Approach and Philosophy
Naturopathic doctors are medically trained doctors who combine the best of natural and modern medicine to treat chronic disease in the safest, least toxic, and most effective manner. It is a common sense and science-based approach to healthcare with a treatment strategy focused on finding and removing the root cause of disease instead of merely controlling symptoms with prescription drugs.
Most modern doctors don’t have the time to correct the real causes of most chronic diseases and therefore, they are focused on suppressing symptoms with the use of modern drugs. Drugs have their place but it is a limited one in the Naturopathic treatment plan for most chronic diseases. These drugs are more appropriate for emergency medicine and late stage chronic disease or short-term use.
Most modern doctors don’t have the time to correct the real causes of most chronic diseases and therefore, they are focused on suppressing symptoms with the use of modern drugs.
It is important to understand that Naturopathic medicine is not a substitute for emergency medicine and does not pretend to be an alternative to the modern healthcare system. Instead, My view is that Naturopathic medicine is a specialty field like any other specialty with an alternative treatment approach to chronic diseases or for someone looking for a second opinion.
Naturopathic Medical doctors have more freedom to practice medicine outside the prescription drug model of today’s modern doctors, allowing for safer and more effective treatment plans to treating and prevention of chronic diseases. The Naturopathic model of healthcare allows for more personalized care and more comprehensive treatment options.
It is important to distinguish licensed Naturopatic Doctors from lay practitioners who may be referred to as naturopaths but who do not have accredited naturopatic medical training.
Although seemingly confusing, it is easy to verify the difference. California Naturopathic Doctors are regulated and licensed by the Naturopathic Medicine Committee via the Department of Consumer Affairs. Consumer information and licensee verification can be found at www.naturopathic.ca.gov.
What are the benefits of Naturopathic medicine?
- Identifying and treating the underlying cause of disease
- Integrating the best treatment choices from natural and standard medicine
- Safe, effective, non-toxic treatment options
- Personalized Care
- Treating the whole person
- Striving to achieve optimal wellness and vitality
- Promote healthy aging and disease prevention
- More personal therapeutic relationship with doctor
- Doctors that listen
- Advanced diagnostics and screening
- Doctors that take the time to educate and answer questions
How are Naturopathic medical doctors trained?
A licensed Naturopath Medical Doctor (NMD) or Naturopathic Doctor (ND) receives training in both natural and standard medicine for a truly integrative approach to healthcare. In order to sit for state board exams, the candidate must have graduated from one of the six post-graduate, 4-year Naturopathic medical colleges in the United States and Canada. These schools are accredited nationally by the US department of education and by the Council of Naturopathic Medical Education. Presently, 16 states have licensing laws for Naturopathic Doctors with the legal right to practice medicine as a primary care provider.
To be awarded a doctorate degree, a graduate must complete extensive coursework or a total of 4,100 hours of training in classroom medical sciences and clinical training as an intern under the close supervision of experienced medical professionals.
To be awarded a doctorate degree, a graduate must complete extensive coursework or a total of 4,100 hours of training in classroom medical sciences and clinical training as an intern under the close supervision of experienced medical professionals. In addition, to the standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic student must also complete coursework in a broader scope of treatment approaches like botanical medicine, homeopathy, diet and clinical nutrition, manipulation of the spine, IV therapeutics, and hydrotherapy, among others. A licensed naturopathic doctor relies upon standard medical diagnostics, writing scripts for pharmaceutical drugs when appropriate, working with and ordering referrals to medical specialists for a second opinion when needed.
