 What is a Naturopathic Doctor?
A naturopathic doctor (ND) attends a four-year graduate level accredited medical school and studies a science curriculum similar to an MD. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the ND is required to complete four years of training in
clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology and counseling.
A Naturopathic physician examines the underlying causes of illness rather than focusing solely on symptomatic treatment. We pay close attention to the role of diet, digestion, sleep and exercise habits, stress, and lifestyle and their effects on your health and vitality. We address the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of every individual. We do not have specific protocols for every disease, rather we look at what takes for your body to reach a state of balance.
At the heart of Naturopathic medicine are six basic principles:
- The healing power of nature: The body has the inherent ability to heal
itself and to restore health, as well as ward off disease.
- Treat the whole person: The harmonious function of all aspects of the
individual is essential to health - physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social. An imbalance in one area affects the whole.
- First do no harm: The doctor must be mindful of consequences or sideeffects of treatment. The more gentle the therapy, the less disruptive it is to the patient.
- Identify and treat the cause: Symptoms are signals the body is out of balance. When only symptoms are treated, the underlying cause remains. Treating the cause can prevent more serious, chronic conditions.
- Doctor as teacher: The doctor is a facilitator in the healing process with responsibility to educate, encourage and empower the patient.
- Prevention is the best cure: Health is a reflection of how we choose to live. The doctor helps patients recognize how their choices affects overall health.
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