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The Naturopathic Physician
 Naturopathic
Physicians (NDs) are general practitioners trained as specialists
in natural medicine. They are educated in the conventional medical sciences,
but they are not orthodox medical doctors (MDs). Naturopathic Physicians treat
disease and restore health using therapies form the sciences of clinical nutrition,
herbal medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, exercise therapy, counseling,
acupuncture and hydrotherapy. They tailor these approaches to the needs of
an individual patient. Naturopathic medicine is effective in treating most
health problems, whether acute or chronic. Naturopathic physicians cooperate
with all other branches of medical science referring patients or other practitioners
for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate.
Naturopathic Medical Education
The naturopathic physician has a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
(ND) degree form a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical
college. Naturopathic medical
colleges are four-year postgraduate schools with admissions requirements comparable
to those of conventional medical schools.
Naturopathic physicians are the only primary care physicians clinically trained
in a wide variety of natural therapeutics.
Some of the therapies used by naturopathic physicians are:
Clinical Nutrition
Many medical conditions can be treated as effectively with foods
and nutritional supplements as they can by any other means, but
with fewer complications and
side effects
Homeopathic medicine
Homeopathic medicines act to strengthen the body’s innate immune response;
they seldom have side effects.
Botanical Medicine
Many plant substances are powerful medicines. They are effective and safe when
used properly, in the right dose and in the proper combinations with other herbs
or treatments.
Physical medicine
Physical medicine includes but is not limited to physiotherapy using heat and
cold, gentle electrical pulses, ultrasound, diathermy and hydrotherapy and exercise
therapy.
Oriental medicine
Naturopathic physicians are trained in the fundamentals of oriental medicine
and diagnosis, and many use acupuncture, acupressure and oriental botanical medicine
in their practices.
Counseling and stress management
Mental attitudes and emotional states can be important elements in healing and
disease. Naturopathic physicians are trained in various psychological techniques,
including counseling, nutritional balancing, stress management, biofeedback and
other methods.
The Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
The principles
of naturopathic medicine unite profession. The following principles are the foundation
that naturopathic medical practice is built upon.
1.The Healing Power of Nature
Nature acts powerfully through healing mechanisms in the body and
mind to maintain
and restore health.
2.First Do No Harm
Naturopathic physicians prefer non-invasive treatments, which minimize the risks
of harmful side effects.
3.Identify and Treat the Cause
Every illness has an underlying cause, often in aspects of the lifestyle, diet
or habits of the individual.
4.Doctor As Teacher
Naturopathic
physicians educate their patients and encourage self-responsibility for health.
They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient
relationship.
5.Treat the Whole Person
Health and disease come from a complex interaction of physical, emotional, dietary,
genetic, environmental, lifestyle, and other factors. Naturopathic physicians
treat the whole person, taking these factors into account.
6.Preventive Medicine
Naturopathic
physician emphasize the prevention of disease –assessing risk
factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions
in partnership wit their patients to prevent illness.
Information is from American
Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP)
For finding AANP Naturopathic doctors visit AANP(www.naturopathic.org). |
