Naturopathic Medicine - "Aims to Treat the Whole Person, Not Just the Disease"
Naturopathic medicine is considered an alternative or complementary form of medicine and is recognized and practiced throughout the United States.
Several states have laws governing the licensure of Naturopathic physicians. Naturopathic doctors or physicians have the designation of ND after their name, which stands for “Naturopathic Doctor”.
Commonly, you will see some people using the terminology “naturopath”, but unless they have graduated from one of the four naturopathic medical schools in the US and one in Canada, then they are not considered licensed Naturopathic Doctors.
These five naturopathic medical schools are: National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon; Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington; Bridgeport University in Connecticut; Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Phoenix, Arizona; and Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, Canada.
The education for NDs is rigorous and extensive, comprising of four to five intensive years of naturopathic medical training at the graduate level, eventually leading to a doctorate degree in Naturopathic Medicine.
The initial year consists of classes in anatomy and physiology, histology, biochemistry, cytology and other basic sciences. In the second year, the students are introduced to clinical and physical diagnosis, laboratory technology, microbiology, cytology and other clinical subjects. The third and fourth years are devoted to dermatology, cardiology, gynecology, obstetrics, endocrinology, and other –ology subjects, at the same time as alternative subjects, such as nutrition, homeopathy, herbology, manipulation, physio-therapy, history of naturopathic medicine and naturopathic philosophy.
Naturopathic medicine endeavors to treat the whole person and not just the disease through natural, supportive methods which increase or strengthen the body’s own defense systems and mechanisms. Common substances which a naturopathic physician may prescribe could include vitamins and mineral supplementation, herbs, botanicals, or plant substances, functional foods in the diet, nutritional balancing, homeopathic remedies, nutraceuticals, exercise, physical therapy, rest and relaxation, and natural antibiotics and natural hormones.
Oft times, it may take discipline, time, and patience for the body to heal naturally assisted by these safe, gentle, effective means and medicines. This approach to healing encompasses the entire mind-body, emotions, and spiritual side of the human organism. In order for the cure to be effective and long-lasting, healing should occur on all of these levels.
Naturopathic physicians are trained to listen carefully to the patient, to spend ample time with each person, and to find the root cause of the problem, not to just palliate or treat the symptoms. Without finding the cause, then the problem will keep reoccurring and a cure will not be affected.
By Dr. Leia Melead
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