Naturopathic Interview Series: Press the button to the right of the "pause/play" button to find a video topic that interests you (Diabetes, Heart Disease, etc.).
Naturopathic Medicine is a unique and distinct system of health care
that emphasizes the use of prevention and natural therapeutics. The
doctors who practice naturopathic medicine, called naturopathic doctors (NDs), are trained to serve as primary care general practitioners who
are experts in the prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment of
both acute and chronic health conditions.
Naturopathic doctors are trained at accredited, four-year,
post-graduate, residential naturopathic medical programs. The training
consists of comprehensive study of the conventional medical sciences,
including anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology, immunology,
clinical and physical diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis, cardiology,
gastroenterology, gynecology, etc, as well as detailed study of a wide
variety of natural therapies.
Naturopathic doctors are guided by six principles: First, Do No
Harm; The Healing Power of Nature; Find the Cause; Treat the Whole
Person; Preventive Medicine; and, Doctor as Teacher. This set of
principles, emphasized throughout a naturopathic doctor's training,
outlines the philosophy guiding the naturopathic approach to health and
healing and forms the foundation of this distinct health care practice.
Naturopathic doctors use a variety of natural and non-invasive
therapies, including clinical nutrition, homeopathy, botanical
medicine, hydrotherapy, physical medicine, and counseling. Many
naturopathic doctors have additional training and certification in
acupuncture and natural child birth. Naturopathic treatments are
effective in treating a wide variety of conditions without the need for
additional intervention. Naturopathic doctors are also able to
function within an integrated framework, and naturopathic therapies can
be used to complement treatments used by conventionally trained medical
doctors. The result is a patient-centered approach that strives to
provide the most appropriate treatment for an individual's needs.
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.
Naturopathic
medicine in the United States came into existence just over 100 years
ago, developed by a man named Benedict Lust in New York state. While
the profession by name is just a century old, the natural therapies and
philosophy on which naturopathic medicine are based have been
effectively used to treat diseases since ancient times. The use of
herbal remedies, dietary interventions, hydrotherapy, and lifestyle
changes have been used throughout history and in nearly every culture
to inhabit the Earth. Hippocrates, a Greek physician who lived 2400
years ago, first formulated the concept of vis medicatrix naturae
-- "the healing power of nature". This concept has long been at the
core of medicine in many cultures around the world and remains one of
the central themes of naturopathic philosophy today.
Naturopathic
medicine was popular and widely available throughout the United States
well into the early part of the 20th century. In 1920, there were many
naturopathic medical schools, thousands of naturopathic physicians, and
scores of thousands of patients using naturopathic therapies around the
country. But by mid-century the rise of "technological medicine" and
the discovery and increased use of "miracle drugs" like antibiotics
were associated with the temporary decline of naturopathic medicine and
most other methods of natural healing.
By the 1970's, however,
the American public was becoming increasingly disenchanted with what
had become "conventional medicine." The profound clinical limitations
and its out-of-control costs were becoming obvious, and millions of
Americans were inspired to look for options and alternatives.
Naturopathy, and all of complementary and alternative medicine, began
to enter an era of rejuvenation. Naturopathic Medicine Today
Today,
more people than ever are seeking naturopathic medical care and
naturopathic medical schools are growing at record rates to accomodate
the increased demand for naturopathic education. Presently, there are
three accredited four-year naturopathic medical programs in the United
States, and two programs in Canada which are candidates for
accreditation. Naturopathic medicine has an independent accrediting
agency, the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), which is
the recognized authority for establishing and maintaining the
educational standards for profession. A nationally standardized
licensing exam (NPLEX) has been established, which is used in nearly
all of the states which currently license NDs. Currently, fourteen states
license NDs (as does Puerto Rico and four Canadian provinces). In these
states, NDs practice as independent primary care general practitioners,
with the ability to diagnose and treat medical conditions, perform
physical exams, and order laboratory testing. In these states, many
health care consumers specifically choose NDs as their primary care
providers.
The national organization representing naturopathic doctors, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP),
is the driving force for the development of the profession. The AANP is
instrumental in the development of the profession’s educational and
practice standards, and to expanding awareness of the vital role
naturopathic medicine has to play in the future of the health care
system in the United States.
Today, naturopathic doctors are
experiencing greater recognition as health care practitioners who are
experts in the field of natural and preventive medicine, providing
leadership in natural medical research, enjoying increasing political
influence, and looking forward to an unlimited future potential. Both
the American public and policy makers are recognizing and contributing
to the resurgence of the comprehensive system of health care practiced
by NDs. Trends for the Future (Signs of Things to Come)
The
1990’s has been a decade of great achievement for the naturopathic
profession: several states received licensure, enrollment in
naturopathic medical programs more than doubled, two new naturopathic
medical programs were started, the first publicly funded natural health
care clinic was initiated, a naturopathic institution was designated as
a NIH Office of Alternative Medicine research center, and two
naturopathic physicians were appointed by the federal Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services to the NIH’s Alternative
Medicine Program Advisory Council (AMPAC).
As we enter the
twenty-first century, the naturopathic profession finds itself well
positioned for a new era in health care. With more and more research
supporting the therapies used by naturopathic physicians, and the
public demand for greater choice and increased access to more natural
approaches to their health care, naturopathic medicine is poised to
make the transition from “alternative” medicine to truly “mainstream”
medicine.
