Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine is a unique profession of 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 general 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 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 tested system of (successful) health care. 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 surgery. Naturopathic doctors tailor care to the individual patient, emphasizing prevention and self-care.