctorate degree from an accredited medical school (there are only 7 accredited Naturopathic Medical schools!), and have passed 2 board licensure exams to gain their Naturopathic Doctorate license. Treatments are individualized and follow naturopathic principles and the therapeutic order (see here). Other analogous terms include Naturopath, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND), Naturopathic Doctor, and Natural Doctor.

Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam)

Doctor of Osteopathy

Also known as a DO, a doctor of osteopathy is similar to a naturopathic physician, as they focus on preventative care and treating the whole person. An MD, ND, and DO have all attended medical school and passed national board exams. A DO tends to focus more on the musculoskeletal system, which includes muscles, bones, and nerves and uses this to understand how one region can affect another.

Integrative Medical Doctor

Integrative medicine (IM) is much like naturopathic medicine and osteopathic medicine, where the focus on the whole person. Integrative medicine centers around the mind-body connection and uses this to help treat illness. Integrative medical doctors attended a conventional medical school where they took extra classes focusing on nontraditional therapies including, but not limited to, massage, meditation, and traditional Chinese medicine.

Homeopathic Doctor

Homeopathy is one of the “tools” in the toolbox of naturopathic medicine, but a homeopath is not a naturopathic doctor (although an ND may be a homeopath). It was developed by Samuel Hahnemann who observed the idea “like cures like,” by proving different homeopathic remedies on himself. Hahnemann discovered that a substance that would cause symptoms of disease in healthy people could also be used to cure similar symptoms in sick people. Homeopathy is not tightly regulated and therefore the term homeopath may be used by anyone who uses homeopathy as a therapy. A board-certified homeopathic physician (D. Ht) is someone who has completed extensive prerequisites, including medical school and 3 years of experience with patients and has passed a national board exam.

Holistic Doctor

Holistic medicine is a general term used to describe healing that treats the whole person: mind, body, spirit, and emotions. Therefore, an MD, ND, DO, massage therapist, IM, homeopath, etc., are all considered holistic doctors as long as they practice with the philosophy of treating the whole person.

Medical Doctor

A medical doctor (MD) is someone who completed conventional medical school, a residency program for 3-8 years, and passed their national board exams. MDs either specialize in a specific field (i.e. ENT, podiatrist, surgery) or do general medicine. The majority of medical doctors tend to practice in a hospital or clinical setting.

Herbalist

Herbalism is the study of plants for medicinal purposes, which makes an herbalist a specialist in this. There are many different degrees of expertise in this field. For example, one could have attended a university and received a master's degree in herbal science, or one could have taken a few online or local courses on botanical medicine. Herbalists who are gone through proper training are usually educated on identification, mechanism of action, therapeutic use, and harvesting of medicinal plants. ND’s are also educated on these subjects, along with proper dosing, preparation, and safety information. Additionally, many herbalists have been taught from oral traditions and focus primarily on remedies that have been handed down over time, rather than researched. Often herbalists also work within energetic systems such as oriental medicine.

Quacks

There is some dispute about naturopathic medicine and its place in the medical field. The majority of this stems from the lack of government regulation from state to state. As mentioned above, in the states where naturopathic doctors are not licensed, there may be people claiming to be “naturopathic doctors” who have not attended an accredited 4-year medical school. Because the naturopathic field is not as well known for its accreditation, these “doctors” tend to give a bad reputation to naturopathic medicine, as they are practicing without adequate training. It is important to make sure your naturopath has graduated from one of the 7 accredited naturopathic medical schools.

CAM providers

CAM stands for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This term is often considered equivalent to naturopathic medicine but also encompasses many of the other aforementioned practices. Webster’s Dictionary defines “complementary” as “to enhance or emphasize the qualities of each other.” Naturopathic medicine does, in fact, enhance conventional medicine, but it is by itself, its' own unique, and specialized form of medicine. As defined above, conventional medicine describes the diagnosing and treating of disease, and naturopathic medicine does this as well, just from a different approach. Therefore CAM providers can include all forms of medical professions- MDs, ND’s, DO’s, physical therapists, homeopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists, etc. The term alternative provider is often used interchangeably with CAM provider.

Conventional Medicine

There is no solid definition for conventional medicine, but is generally recognized as evidence-based medicine used to treat disease. This term is used for doctors who attended a conventional medical school and use the abbreviation MD for a medical doctor. Hospitals and other fast-paced medical clinics are often (but not always) conventional care. Other analogous terms include allopathic medicine, western medicine, regular medicine, and orthodox medicine.

Curious About What Type Of Healing You Are Seeing?

What Is The Naturopathic System Of Healing And Therapeutic Order?

Naturopathic medicine is a comprehensive and holistic approach to medicine based on the healing power of nature and focuses on the prevention and treatment of underlying disease. ND’s abide by six key elements of medicine:

The healing power of nature
Identify and treat the causes
First do no harm
Doctor as teacher
Treat the whole person
Prevention

Using these principles, ND’s practice a holistic approach to well-being by focusing on treating the whole person: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. Wellness is a continually changing state of being healthy, and health is an inherent need for everyone. The ND is uniquely qualified to promote optimum health for all patients of all ages.

Naturopaths use The Therapeutic Order to ensure proper treatment of symptoms by addressing the underlying disturbance.

For example, a patient with a common cold may use a common cold remedy to stop their running nose. This is a high force intervention aimed at suppressing the symptom. Another way to address the same runny nose is to consider the cause of it. For simplification, let’s say the common cold is due to a viral infection. Your body wants to be healthy and is producing a runny nose because your immune system is fighting the infection. Therefore suppressing the runny nose is suppressing your healing.

A naturopathic approach would be to support the immune system, provide low force antiviral therapies, and allow the body to do what it does best – to be healthy.