| |
Naturopathic
Education
Experience Counts
Naturopathic physicians are trained to be the doctor
first seen by the patient for preventative general health care, as
well as for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic
conditions.
A naturopathic physician has a Doctor of
Naturopathic Medicine (ND or NMD) degree from a four-year graduate
level naturopathic medical college with admission requirements
comparable to those of conventional medical schools.
The ND degree requires four years of graduate-level
study in medical sciences such as:
In addition to this standard medical curriculum,
naturopathic medical students must do extensive coursework in
natural therapeutics. This means naturopathic doctors receive
significantly more hours of classroom education than the graduates
of many leading medical schools, including Yale, Stanford, Johns
Hopkins, and Mayo Clinic.
Prior to practicing naturopathic medicine, graduates
must pass their state's board licensing examination, and they are
then subject to review by that state's Board of Examiners.
Four schools in the U.S. grant an accredited degree
in Naturopathic Medicine:
A Philosophy That Works
Naturopathic medicine is a system founded on a
time-honored medical principle: nature heals. The body
has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health.
The naturopathic physician's role is to facilitate and support this
process. By identifying and removing obstacles to health and
recovery through treatments that enhance healing, naturopathic
physicians can assist with the body's innate healing process.
In accordance with the ancient rule for physicians,
"First do no harm," a naturopathic treatment plan uses therapies
that are gentle, non-invasive, and effective without adverse side
effects. A conscious effort is made to use methods which do
not suppress symptoms. Naturopathic doctors work with patients
to find the root cause of an illness. Often, this is found by
looking carefully at the patient's daily habits.
A well-informed patient and a skilled doctor form a
partnership for effective health care, health promotion, and disease
prevention. The root of the word "doctor" means teacher.
You are likely to receive more information about your condition and
its treatments from a naturopathic physician than you would in any
other setting. When both the physician and the patient
understand the disease process, they are better able to work
together to find a permanent solution.
Top |
|
