How are Naturopathic Doctors Trained?
Naturopathic Doctors (N.D.s) attend a four-year graduate-level
Naturopathic Medical Program and are educated in the same basic
sciences as in conventional medical school. The ND program features a
wide variety of effective natural therapies with a strong foundation in
biomedical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and
pathology along with physical, clinical, and laboratory diagnosis.
During the last two years of medical school, in addition to studying natural
therapeutics, naturopathic students continue to take courses in
conventional medical fields, including; pharmacology, cardiology,
pulmonology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, obstetrics, gynecology,
neurology, pediatrics, and dermatology. Students are also required to
intern for two years under the close supervision of licensed doctors (ND’
s, MD’s, DO’s, and DC’s) in a clinical setting. This clinical training provides
students with an integrative approach to medicine while encompassing
natural therapeutic philosophies and emphasizing the practical information
necessary to establish a successful practice. At the end of their training
students become primary care physicians with a specialized focus in
preventative medicine and natural therapeutics.
Upon completion of the graduation requirements, the student is awarded a
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree (N.D.). Graduates sit for
professional board exams to become licensed as general practice
naturopathic doctors within licensed states or as individual jurisdictions
allow.
For more information and Frequently Asked Questions regarding
Naturopathic Medicine, please click on the following link:
Naturopathic Medicine FAQs
Philosophy of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are primary care physicians clinically trained
in natural therapeutics and whose philosophy is derived in part from a
Hippocratic teaching more than 2000 years old: Vis mediatrix naturae---
nature is the healer of all diseases. Their practice is based on the same
basic bio-medical science foundation that allopathic practice is; however,
their philosophies and approaches differ considerably from their
conventional counterparts. Naturopathic physicians diagnose disease and
treat patients by using natural modalities such as physical manipulation,
clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, counseling, acupuncture,
and hydrotherapy, among others. They choose treatment based on the
individual patient, not based on the generality of symptoms. This
approach has proven successful in treating both chronic and acute
conditions.
6 Principles
The six principles that guide the therapeutic methods and modalities of
naturopathic medicine include:
First Do No Harm (primum non nocere)
Naturopathic medicine uses therapies that are safe and effective.
The Healing Power of Nature (vis medicatrix naturae)
The human body possesses the inherent ability to restore health. The
physician's role is to facilitate this process with the aid of natural, nontoxic
therapies.
Discover and Treat the Cause, Not Just the Effect
(tolle causam)
Physicians seek and treat the underlying cause of a disease. Symptoms
are viewed as expressions of the body's natural attempt to heal. The origin
of disease is removed or treated so the patient can recover.
Treat the Whole Person (tolle totum)
The multiple factors in health and disease are considered while treating the
whole person. Physicians provide flexible treatment programs to meet
individual health care needs.
The Physician is a Teacher (docere)
The physician's major role is to educate, empower, and motivate patients to
take responsibility for their own health. Creating a healthy cooperative
relationship with the patient has a strong therapeutic value.
Prevention is the best "cure"
Naturopathic physicians are preventive medicine specialists. Physicians
assess patient risk factors and heredity susceptibility and intervene
appropriately to reduce risk and prevent illness. Prevention of disease is
best accomplished through education and a lifestyle that supports health.
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| ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Champion Naturopathic Health, LLC 4035 W. Chandler Blvd. Ste 1, Chandler, AZ 85226 Ph: (480) 705-9611 Fax: (480) 756-6012 Copyright 2007, All rights reserved ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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