About Naturopathic Medicine
Philosophy
“Naturopathic medicine prioritizes the most natural, least invasive and least toxic therapies to treat illness, and promotes wellness by viewing the body as an integrated whole.” - Associated of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC)
Education
Naturopathic Doctors attend a 4-5 year medical program accredited by the Council for Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), learning both conventional medicine and alternative medical approaches to treat emergency, acute, and chronic disease. The study includes over 4,100 hours in the classroom or clinic. A minimum of 1,200 hours are spent in clinical education with direct patient contact under supervision. Naturopathic students must sit for two licensing exams (NPLEX), one of which is completed after 2nd year of schooling and the second taken after completion of the Naturopathic program. The CNME is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, which classifies the ND degree as a Doctorate-Professional degree, on par with MD and DO.
Modalities & Tools
Naturopathic Medicine is an alternative medical system that utilizes natural therapies to strengthen and heal the body. Homeopathy is one of the many modalities that a naturopath can use along with herbs, diet, biomedical supplements, and functional medical labs. This approach is safe, effective, and has lower side effects than the conventional medical approach.
“The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore, the physician must come from nature, with an open mind”
“The Naturopathic Therapeutic Order is based on the concept that the body possesses an intrinsic nature to heal itself using the least possible force. The Therapeutic Order is the natural order in which naturopathic therapies should be applied in order to provide the greatest benefit and the least potential for damage.”
Tina Hausser, ND& Iva Lloyd, ND, RPP
Determinants of Health
This is our foundation, the roots of our tree bodies. If the roots of your tree are consuming toxic chemicals, dehydrated, and lacking rest, no matter how powerful the intervention that is used to treat disease, “the tree” will never truly heal and there will always be a predisposition for disease. If the obstacles to cure are removed and the foundations for health are created, (i.e.-sleep, nutrition, hydration, elimination, and low environmental stress) then health will prosper.
