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Naturopathic
Medicine
Brief history
Naturopathic medicine began in the late 1800s as an outgrowth of the era of "eclectic
physicians" who explored many different kinds of healing. Dr. Benedict Lust coined
the term in 1896 to describe the growing group of physicians who brought together a wide
array of natural treatments under a developing philosophy of healing. Although the
profession nearly died out in the United States, it has experienced a dramatic rebirth in
the last 25 years and is now more widely available than it has been for nearly half a
century. Many other countries have naturopathic doctors, including Canada, Germany, Great
Britain and Australia; however, the recognized colleges in the United States offer the
highest level of training in the world. Today, two NDs sit on the Advisory Council for the
NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; others are occupying
leadership roles in natural products research and development, and still others are
publishing widely (journals, consumer-level books and texts for professionals).
Philosophy
Naturopathic medicine is based in a set of fundamental principles and philosophies about
how the body functions and heals. The naturopathic doctor uses these principles to
identify the problems and the therapies which will help to create healing in the patient.
The most fundamental principle of naturopathic medicine is that the body contains a
powerful, innate healing ability which should be supported and encouraged as much as
possible (the healing power of nature); closely tied to this is the belief that, whenever
possible, therapies that work in harmony with the healing power of nature should be the
first line of treatment. Other principles include: · Find the cause - do not be content
with alleviating symptoms if the underlying causes of disease can be identified and
eliminated. · First of all, do no harm - begin treatment with therapies that do not harm
the body or damage its innate ability to heal. · Doctor as teacher - people must be
taught how to take responsibility for their own health care; a lot of time with an ND can
be spent in learning how to do self-care and to change behaviors which are causing
problems.
Scope of practice
Naturopathic doctors are trained to provide primary care natural medicine. They use
conventional medical diagnostics (laboratory diagnosis, physical exam, medical history and
diagnostic imaging), and a broad range of natural therapeutics, including botanical
medicine, clinical nutrition (vitamins, minerals and nutriceuticals), dietary
interventions, homeopathy, acupuncture and oriental medicine, physical medicine
(naturopathic manipulation, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy), and counseling. The exact
scope of practice will depend on the state laws (in those states which license NDs).
Regulatory scope
Naturopathic doctors today are licensed in 12 jurisdictions and they practice in many
other states as well, although without the protection of a licensing law. They generally
practice as family doctors in natural medicine, and often they will be the patient's
primary care provider, but each state has a different scope of practice mandated by law.
If you live in a state that does not license NDs, be sure to check the credentials of
anyone you choose to see, because the unlicensed states do nothing to ensure that the
education and credentialing of those who call themselves NDs meet today's highest
standards. Naturopathic doctors are trained to refer to and do co-management with many
other health care providers, both conventional and alternative; they can function as key
partners in your health care team (most easily in the licensed states).
Education and credentialing
Naturopathic colleges and programs which are recognized by the licensed states are
accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, and offer four years of
in-residence, post-baccalaureate, naturopathic medical education. A diploma from a
recognized school is required to sit for the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam, the
only national examination recognized by the licensed states for purposes of licensure.
Many NDs have additional certifications in acupuncture, botanical medicine, homeopathy or
natural childbirth.
Typical first office call or visit
Your first office call with a naturopathic doctor will often take one to 1-1/2 hours and
will require an extensive health history; a physical exam may be done on this visit, or
deferred to a return visit. Your ND will be trying to gain a broad understanding of your
health status and of all the influences which may be acting on your health - family
circumstances, work, nutrition, exercise, stress, spirituality, psychological well being,
and so forth. Laboratory work may be ordered to assist with diagnosis and to evaluate
early signs of chronic disease. A comprehensive treatment plan may be deferred until all
the information is available, although there are many natural remedies which can be
prescribed to alleviate acute symptoms.
Limitations to be aware of
NDs do not normally have hospital privileges, but will generally have referral
relationships for those patients who need hospital-based care. In certain states, they
have no prescription privileges; in others, they have a specific formulary agreed upon by
the state licensing board, often in consultation with the state pharmacy board or some
other conventional regulatory body and usually focusing primarily on naturally-derived
products such as natural hormones, antibiotics and the like. They do not do acute care of
trauma (broken bones, serious wounds and burns, etc.) and some may limit their practice to
specialize in a particular discipline such as homeopathy or to focus on certain conditions
such as allergies.
Resources
Find a practitioner near you
For more information and additional referrals: www.naturopathic.org
Publications
(An asterisk indicates the publication can be ordered through our Amazon.com link.)
ARTHRITIS
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