Conditions commonly treated by Naturopathic Doctors

(NOT an inclusive list):

Naturopathic medicine blends centuries-old natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in the study of health and human systems, covering all aspects of family health from prenatal to geriatric 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 doctors cooperate with all other branches of medical science referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate (www.scnm.edu). Dr. Nate Champion provides Naturopathic medicine at Partners in Healing of Minneapolis.

What is a Naturopathic Doctor (ND)?

Naturopathic doctors (ND's) are family practice physicians clinically trained in natural therapeutics and whose philosophy is derived in part from a Hippocratic teaching more than 2000 years old: Vis mediatrix naturae---nature is the healer of all diseases. Their practice is based on the same basic bio-medical science foundation that allopathic practice is; however, their philosophies and approaches differ considerably from their conventional counterparts. Naturopathic physicians diagnose disease and treat patients by using natural modalities such as (homeopathy), (clinical nutrition), (botanical medicine), counseling, acupuncture, physical manipulation, and hydrotherapy, among others. They choose treatment based on the individual patient, not based on the generality of symptoms. This approach has proven successful in treating both chronic and acute conditions (www.scnm.edu).

NDs view the patient as a complex, interrelated system (a whole person), not as a clogged artery or a tumor. Naturopathic physicians craft comprehensive treatment plans that blend the best of modern medical science and traditional natural medical approaches to not only treat disease, but to also restore health (www.naturopathic.org).

Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic physicians base their practice on six timeless principles founded on medical tradition and scientific evidence.

Let nature heal. Our bodies have such a powerful, innate instinct for self-healing. By finding and removing the barriers to this self-healing—such as poor diet or unhealthy habits—naturopathic physicians can nurture this process.

Identify and treat causes. Naturopathic physicians understand that symptoms will only return unless the root illness is addressed. Rather than cover up symptoms, they seek to find and treat the cause of these symptoms.

First, do no harm. Naturopathic physicians follow three precepts to ensure their patients’ safety:
•    Use low-risk procedures and healing compounds—such as dietary supplements, herbal extracts and homeopathy—with few or no side effects.
•    When possible, do not suppress symptoms, which are the body’s efforts to self-heal. For example, the body may cook up a fever in reaction to a bacterial infection. Fever creates an inhospitable environment for the harmful bacteria, thereby destroying it. Of course, the naturopathic physician would not allow the fever to get dangerously high.
•    Customize each diagnosis and treatment plan to fit each patient. We all heal in different ways and the naturopathic physician respects our differences.

Educate patients. Naturopathic medicine believes that doctors must be educators, as well as physicians. That’s why naturopathic physicians teach their patients how to eat, exercise, relax and nurture themselves physically and emotionally. They also encourage self-responsibility and work closely with each patient.

Treat the whole person. We each have a unique physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, sexual and spiritual makeup. The naturopathic physician knows that all these factors affect our health. That’s why he or she includes them in a carefully tailored treatment strategy.

Prevent illness. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" has never been truer. Proactive medicine saves money, pain, misery and lives. That’s why naturopathic physicians evaluate risk factors, heredity and vulnerability to disease. By getting treatment for greater wellness, we’re less likely to need treatment for future illness (www.naturopathic.org).
How are Naturopathic Doctors Trained?

Naturopathic Doctors (ND’s) attend a four-year graduate-level Naturopathic Medical Program and are educated in the same basic sciences as in conventional medical school. The ND program features a wide variety of effective natural therapies with a strong foundation in biomedical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and pathology along with physical, clinical, and laboratory diagnosis.

During the last two years of medical school, in addition to studying natural therapeutics, naturopathic students continue to take courses in conventional medical fields, including; pharmacology, cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, obstetrics, gynecology, neurology, pediatrics, and dermatology. Students are also required to intern for two years under the close supervision of licensed doctors (ND’s, MD’s, DO’s, and DC’s) in a clinical setting. This clinical training provides students with an integrative approach to medicine while encompassing natural therapeutic philosophies and emphasizing the practical information necessary to establish a successful practice. At the end of their training students become primary care physicians with a specialized focus in preventative medicine and natural therapeutics.

Upon completion of the graduation requirements, the student is awarded a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree (ND). Graduates sit for professional board exams to become licensed as primary care naturopathic doctors within licensed states or as individual jurisdictions allow (www.aanmc.org).