Naturopathic Medicine is a unique profession of primary healthcare that emphasizes disease prevention and the promotion of optimal health through natural therapeutics. Naturopathic medicine is an art, science, philosophy and practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness. Naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles which underlie and determine its practice. These principles are based upon the objective observation of the nature of health and disease, and are continually reexamined in the light of scientific advances. Methods used are consistent with these principles and are chosen upon the basis of patient individuality. Naturopathic doctors are primary healthcare practitioners, whose diverse techniques include modern and traditional, scientific and empirical methods.
Naturopathic medicine encourages the self-healing process and blends centuries-old knowledge of natural therapies with current advances in the understanding of health and human systems. Its scope of practice includes all aspects of family and primary care, from pediatrics to geriatrics, and all natural medicine modalities.
In the United States, the naturopathic medical profession’s infrastructure includes accredited educational institutions, professional licensing, national standards of practice, peer review, and a commitment to state-of-the-art scientific research. Founded upon a holistic philosophy, naturopathic medicine combines safe and effective traditional therapies with the most current advances in modern medicine. Naturopathic medicine is a scientifically proven and time-tested system of healthcare. Naturopathic medicine is appropriate for the management of a broad range of health conditions affecting (all) people of all ages.
Naturopathic doctors (N.D.’s) are the most extensively trained practitioners in the broadest scope of naturopathic medical modalities. In addition to the basic medical sciences and conventional diagnostics, naturopathic education includes: therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, natural childbirth, classical Chinese medicine, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy, pharmacology and minor office procedures. Naturopathic doctors tailor care to the individual patient, emphasizing prevention and self-care.
What are Naturopathic Doctors?
Naturopathic doctors (N.D.’s) are trained as primary care doctors who specialize in using natural therapies. Naturopathic doctors hold a doctorate in naturopathic medicine from one of five accredited four-year, graduate-level, regionally accredited naturopathic medical schools. This degree confers the title of Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine and allows the holder of the degree to guarantee to the public that s/he possesses the requisite didactic and clinical training to practice naturopathic medicine. The doctorate degree prepares naturopathic doctors to be primary care naturopathic medical practitioners and to work with other medical providers.
Naturopathic doctors use a variety of natural and therapies including: clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, counseling and hydrotherapy. Many naturopathic doctors receive additional training and certification in disciplines or modalities such as natural childbirth (midwifery), acupuncture and oriental medicine.
Naturopathic doctors have expertise in the use of natural therapies and drug/nutrient, drug/herb interactions. For this reason naturopathic doctors are increasingly being asked to serve as experts in the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Naturopathic doctors have served on The White House Commission on CAM, as researchers and members of the advisory board for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), and the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee.
Naturopathic
doctors are able to work in integrated settings with other medical
providers. The result is a patient-centered approach that strives to
provide the most appropriate treatment for an individual’s needs.
The Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
Naturopathic medicine recognizes the body’s inherent self-healing
ability, which is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic doctors
identify and remove obstacles to recovery and facilitate and augment
this healing ability.
Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam)
The Naturopathic doctor seeks to identify and remove the underlying
causes of illness, rather than eliminate or suppress its symptoms.
First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
Naturopathic medicine follows three principles to avoid harming the
patient: 1) utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the
risk of harmful side effects; 2) avoid, when possible, the harmful
suppression of symptoms; 3) acknowledge and respect the individual's
healing process, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat
illness.
Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
Naturopathic doctors educate the patient and encourage
self-responsibility for health. They also acknowledge the therapeutic
value inherent in the doctor-patient relationship.
Treat the Whole Person
Naturopathic doctors treat each patient individually, taking into
account his or her physical, mental, emotional state as well as
genetic, environmental and social factors. Since total health includes
spiritual health, naturopathic doctors encourage individuals to pursue
their own spiritual paths.
Prevention
Naturopathic doctors emphasize disease prevention, assessment of risk
factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and make appropriate
interventions to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine seeks to
improve conditions through preventative measures so that we all may
live healthier lives.
