What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct primary health care system that combines conventional medical training with traditional and natural forms of medicine. It is the practice of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease using natural therapies such as; botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, Traditional Chinese Medicine/acupuncture, and lifestyle counselling. Naturopathic Doctors treat all forms of health concerns from physical to psychological, paediatric to geriatric, acute to chronic. They offer alternative natural therapeutics when they are comparable or more effective than their pharmaceutical counterparts. Naturopathic medicine can be used as both a primary or adjunct medicine.
What is Naturopathic Medicine Effective for?
Patients with a range of symptoms they’re unable to address on their own or with the help of other medical practitioners.
Patients that are looking to combine conventional and naturopathic treatments with the aim of minimizing side effects of drugs, surgery or conventional treatments.
Patients that have been diagnosed with an illness, often serious or chronic and are looking to improve their quality of life.
Patients that are seeking to optimize their physiological and psychological health through diet and lifestyle counselling.
Patients that are looking for a reliable source of education on natural therapeutics to incorporate into their lives for health promotion, disease prevention and treatment.
Naturopathic vs Conventional Medicine
Naturopathic and conventional medicine differ in their philosophical approach and therapies used. Naturopathic doctors treat the patient as a whole, investigating biological, psychological and social factors contributing to the cause of illness. Like conventional doctors, naturopaths address and treat the symptoms of disease, however they strive to do this by addressing the root cause of illness. They can requisition laboratory testing and collaborate with your medical doctor in the case where diagnostic imaging or pharmaceuticals are necessary.
Naturopathic Medical Training
Prior to studies in a four-year, full-time, accredited naturopathic medical school, an individual must complete an undergraduate degree with mandatory science prerequisites - much like the requirements for acceptance into a conventional medical program. Naturopathic medical schools provide more than 3,000 hours of classroom training and 1,200 hours of clinical experience. Upon graduation students must pass standardized North American board exams in order to qualify for licensure/registration. Graduates receive a Doctor of Naturopathy Degree, and the title ND.