NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS

Naturopathic Physicians (N.D.) are primary care physicians who specialize in holistic medicine. They are educated in conventional medical sciences, but are not orthodox medical doctors (allopathic physicians, or M.D.). A Naturopathic Physician has a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine degree from a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical college with admission requirements comparable to those of conventional medical schools. In addition to the standard medical curriculum, naturopathic students must do extensive coursework and clinical study in natural therapeutics.

PRACTICE

The goal of the Naturopathic Doctor is to work with the patient to determine the root cause of your health concerns, not just treat symptoms. This is accomplished by taking an in-depth patient history, appropriate physical exams and diagnostic testing. We then devise a uniquely individualized treatment using natural therapeutics to support the body in healing itself. We also work with your conventional physician to provide adjunctive care. The current scope of naturopathic practice includes, but is not limited to:

* Clinical Nutrition
That food is the best medicine is a cornerstone of naturopathic practice. Many medical conditions can be treated more effectively with foods and nutritional supplements than they can by other means, with fewer complications and side effects. Naturopathic physicians use dietetics, natural hygiene, fasting, and nutritional supplementation in practice.

* Botanical Medicine
Many plant substances are powerful medicines. Where single chemically-derived drugs may only address a single problem, botanical medicines are able to address a variety of problems simultaneously. Their organic nature makes botanicals compatible with the body's own chemistry; hence, they can be gently effective with few toxic side effects.

* Homeopathic Medicine
Homeopathic medicine is based on the principle of "like cures like." It works on a subtle yet powerful electromagnetic level, gently acting to strengthen the body's healing and immune response.

* Physical Medicine
Naturopathic Medicine has its own methods of therapeutic manipulation of muscles, bones, and spine. N.D.'s also use ultrasound, diathermy, exercise, massage, water, heat and cold, air, and gentle electrical pulses.

* Oriental Medicine
Oriental medicine is a complimentary healing philosophy to naturopathic medicine. Meridian theory offers an important understanding of the unity of the body and mind, and adds to the Western understanding of physiology. Acupuncture provides a method of treatment which can unify and harmonize the imbalances present in disease conditions, which, if untreated, can result in illness.

* Naturopathic Obstetrics
Naturopathic physicians provide natural childbirth care in an out-of-hospital setting. They offer prenatal and postnatal care using modern diagnostic techniques. The naturopathic approach strengthens healthy body functions so that complications associated with pregnancy may be prevented.

* Psychological Medicine
Mental attitudes and emotional states may influence, or even cause, physical illness. Counseling, nutritional balancing, stress management, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and other therapies are used to help patients heal on the psychological level.

* Minor Surgery
As general practitioners, N.D.'s do in office-minor surgery including repair of superficial wounds, removal of foreign bodies, cysts, and other superficial masses.