Wellness
Wellness follows the establishment and maintenance of optimum health
and balance. It is a state of being healthy and is characterized by
positive emotion, thought and action. Wellness is inherent in everyone,
no matter what the disease(s) he or she may have. If this fact is
recognized and experienced by an individual, he or she will heal
quicker than if the disease were only treated.
Education
After
completion of standard premedical undergraduate coursework, a
naturopathic doctor (N.D.) attends a four-year graduate level
naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic
sciences as an M.D. or D.O. but also studies holistic and natural
approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and
optimizing wellness. The training consists of comprehensive study of
the conventional medical sciences including: anatomy, physiology,
pathology, microbiology, immunology, clinical and physical diagnosis,
laboratory diagnosis, cardiology, gastroenterology, gynecology, etc.
The naturopathic education is unique in that naturopathic doctors
complete extensive academic and clinical education in the use of
natural medicines and that the training is based on the principles of
naturopathic medicine.
In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic doctor
is required to complete four years of training in clinical nutrition,
homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling
(to encourage people to make lifestyle changes in support of their
personal health). The naturopathic program includes two full years of
supervised clinical training. Completion of optional residency is also
available to some graduates. A naturopathic doctor takes a rigorous
national licensing examination so that he or she may be licensed by a
state or jurisdiction as a naturopathic physician. Additional
information on naturopathic schools can be found at http://www.aanmc.org.
Naturopathic
doctors are trained to perform physical exams, laboratory testing,
gynecological exams, nutritional and dietary assessments, allergy
testing, imaging, and other means of diagnosis. Naturopathic doctors
refer patients to other specialists and health care providers for
diagnosis and treatment when indicated.
Naturopathic
doctors take a national board exam, Naturopathic Physicians Licensing
Exam (NPLEX), and attain a state license where it is available. The
states that license naturopathic doctors or naturopathic physicians are
Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine,
Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington and
Washington DC.
In licensed states, N.D.’s practice as
independent primary care general practitioners, with the ability to
diagnose and treat medical conditions, perform physical exams, ad order
laboratory testing. In these states many health care consumers
specifically choose N.D.’s as their primary care providers.
In unlicensed states naturopathic doctors are not able to offer all of the services they are trained to provide.
Naturopathic
medicine has an independent accrediting agency, the Council on
Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), which is the only federally
recognized authority for establishing and maintaining the educational
standards for the naturopathic medicine profession in the United
States. The CNME for the N.D. degree is equivalent to the Liaison
Committee on Medical Education (LCME) that is the accrediting authority
for medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree and the
American Osteopathic Association’s (AOA) Healthcare Facilities
Accreditation Program (HFAP) that is the accrediting authority leading
to the D.O. degree. The CNME issues a bulletin twice a year giving the
accrediting status of each of the institutions it is engaged with. At
this time, there are four accredited institutions:
Bastyr University
Website: www.bastyr.edu
Accredited by the CNME
Bastyr Center for Natural Health
Website: www.bastyrcenter.org
Associated with BastyrUniversity
Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine
Website: http://www.binm.org
Granted candidacy status from the CNME in December 2003
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine
Website: www.ccnm.edu
Accredited by the CNME
National College of Naturopathic Medicine
Website: www.ncnm.edu
Accredited by the CNME
Natural Health Center Clinic
Associated with NationalCollege of Naturopathic Medicine
Classical Chinese Medicine Clinic
Associated with NationalCollege of Naturopathic Medicine
Southwest College of Naturopathic Physicians
Website: www.scnm.edu
Accredited by the CNME
University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine
Website: www.bridgeport.edu
Granted candidacy status from the CNME in March 2001
For further information on accreditation, please contact the CNME
Council on Naturopathic Medical Education
Website: www.cnme.org
Licensure
Why is licensure important?
How will the public benefit from licensure of naturopathic medicine?
- The public will have access to naturopathic medicine by qualified N.D.’s.
- Naturopathic doctors will be able to provide the services they are trained to provide: physical exams, (order) laboratory tests, diagnosis (conditions), implement treatments and disease prevention.
