Naturopathic Education
Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
Licensed States and Territories
History of Naturopathic Medicine
FAQ's What is Naturopathic Medicine? Naturopathic medicine blends centuries-old natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in the study of health and human systems, covering all aspects of health care. Naturopathic medicine concentrates on whole-patient wellness; the medicine is tailored to the patient and emphasizes prevention and self-care. Naturopathic medicine attempts to find the underlying cause of the patient's condition rather than focusing solely on symptomatic treatment. Naturopathic physicians cooperate with all other branches of medical science referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate. Naturopathic Education A Licensed Naturopathic Doctor (N.D.) attends a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an M.D. but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the Naturopathic Doctor is required to complete at least a year of training in each of the following; clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathic medicine and counseling. A naturopathic doctor takes rigorous professional board exams so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician or doctor. Principles 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 which establishes, maintains and restores health. Naturopathic medicine recognizes this healing process to be ordered and intelligent. It is the naturopathic doctor'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 may be results of the causes of disease. The naturopathic doctor seeks to treat the causes of disease, rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms. First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
Naturopathic doctors follow three precepts to avoid harming the patient:
- Naturopathic doctors 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 doctors 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.
The original meaning of the word "doctor" is teacher. A principal objective of naturopathic medicine is to educate the patient and emphasize self-responsibility for health. Naturopathic doctors also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship. Treat the Whole Person
Health and disease results from a complex of physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic doctors 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 doctors 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 primary objectives of naturopathic medicine. In practice, these objectives are accomplished through education and the promotion of healthy ways of living. Naturopathic doctors 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. Licensed States and Territories
Currently, 13 states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from a four-year, residential naturopathic medical school and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license. Licensed naturopathic doctors must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually, and will have a specific scope of practice defined by their state's law. The states that currently have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors are:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Maine
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- Oregon
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- US Territories: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
Naturopathic medicine, sometimes called "naturopathy," is as old as healing itself and as new as the latest discoveries in biochemical sciences. In the United States, the naturopathic medical profession's infrastructure is based on accredited educational institutions, professional licensing by a growing number of states, national standards of practice and care, peer review, and an ongoing commitment to state-of-the-art scientific research. Modern American Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) receive extensive training in and use therapies that are primarily natural (hence the name naturopathic) and nontoxic, including clinical nutrition, homeopathy, botanical medicine, hydrotherapy, physical medicine, and counseling. These contemporary NDs, who have attended naturopathic medical colleges recognized by the US Department of Education, practice medicine as primary health care providers and are increasingly acknowledged as leaders in bringing about progressive changes in the nation's medical system. The word "naturopathy" was first used in the US a little over 100 years ago. But the natural therapies and the philosophy on which naturopathy is based have been effectively used to treat diseases since ancient times. As Rene Dubos noted in *The Mirage of Health* (1959), the word "physician" is from the Greek root meaning "nature". Hippocrates, a physician who lived 2400 years ago, is often considered the earliest predecessor of naturopathic doctors, particularly in terms of his teaching that "nature is healer of all diseases" and his formulation of the concept *vis medicatrix naturae* -- "the healing power of nature". This concept has long been at the core of indigenous medicine in many cultures around the world and remains one of the central themes of naturopathic philosophy to this day. The earliest doctors and healers worked with herbs, foods, water, fasting, and tissue manipulation -- gentle treatments that do not obscure the body's own healing powers. Today's naturopathic doctors continue to use these therapies as their main tools and to advocate a healthy dose of primary prevention. In addition, modern NDs conduct and make practical use of the latest biochemical research involving nutrition, botanicals, homeopathy, and other natural treatments. For many diseases and conditions (a few examples are ulcerative colitis, asthma, menopause, flu, obesity, and chronic fatigue), treatments used by naturopathic doctors can be primary and even curative. Naturopathic doctors also function within an integrated framework, for example referring patients to an appropriate medical specialist such as an oncologist or a surgeon. Naturopathic therapies can be employed within that context to complement the treatments used by conventionally trained medical doctors. The result is a team-care approach that recognizes the needs of the patient to receive the best overall treatment most appropriate to his or her specific medical condition. Recent History
