Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine integrates conventional and natural care options.
All naturopathic doctors are trained as general medicine doctors, with additional specialty in how to use natural medicine to help the body health.
In the United States, Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) complete 4 year post-graduate medical education that consists of basic science education, as well clinical science classes that incorporate integrative treatment approaches to address health concerns. Upon successful completion of 4 years of study, over 1300 outpatient clinic rotation hours and passage of two sets of national board examinations, naturopathic medical graduates are then eligible to apply for ND licensure at the state level. Naturopathic Doctors are well trained in the diagnosis of all diseases and standard conventional medicine standards of care. In addition, Naturopathic medical training places emphasis on understanding normal physiology and how to approach health care from a preventive, as well as, restorative vantage point. Naturopathic Doctors are specialists in wellness-oriented care. The therapeutic interventions offered by naturopathic doctors include: lifestyle education, nutrition counseling – food as medicine, botanical medicine prescriptions, homeopathy, individualized supplement plans, as well as prescription medications, IV nutrient therapy, regenerative joint injection therapy, physical medicine trigger point release therapy, etc depending on the specialization of each doctor.
A naturopathic medical appointment will typically include a review of prior medical history/past lab and imaging records, a thorough intake of the current health concerns and review of systems, and questions geared at understanding the most compatible styles of care for each patient to help build an individualized care plan well-suited for each person. A typical naturopathic care plan spans lifestyle counseling, diet modification, conventional and functional medicine lab test and imaging orders, supplement regimens, as well as prescription medications, if needed. Naturopathic doctors also love to build care teams of specialists when that is useful – referrals for additional work-up and/or adjunct care (i.e., cardiologist, gastroenterologist, chiropractor, acupuncturist, psychotherapist, etc), NDs spend a lot of time with their patients in order to empower their patients with foundational health restorative practices that can integrated daily as important steps to restoring and maintaining good health.
For more information on naturopathic medical training and and help locating an ND near you:
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
http://www.naturopathic.org/education
The California Naturopathic Doctors Association
http://www.calnd.org/naturopathicmedicine
National College of Natural Medicine – ND Curriculum
http://admissions.ncnm.edu/academics/course-curricula/