- The public will be able to easily identify naturopathic doctors with physician-level training.
- Public safety will be ensured by requiring N.D.’s to meet rigorous educational standards and to pass national board exams
- There is a greater likelihood that insurance coverage will be made available for naturopathic care.
- Licensure will promote continuity of care within the entire healthcare field. Specifically, licensure will promote collaboration between all healthcare professionals to ensure the highest quality of care.
What will licensure in my state do?
Licensure will provide citizens of your state or province with safe and
effective natural medicine by licensed naturopathic doctors. The
licensure bill will protect the public by defining educational
standards, scope of practice and professional oversight for
naturopathic doctors. Licensure will clarify the use of the title
"Naturopathic Doctor". It does NOT impact the practice of other
providers.
It will allow naturopathic doctors to provide the services they are
trained to provide after completing a four-year, residential doctorate
program at a naturopathic medical school
Licensure will require graduation from a CNME (Council on Naturopathic
Medical Education) accredited four-year naturopathic medical school and
passing the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam (NPLEX).
Licensure will make it possible for citizens to know that when they
choose to see a naturopathic doctor, they are choosing a professional
who meets the federally recognized standards and the requirements set
by their state or province.
Licensure will NOT prevent any licensed or unlicensed practitioners
from practicing within the legal scope of their license or training.
Licensing N.D.’s will NOT limit access to herbs and supplements.
Limited access comes from governmental regulations.
How will licensing N.D.’s improve public safety?
Licensure ensures that naturopathic doctors have graduated from
accredited, four-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical programs,
passed board exams and meet continuing educational requirements
Naturopathic doctors are trained to understand both natural and
conventional therapies, thus assisting other practitioners and the
patient in the safe use of natural medicines.
Naturopathic doctors are trained in differential diagnosis and can make
a referral to the appropriate medical specialist for further care when
necessary.
Licensed naturopathic doctors are accountable to a state regulatory
agency, ensuring high standards of care and safe practice.
NPLEX (Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination)
NPLEX is the standard examination used by all licensing jurisdictions
for naturopathic doctors in North America. It includes 5 basic science
exams (anatomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry, microbiology and
immunology) which are taken after the first two years of medical
school. The clinical science examinations are taken following
graduation after the fourth year of school. They include: clinical and
physical diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis and diagnostic imaging,
botanical medicine, pharmacology, nutrition, physical medicine,
homeopathy, minor surgery, psychology and lifestyle counseling, and
emergency medicine. Individual jurisdictions may give additional
examinations in jurisprudence and acupuncture.
Contact Information for NPLEX:
Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination Board (NPLEX)
(416) 498-4255×227
(503) 250-9141
President: Paul Sanders, PhD, ND
http://www.nabne.org/html/index2.html
P.O. Box 69657
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 250-9141
Executive Director: Christa Louise, MS, PhD christa@nabne.org
Currently, 14 states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from a four-year, residential naturopathic medical school and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license.
Licensed naturopathic physicians must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually, and will have a specific scope of practice defined by their state's law. The states that currently have licensing laws for naturopathic physicians are:
Alaska
Arizona
California
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Idaho
Kansas
Maine
Montana
New Hampshire
Oregon
Utah
Vermont
Washington
Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
Licensed Authorities
Federation of Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Authorities
SW Capitol Highway #160
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 224-7744
President: Susan Roberts, ND wnhc@aol.com
http://www.fnpla.org/Master_Frameset.htm
Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination Board (NPLEX)
(416) 498-4255×227
(503) 250-9141
President: Paul Sanders, PhD, ND
http://www.nabne.org/html/index2.html
P.O. Box 69657
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 250-9141
Executive Director: Christa Louise, MS, PhD christa@nabne.org
North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE)
(360) 459-9082
President: Robin Moore, ND rmoorend@yahoo.com
http://www.nabne.org/html/index2.html
8948 SW Barbur Boulevard #157
Portland, OR 97219-4047
(503) 778-7990
Executive Director: Christa Louise, MS, PhD info@nabne.org
