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Naturopathic medicine is a system of primary healthcare practiced by naturopathic doctors for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. This approach to health care emphasizes education, self-responsibility, natural medicines and therapies to support and stimulate the individuals self-healing processes.
Naturopathic medicine is rooted in the healing wisdom of many cultures and times. As a distinct healthcare profession is the United States, naturopathic medicine is over 100 years old. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, practitioners from a variety of medical disciplines joined in forming the first professional societies of naturopathic medicine. More than 20 naturopathic medical colleges we established and naturopathic doctors were licensed in a majority of states. Naturopathic medical conventions in the 1920’s attracted more than 10,000 practitioners.
During the 1940’s and ‘50’s the number of naturopathic doctors declined with the rise of pharmaceutical drugs, technological medicine, and the belief that drugs could eliminate all disease. Naturopathic medicine has experienced resurgence since the 1960’s as a more health-conscious public seeks alternatives to conventional medicine. The profession continues to grow and evolve, incorporating elements of modern conventional medicine that advance the knowledge of the mechanisms of natural healing and therapeutics, especially in the fields of diagnostics, immunology, clinical nutrition, and botanical medicine. The Council of Naturopathic Medical Education, http://www.cnme.org/resources/2004_hoa.pdf
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No. At this time the following states are licensed, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Idaho, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and US Territories: Peurto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Which means that in order for an individual to refer to themselves as naturopathic doctors/physicians in these states they must have graduated from a four year accredited Naturopathic Medical Program from the following schools:
National College of Natural Medicine Portland, OR Bastyr University Seattle, WA Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine Tempe, AZ Bridgeport University Bridgeport, CT Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Toronto, Ontario Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine BC Canada
Knowing this distinction is very important for patient safety. There are many programs offering a “Naturopathic Doctorate” degree which are conducted over the internet, mail, or in person where a typical program has duration of three months. In unlicensed states it is important to know where your naturopath graduated from and their clinical background. |
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In the State of New Hampshire naturopathic doctors are considered out-of-network providers. This means that we will provide you with a document called a “super-bill” to submit to your insurance company directly for possible reimbursement. Typically once we are recognized by the insurance company the process becomes much more streamline for future reimbursement. We also work with lab services that bill insurance directly for prescribed lab work.
Many of our patients have had success with getting full reimbursement for office visits with both lab work and office visit fees.
NOTE: The possibility of reimbursement depends on the services honored by each individual insurance company. |
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Naturopathic doctors are trained in diagnostics and laboratory sciences in the same manor as conventional medical practitioners. Where we differ is in the treatments rendered. Our job as a naturopathic physician is to find the least evasive methods and lifestyle modification to enhance your immune system. Naturopathic medicine does have tools to ease uncomfortable symptoms in both acute and chronic disease, however the medicine is not symptom focused. It is about finding the root cause, addressing it and helping the body to function at its optimum level of wellness. Naturopathic doctors also spend a significant amount of time with the patient in the first visit to obtain a very thorough history. |
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A Licensed 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. with a focus in holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. 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). A naturopathic doctor takes rigorous professional board exams so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician. American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, www.naturopathic.org
Naturopathic medical education is considered post-graduate. All students are required to have obtained a four year undergraduate degree as well as complete a standard pre-medical education curriculum.
Summary of Naturopathic Curriculum:
Naturopathic students are required to complete 1500 clinical hours, 2300 lecture hours, and 350 hours of internship with various licensed medical professionals including naturopathic doctors, medical doctors, osteopaths, and chiropractors
First Year Focus on basic sciences such as anatomy/physiology (Gross Anatomy), biochemistry, microbiology, histology, immunology, public health and medical ethics.
Second Year More focus on clinical and physical diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis, pathology, pharmacology, botanical medicine, homeopathy, and clinical nutrition.
Basic science boards are taken after completion of second year.
Third year Naturopathic students enter the clinic in a supportive role working with fourth year students and mentored by seasoned naturopathic/medical doctors. Classroom education continues with clinical nutrition, diagnostic imaging, physiotherapy, homeopathy, minor surgery, and botanical medicine. This is also the time where the classes become more specialized with gynecology, naturopathic obstetrics, pediatrics, cardiology, and first aid/emergency medicine.
Fourth Year More focus is placed in the clinical experience this year. Fourth year student’s work as primary care providers with treatments being over-seen by seasoned naturopathic/medical doctors. Classroom education continues with more specialized focus in gastroenterology, EENT, dermatology, geriatrics, neurology, proctology, endocrinology, and urology. . |
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