Naturopathic medicine was popular and widely available throughout the US well into the early part of the 20th century. Around 1920, from coast to coast, there were a number of naturopathic medical schools, thousands of naturopathic doctors, and scores of thousands of patients using naturopathic therapies. But the rise of "scientific medicine", the discovery and increasing use of "miracle drugs" like antibiotics, the institutionalization of a large medical system primarily based (both clinically and economically) on high-tech and pharmaceutical treatments -- all of these were associated by mid-century with the temporary decline of naturopathic medicine and most other methods of natural healing. By the 1970s, however, the American public was becoming increasingly disenchanted with conventional medicine. The profound clinical limitations of conventional medicine and its out-of-control costs were becoming obvious, and millions of Americans were inspired to look for "new" options and alternatives. Naturopathy and all of complementary alternative medicine began to enter a new era of rejuvenation. Looking to the Future
Today, licensed naturopathic doctors are experiencing noteworthy clinical successes, providing leadership in innovative natural medical research, enjoying increasing political influence, and looking forward to an unlimited future potential. Both the American public and policy makers are recognizing and contributing to the resurgence of the comprehensive system of health care practiced by NDs. In 1992, the NIH's Office of Alternative Medicine, created by an act of Congress, invited leading naturopathic doctors (educators, researchers, and clinical practitioners) to serve on key federal advisory panels and to help define priorities and design protocols for state-of-the-art alternative medical research. In 1994, the NIH selected Bastyr University as the national center for research on alternative treatments for HIV/AIDS. At a one-million-dollar level of funding, this action represented the formal recognition by the federal government of the legitimacy and significance of naturopathic medicine. Meanwhile, the number of new NDs is steadily increasing, and licensure of naturopathic doctors is expanding into new states. By April of 1996, eleven of fifty states had naturopathic licensing laws (Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington). Recently, the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands also adopted naturopathic licensing laws. A number of other states are likely to enact naturopathic licensing in the near future. Naturopathic medical education is growing by leaps and bounds. Three of the four U.S. naturopathic medical schools - National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr University, and Southwest College are accredited. The fourth, the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine, is an applicant for accreditation. Within the past several years, all three U.S. naturopathic medical schools and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto moved to considerably larger campuses in order to meet the accelerating demand on the part of prospective naturopathic medical students. In the late 19th and early 20th century, 100 years after it was founded in North America, naturopathic medicine is experiencing a renaissance. FAQ's
- Are Naturopathic doctors opposed to drugs and major surgery? No. Naturopathic doctors are not opposed to invasive or suppressive measures when these methods are necessary. They make referrals for such treatment when appropriate. Naturopathic medicine has both safer and less expensive alternatives to many kinds of non-emergency surgery.
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Is naturopathic medicine covered by insurance?
We do not handle insurance reimbursement at the clinic. But, it is our understanding that more patients are receiving some reimbursement from their health insurance companies who submit on their own. After completing your visit with the Naturopathic Doctor you will receive a receipt that you can use to submit for attempted reimbursement with your insurance company. Reimbursement varies - some patients receive reimbursement and some do not. The amount of reimbursement is also variable. It may be much lower than the actual cost of the visit. We cannot make guarantees on reimbursement and payment is due at the time of service.
Some states have greater health insurance reimbursement for Naturopathic care. Specifically the states of Washington and Connecticut mandate health insurance companies to reimburse policyholders for visits with participating Naturopathic providers.
HSA's (Health Savings Accounts) and MSA's (Medical Savings Accounts) usually cover Naturopathic care. These are accounts where you can set aside monies tax-free for the year to use for almost any medical expense.
- Is naturopathic medicine cost-effective? Yes. Because naturopathic doctors use a preventive approach that reduces the incidence of high-cost chronic conditions, naturopathic medicine reduces long-term health care costs.
- Is naturopathic medicine safe? Yes. Safety records that are monitored in states with review boards are excellent. Naturopathic doctors most often use gentle therapies with low risk for side effects. A core principle of naturopathic medicine is to "first do no harm."
- Is naturopathic medicine scientific? Yes. Naturopathic medicine has its own unique body of knowledge. It incorporates scientific advances from medical disciplines throughout the world with the wisdom from traditional medical models. Many naturopathic medical therapies have been scientifically validated, especially in the areas of clinical nutrition and botanical medicine. The research departments of naturopathic medical colleges conduct on-going research examining naturopathic therapeutics and practice.
- How do ND's interact with other health professionals? Naturopathic Doctors refer to a wide range of other health practitioners including physician specialists and other conventional and alternative providers as appropriate. Most naturopathic practices have extensive cross referrals to and from other practitioners.
- Are all naturopathic doctors trained to treat cancer patients? Few naturopathic doctors are fully trained to treat cancer patients. Currently, the most extensive training in oncology for naturopathic doctors is through the 2-year residency program at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Some naturopathic doctors gain expertise in cancer care through observation or self-study. Ask your naturopathic doctor about their level of training to treat cancer.
- How do conventional medical doctors interact with naturopathic doctors? Medical doctors have a wide range of opinions regarding naturopathic medicine. Some medical doctors are very comfortable co-treating patients who receive naturopathic care. Other medical doctors are unreceptive to alternative therapies. Patients can ask their physicians if they are open to working with alternative medicine providers. There are many physicians in practice who are willing to work in conjunction with naturopathic doctors. Most naturopathic doctors have at least a few medical doctors that they work well with. Some naturopathic doctors work more closely with medical doctors either through residencies, integrative care centers, or cross referral relationships. The ideal patient care is an integrative approach combining the best of conventional and naturopathic medicine.